A postseason roll call: The eliminated squads in the NHL and NBA Playoffs

The GIST: The first rule of the playoffs is to stay in the playoffs, but that’s easier said than done. As the first round rages on in both the NHL and NBA here’s a round-up of the eliminated teams and the squads who could be next.

🏒 On the ice: Two teams eliminated

• ❤️ The Ottawa Senators were the first team sent packing, falling 4–2 to the Eastern Conference–best Carolina Hurricanes in Saturday’s feisty Game 4. A sweeping storm surge.

• 👑 The LA Kings also fell victim to the broom, losing 5–1 to the Presidents’ Trophy–winning Colorado Avalanche yesterday. Curse? What curse?

• ❌ Three more teams could see their seasons end before our next newsletter: the Boston Bruins (down 3-1 to the Buffalo Sabres), Pittsburgh Penguins (down 3-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers), and the Edmonton Oilers (down 3-1 to the Anaheim Ducks).

🏀 On the court: Five teams on the cusp of elimination

• 🚀 The Houston Rockets (down 3-1) staved off elimination with last night’s 115–96 win over the LA Lakers, forcing a Game 5 on Wednesday. Houston, no problems just yet.

• ☀️ The Phoenix Suns are topping the NBA spring cleaning list, down 3-0 to the defending champ Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of tonight’s 9:30 p.m. ET Game 4.

• 👀 Other squads on the chopping block include the Philadelphia 76ers (down 3-1 to the Boston Celtics), the Denver Nuggets (down 3-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves), and the Portland Trail Blazers (down 3-1 to the San Antonio Spurs after a historic collapse).

• ☝️ One squad that’s not part of that unenviable group? The Toronto Raptors, who evened their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers at two with yesterday’s defense-driven 93–89 dub. And exhale.