No sleep, bus, game, another game
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)

Leveling The Playing Field
Happy Friday!
Playoff games, postseason pushes, and draft day reactions…oh my! Buckle up because this weekend’s sports slate is about to bring all the feels.


— Your 2026 No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick, Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana quarterback was the consensus No. 1 selection after winning the Heisman Trophy (college football’s MVP) and the national title in his final season. Keep an eye out for that LinkedIn status update.
PWHL
🏒 Not done yet

The GIST: All eight teams are in action during tomorrow’s four-game regular-season finale — and there’s a lot at stake ahead of puck drop. No time to waste — let’s skate to it.
💪 Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge will battle for final playoff spot: The fourth and final postseason spot remains unclaimed, coming down to the Sceptres and Charge, who just so happen to be playing each other tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET. Toronto needs a regulation win (worth 3 points) to advance, while Ottawa simply needs to not lose in regulation thanks to their three-point cushion.
- The odds, and momentum, are in favor of the Charge: Ottawa tendy Gwyneth Philips is on fire and had a 42-save outing the last time these squads faced off. Toronto, meanwhile, has dropped three of their last four games. It all comes down to this.
1️⃣ The No. 1 seed is still up for grabs: The league-leading Montréal Victoire have a one-point edge over the Boston Fleet, the only other team that can clinch the top playoff spot. And earning the No. 1 spot offers a major advantage: that squad gets to choose their semis opponent. That said, the No. 1 seed notably has lost to their chosen opponent the last two PWHL postseasons. The drama.
NBA and NHL Playoffs
🏆 Everything everywhere all at once

The GIST: Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of NBA and NHL Playoff action? Same. With multiple high-stakes showdowns happening seemingly at all times, knowing what to tune into can be tricky. Let’s dig into the series that have us sat.
🏀 A must-watch NBA matchup: Denver Nuggets icon Nikola Jokić is always appointment viewing, especially when he’s lining up against Minnesota Timberwolf Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year. Gobert got the better of Jokić in last night’s 113–96 W, but that usually means a Joker masterclass is on the way as the Nuggets try to level the series at two tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET.
🏒 Two feisty NHL series that could go the distance: Playoff hockey is notoriously spicy, but this year has been extra hot with six fighting majors already handed out, two more than the 2025 total. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens (tied 1-1) have exchanged literal and metaphorical blows across their two tilts — expect more of the same in Game 3 tonight at 7 p.m. ET.
- The Dallas Stars (up 2-1) and Minnesota Wild series is similarly intriguing after the Stars’ 4–3 double overtime win on Wednesday. These forever foes boast equally explosive offenses, and they’ll be on full display in Game 4 from Minnesota tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. ET.
🧹 One more thing: On the flip side, some squads are already preparing the brooms. An icy weekend sweep could be in the cards for three NHL teams: The Carolina Hurricanes (up 3-0 on the Ottawa Senators), the upstart Philadelphia Flyers (up 3-0 on the Pittsburgh Penguins), and the Colorado Avalanche (up 3-0 on the LA Kings). Spring cleaning on ice.
Ways to embrace the spring energy this weekend

Upcycle a soccer jersey
Bedazzling is so in — and all the tips you need to take your kit from classic to custom are available on our Soccer Help Desk, powered by BMO.*

Try out a seasonal recipe
A new season brings new produce fresh and ready to be incorporated into a delicious weekend meal. Salivating already.

Make a garden inspo board
It might be too early to start planting, but it’s never too early to start planning. Explore some #GardenInspiration and grab a new pair of work gloves while you’re at it.

Touch grass
Longer days and warmer weather are perfect for exploring the great outdoors, whether it’s a trip to your local park or a national one. Eh-xcellent.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Look good, feel good, play good.
⛳ LPGA: The Chevron Championship — Ongoing — Golf Channel
- It’s no Birkin, but there is a hefty $9M purse (part of an LPGA–record $132M season-long prize pool) on the line at the Chevron Championship, the first major of the year. World No. 2 Nelly Korda looks poised to continue her hot streak, opening up a two-shot lead heading into the weekend.
🎾 Madrid Open: World No. 10 Victoria Mboko vs. Caty McNally — Today 1 p.m. ET — TSN
- While injured men’s world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz won’t be competing in the clay court tune up ahead of the upcoming French Open, there’s still plenty of hype, including watching Canadian teen Mboko find her flow on the messy surface in today’s Round of 64 match.
⚽ NSL: AFC Toronto vs. Vancouver Rise FC — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — TSN
- The NSL’s sophomore season kicks off with a bang, featuring captain Quinn and defending champ Vancouver hosting rival Toronto in a title game rematch. Toronto won the NSL Shield as the best regular-season team last year, only to fall in the championship. Safe to say, revenge is definitely on the menu.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Grace DePaull, and Charlotte Mackenzie. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Elisha Gunaratnam and Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.

