As of Monday only one National Hockey League (NHL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) team have advanced to their respective conference finals.
The Carolina Hurricanes – who remain undefeated in the postseason – on the ice, and the New York Knicks in the hard court.
The Hurricanes might not have garnered the respect they probably should have during the regular season, finished first overall in the east, but they are now in the NHL history books becoming one of just 10 teams ever to start the playoffs a perfect (8-0) after sweeps of the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers.
The only Canadian team left in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Montreal Canadians lead the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 entering Game 4 action Tuesday night.
The Habs, after taking out Tampa Bay in seven games, won back-to-back games for the first time in these playoffs with an impressive 6-2 win Sunday night
Czech born goaltender Jakub Dobes has become the talk of the town in Montreal with not only his performance between the pipes but also his contagious enthusiastic and confident personality.
The two Western Conference playoff series currently see (as of Monday) Colorado leading Minnesota two games to one, while Vegas and Anaheim are tied 2-2.
Toronto Maple Leafs fans may want to avert their eyes from this.
Two former Leafs lead the NHL in four playoff statistical playoff categories.
Mitch Marner leads all scorers with 16 points, while Fredrik Andersen has a stellar 1.12 goals against average, and tops all goaltenders with a .950 save-percentage and eight postseason victories.
The good news for fans of the blue and white, in case you missed it, is that they won the NHL Draft Lottery and will pick first overall at the entry draft next month from the Key Bank Center in Buffalo, New York.
Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is the favorite to go first overall, but don’t be surprised if Swedish born forward Ivar Stenberg also garners some discussion at the very least from Niagara native, and Toronto general manager, John Chayka.
In the NBA, Cleveland has yet to lose at home but as of Monday night but still trail Detroit two games to one. The Knicks await the winner after sweeping aside Philadelphia in four straight games.
Can you imagine being a Philadelphia sports fan this week? Both the Flyers and 76ers are coming of season ending series sweep losses.
In the West, Hamilton’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder were looking for the sweep of Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers Monday evening, while San Antonio and Minnesota were tied 2-2.
Of the still playoff performers, the Pistons Cade Cunningham leads all scorers with 30.2 points per game. Defending league and playoff MVP Gilgeous-Alexander is second with 28.3.
The Spurs Victor Wembenyama is tops in rebounds (10.5) and blocks per game (4.4), while James had 7.8 assists per contest entering action Monday.
The Washington Wizards won Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery.
Brigham Young freshman forward AJ Dybantsa is the overwhelming favorite to be selected first overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
