Sharks players not saying yet if they will play in IIHF worlds
take part in international hockey's first beston-best tournament since the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The NHL will also break for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Sharks players who competed in the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia were forwards Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
Granlund figures to be a part of Finland's Four Nations and Olympic team. Finland has medaled in six of the last eight Olympic games, with four bronze (1994, 1998, 2010, and 2014), one silver (2006) and one gold (2022).
“There's a lot of good Finnish players in the league,” Granlund said. “Obviously, as Finnish players, we're proud of the way we play, how we play as a team and how everybody's the same and one, and it's always as a team.” COOLEY AT EASE >> Sharks goalie Devin Cooley on Saturday morning sought to clarify his eyebrow-raising comments Thursday night when he explained how he tries not to get too high or too low during games.
“It's just like, nobody cares, you know?,” Cooley said after his 49-save effort in the Sharks' 3-1 win over Seattle. “Nothing's really going to matter, we're all gonna die, you know? It sounds a little grim, but it helps keep me grounded.”
Cooley was surprised to see the reaction to the quote on social media.
“It was taken so out of context, that quote,” Cooley said. “I sometimes forget the reach the NHL media has. You've got to watch what you say a little bit. It was just about staying more in the present moment and how it works.
He said people thought he was having “a mental crisis.”
“Somebody check on him,” Cooley said with a laugh.
WHAT WE KNOW >> Boston is No. 1 in the East and has home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. The Clippers are No. 4 in the West and will open the playoffs against No. 5 Dallas. And No. 9 Chicago plays host to No. 10 Atlanta in an East play-in elimination game Tuesday or Wednesday.
Brooklyn, Toronto, Charlotte, Washington, Detroit, Houston, Utah, Memphis, San Antonio and Portland are out of the playoff race.
Everything else is still up in the air.
WEST 1 THROUGH 3 >> Contenders: Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Denver.
This is the first time that three teams all have the same record (56-25) and all have a shot at the No. 1 seed in a conference going into the final day.
The only scenario where Denver gets the No. 1 seed is a win and losses by both the Timberwolves and Thunder.
Minnesota gets the No. 1 seed with a win and a loss by the Nuggets or Thunder.
OKC gets the No. 1 seed if all three teams win, if all three teams lose or with a win and Minnesota loss. EAST 2 THROUGH 4 >> Contenders: Milwaukee, New York, Cleveland.
Friday's late results
Saturday's results
Today's games
For the Bucks, it's simple. Win at Orlando, and Milwaukee is the No. 2 seed. The Bucks would also finish second with a loss, as long as the Bulls and Hornets also both win.
New York can get to No. 2 with a win and a Milwaukee loss. Cleveland's only path to
WEST 6 AND 7 >> Contenders: New Orleans, Phoenix.
Phoenix must win and the Pelicans must lose for the Suns to get to No. 6. Anything else, Phoenix is No. 7 and play-in bound, New Orleans is No. 6 and playoffbound.
WEST 8 THROUGH 10 >> Contenders: Sacramento, LA Lakers, Golden State.
If the Lakers win, they're the No. 8 seed. The Lakers could lose and still be No. 8 if both the Kings and Warriors lose.
Golden State's lone path to No. 8 is a win plus wins by Portland and Utah. The Warriors can get to No. 9 a win and a loss by either the Lakers or Kings.
Sacramento gets to No. 8 with a win and a Lakers loss.