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Deadspin | Cam Schlittler, Yankees push to keep cruising vs. Rangers   Apr 23, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images   Cam Schlittler’s second season in the majors is going well.   Jacob deGrom’s second full season following his recovery from elbow surgery also is off to a strong start.  Schlittler and deGrom hope to turn in strong outings when the former leads the New York Yankees into the middle contest of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.  The Yankees are 9-1 in their past 10 games and own an American League-best 3.18 ERA.   New York opened the series vs. Texas by getting six scoreless innings from Max Fried and three home runs in a 4-2 victory on Monday.  Schlittler (3-1, 1.77 ERA) did not face Texas last season, when he went 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA while striking out 84 batters in 73 innings over 14 starts. The right-hander has allowed two runs or less in four of his six starts this season and got a career-high 12 outs on the ground Thursday in Boston.  “He’s just getting really, really good out there. That’s an ace-like performance,” manager Aaron Boone said of Schlitter, who allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in eight innings of a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox.  The Rangers, who are coming off their sixth loss in nine games, are 5-0 in deGrom’s starts this season. The right-hander (2-0, 2.13 ERA) has allowed three runs in his past four starts after a shaky season debut in Baltimore on March 31.  On Thursday, deGrom notched a season-high 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed a run on five hits.   “I thought that was the best he’s thrown all year,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “He was 98 miles an hour pretty consistently, dotting almost every fastball, 70-plus percent strikes. He threw a lot of first-pitch strikes; the slider was working off the fastball. It was exactly what we were hoping for. It was a really, really strong outing.”  The Yankees have seen plenty of deGrom from his time with the Mets, who did not retain him after the 2022 season. He is 2-4 with a 3.14 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees and held them to two runs on three hits in seven innings of a no-decision last May 21.  The two-time Cy Young Award winner has held Aaron Judge to one hit in seven at-bats, and Cody Bellinger is 5-for-19 against him.  Judge has eight of his 11 homers in the past 15 games and reached base four times while collecting three hits on Monday. Ben Rice has six of his 10 homers in his past 11 games, and the duo hit consecutive homers as the Yankees went deep three times for the seventh time this season.  “Benny’s off to an amazing start and Judge ho-hum, 11 homers already,” Boone said Monday. “Really maybe his best game of at-bats tonight. It’s a pretty good combo there.”  Texas is coming off being held to two runs or less for the eighth time. Six of those instances have been at home, where the Rangers are batting .216.  Corey Seager is hitting only .183 over his past 22 games after striking out three times Monday.  “You can tell he’s grinding through some stuff for sure, but it feels like he’s just about to get hot,” Schumaker said about Seager, who is hitting .212.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Cam #Schlittler #Yankees #push #cruising #Rangers

Deadspin | Cam Schlittler, Yankees push to keep cruising vs. Rangers
Deadspin | Cam Schlittler, Yankees push to keep cruising vs. Rangers   Apr 23, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images   Cam Schlittler’s second season in the majors is going well.   Jacob deGrom’s second full season following his recovery from elbow surgery also is off to a strong start.  Schlittler and deGrom hope to turn in strong outings when the former leads the New York Yankees into the middle contest of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.  The Yankees are 9-1 in their past 10 games and own an American League-best 3.18 ERA.   New York opened the series vs. Texas by getting six scoreless innings from Max Fried and three home runs in a 4-2 victory on Monday.  Schlittler (3-1, 1.77 ERA) did not face Texas last season, when he went 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA while striking out 84 batters in 73 innings over 14 starts. The right-hander has allowed two runs or less in four of his six starts this season and got a career-high 12 outs on the ground Thursday in Boston.  “He’s just getting really, really good out there. That’s an ace-like performance,” manager Aaron Boone said of Schlitter, who allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in eight innings of a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox.  The Rangers, who are coming off their sixth loss in nine games, are 5-0 in deGrom’s starts this season. The right-hander (2-0, 2.13 ERA) has allowed three runs in his past four starts after a shaky season debut in Baltimore on March 31.  On Thursday, deGrom notched a season-high 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed a run on five hits.   “I thought that was the best he’s thrown all year,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “He was 98 miles an hour pretty consistently, dotting almost every fastball, 70-plus percent strikes. He threw a lot of first-pitch strikes; the slider was working off the fastball. It was exactly what we were hoping for. It was a really, really strong outing.”  The Yankees have seen plenty of deGrom from his time with the Mets, who did not retain him after the 2022 season. He is 2-4 with a 3.14 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees and held them to two runs on three hits in seven innings of a no-decision last May 21.  The two-time Cy Young Award winner has held Aaron Judge to one hit in seven at-bats, and Cody Bellinger is 5-for-19 against him.  Judge has eight of his 11 homers in the past 15 games and reached base four times while collecting three hits on Monday. Ben Rice has six of his 10 homers in his past 11 games, and the duo hit consecutive homers as the Yankees went deep three times for the seventh time this season.  “Benny’s off to an amazing start and Judge ho-hum, 11 homers already,” Boone said Monday. “Really maybe his best game of at-bats tonight. It’s a pretty good combo there.”  Texas is coming off being held to two runs or less for the eighth time. Six of those instances have been at home, where the Rangers are batting .216.  Corey Seager is hitting only .183 over his past 22 games after striking out three times Monday.  “You can tell he’s grinding through some stuff for sure, but it feels like he’s just about to get hot,” Schumaker said about Seager, who is hitting .212.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Cam #Schlittler #Yankees #push #cruising #RangersApr 23, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Cam Schlittler’s second season in the majors is going well.

Jacob deGrom’s second full season following his recovery from elbow surgery also is off to a strong start.

Schlittler and deGrom hope to turn in strong outings when the former leads the New York Yankees into the middle contest of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.

The Yankees are 9-1 in their past 10 games and own an American League-best 3.18 ERA.

New York opened the series vs. Texas by getting six scoreless innings from Max Fried and three home runs in a 4-2 victory on Monday.

Schlittler (3-1, 1.77 ERA) did not face Texas last season, when he went 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA while striking out 84 batters in 73 innings over 14 starts. The right-hander has allowed two runs or less in four of his six starts this season and got a career-high 12 outs on the ground Thursday in Boston.

“He’s just getting really, really good out there. That’s an ace-like performance,” manager Aaron Boone said of Schlitter, who allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in eight innings of a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox.

The Rangers, who are coming off their sixth loss in nine games, are 5-0 in deGrom’s starts this season. The right-hander (2-0, 2.13 ERA) has allowed three runs in his past four starts after a shaky season debut in Baltimore on March 31.


On Thursday, deGrom notched a season-high 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed a run on five hits.

“I thought that was the best he’s thrown all year,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “He was 98 miles an hour pretty consistently, dotting almost every fastball, 70-plus percent strikes. He threw a lot of first-pitch strikes; the slider was working off the fastball. It was exactly what we were hoping for. It was a really, really strong outing.”

The Yankees have seen plenty of deGrom from his time with the Mets, who did not retain him after the 2022 season. He is 2-4 with a 3.14 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees and held them to two runs on three hits in seven innings of a no-decision last May 21.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner has held Aaron Judge to one hit in seven at-bats, and Cody Bellinger is 5-for-19 against him.

Judge has eight of his 11 homers in the past 15 games and reached base four times while collecting three hits on Monday. Ben Rice has six of his 10 homers in his past 11 games, and the duo hit consecutive homers as the Yankees went deep three times for the seventh time this season.

“Benny’s off to an amazing start and Judge ho-hum, 11 homers already,” Boone said Monday. “Really maybe his best game of at-bats tonight. It’s a pretty good combo there.”

Texas is coming off being held to two runs or less for the eighth time. Six of those instances have been at home, where the Rangers are batting .216.

Corey Seager is hitting only .183 over his past 22 games after striking out three times Monday.

“You can tell he’s grinding through some stuff for sure, but it feels like he’s just about to get hot,” Schumaker said about Seager, who is hitting .212.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Cam #Schlittler #Yankees #push #cruising #Rangers

Apr 23, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Cam Schlittler’s second season in the majors is going well.

Jacob deGrom’s second full season following his recovery from elbow surgery also is off to a strong start.

Schlittler and deGrom hope to turn in strong outings when the former leads the New York Yankees into the middle contest of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.

The Yankees are 9-1 in their past 10 games and own an American League-best 3.18 ERA.

New York opened the series vs. Texas by getting six scoreless innings from Max Fried and three home runs in a 4-2 victory on Monday.

Schlittler (3-1, 1.77 ERA) did not face Texas last season, when he went 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA while striking out 84 batters in 73 innings over 14 starts. The right-hander has allowed two runs or less in four of his six starts this season and got a career-high 12 outs on the ground Thursday in Boston.

“He’s just getting really, really good out there. That’s an ace-like performance,” manager Aaron Boone said of Schlitter, who allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in eight innings of a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox.

The Rangers, who are coming off their sixth loss in nine games, are 5-0 in deGrom’s starts this season. The right-hander (2-0, 2.13 ERA) has allowed three runs in his past four starts after a shaky season debut in Baltimore on March 31.

On Thursday, deGrom notched a season-high 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed a run on five hits.

“I thought that was the best he’s thrown all year,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “He was 98 miles an hour pretty consistently, dotting almost every fastball, 70-plus percent strikes. He threw a lot of first-pitch strikes; the slider was working off the fastball. It was exactly what we were hoping for. It was a really, really strong outing.”

The Yankees have seen plenty of deGrom from his time with the Mets, who did not retain him after the 2022 season. He is 2-4 with a 3.14 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees and held them to two runs on three hits in seven innings of a no-decision last May 21.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner has held Aaron Judge to one hit in seven at-bats, and Cody Bellinger is 5-for-19 against him.

Judge has eight of his 11 homers in the past 15 games and reached base four times while collecting three hits on Monday. Ben Rice has six of his 10 homers in his past 11 games, and the duo hit consecutive homers as the Yankees went deep three times for the seventh time this season.

“Benny’s off to an amazing start and Judge ho-hum, 11 homers already,” Boone said Monday. “Really maybe his best game of at-bats tonight. It’s a pretty good combo there.”

Texas is coming off being held to two runs or less for the eighth time. Six of those instances have been at home, where the Rangers are batting .216.

Corey Seager is hitting only .183 over his past 22 games after striking out three times Monday.

“You can tell he’s grinding through some stuff for sure, but it feels like he’s just about to get hot,” Schumaker said about Seager, who is hitting .212.

–Field Level Media

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Premier League 2025-26: Manchester City’s postponed fixture against Crystal Palace to be played on May 13 <div id="content-body-70917402" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Manchester City faces three games in a seven-day stretch that will be crucial in its bid for a domestic treble of trophies.</p><p>The Premier League announced on Tuesday that City’s postponed game against Crystal Palace has been moved to May 13.</p><p>Pep Guardiola’s team plays the FA Cup final against Chelsea three days later at Wembley Stadium, then visits Bournemouth on May 19.</p><p><b>ALSO READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/epl/john-stones-to-leave-manchester-city-at-end-of-season-premier-league-stats-goals-performance-news/article70916663.ece" target="_self">John Stones to leave Manchester City at end of season</a></b></p><p>It is a potentially exhausting run of games at the end of the season for City, which has already won the English League Cup and is locked in a title race with Arsenal.</p><p>Arsenal is three points ahead but has played one game more.</p><p>The game against Palace was originally due to be played the weekend of the League Cup final last month. The Bournemouth game was also moved after City beat Southampton on Saturday to advance to the FA Cup final.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 28, 2026</p></div> #Premier #League #Manchester #Citys #postponed #fixture #Crystal #Palace #played

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UTT 2026 auction: Szocs becomes costliest pick, joins Dempo Goa Challengers for Ultimate Table Tennis season 7 <div id="content-body-70917403" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Big names commanded bigger bids as franchises zeroed in on proven performers and emerging Indian talent at the Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7 player auction on Tuesday, with Bernadette Szocs topping the charts.</p><p>Szocs, snapped up by Dempo Goa Challengers for 40 lakh tokens, headlined a list of marquee acquisitions that underlined the premium on experience. Close behind was Diya Chitale, who became the highest-valued Indian for the second successive year, joining PBG Pune Jaguars for 37.4 lakh tokens. Her mixed doubles partner, Manush Shah, wasn’t far behind, picked up by U Mumba TT for 37.2 lakh.</p><p>If Pune and U Mumba invested in Indian mainstays, UP Prometheans, the league debutant, went big on balance, pairing Manav Thakkar (36 lakh) with two-time league MVP Yangzi Liu (32 lakh) to assemble arguably the most formidable core on paper.</p><p><b>ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/table-tennis/ittf-president-petra-sorloth-interview-exclusive-world-table-tennis-day-la-2028-olympics/article70912127.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ITTF President Sorling: Extremely happy to see table tennis grow in India</a></b></p><p>The auction also reflected a growing appetite for youth. Fifteen-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick was picked by Dabang Delhi and became the youngest-ever signing, while Syndrela Das added to Goa’s blend of promise and pedigree.</p><p>UTT auctions are based on tokens as notional value, with players signing contracts with the league promoters for an undisclosed amount. The seventh edition will be played in Panaji, Goa, from July 9 to 26.</p><div class="fact-box"><h5 class="main-title"> The squads: </h5><p> Ahmedabad APL Pipers: Adrien Rassenfosse (2000000), Sanil Shetty (320000), Payas Jain (1680000), Sofia Polcanova (2720000), Manika Batra (2700000), Kavya Bhatt (320000). </p><p> Dabang Delhi T.T.C.: Youssef Abdelaziz (1200000), Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (2700000), Raegan Albuquerque (300000), Maria Xiao (2720000), Divyanshi Bhowmick (1040000), Sutirtha Mukherjee (800000). </p><p> Dempo Goa Challengers: Alvaro Robles (2280000), Divyansh Srivastava (300000), Abhinandh P. B. (300000), Bernadette Szocs (4000000), Syndrela Das (1700000), Ananya Chande (300000). </p><p> Kolkata ThunderBlades: Eduard Ionescu (2420000), Ankur Bhattacharjee (945000), Jeet Chandra (700000), Zeng Jian (2000000), Taneesha Kotecha (300000), Ayhika Mukherjee (2020000). </p><p> PBG Pune Jaguars: Omar Assar (2000000), Snehit SFR (1200000), Mudit Dani (300000), Prithika Pavade (2480000), Diya Chitale (3740000), Sayanika Maji (300000). </p><p> U Mumba TT: Lilian Bardet (2140000), Akash Pal (945000), Manush Shah (3720000), Anna Hursey (2220000), Nithyashree Mani (300000), Anusha Kutumbale (300000). UP Prometheans: Ricardo Walther (1200000), Sudhanshu Grover (320000), Manav Thakkar (3600000), Yangzi Liu (3200000), Sayali Wani (900000), Swastika Ghosh (700000). </p></div><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 28, 2026</p></div> #UTT #auction #Szocs #costliest #pick #joins #Dempo #Goa #Challengers #Ultimate #Table #Tennis #season

Deadspin | Mets add RHP Daniel Duarte, move A.J. Minter to 60-day IL  Feb 18, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA;  New York Mets pitcher Daniel Duarte (54) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images   The New York Mets selected the contract of right-hander Daniel Duarte on Monday after right-hander Joey Gerber was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.  To free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Duarte, left-hander A.J. Minter was moved to the 60-day injured list. Minter continues to recover from a left lat strain and left hip discomfort.  Duarte, 29, has 36 career major league relief appearances, compiling a 3.99 ERA from 2022-24 with the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins. He was 0-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 12 appearances (four starts) at Syracuse after making two appearances with Mexico at this spring’s World Baseball Classic.   Gerber, 29, pitched two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 13 in his only major league appearance this season. He was recalled on Friday but did not pitch over the weekend against the New York Yankees.  Minter, 32, had lat surgery in 2025 and experienced hip discomfort at spring training that landed him on the injured list to start the season. He has a 3.12 ERA in nine minor league rehab outings for three separate clubs.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Mets #add #RHP #Daniel #Duarte #move #A.J #Minter #60dayFeb 18, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Daniel Duarte (54) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

The New York Mets selected the contract of right-hander Daniel Duarte on Monday after right-hander Joey Gerber was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

To free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Duarte, left-hander A.J. Minter was moved to the 60-day injured list. Minter continues to recover from a left lat strain and left hip discomfort.


Duarte, 29, has 36 career major league relief appearances, compiling a 3.99 ERA from 2022-24 with the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins. He was 0-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 12 appearances (four starts) at Syracuse after making two appearances with Mexico at this spring’s World Baseball Classic.

Gerber, 29, pitched two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 13 in his only major league appearance this season. He was recalled on Friday but did not pitch over the weekend against the New York Yankees.

Minter, 32, had lat surgery in 2025 and experienced hip discomfort at spring training that landed him on the injured list to start the season. He has a 3.12 ERA in nine minor league rehab outings for three separate clubs.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mets #add #RHP #Daniel #Duarte #move #A.J #Minter #60day">Deadspin | Mets add RHP Daniel Duarte, move A.J. Minter to 60-day IL  Feb 18, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA;  New York Mets pitcher Daniel Duarte (54) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images   The New York Mets selected the contract of right-hander Daniel Duarte on Monday after right-hander Joey Gerber was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.  To free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Duarte, left-hander A.J. Minter was moved to the 60-day injured list. Minter continues to recover from a left lat strain and left hip discomfort.  Duarte, 29, has 36 career major league relief appearances, compiling a 3.99 ERA from 2022-24 with the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins. He was 0-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 12 appearances (four starts) at Syracuse after making two appearances with Mexico at this spring’s World Baseball Classic.   Gerber, 29, pitched two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 13 in his only major league appearance this season. He was recalled on Friday but did not pitch over the weekend against the New York Yankees.  Minter, 32, had lat surgery in 2025 and experienced hip discomfort at spring training that landed him on the injured list to start the season. He has a 3.12 ERA in nine minor league rehab outings for three separate clubs.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Mets #add #RHP #Daniel #Duarte #move #A.J #Minter #60day

The winner of that Game 7 will have two days of rest before beginning the Eastern Conference Finals — the Hurricanes will have had 12.

A bizarre, problematic twist to the NHL Playoff schedule has led to the greatest rest disparity in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nobody has had 12 games of rest before, and it happened because of the bracket’s construction. The NHL has long operated on the idea that nobody should be able to easily sweep a series, let along two back-to-back. What the Canes are doing hasn’t been seen since the 1980s, and it just so happens at the time where the other side of the Eastern conference draw has been a total crapshoot. It took seven games for the Canadiens to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Sabres needed six to beat the Bruins in the opening round — now they have gone to seven against each other in this series. Meanwhile the Hurricanes wen 4-0 against the Senators, then 4-0 against the Flyers to reach this spot.

The result is that Carolina has played nearly half less games as anyone left in the East, and the fewest in the playoffs. It’s a blessing in terms of getting healthy, being rested, and entering the Eastern Conference Finals at 100-percent, but it remains to be seen if the rest could come back to bite the team by interrupting their rhythm. That’s a significant worry, and as dominant as the Canes have seemed, there are also some very real worries.

Thus far the team hasn’t seen a lot of production out of its top line. Svechnikov/Aho/Jarvis have been solid, but once again seem to be falling into that all-too-common Carolina trope of stars disappearing in the playoffs. The Hurricanes’ power play has been atrocious as well, 5-for-27 these playoffs after being 24.9% on the season. They’re won on the back of speed, power, and their forecheck — but have yet to be tested in a multi-goal deficit, and still have significant questions in net with Freddie Andersen playing phenomentally well, but being far from a safe bet after a down season in Raleigh.

That makes this upcoming Eastern Conference Final an each way bet, and a litmus test on the NHL’s scheduling. There’s no good result to what will happen next. If Carolina comes out and dominates then opposing fans will cry foul of the amount of rest the Canes got in the lead up to this series, if Carolina gets bodied early in the series it will be an indictment on them having too much rest to stay hot in the playoffs. Sprinkle in the drama of this destined to be another Southern hockey vs. legacy cold-weather city matchup and there will be plenty of angst in the ECF.

Embrace chaos, because it’s coming on Thursday night.

#Carolina #Hurricanes #coming #historic #rest #NHL #Eastern #Conference #Finals">Carolina Hurricanes coming off historic rest for NHL Eastern Conference Finals  It’s been a long time since the Carolina Hurricanes played hockey, and they have to wait even longer. The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres play in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Semi-Finals on Monday night, with Carolina waiting for the winner to kick off the next series on Thursday.The winner of that Game 7 will have two days of rest before beginning the Eastern Conference Finals — the Hurricanes will have had 12.A bizarre, problematic twist to the NHL Playoff schedule has led to the greatest rest disparity in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nobody has had 12 games of rest before, and it happened because of the bracket’s construction. The NHL has long operated on the idea that nobody should be able to easily sweep a series, let along two back-to-back. What the Canes are doing hasn’t been seen since the 1980s, and it just so happens at the time where the other side of the Eastern conference draw has been a total crapshoot. It took seven games for the Canadiens to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Sabres needed six to beat the Bruins in the opening round — now they have gone to seven against each other in this series. Meanwhile the Hurricanes wen 4-0 against the Senators, then 4-0 against the Flyers to reach this spot.The result is that Carolina has played nearly half less games as anyone left in the East, and the fewest in the playoffs. It’s a blessing in terms of getting healthy, being rested, and entering the Eastern Conference Finals at 100-percent, but it remains to be seen if the rest could come back to bite the team by interrupting their rhythm. That’s a significant worry, and as dominant as the Canes have seemed, there are also some very real worries.Thus far the team hasn’t seen a lot of production out of its top line. Svechnikov/Aho/Jarvis have been solid, but once again seem to be falling into that all-too-common Carolina trope of stars disappearing in the playoffs. The Hurricanes’ power play has been atrocious as well, 5-for-27 these playoffs after being 24.9% on the season. They’re won on the back of speed, power, and their forecheck — but have yet to be tested in a multi-goal deficit, and still have significant questions in net with Freddie Andersen playing phenomentally well, but being far from a safe bet after a down season in Raleigh.That makes this upcoming Eastern Conference Final an each way bet, and a litmus test on the NHL’s scheduling. There’s no good result to what will happen next. If Carolina comes out and dominates then opposing fans will cry foul of the amount of rest the Canes got in the lead up to this series, if Carolina gets bodied early in the series it will be an indictment on them having too much rest to stay hot in the playoffs. Sprinkle in the drama of this destined to be another Southern hockey vs. legacy cold-weather city matchup and there will be plenty of angst in the ECF.Embrace chaos, because it’s coming on Thursday night.  #Carolina #Hurricanes #coming #historic #rest #NHL #Eastern #Conference #Finals

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