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SHANGHAI Oscar Piastri narrowly got the better of Mercedes rival George Russell and McLaren teammate Lando Norris during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix, securing his first Formula 1 pole Saturday at the Shanghai Intl Circuit.
Piastri delivered a lap of one minute and 30.641 seconds to earn the top spot by less than a tenth of a second over Russell
I think with the new surface its extremely grippy, which for us is the best feeling in the world, Piastri explained. The only thing that comes with that is when you lose grip, it bites youve probably seen a lot of snaps, a lot of moments this weekend, and with the surface weve got its pretty tricky, but when you hook it up it feels pretty mega. Ill take the fastest lap of Shanghai.
Russell found a chunk of lap time with his final lap to the checkered flag, brilliantly securing a spot on the front row of the grid alongside Piastri.
Norris, who won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, was third.
Reigning four-time World Champion Max Verstappen took fourth for Red Bull, with Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton, who won the Sprint Race, and Charles Leclerc completing the top six.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has already made himself an asset for England and has a long career ahead of him, midfielder Declan Rice said after the 18-year-old left back became the youngest player to score on his senior debut for the national team on Friday.
Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring for England in the 20th minute of their 2-0 victory over Albania in their World Cup qualifying Group K opener at Wembley.
A product of the Arsenal academy, Lewis-Skelly earned his first England call-up after impressing in his breakthrough season at the North London club.
"Week-on-week he's shown how good he is, and the fearlessness he has in his performance," Rice told British media of his Arsenal teammate.
"That's on him -- how much you want it and how much you want to keep going. He needs to be hungry every day. He needs to keep being himself around the training ground at Arsenal, around England, and keep pushing himself.
"He's an asset for us now. He's 18 years old and has got a long career in the game if he keeps doing good things.
"He didn't even know he was going to be starting until today and I just knew he was going to have a good performance, because he has that belief in himself."
New England manager Thomas Tuchel was also delighted with the youngster's debut.
"He is full of confidence and very full of humour and such an open and mature character," the German said. "Everything you see on the pitch you see off the pitch ... He does it with a natural confidence and this is how he plays football."
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said their 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Montevideo showed the depth of their squad after Lautaro Martínez, Lionel Messi and Paulo Dybala all missed out due to injury.
The match was headed for a draw until a 67th-minute strike from 23-year-old Thiago Almada.
"The national team is a team. When one is missing, another steps up," Scaloni told reporters.
"We had some very important absentees but we have great players to go out on the field. The team is always more than just the names."
Argentina next host Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
Former Bayern Munich and France winger Franck Ribery has revealed that he almost had his leg amputated towards the end of his career due to a post-surgery infection.
Ribery, who won nine Bundesliga titles and was capped 81 times by his country, retired after a 22-year professional career in 2022 following an injury-plagued final spell at Salernitana.
While his playing career in Italy was forgettable, it was at the Serie A side where Ribery went through his most frightening ordeal.
Ribery, 41, told L'Equipe that after what seemed a routine operation on his knee in his final season, he almost lost his leg after suffering from a flesh-eating infection.
"My knee hurt more and more," Ribery, 41, explained. "I was no longer training between matches but rather recovering to protect myself.
"I went under the knife in Austria. The operation went well, with a plate inserted inside. But I had a bad infection almost five months later.
"They removed the plate, but the infection had eaten away at me. It was so bad that I had holes in my leg. I had contracted Staphylococcus aureus.
"I was in the emergency room at the hospital in Austria for 12 days. I was really scared. They could have cut off my leg."
Soon after, Ribery called time on a career that saw him star at Galatasaray, Marseille, Fiorentina and Bayern among other clubs, with his time in Munich most notable. Ribery scored 124 goals over 12 years with the German giants and was famously part of an attack that featured fellow star winger Arjen Robben on the opposite flank.
But one moment at Bayern still troubles the Frenchman; when he lost out on the Ballon d'Or in 2013.
Ribery was widely tipped to win the award after leading Bayern to a historic treble, providing an assist in the Champions League final, winning the UEFA Best Player in Europe award and scoring in the UEFA Super Cup. However, Cristiano Ronaldo won the award after the voting period was controversially extended for two weeks due to a lack of "eligible voters."
"I had everything except that award that year," Ribery, who ultimately finished third in the voting behind Lionel Messi, said. "It was the perfect year; I could not have performed any better. That Ballon d'Or will always be a lingering injustice.
"I am still searching for an explanation, although some have offered their takes. I will never understand why the vote was delayed by more than two weeks, when I was leading among journalists. If the voting had occurred as it should, I would have won."
The Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA) is seeking a court order to prevent the ATP Tour engaging in "improper, coercive or threatening communications" with players.
The association alleges the ATP has tried to pressure players into signing pre-prepared statements saying they had no prior knowledge of the legal action launched this week by the PTPA.
The union, which was co-founded by 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic, cited "anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for player welfare" in lawsuits filed on Tuesday.
Djokovic is not one of the players listed as a plaintiff in the official court documents, but said publicly at the Miami Open on Thursday that there are elements of the lawsuit with which he agrees, and some with which he does not.
The Serb went on to say: "I've seen some changes, but there are some fundamental changes that are still yet to be made and I really hope that all the governing bodies, including PTPA, will come together and solve these issues."
The PTPA, "on behalf of the entire player population", is taking action against the men's ATP Tour, the women's WTA Tour, the International Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Integrity Agency in the US, the UK and the European Union.
Australia's Nick Kyrgios is the most high-profile player to be named as a plaintiff alongside the PTPA.
In papers filed late on Friday to the United States District Court in New York, lawyers for the PTPA asked Judge Margaret Garnett to issue an order which prevents all four defendants from communicating with players about their involvement in the process.
The motion accuses the ATP of threatening to reduce prize money and pension contributions to offset legal fees which it will accrue from fighting the case. It argues this constitutes "flagrant interference" with the jurisdiction of the court.
Buckeye Spring Green Belongs To Ricky Thornton Jr.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio Reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion Ricky Thornton Jr. secured his first victory at Atomic Speedway, taking home the $15,000 prize for winning the Buckeye Spring 50 on Friday night.
Thornton successfully fended off a determined Josh Rice, marking his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season.
Rice, who closed in on Thornton several times during the last 39 laps of the race, finished second by 0.541 seconds at the line. Devin Moran came in third, followed by Mike Marlar and Hudson ONeal.
Thornton jumped to the lead at the start of the race, with Jonathan Davenport running in second place. Davenport stayed close to Thornton until a lapped car came down on him, forcing Davenport to spin in turn two after ten laps as the caution was displayed for him, requiring a restart from the back of the field.
Rice then moved into second place as he and Garrett Alberson raced hard for that position, with Moran joining the battle after starting in ninth. Moran briefly took second, but Rice fought back to reclaim the position. In the closing laps, Rice managed to catch up to Thornton, but he couldnt pull off a last-minute move on the final lap to try and steal the win from Thornton.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 46th time in his career, Thornton has now assumed the championship points lead as he heads to Brownstown on Saturday.
I knew Josh (Rice) was going to be good, really, I thought he was a little better than I was there I was just able to get out in front of him. Ive got a little right-side damage. I got behind a lapped car, and he kept kind of going low, and he turned back to the bottom finally, and I knew it was time I had to go, or I was going to get passed, so I and he hit a little bit, obviously I got some right-side damage. Its part of it, so we will have it ready tomorrow at Brownstown.
Rice, who came into the event with two career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victories at Florence Speedway, nearly stole the show at Atomic.
Really, I felt like I needed it to stay green. We were a little bit harder on tires than he was, Rice said. It was a heck of a race. Ricky did everything he had to do to win that one. I am sure all of the fans loved it. Really, this is our first weekend out; last weekend wasnt so good. We adjusted good on the car tonight. I feel like we did some stuff we dont normally do, and it worked out from hot laps to qualifying. I had a totally different race car with just a slight adjustment.
Moran, who maintained second in the points and heads to Brownstown tomorrow as the defending Indiana Icebreaker winner, rounded out the podium.
Ive got to start closer to the front. I feel like I have been starting all these races in the back and having to pass cars. Ricky and Josh were really good. I had a couple of chances to slide Josh, and I knew he was going to be on the gas, and I didnt want to do that. All-in-all, they did an awesome job with the race track.
The finish:
Ricky Thornton Jr., Josh Rice, Devin Moran, Mike Marlar, Hudson ONeal, Garrett Alberson, Brandon Overton, Carson Ferguson, Donald McIntosh, Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Ross Robinson, Tyler Erb, Daniel Hilsabeck, Daulton Wilson, Dan Ebert, Tyler Carpenter, Tyler Bruening, Clay Harris, R.J. Conley, Spencer Hughes, Brenden Smith, Tyler Wyant, Cory Lawler, Christian Hanger, Seth Daniels.
SHANGHAI Lewis Hamilton raced from the pole to win Saturdays Sprint Race for the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai Intl Circuit.
It was Hamiltons first victory since joining Ferrari during the offseason.
After a strong start when the lights went out, Hamilton went on to build a commanding lead and while it was not entirely smooth sailing, the seven-time world champion looked in stunning form across the 19-lap event.
From Lap 1 here this weekend, really feeling on it, Hamilton said. Weve done a great job the engineers have done a great job, mechanics have done a great job to really finetune the car and it felt great today.
I got a good start and then theres so much grip on this new tarmac. Its really hard to look after these tires but I think everyone was struggling the same.
Max Verstappen spent much of the Sprint running in second but lost out to McLarens Oscar Piastri with a few laps to spare, putting the Red Bull in third, while Mercedes George Russell held onto fourth despite a late-race battle with Ferraris Charles Leclerc, the latter having to settle for fifth.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. The streets of Bakersfield belonged to The Big Cat on Friday night as Brad Sweet dominated the Kubota High Limit Racing debut at the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvicks Kern Raceway.
After setting the top time in Flight B of Capitol Renegade Qualifying and then coming from fourth-to-second in BR Motorsports Heat 3, the redraw wheel put Sweets Kasey Kahne Racing, NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 on the pole of the FK Rod Ends Dash.
From there, he dominated the seven-lapper and led all 30 laps of the Kubota A-Main.
The win marked Sweets 11th of his career with Kubota High Limit Racing, one short of Rico Abreus series-high 12 victories. Sweet also became the third different winner in three races this season.
Extending his early-season championship lead, thanks to consecutive finishes of third, second, and first, Sweets triumph marked the first national win for new crew chief Tye Wolfgang.
Earning the first 1-2 finish by any team in Kubota High Limit Racing history, teammate and car owner Kasey Kahne followed Sweet to the line with the KKR No. 9 right behind the No. 49. The runner-up effort established a new career-best for the driver of the Kahne Screen Print, HendrickCars.com No. 9.
On the final step of the podium in Bakersfield was Brent Marks. The third-place effort was Marks first podium in the state of California, which has long been a challenging destination for the PA Posse star.
Closing out the top-five was a pair of California teams with Tanner Holmes taking the Tarlton Racing No. 21 to fourth-place putting them third in the series standings after three races and D.J. Netto with a career-best fifth-place outing against the High Rollers.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet[1]; 2. 9-Kasey Kahne[2]; 3. 19-Brent Marks[5]; 4. 21-Tanner Holmes[7]; 5. 88N-DJ Netto[12]; 6. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[22]; 7. 0-Tim Kaeding[14]; 8. 88-Tanner Thorson[15]; 9. 41-Dominic Scelzi[21]; 10. 26-Justin Peck[10]; 11. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[16]; 12. 87-Aaron Reutzel[19]; 13. 73-Ryan Bernal[20]; 14. 9R-Chase Randall[4]; 15. 2X-Justin Sanders[24]; 16. 10X-Dominic Gorden[17]; 17. 17W-Shane Golobic[13]; 18. 24-Rico Abreu[9]; 19. 5-Brenham Crouch[25]; 20. 88W-Austin McCarl[8]; 21. 14-Spencer Bayston[18]; 22. 21P-Robbie Price[11]; 23. 24D-Danny Sams III[23]; 24. 42-Sye Lynch[6]; 25. 13-Daison Pursley[3]
NHL playoff watch: What's at stake in all 14 games on Showdown Saturday
There's something for just about everyone on Saturday in the NHL, with 14 games being played throughout the day. The first puck drops at 1 p.m. ET, and the last opening faceoff is at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Here's what is at stake in each contest:
Vancouver Canucks at New York Rangers
1 p.m., NHL Network
The Canucks dropped out of the second wild-card spot in the West with their loss Thursday to the Blues, but can jump right back over them (at least temporarily) with a win here. As for the Rangers, they are hoping to avoid being just the fourth team to miss the playoffs a season after winning the Presidents' Trophy (joining the 2014-15 Bruins, 2007-08 Sabres and 1993-94 Rangers).
Philadelphia Flyers at Dallas Stars
2 p.m., ESPN+
The playoff possibility train left the station long ago for the Flyers, but they'll look to maintain a strong position in the draft lottery standings. The Stars open the day 10 points and three regulation wins behind the Jets for first place in the Central Division, with two games in hand. Winning games like this one is an important step in mounting a challenge for that division title.
Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild
2 p.m., ESPN+
It's another spring outside the postseason for the Sabres, but maybe the never-ending rebuild will end next season? The Wild seem to be stuck in the first wild-card position in the West, four points behind the Avalanche for third in the Central, but six points ahead of the Blues. Can they still make a move?
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues
3 p.m., ESPN+
As noted in this space on Thursday, the Blues have a very favorable strength of schedule down the stretch. That obviously includes this game, as Connor Bedard & Co. remain one of the NHL's weakest clubs -- though could be closer to contention than some think. Officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Blackhawks are just jockeying for lottery position now.
Calgary Flames at New York Islanders
4 p.m., ESPN+
Can the Flames make it a clean sweep of all three NYC metro teams? They remain on the periphery of the Western wild-card race (thanks in large part to rookie goalie Dustin Wolf), and a win here helps that quest. As for the Isles, they've quietly crept back into the Eastern wild-card race, separated by just two points from the Canadiens, who currently hold the final spot.
Carolina Hurricanes at Los Angeles Kings
4 p.m., ESPN+
It would take a monumental collapse for either of these teams to miss the playoffs. But each has faced its share of trouble getting back to the Stanley Cup Final in recent seasons. Nevertheless, wouldn't this be a fun matchup in that series?
Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals
5 p.m., ESPN+
If the Panthers keep their streak of Stanley Cup Final appearances going this spring -- and maybe win it again? -- the dynasty debate will begin. They remain atop the Atlantic Division, and could be on a collision course with the likely Metro champ Capitals in the conference finals, with this game serving as a preview. And while Alex Ovechkin keeps chasing down Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record, Washington is actually one of the more complete teams in the field, officially clinching a playoff berth Thursday.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Utah Hockey Club
5 p.m., ESPN+
New season, same game plan: Tampa Bay made wise additions at the trade deadline -- this time, it was Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand -- as they appear quite likely to continue their streak of playoff appearances. The UHC didn't exist before this season, so wherever they finish this spring will start a new streak. They enter this game four points behind the Blues for the second Western wild card.
Colorado Avalanche at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m., ESPN+
In recent seasons, it's been expected that the Avs will make the postseason field. Despite some rough going early on this season, that outcome appears likely again for Nathan MacKinnon & Co. On the other hand, not many predicted that the Canadiens would be in possession of a wild-card spot this late in the season. Every point counts from here on out!
Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils
7 p.m., ESPN+
The last time the Senators made the playoffs they made it all the way to the conference finals. Were they to play a series against Saturday's opponent, that's the round in which it would happen. The Devils have been a bit wobbly of late -- largely due to injuries to key players such as Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler -- but have been gutting out enough victories to remain in the Metro's No. 3 position. They hold an eight-point lead on the Islanders and Rangers ahead of this game.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Nashville Predators
7 p.m., ESPN+
If they had the power, the Predators would likely have pushed the reset button on this season quite a while ago. But while they continue to calculate their draft lottery odds, the Leafs are pushing to earn the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Division bracket. They enter this game tied in points with the Panthers, but one regulation win behind.
Detroit Red Wings at Vegas Golden Knights
8 p.m., ABC/ESPN+
For a while there it looked like Dylan Larkin would parlay his strong play for the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off into dragging his team into the postseason. The Red Wings have fallen off the pace a bit, but remain four points back of the Canadiens as play begins Saturday. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are looking to increase their lead in the Pacific Division over the Oilers; currently, they hold an 88-85 points lead, and a 37-29 edge in regulation wins (with a game in hand).
Seattle Kraken at Edmonton Oilers
10 p.m., ESPN+
Speaking of the Oilers, they have largely avoided the Stanley Cup runner-up hangover this season. Do they want another first-round matchup with the Kings -- who they have beaten three straight years? Or will they catch the Knights and (likely) take on the Wild? As for Seattle, management can use this game as another measuring stick for who will (and won't) be back next season as they continue to build a consistent contender.
Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks
10:30 p.m., ESPN+
There was a time where this game would have a major impact on the postseason races. Sadly for these clubs, those days are past. The Sharks were eliminated earlier this week, and the Bruins are hanging on to slim playoff hopes; they'll need to catch fire and have five teams ahead of them hit the skids.
There is a lot of runway left until April 17, the final day of the regular season, and we'll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's schedule
Yesterday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Saturday's games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Vancouver Canucks at New York Rangers, 1 p.m. (NHLN)
Philadelphia Flyers at Dallas Stars, 2 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild, 2 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues, 3 p.m.
Calgary Flames at New York Islanders, 4 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Los Angeles Kings, 4 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals, 5 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Utah Hockey Club, 5 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Vegas Golden Knights, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
Seattle Kraken at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Friday's scoreboard
Pittsburgh Penguins 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 3
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Ottawa Senators
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 92.9
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 89.2
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 43.3%
Tragic number: N/A
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 5.7%
Tragic number: 25
Boston Bruins
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 1.3%
Tragic number: 20
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 73.4
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 17
Metro Division
x - Washington Capitals
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 118.8
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
New Jersey Devils
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 93.7
Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95.3%
Tragic number: N/A
New York Islanders
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: vs. CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 24.8%
Tragic number: 27
New York Rangers
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 84.3
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 18.2%
Tragic number: 23
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: @ NYI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 15.9%
Tragic number: 24
Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 78.5
Next game: @ FLA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 17
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75.0
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 15
Central Division
Winnipeg Jets
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 117.1
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Dallas Stars
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 108.5
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Colorado Avalanche
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 101.9
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Minnesota Wild
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 98.6
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 93.8%
Tragic number: N/A
St. Louis Blues
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 56.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Utah Hockey Club
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 12.5%
Tragic number: 23
Nashville Predators
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 69.9
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 10
e - Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 58.2
Next game: @ STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton Oilers
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 101.0
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 101.6
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Vancouver Canucks
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 90.3
Next game: @ NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 21.3%
Tragic number: N/A
Calgary Flames
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 90.4
Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 16.8%
Tragic number: 27
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: vs. CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 18
Seattle Kraken
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 76.1
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 13
e - San Jose Sharks
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 53.5
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Note: An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
1. San Jose Sharks
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
3. Nashville Predators
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 21
4. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 21
5. Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17
6. Seattle Kraken
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 20
8. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
9. Boston Bruins
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
10. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
11. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
12. New York Rangers
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 30
13. New York Islanders
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
14. Utah Hockey Club
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
15. Calgary Flames
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
16. Vancouver Canucks
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Yes, USMNT fans: It's time to worry about the 2026 World Cup
LOS ANGELES -- In the wake of the U.S. men's national team's 1-0 defeat to Panama in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL), it's fair to say it's time for USMNT fans to worry about the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The U.S. has shown flashes of stellar play since manager Mauricio Pochettino took over last September, especially in the CNL quarterfinal series with Jamaica. But Thursday's semifinal exit exposed some old troubles.
The USMNT's lack of aggression to start matches, especially when the opposition cedes possession, remains a problem. That leads to an inability to break down tightly packed defenses. And though Panama has emerged in Concacaf as a tough-to-break-down unit, if the Americans can't consistently get past the Canaleros, who have beaten the U.S. three straight times in tournament play, how can the USMNT expect to get out of a group at the World Cup?
That isn't to say that all hope is lost for the Americans -- far from it. But with just 447 days between now and the start of the World Cup, Pochettino has little time and few opportunities to turn things around.
This summer's Concacaf Gold Cup -- the USMNT's only competitive games before the World Cup -- has taken on increasing importance. It will allow Pochettino an extended camp to further familiarize himself with his players. The U.S. will also host friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland before Gold Cup matches to mimic the cadence of the World Cup.
The hope -- which is not guaranteed based on Thursday's performance -- is that the players will get more experience in knockout games. But on this front, Pochettino's plans are being undermined by the Club World Cup, with the Juventus duo of Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah, along with Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna, all possibly unavailable for the Gold Cup due to their respective clubs' participation.
After that, and with no CNL scheduled for 2026, there are just four more international windows in September, October, November of 2025 and March of 2026, plus some pre-World Cup friendlies. That is a scant amount of time to further refine things.
And there is plenty this U.S. team needs to refine, especially with the ball.
To get a sense of how toothless the American attack was against Panama: The U.S. had 811 touches, the 11th time the Americans have had more than 800 touches in a game since September 2017. But they had an expected goals, or xG, of 0.68, making it the first time in that span that the U.S. had over 800 touches but an xG below 1.00. That shows the U.S. had plenty of time with the ball, but struggled to create dangerous scoring chances.
The return of several injured players would greatly help the U.S. cause. The U.S. has badly missed right-back Sergiño Dest, who has recently returned for PSV Eindhoven after suffering an ACL tear 11 months ago. Dest is the ultimate attacking wild card who can deliver the unexpected, either off the dribble or striking at goal. Left-back Antonee Robinson and his marauding runs down the flank were also missed against Panama.
The two absences have a massive effect on the way the U.S. plays. Joe Scally is a capable, defense-first option, but isn't one to contribute much to the attack. That's why in Dest's absence, Scally usually stays home and allows the opposite full-back to get forward. But Yunus Musah seems miscast as a wing-back, given his distribution limitations.
The frontline has also been beset by injuries, with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi out for long stretches. Their returns would increase the competition for places in attack that have lacked a certain spark.
All these absences lead to questions about the depth of the USMNT's player pool. But in situations like Thursday's loss to Panama, the U.S. would also be aided by Pochettino tilting the lineup more toward attack. Against a team bunkering in, Tanner Tessmann's presence in the midfield seemed redundant given that the defensively dependable Tyler Adams was back in the team. That would've freed a spot for a more creative player such as Reyna or Diego Luna in the middle.
Herculez Gomez rips Mauricio Pochettino and the United States men's national team in their loss to Panama.
Yet the team's mindset might be Pochettino's most difficult challenge. The U.S. manager pointed to a "lack of aggression" in the first half, which he described as "painful" to watch.
This was illustrated by the Americans' touches in Panama's box. The U.S. had 32 touches in the Panamanian penalty area. That ranks 12th in the USMNT's past 35 games. But only nine of those touches came in the first half. When Tim Weah started occupying wider positions in the second half, the U.S. made more headway.
Pochettino needs to create competitive tension for playing time. But are the players who could take on bigger roles good enough to unseat any incumbents? Solving the aggression puzzle won't be easy. Some players are proving not as capable as their club reputations dictated at one point.
Pochettino has attempted to bring in reinforcements, mostly from MLS clubs, and has talked up how they'll get chances to impress. But until he gives those players more prominent roles, his words will feel empty.
Still, there are limits to how much Pochettino can do as a manager. At some point, the onus is on the players to improve, and channel the aggression required.
"You always learn more from setbacks than you do from games that, say, we would've won, that you're papering over the issues that I think everybody saw in terms of getting behind and aggression and all that," U.S. defender Tim Ream said. "There's always teaching moments, there's always learning moments in every game, every training, every day that you step on the field and we have to look at that and make sure that we take on board exactly what he wants, take on board exactly what he needs and that starts with the duels and the aggression and the intensity."
The USMNT will miss a chance to defend their CNL title after winning the past three, but Sunday's third-place game against a very motivated Canada will be an opportunity to put those lessons into practice.
With Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Cyle Larin available, it seems likely Canada will be more adventurous than Panama in attack. But Pochettino shouldn't change his entire starting 11. He should continue to establish chemistry. Playing time needs to be earned, as well. But there seems to be some opportunities for players.
Zack Steffen appears to be a clear choice in goal, given Matt Turner's suspect positioning on Cecilio Waterman's game winner, when he was shaded too close to his near post. Reyna or Luna in taking Tessmann's place seems another obvious swap. Patrick Agyemang looked active in his 22 minutes against Panama.
At minimum, USMNT fans will want progress. That bar is low after the poor showing against Panama. But with just under 15 months left to the World Cup, the U.S. needs to show signs that it's moving forward again.
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