Specter Center aims to be a top venue and the driving force for growing squash across America
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor

The 2021 US Open is moving to a spectacular new home in October when the event is staged inside the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.

The PSA World Tour Platinum tournament will be held from October 2-9, 2021 at the spacious and well-equipped converted drill hall in Philadelphia.

The Specter Center boasts 18 singles courts and two hardball doubles courts. It will also house the US Squash Hall of Fame, offer world-class high-performance training resources to Team USA athletes, serve as the US Squash national headquarters, and operate a Learning and Innovation Center in partnership with SquashSmarts, Philadelphia’s award-winning urban squash and education program.

The confirmation of the 2021 US Open dates marks a key milestone in the comeback of the sport after the cancellation of the 2020 tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The best professional squash players from around the world (48 women and 48 men) will descend on Philadelphia to compete for the US Open title and equal prize purses. In 2013, the US Open became the first major tournament to offer prize money parity for both sexes.

The 2021 US Open marks the 10th edition of the event run in partnership between US Squash and Drexel University, during which time the event has secured its place as one of the world’s top events and a mainstay on the Philadelphia sports calendar.

The US Open will anchor the opening season of the Specter Center on Drexel University’s campus in Philadelphia’s burgeoning University City.

“When Drexel and US Squash first partnered on the U.S. Open more than ten years ago, we believed it would bring international attention to Philadelphia and make a significant impact on the sport in the US,” said Drexel University President John Fry.

“We are very proud to be part of this 10-year milestone at the Specter Center, the U.S. Open’s new home.”

The Specter Center will aim to connect all threads of squash in America. The facility will act as the headquarters for the US Squash Community Affiliate Network and aim to provide broad community access from its location in one of 22 federally-designated Promise Zone neighbourhoods, while at the same time delivering an innovative broadcast and entertainment venue that will amplify the presentation of events like the US Open.

The Specter Center will begin hosting limited activities this spring with a gradual ramping up of activity through the summer, leading into full programming in the fall and a grand opening event during the US Open.

Defending their 2019 US Open titles will be World No.2 Noran Gohar and World No.1 Ali Farag. Team USA has four women in the top 25 for the first time, including national No. 1 Amanda Sobhy, who is now at a career-high world No. 5 ranking and reached the final of her most recent PSA platinum event, the Black Ball Open in Egypt last month.

“Cancelling the 2020 event was an obvious yet still difficult decision, and the professionals have suffered this last year,” said US Squash President and Chief Executive Kevin Klipstein.

“We are very pleased to be able to put the U.S. Open back on the calendar to celebrate and showcase their incredible athleticism.

“The Specter Center will be a magnificent venue: comfortable and welcoming to players and the community, and at the same time, capable of hosting world-class events such as this.

“To have the 10th hosting in Philadelphia be the first at the Center is special, and none of it would have been possible without Drexel’s early and generous support.”

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Ned Edwards, Executive Director of the Specter Center, added: “A National Center has been a long dream for the sport of squash. Creating the Specter Center within the vast, majestic Drexel Armory Building located two blocks from Philadelphia’s 30th Station has been an opportunity beyond what we could have imagined.

“This has been a huge undertaking and has only been possible with an amazing cross-section of supporters and enduring partnerships with Drexel University, SquashSmarts and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We can’t wait to see visitors at the Specter Center and to share it with many brand-new members to our wonderful squash community.”

Throughout the coming year, the Specter Center will host a series of opening events to bring in constituents from the entire squash community and showcase the potential of the facility to individuals and partner organizations.

US Squash will continue to treat the safety of players, visitors and staff as paramount throughout the opening of the Specter Center – the 75,000 square foot space provides ample room to not overcrowd the space – though as always, plans may adjust as the circumstances of the pandemic change.

The Way Forward to National Level Competition

The 2021-2022 national championships calendar is expected to be posted in draft form in the coming weeks and could potentially include fall 2021 national events in order to avoid missing yet another year in the history books.

As announced earlier this month, US Squash will follow a three-stage process from April through September 2021 for the return to national junior competition and tournament points-based junior rankings. Stage 1, beginning April 12, incudes “preparation for play”, with Stage 2 starting six weeks after this “pre-season” on May 28. Point-earning tournaments will resume in Stage 2. Stage 3, beginning on September 8, will mark the resumption of points-based rankings.

Over the coming weeks and months, US Squash will release more detailed information on plans to support the return to play and competition at the national level and in conjunction with the opening of the Specter Center – including everything from community access to competitions, memberships and more special events.

“The world has experienced previously unimaginable difficulties in these modern times, our sport and community members included,” said Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO of US Squash. “More than a year after the organization’s decision to suspend accredited play and national championships, we are so inspired by people’s spirit and resilience, and are really looking forward to not only welcoming people back to the courts, but also welcoming them to their center, the Specter Center. We’re so fortunate to have this home now, which we are confident will begin to transform the way the game is accessed, presented, and experienced.”

Tickets for the U.S. Open are expected to go on sale in June of 2021.

Pictures courtesy of US Squash and PSA

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa — After a long time of trying and countless travel miles from his California home, Jason Papich finally broke through on Saturday night to score his first Lucas Oil MLRA victory in the 13th annual running of the “Slocum 50” at the 34 Raceway.

The $10,555 victory came in front of a near capacity crowd at the three-eighths-mile dirt oval.

Papich started third on the grid for the 50-lap main event behind pole sitter Garrett Alberson and four-time Slocum 50 winner Bobby Pierce. With Pierce seeking his third win in a row in the event he, took control from the drop of the green, until the first  caution of the night waved on lap three for then fourth-running Terry Phillips who slowed on the track with a flat tire.

On the restart, 2015 Slocum 50 winner Jason Unzicker spun at the entry to turn number one, also while running in fourth. Mason Oberkramer was unable to avoid Unzicker’s parked MB Custom and made heavy contact sending both drivers to the pit area.

The race would return to green again with Pierce finally able to being to distance himself from the field until the final caution of the night waved on lap 19 for debris in turn three. Just prior to the caution Papich was able to clear Alberson and move into second.

Pierce took control on the restart and appeared headed for yet another Slocum win as he pulled away from Papich. As the laps clicked off Pierce began to lose the handle of his car, allowing Papich to reel in the leader as they approached the twenty to go mark.

On the 32nd lap, Papich navigated the low line and move to the top spot for the first time on the night.

Papich continued to distance himself from the field as Pierce jumped the turn one and two cushion with eight laps to go, resulting in an eighth-place finish. In the closing laps, Midwest Sheet Metal Point Leader Tony Jackson Jr. moved into the runner up spot and began to pursue Papich only to come up short at the line.

Papich scored the win by 1.66 seconds over Jackson Jr. for the biggest win of his career. Jackson Jr. retained the point lead with his second-place run, followed by Alberson’s second podium finish of the year in third. Billy Moyer Sr. and Chris Simpson rounded out the top five.

“Down in one and two I could get in there and whoa it up and stay below the bumps and he was kind of sliding through the bumps and it was upsetting his car,” Papich said. “I just tried to stay disciplined and not spin the tires, it was awful slick out there. Tim Douglas has got this Longhorn chassis just rolling, and I’m looking forward to a great season ahead.”

Jackson scored his third top five and second podium finish on the weeklong MLRA swing.

“We had a couple of good runs this week and we do have a good car. I just really wanted to win this race for all the fans, we were really let down last year,” commented Jackson Jr. “We put ourselves into position, we just couldn’t get it done.”

The finish:

Feature (50 laps): 1. 91P-Jason Papich[3]; 2. 56JR-Tony Jackson Jr[7]; 3. 59-Garrett Alberson[1]; 4. 21-Billy Moyer Sr[6]; 5. 32S-Chris Simpson[8]; 6. 19-Ryan Gustin[12]; 7. 3S-Brian Shirley[9]; 8. 32-Bobby Pierce[2]; 9. 18B-Shannon Babb[11]; 10. 16T-Tyler Bruening[17]; 11. 20-Rodney Sanders[14]; 12. 15V-Kolby Vandenbergh[16]; 13. 74-Mitch McGrath[10]; 14. 91T-Tony Toste[20]; 15. 11R-Justin Reed[22]; 16. 4G-Bob Gardner[18]; 17. 76-Blair Nothdurft[13]; 18. 12W-Ashton Winger[25]; 19. 25-Chad Simpson[23]; 20. 15-Justin Duty[21]; 21. 49T-Jake Timm[26]; 22. 99-Frank Heckenast Jr[19]; 23. 93-Mason Oberkramer[15]; 24. 75-Terry Phillips[4]; 25. 3W-Brennon Willard[24]; 26. 24-Ryan Unzicker[5]

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Tim McCreadie became the ninth different winner of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series this season.

He made a dramatic last-lap pass of Ricky Thornton Jr. to win the Red Nininger Tribute Race on Saturday Night at Hagerstown Speedway.

McCreadie crossed the line .424 seconds ahead of Thornton, who suffered the heartbreak of leading 49 of 50 laps only to come up short of his second LOLMDS win of the season. Jonathan Davenport, who started 16th charged the field to finish in third. Gregg Satterlee finished fourth and Tyler Erb rounded out the top five.

Thornton grabbed the lead at the start of the race with McCreadie in second. The first 26 laps of the race went caution-free. Just as the leaders were starting to race in heavy traffic, fourth place running Matt Cosner slowed on the frontstretch with smoke billowing out of his car.

Late in the race, the lead dwindled for Thornton. McCreadie dove to the inside heading into turn one on the bottom and fired better than Thrornton off of turn two for the pass, for a thrilling victory.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 23rd time in his career, McCreadie also became the 12th different winner in 13 appearances at Hagerstown.

“I had nothing to lose on that last lap and rolled the dice to go for the win,” McCreadie said. “I am sure Ricky feels terrible. He probably had a better car and he didn’t have to move that much. I had to spend a lot of the race diving into this corner and that. Another lap and it might have been all three of us reversed and JD might have won.”

Thornton finished second in his debut at the half-mile speedplant.

“I could hear him [McCreadie] more than anything. I kind of screwed up a little bit, and I got too close to Devin [Moran]. It’s just part of the growing process as a driver. Congrats to Tim! It’s tough to lose on the last lap, but we have got really good equipment. This is a three-year old car that Hudson [O’Neal] drove.”

The finish:

Feature (50 laps): 1. 39-Tim McCreadie[4]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[16]; 4. 22-Gregg Satterlee[3]; 5. 1T-Tyler Erb[6]; 6. 14-Josh Richards[9]; 7. 43A-Tyler Bare[15]; 8. 22F-Chris Ferguson[13]; 9. 40B-Kyle Bronson[21]; 10. 71-Hudson O’Neal[19]; 11. 1S-Brandon Sheppard[23]; 12. 20-Jimmy Owens[5]; 13. 24-Dylan Yoder[1]; 14. 25-Shane Clanton[14]; 15. 0H-Dale Hollidge[12]; 16. 9-Devin Moran[18]; 17. 72C-Jason Covert[22]; 18. 2S-Stormy Scott[17]; 19. 157-Mike Marlar[24]; 20. 1-Earl Pearson Jr[25]; 21. 0E-Rick Eckert[8]; 22. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[10]; 23. 66C-Matt Cosner[7]; 24. 2D-Dan Stone[11]; 25. 4-Gary Stuhler[26]; 26. 72-Michael Norris[20]

HAUBSTADT, Ind. — Kyle Cummins continued his mastery of Tri-State Speedway, racing from 11^th on the grid to win Saturday night’s Spring Showdown that was co-sanctioned by the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series and the Midwest Sprint Car Series.

His sixth career USAC victory at Tri-State made him the winningest USAC Sprint Car driver at Tri-State, breaking a three-way tie he had held with Kevin Thomas Jr. and Daron Clayton at five.

Six of Cummins’ 10 career USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car victories have come at the Haubstadt, Ind. track.

Cummins’ journey entailed continuous alterations, trials and errors and improvements on the car throughout the course of the evening following qualifying, the heat race, and even prompted a well-placed phone call to his father, Mark, a sprint car hero himself at Tri-State during the decades of the 1980s and 1990s.

“I didn’t know if we had a shot or not,” Cummins admitted. “At the beginning of the night, we had a mag going bad, and my team kept working and working and working. Every time we came in, we kept trying something, trying something, and I even called my dad at home, and he came down right after qualifying. Once he made it here, we got everything switched up.”

Polesitter Chase Stockon came out with a prominent bit of mental fire after his all-time record streak of 324 consecutive USAC National Sprint Car feature starts was snapped the previous night at Bloomington Speedway.

Stockon led the opening five laps while team manager and on-track teammate Kent Schmidt rallied to second and began to challenge him for the race lead. Meanwhile, fifth-starting Jadon Rogers hustled his way up into the thick of the battle and, ultimately, worked his way underneath Stockon to gain the top spot on lap six.

Rogers was wheeling a car for the very same Randy Edwards owned team that was victorious in the most recent Spring Showdown in 2020 with first-time winner Stephen Schnapf, a feat Rogers was hoping to repeat on this night.

By mid-race, Rogers had opened up a 4.5-second lead as he aggressively attacked his way through lapped traffic to provide himself a healthy advantage over Stockon and the steadily emerging Cummins who had suddenly entered the top five.

Despite adaptively acclimating himself to his current situation amid the thick of traffic, in theory, the successive pair of cautions just after midway effectively provided Cummins an opportunity to catch up, settle in, regroup, and gain more positions without the hindrance of traffic thrust into his sight.

On the 21st lap, Cummins paced his way by Stockon for the second position, and just moments later, a yellow fell for the spinning duo of Paul Nienhiser and Chet Williams in between turns one and two.

Rogers couldn’t afford to make a mistake on the ensuing restart with nine laps remaining, as he rode the high line and Cummins displayed the entirety of his car just a smidge to the left of Rogers field of vision. Rogers was pretty much flawless over the next five laps as Cummins wasn’t able to make much headway on the bottom.

With four laps remaining, the car of Carson Short slowed dramatically in front of the leaders on the front straightaway to bring out the yellow flag, setting up one final shot and one final opportunity for Cummins to give it a go.

“When I got to second, I felt pretty good on the bottom, and then Jadon stepped it up another gear, and went around the top and I wasn’t going to catch him,” Cummins revealed. “As soon as the yellow happened, I moved the shocks a little bit and I just knew I had to blaze her in there, and just keep my momentum up.”

Cummins didn’t waste a second of his time blazing it in there on the lap-27 restart, sliding up in front of Rogers in turn one soon after the drop of the green. Rogers quickly countered and tossed his machine to the bottom of turn three, sliding by Cummins in the process, but leaving room for Cummins to race back by underneath to reassume the position and never relent over the final three laps, ultimately stretching his lead out to 1.323 seconds at the finish line.

“That was probably one of my most exciting wins down here in a long time because I had to battle, I had to change my line, run the top, run the bottom, I actually had to pull some tear-offs tonight. All in all, just an unbelievable night,” an ecstatic Cummins stated in victory lane.

Rogers equaled his best career USAC National Sprint Car finish of second in his Randy Edwards/Edwards Concrete Construction – Auto Wheel & Rim – Engler Machine/DRC/SPEC Chevy.

Stockon, Justin Grant and Brady Bacon rounded out the top five.

To see full results, turn to the next page.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — A large crowd saw Sheldon Haudenschild join his father Jac as a Knoxville Raceway feature winner during Saturday night’s Pella Motors/Kraig Ford Season Opener at Knoxville Raceway.

Haudenschild’s victory aboard the Stenhouse/Marshall Racing No. 17 came with a last-lap pass after starting 14^th and was worth $5,000.

Austin McCarl lost a row one starting spot in the 20-lap 410 feature before the green flag waved, after a loose fitting detected a fuel leak. He would come back to provide plenty of heroics.  On the start, Brian Brown got over the infield berm in turn one and tipped over.

Once the event got underway, Gio Scelzi took command. Aaron Reutzel was an early mover as well, coming from the fourth row to second by the second lap. Meanwhile, Scelzi took off, entering lapped traffic by the fifth circuit and putting 4.6 seconds between himself and Reutzel.

In the middle stages, Carson Macedo and Reutzel battled for second, trading that spot twice. On lap 12, disaster struck for both.  Macedo suffered a flat right rear, while Reutzel tangled with Josh Schneiderman just after the ensuing caution was thrown.

The restart with eight to go, saw Scelzi leading Sam Hafertepe Jr., Haudenschild (from 14th), Spencer Bayston and Terry McCarl back to green. Meanwhile, Austin McCarl had worked his way from the tail back into the top 10.

In two laps, he shot from night to fourth, while Haudenschild jumped into second in pursuit of the leader. McCarl passed Hafertepe for the third spot with five to go.

While Scelzi searched low on the dry track for rubber that never came, Haudenschild rode the cushion, tracking him down.  In turn two on the final circuit, Haudenschild shot to the point and recorded his first ever win at the historic oval.

Scelzi came home second, ahead of Austin McCarl, Hafertepe and Davey Heskin.

“We were a little free at the beginning,” said Haudenschild.  “We just kind of had to manage that race a little bit and let it play out. I knew it was a short race, and I was just trying to be there at the end. That caution saved us. I can’t give it up to my guys enough. We trucked it up from down south to do this, and that was our goal…to win a race at Knoxville. We’re just thankful to be up here.”

Jamie Ball led wire to wire to record his seventh career 360 feature win at Knoxville, while Tyler Groenendyk capped a two-year absence from Knoxville Raceway by recording his first career win in the Pace Performance Pro Sprints. Eighty-two cars signed in for opening night.

The finish:

Feature (20 laps): 1. Sheldon Haudenschild (14); 2. Gio Scelzi (4); 3. Austin McCarl (2); 4. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (6); 5. Davey Heskin (1); 6. Brooke Tatnell (17); 7. Spencer Bayston (3); 8. Terry McCarl (10); 9. Lynton Jeffrey (13); 10. Sawyer Phillips (12); 11. Ayrton Gennetten (11); 12. Carson Macedo (8); 13. Carson McCarl (15); 14. Brian Brown (5); 15. Justin Henderson (18); 16. Parker Price-Miller (9); 17. Matt Juhl (21); 18. Tasker Phillips (19); 19. Scotty Thiel (16); 20. Riley Goodno (24); 21. Tucker Klaasmeyer (20); 22. Jordan Goldesberry (22); 23. Aaron Reutzel (7); 24. Josh Schneiderman (23). Lap Leaders: Scelzi 1-19, Haudenschild 20. Hard-charger: Haudenschild.  

PORT ROYAL, Pa. — It was a dogfight to the end, but three-time Port Royal Speedway track champion Logan Wagner stood his ground and won Saturday night’s Keith Kauffman Classic featuring the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1.

Forced to outduel Clauson Marshall Racing’s Tyler Courtney, as well as a hard-charging Anthony Macri, Wagner’s victory allowed the Harrisonville-native to bump his All Star win total to two, earning a cool $10,000. Wagner’s previous All Star victory occurred at Lernerville Speedway in 2017.

“This is a weight lifted off of my shoulders for the whole year,” Wagner said. “I mean, we won against the All Stars. I just can’t thank everyone enough who helps get this car to the track. We’ve been really fast lately, just haven’t been able to get that first win until now. What a way to do it.”

Lining up fourth, Wagner’s march to the front initiated quickly. A move around Jeff Halligan on lap five maneuvered Wagner to third, picking off Outlaw invader Jacob Allen for second just two circuits later. In the meantime, Courtney was the man in charge, utilizing his pole position to score the early advantage.

Although Courtney was able to stretch his legs and create some space between himself and the rest of the field, a run-in with traffic on lap ten would create the negative momentum shift that Wagner benefited from.

By lap 14, Wagner was all over the back bumper of Courtney, applying pressure lap after lap and nearly getting by the Indianapolis-native with four consecutive slide job attempts at the exit of turn four. Despite Wagner’s persistence, Courtney held strong, keeping the Zemco Speed Equipment/Zemco Tool and Die/Zemco Headers/No. 1 at bay.

His ability to hold off Wagner was impressive, banging the boards all the way around Port Royal Speedway, but lap 22 would prove to be the end of Courtney’s reign.

In an attempt to split a pair of lappers, Courtney’s momentum faded, ultimately slipping up the surface which opened the door for Wagner to sneak through. Wagner would go on to lead the circuit, now with Courtney, Jacob Allen and Macri in tow.

Macri started 21st, forced to do so after a heat race incident left him to participate in the evening’s B-Main.

A two position jump over Allen and Courtney propelled Macri to second on lap 28, next setting aim on Wagner. Just what the “Concrete Kid” needed, caution flags appeared on the final circuit setting up what would be back-to-back green-white-checkered restarts.

The first restart attempt was called back due to another caution, but the second restart went off as planned. Macri did his best to overtake Wagner, even attempting a slider between turns one and two, but a drag race down the backstretch, and a quick chop into three, would go in Wagner’s favor.

“I had to chop him a little bit, but that’s just the way it goes,” Wagner added. “We were banging wheels a little bit racing down the backstretch. It was a pretty exciting last two laps.”

Macri held on to finish second, followed by Ian Madsen, Allen and Lance Dewease.

The finish:

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 1-Logan Wagner [4]; 2. 39M-Anthony Macri [21]; 3. 11-Ian Madsen [5]; 4. 1A-Jacob Allen [3]; 5. 69K-Lance Dewease [13]; 6. 48-Danny Dietrich [10]; 7. 14-Tony Stewart [7]; 8. 55W-Mike Wagner [14]; 9. 24R-Rico Abreu [9]; 10. 26-Cory Eliason [6]; 11. 17-Steve Buckwalter [19]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [15]; 13. 13-Justin Peck [20]; 14. 2-AJ Flick [17]; 15. 23C-Pat Cannon [18]; 16. 17B-Bill Balog [22]; 17. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [1]; 18. 10-Zeb Wise [12]; 19. 45-Jeff Halligan [2]; 20. 5-Brent Marks [16]; 21. O7-Lucas Wolfe [24]; 22. 23-Paul McMahan [11]; 23. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg [23]; 24. 2C-Dylan Cisney [25]; 25. 12-Blane Heimbach [26]; 26. 24-Kerry Madsen [8] Lap Leaders: Tyler Courtney (1-21), Logan Wagner (22-30)

There are six games on the Sunday schedule in the NHL, and four of those six matchups are within the East Division.

A quick glance at the standings shows that a "Big Four" has emerged; while the New York Rangers are finishing the season out strong, the team they're chasing for the final playoff slot -- the Boston Bruins -- has a four-point lead with two games in hand. One of those remaining games for Boston is hosting the division-leading Washington Capitals at high noon ET on Sunday.

The season series is tied 3-3, although the most recent contest was a bit lopsided. The Caps won 8-1 in Zdeno Chara's first game back in front of Boston fans after he signed with Washington this offseason. Bruins trade addition Taylor Hall comes in to the game on a hot streak, with a goal in two straight games.

As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it's time to check in on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2021 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Money Puck. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.

East Division

Washington Capitals

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 11
Next game: @ BOS (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 98.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 12
Next game: @ BUF (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 99.1%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 12
Next game: @ PHI (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 92.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 14
Next game: vs. WSH (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 89.4%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: @ NJ (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 19.2%
Tragic number: 21

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 46
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. NYI (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 16

New Jersey Devils

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. NYR (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 6

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 29
Regulation wins: 8
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. PIT (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 13
Next game: @ TB (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. CBJ (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. CAR (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. CHI (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 28.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ NSH (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 10.4%
Tragic number: 20

Dallas Stars

Points: 46
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. DET (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 61.5%
Tragic number: 23

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ FLA (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 10

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ DAL (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 9

North Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 12
Next game: @ VAN (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. TOR (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. MTL (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 99.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 14
Next game: @ EDM (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 76.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. OTT (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 20.3%
Tragic number: 18

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Next game: vs. TOR (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 3.8%
Tragic number: 26

Ottawa Senators

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ CGY (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 9

West Division

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 13
Next game: @ STL (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 13
Next game: @ ANA (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 13
Next game: @ ARI (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. MIN (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 45.7%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. COL (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 33.3%
Tragic number: 25

San Jose Sharks

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: @ VGS (Apr. 19)
Playoff chances: 9.8%
Tragic number: 19

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: vs. ANA (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 11.1%
Tragic number: 21

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. VGS (Apr. 18)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 12

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. New for 2021, a team may move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here.

1. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 29
Regulation wins: 8

2. Ottawa Senators

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11

3. New Jersey Devils

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11

4. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9

5. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 11

6. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 14

7. Los Angeles Kings

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 14

8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 11

9. San Jose Sharks

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12

10. Calgary Flames

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 16

11. St. Louis Blues

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 46
Regulation wins: 13

13. Dallas Stars

Points: 46
Regulation wins: 15

14. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14

15. New York Rangers

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 19

Bayern Munich have announced that they "disapprove" with coach Hansi Flick's plans to leave the club at the end of the season.

The Bayern coach said he had informed the club and the playing staff of his desire to depart from the Bundesliga champions after their 3-2 victory over Wolfsburg on Saturday.

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He told Sky Germany: "I told the team today that I informed the club during the week after the game in Paris that I would like to terminate my contract at the end of the season.

"The future is absolutely not clear. There has been no discussions regarding that. Obviously the [German] FA is an option which every coach has to think about. But this is independent of that. I decided to take this step."

However, the club's board released a statement on Sunday expressing disappointment of Flick's decision to go public with his plea to leave.

"Yesterday [Saturday], FC Bayern head coach Hansi Flick made public his wish to terminate his contract, which runs until June 2023, at the end of the current season," the statement said.

"Hansi Flick had informed the FC Bayern Munchen AG executive board of this wish during the past week.

"Hansi Flick and FC Bayern had agreed to place the focus on the matches against VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 Leverkusen [April 20] and 1. FSV Mainz 05 [April 24], in order not to disrupt the concentration of the whole club on these three important matches.

"FC Bayern disapproves of the unilateral communications issued by Hansi Flick and will continue talks after the match at Mainz, as agreed."

Flick has been linked with the managerial role at Germany, where he could take over from Joachim Low after the 2020 European Championship this summer.

Bayern were eliminated from the Champions League at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday but remain on course to claim a record-extending ninth consecutive league title.

Flick has steered Bayern to six titles in the past 10 months, including the Champions League title last season.

Tonight we have Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore facing off against Eoin Morgan's Kolkata Knight Riders. We'll have the likes of AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell and Yuzvendra Chahal against the likes of Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan and Pat Cummins. If the blog doesn't load for you, click here. For our ball-by-ball commentary, click here