A 13-game schedule on Saturday finished with some big results:

• Two teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings, clinched playoff berths.

• Two teams, the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers, were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

It's a smaller batch of games on Sunday, but there are playoff implications in most.

• The New York Islanders host the Washington Capitals (12:30 p.m. ET, TNT), and while attempting to hold Alex Ovechkin off the scoresheet, the Isles also are trying to claw their way back into the wild-card race. They begin play seven points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the final spot. The Canadiens visit the Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

• The final spot in the West currently is held by the Minnesota Wild, who welcome the Dallas Stars to the Twin Cities (3 p.m. ET, TNT). Minnesota is four points ahead of the idle Calgary Flames, and six points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks, who host the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). Dallas begins play four points back of the Winnipeg Jets for the West's top overall seed.

• Perhaps the biggest game of the day features the Columbus Blue Jackets heading to Canada's capital to take on the Ottawa Senators (5 p.m., ESPN+). The Blue Jackets are six points behind the Canadiens, while the Senators are starting to look ahead to the No. 3-seeded Florida Panthers; they begin the day four points back. Speaking of the Cats, they visit the Detroit Red Wings (5:30 p.m. ET, TNT), who are also six points behind the Canadiens for WC2.

For those concerned with draft lottery positioning, the Boston Bruins take on the Buffalo Sabres (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Chicago Blackhawks (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

With the regular season ending April 17, 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 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Sunday's games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Washington Capitals at New York Islanders, 12:30 p.m. (TNT)
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild, 3 p.m. (TNT)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings, 5:30 p.m. (TNT)
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.

Saturday's scoreboard

New Jersey Devils 4, New York Rangers 0
Ottawa Senators 3, Florida Panthers 0
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Dallas Stars 3
Vancouver Canucks 6, Anaheim Ducks 2
Los Angeles Kings 3, Edmonton Oilers 0
Boston Bruins 5, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Buffalo Sabres 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (SO)
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Montreal Canadiens 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
St. Louis Blues 5, Colorado Avalanche 4
Utah Hockey Club 4, Winnipeg Jets 1
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT)
Seattle Kraken 5, San Jose Sharks 1

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105.7
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 101.4
Next game: @ NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99.3
Next game: @ DET (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 95.0
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89.6
Next game: @ NSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 56.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 84.2
Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 6.3%
Tragic number: 9

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 78.7
Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 4

e - Boston Bruins

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metro Division

x - Washington Capitals

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 115.5
Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 103.6
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 94.8
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 85.2
Next game: vs. TB (Monday)
Playoff chances: 24.4%
Tragic number: 9

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 84.2
Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 10.2%
Tragic number: 9

New York Islanders

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 3.2%
Tragic number: 8

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 78.8
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2

e - Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 115.0
Next game: vs. STL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 112.2
Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 103.0
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 97.8
Next game: @ ANA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 97.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 94.8
Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 86.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 87.3
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 4

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 66.9
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 56.1
Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107.9
Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Los Angeles Kings

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 104.7
Next game: vs. SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 100.3
Next game: @ ANA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 91.7
Next game: @ SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 14.7%
Tragic number: 10

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89.6
Next game: vs. VGK (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 1.1%
Tragic number: 7

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 79.8
Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 76.7
Next game: @ LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 54.0
Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)
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: 50
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23

4. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20

5. Boston Bruins

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 27

7. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21

9. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23

10. New York Islanders

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24

12. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27

13. New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27

Morgan Rogers: Aston Villa there to win against PSG

Aston Villa will have to suffer in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at newly crowned French champions Paris St Germain but the Birmingham side are targeting a win in Wednesday's tie, midfielder Morgan Rogers said.

MIAMI -- Dolphins offensive lineman Terron Armstead announced his retirement Saturday night, ending his decorated 12-year NFL career.

Armstead, 33, announced the news at a party he hosted in Miami to celebrate his next chapter, with several former teammates in attendance.

The five-time Pro Bowl standout signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Dolphins in 2022 and spent three seasons as the team's starting left tackle. During that span, he was named to two Pro Bowls and was a three-time team captain.

A third-round pick out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff by the New Orleans Saints in 2013, the Cahokia, Illinois, native set an NFL scouting combine record for an offensive lineman with a 4.71-second 40-yard dash.

Armstead spent his first nine seasons with the Saints before signing with Miami, where he immediately took on a veteran leadership role for a team amid several coaching and roster changes.

While he was instrumental in the development of offensive linemen such as Austin Jackson and Patrick Paul, Armstead also proved to be influential for players on the other side of the ball, including 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson.

"Just getting an offensive perspective, especially against one of the greatest, just learning from him," Robinson said in August. "I go against him in practice, and he's doing things that I've never seen before from an O-lineman.

"He gave me tips on how I could work on that. I can't tell the tips, but it definitely worked."

Armstead's retirement leaves the Dolphins without a starting left tackle, although 2024 second-round pick Paul is expected to fill the vacancy. Miami coach Mike McDaniel told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in February that the team was operating this offseason as if Armstead would not return in 2025.

It also leaves Miami without two of the most respected voices in its locker room, after Calais Campbell signed with the Arizona Cardinals earlier this week. Multiple players and McDaniel admit to needing a stronger culture of accountability moving forward, and they will have to find a way to replace nearly three decades' worth of NFL experience.

Days after leading Maryland to the Sweet 16, Derik Queen decided to take his talents to the NBA.

"I'm proud to say I'm entering the 2025 NBA draft," he said on "SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt" on Friday.

Queen, a 6-foot-10 center who is projected as the No. 10 pick in ESPN's latest mock draft, earned Associated Press All-America honors and first-team all-Big Ten honors this season. He averaged 18.7 points in three NCAA tournament games.

He scored 27 points in his team's 87-71 loss to Florida in the Sweet 16 as he enhanced his stock with his effort in the postseason.

During his announcement, Queen said he was grateful for his inner circle and former coach Kevin Willard, who recently accepted the Villanova job.

Former Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams filled Maryland's coaching vacancy this week.

"I'd like to thank my mom for everything and all unconditional love," Queen said.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says the torpedo bat is "absolutely good for baseball" after it rose to prominence last week following a battery of home runs by the New York Yankees.

"I believe that issues like the torpedo bat and the debate around it demonstrate the fact that baseball still occupies a unique place in our culture," Manfred told The New York Times in a Q&A published Sunday, "because people get into a complete frenzy over something that's really nothing at the end of the day. The bats comply with the rules."

The Yankees hit nine home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 29, and the use of the torpedo bat by multiple players drew some scrutiny.

But the bat, as Manfred noted, has been in use for a few years since then-Yankees coach and current Miami Marlins staffer Aaron Leanhardt helped develop it to bring more mass to the sweet spot. Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton was among the players to use the bat in 2024, and he said he plans to stick with it after he returns from injuries to both elbows.

"Players have actually been moving the sweet spot around in bats for years," Manfred told the Times. "But it just demonstrates that something about the game is more important than is captured by television ratings or revenue or any of those things, when you have the discussions and debates about it."

Last week, Yankees manager Aaron Boone defended the use of the torpedo bats, saying it's an example of "just trying to be the best we can be." A number of players and teams over the past week have ordered the bats, which comply under MLB's relatively uncomplicated rules around bat shape.

Manfred hit on a number of other topics in his wide-ranging interview with the Times. The commissioner praised the test of robot umpires for calling balls and strikes during spring training and said he expects the system to be used in the majors in the near future, possibly even next season.

"It won't be in 2025. It'd be in 2026," Manfred said. "Here's why I'm uncertain: We could go to the MLBPA and say we want to go in 2026. Given that's a bargaining year, it would not be shocking for them to say: 'Let's deal with this in bargaining. Let's wait.'"

Manfred also reiterated his desire to see MLB expansion, saying he hopes to have "at least picked the cities" by the time he retires as commissioner in 2029.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

ST. LOUIS -- Ask coach Jim Montgomery about the St. Louis Blues' franchise-best 12-game winning streak and he'll give you a succinct answer.

"It means we're good," Montgomery said after Saturday night's 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche extended the longest winning streak in the NHL this season. "We're a good hockey team."

The Blues are 18-2-2 since the 4 Nations Face-Off break and have climbed into the first wild-card position in the Western Conference with the most wins (18) and points (38) by any NHL team in that span.

"The boys are rolling," said Zach Bolduc, who scored two power-play goals against Colorado. "The whole team is playing well. It's fun to be a part of it. We've just got to keep it going."

The team's longest previous win streak of 11 games came during the 2018-19 season when St. Louis won the Stanley Cup. Jordan Binnington was a starting goaltender as a rookie that season.

He stopped 35 shots Saturday and matched the franchise-record home win streak for a goaltender at 10.

"It's very cool. It's good to enjoy these moments, especially at home," Binnington said. "It's really fun to play here right now and you can tell there's good energy all around. At the same time, we've got to focus and keep looking forward while we're here."

What Montgomery likes best is how his club is focusing on each game. There is no talking about the streak or what players are out because of injury.

That has been the key.

"I think staying in the moment, just worrying about our next game and getting prepared for it," Montgomery said. "Our day-to-day habits have been excellent. Not discussing where we are in the standings and not talking about who's injured. We haven't talked about any of them once as a group together."

The Blues are without Colton Parayko, who hurt his knee March 5 against the Kings in Los Angeles. He had a scope procedure afterward.

In 62 games this season, Parayko has scored a career-high 15 goals and has 35 points. The Blues have gone 13-1-1 without him.

Dylan Holloway is also out and is listed as week-to-week because of a lower-body injury. He has 26 goals and 37 assists in 77 games.

"I am proud of that group in there to be able to overcome all of the adversity that we've had this year, whether that was self-inflicted by us," Montgomery said. "It doesn't matter. We've overcome it. I'm proud of that group for what they've achieved."

"It's been a total team effort," Pavel Buchnevich said.

"It's not just who scores the goals. It's a full team shift in, shift out and it's hard to play against us," Buchnevich said. "We play for each other right now and sacrifice for the team."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Forward Trinity Rodman scored just over five minutes into her international return to lift the United States women's national team to a 2-0 victory over Brazil on Saturday at SoFi Stadium.

Rodman had not played for the USWNT since the squad's Olympic gold medal triumph over Brazil last August due to a lingering back injury. She started on Saturday and quickly latched onto a through ball from Alyssa Thompson. Rodman finished the shot with the outside of her right foot.

"That was the perfect ball to the perfect finish, so I'm really happy about it," Rodman said.

Captain Lindsey Heaps scored the other goal from the penalty spot in the 66th minute.

"I'm very happy to be back -- back with a newer team but still same environment, same vibe, energy," Rodman said. "I think I missed it a lot. It was just kind of me being back into it, bringing my level of competitiveness, energy, but also trying to relearn a couple new things while remembering the foundation of this team."

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes described Rodman as "world-class" after the match.

"Delighted for her," Hayes said. "That goal meant a lot. She loves this environment; she cares so much for this team. I've said this all week: She's been smiling from ear to ear being back in this environment, and I'm so happy to have her."

Rodman recently said she might have to manage her back injury for the rest of her career. After her goal on Saturday, she faked a back injury as part of her celebration.

"Medical staff was freaking out, but I thought I had to do it," Rodman said with a big smile.

"Except I didn't think she was pretending, so I will have a word with her because that's like a cry wolf moment," Hayes said. "I turned to the physios and I said her back's hurting, instantly, and then I realized she was tricking us."

Rodman played 60 minutes in a physical game that saw her hit the ground multiple times.

"It feels really good, coming off the Olympics and then obviously being out, progressing back into high-level minutes is exciting but also, it's kind of managing how I want to play and the intensity at which I'm doing it," Rodman said.

Phallon Tullis-Joyce started and made her international debut in goal and became the 28th goalkeeper in USWNT history to earn a cap.

Defender Avery Patterson also made her debut on Saturday, entering the match in the 88th minute.

"They're really fast learners and they're really coachable," Hayes said. "They want to do all the things that this team requires. We're a team; we love this team for that reason. We want to contribute to the crest."

Saturday's game marked the first women's sporting event at SoFi Stadium. The announced attendance was 32,303.

Brazil and the USWNT will play again on Tuesday in San Jose.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Trinity Rodman waited 238 days to play for the United States women's national team again after winning an Olympic gold medal, and she needed exactly five minutes on Saturday to remind the world why she is the USWNT's new superstar. That is when she darted behind Brazil's defense and deftly finished her shot with the outside of her right foot to put the Americans ahead early.

"Trin, she's world-class," USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said after her team's 2-0 victory over Brazil at SoFi Stadium.

Rodman's return to the USWNT gave the Olympic champions a shot of energy on and off the field. She is the team's new star, one emerging in the wake of the recent retirements of some of best players and biggest personalities to ever wear the U.S. crest. The crowd of over 32,000 fans confirmed as much before the match with booming cheers for Rodman and fellow hometown forward Alyssa Thompson, who provided the through ball for the opening goal.

On the field, Rodman is increasingly a focal point of a United States team navigating that generational transition with waves of new, less experienced players. Even at 22 years old, Rodman is one of the most established players in the squad.

"She brings a huge energy on and off the field, and it's incredible to just feed off of that," said USWNT teammate Ally Sentnor, who started in the No. 10 role on Saturday. "Every tackle she goes into, every run that she makes, it really just adds to the game and makes you want to bring that high energy, too."

Many of the new players tested by Hayes have held their own, but with so many veterans missing -- from injured defenders Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson, to the other two-thirds of the self-proclaimed "Triple Espresso" of Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson, who are on leave -- Rodman also provides the USWNT a sense of stability. She stretches lines and leaves defenders spinning in circles, as Brazil did throughout the opening minutes of Saturday's match.

If all else fails for the USWNT, Rodman will still do something special, whether it is scoring as she did on Saturday or getting out of pressure with her famous "Trin Spin" move.

Saturday was Rodman's 47th cap. She is already an Olympic gold medalist and scored three goals at last year's Games, and she has a World Cup under her belt as well. While she isn't yet the vocal leader of the team, she is a game changer who unequivocally makes the USWNT better.

"My leadership comes from the way that I play and how aggressive that I [am], but also just the energy that I provide," Rodman said on Saturday. "I think I try to embed in this team that you lock in at the right moments, but you can also kind of have fun and be a human at different moments."

Rodman displayed that humanity during her goal celebration on Saturday when she briefly faked a back injury, which sent an unsuspecting Hayes into brief panic, the coach said after the match. Rodman laughed it off as a funny celebration, and Hayes said she was happy to see her star forward back in camp and "smiling from ear to ear."

Rodman played for only 60 minutes on Saturday as she's still managing her back pain, and there were signs of that throughout the match as she subtly held her right hip or took a few extra seconds to get back on her feet after a hard challenge from a Brazilian defender. Overall, Rodman didn't look like an injured player returning to a team; she did exactly what she is known to do. Yes, she scored, and was a constant source of industry up and down the right flank, attacking Brazil's sometimes disjointed three-back defense while also tracking back to help clear the ball defensively whenever the USWNT's opponents turned up the pressure.

"The goal itself, yeah, obviously it's big-time," said USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps, who scored the team's other goal from the penalty spot midway through the second half. "But I think [Rodman's] presence and just having her on the field -- it's a calming factor."

Hayes reiterated this week that she is still experimenting with individual players to give them opportunities and see how they perform against top competition. The process will come with some growing pains, like February's loss to Japan at the SheBelieves Cup. There have been plenty of positives along the way -- including the return of Catarina Macario from her own injury and the resurgence of the 20-year-old Thompson to her best form yet. Thompson was electric in the first half on Saturday as she cut inside from the left wing to beat Brazilian defenders on the dribble.

The key to everything, Hayes has said, is balance. She is integrating new and young players into the team alongside veterans while trying to make sure she doesn't set anyone up to fail. Hayes got the formula right again on Saturday as the USWNT jumped on Brazil early. Over the 90 minutes, the Americans produced 2.72 expected goals from their efforts to Brazil's 1.41, per U.S. Soccer, a measurement of the quality of chances they created.

"I think you're seeing that this less experienced team are growing up," Hayes said after Saturday's victory, and Rodman is part of that maturation process. Saturday served as further confirmation that she is the next big thing for the USWNT.