Sports
NHL Over/Under Best Bet: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks March 1st
A couple of swings and misses isn’t how I wanted to return to Deadspin, but there’s still a full weekend ahead and a rare two-bet excursion to ride through Saturday.
From the late slate tonight, we’re focusing on a matchup between two Western Conference bottom-feeders.
The Chicago Blackhawks, of course, are once again anchored near the cellar for the fourth straight season. Opposing them will be the Anaheim Ducks, who aren’t as low in the standings but are still outside a playoff spot and in danger of missing the postseason for a seventh consecutive year.
Offense has been the biggest issue for both sides, as the Ducks are scoring the fewest goals per game in the league with 2.55. Chicago, meanwhile, is barely ahead of them, averaging just 2.66. Stout goaltending could keep things tight tonight.
Neither starting goalie has been confirmed yet, but after Petr Mrazek was tagged for five goals Wednesday night — his second consecutive outing with that result — we can anticipate Arvid Soderblom as the starting netminder.
While the Hawks are enduring yet another disappointing campaign, Soderblom has been one of the few bright spots. The 25-year-old Swede is having his best season to date, posting career-best marks in goals-against average (3.02) and save percentage (.906).
Soderblom’s play appears to have also propelled him past Mrazek for the starting job. His 7-15-5 record may not shine, but like with starting pitchers in baseball, a win-loss record isn’t always indicative of performance. Blackhawks goalies are facing more shots per game (31.71) than all but one other team (San Jose Sharks).
Despite this, a matchup with the NHL’s lowest-scoring team can help mitigate that tendency. Plus, we’ll have the guy we’d want behind the pipes in Soderblom.
Allowing a lot of shots and generating very little offense is obviously not a recipe for success. We’ll depend on that latter habit, as Chicago averages the fewest shots per game in the NHL (24.8).
There are definitely some talented skaters within the Blackhawks offense — like Connor Bedard, Teuvo Teravainen, and Ryan Donato — but lack of depth outside of them really puts a cap on the team’s collective scoring.
No matter who’s in net for the Ducks, it’ll be someone reliable. Lukas Dostal had a very strong first half of the season, earning borderline All-Star consideration — had the game been played this year. John Gibson is a consistently strong veteran.
Pick: UNDER 6 (-120, Caesars)
Bonus Over/Under Bet
Sports
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Australia’s Hannah Green held off Auston Kim on Sunday to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore for the second time.
Green, the 2024 champion, balanced three birdies and three bogeys on an eventful back nine to finish with a 3-under 69 and a final score of 14-under at Sentosa Golf Club. The 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner tapped in for bogey at the 18th for her seventh LPGA Tour title.
“When I did win Singapore two years ago, I went on to win two other tournaments that season and pretty much had my best season on tour,” said Green, 29. “So having a win so early in the season gives me a bit more flexibility with the tournaments that I can play. So I’m hoping that this puts me in good stead for the rest of the year.”
Green was at 16-under after birdies at the first, 11th and 13th holes and an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. Her birdie at the par-3 15th helped her survive a bogey-bogey finish.
“I knew that I had enough of a lead to be able to get away with making mistakes coming down the stretch. But I think 15 was the real turning point,” she said.
First- and second-round leader Kim nearly chased down her first title, matching the low round of the day with a 67 to finish one shot behind Green in the 72-hole, no-cut tournament.
Kim carded six birdies and an eagle at No. 8, but a bogey at the par-3 15th proved costly for the 25-year-old American.
“Overall, I think it was a really solid week,” Kim said. “A great way to start the year. I hit a lot of bad shots but I also hit a lot of good ones, and it was really confidence boosting. I hit all these bad shots, and I didn’t feel like I had anything chose to my A game, but I was still able it pull off a result like this and play some really solid golf.”
Australia’s Minjee Lee (72 on Sunday), Angel Yin (71) and France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (68) tied for third place at 11-under with South Korea’s Haeran Ryu (72) another shot back in solo sixth.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand finished with a 73 and tied for 31st at 2-under, one shot behind defending champion Lydia Ko (72) of New Zealand.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
