Count Bryce Harper among the fans in the area who are following the Flyers in their push for the playoffs. On the flight out west for the series with the San Francisco Giants, the Phillies first baseman tuned in Sunday and watched Porter Martone\u2019s overtime goal that beat the Bruins. <\/p>\n
Harper says he became a hockey fan when the Golden Knights started playing in his native Las Vegas. The Knights won a Stanley Cup and Harper would like to see the Flyers go on a postseason run. <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to see what playoff hockey is all about, because I know that people are craving any type of winning,\u201d he says. \u201cBut it\u2019s a little bit different, man. Hockey, anybody can win, anybody that gets hot at the right time or their goalie is good. If a goalie gets hot at the right time and you score, it\u2019s fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n So count Harper in if the Flyers make the playoffs. His son Krew is a big fan, and the Phillies star would love to take him to an NHL postseason game. The fans would love to see it, too. The Flyers have not hosted a playoff game since 2018. <\/p>\n Harper played a key part in the Phillies\u2019 6-4 comeback victory over the Giants in Monday\u2019s series-opener. He finished with three hits and drove in three runs.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jim Swan, @phillysport<\/a>, sports.daily@inquirer.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2753Which Phillies rookie will have the bigger impact, Andrew Painter or Justin Crawford? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Joel Embiid\u2019s MVP race lasted for several years as the 76ers center was passed over in favor of star big men Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Joki\u0107, with the chief strike against Embiid being his availability. Embiid\u2019s knee history has always meant that he needed to lean on load management to make it through an 82-game season and stay healthy enough to compete in the postseason. That fact was held against him for years as he lost the league\u2019s most prestigious award. And shortly after Embiid broke through to win the 2022-23 MVP award, the NBA and its players union agreed to institute a 65-game rule for award eligibility, including All-NBA and MVP, which can be tied to lucrative contracts.<\/p>\n Since its initial institution, the rule has hampered some of the NBA\u2019s biggest names. But this season has shined a bright light on the new qualification, with young players Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, and Luka Doncic disqualified. Gina Mizell spoke to players and coaches about this new phenomenon, one that nearly claimed Sixers star Tyrese Maxey after he suffered a finger injury. <\/a><\/p>\n Maxey did not have his best night in the Sixers\u2019 115-102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Victor Wembanyama left the game after the first half with a left rib contusion, but could not take advantage of the Spurs without their star player.<\/a><\/p>\n The Flyers went into the trade deadline having won just six of their past 20 games. But instead of selling off key pieces and trying to move up in the draft lottery, GM Danny Bri\u00e8re and Co. largely stood pat.<\/p>\n That gamble has paid major dividends as the Flyers have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL since March 6, and on Sunday, climbed into a playoff position with five games remaining. Marcus Hayes looks at the Flyers\u2019 decision to bet on themselves and how it has fueled the team\u2019s unlikely playoff push. <\/a><\/p>\n Speaking of the team\u2019s playoff hopes, Tyson Foerster\u2019s improbable return from injury last Thursday has provided an added boost as the Flyers attempt to snap their five-year drought.<\/a><\/p>\n There were no harsh words between the coaches after UCLA beat South Carolina for the women\u2019s national championship, only mutual respect. The Gamecocks\u2019 coach, North Philly\u2019s Dawn Staley, sidestepped the dustup with Geno Auriemma completely while she heaped praise on Bruins coach Cori Close.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m always happy for people who\u2019ve worked hard in this game, who are really quality people,\u201d Staley said. \u201cI want good things to happen for them. And Cori is one of those people who really works at making our game better \u2014 not just UCLA, but our entire game.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Bryce Harper wants to play into his 40s and also wants to continue playing in Philadelphia. Would the Phillies be amenable to revising Harper\u2019s deal? Scott Lauber talked to agent Scott Boras about that subject and more on Phillies Extra, The Inquirer\u2019s baseball podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n The Eagles appear to be loaded at quarterback with Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and the recently acquired Andy Dalton. There\u2019s no guarantee that McKee won\u2019t be traded, however, and the Eagles might want to add a fourth-string QB in the draft anyway. They tend to keep four quarterbacks on the 70-man roster (including the practice squad) during the season. Don\u2019t be surprised if they add a QB on Day 3 of the draft. Olivia Reiner and Devin Jackson explore the possibilities.<\/a><\/p>\n The NFL meetings have become the only event of year when the Eagles formally make owner Jeffrey Lurie available to meet with reporters. Jeff McLane covered the event and puts Lurie\u2019s recent remarks \u2014 from new stadium speculation to Lurie\u2019s commitment to quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown \u2014 under the microscope with columnist Marcus Hayes. Listen here.<\/a><\/p>\n Sports snapshot<\/p>\n \ud83e\udde0 Trivia time<\/p>\n Who is the last Phillies skipper to be named National League manager of the year? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n A) Rob Thomson <\/p>\n B) Jim Fregosi<\/p>\n C) Charlie Manuel <\/p>\n D) Larry Bowa<\/p>\n What you\u2019re saying about the Flyers<\/p>\n We asked you: How far do you believe the Flyers can go in the playoffs and why? Among your responses:<\/p>\n I believe a first-round match vs. Pens is a good one. 6 games, Flyers. Lots of close scores. Vs. Canes? Heavy underdogs but anyone\u2019s beatable. Flyers in 7. Road warriors. Vs. TB in ECF? TB in 7, three games go in OT. Great series. \u2014 Rocco D.<\/p>\n I keep thinking hungry dogs run faster, if the Flyers hang on and make the playoffs, they will be playing with house money and skate with the sole purpose of winning. Fortunes change in a short series after a long season. If they can generate a quick goal or two and steal some momentum along with good goaltending they could surprise. Hopefully they won\u2019t be fed prior to the opener. \u2014 Bill B.<\/p>\n I really don\u2019t think that this team is ready for a long playoff run, but that is hardly the point. These last two weeks have brought the most exciting hockey this city has seen in years. Just watching this team push for that playoff berth they clearly so desperately want has rekindled the joy in this hockey fan. \u2014 Scott R.<\/p>\n We compiled today\u2019s newsletter using reporting from Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber, Jackie Spiegel, Gina Mizell, Gabriela Carroll, Marcus Hayes, Jonathan Tannenwald, Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Devin Jackson, Mia Messina, Colin Schofield, and the Associated Press. <\/p>\n By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n Thanks for reading. Bella will bring you the newsletter on Wednesday. \u2014 Jim<\/p>\n