#playoff-contention

#playoff-contention

To start with the big picture: this organization still has something a lot of teams can dream of-a loyal fanbase and stability. They know who they are. The Kings play structured, responsible hockey. The team doesn't usually get blown out, they don't chase offense recklessly, and when they're on, they drag games right into their comfort zone: tight, controlled, and sometimes downright suffocating.

Junior guard Zaire Rasshan of Damien knows football. His father, Osaar, was a backup quarterback at UCLA from 2005-09. Rasshan played quarterback his freshman season at Damien until deciding basketball was his No. 1 sport. So when Rasshan looked up at the scoreboard Thursday night at Etiwanda in the first quarter and saw the Spartans up 24-0, he had to think football.

Corbett thought he might have taken away that hope late in the first quarter when he stepped on Bryce Young's bothersome right ankle late, leaving the quarterback temporarily on the ground in pain. "Shoot, gosh dang-it, I owe you dinner, sorry a whole lot," Corbett said with a smile, trying not to give away exactly what he said with one of his young sons standing within earshot.

"No matter what our record was, whether we were undefeated right now or didn't have a win, I was gonna do everything to be out there," St. Brown said. "Just to be out there for my guys. "I feel like availability is your best ability at the end of the day, so my job is to go out there and make plays and be on that field. It's what they pay me to do, so I was gonna do whatever it takes to be out there."

We never lost faith, said head coach Danny Jones. If we look at the scores of games, we're battling our (butts) off. We knew the football team that we were and what we were capable of, and it's wonderful to be able to put it together and to see it for four quarters on both sides of the ball. We have one game left in the season. If we win, we're in the playoffs.

"We never lost faith," said head coach Danny Jones. "If we look at the scores of games, we're battling our (butts) off. We knew the football team that we were and what we were capable of, and it's wonderful to be able to put it together and to see it for four quarters on both sides of the ball. "We have one game left in the season. If we win, we're in the playoffs. I feel so good about whatever bracket they want to put us in, whether that's the D2 or the D3 bracket. I feel like the schedule we've played all year long, we're hardened and we're battle-tested and we're a physical football team."

The NHL technically considers the Utah Mammoth an "expansion team" even though for all intents and purposes they are the relocated Arizona Coyotes. So technically this "expansion team" is entering its second season. The last NHL expansion team the Seattle Kraken also made the playoffs in their second season. In 2022-2023 the Kraken finished with a record of 46-28-8 for 100 points. As their broadcasters said during the playoff clinching win they rose from the depths of the Pacific Division to the playoffs.

Offensively led by Stützle, who is "knocking on the door of superstardom" according to The Athletic, the 23-year-old already has a 90-point season under his belt and is certainly primed to outpace the 78 points he scored in 82 games from 2024-25. Trailing not far behind on the scoresheet is linemate Drake Batherson, who is coming off of a career-best season with 68 points in 82 games. That dynamic duo has proven to hold up against some of the NHL's most elite competi

Pretty good! A winning record in a month is always a plus. We had win streaks going. We took three of four from the Yankees and four of four from the Orioles in their own houses. Roman Anthony really started to dominate. Payton Tolle debuted. I can't really complain. It seemed like every loss this month was extra annoying, though.

As the season dwindles, so too must your spectrum of usable starters, given how much more information you're working with. This necessitates a more strategic approach in roster management.

We conceded goals after we scored the first goal in a short period of time and also after we scored the second goal. That's a lack of discipline and concentration on our part, Arena said.

Spencer Strider has stepped up over his last six starts, maintaining a 2.95 ERA while accumulating fifty strikeouts to only thirteen walks.

Longford Town have finally found some form, moving closer to playoff contention after a 3-2 victory over Athlone, showcasing resilience and home advantage.

Even if they're close to contending, the Brewers may be motivated to move Hoskins to save the $4 million buyout on a 2026 mutual option that is unlikely to be exercised.