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MLB Preview: Colorado Rockies (5-14) at Philadelphia Phillies (8-11)

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MLB Preview: Colorado Rockies (5-14) at Philadelphia Phillies (8-11)

COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:

THE GANG HITS THE ROAD
• The Colorado Rockies open a seven-game road trip this evening with game one of a four-game set with the defending National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies before heading to Cleveland for a three-game set with the Guardians.

• The Rockies were swept for the second time with yesterday’s loss … the club’s 14-3 loss was the fourth time Colorado has dropped a game this season by seven or more runs.

• Since winning their first two games of the season the Rockies have gone 3-14 … their .263 winning percentage overall on the season is the lowest in franchise history through 19 games.

WIT OUT
• Colorado has lost eight in a row, its longest losing streak since losing nine straight from Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2019.

• The Rockies allowed 33 runs total in the Pittsburgh series, tied for the 10th most in a three-game series in franchise history, the most since allowing 33 runs to the Dodgers June 1-3, 2018.

• Colorado has been outscored 64-24 (-40) over the past eight games … have slashed .226/.300/.358 with seven home runs over the losing streak, including a .156 (10-for-64) average with runners in scoring position … have posted a 6.65 team ERA (69.0 IP, 51 ER) with an opponent average of .297 (84-for-283), including a .403 average with runners in scoring position (29-for-72).

SERIES JAWNS
• The Rockies have failed to win any of their first six series of the season, dropping four and splitting two … last went winless through their first six series of the season in 2005, when they recorded their first series win in their seventh series of the season, April 22-24 vs. Los Angeles-NL.

BARDO-LY LOVE
• Yesterday, Rockies reliever Daniel Bard pitched a perfect eighth inning in his return from the 15-day injured list (anxiety) having missed the team’s first 18 games.

• In 2022, ranked sixth in the Majors and third in the NL with a career-high 34 saves … his 91.9 save percentage (34 saves, 37 opportunities) was the best in Majors and second-best in a single season in Rockies franchise history (first: Huston Street in 2004, 94.6).

GOBBLER
• Elias Díaz’s 17 games at catcher is tied with Wilson Contreras for first in all of baseball … is tied for first in baseball among catchers (also: J.T. Realmuto) with 17 hits … his 28 total bases ranks third among backstops.

• His five caught stealings are tied for second in baseball while allowing just five stolen bases … his only two errors behind the dish came on two catcher’s interference calls on Opening Day.

SCRAPPLE
• Kris Bryant homered for the second consecutive day on Tuesday night, his first two home runs at Coors Field as a member of the Rockies … hit each of his first six home runs with the Rockies on the road, including his first home run of the season last Friday at Seattle.

• Bryant is slashing .310/.380/.493 on the season and has reached base safely in 17 of 18 games … has reached base safely in 54 of 60 total games in his Rockies career, slashing .307/.377/.481.

YOUSE GUYS
• The Rockies bullpen has tossed 77.0 innings of relief through 19 games, the third-most in the Majors and the most in the National League.

• Over the last 14 games, the bullpen has posted a 3.75 ERA (60.0 IP, 25 ER) with 29 walks and 61 strikeouts while allowing four home runs, tied for the sixth-fewest in baseball during that span.

• Since allowing one earned run in his first outing of the season, LHP Brad Hand has put together seven consecutive scoreless appearances (5.2 IP), striking out nine through this span.

• Brent Suter posted a 1.54 ERA in 11.2 innings across seven appearances, tied for the fifth-most innings of relief in the NL.

GO BIRD(S), GO BIRD(S)
• Reliever Jake Bird pitched a career-high three scoreless innings on Wednesday, allowing one hit, one walk and
striking out four … most innings pitched since tossing 3.1 in relief while with Triple-A Albuquerque on June
25, 2021.
• Has struck out 12 in his last 6.1 innings pitched … in seven career games in which Bird has entered with the
team down five runs, has allowed one run over 11.1 innings (0.79 ERA) while striking out 13.
TAP MAC
• Ryan McMahon has made his last two starts at third base after starting his first 17 at second base in place of the injured Brendan Rodgers (2022 2B Gold Glove winner) … McMahon was a finalised for the Gold Glove at third base in both 2021 and 2022.

• At the plate since returning to the hot corner, McMahon is 5-for-9 with three doubles and one RBI, with an .833 BAbip.

ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #18 RYAN FELTNER RHP
YOUNG GUN
• The now-26-year-old right-hander made 20 appearances and 19 starts in 2022 in his first full season with the Rockies … went 4-9 (Rockies 6-13) with a 6.03 ERA (94.0, 63 ER) in his 19 starts (four QS), walking 33 and striking out 82.

• Was selected by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Ohio State University.

• Born in Orlando, Florida but attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio … was the 2015 Ohio Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and was selected by Toronto in the 25th round of the 2015 Draft but chose to attend Ohio State.

HOW IT’S GOING
• Has yet to log a win over his first three starts of 2023, with the Rockies going 1-2 … has allowed 13 runs on 15 hits across 13.1 innings for an 8.78 ERA.

• Second loss of the season in his last start, last Saturday at Seattle … pitched 3.2 innings and allowed five runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts … allowed just one hit through the first three innings before allowing five runs on four hits in the fourth before exiting with two outs and one on.

• Did not get a decision in the Rockies 7-6 win over the Nationals on April 9 at Coors Field, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings while walking three and striking out three.

• Took the loss in his first start on April 3, allowing five runs over 4.2 innings to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

I DIDN’T HEAR NO BELL
• Has faced the Phillies twice before, both at Citizens Bank Park, on Sept. 12, 2021 and April 27, 2022, the second and third starts of his career … combined to allow six runs on 11 hits across 8.2 innings with five walks and 13 strikeouts.

• On the losing end on April 27, allowing four runs on seven hits across five innings … struck out a career-high tying seven hitters.

HOME HAPPENINGS
• In 2022, went 2-4 (Rockies 4-4) with a 6.46 ERA (39.0 IP, 28 ER) across eight starts at Coors Field, walking 15 and striking out 33 … allowed five home runs while opponents hit .248 (38-for-153).

• Tossed seven one-run innings in his first start at Coors Field May 30 vs. Miami, allowing four hits with one walk and six strikeouts … the lone run came on a solo homer from Jesús Sánchez … tossed at least six innings just once in his seven remaining home starts, posting a 7.59 ERA (32.0 IP, 27 ER).

• Lone career relief appearance came July 29 vs. Los Angeles-NL, tossing 3.1 shutout innings with three hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

ROAD WOES
• Has gone 2-7 with a 6.31 ERA (67.0 IP, 47 ER) in 14 career starts on the road … pitched fewer than five innings seven times, including fewer than four innings four times.

• Posted a 5.73 ERA (55.0 IP, 35 ER) across 11 road starts in 2022, logging a 2-5 record (Rockies 2-9) with 18 walks and 49 strikeouts … opponents slashed .281/.338/.484 with 11 home runs (61-for-217).

BODY OF WORK
• Through his first 24 career starts has gone 4-12 with a 6.65 ERA (113.2 IP, 84 ER), 49 walks and 103 strikeouts … his 6.65 ERA ranks as the-highest in franchise history through a Rockies pitcher’s first 24 starts while his 12 losses are the second-most through a pitcher’s first 24 starts behind Eddie Butler (13 losses, 2014-16)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:

GAME 19 RECAP: The Phillies defeated the White Sox, 5-2, on a getaway day in Chicago … Starter Taijuan Walker (W, 2-1) went 6.1 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts … Trea Turner (3-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI) fell a triple shy of the cycle and the bullpen combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief behind Walker.

ROCKY ROAD: The Phillies have won each of their last five games against the Rockies (since 4/20/22), outscoring Colorado 41-15 in that span (+26 run differential) … The current five-game streak includes four straight wins at CBP, a four-game sweep last April (4/25-28/22) … Last year’s four-game sweep over Colorado was Philadelphia’s first against the Rockies since another four-game sweep, July 23-26, 2010 (at CBP).

PHILLY SPECIAL: Since Rob Thomson took over as manager on June 3, 2022, the Phillies have played 60 games at Citizens Bank Park – they have scored 323 runs in those 60 games (5.38 runs per game) and are slashing .274/.340/.474 with an .814 OPS in 2,241 plate appearances … Among all major league clubs at home since June 3, 2022, the date Thomson took over, the Phillies rank 1st in runs per game (next: COL, 5.24), SLG (next: ATL, .461) & OPS (next: COL, .795) and 2nd in AVG (best: COL, .281) & OBP (best: COL, .341) … The Phillies are 38-22 at CBP under Thomson with a +66 run differential (323-257) … Philadelphia’s .633 winning percentage at home since Thomson took over ranks 4th in the National League behind Atlanta (.750), the Dodgers (.681) & the Mets (.650) and 7th in MLB.

RIPPING HEATERS: This season, Brandon Marsh is batting .394 with a .939 SLG in 37 plate appearances that have ended with a fastball (4-seam, 2-seam/sinker, cutter) … Last season, Marsh hit .243 with a .374 SLG in 227 plate appearances that ended with a heater … Marsh has 10 extra-base hits (5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR) already this season against fastballs (157 fastballs faced) after having 16 last season (984 fastballs faced) … More specifically, Marsh has seen 105 four-seam fastballs this year – he is batting .417 with a 1.042 SLG against them – in 2022 he hit .230 with a .421 SLG against four-seamers and in 2021 he hit .247 with a .351 SLG against four-seamers.

STRIKE ONE, STRIKE TWO, GOOD LUCK: In yesterday’s 5-2 win over the White Sox, Jose Alvarado picked up his 2nd save in as many attempts with a scoreless 9th inning … Alvarado did not record a strikeout for the first time this year and it snapped a streak of 14 consecutive appearances with 2+ strikeouts (9/13/22-4/18/23) … It was Alvarado’s first appearance without a strikeout since August 26, 2022 vs PIT (20 straight G) … Alvarado, who has faced 29 batters this season, has 18 strikeouts and 0 walks … Since his last walk on Sept. 21, 2022 vs TOR, Alvarado has faced 48 batters and has struck out 30 of them (63.0% SO rate) with 0 walks.

STARTING TO FIND IT: Over their last 10 starts (since 4/10), the Phillies rotation has combined for 54.1 innings pitched, and in that span, rank 4th among all ML rotations in innings, trailing only MIL (59.1), PIT (58.1) and SD (55.1) … Over their first nine games of the year (3/30-4/9), the Phillies starting staff combined for 42.2 innings which ranked 24th among ML staffs.

BULLISH ON THE PEN: Over the last four games (since 4/16 at CIN), the Phillies bullpen has totaled 10.2 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts, 0 walks and only four hits allowed while averaging 12.3 pitches per inning pitched … Over their first 15 games of the season (3/30-4/15), the bullpen posted a 7.19 ERA (45 ER, 56.1 IP) with 60 strikeouts to 41 walks while averaging 19.7 pitches per inning pitched.

FEELING SLG-ISH: The Phils enter play tonight with 69 extra-base hits (45 2B, 6 3B, 18 HR) which ranks T-2nd in MLB (with PIT), trailing only the Rays (81 XBH) … Philadelphia’s .448 SLG ranks 4th in MLB behind only the Rays (.542), Dodgers (.457) and Pirates (.449) and their 69 extra-base hits are tied for the 2ndmost by a Phillies club in the modern era through 19 games (with 2019), trailing only the 2009 club (70).

GREAT STOTT!: INF Bryson Stott leads MLB this year with 12 multi-hit games … He is the first Phillies player with 12 multi-hit games through the club’s first 19 team games in the modern era (previous: Pinky Whitney, 11 of 19 in 1931) … Stott hit safely in his first 17 games this year and set a Phillies modern day franchise record for consecutive games with a hit to begin a season … Stott eclipsed Puddin’ Head Jones’ previous mark of 16 straight games to begin the 1950 season … Since last year’s All-Star break (7/23/22), Stott has played in 82 games and is slashing .302/.341/.429 in 329 plate appearances.

TONIGHT’S STARTER – MATT STRAHM • LHP #25
LAST START: 4/15 at CIN: L, 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO, HR … Strahm vs Ashcraft … The Phillies fell to the Cincinnati Reds, 13-0, in a Saturday matinee at GABP.

TONIGHT’S START:
• Swing And a Miss: Strahm’s 32.0% swing and miss % (% of swings and misses on all swings) is tops among all Phillies starters so far this season and well over his career average of 25.1% … He ranks in the 82nd percentile in MLB in swing and miss % this season … Despite allowing 3 runs, 6 of the 8 outs he recorded his last start were strikeouts

• Reverse Splits: 43 of the first 50 hitters Strahm has faced this season have been RHH … They are slashing .132/.233/.211 with 14 SO against him … Among all pitchers with at least 40 RHH faced this season, he ranks 5th in OPP AVG and 6th in OPP OPS (.443) … In his career, RHH are slashing .224/294/.386 as opposed to LHH slash line of .250/.327/.396

• WAR Room: Strahm’s 0.4 fWAR in 3 starts and 1 relief appearance (12.2 IP) has already surpassed his 2022 fWAR of 0.3 in 50 relief appearances (44.2 IP)

• Going Streaking: Strahm began his season with an 11.0-inning scoreless streak (12.0 IP dating back to 2022) that ended in the 2nd inning of his last start … It is still the longest scoreless streak by a Phillie this season by 5.0 IP … Strahm still has not allowed a run at CBP this season (5.0 IP) or in his career (8.2 IP) … Strahm was one of just 4 NL pitcher to have each of his first 2 starts this season be scoreless

• Not As Hard As It Looks: Strahm, who prior to this season had not made a start since August 2021, has both of the scoreless starts by any Phillies pitcher this season … In his 3 starts and 1 relief appearance, Strahm has held opponents to a .156/.240/.222 slash line and struck out 15 of the 50 batters he faced (32.0%)

• vs NL West: 3-10, 4.05 ERA (43 ER, 95.2 IP) in 61 games (9 starts)

HOME:
• 2023: 1-0, 0.00 ERA (5.0 IP) in 1 start

• Career: 9-10, SV, 3.75 ERA (63 ER, 151.1 IP) in 97 games (10 starts)

• CBP: 1-0, 0.00 ERA (8.1 IP) in 4 games (1 start)

2023 SEASON:
• Tied his longest career scoreless start (5.0 IP) on 4/10 vs MIA (other: 4/13/19 at ARI)

• On 4/4 at NYY made his first start since 8/17/21 at COL (51 relief apps between)

MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (7-11) at Pittsburgh Pirates (12-7)

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MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (7-11) at Pittsburgh Pirates (12-7)

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

RED HOTS
• The Reds today returned from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 15-day injured list RHP Luke Weaver…has been on the injured list since Opening Day with right forearm tightness…on 4/9 and 4/14 he made 2 rehabilitation apps with Louisville (0-0, 3.00, 9ip, 3h, 3er, 4bb, 9k, 1hr, 0.78whip, .107baa).

• To make room on the roster for Weaver the Reds optioned to Louisville RHP Luke Weaver, who in his Major League debut started yesterday’s 0-8
loss vs TB (4ip, 7er, 1b, 3k, 1hr).

• On Tuesday the Reds and RHP Hunter Greene agreed to a $53 million, 6-year contract extension through the 2028 season that included a $21 million option and $2 million buyout for 2029.

TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 1 of a 4-game road trip, all to Pit’s PNC Park.

• The Reds are coming off a 3-4 homestand vs the defending National League champion Phillies (2-2) and Rays (1-2).

• Following this series the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for a quick 3-game homestand vs the Rangers before heading out to face the
Athletics (3g) and Padres (3g) in the first of their 3 trips to the West Coast.

SERIES NOTES
• This weekend Reds will face the Pirates in a 4-game series at PNC Park.

• The Reds earned a 2-1 series win vs Pit in the series that opened this 2023 championship season.

• The Reds went 14-29 at Pit’s PNC Park the previous 5 seasons, including an 11-game losing streak spanning 2018-2019 and an 8-game losing streak there to begin the 2019 season.

• Beginning in 2021 at Great American Ball Park, the Reds are 14-8 vs Pit with a 134-78 advantage in runs scored…the Reds have won 22 of the
last 41 games overall vs the Pirates, including 19 of the last 28 gameS vs Pit at GABP.

RANGERS UP NEXT
• The Redlegs are 9-10 all-time vs the Rangers, including 6-5 at Great American Ball Park.

• Beginning Monday the Reds and Rangers will meet for the eighth time overall and for the first time since 2019, also at GABP.

• The Reds haven’t played in Arlington since 2016.

• The Reds are coming off their only interleague series of the season, a 1-2 series loss vs the Rays at Great American Ball Park.

• From 1997-2022 the Redlegs went 188-247 vs the American League, at .432 the lowest interleague winning percentage of any Major League
team…in 2022 the Reds went 12-8 vs AL teams (0-2 vs Cle, 2-0 at Cle 1-2 at Tor, 1-1 at Bos, 3-0 vs TB, 2-1 at NYY, 2-1 vs Bal, 1-1 vs Bos)…last season’s was their first winning record vs the American League since 2013 (11-9)…in the 8 seasons between the 2013 & 2022 season series wins, the Reds went 61-99 vs AL teams (.381).

LEADING OFF
• In the first inning, Reds batters rank fourth in the Major Leagues in batting average (.324, Atl .386, Rays .345, Cardinals .338), second in on-base percentage (.410, NYY .416), sixth in slugging percentage (.515) and T11th in runs scored (12).

• When leading off the Reds’ half of the first inning, Jonathan India is hitting .429 (.556obp, .786slg, 6-14, 3bb, 2 2b, 1hr, 6r).

• India’s 16 runs scored are tied for sixth-most in the Major Leagues.

• India’s 6 runs scored in the first inning are tied for second-most in the Major Leagues (NYY’s Aaron Judge, 8r).

Tonight’s Starter – #34 Luke Weaver, RHP
• On 1/13/23 was signed to a 1-year contract through the 2023 season.

• Prior to the game is expected to come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2023 season and Reds debuts…will be his 10th career appearance and seventh start vs the Pirates, his fifth appearance and fourth start at PNC Park.

• On 3/8, left his third spring training appearance with right forearm tightness…didn’t pitch in another “A” game for the Reds.

• On Opening Day went on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow flexor strain, snapping his 5-season streak on an active Opening Day roster (Cardinals 2018, Diamondbacks 2019-2022).

• On 4/9 and 4/14 made 2 rehabilitation apps with Louisville (0-0, 3.00, 9ip, 3h, 3er, 4bb, 9k, 1hr, 0.78whip, .107baa).

• In 2022, his first season pitching primarily out of the bullpen, for the Diamondbacks and Royals went 1-1, 6.56 in 1 start and 25 relief apps.

• On 8/1 was traded from Ari to KC for IF Emmanuel Rivera.

• Was 1 of 17 players acquired in 2022 by the Royals in their 11 trades…9 of those players appeared in a game for KC last season.

• Following his first appearance of the 2022 season, on 4/7 vs SD, went on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation…didn’t pitch again until 6/12 at Phi.

• Made his only start of last season in his third appearance, an 11-1 Diamondbacks loss on 6/18 vs Min (3.2ip, 10h, 9er, 1bb, 5k, Gary Sánchez 2-run HR)… finished the season with 23 consecutive relief apps (4.76era, 28.1ip).

• Finished the season with a career-high 29.0-inning homerless streak covering 24 apps…didn’t allow a home run after Gary Sánchez’ third-inning HR in Weaver’s only start of the season (6/18 vs Min).

• On 10/26/22 was claimed off waivers by the Mariners…on 11/18 elected free agency…2 months later signed with the Reds.

• Was selected by the Blue Jays out of DeLand (FL) High School in the 19th round of the June 2011 first-year player draft and by the Cardinals out of Florida State University in the first round (27th overall) of the 2014 draft.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:

THE PIRATES:..Have won three straight and four of their last five games…Won a season-high four straight games from 4/3-7…Have not lost back-to-back games since dropping the final two contests of their season-opening series in Cincinnati.

THE RESILIENT PIRATES: Pittsburgh beat the Reds 5-4 on Opening Day before losing each of its final two games of its season-opening series in Cincinnati (it’s the only time this season the Bucs have lost two games in a row)…Since then beginning with the action on April 3, the Pirates have produced the fifth-best record (11-5) in all of Major League Baseball behind the Rays (13-3), Braves (12-4), Brewers (12-4) and Cubs (10-4).

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: The Pirates scored 33 runs during their three-game sweep in their series against the Rockies… That’s the most runs scored for Pittsburgh in a three-game series since plating 34 against the Padres from July 28-30, 2000…Prior to the sweep of the Rockies, the last time Pittsburgh scored 33-plus runs on the road in a three-game series came against the Cubs from September 15-16, 1975 (36 runs).

TAKING A STAND: The Pirates bring a 12-7 record into the opener of this four-game series against the Reds…The Pirates also got off to a 12-7 start during the 2019 campaign…A win tonight would give the Pirates their best start since going 13-7 to begin the 2002 season.

EXTRA EXTRA: Pittsburgh recorded eight extra base hits on Wednesday for the second time this season (also April 7 against the White Sox)…The Pirates enter today tied with Philadelphia for second in all of Major League Baseball with 69 extra base hits…Tampa Bay is pacing MLB with 81 extra base hits this season.

GETTING STRETCHED OUT: Pittsburgh’s starters have worked at least 6.0 innings in each of the last nine games…That’s the longest stretch since going 10 straight games tossing at least 6.0 innings from August 3-12, 2017…During this current nine-game run of tossing at least 6.0 innings, Pittsburgh’s starting rotation is tied with the Cubs for the lowest ERA (2.45) in all of Major League Baseball.

ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: Roansy Contreras gets the start tonight in the opener of this four-game series against the Reds…Contreras allowed two runs in 6.0 innings but had a no-decision in his last start in Pittsburgh’s 6-3 10-inning win saturday at St. Louis…Contreras allowed four earned runs in 14.0 innings in three starts last year against the Reds.

CUTCH CLUTCH: Andrew McCutchen has gone deep in two straight and three times in his last four games…Since April 5, McCutchen ranks 10th among all National League players with a 1.048 OPS…Connor Joe ranks eighth in the NL in that time with a 1.063 OPS, while Rodolfo Castro is ninth with a 1.058 OPS…McCutchen also brings a 13-game on-base streak into today…During his current streak, McCutchen is hitting .327 with three doubles, four homers, eight RBI, .397 OBP, .633 slugging percentage and 1.030 OPS.

RODOLFO RAKING: Rodolfo Castro recorded the second four-RBI game of his career yesterday that was highlighted by his longest career home run at 458 feet…Castro has now hit safely in eight of his last nine games, going 12-for-30 (.400) with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI and a 1.167 OPS…Since April 10, Castro ranks seventh in the National League in OPS, eighth in slugging (.667), fifth in OBP (.500) and tied for fourth in batting average.

LET’S HEAR IT FOR HAYES: Ke’Bryan Hayes enters today with a six-game hitting streak…Since the streak began on April 13, Hayes is hitting .360 (9-for-25) with two doubles, one triple, one home run, four RBI, .452 OBP, .640 slugging percentage and 1.092 OPS.

JACK IN THE BOX: Jack Suwinski is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with a double, four home runs and seven RBI in his last seven games after going 1-for-15 in his first five games…Suwinski is pacing MLB with a 1.440 OPS and 1.000 slugging percentage since April 11.

DEEP THOUGHTS: The Pirates enter today sixth in all of Major League Baseball with 25 home runs…The only five teams in MLB with more are the Rays (42), Dodgers (33), Giants (28), and Braves and Yankees with 27 apiece…Pittsburgh has multiple home runs in each of the last three games and have gone 9-0 this season when going deep more than once in a game.

CARLOS SANTANA’S HITS: Carlos Santana has knocked in a run in each of his last three games while also hitting safely in six of his last seven contests…Beginning with the action on April 5, Santana is hitting .320 (16-for-50) with six doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI in 13 games.

TODAY’S STARTER – 59 – RHP ROANSY CONTRERAS
ROANSY CONTRERAS: The 23-year-old righthander is making his fourth start of the season tonight…Had a no-decision (6.0ip/2er) in his last start Saturday at St. Louis.

vs. CINCINNATI: 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA (14.0ip/4er) in three career starts (all in 2022)…Won a 4-2 decision over Mike Minor in game one of a doubleheader on 7/7 at Great American Ball Park, had a no-decision (4.0ip/1r) in a 10-4 win at Great American on 9/14 and had a no-decision (4.0ip/2r) in an 8-3 win on 9/26 at PNC Park.

NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 3 Preview: Phoenix Suns (1-1) at Los Angeles Clippers (1-1)

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NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 3 Preview: Phoenix Suns (1-1) at Los Angeles Clippers (1-1)

Devin Booker looks to keep rolling as Suns visit Clippers

Kevin Durant was acquired to help the Phoenix Suns get over the top, but Devin Booker remains the club’s elite sharpshooter.

Booker will look to put on another show-stopping performance when the Suns visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night for Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

The teams split the first two games.

Booker, who has spent all eight of his NBA seasons with Phoenix, scored 38 points on 14-of-22 shooting Tuesday when the fourth-seeded Suns evened the series with a 123-109 victory. He made four 3-pointers and added nine assists.

Durant, playing his 10th game as Booker’s teammate, was content to be the side attraction, scoring 25 points.

Phoenix is 9-1 when Durant has played since being acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in February. The loss came in Game 1 of the postseason when the Clippers posted a 115-110 victory.

Booker scored 26 points in the series opener.

The fifth-seeded Clippers attempted to disguise defensive tactics in Game 1, and it worked when the Suns went 6 of 19 from 3-point range and shot 47.6 percent overall.

But Booker said there was better recognition on Tuesday when Los Angeles was switching things up on nearly every possession. The shooting bears it out as Phoenix hit a scintillating 58.8 percent from the field, including 10 of 24 from behind the arc.

Torrey Craig made it look simple for the Suns by knocking down five 3-pointers en route to 17 points.

One issue for the Suns is the condition of veteran point guard Chris Paul, who underwent X-rays on his right hand after Tuesday’s game. The X-rays were negative, and he wasn’t listed on the Wednesday injury report.

Phoenix backup point guard Cameron Payne (lower back) has yet to play in the series, he is considered questionable to see action in Game 3.

Los Angeles’ last points in Game 2 came with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter before Phoenix scored the final eight points.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue wasn’t dismayed, as he said he believes his team is on equal footing with the Suns despite not having star forward Paul George (knee), who will be out again on Thursday.

And at least in Game 3, the Clippers will need to move forward without their other star forward, Kawhi Leonard, who will sit out with a sprained knee.

He scored 38 points in Game 1 and followed up with 31 in Game 2. Leonard was 3 of 5 from 3-point range in both games.

Russell Westbrook, who made a stellar late-game defensive play in Game 1 to protect a Clippers victory, scored 28 points on 9-of-16 shooting in Game 2. He had just nine points on 3-of-19 shooting in the opener.

Westbrook said the Los Angeles defense had some lapses in Game 2.

Leonard is a two-time NBA champion, winning with the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. It’s going to be up to Westbrook, who is looking for his first title, to provide veteran leadership on Thursday.

Leonard was impressed by what he saw his teammate do in Game 1.

NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 3 Preview: Sacramento Kings (2-0) at Golden State Warriors (0-2)

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NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 3 Preview: Sacramento Kings (2-0) at Golden State Warriors (0-2)

Draymond Green insists the Golden State Warriors have a new challenge, even if he won’t be around to get it started, when the defending champions attempt to take the first step toward digging themselves out of a 2-0 hole against the Sacramento Kings in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series Thursday night.

Green was ejected for stomping on the chest of Kings rival Domantas Sabonis in the fourth quarter of Monday’s 114-106 loss in Sacramento.

The defeat has left Golden State down 2-0 for the first time in the Steve Kerr era, during which four of the previous six trips to the playoffs have resulted in championships.

Fellow Warriors veterans Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry offered similarly optimistic views of Golden State’s first 2-0 playoff deficit since 2007.

The Warriors also will host Game 4 on Sunday before the best-of-seven series, if necessary, would return to Sacramento for Game 5 next Wednesday. The Kings hold the home-court advantage in the series by virtue of being seeded third in the West, whereas the Warriors are sixth.

Golden State played nine games without Green in the regular season and won just three of them. However, they went 2-0 at home in those games.

Green will be sitting out a playoff game for just the second time in his career. The last time that happened was when he was suspended for Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a series the Warriors led 3-1 at the time before losing the final three games.

The Kings need just two more wins to move on. They have prevailed in Games 1 and 2 despite being outshot 47.7 percent to 45.3 percent overall and 32.2 percent to 30.0 percent on 3-pointers.

Their advantages have included a 91-82 margin in rebounds, including 29-18 on the offensive boards; a 47-36 edge in free-throw points, getting 61 attempts to Golden State’s 45; and having committed eight fewer turnovers (35-27).

While winning those categories has been enough so far, Kings coach Mike Brown, the 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year, would like to see his offense, which led the NBA in scoring in the regular season, kick into a higher gear.

As a result of what’s being called a bruised sternum, the Kings have listed Sabonis as questionable for Game 3.

NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 3 Preview: Philadelphia Sixers (2-0) at Brooklyn Nets (0-2)

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NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 3 Preview: Philadelphia Sixers (2-0) at Brooklyn Nets (0-2)

The Brooklyn Nets threw everything they could at Joel Emblid, and when the center encountered multiple defenders, he often found other teammates to make plays.

By being able to provide help for Emblid, the Philadelphia 76ers head to Brooklyn, N.Y., seeking a 3-0 lead when the Eastern Conference first-round series continues Thursday night.

The 76ers eye a 3-0 opening-round lead for the third straight year and a seventh straight postseason win over the Nets. If Philadelphia can win Game 3, it can close out the series Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn.

Emblid averaged 24.8 points in four games during the 2019 first-round series against Brooklyn, and through two games in this series, he has averaged 23 points.

He scored 26 when the Sixers opened the series by never trailing in a 121-101 victory Saturday, and then finished with 20 on Monday when Philadelphia pulled away down the stretch for a 96-84 win.

Emblid also helped the Sixers get a commanding 56-33 rebounding edge by grabbing 19 boards, matching his second-highest total in a playoff game and the seventh time in a postseason game he snatched at least 15 boards.

Emblid also finished with seven assists, matching his second-most in a playoff game and it led to the Sixers getting contributions from Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris. Maxey scored 18 of his 33 points in the second half and Harris finished with 13 of his 20 after halftime. The duo made a combined 21 of 37 field-goal attempts and seven of Philadelphia’s 3-pointers.

The Nets’ main problem Monday was the inability to get consistent offense going as they hope to stop an eight-game postseason losing streak. The Nets scored 35 points in the second half and shot 37.5 percent overall, their second-lowest field goal percentage all season.

Cameron Johnson scored 28 points, including a big dunk on Emblid in the first half when the Nets took a five-point halftime lead. He scored only six points after halftime, and Mikal Bridges was held to 21 total on 6-of-15 shooting after opening the series with 30 points.

Among those who did not see the shots fall was Spencer Dinwiddie. He is 10-for-26 in the series and 13-for-47 over his past four games, a span where he has missed 16 of 18 3-point tries.

NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 20, 2023

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NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 20, 2023

* Roope Hintz became the first NHL player in nearly eight years with an even-strength, power-play and shorthanded goal in a playoff contest as the Stars secured a Game 2 win to tie their First Round series at 1-1.

* Two other teams evened their First Round series via Game 2 wins Wednesday including the Panthers potting six goals at TD Garden to defeat the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins, who had accumulated 43 more points than Florida during the regular season.

* Four more First Round Game 2s go Thursday, including the Kraken looking to take a 2-0 lead against the reigning Stanley Cup champions before the series shifts to Seattle.
 


HINTZ’S HAT TRICK HELPS STARS SECURE GAME 2 WIN BEFORE SERIES SHIFTS NORTH
Roope Hintz (3-1—4) followed up his shorthanded goal in the opening five minutes with an even-strength and power-play tally to record the eighth playoff hat trick in franchise history and help Dallas win Game 2. The Stars scored seven goals in a postseason contest for the second time since relocating from Minnesota, which is where their First Round series shifts for Game 3 on Friday.


* Hintz became the 15th different player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history with an even-strength, power-play and shorthanded goal in a contest and first since Tyler Johnson in Game 2 of the 2015 Conference Finals (w/ TBL).

* Hintz and Miro Heiskanen (0-4—4) became the third and fourth players with a four-point game this postseason, following Anze Kopitar (1-3—4 on Monday) and Adam Fox (0-4—4 on Tuesday).


FLORIDA, EDMONTON ALSO PULL EVEN IN FIRST ROUND SERIES

The Panthers and Oilers also earned Game 2 wins Wednesday to even their respective First Round series at 1-1:

* Brandon Montour scored twice – including establishing a postseason franchise record for fastest goal to open a period – and 30-year-old Alex Lyon made 34 saves for his first career playoff win as Florida tallied six times against the Presidents’ Trophy winners prior to returning to Sunrise. The Panthers own an all-time series record of 2-0 when a best-of-seven round that they started on the road is tied 1-1.

* Montour became the first defenseman to record a multi-goal game this postseason and the first-ever to do so in Panthers playoff history. Montour is coming off of a career-high regular season where he tallied 16-57—73 (80 GP) to tie the franchise record for goals by a defenseman and establish new ones for assists and points.


* Leon Draisaitl (1-2—3) factored on three Edmonton goals and Stuart Skinner stopped 23 shots as the Oilers rebounded from their overtime loss in Game 1 with a 4-2 win. The series now shifts to Crypto.com Arena, where Edmonton went 2-1 against Los Angeles during the 2022 First Round including an 8-2 victory in Game 3.

* Draisaitl reached 43 playoff assists in his NHL career and tied Kevin Lowe for eighth place on the franchise’s all-time list. Skinner became the third different rookie goaltender in club history with a postseason win, joining Andy Moog (5; last: Game 5 of 1981 QF) and Grant Fuhr (2; last: Game 4 of 1982 DSF).
 


“CARDIAC CANES” STAGE THIRD-PERIOD RALLY EN ROUTE TO OVERTIME WIN IN GAME 2

The Hurricanes surrendered three straight goals to fall behind 3-2, but Jaccob Slavin (1-1—2) tied the contest with 7:41 remaining in regulation and Jesper Fast scored the overtime winner as Carolina took a 2-0 lead in its First Round series. The Hurricanes have won four straight home playoff contests that have required overtime dating to Game 3 of the 2009 Conference Semifinals, which is tied for the longest such stretch in franchise history (also 4-0 from Game 4 of 2001 CQF–Game 2 of 2002 CF).

* Wednesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the four-game slate, including Slavin moving into sole possession of third place on the franchise’s all-time playoff goals list among Hurricanes/Whalers defensemen.
 


QUICK CLICKS


* Michael Bunting suspended 3 games, out for Maple Leafs starting in Game 2

* Dave Keon hopes Maple Leafs can win opening round for first time since 2004
* Sebastian Ahos facing off for Hurricanes, Islanders in First Round

* Avalanche have ‘a lot more to give’ against Kraken in Game 2
* Blockies Recap of Monday Night’s Action | Stanley Cup Playoffs | NHL

KRAKEN EYE HISTORY AS ROAD TEAMS LOOK FOR 2-0 SERIES LEAD
All four series that will be contested Thursday had a road team win Game 1, with visitors accounting for seven of 12 wins so far in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Among that group, the Kraken can join rare company should they take a 2-0 series lead – they would become the seventh franchise in NHL history to win each of its first two playoff games all time (most recent: VGK in 2018) and the only team to ever do it with both of those victories coming on the road.

NHL Preview: Winnipeg Jets (1-0) at Vegas Golden Knights (0-1)

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NHL Preview: Winnipeg Jets (1-0) at Vegas Golden Knights (0-1)

WINNIPEG JETS NOTES:

Scene Setter
The Winnipeg Jets struck first in Game 1 of the series with a 5-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights… It was Winnipeg’s first playoff win in Vegas after dropping both road games during the 2018 Western Conference Final… After Thursday’s game, the series shifts to Winnipeg for Game 3 Saturday afternoon and Game 4 Monday night.

Tale of the Tape
WPG Stat VGK
1 GP 1
1 W 0
0 L 1
5 GF 1
1 GA 5
33.3% PP 0.0%
100.0% PK 66.7%

Broadcast Information
TV: Sportsnet
Play-By-Play: John Bartlett
Analyst: Garry Galley
Rinkside: Sean Reynolds
Radio: 680 CJOB/Power 97
Play-By-Play: Paul Edmonds
Analyst: Jamie Thomas
Host: Kelly Moore

Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, April 20
Morning Skate 11:30 a.m.
Jets at Vegas Golden Knights 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 21
Travel Day – No Media Availability
Saturday, April 22
Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights 3:00 p.m.
All Times Local

Series Schedule
Date Location Time TV/Score Radio/Series
Apr. 18 Vegas 6:30 p.m. PT 5-1 W Jets lead 1-0
Apr. 20 Vegas 7:00 p.m. PT Sportsnet 680 CJOB/Power 97
Apr. 22 Winnipeg 3:00 p.m. CT Sportsnet 680 CJOB/Power 97
Apr. 24 Winnipeg 8:30 p.m. CT Sportsnet 680 CJOB/Power 97
Apr. 27 Vegas* TBD Sportsnet 680 CJOB/Power 97
Apr. 29 Winnipeg TBD Sportsnet 680 CJOB/Power 97
May 1 Vegas * TBD Sportsnet 680 CJOB/Power 97

Last Game
Winnipeg Jets 5
Vegas Golden Knights 1
Jets Scorers: Connor (1), Dubois (1), Wheeler (1), Lowry (1, 2)
Golden Knights Scorers: Karlsson (1)
Jets Goaltender: Connor Hellebuyck (16 sv, 1 ga)
Golden Knights Goaltender: Laurent Brossoit (26 sv, 4 ga)
Jets PP: 1-for-3
Jets PK: 3-for-3
Recap: The Winnipeg Jets took a 1-0 series lead with a 5-1 win against Vegas on Tuesday night. Adam Lowry scored twice in the third period for the Jets, while Blake Wheeler had a goal and two assists. Pierre-Luc Dubois also had a multi-point game with a goal and an assist, while Nino Niederreiter had two helpers. Connor Hellebuyck needed just 16 saves to earn the win.

Game 2
The Jets have a chance to take a 2-0 series lead for the third time in franchise history… Winnipeg won the first two games at home in their 2018 First Round series against the Minnesota Wild before winning the series in five games… The Jets won the first two games on the road in their 2021 First Round series against the Edmonton Oilers before sweeping the series in four games… Winnipeg is 3-6 all-time in Game 2 of series.

Playoff Experience
Entering the playoffs, nineteen players on the Jets roster had Stanley Cup Playoff experience, totalling 624 games and 249 points (87G, 162A)…
Nino Niederreiter leads the Jets players with 82 games of playoff experience with Minnesota and Carolina… Brenden Dillon is second with 75, while Nate Schmidt is third with 68, including 47 with Vegas.

Playoff Debuts
Defenceman Dylan Samberg and forwards Morgan Barron and David Gustafsson made their Stanley Cup Playoff debuts in Game 1… Barron had three shots despite missing part of the game with a facial laceration, while Samberg was a plus-two and Gustafsson had a pair of hits.

Two for Lo ws
Adam Lowry became the eighth player in franchise history to have a multi-goal game in the playoffs with his two tallies in Game 1… Lowry didn’t have a multi-goal game during the regular season… Mark Scheifele holds the franchise playoff record with six multi-goal games.

Three Wheeler
Blake Wheeler matched his own franchise playoff record with three points in Game 1… Wheeler’s four three-point playoff games are the most in
franchise history.

Overtime Winners
Four members of the Jets have scored overtime goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, led by Kyle Connor’s pair of OT winners… The Jets franchise is 4-3 in playoff overtime games, including winning three overtime games in the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers.

Date Player Team Opponent Time Score
Apr. 30/14 Nino Niederreiter Minnesota Colorado 5:02 5-4
Apr. 16/19 Kyle Connor Winnipeg St. Louis 6:02 2-1
Aug. 6/20 Pierre-Luc Dubois Columbus Toronto 18:24 4-3
May 23/21 Nikolaj Ehlers Winnipeg Edmonton 9:13 5-4
May 24/21 Kyle Connor Winnipeg Edmonton 46:52 4-3

Clinched
With a win over the Minnesota Wild in the penultimate game of the season, the Jets secured the final playoff spot in the NHL’ s Western Conference… It’s the fifth time in the past six seasons that Winnipeg will compete in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs… The Jets have played 35 playoff games during the past five seasons, which is the most among the seven Canadian teams in the NHL, and have the second most wins with 16.

NHL Playoff Games by Canadian Teams Between 2018-2022
Team GP W L GF GA GF/GP GA/GP PP% PK% FOW%
Winnipeg Jets 35 16 19 95 96 2.71 2.74 20.4 75.5 50.6
Toronto Maple Leafs 33 14 19 89 100 2.70 3.03 16.8 76.7 51.1
Montréal Canadiens 32 18 14 74 73 2.31 2.28 17.4 88.7 48.4
Calgary Flames 27 11 16 79 83 2.93 3.07 20.4 83.2 52.2
Edmonton Oilers 24 9 15 88 89 3.67 3.71 25.6 80 48.7
Vancouver Canucks 17 10 7 48 45 2.82 2.65 20.3 80 55.7

Against the Pacific
Winnipeg went 13-8-3 against the Pacific Division this season… Kyle Connor (12G, 17A) led the Jets with 29 points in 24 games against the Pacific Division during the regular season, while Mark Scheifele had 14 goals in 24 games, including seven of his 12 power play goals.

Scene Setter
The Winnipeg Jets struck first in Game 1 of the series with a 5-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights… It was Winnipeg’s first playoff win in Vegas after dropping both road games during the 2018Western Conference Final… After Thursday’s game, the series shifts to Winnipeg for Game 3 Saturday afternoon and Game 4 Monday night.

Strong Finish
The Jets ended the season 7-4-0 in their last 11 games, including 4-2-0 in the month of April… The Jets scored 26 goals in their last seven games after scoring 15 goals in their previous nine games… Josh Morrissey led the Jets in scoring in April with seven points (1G, 6A) in five games, while Mark Scheifele (3G, 2A), Pierre-Luc Dubois (2G, 3A) and Nikolaj Ehlers (2G, 3A) each had five points.

All 82
Four members of the Jets played in all 82 games during the regular season – Kyle Connor, Brenden Dillon, Adam Lowry, and Neal Pionk… Connor, Dillon and Lowry reached 82 games for the second time in their career… Pionk played all 82 games for the first time in his career… The Jets didn’t have anyone play all 82 games last season.

Backend Production
Jets defencemen combined for 192 points (46G, 146A) during the regular season, which is seventh in the NHL… Josh Morrissey (76), Neal Pionk (33), Dylan DeMelo (27), Brenden Dillon (23) have all reached the 20-point mark, while Nate Schmidt has 19 points… Defencemen have accounted for 27.8% of Winnipeg’s points this season, which is fourth in the NHL, and 18.7% of the team’s goals, which is second… With Morrissey having 16 goals and Pionk scoring 10, it’s the third time in franchise history and second time since relocation that the Jets have had multiple defencemen with 10 goals in the same season.

Road Record
The Jets were 20-20-1 on the road this season… The Jets have posted a .500 or better record on the road in six of their past seven seasons… Kyle Connor (13G, 21A) led the Jets in scoring on the road with 34 points in 41 games… Mark Scheifele had a team leading 20 goals, which is the 11th time in franchise history a player has reached 20 goals on the road in a season.

PK Prowess
Winnipeg finished tied for seventh in the NHL this season with a penalty kill successful 82.6% of the time… The last time the Jets had a penalty kill better than 82% was in 2013-14 when they finished the season at 83.2%… The franchise record for penalty kill percentage in a season is 85.2%, which occurred in Atlanta during the 2003-04 season.

Special Difference
The Jets finished fourth in the NHL by playing 45:41 more on the power play than the penalty kill… Winnipeg had 56:43 of more power play than penalty kill time at home, which was second in the league… Winnipeg finished 23rd on the power play during the regular season at 19.3%.

Comebackers
The Jets had 17 comeback wins in the regular season, which was tied for 15th in the league… Winnipeg had to come back from a deficit in 37% of their wins, which was 24th in the league… PierreLuc Dubois led the Jets with seven game-tying goals in the regular season, while Mark Scheifele had 6… Scheifele and Kyle Connor each paced the team with 15 go-ahead goals.

Margins
The Jets played 27 games in the regular season that were decided by one goal, going 17-7-3… The 27 games were tied for fourth fewest in the NHL… On the other side of the spectrum, Winnipeg was 19-19 in 38 games decided by three goals or more, which was tied for fifth most in the NHL.

Winnipeg Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights Playoff Notes

Season Series
The Jets and Golden Knights played three times during the regular season, with the Jets going 0-2-1… Two of the three games were decided by one goal… Winnipeg only had four power play opportunities in the three games, going 1-for-4… Winnipeg outshot Vegas in the last meeting 34-33, but were outshot 113-86 overall in the three games… Mark Scheifele (3G), Adam Lowry (1G, 2A), and Neal Pionk (1G, 2A) each had three points in three games against the Golden Knights during the regular season… Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck posted a .913 save percentage in two starts against Vegas and faced an average of 40 shots per game.

All-Time Mark
The Jets are 8-4-2 all-time against Vegas during the regular season… Winnipeg’s three-game winless skid against Vegas this season comes after a five-game winning streak that spanned from Nov. 2/19-Mar. 22/22… The Jets have a pair of 4-0 shutouts against Vegas, which both came at home – Mar. 6/20 and Mar. 22/22… Kyle Connor has feasted on the Golden Knights during the regular season with 21 points (10G, 11A) in 14 career games, but was held to one assist in the three games this season… Mark Scheifele has 15 points (8G, 7A) in 13 career games against Vegas, while Blake Wheeler has 13 points (1G, 12A) in 13 games.

Playoff History
Winnipeg and Vegas met in the 2018 Western Conference Final with the Golden Knights taking the series in five games… The first three games were decided by two goals, while the last two were one-goal games… The Jets lost both games of the series in Vegas… Blake Wheeler led the Jets in scoring in the series with six assists in five games… Only seven players that suited up for the Jets in that series are still with the team – Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Connor Hellebuyck, Adam Lowry, Josh Morrissey, Mark Scheifele, and Blake Wheeler… Jets defenceman Nate Schmidt played for Vegas in that series, recording an assist in five games.

On the Road
This is the 10th playoff series in franchise history and fifth time the Jets won’t have home ice advantage…The Jets are 2-2 in playoff series when not having home ice – beating Nashville in the Second Round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Edmonton in the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Winnipeg Jets Recent Transactions
Date Transaction
Apr. 17 Recalled G – Oskari Salminen from the Manitoba Moose (AHL) on an emergency basis
Reassigned D – Dmitri Kuzmin from the Flint Firebirds (OHL) to the Manitoba Moose (AHL)

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES:

2023 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS – FIRST ROUND – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. WINNIPEG JETS
Golden Knights 2022-23 Regular Season Record: 51-22-9, 111 points (25-15-1 at Home, 26-7-8 on Road)
VGK Playoff Media Guide (.pdf)

DATE RESULT VGK GOALS VGK GOALIE OPP GOALIE
Apr. 18 VGK 1, WPG 5 Karlsson (1) Brossoit Hellebuyck

DATE OPPONENT TIME (PT) TELEVISION RADIO SPANISH RADIO
Apr. 20 vs. Winnipeg Jets 7 p.m. AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
Apr. 22 at Winnipeg Jets 1 p.m. AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
Apr. 24 at Winnipeg Jets 6:30 p.m. AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
Apr. 26* vs. Winnipeg Jets TBD TBD Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
Apr. 28* at Winnipeg Jets TBD TBD Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
Apr. 30* vs. Winnipeg Jets TBD TBD Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
*If Necessary

Game 1 Recap
April 18 – Vegas Golden Knights 1, Winnipeg Jets 5
The Vegas Golden Knights were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets, 5-1, in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series on Tuesday night at TMobile Arena. The series opened with a scoreless 20 minutes as the Golden Knights and Jets reacquainted themselves. Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored early in the second, but William Karlsson’s goal at 15:49 got the Golden Knights on the board. The Jets added to their lead as Blake Wheeler gave Winnipeg a 3-1 advantage less than four minutes into the final frame. Connor Hellebuyck finished the game with 16 saves as Adam Lowry scored twice late to seal the 5-1 win for the Jets in Game 1.

VGK/WPG – Regular Season Recap
The Vegas Golden Knights owned a 3-0-0 advantage against the Winnipeg Jets during the 2022-23 regular season. The clubs began the season series with two contests at T-Mobile Arena just 10 days apart. In their first meeting, Jack Eichel tallied his first multi-goal game of the season to lead the Golden Knights to a dominant 5-2 win over the Jets. In their next matchup, Eichel was the overtime hero as he snuck the puck past Connor Hellebuyck to send the Vegas crowd to a frenzy. In their final meeting at Canada Life Centre, Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault each had two goals to help Vegas power past Winnipeg despite Mark Scheifele’s late hat trick. Winnipeg was one of 10 NHL teams that Vegas swept during the regular season.

2022-23 Season WPG Series: 3-0-0 (Home: 2-0-0, Road: 1-0-0)
Date Location Result Goaltenders GWG
Oct. 20 Vegas Vegas 5, Winnipeg 2 Adin Hill (VGK) // David Rittich (WPG) Chandler Stephenson (VGK)
Oct. 30 Vegas Vegas 2, Winnipeg 1 OT Adin Hill (VGK) // Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) Jack Eichel (VGK)
Dec. 13 Winnipeg Vegas 6, Winnipeg 5 Adin Hill (VGK) // Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) William Karlsson (VGK)

2022-23 Regular Season Leaders Against WPG
Skater GP G A P +/-
Chandler Stephenson 3 1 4 5 +2
Jack Eichel 2 3 1 4 +5
Jonathan Marchessault 3 3 1 4 +1
Mark Stone 3 3 1 4 +3
William Karlsson 3 2 2 4 +3
Reilly Smith 3 0 3 3 +3
Vegas Golden Knights: Media Notes
Alex Pietrangelo 2 0 2 2 +4

Playoff History with WPG
Western Conference Final 2017-18 (4-1)

  1. May 12 @ WPG – Vegas 2, Winnipeg 4
  2. May 14 @ WPG – Vegas 3, Winnipeg 1
  3. May 16 @ VGK – Vegas 4, Winnipeg 2
  4. May 18 @ VGK – Vegas 3, Winnipeg 2
  5. May 20 @ WPG – Vegas 2, Winnipeg 1

Twinning!
William Karlsson’s goal in Game 1 on Tuesday tied Mark Stone (18) for the third-most playoff goals by a Vegas player behind Jonathan Marchessault (21) and Alex Tuch (19). Marchessault’s assist on the Karlsson goal gives both players their 47th career playoff point with the Golden Knights, tying Shea Theodore for the second most in franchise history, behind Reilly Smith (52).

Hard Hitting
Vegas completed Game 1 with 65 team hits against Winnipeg, 48% more than they had in any single game this regular season. Jonathan Marchessault led the pack with nine hits, matching his career-best in the postseason (prev. 4/28/18 & 4/21/19). The last time Marchessault recorded nine hits in the playoffs was when the Golden Knights set the club’s single-game hit record with 80 against San Jose on April 21, 2019. Marchessault’s nine hits are just two short of the franchise record shared by Ryan Reaves and William Carrier (11).

NHL Preview: Seattle Kraken (1-0) at Colorado Avalanche (0-1)

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NHL Preview: Seattle Kraken (1-0) at Colorado Avalanche (0-1)

SEATTLE KRAKEN NOTES:

LAST GAME
SEATTLE 3 AT COLORADO 1
GOALS: Tolvanen, Wennberg, Geekie
GOALIE: Grubauer (34/35)
PP: 0/3 PK: 2/2 SHOTS: SEA 30 – COL 35

CURRENT INJURIES (MAN GAMES LOST: 3)
JOONAS DONSKOI (upper body; IR) | 1 game | no timeline for return
ANDRE BURAKOVSKY (lower body; IR) | 1 game | week-to-week
JOHN HAYDEN (lower body; IR) | 1 game | week-to-week

TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
April 17, 2023: Recalled F Tye Kartye from Coachella Valley (AHL)
April 19, 2023: Reassigned F Tye Kartye to Coachella Valley (AHL)

SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1 – April 18, 2023: Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche, 3-1 SEA win
Game 2 – April 20, 2023: Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche, 6:30 p.m. PT
Game 3 – April 22, 2023: Colorado Avalanche at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m. PT
Game 4 – April 24, 2023: Colorado Avalanche at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m. PT
Game 5 – April 26, 2023: Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche*
Game 6 – April 28, 2023: Colorado Avalanche at Seattle Kraken*
Game 7 – April 30, 2023: Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche*
*if necessary

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• If the Kraken were to win tonight, they would become the sixth expansion franchise in NHL history to win their first two playoff games. They would also be the first team to do so while playing both of those games on the road.

• A win would also make the Kraken the first team to win their first two games against the defending Stanley Cup Champions since the Vancouver Canucks defeated the St. Louis Blues in the first two games of their first round matchup in 2020.

• The Kraken went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill in Game 1 against the Avalanche, making them one of six teams to not allow a power-play goal in the first game of their series. Seattle also went a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill against Colorado during the regular season.

• The Kraken also played the Avalanche on April 20 last year, defeating them 3-2 at Climate Pledge Arena.

• 2023 marks the first trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs for five Kraken players: Matty Beniers, Will Borgen, Cale Fleury, Jesper Froden and Jaycob Megna.

• The Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) affiliates also made the playoffs in their respective leagues this year. The Kraken are one of ten NHL organizations to qualify for the postseason at the NHL, AHL and ECHL levels, with the others being Boston, Colorado, Dallas, Edmonton, Florida, Los Angeles, New Jersey, NY Rangers and Toronto.

— The Coachella Valley Firebirds will face off against the Tucson Roadrunners in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The three-game series is set to begin on April 19.

• If the Kraken were to win tonight, they would become the sixth expansion franchise in NHL history to win their first two playoff games. They would also be the first team to do so while playing both of those games on the road.

• A win would also make the Kraken the first team to win their first two games against the defending Stanley Cup Champions since the Vancouver Canucks defeated the St. Louis Blues in the first two games of their first round matchup in 2020.

• The Kraken went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill in Game 1 against the Avalanche, making them one of six teams to not allow a power-play goal in the first game of their series. Seattle also went a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill against Colorado during the regular season.

• The Kraken also played the Avalanche on April 20 last year, defeating them 3-2 at Climate Pledge Arena.

• 2023 marks the first trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs for five Kraken players: Matty Beniers, Will Borgen, Cale Fleury, Jesper Froden and
Jaycob Megna.

• The Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) affiliates also made the playoffs in their respective leagues this year. The Kraken are one of ten NHL organizations to qualify for the postseason at the NHL, AHL and ECHL levels, with the others being Boston, Colorado, Dallas, Edmonton, Florida, Los Angeles, New Jersey, NY Rangers and Toronto.

— The Coachella Valley Firebirds will face off against the Tucson Roadrunners in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The three-game series is set to begin on April 19.

GAME WON
• With their 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1, the Kraken
became the 13th expansion franchise in NHL history to win their firstever playoff game. They also are just the seventh team to do so while
playing their first playoff game on the road.*

• The Kraken also became the second franchise in NHL history to win their first-ever playoff game against the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
The other to do so was the Washington Capitals, who won their first-ever playoff game against the New York Islanders in 1983.*

• Seattle also became the seventh franchise in the last 40 years to score at least three goals in their Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, joining the Atlanta Thrashers in 2007, Minnesota Wild in 2003, Anaheim Ducks in 1997, Florida Panthers in 1996, Tampa Bay Lightning in 2006 and San Jose Sharks in 1994.*

• Tuesday’s win also marked the first time that the Colorado Avalanche lost a game in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2020.
They swept the Nashville Predators in the first round 2022 and swept the St. Louis Blues in 2021.
*Stat courtesy of NHL Stats

ROAD WARRIORS
• All four road teams won their respective games Tuesday night, including the Kraken’s 3-1 win over the Avalanche. Entering play Wednesday, road teams were 6-2 in the first game of each series.

• The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs marks the third time at least six of eight Game 1s in the opening round were won by the visiting team according to NHL Stats.

• Including the regular season, the Kraken are undefeated in Ball Arena in 2022-23, going a perfect three-for-three when playing the Avalanche on the road this year.

— Seattle and Los Angeles were the only two teams to win two games at Ball Arena during the 2022-23 regular season.

• The Kraken were one of the league’s top road teams during the regular season, ranking in the top five in road wins (26, tied fifth), regulation wins (21, tied third), goals (152, tied third) and goals per game (3.71, tied third).

COLORADO AVALANCHE NOTES:

FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE

Date Time (MT) Location TV / Result Radio
Tuesday, April 18 8 p.m. Seattle at Colorado L, 1-3
Thursday, April 20 7:30 p.m. Seattle at Colorado Altitude, ESPN, SN360, FX, TVAS 92.5 FM
Saturday, April 22 8 p.m. Colorado at Seattle Altitude, TBS, SN360, TVAS 92.5 FM
Monday, April 24 8 p.m. Colorado at Seattle Altitude, TBS, SN360, TVAS 92.5 FM
*Wednesday, April 26 TBD Seattle at Colorado TBD
*Friday, April 28 TBD Colorado at Seattle TBD
*Sunday, April 30 TBD Seattle at Colorado TBD

TONIGHT’S GAME
GAME 2 – FIRST ROUND SERIES
COLORADO AVALANCHE vs. SEATTLE KRAKEN
7:50 p.m. – Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Altitude, ESPN, SN360, TVAS / 92.5 FM
The Colorado Avalanche will try and even the series tonight when they take on Seattle Kraken in Game 2 of the First Round at Ball Arena … Seattle won the opener 3-1 on Tuesday night … This is the first time Colorado has trailed a playoff series since the 2020 second round against Dallas … The Avalanche are the Central Division champions while Seattle enters its first postseason as the top wild card in the Western Conference … The Avs are the defending Stanley Cup champions as they earned their third championship last spring … Colorado claimed its title by going 16-4 in the postseason, the sixth team to win a Cup with four or fewer postseason losses since 1987 when the NHL went to four rounds of best-of-seven … This is the first-ever playoff matchup between Colorado and Seattle.

ON THE CALL
ESPN: Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Brian Boucher (analyst), Leah Hextall (reporter)
Altitude: Marc Moser (play-by-play), Mark Rycroft (analyst), Katie Gaus (reporter)
Altitude Radio: Conor McGahey

GAME 1 RECAP – SEATTLE 3, COLORADO 1
The Seattle Kraken scored within the first five minutes of all three periods and Philipp Grubauer made 34 saves to lead Seattle to a 3-1 victory over the Avalanche in the Kraken’s first-ever playoff game … Alex Wennberg had a goal and one assist and Eeli Tolvanen and Morgan Geekie also scored for Seattle … Mikko Rantanen had the lone tally for Colorado and Alexandar Georgiev made 27 saves in his first career postseason start.

SF: 35 SA: 30 PP: 0-2 PK: 3-3 FO: 56% (31-24) Hits: 29-40 Blocks: 19-23

FIRST ROUND OPPONENT – SEATTLE KRAKEN
This marks the first-ever playoff meeting between the Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken … That leaves Winnipeg as the only Western Conference team who has never faced the Avalanche in the postseason … The Avs finished 1-1-1 against the Kraken during the 2022-23 regular season, with all three matchups decided by one goal (two went to overtime) … The Avs finished 2-1-0 against Seattle during the Kraken’s inaugural season in 2021-22 … This is the fifth all-time playoff series between an NHL franchise making their postseason debut and a reigning champion, following the 2009 Conference Quarterfinals (CBJ vs. DET), 1983 Division Semifinals (WSH vs. NYI), 1980 Preliminary Round (HFD vs. MTL) and 1929 Quarterfinals (NYA vs. NYR).

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE vs. KRAKEN
Oct. 21 vs. SEATTLE (L, 2-3)
Jan. 21 @ Seattle (W, 2-1 SO)
Mar. 5 vs. SEATTLE (O, 2-3)

RECORD vs. KRAKEN
THIS SEASON 2021-22 ALL-TIME PLAYOFFS
Overall: 1-1-1 Overall: 2-1-0 Overall: 3-2-1 Series: 1
Home: 0-1-1 Home: 1-0-0 Home: 1-1-1 W-L record: 0-1
Road: 1-0-0 Road: 1-1-0 Road: 2-1-0

PLAYOFF NOTES
PLAYOFF BOUND
The Avalanche are in the postseason for the sixth consecutive year, tied for the third-longest active streak in the NHL … The Avs are appearing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 19th time since relocating to Denver and 28th time in franchise history.

ACTIVE STREAKS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS
7 Boston since 2016-17
7 Toronto since 2016-17
6 Colorado since 2017-18
6 Tampa Bay since 2017-18

TRYING TO EVEN IT UP AFTER GAME 1 LOSS
The Avalanche tonight will try and even the series at one game apiece … The Avalanche are 5-9 in best-of-seven playoff series when losing the first game … Colorado is 8-8 in playoff series when splitting the first two contests of a best-of-seven and 1-5 when dropping the first two games.

GAME 1 STREAK COMES TO END
Seattle’s 3-1 victory on Tuesday snapped a streak of six consecutive Game 1 victories for the Avalanche … The Avs won all four series openers a year ago en route to the Stanley Cup.

FIRST ROUND SUCCESS
Tuesday’s loss ended a streak of 10 consecutive victories in the first round … The Avs swept their first round series in each of the last two postseasons … Colorado is 16-2 in its last 18 first-round games since dropping the 2019 playoff opener to Calgary.

EAGLES WIN SERIES OPENER
The Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, opened the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Ontario Reign last night at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland, Colorado … Gustav Rydahl scored the OT winner, Charles Hudon and Cedric Pare also found the back of the net and Justus Annunen made 30 saves … The Eagles will look to close out the best-of-three Pacific Division Quarterfinal series on Friday night in Loveland.

BACK FOR MORE
Eighteen (18) players from last season’s Stanley Cup championship team are on Colorado’s 2023 playoff roster: Bowen Byram, Andrew Cogliano, J.T. Compher, Pavel Francouz, Samuel Girard, Darren Helm, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Artturi Lehkonen, Kurtis MacDermid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Josh Manson, Alex Newhook, Valeri Nichushkin, Logan O’Connor, Mikko Rantanen and Devon Toews … The list becomes 19 if you include injured captain Gabriel Landeskog … Helm has two Stanley Cups (2008 Red Wings) and Lars Eller won a Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018.

PLAYOFF HOCKEY…AN AVALANCHE TRADITION SINCE 1996
The Avalanche are 140-100 in playoff games since relocating to Denver in 1995-96, the second most wins during that stretch behind only Detroit (145) … The Avalanche have won three Stanley Cups and made seven appearances in the Western Conference Final during that stretch … Over the last five seasons, only Tampa Bay (49) has more postseason wins than the Avalanche’s 38 … This is the 43rd playoff series for Colorado, with the club posting a 26-15 record in those series (.619).

POSTSEASON PRODUCTION
Nathan MacKinnon has 94 points (41g/53a) in 71 career playoff games, the third-highest points/game (1.32) average in postseason history behind only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux … Mikko Rantanen, who has 78 points (24g/54a) in 64 playoff contests, ranks seventh on this list at 1.22 … Cale Makar has 60 points (15g/45a) in 56 playoff games, the second-highest points/game average (1.07) by a defenseman in NHL history behind only Bobby Orr … Only two blueliners, Brian Leetch (72) and Orr (68), had more points through their first 56 career postseason games.

HOME COOKING
Nathan MacKinnon had an assist in Game 1 against Seattle on Tuesday and now has points in 11 straight home playoff games going back to last year … He tallied points in all 10 home games (8g/8a) last postseason, the longest home point streak in franchise playoff history.

NHL Preview: New York Rangers (1-0) at New Jersey Devils (0-1)

NHL Editor
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NHL Preview: New York Rangers (1-0) at New Jersey Devils (0-1)

NEW YORK RANGERS NOTES:

LAST GAME
New York Rangers 5, New Jersey Devils 1 – RD1G1 – April 18, 2023 – Prudential Center
NYR Goals: V. Tarasenko (1), C. Kreider (1, 2), R. Lindgren (1), F. Chytil (1)
NJD Goals: J. Hughes (1)
NYR Goalie: I. Shesterkin (W – 27/28)
NJD Goalie: V. Vanecek (L – 18/22)
NYR Shots: 23
NJD Shots: 28
NYR PP: 2/3
NYR PK: 4/4
RECAP/NOTES: The Rangers took a 1-0 series lead in the first round matchup with the Devils, building a 4-0 advantage before the Devils struck with a penalty shot goal in the third period. Vladimir Tarasenko opened the scoring for the Blueshirts with the 42nd goal of his playoff career. Since the 2013 playoffs, Tarasenko’s 42 goals are tied with Alex Ovechkin for the fourth most in the NHL.

RANGERS RUNDOWN

  • The New York Rangers play Game 2 in the First Round series against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center (7:30 PM ET – TV: MSG Network, TBS – Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). When leading 1-0 in a series, the Blueshirts are 23-13 (.639) overall and 10-6 (.625) when starting a series on the road.
  • Four of New York’s past five series have seen a team take a 2-0 series advantage.
  • The Rangers are facing their Hudson River rivals in the postseason for the seventh time in history (2012, 2008, 2006, 1997, 1994, 1992). New York has taken four of those six previous meetings, with the most recent series win against the Devils coming in the 2008 Conference Quarterfinals.
  • New York posted a 47-22-13 record for 107 points during the regular season, ranking tied for eighth in the NHL in wins and ninth in points. In franchise history, the Blueshirts’ 47 wins rank tied for ninth while their 107 points are the seventh most in team history.
  • When scoring four or more goals, New York are a combined 34-0-0 (33-0-0 in regular season, 1-0 in playoffs). In the regular season, the Blueshirts were only team in the NHL to have a perfect such record.
  • The Rangers are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second-straight season and 62nd time in franchise history.
  • From December 5 to the end of the regular season, New York went 36-12-8 for 80 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers ranked tied for fourth in points, second in points percentage (.714), tied for fourth in wins, fifth in goals per game (3.52), and third in power play percentage (26.1).
  • Patrick Kane (52G-81A in 137 GP) and Vladimir Tarasenko (42G-19A in 91 GP) have a combined 194 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including four Stanley Cup wins (Kane: 3, Tarasenko: 1) and a Conn Smythe Trophy (Kane in 2013). They rank first and second, respectively, on New York for career playoff goals and points. Kane has the third-most career playoff points among U.S.-born players (within reach of Mike Modano and Chris Chelios), while Tarasenko is one of six players with 40+ playoff goals since 2013.
  • The Rangers finished their regular season road slate with a 24-9-8 record for 56 points. In franchise history, the Blueshirts’ 56 road points rank tied for second and 24 wins were tied for the fifth most.
  • New York allowed 2.63 goals per game, the fourth best mark in the league. The Blueshirts finished the regular season allowing three or fewer goals in 19-straight contests.

SPECIAL TEAMS

  • In Game 1 against the Devils, the Blueshirts went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, while not allowing a shot, and scored two power play goals of their own. It marked the first time since Game 4 of the 2015 ECF that the Rangers have scored two PPG and had a perfect PK of four or more opportunities.
  • In the regular season, the Rangers finished with a 24.1 power play percentage, the fifth highest in club history and the seventh highest in the NHL this year. New York’s 271 penalties taken were the third fewest in the league.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS NOTES:

2022-23 Regular Season Matchups:
New Jersey: 3-0-1 record vs NY Rangers in 2022-23

2022-23 Matchups:
November 28, at New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils 5 New York Rangers 3
(19-4-0—36 PTS) (10-9-4—24 PTS)
Three Stars: 1. Y. Sharangovich 2. M. McLeod 3. J. Hughes
SCORE 1ST 2ND 3RD OT SO FINAL
New York 2 0 1 – – 3
DEVILS 2 2 0 – – 5

Dec 12, at New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils 3 New York Rangers 4 (OT)
(21-5-2—43 PTS) (15-10-5—35 PTS)
Three Stars: 1. F. Chytil 2. V. Trocheck 3. J. Hughes
SCORE 1ST 2ND 3RD OT SO FINAL
New York 1 2 0 1 – 4
DEVILS 2 1 0 0 – 3

January 7, vs New York Rangers
New York Rangers 3 New Jersey Devils 4 (OT)
(22-12-7—51 PTS) (25-12-3—53 PTS)
Three Stars: 1. J. Hughes 2. D. Severson 3. N. Hischier
SCORE 1ST 2ND 3RD OT SO FINAL
NY Rangers 1 2 0 – 3
DEVILS 0 1 2 1 – 4

March 30 vs New York Rangers
New York Rangers 1 New Jersey Devils 2
(44-21-10 – 98 PTS) (47-20-8 – 102 PTS)
Three Stars: 1. T. Meier 2. E. Haula 3. V. Vanecek
SCORE 1ST 2ND 3RD OT SO FINAL
NY Rangers 0 1 0 – – 1
DEVILS 2 0 0 – – 2

WHAT TO KNOW
The Devils and Rangers face-off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the seventh time:
199-92, NYR defeated New Jersey in 7 games
1993-94, NYR defeated New Jersey in 7 games (ECF)
1996-97, NYR defeated New Jersey in 5 games
2005-06, NEW JERSEY defeated NYR in 4 games
2007-08, NYR defeated New Jersey in 5 games
2011-12, NEW JERSEY defeated NYR in 6 games (ECF)

New Jersey owned home-ice advantage against the Rangers in 2007-08, 2005-06 and 1996-97. This series marks the fourth occasion all-time that the two foes met in the First Round for the Stanley Cup Playoffs (1992-92, 2005-06 & 2007-08).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Game 3: Sat., April 22, at NYR, 8:00 P.M. E.T. | ABC, ESPN+
Game 4: Mon. Apr. 24, at NYR, 7:00 P.M. E.T | ESPN, MSGSN
Game 5: Thur., Apr. 27, vs NYR, TBD | MSGSN

GAME 1
2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs | Round 1 | Game
New York Rangers 5 New Jersey Devils 1
(1-0-0) (0-1-0)
Three Stars: 1. C. Kreider 2. I. Shesterkin 3. A. Fox
Goals:
NYR: V. Tarasenko, C. Kreider (PPG), R. Lindgren, C. Kreider (PPG), F. Chytil (ENG)
NJD: J. Hughes (PS)

New Jersey dropped Game 1 by a score of 5-1 on Tuesday at the Rock, after recording zero shots on the team’s power-play (0/4) and allowing two power-play goals (PK: 1/3). The Devils allowed two first-period goals and trailed 4-0 late in the game, before Jack Hughes converted on a penalty shot in the third period (more details in “Player Notes”). The last time that the Devils earned a Game 1 victory against New York in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was in 2005-06, via Apr. 22, 2006, in a 6-1 win at the Meadowlands. The Devils are 20-25 all-time in Game 1’s played for the playoffs. New Jersey’s all-time series record when trailing 1-0 in a playoff series: 10-14. The Devils outshot the Rangers, 28-23. The 23 shots against were tied for the fourth fewest shots that the Devils allowed in single playoff game all-time vs New York. The fewest shots that Jersey’s team allowed vs the Rangers in a playoff contest was 21: May, 2, 1997, after a 2-0 loss at the Meadowlands.

SCORE 1ST 2ND 3RD OT SO FINAL
NY Rangers 2 1 2 0 – 5
DEVILS 0 0 1 0 – 1

The Rangers blocked 23 Devils shots tonight, while the most blocked shots that an opponent earned in a single playoff game against Jersey was 26: May, 15, 2012, vs the Rangers in a 3-0 loss.

THE LAST TIME…
The Devils lost consecutive games in regulation was Dec. 23, 2022, to Dec. 28, after dropping both contests to Boston. The Devils trailed the Rangers 1-0 in a playoff series, and won the round, was 2011-12 (4-2, six games). The also marked the last time that the Devils trailed 1-0 in a playoff series and won the respective round (ECF).

NHL Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning (1-0) at Toronto Maple Leafs (0-1)

NHL Editor
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0
NHL Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning (1-0) at Toronto Maple Leafs (0-1)

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING NOTES:

LAST GAME
Lightning 7 at Toronto 3
The Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 7-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs April 18 at Scotiabank Arena to take a 1-0 lead in the series…Tampa Bay hit the seven-goal mark in a playoff game for the sixth time in franchise history (last: Game 4 vs. TOR, 2022)…The Bolts improved to 16-21 all-time in Game 1s of a playoff series, including an 8-9 mark on the road…The Lightning moved to 6-9 all- time in playoff openers and 5-4 under Jon Cooper…Pierre-Edouard Bellemare opened the scoring just 1:18 into the first period when he jumped on a rebound in front of the net off a shot from Corey Perry and jammed the puck past Ilya Samsonov to give Tampa Bay an early 1-0 lead…Exactly six minutes later, Brandon Hagel fired a shot on goal and Anthony Cirelli was right on the doorstep to fire the rebound past Samsonov and give the Bolts a 2-0 lead with 12:42 remaining in the opening period…With the Lightning on the power play and the clock winding down, Mikhail Sergachev took a pass from Alex Killorn and slid the puck right into the wheelhouse of Nikita Kucherov, who hammered a one-timer over the glove of Samsonov to give his team a 3-0 lead with 2.6 seconds remaining in the opening frame…TOR got back within one off back-to-back power-play goals from Ryan O’Reilly and William Nylander at the 8:06 and 13:11 marks of the second period that made it a 3-2 game…Brayden Point responded with a power-play goal just 1:18 after the Nylander goal when Cirelli sent a pass to Kucherov, who found Point in the slot before he beat Samsonov to give Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead with 5:31 remaining in the middle frame…With the Lightning on a five-minute power play after Michael Bunting was assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Erik Cernak, Perry and Point added two more power-play goals at the 17:54 and 19:58 marks of the second to give the Bolts a 6-2 lead heading into the second intermission…With 13:01 remaining in regulation, Nick Perbix found Ross Colton with a stretch pass that sent him in on a breakaway before he fired a quick shot to the blocker side and past Joseph Woll to extend the lead to 7-2…Calle Jarnkrok scored the final goal of the contest at the 8:06 mark of the third to make it 7-3…Andrei Vasilevskiy got the start in goal and earned the win with 28 saves on 31 shots against in his 100th career playoff start…Cernak, Mikey Eyssimont and Victor Hedman all left the game with injuries and were unable to return.
PP: TBL – 4-8 TOR – 2-4
SOG: TBL – 34 TOR – 31
Attendance: 19,013

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
The Lightning and Maple Leafs are playing Game 2 of their best-of-seven First Round series in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs…Tampa Bay has won nine of their last 11 Game 2s and are 24-12 all-time in Game 2s…The Bolts are 11-3 all-time in road Game 2s…The Lightning have taken a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven series 15 times in their playoff history and have gone on to win 13 of those series, including a 5-2 mark when starting a series on the road with a victory (losses: 2011 ECF vs. BOS; 2016 ECF vs. PIT)…Tampa Bay won last year’s series vs. TOR in seven games after dropping Game 1 at TOR, 5-0, and winning Game 7 at TOR, 2-1, with Nick Paul scoring both goals for the Bolts…Nikita Kucherov led all Lightning skaters with eight points in last year’s First Round (2-6—8), while Ross Colton (3-2—5) and Ondrej Palat (3-2—5) were tied for the team lead in goals…Tampa Bay posted a 1-2-0 record vs. TOR this regular season…Mikhail Sergachev (1-2—3) and Steven Stamkos (0-3—3) were tied for the Bolts team lead in points vs. TOR this reg. season, while Alex Killorn (2-0—2) and Vladislav Namestnikov (2-0—2) were tied for the team lead in goals…Kucherov has picked up points in 12 of his last 13 reg. season games vs. TOR (9-8—17)…Kucherov has found the scoresheet in 12 of his 15 career reg. season games at TOR (7-13—20)…Kucherov has picked up points in four of his last five playoff games vs. TOR (2-6—8)…Stamkos is riding a six-game reg. season point streak vs. TOR (2-10—12) and has picked up points in nine of the last 10 reg. season meetings (4-15— 19)…Stamkos has recorded 11 points over his last five reg. season games at TOR (3-8—11)…Killorn has recorded points in four of his last six reg. season games vs. TOR (4-3—7)…Corey Perry has four points over his last four reg. season games vs. TOR (0-4—4)…Sergachev has picked up four points over his last four reg. season games vs. TOR (1-3—4)…Tampa Bay is 6-3-1 in their last 10 reg. season road games at TOR and 4-5-1 in the last 10 reg. season meetings overall…The Lightning are 45-52-8 with two ties all-time in the reg. season vs. TOR, including a road record of 22-26-5 with one tie…Stamkos (22-39—61) holds the Tampa Bay franchise record for career reg. season points vs. TOR.

TBL ALL-TIME REG. SEASON POINT LEADERS VS. TOR

  1. Steven Stamkos – 61 pts. (22-39—61, 48 GP)
  2. Vincent Lecavalier – 52 pts. (22-30—52, 50 GP)
  3. Martin St. Louis – 49 pts. (18-31—49, 47 GP)
  4. Nikita Kucherov – 32 pts. (14-18—32, 31 GP)
  5. Brad Richards – 26 pts. (12-14—26, 27 GP)

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The Lightning have an all-time road playoff record of 61-41 and the best road playoff win percentage (.598) among all NHL teams (min. 2 GP)…The Bolts are 42-25 (.627) in 67 road playoff contests under head coach Jon Cooper…Tampa Bay has scored at least one power-play goal in six of their last seven playoff games vs. TOR…The Lightning are 122- 87 all-time in the postseason, good for the best playoff win percentage (.584) among all NHL teams (min. 2 GP).

INJURIES
2022-23 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 109
2023 Playoffs Man Games Lost: 1
Current Injuries:
Tanner Jeannot (Lower-body injury; Day-to-day) 4 Games

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS NOTES:

2023 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE, ROUND 1 vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Game 1 – Tuesday, April 18th – 7:30 pm ET – Sportsnet (TV), TSN 1050 (Radio) – 3-7 L
Game 2 – Thursday, April 20th – 7:00 pm ET – Sportsnet (TV), Sportsnet 590 (Radio)
Game 3 – Saturday, April 22nd – 7:00 pm ET – Sportsnet (TV), Sportsnet 590 (Radio)
Game 4 – Monday, April 24th – 7:30 pm ET – Sportsnet (TV), TSN 1050 (Radio)
Game 5 – Thursday, April 27th – TBD – Sportsnet (TV), Sportsnet 590 (Radio)*
Game 6 – Saturday, April 29th – TBD – Sportsnet (TV), TSN 1050 (Radio)*
Game 7 – Monday, May 1st – TBD – Sportsnet (TV), 680 News (Radio)*
*If Necessary

THE SERIES
The Maple Leafs open the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a first round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Toronto is making their 72nd appearance in the postseason. The Maple Leafs have earned a postseason spot for the seventh-straight season. Earning a playoff spot in seven-consecutive seasons is the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. This marks the second time in franchise history that Toronto and Tampa Bay will be facing off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

LAST GAME
Score: Toronto 3 vs. Tampa Bay 7
Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
TOR Goals: O’Reilly (PP), Nylander (PP), Järnkrok
TBL Goals: Bellemare, Cirelli, Kucherov (PP), Point (PP), Perry (PP), Point (PP), Colton
TOR Goaltender: Samsonov, 23/29, .793 SV% – Woll, 4/5, .800 SV%
TBL Goaltender: Vasilevskiy, 28/31, .903 SV%
TOR Power Play: 2-for-4
TOR Penalty Kill: 4-for-8

Player Notes: – Ryan O’Reilly scored on a Maple Leafs power play opportunity at 8:06 of the second period. O’Reilly scored his first playoff goal as a Maple Leaf and 23rd playoff goal of his playoff career. O’Reilly scored the eighth power play goal of his playoff career. – William Nylander scored on a Toronto power play opportunity at 13:11 of the second period. Nylander scored the 14th goal of his playoff career and the fourth power play goal of his playoff career.

  • Calle Järnkrok scored for Toronto at 8:06 of the third period. Järnkrok scored his first playoff goal as a Maple Leaf and the fifth goal of his playoff career.
  • Mitch Marner registered three assists in Tuesday’s loss. Marner tied a single-game Stanley Cup playoff career-high in assists and points with three, marking a playoff career-high in assists for the second occasion and a playoff career-high in points for the third occasion of his playoff career. Marner posted the 10th multi-point game of his playoff career.
  • Auston Matthews recorded two assists for the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Matthews tied a single-game Stanley Cup playoff career-high with two assists, which he has marked on four occasions during his playoff career. Matthews posted the ninth multi-point game of his playoff career.
  • Jake McCabe and Joseph Woll made their Stanley Cup Playoffs debut during Tuesday’s game.
    Team Notes: – Game 1 record in best-of-seven playoff series: 34-46 overall, 19-12 at home.

INJURY REPORT
Bobby McMann Knee (LTIR)
Victor Mete Lower Body (LTIR)
Matt Murray Head Injury (Day-to-Day)
Jake Muzzin Neck (LTIR)
Nick Robertson Shoulder (LTIR)

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