Sports
Sharks pursue rare winning streak in visit to Buffalo
Mar 3, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Jose Sharks forward Fabian Zetterlund (20) celebrates his game winning goal over the Toronto Maple Leafs with San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini (71) during the overtime shoot out at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The San Jose Sharks and the Sabres each played beyond regulation on Monday ahead of their matchup in Buffalo on Tuesday.
The Sharks snapped an eight-game losing streak (0-5-3) with a 3-2 shootout win over the host Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Sabres dropped a 4-3 road overtime decision to the Montreal Canadiens.
It was San Jose’s first victory since Jan. 27, a 2-1 home win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sharks, who haven’t won two in a row since early January, own the NHL’s worst record with 41 points.
Tyler Toffoli and Fabian Zetterlund scored in the four-round shootout for San Jose after the Sharks beat Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz twice in the third period to tie the game 2-2. Defenseman Jack Thompson (2:23) and Toffoli (10:10) got the third-period goals.
San Jose’s Alexander Wennberg had two assists and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 25 shots. Georgiev denied Maple Leafs stars Mitch Marner, captain Auston Matthews and John Tavares in the shootout and was beaten only by William Nylander.
“It was amazing,” Wennberg said. “It’s been a few games where we’ve been really close to winning, so right now to find a way to win, being down a few goals and bouncing back, it’s a great feeling for the team.”
Rookie center Macklin Celebrini played after sustaining a lower-body injury in San Jose’s 5-3 loss to the host Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Celebrini and Eklund are tied for the Sharks’ points lead with 44 (excluding Mikael Granlund, who had 45 points before he was dealt to the Dallas Stars last month). Celebrini has 18 goals and 26 assists in 50 games, and Eklund 12 goals and 32 assists in 57 games. Toffoli is the club’s leading goal-scorer with 23.
The Sabres, who are last in the Eastern Conference with 54 points, are coming off their third loss in a row (0-2-1).
Buffalo rallied for a point on Monday, erasing a 3-0 second-period deficit. Alex Tuch scored in the middle period and Tage Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin got goals in the third. Dahlin’s tally with 1:01 left in regulation and goalie James Reimer pulled for the extra attacker tied the game and sent it into overtime.
Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson scored 1:21 into the extra period.
Two of Montreal’s regulation goals came on the power play, and the other was short-handed.
“Special teams, just in general, let us down tonight,” Thompson said. “We had plenty of chances on the power play to get back in it, even take a lead, kind of put them on their heels. We just kept giving them momentum every time they would kill it. And obviously the PK, they get a couple early there and it’s tough when they do that, especially in this building, gets the fans behind them. “
Buffalo’s JJ Peterka had two assists in the defeat, and Reimer made 16 saves.
Tuch has logged goals in four consecutive games and six of the past seven contests. He has 23 for the season to go along with 24 assists in 59 games. Thompson, who has played 53 games, is Buffalo’s leader in goals (29) and points (52).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Best NBA Bets Today: Game 7 Picks for Cavs vs Raptors, Magic vs Pistons
Feb 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Two Game 7’s take place on Sunday in the NBA playoffs for the right to advance to the second round.
Both do-or-die contests feature Eastern Conference squads, starting with the top-seeded Detroit Pistons returning home to battle the Orlando Magic.
The night affair showcases the Cleveland Cavaliers, looking to avoid an early exit against the injury-riddled Toronto Raptors. The winners of each of these games face each other in the conference semifinals.
We’ll break down two plays for the Sunday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.
Here are the free NBA picks for Sunday, May 3. Odds Courtesy of DraftKings.
Best NBA plays today
- Magic/Pistons Over (201.5)
- Cavaliers (-8.5) vs. Raptors
Magic/Pistons Over (201.5) – 3:30 p.m. ET
Orlando’s offense disappeared in the second half of Friday’s 93-79 home loss to Detroit, preventing the Magic from advancing. The Magic led by 22 points at halftime, but were outscored in the second half, 55-19 as Detroit forced a Game 7 back at home.
How bad was Orlando’s offense in the second half of Game 6? The Magic missed 23 consecutive field goal attempts at one point and finished 4-of-37 in the final 24 minutes.
Will things turn around in Game 7 back in the Motor City? The total closed at 209.5 in Game 6 and never threatened the Over. Sunday’s total has dipped to 202.5, as two games in Detroit finished with 213 points (Game 1) and 225 points (Game 5).
The teams combined for 51 points in the first quarter of Game 6 before Orlando outscored Detroit, 35-12 in the second quarter. It’s unlikely the Pistons will have another quarter like that and the Magic certainly won’t put up 19 points in a half again.
As long as these teams avoid a major cold spell, this game can hit the Over on Sunday afternoon.
Our Current Best Offers
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Cavaliers (-8.5) vs. Raptors – 7:30 p.m. ET
The Raptors stunned the Cavaliers in the final seconds of overtime in Game 6 on Friday behind R.J. Barrett’s go-ahead 3-pointer. Toronto returns to Cleveland for Game 7 on Sunday night as the home team owns a perfect 6-0 record in the series.
Toronto’s leading scorer Brandon Ingram missed Game 6 with a heel injury and is questionable for Game 7. Barrett has stepped up to be the Raptors’ top scoring option at 24.3 points per game, while posting at least 22 points in each of the three games in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers have not covered in the last four games since cashing in each of the first two wins at home. Cleveland squandered late leads in two of the losses in Toronto with the only bad performance coming in the 22-point Game 3 loss.
Since the 2023 playoffs, nine of the last 11 Game 7 winners have advanced with a victory margin of at least 10 points. Chances are Cleveland won’t win a close game here, so we’ll lay the points with them to grab a blowout and advance to the second round.
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Sports
Canadiens D Noah Dobson game-time decision for Game 7
Apr 11, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (53) skates during the warmup before the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson is considered a game-time decision for Game 7 of the team’s Eastern Conference first-round series versus the host Tampa Bay Lightning.
Dobson has been sidelined with an upper-body injury after blocking a shot against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 11.
“He’s been a big player for us this year,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “I’m confident that if he plays, he’s going to bring something.”
Dobson, 26, recorded 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists) and averaged 22:29 of ice time in 80 games during the regular season.
The Canadiens acquired Dobson in a sign-and-trade agreement with the New York Islanders on June 27, 2025, as he agreed to an eight-year, $76 million contract.
In return, the Islanders received forward Emil Heineman and both of Montreal’s first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 17) in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Islanders used those selections on Swedish right winger Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson of Barrie (OHL).
Dobson has totaled 277 points (62 goals, 215 assists) in 348 career games since being selected by the Islanders with the 12th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
Best NBA Bets Today: Game 7 Picks for Cavs vs Raptors, Magic vs Pistons
