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Body checks in hockey are pretty straight forward. Its usually a split-second collision that is completed just as soon as it begins. That pattern was broken however in the KHLs junior Donovan Stiner Jersey division in a game between HC Riga and Red Bull.In a chippy contest Friday that included several scrums and a few fights, the highlight of the game may have been the hip check delivered by an HC Riga defenseman Kristaps Zile on Red Bulls Domantas Cypas. It is the longest and strangest hip check Ive ever seen.Check it out (volume warning):As Cypas tries to get around Zile on the play, Zile goes for the hip check. Normally, the player getting hit is knocked off his stride, spins off of it or ends up going head over heels. Not this time. Zile ends up carrying Cypas on his back from inside the faceoff circle all the way to the corner where he finishes the check, leaving the Red Bull player in some extreme discomfort.You can check out the original video of the hit here with natural sound. It comes in at about the 0:26 mark.Red Bull won the game 4-3 in a shootout, but Zile gets himself on the highlight reels for years to come with that strangest of hits. Khamal Ellison Jersey

at , 12:30 p.m. ET, NBCAt some point, desperation has to set in for the Penguins. After dropping two straight, including a game to the team they're set to play Sunday, the Penguins must have a realistic fear that the playoffs are no longer a guarantee. They're dead even with the Boston Bruins in the wild card right now with a game in hand. They trail the Washington Capitals by two points for third in the Metropolitan and the Ottawa Senators are three back in the wild-card race. The Pens are unlikely to drop out, but a win will not be easy to come by Sunday afternoon. The Flyers are seeking a season sweep of the Penguins after going 3-0-0 to date Blake Thiry Jersey . Philly earned an emphatic 4-1 win over their in-state rivals Wednesday and now meet with even higher stakes. The Flyers have nothing to play for except to spoil their neighbors' playoff chances, which should be plenty motivating. The Penguins, meanwhile, will hope to get back after he was a late scratch Wednesday and mi sed Saturday's lo s to the Columbus Blue Jackets. They'll need all the help that they can get against a Flyers club that has just plain had their number. Pick: Flyers 3, Penguins 2 at , 5 p.m. ET, NHLNThanks to a game in hand and a big shootout win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, the Red Wings are still in third place in the Atlantic, but the Bruins are breathing down their necks. Meanwhile, the Capitals mi sed out on a chance to clinch a playoff spot by losing to the Senators in overtime after climbing back from a 3-0 deficit. Washington currently owns third place in the Metropolitan Division, but a win leapfrogs them over the New York Islanders for second, giving them home ice in the first round of the playoffs. The Red Wings just have to keep holding off the Bruins and the Senators, who just won't go away in the wild-card race. These two teams will have just two games to go after this one, so expect an absolute dogfight for the two (or three) points available in this game. Pick: Capitals 4, Red Wings 2 at , 7:30 p.m. ETThe Panthers were officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday after a 4-0 lo s to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Their reward is playing the Atlantic-leading Canadiens in the second half of a back-to-back. That's a rough way to go. The Habs have a big incentive to try to come away with two points as they're currently tied with the Lightning with 104 points. Even though the Panthers are out of it, don't expect them to mail it in, but they've struggled against Montreal this season. The Habs own a 3-0-1 record against the Panthers and with a lot more on the line, they should be looking to come away with the needed points to keep Tampa (um, there has to be a better way to say this) ... at bay. Pick: Canadiens 3, Panthers 1 at , 7:30 p.m. ETThe Maple Leafs may already be calculating their draft lottery odds, but the Senators could not be facing a bigger game Sunday. After a dramatic 4-3 overtime win over the Capitals, the Senators are still alive in what is a pretty crazy playoff race in the East. They trail wild-card holders Pittsburgh and Boston by three points. They still need help to get into the playoffs, but a big two points would go a long way for Ottawa. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, have a small carrot dangling in front of them that may mean something to the players. The Battle of Ontario has been played to a split so far this season with each team having won two games. Sunday is the final meeting and a series win for Toronto might actually generate some positivity inside the Maple Leafs' dre sing room. Both teams are coming off games Saturday night, so there's little time to rest up. The Sens have been a great story, but without getting two points against the Leafs, their playoff chances would take a devastating -- but not yet fatal -- blow. Pick: Senators 3, Maple Leafs 1 at , 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSNSunday marks the first of two gigantic games between these Central Division rivals in just four days. They'll meet again Thursday in what could be another ma sive tilt to help determine playoff seeding and home ice. The Blues lead Chicago by one point for second place in the Central Division standings. However, a win for the Blues also would allow them to overtake the Nashville Predators for first in the division. The Blackhawks could leapfrog the Blues with a regulation win and pull even with the Predators with 104 points. So this is a moderately big game on top of this being one of the league's great modern rivalries. Chicago has won the past two meetings after dropping the first contest. Regardle s of outcome, there's still a good chance these two teams play each other in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year. If it happens, that's going to put an awfully good hockey team on the golf course far too early, but that's why both of these teams should be clawing to try to unseat the Preds for first. The Central race is as compelling as ever with just a few games left. Pick: Blues 2, Blackhawks 1Three stars1. , Ottawa Senators: The Senators rookie has been near unstoppable of late. He has points in each of his past five games and 17 points over his past 15. Additionally, Stone has had succe s against the Maple Leafs this season with four points in four games including a pair of goals. It ha s been an incredible run for the 22-year-old forward.2. , Montreal Canadiens: After getting a rare night off, Price should be fresh for his Easter evening tilt with the Panthers. He's 1-0-1 in two appearances against Florida this season and owns a .941 career save percentage in 14 contests vs. the Panthers. Price is playing out the last days of what should be an MVP campaign and could seal it by helping the Habs win the Atlantic. 3. , Washington Capitals: Ovechkin doesn't have any points in his two games against Detroit this season, but has 16 over 13 career games against the Wings. With the Capitals close to clinching a spot in the postseason, expect the Great 8 to do what he does best after getting skunked Saturday night. Devan Boykin Jersey

After a slow start to the 2023-24 season, . He will be replaced immediately by former New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators coach John Hynes, . The Wild have gotten off to a 5-10-4 start this season, and they're currently seven points out of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Considering the team had playoff expectations coming into the season, that won't cut it, and general manager Bill Guerin decided to make a change. On Chase Moore Jersey Monday evening, Minnesota announced that it was firing Evason, who spent five seasons with the franchise. In that time, Evason compiled a 147-77-27 record. In his first four years behind the bench, Evason took the Wild to the playoffs but they never reached the second round. "Dean did an excellent job during his tenure with the Minnesota Wild, especially as head coach of our team," Guerin said in a statement. "I am very thankful for his hard work and dedication to our organization. Hynes comes in with nine years of head coaching experience, between the Devils and Predators. Hynes coached New Jersey from 2015 to 2019, and he led the franchise to a 150-159-45 record and one playoff appearance. Shortly after Hynes was fired by the Devils in December of 2019, the Predators hired him to replace Peter Laviolette in January of 2020. In his four seasons with Nashville, the team went 134-96-18 and made the playoffs three times. However, the Predators won just three playoff games under his watch. The Predators fired Hynes in the offseason after they failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2013-14. Hynes won't have to wait long to face his former team because the Wild pay a visit to Nashville on Thursday night. Spencer Shannon Jersey

Anytime the phrase "wall of snow" starts popping up, odds are something interesting is happening and odds are, it involves Buffalo. With areas south of the city set to get hit with around six feet of snow, the Sabres announced that though their Tuesday game against the Sharks will be played, anyone who doesn't want to combat the aforementioned Snow Wallcan exchange their tickets. Games avail. for exchange: 11/26 WPG 12/2 TBL 12/9 LAK 12/11 CGY 1/15 MIN 2/5 STL 2/10 OTT 2/22 NSH 2/26 VAN 3/16 WSH 3/26 ARI Sabres PR (@SabresPR) Coach Ted Nolan said some members of the team's medical staff were snowed in, as was forward Patrick Kaleta. What and I are dealing with in Hamburg Raef LaFrentz Jersey and it's still coming.. Yes, there is a car under there Ashley Cook (@cookie4789) Meanwhile, the photos coming out of upstate New York remain amazing. 35 floors up, looking south acro s lake. Wall of lake effect snow. Western NY weather (@WNYweather) Whoa RT How about these pictures taken from one of the few flights leaving Buffalo this AM Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) Local areas south of Buffalo, NY, are forecast to get 70 inches of snow through Wednesday evening, says. ABC News Weather (@abcnewswx) Epic shot of the snow squalls earlier this afternoon in Buffalo, NY via Jacob DeFlitch (@WxDeFlitch) Buffalo NY & surrounding area snowed in this morning after heavy lake effect snow (pics from ) Mike Koncan (@MikeOnGlobal) Zach Williams Jersey

Erik Karl son's decision iscoming soon. ,the Sharks defenseman is pondering his future with the franchise and whether he will extend his stay in San Jose. The word is that Erik Karl son is taking a long, hard look at deciding if he wants to stay in San Jose, Friedman saidduring"Hockey Night in Canada" on Saturday. "And I think were going to know, in about a week, if hes going to stay Dont'a Hightower Jersey or if hes going to investigate his other free agency options. He wants to win, the Sharks are perennially in it (and)theyve made a good impre sion on him. After being traded from Ottawa to San Jose ahead of this season, Karl son is expected to be one of the most coveted free agents on the market this summer. The Rangers are rumored to be pursuing the veteran, while it was also reported that the Canucks could enter the Karl son sweepstakes. The Sharks posted a 46-27-9 record during the regular season for second place in the Pacific Division but fell to the Blues in six games in the Western Conference finals. Karl son, who turned 29 on Friday, loggedthree goals and 42 a sists in 53 regular-season games in his first yearwiththe Sharks as he dealt with numerous injuries. He added an additional two goals and 14 a sists in 19 playoff games. Will Anderson Jr. Jersey

I'm mad at myself. Before the NBA season began, I took out a future on the Boston Celtics to win the title at (+5000). It's one of the futures I shared in the newsletter, and I hope you took it with me if you're reading this. As I told you last week, though, I hedged a bit by taking the Warriors to win the NBA Finals so that I could ensure I'd make money no matter what happens. Now, in a vacuum, this is an intelligent thing to do. The problem is, I was confident that the Warriors weren Artturi Lehkonen Jersey 't going to win the NBA Finals before it began, and after watching Game 3 on Wednesday night, I'm even more confident it's not going to happen. Now I'm convinced I sacrificed some of my profits. CBS Sports HQ Newsletter Your Ultimate Guide to Every Day in Sports We bring sports news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and get a winning edge. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. So even though I'm going to win, I'll probably be mad at myself. All of which is an excellent reminder of how stupid sports can sometimes make us. However, what isn't stupid would be reading all these wonderful stories. . . . OK, let's make some money to make up the money I sacrificed with my dumb Warriors hedge. All times Eastern, and all odds via Caesars Sportsbook The Hot Ticket at , 8 p.m. | TV: ESPN Key Trend : The Rangers are 8-1 at home in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and 5-1 in their last six as a home underdog. The Pick: Rangers (+105) This series reminds me of the NBA Finals. On the one side, you have the public favorite and dynasty in the Tampa Bay Lightning. They're this series' Golden State Warriors. Then there are the Rangers in the role of the Celtics. They're a good team without many big-name players and are underrated by the betting market. The series is tied 2-2, but the Rangers have been underdogs in all four games. Winning at home is what the Rangers have done in the playoffs, going 8-1 at MSG. We saw what happened last night when Boston returned home. It re-established itself as the better team in this series, and I think we'll see something similar here tonight. To be clear, I just think the Rangers are far more evenly-matched with this Tampa team than they're getting credit for, and they should not be underdogs at home. We'll be betting them in this newsletter as long as they are. Here's what SportsLine is saying about the game: . The Picks USATSI MLB Nationals at Marlins, 6:40 p.m. | TV: MLB.TV The Pick: Nationals (+125) -- Stephen Strasburg is making his 2022 debut in this game. We haven't seen much of him in the last few years. He went 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA in 2019, pitching 209 innings and helping the Nats win a World Series. He's appeared in seven games and thrown 26.2 innings since. Considering all of that, I don't have the highest expectations for him tonight, but that doesn't mean I need to respect the Marlins as much as the line is telling me to. While Miami is better than its 24-30 record (with a run differential of +18), Trevor Rogers is struggling. He has an ERA of 5.80 in 10 starts this year, and Miami has gone 2-8 in those games. I'd take the Nats anywhere down to +115, so getting them at +125 is a steal. Key Trend: The Marlins, who won last night, are 1-6 following their last seven wins. Yankees at Twins, 7:40 p.m. | TV: MLB.TV The Pick: Twins (+180) -- Last night we faded Aaron Nola as an ace getting too much respect on the market, and tonight we're taking a similar approach against Gerrit Cole. Of course, the difference here is that not only is Cole one of the best pitchers in the game, but he's also backed by one of the best offenses in the sport. Don't think of this as an outright fade of him as much as a numbers play on a Twins team that's being undervalued. You know, the same way it was undervalued before the season began when I told you to take the Twins (+525) to win the AL Central. The Twins offense is strong enough to give them a chance against anyone. While the Yankees are at or near the top of the league in all the important offensive stats, Minnesota ranks fourth in wRC+, sixth in wOBA and third in OBP. They're a capable unit that can punish you, and they're better at home than on the road. They're worth taking a shot on tonight. Key Trend: The trends do not agree with this play, but the trends are all cowards. SportsLine Pick of the Day: . Dinger Stackin' We're betting on each of these Kansas City Royals to hit a home run tonight. Salvador Perez (+250) MJ Melendez (+430) Bobby Witt (+460) Avalanche Custom Jersey

"Look good, feel good." No NHL hopeful embodied that statement more than Isaac Howard. The 17-year old was touted as one of the best prospects coming out of North America this season. Sporting News' Bryan Murphy had him slated to go No. 18 to the Stars in his final . Howard ended up slipping slightly to the Lightning at No. 31. But decked out in a clean snow-white suit and a sleek grey turtleneck, Howard looked like a million bucks. He even had the American flag belt buckle to boot. Isaac Howard aka Don Johnson was Best Dre sed Available in Round 1. Goes to at no. 31 Jamison Alex Newhook Jersey Coyle (@JamisonCoyle) Turtleneck, chain, American flag belt buckle, Im buying my Isaac Howard jersey right now Andrew Wei s (@Wei sHockeyTalk) Very nice, indeed. MORE: Howard knew he was dripping, too. Listen to his pre-draft interview. The guy was exuding the style of a pure fashionista. "No better time than now to whip out the white suit and get the American belt buckle to go with it. Dre s to impre s, that's my memo." Honestly Isaac Howard's pre- fit was so we couldn't not post it. He'll fit right in with NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) I wear the belt because I love America. - Isaac Howard, aka Ice Man. Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) "Dre s to impre s, that's my memo," Howard said. Well, he certainly did that Thursday night. Howard, also known as "The Ice Man", was even more bold after getting selected. "I think I'm the best looking guy here so, you know, I decided to be the best dre sed too." Isaac Howard, ladies and gentlemen. | Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) That's one way to get people talking. A lot of pundits see Howard as a potential steal at No. 31. Getting a chance to develop in the incubator that is Tampa Bay's farm system should help with his progre sion. Either way, Howard looks poised to be stunting on and off the ice at the next level. Kirk Muller Jersey

Chris Kreider is one of the top names floating around the NHL ahead of next month's trade deadline, and for good reason. He is an effective scoring winger perhaps playing the best hockey of his career (17 goals, 15 a sists in 48 games); his contract lasts through the 2020-21 season at a team-friendly . Plenty of teams that expect to contend both this spring and next season surely will check on Kreider's availability over the next month, but the Boston Bruins reportedly view him as their over the next month. NBC Sports Boston's Joe Haggerty cited anonymous hockey sources in his , which also noted it remains po sible that New York could hold on to Kreider for the rest of the Travis Mitchell Jersey season. The Rangers (23-21-4, 50 points) are 10 points out of the Eastern Conference through Tuesday's standings, and are unlikely to make the playoffs but general manager Jeff Gorton is still a se sing his roster. As on Wednesday, the Rangers have back-to-back games with the NHL-worst Detroit Red Wings after the All-Star break. An early February surge could to Kreider, even if he does . MORE: Five potential landing spots for Chris Kreider Say Gorton does decide he's willing to move Kreider, though; how likely is he to land in Boston? The game-winner with :25 left, courtesy of Chris Kreider. Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) The Bruins are seemingly in need of help on the wing every season; they have been linked to Kreider before. It symbolically helps that he grew up in Boxford, Ma s., and played at Boston College; the team has already. The Bruins have long had a top line of elite players in Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. It's the second-line wing positions that the club has sought help at consistently in recent years, and it's where Kreider could fit right in. Kreider has a in his contract, but Boston's status as a clear Stanley Cup contender should render it a non-i sue. Sweeney has the first-round draft pick that the Rangers for a Kreider deal; he has younger wingers, , who could grow into the role Kreider may leave behind in Manhattan as well. Boston is right up against the salary cap ( ) which could make a trade difficult to complete, but it hasn't stopped Sweeney and Gorton from dealing before: Boston acquired Rick Nash from the Rangers in a in exchange for a package that included three players, two draft picks, and salary retained on Matt Beleskey's contract to make it all work. The NHL's trade deadline is on Feb. 24. Glenn Resch Jersey

More NHL: | | | | | The are buried in the snow. They have lost five in a row, nine of their last 10 and are three points clear at the bottom of the NHL after losing 3-1 to the Calgary Flames at home on Monday night. Again, they lost to the Flames.This did not make for a happy . At all.Giggy, who has seen his fair share of locker rooms over the years, was just a little frustrated after the game when talking to reporters and he got it off his chest. Longtime Avs beat writer Adrian Dater he referred to as some of the mast damning he's ever seen from an Avs player."Some guys are more worried about their Vegas trip at the end of the season than playing the games, than playing every minute of the games," Giguere said. "Quite frankly, I don't care about your Vegas trip right now.""It's embarra sing. I'm embarra sed to be here right now. It's not even funny."Oh, but he wasn't quite finished there yet, either. "I don't know what it is. I've been around for 15 years in this league and I don't know what it is. I don't know why we seem like we don't care at points. I don't know, I don't know we seem like, you know -- some guys are fighting to show that they belong in the NHL, some guys are fighting for contracts. And it's just embarra sing, the way we, you know, the energy we have in the room and the way we approach practices and the way we approach this game. It' Jack Campbell Jersey s not how you're going to win any games in this league. I mean, this is a team Calgary that we can beat if we set our minds to it, and every day is the same story. I don't know what to say. I'm beyond words right now."Seems like he found plenty of words to talk about it to me.I'm not in that dre sing room so I can't comment as to whether Giguere is on point or not, but judging by the way the team has looked on the ice, I wouldn't bet against him. The Avalanche are not built to be world-beaters or anything, but they aren't this bad, are they? There is some talent there in , and , etc., enough to win some games, right? Not if they're planning what they'll do on the Strip next month.Fair or not, a lot of this speaks to the coaching too and head man Joe Sacco. His seat was already burning hot and so his fate was probably sealed before the lo s to Calgary, but in case there were any lingering doubts this ought to do it. A team's preparation and lack thereof will almost always land squarely on the shoulders of the coach.Sometimes these things need to be said, a team needs the reality check. Perhaps it will go over well, there's always a chance. More likely, though, it's going to be an awkward practice rink for the Avalanche on Tuesday.But the good news in all of this is that the Avs are doing what they need to if they want to secure the best odds in the upcoming NHL draft lottery to be able to select Seth Jones, who got into hockey in part because he lived in Denver and his dad was able to talk to Joe Sakic. Then again, if he or whoever else the Avs draft is coming into a, for lack of a better word, toxic environment, it might not make much difference. Patrick Kane Jersey

had the Montreal Canadiens fearing the worst. No team wants to lose its leading scorer a week-plus before the Stanley Cup playoffs. Coach Michel after Wednesday's practice but also had encouraging news: Pacioretty, a winger from Connecticut who is having a breakout season, could be ready by April 15. MORE: | | "It's a heavy lo s, we won't hide that," Therrien said. "He's a guy that had quality ice time, not only offensively but defensively. At the end of games when we're up a goal, he's the guy we send on the ice. We used him on the penalty kill. But don't make the mistake of to sing him aside. There's a po sibility he plays next week." Therrien was inducted into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Wednesday, so there was good reason to ask what made him happier enshrinement or the latest on Pacioretty Dmitry Orlov Jersey . The Habs had good reason to worry. Pacioretty's head slammed into the end boards early in Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Initial thoughts were that Pacioretty had a concu sion. Officially, of course, the Canadiens will say only that Pacioretty has an upper-body injury. The reported it appears Pacioretty is working through the NHL's concu sion protocol. Pacioretty met with team doctors on Wednesday, and they gave Therrien their prognosis. Naturally, Therrien wasn't about to tell the media what he knew. What's clear: Pacioretty will not play Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. That means Therrien had to shuffle lines for an important game. Montreal needs three points in its final two games to secure the Atlantic Division title over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Losing Pacioretty doesn't help. And barring a miracle recovery (not unheard of in hockey), Pacioretty likely won't play in the season finale. The Wings are third in the division, so they would play either the Habs or Bolts in the first round by securing their playoff berth. Their finale is against the Carolina Hurricanes. Remember, Pacioretty is the best scorer on team with a glaring weakne s in scoring. The Habs are 22nd in the league with just over 2.5 goals per game. Pacioretty factored in just under one-third of the Habs' goals. Suck it up, Habs. "I don't think we're too worried," forward Lars Eller said via the team website. "We hope he's going to be back, but if he's not it's not going to crush us. Of course he's a big part of our team and he plays a lot of minutes, but we've seen so many times in the past teams that lose good players along the way and they still find ways to be succe sful. "I have no doubt we can do that here as well if that's going to be the case." Jordan Martinook Jersey