{"id":621183,"date":"2026-04-21T10:34:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T10:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/621183\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T10:34:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T10:34:10","slug":"playoff-thrillers-in-both-nhl-and-nba-plus-the-most-interesting-man-in-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/621183\/","title":{"rendered":"Playoff thrillers in both NHL and NBA, plus the most interesting man in sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pulse Newsletter \ud83d\udce3 | This is The Athletic\u2019s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here<\/a> to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.<\/p>\n

Good morning! Find your niche today. Coming up:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gold Stars: More of these games, please<\/p>\n

We had another bevy of great playoff games last night. Space is tight, though, so we\u2019re picking one game from both the NHL and NBA to earn a gold star. Let\u2019s start on the ice:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carolina took a 2-0 series lead over Ottawa in what was nearly a historic NHL moment. The game itself was thrilling \u2014 a 3-2 double-overtime thriller<\/a>, ended on Jordan Martinook\u2019s wrister \u2014 but the context was even better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It nearly ended when Martinook was awarded a penalty shot in the first overtime after an offside call. No Stanley Cup playoff game has ended on a penalty shot. Senators goalie Linus Ullmark kept the fun fact intact, but couldn\u2019t stop Martinook\u2019s shot minutes later.<\/p>\n

A 2OT winner for Jordan Martinook \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n

Carolina will take a 2-0 series lead to Ottawa.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfa5 @NHL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/iiqQtbWyY0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In other games:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s move to the hardwood:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n Brad Penner \/ Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Atlanta shocked New York in Madison Square Garden with a late comeback, tying their series 1-1 with a 107-106 win<\/a>. CJ McCollum scored 32 points, and this was one of those games that felt like both a Hawks triumph and a Knicks collapse.\u00a0<\/p>\n

New York led this game by as many as 14 points in the second half. Woof.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our other results:\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves pulled off their own road stunner in a 119-114 win over the Nuggets to even the series. This might be, as Zach Harper predicted for us before the playoffs started, the best first-round series. Great game<\/a>.
\nThe Cavaliers are up 2-0 after a convincing 115-105 win over the Raptors. Evan Mobley was awesome, as was James Harden. Might be time to file this one in the \u201cOver\u201d section, too<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More games tonight, of course. Onward: <\/p>\n

Hi (Again), My Name Is: The baseball guy is back<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Paul DePodesta is, bar none, one of the most interesting people in the history of modern pro sports, if only for his arc. Baseball to football and now back to baseball again to help run the Rockies, which is interesting enough. But as Brittany Ghiroli wrote today<\/a>, the details are actually more compelling than that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What moved me:\u00a0<\/p>\n

DePodesta, despite his stellar resume, has always been somewhat of an outcast at every stop. As he rose to fame in the \u201cMoneyball\u201d era \u2014 Jonah Hill\u2019s character in the movie is based on him \u2014 he was decried as the analytics nerd by baseball traditionalists. When he made the leap to the NFL, he was lampooned as \u2026 the baseball guy. And now he\u2019s back in the sport after a lifetime away.
\nDePodesta, 53, spent nearly 10 years as the Browns\u2019 chief strategy officer, and preferred to stay behind the scenes despite his hire being high-profile. Brittany talked to multiple Cleveland employees from that period, and they indicated that had team leadership followed DePodesta\u2019s system better, the Browns might be in a better spot today. Huh.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The story is well worth your time today<\/a>, and I also found insights into the Rockies\u2019 current situation enlightening, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s keep going:<\/p>\n

News to Know\"\"<\/p>\n

OBJ back? Brown to NE?
Odell Beckham Jr. had a workout and a physical with the Giants yesterday, sources told The Athletic<\/a>, and a reunion in New York would be an incredible story. The Giants selected Beckham in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and Beckham made three Pro Bowls in his first three seasons in New York. Beckham, 33, also played for new Giants coach John Harbaugh in 2023 with the Ravens.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, NFL executives still expect A.J. Brown to be a Patriot come June. Read that full update here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on the NFL transaction wire: Dallas agreed to a four-year, $28 million deal with Brandon Aubrey, sources told The Athletic, making him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history<\/a>. Not bad for a guy who didn\u2019t play college football. Also, Trent Williams is back in San Francisco on a two-year deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Crooks picks OSU
Audi Crooks will transfer to Oklahoma State, she announced yesterday, after three stellar years at Iowa State. It\u2019s a mild surprise, as the Cowgirls don\u2019t have the national profile most assumed the portal\u2019s top player would seek. Read more on her fit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More news:<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama was a unanimous pick for NBA Defensive Player of the Year. That\u2019s a first in league history<\/a>.
\nCarlos Alcaraz said he won\u2019t rush back from injury just to play in the French Open. Read his full comments<\/a>.
\nThe NFL restricted access to contact info for draft prospects after last year\u2019s prank call to Browns QB Shedeur Sanders. Probably smart<\/a>.
\nThe Bucks appear to have a lead candidate to replace Doc Rivers: Taylor Jenkins<\/a>.
\nThe non-lottery order of June\u2019s NBA Draft has been finalized after sorting through six tiebreakers. See it here<\/a>.
\nDodgers closer Edwin D\u00edaz will undergo a procedure to remove \u201cloose bodies\u201d in his elbow and is expected to return in the second half of the season. Brutal<\/a>.
\nPGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said he is considering creating new ways<\/a> to welcome former LIV golfers back to the tour. Also, the tour won\u2019t go back to Hawaii<\/a> next year.
\nElite PR move: Philadelphia is making public transit free<\/a> when leaving World Cup games.
\nYesterday\u2019s Boston Marathon saw back-to-back winners in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s races: John Korir, in a course record, and Sharon Lokedi. It was a party<\/a>, as Steve Buckley writes.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf0\u00a0Find more news here 24\/7<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Watch Guide<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa MLB: Yankees at Red Sox
6:45 p.m. ET on TBS
It\u2019s always hard to resist the classic matchup. And while he won\u2019t pitch until Thursday, I loved this story on how Boston-area product and Yankees phenom \u2014 what a title, right? \u2014 Cam Schlittler is handling the hometown hate<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa NHL: First round
7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN2
Four hockey games tonight, one-upping their basketball brethren: Canadiens-Lightning (7 p.m.), Bruins-Sabres (7:30 p.m.), Mammoth-Golden Knights (9:30 p.m.) and Kings-Avalanche (10 p.m.). If I was picking a shift, I\u2019d choose the early ones, especially since both Game 1s were scintillating.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa NBA: First round
7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
Three more games this evening, also all Game 2s: Celtics-76ers (7 p.m.), Trail Blazers-Spurs (8 p.m.) and Rockets-Lakers (10:30 p.m.). The most important player across these three games is Kevin Durant, who will be a game-time decision<\/a> for Houston.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I almost feel bad for the Blazers, too, as their playoff appearance has been overshadowed by the saga of their new owner\u2019s cheapness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get tickets to games like these here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pulse Picks<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udceb That\u2019s all for now! Say hello at thepulse@theathletic.com<\/a>, check out our other newsletters<\/a> and connect with me on Instagram<\/a> for more.<\/p>\n