The Sportsletter - Oil Change

BY JEFF YODER

MAR. 28, 2023  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Sponsored by BetterHelp

Good Morning,

It’s Wednesday. Take a breather. The NHL and NBA headline today’s mid-week edition, but we’re gearing up for another epic weekend starting with tomorrow’s loaded edition featuring MLB Opening Day and Final Four previews. There’s a mid-week watch list with your name on it at the bottom of today’s letter.

Letter Rip!

NHL

Oil Change: More McDavid History

Photo: Jeff Bottari / Getty Images

Connor McDavid Keeps Making History While Leading Oilers to 7-Game Point Streak

Connor McDavid probably won’t get to 70 goals by season’s end, but it won’t stop the Oilers’ star from notching one of the most historic point-scoring seasons in NHL history. McDavid slapped an assist in Monday’s win over the Coyotes (5-4) for his 140th point of the season. He added three more assists last night in another win over the Golden Knights (7-4) to help Edmonton gain in the West. With his performances this week, McDavid is the first skater since 1996 to tally 140-point season. Both Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr achieved the feat in the 1995-96 season. McDavid also became just the seventh player in league history with 60-plus goals and 80-plus assists in a season.

Oil Change: The Oilers were 8th in the West on January 1, but a seven-game point streak (6-0-1) has McDavid and company three points out of the top spot in the West.

143 Points & Counting: McDavid now sits at 143 points on the season. Only two players have ever notched a 160-point season — Wayne Gretzky (9) and Mario Lemieux (4) — and they did it 13 times. Three of the top six points leaders this season reside in Edmonton. The Year of McDavid continues…

NHL Points Leaders

C. McDavid (EDM): 143 points

L. Draisaitl (EDM): 116 points

N. Kucherov (TBL): 104 points

D. Pastrnak (BOS): 98 points

M. Tkachuk (FLA): 97 points

R. Nugent-Hopkins (EDM): 96 points

Watch: McDavid Makes History as Oilers Extend Streak to 7

Other NHL Highlights

David Perron Nets Hat Trick in 3rd Period of Red Wings’ Win

Predators End Bruins’ Win Streak at 7 Behind Saros’ 35 Saves

Lightning Shut Out Hurricanes Behind Vasilevskiy’s 31 Stops

Additional Storylines

USA Today: NHL’s Playoff Stretch: Sizing Up Division, Wild Card & Milestone Chases

CBS Sports: NHL Rewind: Kings Extend Point Streak to 12 Games, Pastrnak Tops 50-Goal Mark

NBA

2023 Hall of Fame Class

Photo: Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki & Gregg Popovich Headline 2023 Hall of Fame Class

The finalists for the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class were unveiled on Tuesday, and it features six undeniable basketball greats. Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Pau Gasol mark the four NBA players while Gregg Popovich (coach) and Becky Hammon (WNBA/coach) fill out the ballot. Wade and Nowitzki are the stars of the class, claiming four combined NBA championships and a Finals MVP for each. They’re the most recognizable stars associated with the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks from the early 2000s. And then there’s Pop, the NBA’s all-time leader in wins and a handful of titles with the Spurs. French players Parker and Gasol add some international talent to the 2023 class, and Hammon boasts six WNBA all-star appearances and a recent WNBA title as the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces.

2023 Hall of Fame Class

Dwyane Wade

Dirk Nowitzki

Pau Gasol

Tony Parker

Gregg Popovich

Becky Hammon

The 2023 Hall of Fame enshrinement in Springfield, Massachusetts, is scheduled for Aug. 12.

NBA Highlights

Steph Curry Drops 39, Warriors Complete 20-Point Comeback

PJ Washington Scores Career-High 43 in Hornets’ Win

Cavs Fall to Hawks Despite Donovan Mitchell’s 44 Points

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Kevin Durant to Make Suns Return Tonight Against Timberwolves

ClutchPoints: Nikola Jokic Retakes Lead in NBA MVP Odds After Joel Embiid Misses Head-to-Head

SPONSORED

BetterHelp

Better Coaching For The Mental Health Game

Every athlete knows the importance of great coaching to support development. The same is true off the playing field. BetterHelp is the world’s largest professional therapy platform helping over 3.5 million people win the battle of mental health. Getting started is easy: Take the quiz and get matched to a licensed therapist that fits your needs and preferences in as little as 48 hours.

BetterHelp’s monthly subscription includes live therapy sessions (video, phone or chat), unlimited messaging and access to tools that will help you take back your life and elevate your mental health to the next level.

Sign Up Today & Get $60 Off Your First Month

THE STORYLINES

⚾️ 2023 MLB World Series Odds

Will the Astros repeat? Is it finally time for the Yankees? Can the Dodgers put it all together? Six teams stand at the top in the eyes of oddsmakers. With Opening Day on Thursday, let's look at the 2023 World Series odds for all 30 clubs. (FOX Sports)

🏀 2023 NBA Draft Buzz at the Final Four

NBA scouts traveling to the Final Four will be mostly focused on two teams. While it's difficult to identify any pro potential in the San Diego State-Florida Atlantic game, there will be a handful of interesting prospects in the Connecticut-Miami game. (Bleacher Report)

⛳️ The Masters & Golf’s Civil War

Want drama? The Masters 2023 guarantees it with PGA and LIV golfers sharing the stage. There’s no getting around it. A conflict has erupted in the men’s professional game, and this year’s Masters field will feature foot soldiers from both sides of the fight. (Golf.com)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Bronny James Hits Five 3s in McDonald’s All-American High School Game (CBS Sports)

• Angels’ Shohei Ohtani Set to be Highest-Paid MLB Player in History in 2023 (SI)
• Wizards’ Bradley Beal Under Police Investigation After Altercation With Fan (USA Today)
• North Carolina’s Leading Scorer Caleb Love Enters Transfer Portal (CBS Sports)
• Nets Shut Down Ben Simmons for Remainder of NBA Season (ESPN)
• Commanders Ownership Bid Including Magic Johnson Submits $6 Billion Offer (B/R)
• USWNT’s Julie Ertz Makes Stunning Return to pre-World Cup Roster After Nearly 2 Years Away (Yahoo! Sports)

🗓️ UPCOMING SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

NIT Championship

#3 North Texas vs. #4 UAB (9:40 pm)

NBA

Heat at Knicks (7:30 pm)

Mavericks at 76ers (7:30 pm)

Clippers at Grizzlies (8:00 pm)

Timberwolves at Suns (10:00 pm)

Kings at Blazers (10:00 pm)

NHL
Panthers at Maple Leafs (7:30 pm)
Islanders at Capitals (7:30 pm)
Wild at Avalanche (10:00 pm)

*All Times ET

Upcoming

Thursday: MLB Opening Day

Friday: Women’s NCAA Final Four

Saturday: Men’s NCAA Final Four

Please consider supporting The Sportsletter, an independently operated and bootstrapped publication, and you'll receive our exclusive Sunday edition. Many thanks to everyone who already supports us!

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe
Follow us on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Copyright © 2023 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103