What to watch this long weekend in sports
The Stanley Cup playoffs are finally here, and Canadian fans have a lot to look forward to over the next few days. With Montreal clinching the last spot in the playoffs with a 4-2 win over Carolina, Canada now has five teams in the 16-team bracket. Joining Montreal are Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton, and Ottawa, all vying for the country’s first Cup win since the Montreal Canadiens took home the title in 1993.
The NHL released the full schedule for the first round, with games kicking off on Saturday. The action starts with Western Conference matchups as Winnipeg takes on St. Louis and Colorado faces off against Dallas. The Battle of Ontario series between Toronto and Ottawa begins on Easter Sunday, with other games including New Jersey at Carolina and Minnesota at Vegas.
Canadian teams in action on Monday include Montreal against Washington, Winnipeg versus St. Louis, and Edmonton taking on Los Angeles. The Battle of Florida between the Panthers and Lightning doesn’t start until Tuesday night.
In women’s hockey, Canada is looking to defend its title against archrival the United States in the world championships. With Canada leading over Japan and the U.S. beating Germany in the quarterfinals, the stage is set for another intense Canada-U.S. final. Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin has been a standout player in the tournament so far, leading her team with eight points.
The NBA playoffs are also heating up, with the main 16-team bracket tipping off on Saturday. Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face the winner of the play-in game between Dallas and Memphis. Other Canadian players to watch include Jamal Murray, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and Dillon Brooks.
In other sports news, the Northern Super League made its debut with the Vancouver Rise defeating the Calgary Wild in the inaugural match. The RBC Heritage golf tournament is also underway, with Corey Conners among the Canadians competing for a share of the $20 million prize money.
The figure skating season wraps up with the World Team Trophy in Tokyo, where Canada is competing against five other countries for the trophy. Canada’s Olympic silver-winning beach volleyball duo of Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson are also in action in Brazil for a Pro Tour Elite 16 event.
With so much sports action happening, Canadian fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting matchups across various sports.
