The NHL’s Eastern Conference playoff race is shaping up for a photo finish after another exciting slate of games Tuesday night that included an overtime winner and two games that went to a shootout.

Plus, a look at the 2027 NCAA men’s basketball betting odds, some Duquesne transfer portal news and more in Wednesday’s “On Sports,” pinch-hitting for “First Call.”

Making their move

The Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets each scored tying goals in the final minute and secured key shootout victories, and the Philadelphia Flyers pounded the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night as the battle for playoff positioning continues with just over a week remaining in the NHL regular season.

The Flyers won their third straight game with a 5-1 victory over the Devils. Trevor Zegras had two goals and an assist, and Tyson Foerster had two goals.

Zach Werenski had a goal and assist and scored the winning goal in a shootout as Columbus beat Detroit, 4-3, to remain in the wild-card chase. Adam Fantilli tied the game with 17 seconds left with his 23rd goal of the season.

Playoff-bound Montreal took down Florida, 4-3, when Nick Suzuki scored the tying goal with 21 seconds left and Cole Caufield buried the winner in the shootout. The Canadiens moved into a tie for first in the Atlantic Division.

Also in the Atlantic, Ottawa smashed Tampa Bay, 6-2.

Elsewhere, Carolina beat Boston, 6-5, on Jaccob Slavin’s goal in overtime to reach 50 wins and clinch the Metropolitan Division title.

That means the best the Penguins can finish is second in the Metro. The Penguins have four games remaining, starting Thursday at New Jersey.

Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Montreal are tied atop the Atlantic Division with 102 points.

Carolina (106 points) is first in the Metro ahead of the Penguins (96) and Flyers (92).

Boston (96) and Ottawa (92) currently hold the two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference, though Columbus (90), Detroit (89), New York Islanders (89) and Washington Capitals (87) remain in contention.

Eastern Conference teams wrap up the season April 15, and the Stanley Cup playoffs are set to begin April 18.

The next shining moment

Considering the impact the transfer portal has on major college sports these days, it’s probably beyond foolish to bet on the 2027 NCAA men’s basketball champion now.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

Minutes after Michigan defeated UConn, 69-63, to win the 2026 title Monday night, next year’s odds went live. The newly crowned Wolverines are the second choice at plus-1,200 on DraftKings, trailing favorite Duke at plus-800.

Florida (plus-1,400), Arizona (plus-1,500), Michigan State (plus-1,600) and Kansas (plus-1,600) are also among the top choices.

Want to put a few bucks on a championship bounce-back for Jeff Capel and Pitt? That’ll pay out at a hefty plus-25,000.

If that number is at all depressing to Panthers fans, at least it’s no worse than West Virginia (also plus-25,000) and twice as good as Penn State (plus-50,000).

Planning ahead

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be back in Pittsburgh next March, as Duquesne will again host the first and second rounds of March Madness at PPG Paints Arena.

Games will be held March 18 and 20. Fans can sign up for early ticket access here.

It will be the eighth time Duquesne has hosted the event. Duquesne hosted games at Mellon Arena in 1997 and 2002, and at PPG Paints Arena in 2012, ‘15, ‘18, ‘22 and ‘24.

In 2024, a total of 55,846 fans attended the three sessions, including an 80-76 upset win for No. 14 seed Oakland over No. 3 Kentucky when Jack Gohlke hit 10 3-pointers, a PPG Paints Arena record.

Dukes head to portal

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Duquesne lost more than 20 feet of basketball players to the transfer portal when it opened Tuesday and three Dukes departed.

Junior Jakub Necas, a 6-foot-10 forward, spent three seasons with the Dukes before putting his name in the portal Tuesday, according to Verbal Commits. He averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 24.4 minutes per game and started all 32 games this past season.

Freshman 6-10 forward Lazar Milosevic averaged 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 13 games for the Dukes.

Redshirt 6-10 sophomore center Stef Van Bussel averaged 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 17 appearances. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

It was previously reported that Duquesne guard Jimmie Williams planned to enter the transfer portal.

Assistant sports editor Jonathan Bombulie contributed.