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NHL Morning Skate – Feb. 13, 2023

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* Three Pacific Division teams picked up wins Sunday, with the Golden Knights building a three-point lead atop the group thanks to a five-goal, third-period outburst.

Jordan Harris became the first rookie defenseman to score multiple times in a game for the Canadiens in over a decade as Montreal defeated Edmonton at Bell Centre.

Tage Thompson can require the fewest contests to reach the 70-point mark by a Sabres skater since 1992-93 when Buffalo visits Los Angeles during Monday’s five-game slate.


TRIO OF PACIFIC DIVISION CLUBS PICK UP WINS SUNDAY
The Golden Knights, Kraken and Sharks each earned wins Sunday, with the former two clubs making gains in the Western Conference and Pacific Division standings, respectively.

* Michael Amadio (1-1—2) was one of a franchise-high seven players with a multi-point game for Vegas as the Golden Knights defeated the Ducks after a five-goal outburst in the third period, matching their franchise mark for most in a single frame (also 5 in P1 on March 9, 2019). With the victory, Vegas (32-18-4, 68 points) built a three-point lead atop the Pacific Division and moved within two points of idle Dallas (30-14-10, 70 points) for the top spot in the Western Conference.

Jaden Schwartz found the back of the net twice to help Seattle claim its 17th road win of 2022-23, trailing only New Jersey (19) for the most among all teams. The Kraken improved to 30-18-5 (65 points), leapfrogging the Oilers (30-19-5, 65 points) and Kings (29-18-7, 65 points) to take over second place in the Pacific Division.

* Erik Karlsson (1-2—3) factored on three of his team’s four goals as the Sharks defeated the Capitals at Capital One Arena on Sunday. Karlsson became just the third active defenseman to record eight three-point games in a single season, joining Roman Josi (12 GP in 2021-22) and Mark Giordano (8 GP in 2018-19).



ROOKIE DEFENSEMAN HARRIS HELPS CANADIENS BEST OILERS
With all eyes on Connor McDavid, who entered Sunday three points shy of 100 on the season, Montreal held the League-scoring leader off the scoresheet while rookie defenseman Jordan Harris netted two of six Canadiens goals en route to victory at Bell Centre. Montreal’s six-goal output was just one shy of its single-game high this season (7 on Dec. 29, 2022 at STL).

* Harris, who became the first Canadiens defenseman to put up a multi-goal performance in 2022-23, also became Montreal’s first rookie blueliner to score twice in a game in over a decade.



Alex Belzile (31 years, 165 days) became the seventh-oldest player to score his first NHL goal with Montreal and the oldest since Herb Gardiner (35 years, 35 days on Dec. 7, 1926) almost a century ago.

QUICK CLICKS

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Anton Forsberg out indefinitely for Senators after leaving game on stretcher

SEVERAL PLAYERS CAN EXTEND STEAKS, REACH SEASON BENCHMARKS MONDAY
Several players will look to extend streaks and reach season benchmarks during Monday’s five-game slate, which opens with the Senators (24-24-3, 51 points) hosting the Flames (25-18-10, 60 points) on Sportsnet and closes with the Sabres (26-21-4, 56 points) squaring off against the Kings (29-18-7, 65 points) on TVA Sports.


Claude Giroux holds the NHL’s longest active goal streak, having found the back of the net in each of Ottawa’s past five games (6-3—9). Should he score Monday, Giroux would tie Drake Batherson (6 GP in 2020-21), Jason Spezza (6 GP in 2009-10), Dany Heatley (6 GP in 2006-07), Daniel Alfredsson (6 GP in 2006-07) and Bob Kudelski (6 GP in 1993-94) for the second-longest goal streak in Senators history behind only Connor Brown (8 GP in 2020-21).

Elias Lindholm (15-33—48 in 52 GP) leads Calgary with 48 points this season. With two points Monday, Lindholm can record his fourth career 50-point season – the most by a Flames player since he joined the club in 2018-19, surpassing Johnny Gaudreau (3x) and Matthew Tkachuk (3x).

Adrian Kempe scored four straight goals Saturday and became the first Kings player with as many in a game since Dustin Brown nearly five years ago (April 5, 2018 vs. MIN). Should he open the scoring for Los Angeles against Buffalo, Kempe would become just the third Kings player to net five consecutive team goals – he would join Luc Robitaille (5 from Feb. 4-6, 1992) and Tomas Sandstrom (5 from Nov. 22-24, 1990).

Tage Thompson (35-34—69 in 51 GP) needs one point to become Buffalo’s first player to reach the 70-point mark in a season since Jack Eichel (36-42—78 in 68 GP) in 2019-20. Thompson is on pace to become the sixth different Sabres skater to record 100 or more points in a campaign, a feat last achieved by Pat LaFontaine (53-95—148 in 84 GP) and Alexander Mogilny (76-51—127 in 77 GP) in 1992-93.

NBA Preview: Los Angeles Lakers (26-31) at Portland Trail Blazers (27-29)

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Likely without LeBron James, Lakers visit Blazers

LeBron James is nearly certain to miss his third consecutive contest when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.

James is dealing with a painful left foot injury and hasn’t played since surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time leading scorer in NBA history on Tuesday.

James underwent tests that didn’t detect a serious injury and the club is hoping he will be able to play in Wednesday’s home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham said after Saturday’s 109-103 road win over the Golden State Warriors that James needs to rest the foot.

James is having a stellar season with averages of 30.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists, but it isn’t reflected in the team’s record. The Lakers are a meager 26-31 and stand 13th (out of 15 teams) in the Western Conference.

The clash with the Trail Blazers is pivotal because Portland (27-29) is 12th in the West and the first team Los Angeles needs to surpass.

The Lakers drew encouragement from the win over the Warriors as they trotted out a revamped team after a flurry of trade deadline activity.

D’Angelo Russell, acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves for his second stint with Los Angeles, stood out with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Dennis Schroder paced the Lakers with 26 points.

Portland has lost three of its four games and 16 of its past 26.

The Trail Blazers are coming off Saturday’s 138-129 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland is 0-3 against the 10th-place Thunder this season.

Lillard scored 38 points to score at least 30 for the 14th time in the past 18 contests. That run includes a season-high 60 in a 134-124 home win over the Utah Jazz on Jan. 25.

Portland almost surely will be without forward Jerami Grant, who was placed in the NBA concussion protocol on Saturday, one day after the loss to Oklahoma City.

Grant sustained a bruised right eye when he was hit in the face in the first quarter. He returned in the second period and finished with 23 points in 37 minutes against the Thunder. But the Trail Blazers said he began exhibiting concussion symptoms on Saturday. Grant will have to pass a series of steps before he can return.

Cam Reddish made his Portland debut against the Thunder and scored 11 points in 17 minutes. He was acquired from the New York Knicks prior to Thursday’s trade deadline.

NBA Preview: Washington Wizards (26-29) at Golden State Warriors (28-28)

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Warriors, Wizards sure to feature new lineups for cross-conference rematch

Two teams sitting in ninth place in their respective conferences hope to take a step forward at the other’s expense when the Washington Wizards visit the Golden State Warriors on Monday night in San Francisco.

The game is a rematch of a 127-118 Warriors road win on Jan. 16, but much has changed in the four weeks since.

The Wizards were without injured Bradley Beal that day, and were helped by reserve Rui Hachimura, who finished with 16 points.

The Warriors saw enough of Hachimura on Saturday night, when he helped his new team — the Los Angeles Lakers — record an important 109-103 win in San Francisco. He had two late baskets that proved to be key and, coincidentally, scored 16 points in the victory.

Hachimura was dealt late last month to the Lakers for Kendrick Nunn, who has helped Washington win its last two games. He contributed six points and four rebounds off the bench in just 11 minutes in a 118-104 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, then had 10 points and six assists in increased minutes (22) in a 127-113 homestand-closing victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

The Wizards have been streaky this season. The last time they opened a two-game winning streak, it grew into a six-game run last month. But in between those six wins and the current two-game streak, they dropped three straight.

The poster boy for the ins-and-outs has been Beal, who has missed five, six, five, three and two straight games at different points of the season. But he’s healthy now, having had a 17-point, 10-assist double-double in the Charlotte win before going for 32 points against Indiana.

With Beal watching, Stephen Curry was the star of the show in the Warriors’ earlier visit to Washington, bombing in 41 points. But Curry has missed the last three games with a left leg injury that’s expected to keep him out through the All-Star break, and perhaps longer.

Golden State also finds itself distracted by the status of Gary Payton II, who was acquired at the trade deadline from Portland. A physical examination required to complete the deal reportedly revealed internal issues possibly related to core-muscles surgery he had in the offseason.

According to reports Sunday night, the Warriors will go through with the trade and acquire Payton, but what impact the injury will have on his playing time remains unknown.

With Curry missing and Payton not around, the Warriors went out and suffered Saturday’s loss to the Lakers, with Klay Thompson’s 3-for-13 night on 3-pointers mirroring the team’s 12-for-44 performance from deep.

With the Wizards’ visit and a trip to Los Angeles to face the Clippers standing between his .500 team and an eight-day break, Warriors coach Steve Kerr found himself counting the days after Saturday’s defeat.

NBA Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves (30-29) at Dallas Mavericks (31-27)

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Mavs’ Kyrie Irving makes home debut vs. revamped Wolves

If their first game together is any indication of what’s to come, Dallas Mavericks guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving won’t need long to find a rhythm.

The talented duo returns to the court Monday when the Mavericks face the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, who also shook up their roster last week.

Dallas had its three-game winning streak halted on Saturday with a 133-128 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. In his second game since being acquired from the Brooklyn Nets, Irving tallied 28 points and seven assists.

Monday’s contest in Dallas marks the home debut for Irving, who began his Mavericks career with back-to-back games in Sacramento.

Doncic returned after missing four games due to a heel injury and had 27 points and nine rebounds in Saturday’s loss.

Irving’s arrival has resulted in additional playing time for center JaVale McGee, who was buried on the team’s bench before averaging 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds over the past two games. Kidd said McGee is a perfect fit with Irving on pick-and-roll situations.

The Mavericks are monitoring the status of guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who missed the second half of Saturday’s game with right hamstring tightness.

The Mavs and the Wolves are meeting for the first time since splitting back-to-back games in Minnesota in mid-December. The Mavericks have won five straight and 22 of the last 30 matchups against the Timberwolves in Dallas.

Doncic is averaging 22.2 points (his lowest scoring average against any team) in 12 career games against the Wolves, who are hoping for a spark from newly acquired point guard Mike Conley.

Minnesota is concluding a four-game road trip after losing 128-107 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Conley, acquired from the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline, scored nine points on 3-of-7 shooting in 26 minutes.

Last week’s trade reunited Conley with Wolves center Rudy Gobert after the pair played together in Utah the past three seasons. Minnesota coach Chris Finch said Conley’s arrival could provide immediate benefits for Gobert.

Minnesota has battled inconsistent play minus star Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been out for more than two months because of a calf injury. The Wolves are hoping the veteran Conley can bring some much-needed stability on both ends of the floor.

NBA Preview: New Orleans Pelicans (29-28) at Oklahoma City Thunder (27-28)

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Pelicans look to sort out road woes vs. Thunder

The New Orleans Pelicans looked like they were starting to figure things out.

That was before Friday’s 118-107 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers ended the Pelicans’ three-game winning streak that had immediately followed a 10-game losing skid.

New Orleans will try to bounce back from that loss Monday when it takes on the host Oklahoma City Thunder.

New Orleans is looking to snap a six-game road losing streak.

The Pelicans will have to do that without Zion Williamson, who hasn’t played since Jan. 2 with a right hamstring injury. Williamson was expected to return before the All-Star break but recently suffered a setback that will keep him out for several more weeks.

While Williamson won’t be with New Orleans, the Pelicans figure to have Josh Richardson available after he was acquired from the San Antonio Spurs at the trade deadline on Thursday.

Richardson is averaging 11.5 points, 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 35.7 percent from beyond the arc this season.

The Pelicans are going for the season-series victory over the Thunder, as New Orleans won the first two meetings between the teams this season. The Western Conference foes will meet again on March 11. The Pelicans’ two previous victories were by a combined seven points.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 37.5 points per game against the Pelicans this season, including scoring a career-high 44 points in New Orleans’ 128-125 overtime victory on Dec. 23.

Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off his second 44-point effort in the Thunder’s 138-129 win at Portland on Friday.

All of Gilgeous-Alexander’s baskets in that game came in the paint, as he went 13-of-15 inside the arc. Only one of those shots came from outside the restricted area underneath the basket. He was also 18-of-19 at the free-throw line.

Dario Saric has yet to make his Thunder debut after being acquired in a deal with the Phoenix Suns that cost Oklahoma City Darius Bazley.

The 6-foot-10 Saric is shooting 35.9 percent from 3-point range in his career and 39.1 percent this season. He will be the oldest player on Oklahoma City’s roster.

The Thunder added Olivier Sarr on a two-way deal Sunday, two days after converting Eugene Omoruyi’s two-way deal to a regular NBA contract. Oklahoma City also waived Justin Jackson, who the Thunder had acquired from the Celtics the trade deadline.

NBA Preview: Orlando Magic (23-34) at Chicago Bulls (26-30)

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The Chicago Bulls’ three-game losing streak has hinged on a series of leaky fourth quarters.

It’s a troubling trend the team will aim to reverse Monday against the visiting Orlando Magic.

Chicago was outscored 97-50 in the fourth quarter of successive road losses to Memphis, Brooklyn and Cleveland, reaching triple-digit scoring as a team just one over that span.

Chicago provided proof such urgency exists in its first meeting against Orlando this season. Trailing by 19 points in the third quarter on Nov. 18, the Bulls rallied to take a late lead, but two crucial missed free throws by former Magic center Nikola Vucevic were costly.

That left the door open for Jalen Suggs, who swished a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds left to seal Orlando’s 108-107 victory.

Behind 32 points apiece from DeRozan and Zach LaVine, the Bulls responded with a 128-109 win at Orlando on Jan. 28. Chicago has won three of five in the series, with DeRozan averaging 34.4 points over that period.

Orlando has lost two of three entering an abbreviated, two-day road trip that concludes Tuesday in Toronto.

The Magic squandered their bid to secure a winning three-game homestand with Saturday’s 107-103 overtime loss to Miami. The Heat outscored the Magic 25-18 in the fourth quarter to force OT, as Orlando had just 12 points over the final 6:40 of regulation and overtime.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley reminded his team it can’t be distraught about officiating.

Fultz led six Orlando players in double figures. Paolo Banchero notched a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while three players chipped in 14 points, including Wendell Carter Jr., who was acquired as part of the Vucevic trade in March 2021.

Vucevic on Saturday contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds for his eighth straight double-double, while LaVine had 23 points.

Still, the Bulls committed a season-high 23 turnovers in a 97-89 loss at Cleveland while scoring just 60 points over the final three quarters.

NBA Preview: Brooklyn Nets (33-23) at New York Knicks (31-27)

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To become a major rivalry, coaches for the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets believe meeting in a playoff series would enhance things.

For now, both sides will settle for jockeying for playoff position in the Eastern Conference as the Nets seek their 10th straight win over the Knicks on Monday night when the intracity foes meet at Madison Square Garden.

Brooklyn hasn’t lost to the Knicks since Jan. 26, 2020. Seven of those wins are by single digits and the Nets have scored at least 110 points in each win, including their 122-115 victory in Brooklyn on Jan. 28 in what turned out to be Kyrie Irving’s final big game as a Net.

Irving scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to save the Nets from blowing a 19-point lead. He played two more games with the Nets before seeking and ultimately getting a trade to Dallas, with Kevin Durant following out the door to Phoenix.

When they had Irving and Durant, the Nets were viewed as being in the upper echelon of the East with the likes of Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia, but the trades may push them into the middle of the pack with the Knicks.

Brooklyn is 8-11 since putting together 12 straight wins from Dec. 7-Jan. 2, with 14 of those games being played since Durant sprained his right knee. The last two have seen mixed results from the revamped lineups.

After scoring 37 points in the fourth quarter in Thursday’s 116-105 home win over Chicago, the Nets were held to 16 points in the fourth of Saturday’s 101-98 home loss to Philadelphia. Brooklyn was outscored 16-4 over the final 7:43 and lost when Spencer Dinwiddie’s triple at the buzzer was ruled to be late.

Mikal Bridges scored 23 in his Nets debut while Cameron Johnson added 12 against the 76ers, but Dinwiddie was held to nine points on 2-of-10 shooting.

While the Nets struggled to find scoring in the fourth quarter, the Knicks scored plenty down the stretch. A night after being held to 15 in the final quarter at Philadelphia, New York scored 39 points in the final 12 minutes of its 126-120 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Jalen Brunson scored 38 points and is averaging 32.0 points in six games since the last meeting with the Nets. Julius Randle added 31 and is averaging 26.3 points in his past six contests.

New York also welcomed Josh Hart to its rotation, and he scored 11 points in 25:39 against Utah while also hitting a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 6:44 left.

NBA Preview: Denver Nuggets (39-18) at Miami Heat (32-25)

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Since the end of last season, the Denver Nuggets have been focused on building a roster to take the next step and win the first title in franchise history.

After a week of trades and signings, Denver’s roster is relatively set for the final push of the regular season. Bones Hyland is out and Thomas Bryant and Reggie Jackson are in, adding veterans to a strong lineup.

The Nuggets should get a good look at their new players Monday night when they wrap up a three-game road trip against the Miami Heat.

Denver added players to start the year without making a move when Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. returned from season-long injuries, and then brought in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown to bolster the roster.

Bryant was acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and Jackson was bought out by Charlotte after the Los Angeles Clippers sent him to the Hornets.

Bryant played two minutes in the Nuggets’ 119-105 win at Charlotte on Saturday night but should get more action against Miami while Jackson slots in as the backup point guard.

With Murray (right knee inflammation) likely out until after the All-Star break and Aaron Gordon (rib contusion) a question mark, the two newest Nuggets could make an immediate impact.

Denver sits atop the Western Conference despite not having Murray for the last four games, but Nikola Jokic has been available and dominating. The Nuggets are unbeaten this year when he has a triple-double and he notched his NBA-high 20th on Saturday night.

It came two nights after a disappointing loss at Orlando.

Miami beat the same Magic team 107-103 in overtime on Saturday night to continue a trend of close games this season. The Heat are 19-11 in games decided by five or fewer points this season, and nine of their last 10 games have been by that margin.

One of those 30 games came in Denver on Dec. 30, a 124-119 Nuggets win.

Miami doesn’t seem bothered by playing in so many close games.

The Heat weren’t as active as Denver at the trading deadline, making one small move to send Dewayne Dedmon to San Antonio for cash considerations. Miami was considered a possible landing spot for Jackson before he went to the Nuggets.

The Heat could be a spot for Russell Westbrook, who was traded to Utah and could be bought out of his contract.

Miami could use another veteran in the backcourt with Kyle Lowry dealing with a knee issue that will keep him out at least until the All-Star break and Victor Oladipo having played in just 26 games this year. The Heat sit atop the Southeast Division but have just a three-game lead on Atlanta.

NBA Preview: Houston Rockets (13-43) at Philadelphia Sixers (36-19)

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The Philadelphia 76ers narrowly escaped with a 101-98 road win against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.

The Sixers open a five-game homestand that spans the All-Star break Monday against the reeling Houston Rockets.

Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 37 points and 13 rebounds and James Harden added 29 points, six assists and six rebounds at Brooklyn.

The Sixers were awarded the victory when Spencer Dinwiddie’s 40-footer was ruled to still be in his hand as time expired.

Jalen McDaniels, acquired at the trade deadline, made his Sixers debut and had five points and four rebounds.

Rivers believes that McDaniels will be an asset to an already deep team.

Philadelphia doesn’t play another road game until March 1 at Miami.

The Rockets will look to snap a five-game losing streak when they battle the Sixers.

Unlike a few previous losses, Houston was much more competitive in Friday’s 97-95 road loss against Miami. Gabe Vincent threw an alley-oop pass to Jimmy Butler for a dunk at the buzzer to lift the Heat.

Ever-improving Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points, Kenyon Martin Jr. added 17, Alperen Sengun contributed 12 and Jalen Green had 11, including what had been the game-tying layup with 0.7 seconds remaining.

The result was another loss, the 43rd of the season for the frustrated Rockets.

The Rockets’ defense was solid throughout against the Heat. That had not been the case in four previous losses — 117-111 to the Toronto Raptors, 153-121 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 140-120 to the Sacramento Kings and 130-128 to the Kings.

To be fair, the young roster has been overhauled. This team is clearly rebuilding for the future.

Players who joined them like Justin Holiday, Danny Green and Frank Kaminsky are likely not going to be retained after the season.

NBA Preview: Utah Jazz (28-30) at Indiana Pacers (25-33)

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The Indiana Pacers hope to get an assist from a familiar face in their efforts to snap out of their recent funk.

George Hill, an Indianapolis native who played for the Pacers from 2011-16, and Jordan Nwora are expected to be available for action Monday night when Indiana hosts the Utah Jazz. The two players were traded to the Pacers last week ahead of the deadline.

The Pacers made the Eastern Conference finals twice and were in the playoffs four times during Hill’s first tenure in Indy. His former teammates are looking forward to the reunion, too.

Indiana is in desperate need of a shot in the arm on the court. The Pacers have lost four straight and 15 of 17 since going 23-18 in the first half of the season.

Utah beat the Pacers in the first matchup of the season 139-119 in Salt Lake City on Dec. 2. Although the Jazz also went through an overhaul leading up to the trade deadline, the team still has the key players from that win.

In that game, Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points with five 3-pointers and 13 rebounds, Walker Kessler totaled 20 points and 11 rebounds, Jordan Clarkson had 19 points and Collin Sexton chipped in with 18 points.

The Jazz are coming off an interesting weekend in the aftermath of trading Mike Conley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Utah rallied in the final minutes to overcome a double-digit deficit in a win at Toronto on Friday and then played the Knicks well in New York before falling 126-120.

Clarkson tied New York at 109 late in the fourth quarter before Jalen Brunson, who had 38 points, sparked a game-clinching spurt for the Knicks.

It was another testament of the resilience of this overachieving Jazz squad.

The Jazz, however, have lost four of five games and are 1-1 on a four-game Eastern road trip.