Everyone watches women’s sports

The GIST: The 23rd IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, aka the top women’s hockey tournament, begins today in Utica, NY, with a fierce rivalry likely taking center stage.

• And with the PWHL’s record-breaking inaugural season sparking a women’s hockey revolution, the excitement surrounding the game’s best has never been higher. Skate on.

How it works: The competition features 10 teams split into Groups A and B, with the top five ranked countries in the former and the remaining five in the latter. All members of Group A, which includes world No. 1 Canada and defending champs No. 2 U.S., earn an automatic berth to the quarter-finals, where they’ll be joined by the top three group play finishers from Group B.

• Due to the skill disparity in international women’s hockey, this format ensures the best squads play competitive games the entire time, though history indicates Canada and the U.S. will almost certainly duke it out in the final.

• They’re the only two countries to ever win Worlds and the only other team to even compete for the gold medal is No. 4 Finland. And that’s on dominance.

Team Canada: This veteran squad with revenge on the brain is full of recognizable names, including PWHL Toronto forward and face of the league Sarah Nurse and PWHL Montréal’s Marie-Philip Poulin, who’s hungry for a fourth world title. They don’t call her Captain Clutch for nothing.

• Although this roster is familiar, there could be a shakeup between the pipes: PWHL Toronto ’tendy Kristen Campbell’s stellar season could earn her the starting spot over Ann-Renée Desbiens. The Canucks drop the puck tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET against Finland.

Team USA: The Americans are contending for back-to-back trophies following last year’s title game victory over Canada. Captain and forward Hilary Knight scored a hat trick in that game and will bring a veteran presence to this young and feisty team that boasts eight players who competed in the NCAA championship just last week.

• Let’s see how the chemistry flows when they open the tourney tonight at 7 p.m. ET against No. 3 Switzerland.

The GIST: With only 17 days until the puck drops on the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the clinching scenarios are in full swing. As a refresher, the top three teams in each division plus the next two best teams in each conference advance to the postseason for a total of 16 squads. Here’s how Canada’s teams are stacking up against the competition.

Who’s already clinched: Against all odds, the Vancouver Canucks are the first Canadian team to punch their postseason ticket, returning to the playoffs for the first time in four years behind the formidable play of centers J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, and captain Quinn Hughes. No doubt that’ll be the hottest ticket in town.

Who’s almost there: Sticking with the Pacific Division, the Edmonton Oilers have turned their abysmal season start around and can clinch their fourth straight playoff appearance as soon as this week. Over in the Central Division, the recently struggling Winnipeg Jets are clinging to third after falling from their spot at the top of the standings last month.

• And in the Eastern Conference, center Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs are starting to get healthy again — a good sign for the third-in-the-Atlantic-Division Buds who can book their playoff spot today.

Who’s all-but-eliminated: While the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and Calgary Flames aren’t statistically eliminated just yet, they all sit too far out of contention to make a run. Better luck next year.

⛳ Augusta National Women’s Amateur — Today through Sunday — Golf Channel

• The fifth edition of the most prestigious women’s amateur tournament tees off from Georgia’s Champions Retreat Golf Club this morning, featuring 2023 Women’s Amateur champion, Canadian Lauren Kim, making her tournament debut among 72 of the world’s best.

🥌 World Men’s Curling Championship — Ongoing through Sunday — TSN1/5

• After Canadian skip Brad Gushue led the red and white to wins over New Zealand and the U.S. yesterday, the second-place squad can hopefully rock and roll to more round robin dubs against the Netherlands and Korea today.

🏀 NBA: Toronto Raptors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET — TSN1/4

• RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley returned to the lineup and made an impact (48 points combined), but the Raps still lost 128–111 to the LA Lakers last night, extending their losing streak to 14 games. Fingers crossed they can stop the bleeding, but they’ll have to do it against the very good Timberwolves.

⚾ MLB: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros — Tonight at 8:10 p.m. ET — Sportsnet+

• The Jays turned the page from Monday’s no-hitter loss and finally fired up the offense in the ninth inning of last night’s 2–1 win over Houston. Now to claim the three-game series when pitcher Chris Bassitt takes the mound today.