My shit for brains took the Avs to win on Saturday completely forgetting Philipp Grubauer was still on the Covid list. Between that and a hungry team looking at the last playoff spot out west in the Blues, it was a tough matchup for Colorado. That being said, the Rockies somehow won a series vs the Phillies at home this weekend and have won 4 of their last 5…keep it up and I might just have to promote them from the minor leagues back to the majors. I’ll take a 5-3 weekend with sports I’ve never tried to pick, but we’re going to get this shit figured out.
NHL
It’s weird trying to bet on these games when it’s the 15th matchup between two teams and they’re so familiar with each other, but if you’re not fired up to see some of the division races play out, you got a dump in your pants.
West
Avs@Blues
We already touched on what the Avs were going through going into this matchup, but with 3 games in hand and 1 point behind Arizona, the Blues got an astronomical win at home. They have a tough schedule remaining, but this was a critical game to keep pace with the ‘Yotes. There is a gigantic dropoff between the the third place Wild and 4th place Coyotes/Blues, so it’ll be critical from the Avs to rebound and finish the dadgum season.
East
The Bruins did the unthinkable and lost to the Sabres on Friday night after I shit on them and chalked every matchup against them as a dub. They followed it up with a 1 point loss on the road vs the Pens. They still have a couple games in hand vs the rest of the division, but the 1 seed is looking less likely.
Caps@Islanders
This division is starting to look like a two horse race between the Caps and the Pens and Washington’s 6-3 shitpumping over the Islanders felt like a statement win. They’re 6-2 in their last 8 and are putting the puck in the net, leading the league in scoring. They have a tough schedule left, but with 3 games left against the Penguins, they have a great opportunity to win this division. Caps year(?)
Bruins@Penguins (Sun 12pm PST)
I already hit on Boston’s issues the last two games, but after losses to the Flyers and the Sabres, the Pens have won 4 straight and there defense has looked much more solid the last 3 games. It’s incredible what Crosby is doing in the twilight of his career with 56 points in 48 games.
Central
Hurricanes@Panthers
Florida got a huge win to save my hockey bets this weekend and to keep pace in the Central with a 4-3 win over the Hurricanes in overtime on Saturday. The Hurricanes still had a productive roadtrip, going 2-2 in Florida, but picking up a point in each overtime loss to stay on top of the Central. Like the West, the 4th seed stinks in this division, so it’s going to be critical to get the 1 seed.
Maple Leafs@Jets
The Leafs are a wagon. I don’t know why the line was only -130, but I’ll take the Leafs in every game going into the playoffs.
MLB
Padres@Dodgers
After the Dodgers took 2 of 3 in San Diego earlier this month, the Padres answered with 3 wins in a 4 game series. Fernando Tatis Jr. made a statement with 5 homeruns in 2 games (11 at-bats) against a team that doesn’t surrender the long ball. I’ve called the Padres overhyped pretenders, but this was a statement series against the best team in the league.
In other games around the league, the Brewers widened their lead in the NL Central after taking 2 of three from the Cubs (although they got their asses handed to them 15-2 in the first game of that series). The Mariners split a 4 game set against the Red Sox to keep pace with the A’s in the AL West while the Red Sox retained their lead in the AL East.
NBA
The Nuggets gotta get their ass out of the 4 seed otherwise they’re going to have to face the Lakers in the first round. Not to spoil next week’s weekend preview, but the Jazz/Suns matchup next Friday might actually get me to watch the NBA.
EPL
This is bullshit. I became a Liverpool fan (NOT A BANDWAGON) thinking I would be rooting for a wagon of a franchise (club, wtf are SOCCER teams called)…They’ve given up equalizing goals in the last minutes of matches the last two games, keeping them 4 points out of the 4th spot.
The NHL and NBA are ramping up for the playoffs. I’ll do a better job letting ya’ll know when marquee matchups are coming up, but these games feel like playoff games. Love you, bye.
The Morning Flush 