The world of sports is ever-changing. From record-breaking free agent contracts to new world champions, sports draw us in based on their entertaining, yet unpredictable qualities. As such, this column is intended to briefly recap key sports stories that have recently emerged. Here are some of the more important ones:
Teams begin to advance as NHL Playoffs go full swing
The first round of the 2024 NHL Playoffs started on April 20, with 16 teams competing for the coveted Stanley Cup trophy. Several teams have taken commanding leads in their respective series, such as the Vegas Golden Knights, who hold a 2-1 series advantage over the Dallas Stars as of April 29. The Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers are up 3-1 in their respective series. The New York Rangers have already advanced to the next round, sweeping the Washington Capitals and holding future Hall of Famer Alex Ovechkin to no points. Several key games and performers were Stuart Skinner’s shutout for the Oilers in Game 4, a stunning Brock Boeser-forced overtime for the Canucks and a dominant 5-1 victory for the Avalanche over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4.
Information from NHL.com and ESPN.
NBA Playoffs prove to be action-packed affairs
Just like the NHL Playoffs, the NBA’s own tournament kicked off on April 20. As of April 29, the Oklahoma City Thunder are one game away from sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans; the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks are also close to clinching second round berths, too. James Harden and Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers have made their series against the Dallas Mavericks interesting, as they both scored 33 points in Game 4. Jalen Brunson of the Knicks has had an excellent postseason as well, highlighted by a 47-point performance over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4. Offensively, Joel Embiid, Brunson and Damian Lillard are the top players overall, while Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic and Jarrett Allen have been the defensive standouts.
Information from NBA.com.
News jerseys aplenty in recent NFL rebrand
As the 2024 NFL offseason and free agency has slowed down, several teams have introduced new jerseys and rebrands in preparation for the 2024-25 NFL season. The Denver Broncos of the AFC West brought forward their “Mile High Collection,” which showcases a bright orange jersey, one away kit in white, and an all-blue set. There are also references to the Rocky Mountains and Denver’s elevation hidden throughout. The New York Jets went old school with their new look, adopting jerseys that are reminiscent of their legendary “Sack Exchange” era, from 1979-89. The Detroit Lions finally brought back a black uniform, in addition to reimaginings of their blue and white jerseys. Finally, the Houston Texans favored different fonts and logos for their rebranding, while also bringing forth a bright red helmet and light blue into their color palette.
Information from NFL.com and ESPN.
