NHL News:

The second-round starts Wednesday with the Western conference matchups, Nashville at St. Louis and Edmonton at Anaheim.

• NBC is pinning its ratings on Washington-Pittsburgh, putting them in primetime on the weekend.
  • Ottawa-New York & Nashville-St. Louis get the afternoons.

• Because of the time zones involved, the Edmonton-Anaheim series won’t be off NBCSN unless they’re willing to play Game 6 at 8:00ET, and are the only series left.

NFL News:

• This should screw up some draft boards – Jabrill Peppers has tested positive for a diluted sample at the combine. Teams were informed this morning.
  • His defense? Over-hydration, due to cramping & intercontinental flight.
• Today’s AP rumour – to the Saints.
  • Must be because they’re removing the statues.
• The Giants exercised the fifth-year option on Odell Beckham Jr.
• Given Shanahan track records with first-year QBs, it’s a little surprising to see rumours that U*NC’s Mitchell Trubisky is high on their radar.
  • Some speculation is that they are doing this to engineer another team to trade-up & take the Niners’ #2 overall pick.
    • hottest rumour is the Browns trading their #12 spot plus some lower picks in order to garner the top-2 picks on Thursday & take him
      • because he’s from Cleveland, and has a younger brother named (swear-to-God) Manning.

• Jake Long has retired, and now I can stop being confused each Sunday, wondering if he’s the one not related to Howie. (Yes – not related)

• Proving Mark Davis just doesn’t hear you, the Raiders announced that their Saturday round picks will be announced from the foot of the Las Vegas sign.
  • We’re all rooting for dust storm, right?

Finally, Crimebeat! lite:

• Aaron Hernandez’s fiance wants his suicide notes released. The ME is saying ‘not until we’re finished with our investigation’.
• Rae Carruth, 42, won’t be in prison too much longer. He has served about 90 percent of his sentence. His projected release date is a year & a half away – Oct. 22, 2018.
  • the son he tried to abort will be almost 18.
  • Here‘s a comparison between his case & Hernandez.
• O.J. Simpson’s parole hearing is scheduled for the week of July 3rd. His 70th birthday is July 9th.
  • if successful, inmate No. 1027820 would be released (with conditions) on October 1.

Anniversaries:

New Coke was introduced 32 years ago yesterday.

Hard to believe today that the beverage isn’t the worst thing in the ad.

Tonight’s sports:

• NBA:
  • Bucks at Raptors – 7:00PM | TSN
  • Wizards at Hawks – 8:00PM | TNT
  • Warriors at Trail Blazers – 10:30PM | TNT / TSN
• MLB:
  • Cubs at Pirates – 7:00PM | ESPN / TSN2
  • Blue Jays at Angels – 10:00PM | Sportsnet
• WWE:
  • Monday Night Raw – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
    • featuring a “dumpster match” between Kalisto and Braun Strowman, and I’m sure some shenanigans.

Three days until the Draft. Odds the Browns draft a dead guy: 15-1. AND DROPPING!