preview Page 8 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Jake Oettinger has Stars trending in right direction ahead of Leafs matchup
The Dallas Stars will visit the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday night knowing where they stand entering the playoffs.,The Stars (48-20-12, 108 points) clinched the No. 2 seed in the Central Division Saturday with a 2-0 home victory over the New York Rangers.,Their third consecutive win has assured them h...

Predators, Sharks look for late push into West playoff picture
Two teams still on the outskirts of the Western Conference playoff picture will collide when the Nashville Predators host the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.,The Predators (38-32-10, 86 points) trail the Los Angeles Kings by one point for the second wild card in the West with two games remaining. T...

Lightning seek strong home finish, starting vs. eliminated Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning meet for the final time Monday night, but their penultimate regular-season games will hold very different impacts for the Atlantic Division foes.,The Lightning (49-25-6, 104 points) are glad to be back home for their final two games after a bad four-game...

Playoff-hungry Flyers 'playing the right way' with Carolina test next
Two of the three teams in Metropolitan Division playoff spots meet on Monday night when the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Philadelphia Flyers.,The Hurricanes (52-22-6, 110 points) have clinched the division title, while the Flyers (41-27-12, 94 points) are in third. With two games to play, they lead...

Rebuilding Rangers, injury-plagued Panthers playing out the string
The New York Rangers were the NHL's best team in the 2023-24 regular season.,The Florida Panthers won the past two Stanley Cup championships.,Yet, when the Rangers visit the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., on Monday night, it somehow will be a battle between two of the eight worst teams in the league. Bo...

Athletics finding reasons to celebrate while Mets looking for answers
The Athletics went viral with a new home run celebration Saturday as they locked up a winning road trip to New York.,The mood is decidedly more downbeat for the New York Mets.,The visiting Athletics will look to complete a three-game sweep of the reeling Mets Sunday afternoon when the teams close ou...

Marlins-Tigers finale features Cy Young Award matchup
The Detroit Tigers are hoping the third time's the charm early in the season.,After failing in their two previous attempts to sweep a three-game series, Detroit will attempt to do so Sunday at home against the Miami Marlins in a battle between former Cy Young Award winners.,Detroit lost at San Diego...

Angels turn to sizzling Jose Soriano in rubber game at Reds
The Los Angeles Angels are sending the right man to the mound against the host Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, when they'll rely on new-found ace Jose Soriano to try to win the finale and the three-game series.,The Angels' bats cooled off after Friday's 10-2 blowout win as they dropped Saturday's game 7-...

Missing George Springer, Jays send Max Scherzer vs. Twins
The Toronto Blue Jays will be dealing with another injury concern Sunday afternoon when they face the visiting Minnesota Twins in the decisive encounter of a three-game series.,Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer suffered a fractured left big toe Saturday during the Twins' 7-4 victory. Sprin...

Phillies continue search for offense in series against Diamondbacks
The Philadelphia Phillies' bats have been scuffling in recent days, but Kyle Schwarber knows that a relaxed, focused approach is still the way to go.,Schwarber and the Phillies hope to escape with a series victory Sunday afternoon when they conclude their weekend set with the visiting Arizona Diamon...

Trail Blazers can clinch No. 8 seed with win vs. Kings
The Portland Trail Blazers look to secure the No. 8 position in the Western Conference when they host the woeful Sacramento Kings on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both clubs.,The Trail Blazers put themselves in position to nab a spot in the key 7 vs. 8 play-in contest by routing the visiti...

Warriors face Clippers, knowing rematch may occur soon after
The Golden State Warriors could have a hand in their play-in opponent when they wrap up the NBA regular season on the road Sunday night against one of the possibilities, the Los Angeles Clippers.,The Warriors (37-44) are assured of a 10th-place finish in the Western Conference, meaning they will ope...

No. 3 seed within Lakers' grasp in season finale vs. Jazz
A better seed in next week's Western Conference playoffs will be on the line Sunday night for the Los Angeles Lakers, who host the lowly Utah Jazz in both teams' regular-season finale.,Los Angeles (52-29) will earn the No. 3 seed with a win paired with a Denver Nuggets' loss to the San Antonio Spurs...

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets can clinch No. 3 seed against Spurs
The Denver Nuggets have plenty for which to play when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday in the teams' regular-season finale.,The Nuggets (53-28) have won 11 straight games, the longest active winning streak in the league. Denver's latest victory, a 127-107 home decision over top-seeded Okla...

Avoiding injury looms large as Thunder host Suns in regular season finale
The Oklahoma City Thunder's place in the postseason is set.,The Thunder (64-17) will be the No. 1 overall seed when the playoffs open, their third consecutive season earning the top spot in the Western Conference.,The Phoenix Suns (44-37) will be headed to the play-in tournament as the No. 7 seed, t...

Depleted Grizzlies wrap season against resting Rockets
The Houston Rockets finally had displayed signs of consistency that seemed to validate their standing as a contender in the West, with an eight-game winning streak confirming as much.,One result likely won't change that perspective, but the Rockets' defensive effort against the short-handed Minnesot...

Crew hopes turnaround in full gear as they host flailing Orlando City
Orlando City will try to halt a miserable extended start to the season on Sunday night when they visit a Columbus Crew side that just might have turned a corner.,Orlando (1-5-0, 3 points) parted with manager Orlando Pareja a month ago following a 5-0 loss at New York City FC, and briefly responded w...

Billy Donovan, perhaps coaching Bulls for last time, faces Mavericks
Chicago's season-ending road clash with the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday will be Bulls coach Billy Donovan's 482nd regular-season game on the bench.,Speculation continues to swirl that it may also be his last, what with the 60-year-old Hall of Fame coach linked to a shift to Chicago's front office.,Th...

Cavaliers conclude regular season vs. last-place Wizards
The playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers and last-place Washington Wizards are locked into their spots in the standings, leaving nothing tangible for either team to play for -- except pride -- in their regular season finale Sunday.,Host Cleveland (51-30) is assured of finishing fourth in the Eastern Co...

Pistons, Pacers close regular season in opposite positions
With the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference already locked up, the Detroit Pistons visiting the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in Indianapolis with an opportunity to complete a 60-win regular season for the first time in 20 years.,The surprising Pistons (59-22) come into Sunday's regular-season finale w...