With a number of area teams gearing up for a playoff run, it’s an exciting time for sports in the Washington area. Here’s what you should be watching this week. Don’t hesitate to leave your own suggestions in the comments, and, if you’re so inclined, shoot me an email with suggestions for next week.
Tuesday
Most of this week’s slate is packed with some great action. Tuesday is an exception. For those that aren’t reading this at work, the Nats’ 1 p.m. offering against the Dodgers is being televised on MASN. If you are positively insane, you can fork over some cash to MLB.com to watch the Nationals’ split squad take on those same Dodgers tonight. 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
American University, your Patriot League champions, will host the Holy Cross Crusaders in the first game of their conference tournament. The Eagles won’t be able to look past this game, as winning their conference’s automatic bid will be their only hope to attend the Big Dance.
The Caps and Sabres are currently ninth and tenth in the Eastern Conference, so why is Wednesday’s matchup the most exciting hockey game in the country? Simple. Only the top eight teams make the playoffs. If Buffalo had two more wins right now, they’d be in eighth place, and in the playoffs. If Washington had two more wins right now, they’d be first in the Southeast Division, giving them third place in the conference and an automatic playoff seed. Of course, if Washington passes Carolina in the Southeast, Carolina will still be ahead of Buffalo, pushing Buffalo back another spot. Each team not only needs to win this game. They need each other to lose and to lose self confidence. This situation somehow brings to mind a recent Daniel Day Lewis vehicle. 7:30 p.m., TSN and CSN+.
The hobbled Washington Wizards have been surprisingly hot of late. Winners of four games in their last five, they host one of the Eastern Conference’s finest, the Orlando Magic. Led by the measty Dwight Howard, the Magic are trying to secure the third seed in the conference, while the Wizards aim to hold onto the 6-spot. 7 p.m., CSN. Purchase tickets here.
