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ISL 2025-26: Second-half goals help FC Goa beat Odisha 3-1  Second-half goals from Dejan Drazic, Pol Moreno and Brison Fernandes helped FC Goa secure a 3-1 victory over Odisha FC, which found a late consolation through Suhair VP, in their Indian Super League 2025-26 match at the PJN Stadium in Margao, on Friday.The Gaurs returned to winning ways after a run of draws and a defeat, climbing to fifth in the standings with 13 points, while OFC slipped to 12th with five points.The opening half was a measured contest, with both sides enjoying spells of possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances. Rahul KP was the most lively presence for the Juggernauts, testing the Goa defence with two early efforts, while the host found itself caught offside on multiple occasions as it attempted to build attacks.Odisha continued to threaten from a distance, with Rahul forcing a save from debutant goalkeeper Bob Jackson, who showed composure between the posts. At the other end, Udanta Singh came close after a sharp run into the box, but Amrinder Singh stood firm to deny the winger at the near post.Set pieces proved to be a potential avenue for both sides, with Moreno heading straight at the goalkeeper and Subham Bhattacharya missing narrowly, but neither side was able to break the deadlock as the first half ended goalless.ALSO READ | ISL 2025-26: New managers take centrestage in Bengaluru-Blasters clashThe tempo increased after the restart, with Odisha coming close to taking the lead around the hour mark. Rahim Ali’s intelligent run created space for Isak Vanlalruatfela, but the forward’s effort was well saved by Bob, who produced a crucial intervention to keep the scores level.FCG responded almost immediately and broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute with a well-worked move. Ayush Chhetri delivered a precise ball over the top of the Odisha defence to find Drazic inside the box. A sliding challenge from Carlos Delgado deflected the ball back into Drazic’s path, and the forward showed quick reactions to calmly slot the ball past Amrinder and give the host a 1-0 lead.The host doubled its advantage in the 81st minute through a set piece.  Moreno stepped up to take a free kick from distance and struck a low effort through the wall, the ball taking a couple of bounces before nestling into the bottom-left corner, making it 2-0.FCG sealed the result in stoppage time after Rabeeh was fouled inside the penalty area. Brison stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, placing his shot into the left corner to extend the lead to 3-0.Odisha managed to pull one back moments later when Edwin Vanspaul delivered a cross from the right, which was met by Suhair, who finished from close range to make it 3-1. But it was too late as the home side walked away with all three points.Published on Apr 10, 2026  #ISL #Secondhalf #goals #Goa #beat #Odisha

ISL 2025-26: Second-half goals help FC Goa beat Odisha 3-1

Second-half goals from Dejan Drazic, Pol Moreno and Brison Fernandes helped FC Goa secure a 3-1 victory over Odisha FC, which found a late consolation through Suhair VP, in their Indian Super League 2025-26 match at the PJN Stadium in Margao, on Friday.

The Gaurs returned to winning ways after a run of draws and a defeat, climbing to fifth in the standings with 13 points, while OFC slipped to 12th with five points.

The opening half was a measured contest, with both sides enjoying spells of possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances. Rahul KP was the most lively presence for the Juggernauts, testing the Goa defence with two early efforts, while the host found itself caught offside on multiple occasions as it attempted to build attacks.

Odisha continued to threaten from a distance, with Rahul forcing a save from debutant goalkeeper Bob Jackson, who showed composure between the posts. At the other end, Udanta Singh came close after a sharp run into the box, but Amrinder Singh stood firm to deny the winger at the near post.

Set pieces proved to be a potential avenue for both sides, with Moreno heading straight at the goalkeeper and Subham Bhattacharya missing narrowly, but neither side was able to break the deadlock as the first half ended goalless.

ALSO READ | ISL 2025-26: New managers take centrestage in Bengaluru-Blasters clash

The tempo increased after the restart, with Odisha coming close to taking the lead around the hour mark. Rahim Ali’s intelligent run created space for Isak Vanlalruatfela, but the forward’s effort was well saved by Bob, who produced a crucial intervention to keep the scores level.

FCG responded almost immediately and broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute with a well-worked move. Ayush Chhetri delivered a precise ball over the top of the Odisha defence to find Drazic inside the box. A sliding challenge from Carlos Delgado deflected the ball back into Drazic’s path, and the forward showed quick reactions to calmly slot the ball past Amrinder and give the host a 1-0 lead.

The host doubled its advantage in the 81st minute through a set piece. Moreno stepped up to take a free kick from distance and struck a low effort through the wall, the ball taking a couple of bounces before nestling into the bottom-left corner, making it 2-0.

FCG sealed the result in stoppage time after Rabeeh was fouled inside the penalty area. Brison stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, placing his shot into the left corner to extend the lead to 3-0.

Odisha managed to pull one back moments later when Edwin Vanspaul delivered a cross from the right, which was met by Suhair, who finished from close range to make it 3-1. But it was too late as the home side walked away with all three points.

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#ISL #Secondhalf #goals #Goa #beat #Odisha

Second-half goals from Dejan Drazic, Pol Moreno and Brison Fernandes helped FC Goa secure a 3-1 victory over Odisha FC, which found a late consolation through Suhair VP, in their Indian Super League 2025-26 match at the PJN Stadium in Margao, on Friday.

The Gaurs returned to winning ways after a run of draws and a defeat, climbing to fifth in the standings with 13 points, while OFC slipped to 12th with five points.

The opening half was a measured contest, with both sides enjoying spells of possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances. Rahul KP was the most lively presence for the Juggernauts, testing the Goa defence with two early efforts, while the host found itself caught offside on multiple occasions as it attempted to build attacks.

Odisha continued to threaten from a distance, with Rahul forcing a save from debutant goalkeeper Bob Jackson, who showed composure between the posts. At the other end, Udanta Singh came close after a sharp run into the box, but Amrinder Singh stood firm to deny the winger at the near post.

Set pieces proved to be a potential avenue for both sides, with Moreno heading straight at the goalkeeper and Subham Bhattacharya missing narrowly, but neither side was able to break the deadlock as the first half ended goalless.

ALSO READ | ISL 2025-26: New managers take centrestage in Bengaluru-Blasters clash

The tempo increased after the restart, with Odisha coming close to taking the lead around the hour mark. Rahim Ali’s intelligent run created space for Isak Vanlalruatfela, but the forward’s effort was well saved by Bob, who produced a crucial intervention to keep the scores level.

FCG responded almost immediately and broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute with a well-worked move. Ayush Chhetri delivered a precise ball over the top of the Odisha defence to find Drazic inside the box. A sliding challenge from Carlos Delgado deflected the ball back into Drazic’s path, and the forward showed quick reactions to calmly slot the ball past Amrinder and give the host a 1-0 lead.

The host doubled its advantage in the 81st minute through a set piece. Moreno stepped up to take a free kick from distance and struck a low effort through the wall, the ball taking a couple of bounces before nestling into the bottom-left corner, making it 2-0.

FCG sealed the result in stoppage time after Rabeeh was fouled inside the penalty area. Brison stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, placing his shot into the left corner to extend the lead to 3-0.

Odisha managed to pull one back moments later when Edwin Vanspaul delivered a cross from the right, which was met by Suhair, who finished from close range to make it 3-1. But it was too late as the home side walked away with all three points.

Published on Apr 10, 2026

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Deadspin | Without star Joel Embiid, Sixers set to visit Pacers <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-900/28695330.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28695330.jpg" alt="NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (77) and forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) talk with NBA referee Eric Dalen (37) during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images <!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>With an unfortunate development for star Joel Embiid looming over them, the Philadelphia 76ers will try to pull out of a three-game slide when they meet the Indiana Pacers on Friday night in Indianapolis. </p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Philadelphia (43-37) learned that the former NBA MVP needed an appendectomy on Thursday before the team faced the Houston Rockets. </p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>“We had an unbelievable day as a team [on Wednesday]. We had a great practice, a great film session, we were getting up and down the court, and [Embiid] was a part of all of that,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse told reporters on Thursday. “That’s what hits you in the stomach a little bit when you get that news.” </p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Without their standout center, who is out indefinitely, the Sixers lost 113-102 to the Rockets to fall into a virtual tie with the Charlotte Hornets for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Philadelphia and Charlotte both have clinched a postseason berth and have just two games remaining in the regular season as they jockey for postseason positioning. </p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Coming off lopsided losses at home to Detroit last Saturday and at San Antonio on Monday, the Sixers made a few late-game pushes after trailing the Rockets by as many as 28 points. Rookie VJ Edgecombe scored four of his 21 points during an 8-0 run that pulled Philadelphia within five points in the final two minutes before the team ran out of steam.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Edgecombe heads into the final weekend of the regular season having scored in double figures in 10 of the last 11 games, with Thursday marking his sixth game with at least 21 points in that stretch. Edgecombe’s play in March earned him the league Rookie of the Month. </p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>Indiana (19-61) enters Friday’s matchup already doomed to the worst regular-season record in franchise history. Just one year removed from only the second NBA Finals appearance in their existence, the Pacers faced injury woes throughout the 2025-26 campaign. </p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>Depleted Indiana pulled out of a three-game losing skid on Thursday, blowing out Brooklyn 123-94. Obi Toppin scored a season-high 26 points to help power Indiana to 80 points in the paint. </p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Toppin’s best outing since returning in late February from a 56-game absence due to a stress fracture in his right foot provides a glimmer of optimism for Indiana looking to turn the page to 2026-27. Another positive for the Pacers this week was the return of All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton to 5-on-5 activities. </p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Haliburton sustained an Achilles’ injury in last June’s seventh game of the NBA Finals vs. Oklahoma City, holding him out this entire season and setting the tone for Indiana’s woes. </p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>The rash of injuries plaguing the Pacers presented opportunities for other players to make a mark and perhaps position themselves well for the future. One such Pacer to capitalize, Jarace Walker, will close 2025-26 with career-best averages for scoring (11.6 points per game) and rebounding (5.2 per game). </p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Walker also is heading into the closing weekend off of a near-triple-double performance with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists on Thursday.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>“Positional size in our league is something you always seek out,” Indiana assistant coach Lloyd Pierce said following Thursday’s win. “And Jarace has great size as a three [small forward]. Any time we can put him in [that] position, he can see the floor, but he also has the ability to pass over defenders.” </p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #star #Joel #Embiid #Sixers #set #visit #Pacers

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Deadspin | Padres continue series vs. Rockies after Xander Bogaerts slam: ‘It’s huge’ <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-900/28698244.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28698244.jpg" alt="MLB: Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 9, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) runs the bases after hitting a walk-off grand slam home run against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Valente Bellozo (not pictured) in the twelfth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>It would be hard to start a homestand in a more dramatic fashion than the San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts did Thursday night.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The veteran shortstop hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift the Padres to a 7-3 win over the Colorado Rockies in the opener of the teams’ four-game series.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Bogaerts and host San Diego will aim for an encore on Friday night when they try to secure their sixth win in the past seven games.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>“It’s huge, you know? I just tried to get a good swing on it, and it was probably my best swing of the year,” Bogaerts said of the team’s first walk-off slam since Manny Machado did it to the Texas Rangers in August 2020.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>The Padres spent much of Thursday night scuffling offensively against what lately has been a good Colorado pitching staff. They managed just five hits in the first nine innings before taking advantage of the automatic runner to score six runs in extra frames.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>That included Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th and Luis Campusano’s two-out RBI double in the 11th that extended the game, giving Bogaerts a chance to be the hero an inning later.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>“Those guys are playing good ball, and we battled all night,” Bogaerts said. “Man, what a way to start a homestand.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>One byproduct of a 12-inning game is that both teams could use length from their starting pitchers on Friday. San Diego right-hander Walker Buehler (0-1, 9.45 ERA) hasn’t yet provided that, failing to make it past the fourth inning in his first two outings.</p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>He lasted only 2 2/3 innings Sunday during the team’s 8-6 win in Boston, giving up four runs and three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Buehler is 7-4 with a 4.71 ERA in 23 career games (19 starts) against the Rockies.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Colorado will counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0, 1.69 ERA), who’s coming off a 4-1 win Sunday against Philadelphia. Sugano sailed through six innings, allowing four hits and a run while walking one and striking out five. This will be his first career start against the Padres.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>The Rockies might be without catcher Hunter Goodman, their one All-Star last year, after he sustained lacerations on his right middle finger when he was hit by a 95 mph fastball from Randy Vasquez in the sixth inning Thursday night.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Goodman tried to stay in the game and run but walked off the field after seeing blood dripping off his finger. Manager Warren Schaeffer said X-rays were negative and hopes Goodman won’t miss much playing time.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Still, the Rockies have shown definite signs of improvement after a dreadful 2025. Their lineup appears deeper than last year, and the pitching staff has looked more than viable against some good lineups early.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Goodman credited Schaeffer for the early turnaround, which included a four-game winning streak before the loss on Thursday.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>“The vibe’s totally switched,” Goodman said. “The energy that (Schaeffer) brings every day just rubs off on us.” </p> </section><br/><section id="section-16"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Padres #continue #series #Rockies #Xander #Bogaerts #slam #huge

The NHL has hit the business end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with just four teams remaining. The Eastern Conference Finals is entering its fourth game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens, with Carolina leading 2-1. The West sees the Colorado Avalanche trying to stave off elimination against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are leading 3-0.

That’s the top-down view, but if you haven’t been keeping up with the NHL postseason so far, but want to dive in, let’s go a little deeper into these four remaining teams, as well as discuss the broader theme of the playoffs so far.

The Hurricanes have been the most consistent team in the playoffs with an overall record of 10-1, built on the back of their lane-clogging defense and suffocating forecheck. It’s also fair to say they’ve been one of the least-tested teams in the postseason thanks to back-to-back series against the Senators and Flyers to kick off their run.

On paper this team has every tool needed to hoist the cup, but they have two glaring issues right now:

Firstly is in net, where veteran Freddie Andersen has been extremely unreliable in the ECF. In three games he’s allowed 10 goals on 47 shots, an abysmal save percentage of 0.787% — not all of that is on Andersen, with Carolina having defensive breakdowns in every goal allowed, but a playoff-caliber netminder shouldn’t let in as many easy goals as he has.

The second issue is that the Hurricanes’ top line really hasn’t separated itself to prove it can be a cup-winning unit. Andrei Svechnikov/Sebastian Aho/Seth Jarvis have had a lot of opportunities, but not a lot of results. They need this top line to pick up their play in order to really feel like a team that can go all the way.

MONTREAL, CANADA - MAY 25: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Jordan Martinook #48 and Jalen Chatfield #5 after scoring the game-winning goal against the Montréal Canadiens during overtime in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

MONTREAL, CANADA – MAY 25: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Jordan Martinook #48 and Jalen Chatfield #5 after scoring the game-winning goal against the Montréal Canadiens during overtime in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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Montreal has re-emerged this season to become an exciting and young team, with legitimate Stanley Cup potential in the future. I say, “in the future,” because the ECF thus far has proven there’s still a lot to work on for the Habs. Their free-flowing offense based on long outlet passes to the wings is a beautiful tactic, but it’s too predictable and one-note. It caught Carolina off guard in Game 1, but they’ve since adjusted to allow only 25 shots in two games, after Montreal had 22 shots in Game 1 alone.

The team needs more toughness, both up front and on the blue line — which can come with time. The real story of the postseason for Montreal has been the breakout performance of rookie goalie Jakub Dobeš, who is cementing himself as an absolute phenom. Without Dobeš in goal the Canadiens would have likely allowed five or six more goals in this series, and the rookie legitimately looks like a future Vezina-caliber tender.

This series is far from over with Carolina really struggling to get quality opportunities because of Dobeš, while also having extreme goaltending issues of their own. Montreal is fast, skilled, and if they can crack the code to breaking through the Canes’ defense then they will cause problems.

The Canadiens went through the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the East to reach this point. They proved their mettle against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, both of whom were outclassed. Meanwhile the Hurricanes had an easier route through the Metropolitan division, but showed why they were the top team in the Eastern Conference this season.

The Avs were the runaway favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year on the back of an astounding regular season that saw the team finish at 55-16-11 to win the Presidents’ Cup — but everything is going wrong. A late-season injury to phenom defenseman Cale Makar carried into the playoffs, and his absence is really showing in the Western Conference Finals.

Without Makar at full strength, the shape of Colorado falls apart, both offensively and defensively. You can see the void on the ice, and problematically other players haven’t stepped up. Martin Necas has largely disappeared this postseason, and with him playing poorly we’ve see Nathan McKinnon suffer as well.

Call it the Presidents’ Cup Curse, but this doesn’t look anything like the Avalanche team which bodied the league during the regular season, then beat the Stars and Wild. Colorado is out of gas, and down 3-0 against the Knights means it’s almost assured they will go home.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 24: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with Tomas Hertl #48 and Mitch Marner #93 during the second period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 24: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with Tomas Hertl #48 and Mitch Marner #93 during the second period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Full credit to the Knights, because they really looked nothing like a cup team until they installed John Tortarella as head coach late in the season. This team is an entirely different animal with Torts on the bench, and their veteran experience paired with star power have made them a team to watch.

One of the biggest benefactors of the new coaching scheme has been Mitch Marner, who was the Knights’ big free agent signing last summer. Initially, he struggled to find his footing in Vegas, but in the postseason he has 21 points in 15 games — earning every cent of his big money contract.

This is a team that is really difficult to put in a box. They were so average during the regular season it’s tough to ignore, but so good now that it can’t be overlooked. Now they’re taking it to Colorado in the Western Conference Finals to give themselves a legitimate shot to win it all.

This was a similar story to the East where the Avalanche went thought the toughest competition inside the conference, while the Golden Knights got an easy road. If you see people complaining about the playoff structure in the NHL then the west is the best reason why, because the Avs had to play the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the West just to reach the conference finals, despite being the best team in the conference — while Vegas drew No. 6 and No. 7 ranked teams, while finishing 5th in the division.

Stanley Cup Finals prediction

The Golden Knights should close out against the Avalanche, while I believe the Hurricanes will need six games to put away Montreal. This sets us up for Vegas vs. Carolina in the Stanley Cup Finals.

It’s been a tremendous run for the Golden Knights, but Carolina is the toughest team in these playoffs. Their defense alone makes them nearly impenetrable, and no team has solved it so far.

Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, 4-2

#NHL #Stanley #Cup #Playoffs #Conference #primer #race #cup #real">NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference primer as the race for the cup gets real  The NHL has hit the business end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with just four teams remaining. The Eastern Conference Finals is entering its fourth game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens, with Carolina leading 2-1. The West sees the Colorado Avalanche trying to stave off elimination against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are leading 3-0.That’s the top-down view, but if you haven’t been keeping up with the NHL postseason so far, but want to dive in, let’s go a little deeper into these four remaining teams, as well as discuss the broader theme of the playoffs so far.The Hurricanes have been the most consistent team in the playoffs with an overall record of 10-1, built on the back of their lane-clogging defense and suffocating forecheck. It’s also fair to say they’ve been one of the least-tested teams in the postseason thanks to back-to-back series against the Senators and Flyers to kick off their run.On paper this team has every tool needed to hoist the cup, but they have two glaring issues right now:Firstly is in net, where veteran Freddie Andersen has been extremely unreliable in the ECF. In three games he’s allowed 10 goals on 47 shots, an abysmal save percentage of 0.787% — not all of that is on Andersen, with Carolina having defensive breakdowns in every goal allowed, but a playoff-caliber netminder shouldn’t let in as many easy goals as he has.The second issue is that the Hurricanes’ top line really hasn’t separated itself to prove it can be a cup-winning unit. Andrei Svechnikov/Sebastian Aho/Seth Jarvis have had a lot of opportunities, but not a lot of results. They need this top line to pick up their play in order to really feel like a team that can go all the way.MONTREAL, CANADA – MAY 25: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Jordan Martinook #48 and Jalen Chatfield #5 after scoring the game-winning goal against the Montréal Canadiens during overtime in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Getty ImagesMontreal has re-emerged this season to become an exciting and young team, with legitimate Stanley Cup potential in the future. I say, “in the future,” because the ECF thus far has proven there’s still a lot to work on for the Habs. Their free-flowing offense based on long outlet passes to the wings is a beautiful tactic, but it’s too predictable and one-note. It caught Carolina off guard in Game 1, but they’ve since adjusted to allow only 25 shots in two games, after Montreal had 22 shots in Game 1 alone.The team needs more toughness, both up front and on the blue line — which can come with time. The real story of the postseason for Montreal has been the breakout performance of rookie goalie Jakub Dobeš, who is cementing himself as an absolute phenom. Without Dobeš in goal the Canadiens would have likely allowed five or six more goals in this series, and the rookie legitimately looks like a future Vezina-caliber tender.This series is far from over with Carolina really struggling to get quality opportunities because of Dobeš, while also having extreme goaltending issues of their own. Montreal is fast, skilled, and if they can crack the code to breaking through the Canes’ defense then they will cause problems.The Canadiens went through the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the East to reach this point. They proved their mettle against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, both of whom were outclassed. Meanwhile the Hurricanes had an easier route through the Metropolitan division, but showed why they were the top team in the Eastern Conference this season.The Avs were the runaway favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year on the back of an astounding regular season that saw the team finish at 55-16-11 to win the Presidents’ Cup — but everything is going wrong. A late-season injury to phenom defenseman Cale Makar carried into the playoffs, and his absence is really showing in the Western Conference Finals.Without Makar at full strength, the shape of Colorado falls apart, both offensively and defensively. You can see the void on the ice, and problematically other players haven’t stepped up. Martin Necas has largely disappeared this postseason, and with him playing poorly we’ve see Nathan McKinnon suffer as well.Call it the Presidents’ Cup Curse, but this doesn’t look anything like the Avalanche team which bodied the league during the regular season, then beat the Stars and Wild. Colorado is out of gas, and down 3-0 against the Knights means it’s almost assured they will go home.LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 24: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with Tomas Hertl #48 and Mitch Marner #93 during the second period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) Getty ImagesFull credit to the Knights, because they really looked nothing like a cup team until they installed John Tortarella as head coach late in the season. This team is an entirely different animal with Torts on the bench, and their veteran experience paired with star power have made them a team to watch.One of the biggest benefactors of the new coaching scheme has been Mitch Marner, who was the Knights’ big free agent signing last summer. Initially, he struggled to find his footing in Vegas, but in the postseason he has 21 points in 15 games — earning every cent of his big money contract.This is a team that is really difficult to put in a box. They were so average during the regular season it’s tough to ignore, but so good now that it can’t be overlooked. Now they’re taking it to Colorado in the Western Conference Finals to give themselves a legitimate shot to win it all.This was a similar story to the East where the Avalanche went thought the toughest competition inside the conference, while the Golden Knights got an easy road. If you see people complaining about the playoff structure in the NHL then the west is the best reason why, because the Avs had to play the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the West just to reach the conference finals, despite being the best team in the conference — while Vegas drew No. 6 and No. 7 ranked teams, while finishing 5th in the division.Stanley Cup Finals predictionThe Golden Knights should close out against the Avalanche, while I believe the Hurricanes will need six games to put away Montreal. This sets us up for Vegas vs. Carolina in the Stanley Cup Finals.It’s been a tremendous run for the Golden Knights, but Carolina is the toughest team in these playoffs. Their defense alone makes them nearly impenetrable, and no team has solved it so far.Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, 4-2  #NHL #Stanley #Cup #Playoffs #Conference #primer #race #cup #real

MONTREAL, CANADA - MAY 25: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Jordan Martinook #48 and Jalen Chatfield #5 after scoring the game-winning goal against the Montréal Canadiens during overtime in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

MONTREAL, CANADA – MAY 25: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Jordan Martinook #48 and Jalen Chatfield #5 after scoring the game-winning goal against the Montréal Canadiens during overtime in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Montreal has re-emerged this season to become an exciting and young team, with legitimate Stanley Cup potential in the future. I say, “in the future,” because the ECF thus far has proven there’s still a lot to work on for the Habs. Their free-flowing offense based on long outlet passes to the wings is a beautiful tactic, but it’s too predictable and one-note. It caught Carolina off guard in Game 1, but they’ve since adjusted to allow only 25 shots in two games, after Montreal had 22 shots in Game 1 alone.

The team needs more toughness, both up front and on the blue line — which can come with time. The real story of the postseason for Montreal has been the breakout performance of rookie goalie Jakub Dobeš, who is cementing himself as an absolute phenom. Without Dobeš in goal the Canadiens would have likely allowed five or six more goals in this series, and the rookie legitimately looks like a future Vezina-caliber tender.

This series is far from over with Carolina really struggling to get quality opportunities because of Dobeš, while also having extreme goaltending issues of their own. Montreal is fast, skilled, and if they can crack the code to breaking through the Canes’ defense then they will cause problems.

The Canadiens went through the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the East to reach this point. They proved their mettle against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, both of whom were outclassed. Meanwhile the Hurricanes had an easier route through the Metropolitan division, but showed why they were the top team in the Eastern Conference this season.

The Avs were the runaway favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year on the back of an astounding regular season that saw the team finish at 55-16-11 to win the Presidents’ Cup — but everything is going wrong. A late-season injury to phenom defenseman Cale Makar carried into the playoffs, and his absence is really showing in the Western Conference Finals.

Without Makar at full strength, the shape of Colorado falls apart, both offensively and defensively. You can see the void on the ice, and problematically other players haven’t stepped up. Martin Necas has largely disappeared this postseason, and with him playing poorly we’ve see Nathan McKinnon suffer as well.

Call it the Presidents’ Cup Curse, but this doesn’t look anything like the Avalanche team which bodied the league during the regular season, then beat the Stars and Wild. Colorado is out of gas, and down 3-0 against the Knights means it’s almost assured they will go home.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 24: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with Tomas Hertl #48 and Mitch Marner #93 during the second period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 24: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with Tomas Hertl #48 and Mitch Marner #93 during the second period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Full credit to the Knights, because they really looked nothing like a cup team until they installed John Tortarella as head coach late in the season. This team is an entirely different animal with Torts on the bench, and their veteran experience paired with star power have made them a team to watch.

One of the biggest benefactors of the new coaching scheme has been Mitch Marner, who was the Knights’ big free agent signing last summer. Initially, he struggled to find his footing in Vegas, but in the postseason he has 21 points in 15 games — earning every cent of his big money contract.

This is a team that is really difficult to put in a box. They were so average during the regular season it’s tough to ignore, but so good now that it can’t be overlooked. Now they’re taking it to Colorado in the Western Conference Finals to give themselves a legitimate shot to win it all.

This was a similar story to the East where the Avalanche went thought the toughest competition inside the conference, while the Golden Knights got an easy road. If you see people complaining about the playoff structure in the NHL then the west is the best reason why, because the Avs had to play the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the West just to reach the conference finals, despite being the best team in the conference — while Vegas drew No. 6 and No. 7 ranked teams, while finishing 5th in the division.

Stanley Cup Finals prediction

The Golden Knights should close out against the Avalanche, while I believe the Hurricanes will need six games to put away Montreal. This sets us up for Vegas vs. Carolina in the Stanley Cup Finals.

It’s been a tremendous run for the Golden Knights, but Carolina is the toughest team in these playoffs. Their defense alone makes them nearly impenetrable, and no team has solved it so far.

Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, 4-2

#NHL #Stanley #Cup #Playoffs #Conference #primer #race #cup #real">NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference primer as the race for the cup gets real

The NHL has hit the business end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with just four teams remaining. The Eastern Conference Finals is entering its fourth game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens, with Carolina leading 2-1. The West sees the Colorado Avalanche trying to stave off elimination against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are leading 3-0.

That’s the top-down view, but if you haven’t been keeping up with the NHL postseason so far, but want to dive in, let’s go a little deeper into these four remaining teams, as well as discuss the broader theme of the playoffs so far.

The Hurricanes have been the most consistent team in the playoffs with an overall record of 10-1, built on the back of their lane-clogging defense and suffocating forecheck. It’s also fair to say they’ve been one of the least-tested teams in the postseason thanks to back-to-back series against the Senators and Flyers to kick off their run.

On paper this team has every tool needed to hoist the cup, but they have two glaring issues right now:

Firstly is in net, where veteran Freddie Andersen has been extremely unreliable in the ECF. In three games he’s allowed 10 goals on 47 shots, an abysmal save percentage of 0.787% — not all of that is on Andersen, with Carolina having defensive breakdowns in every goal allowed, but a playoff-caliber netminder shouldn’t let in as many easy goals as he has.

The second issue is that the Hurricanes’ top line really hasn’t separated itself to prove it can be a cup-winning unit. Andrei Svechnikov/Sebastian Aho/Seth Jarvis have had a lot of opportunities, but not a lot of results. They need this top line to pick up their play in order to really feel like a team that can go all the way.

MONTREAL, CANADA - MAY 25: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Jordan Martinook #48 and Jalen Chatfield #5 after scoring the game-winning goal against the Montréal Canadiens during overtime in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

MONTREAL, CANADA – MAY 25: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Jordan Martinook #48 and Jalen Chatfield #5 after scoring the game-winning goal against the Montréal Canadiens during overtime in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Montreal has re-emerged this season to become an exciting and young team, with legitimate Stanley Cup potential in the future. I say, “in the future,” because the ECF thus far has proven there’s still a lot to work on for the Habs. Their free-flowing offense based on long outlet passes to the wings is a beautiful tactic, but it’s too predictable and one-note. It caught Carolina off guard in Game 1, but they’ve since adjusted to allow only 25 shots in two games, after Montreal had 22 shots in Game 1 alone.

The team needs more toughness, both up front and on the blue line — which can come with time. The real story of the postseason for Montreal has been the breakout performance of rookie goalie Jakub Dobeš, who is cementing himself as an absolute phenom. Without Dobeš in goal the Canadiens would have likely allowed five or six more goals in this series, and the rookie legitimately looks like a future Vezina-caliber tender.

This series is far from over with Carolina really struggling to get quality opportunities because of Dobeš, while also having extreme goaltending issues of their own. Montreal is fast, skilled, and if they can crack the code to breaking through the Canes’ defense then they will cause problems.

The Canadiens went through the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the East to reach this point. They proved their mettle against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, both of whom were outclassed. Meanwhile the Hurricanes had an easier route through the Metropolitan division, but showed why they were the top team in the Eastern Conference this season.

The Avs were the runaway favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year on the back of an astounding regular season that saw the team finish at 55-16-11 to win the Presidents’ Cup — but everything is going wrong. A late-season injury to phenom defenseman Cale Makar carried into the playoffs, and his absence is really showing in the Western Conference Finals.

Without Makar at full strength, the shape of Colorado falls apart, both offensively and defensively. You can see the void on the ice, and problematically other players haven’t stepped up. Martin Necas has largely disappeared this postseason, and with him playing poorly we’ve see Nathan McKinnon suffer as well.

Call it the Presidents’ Cup Curse, but this doesn’t look anything like the Avalanche team which bodied the league during the regular season, then beat the Stars and Wild. Colorado is out of gas, and down 3-0 against the Knights means it’s almost assured they will go home.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 24: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with Tomas Hertl #48 and Mitch Marner #93 during the second period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 24: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with Tomas Hertl #48 and Mitch Marner #93 during the second period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Full credit to the Knights, because they really looked nothing like a cup team until they installed John Tortarella as head coach late in the season. This team is an entirely different animal with Torts on the bench, and their veteran experience paired with star power have made them a team to watch.

One of the biggest benefactors of the new coaching scheme has been Mitch Marner, who was the Knights’ big free agent signing last summer. Initially, he struggled to find his footing in Vegas, but in the postseason he has 21 points in 15 games — earning every cent of his big money contract.

This is a team that is really difficult to put in a box. They were so average during the regular season it’s tough to ignore, but so good now that it can’t be overlooked. Now they’re taking it to Colorado in the Western Conference Finals to give themselves a legitimate shot to win it all.

This was a similar story to the East where the Avalanche went thought the toughest competition inside the conference, while the Golden Knights got an easy road. If you see people complaining about the playoff structure in the NHL then the west is the best reason why, because the Avs had to play the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the West just to reach the conference finals, despite being the best team in the conference — while Vegas drew No. 6 and No. 7 ranked teams, while finishing 5th in the division.

Stanley Cup Finals prediction

The Golden Knights should close out against the Avalanche, while I believe the Hurricanes will need six games to put away Montreal. This sets us up for Vegas vs. Carolina in the Stanley Cup Finals.

It’s been a tremendous run for the Golden Knights, but Carolina is the toughest team in these playoffs. Their defense alone makes them nearly impenetrable, and no team has solved it so far.

Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, 4-2

#NHL #Stanley #Cup #Playoffs #Conference #primer #race #cup #real

Royal Challengers Bengaluru became only the fourth team to make it to consecutive finals in the Indian Premier League.

Defending champion RCB achieved the feat by beating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in the Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala on Tuesday.

Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians are the other three teams to pull off the feat.

CSK’s streak extended to four consecutive finals, from 2010 to 2013, with the side winning two of them.

Mumbai Indians followed suit by winning the 2019 and 2020 titles. Titans joined in by entering the 2022 and 2023 summit clashes, winning the first one.

Teams to make consecutive IPL finals

Chennai Super Kings: 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 (four consecutive finals)

Mumbai Indians: 2019 and 2020

Gujarat Titans: 2022 and 2023

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 2025 and 2026

Published on May 26, 2026

#RCB #fourth #team #enter #consecutive #IPL #finals">RCB becomes fourth team to enter consecutive IPL finals  Royal Challengers Bengaluru became only the fourth team to make it to consecutive finals in the Indian Premier League.Defending champion RCB achieved the feat by beating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in the Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala on Tuesday.Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians are the other three teams to pull off the feat.CSK’s streak extended to four consecutive finals, from 2010 to 2013, with the side winning two of them.Mumbai Indians followed suit by winning the 2019 and 2020 titles. Titans joined in by entering the 2022 and 2023 summit clashes, winning the first one.
Teams to make consecutive IPL finals

Chennai Super Kings: 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 (four consecutive finals)

Mumbai Indians: 2019 and 2020

Gujarat Titans: 2022 and 2023

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 2025 and 2026
Published on May 26, 2026  #RCB #fourth #team #enter #consecutive #IPL #finals

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