DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings sat on the bench, stewing in stunned silence, after their latest loss sealed their fate as a franchise relegated to watching the NHL playoffs on TV.
Again.
Click to Gallery
Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) takes the ice before the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) shouts out as he celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with defenseman Albert Johansson (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, center, watches the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) skates away after scoring past Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) and Andrew Copp (18) skate to the locker room after an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit lost three leads in its last home game, falling 5-3 to the out-of-contention New Jersey Devils on Saturday, in what coach Todd McLellan called a microcosm of a disappointing season that extended the NHL's longest postseason drought that has dragged on for a decade.
Red Wings fans, the relative few who stayed in their seats until the bitter end, let their voices be heard with a chorus of boos.
“To hear that is very difficult,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “We're down. I'm as down as I could be right now.”
McLellan said the team deserved it.
“That's what we earned,” he said.
Detroit was expected to compete for a spot in the playoffs this season and it did, holding a playoff position for nearly 80% of the season. The Red Wings became the second team in NHL history to have at least 69 points in the first 53 games and miss the playoffs. The Canadiens, who also had 69 points, did it in 1969-70.
The Red Wings were in a playoff position for 148 days of the season, according to Sportradar, to raise expectations higher than they’ve been since the hockey-crazed state experienced a 25th consecutive postseason in 2016.
In late January, the Red Wings led the Atlantic Division and were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Even though Detroit slipped in the standings, it was still clinging to a wild card as late as March 21.
“We put ourselves in a really good position coming out of the Olympic break, and we let it slip away from us,” winger Lucas Raymond said. “You look back in a lot of games where you lost late leads or came up flat, and you just can’t afford that at this time of the year.”
In the loss that allowed the Red Wings to make tee times for next weekend, they went ahead against New Jersey in the first, second and third periods — and lost every lead.
On an odd-man rush, New Jersey's Jesper Bratt scored the go-ahead goal for his second score of the game from the left circle off a perfect pass from Jack Hughes as John Gibson flailed around in an attempt to stop the puck.
“The fourth (goal) is on me,” Larkin said softly in the team's dressing room, which is adorned with photos of the team's all-time greats above each locker stall. “It's my responsibility to stay back and cover for the D.”
McLellan entered his first full season on the bench this year, trying to get the team to be physically harder to play against, mentally resilient and to manage games better.
“I thought we were making gains in those areas, but since the Olympic break, we didn't have much of that and that cost us,” he said. “That starts with me.”
Detroit dashed hopes with a late-season slide, raising more questions about general manager Steve Yzerman’s plan to turn around the team he led as a Stanley Cup-winning captain. The franchise brought Yzerman back seven years ago to turn things around and it simply has not happened.
“It's been too many years in a row, we've been right there just haven’t been able to get it done,” Raymond said. “We got to figure it out and we got to figure it out fast, and take the next step.
"We got to look ourselves in the mirror, everyone here in this building, and we got to be better than this.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) takes the ice before the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) shouts out as he celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with defenseman Albert Johansson (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, center, watches the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) skates away after scoring past Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) and Andrew Copp (18) skate to the locker room after an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Prime Video will make its foray into covering the 90th Masters on Thursday by exclusively live-streaming the first two hours of the first two rounds from amidst the azaleas and dogwoods at Augusta National.
As part of its debut, Prime Video will feature Inside Amen Corner, a dedicated feed that will offer a stats-enhanced viewing experience and an in-depth look into how players attack the famed 11th, 12th and 13th holes. The feed will feature real-time ball tracking and swing analysis.
Prime Video's coverage will begin at 1 p.m. ET. ESPN will take over at 3 p.m. on the weekday rounds through 7:30 p.m. On the weekend, Paramount+ will get started at noon, and CBS will carry live tournament coverage from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
And that’s not all.
For those who can’t get enough, the Masters is offering live video channels with a menu that includes featured pairings; live action from the fourth, fifth and sixth holes; Amen Corner and the 15th and 16th holes.
Here is a look at what you need to know leading up to the Masters.
At 7:25 a.m. EDT on Thursday, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson again are scheduled to hit the ceremonial tee shots. And then Johnny Keefer hits the first shot that counts.
Here are the tee times for the first two rounds.
The field is 91 players, keeping with another Masters tradition. Augusta National prefers fewer than 100 players in the field, and it’s been that way dating to 1967.
Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, which lists the world’s No. 1 player at +600. He is followed by Jon Rahm (+1000), defending champion Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau (+1200), and Ludvig Aberg and Xander Schauffele (+1400).
Some of the trendy picks this year include Cameron Young (+2000), Matt Fitzpatrick (+2200), Justin Rose (+3000) and Akshay Bhatia (+5500).
Some of the many other things bettors can wager on include a player’s score on a particular hole, American versus international players, and whether there will be a hole-in-one in the tournament or if there will be a playoff.
Scheffler seeks to continue his recent streak of winning on even-numbered years at the Masters — he won here in 2022 and in 2024 — and become only the ninth player to earn three green jackets.
But questions surround his game.
He won his first tournament of the year at The American Express, then followed by closing strong for top-five finishes at Phoenix and Pebble Beach. Since then he’s looked very un-Schefflerlike, finishing outside the top 10 in three straight events and outside of the top 20 in the last two.
Tiger Woods will miss the Masters for the second straight year. He was arrested March 27 in Florida on a driving under the influence charge. No alcohol was found in his system, but authorities determined he was impaired. Opioid pain pills were found in his pocket at the scene, according to authorities.
Woods pleaded not guilty last week, and then issued a statement saying he was taking an indefinite leave to seek treatment.
His absence has been noted this week, although Jason Day questioned why he was behind the wheel of a car.
Phil Mickelson is not playing the Masters for only the third time as a pro. Mickelson says his family is navigating through a personal health matter. He already has missed four of five LIV Golf events because of the situation.
That means for the first time since 1994 neither Mickelson nor Woods is at Augusta National. Back then, Woods was a senior in high school who had yet to become eligible. Mickelson broke a bone in his left leg skiing a few months before the Masters.
The buzz is the new player services building located behind the driving range, a three-level structure with an indoor parking garage beneath the members range. It has a gym and recovery room on one level, an enormous locker room on the second level and dining for players, family and support staff on the third level.
And for those who manage to get a ticket, the Masters has a new candy bar in its concession. The name of it: Candy Bar.
No matter what happens this week at Augusta National, it will be tough to top last year’s drama.
In one of the most memorable Masters ever, McIlroy lost a four-shot lead on the back nine, regained the lead, lost it again and wound up in a playoff with Rose. The North Irishman won on the first extra hole with a gap wedge to 3 feet for birdie and celebrated by covering his head, dropping to his knees and putting his forehead on the green while his chest heaved with emotion.
The career Grand Slam was finally his, mercifully ending an 11-year wait.
This year, McIlroy aims to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters and the first since Woods in 2001-02. The first to do it was Nicklaus (1965–66), followed by Nick Faldo (1989–90).
The most interesting of the 22 newcomers is Chris Gotterup. He’s only the third player since World War II to win four times before he plays in his first Masters. Gotterup first qualified by winning the Scottish Open. He won the Sony Open and Phoenix Open earlier this year.
Three players from the top 20 in the world are making their debut — Ben Griffin, who played in his first Ryder Cup last September, and Riviera winner Jacob Bridgeman, who went to nearby Clemson.
Also playing are Kristoffer Reitan of Norway and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark, part of a record eight players from Nordic countries.
This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen's last name.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waves after his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, reacts after missing a putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waves after his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Patrons watch on the 17th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Sam Burns watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Patrick Reed watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Bryson DeChambeau reacts to his shot from the fairway on the second hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, walks to the tee on the 14th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waves after his putt on the 13th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, leaves the green on the 18th hole after his first round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jacob Bridgeman celebrate after chipping in on the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Justin Rose, of England, walks off the green on the 17th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Bryson DeChambeau watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Justin Rose, of England, putts on the 15th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Scottie Scheffler, right, Gary Woodland, center and Johnny Keefer walks to green on the 16th hole during a practice round ahead of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
A patrons watches during a practice round ahead of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the ninth hole during a practice round ahead of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The golf bag of Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, sits near the 13th hole as he putts during a practice round ahead of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
FILE - Scottie Scheffler puts the green Jacket on winner, Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, at the Masters golf tournament, April 13, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
FILE - Dogwood flowers frame the clubhouse during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament on April 5, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
FILE - The Augusta National clubhouse during a practice round at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga., April 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)
