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By Sonny Jones

A Carolina Hurricanes weekend ended with a tough loss, but the team continues to lead the Metropolitan Division and is marching toward the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Hurricanes, who have the second best record in the National Hockey League, lost to the lowly Anaheim Ducks, who have the second worst record, 3-2 Saturday night. A stick tap to Anaheim goalie John Gibson who stopped an astounding 50 shots.

Goaltending was the highlight Friday night as well. Carolina’s Antti Raanta stopped all 32 shots for his third shutout this season in a 4-0 win against the Ottawa Senators.

The Hurricanes are 39-11-8 for 86 points with 24 games remaining. Can’t wait for the playoffs to begin in about seven weeks. The atmosphere inside PNC Arena during the playoffs is unmatched.

• Elizabeth City Northeastern rolled past Fairmont 78-45 on Saturday in the third round of the NCHSAA 2-A girls’ basketball playoffs. Northeastern had beaten East Bladen 72-60 on Thursday. The other Southeastern Athletic Conference team that played Saturday, the St. Pauls girls, lost to Pittsboro Seaforth 57-55.

• Next time there’s a drought in Bladen County let’s schedule a NASCAR race at the old Dublin Speedway. We won’t have to actually run the race because it will rain. The song says “It never rains in California.” Of course, that’s unless there’s a NASCAR race. The Xfinity race scheduled Saturday in Fontana was postponed until Sunday night after the Cup race. Rain shortened the Truck race at Daytona a week ago.

• Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Baseball Player Evaluations: Saturday, Leinwand Park, Elizabethtown. Coach pitch (ages 7-8), 11 a.m., minors (ages 9-10) 1 p.m. and majors (ages 11-12), 3 p.m. Information: After 5 p.m. either Mark Gillespie at 910-876-7394 or Kyle Bostic at 910-874-2257.

• Clarkton Dixie Youth Baseball Player Evaluations: Saturday, Clarkton Dixie Youth Baseball Complex, 395 Perimeter Road, South Elm Street. Coach Pitch (ages 7-8), 11 a.m., minors (ages 9-10), 1 p.m. and majors (ages 11-12), 3 p.m. Information: Graham Burney at 910-874-4457.

• Bladen Recreation’s Blastball registration is now open and will continue through Friday. Blastball is co-ed for ages 3-5. Age is determined as of April 1, 2023. The fee is $30 to play. Registration can be completed online (Registration Link) or in person at the Bladen County Parks and Recreation Office, 803 West King Street in Elizabethtown. Information: 910-862-6770.

• Bladen County Recreation Department’s girls softball registration has opened and will continue through March 17. There will be leagues for ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-12, and 13-15. The player’s age as of January 1st, 2023 will determine the age group that they play in. The fee is $35 per player. Registration can be completed online (Registration Link) or in person at the Bladen County Parks and Recreation Office, 803 West King Street, Elizabethtown.

• The Lu Mil Wine Run 5k is scheduled Saturday, April 8 at the vineyard located on the outskirts of Dublin. Proceeds will benefit the Dublin Peanut Festival. The event will start at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $60 and includes a T-shirt, wine glass, finisher medal, race bib and, of course, a pour of wine. Click here to register. Lu Mil Vineyard is located at 438 Suggs-Taylor Road, Elizabethtown.

• Four County Electric Membership Corporation offers all-expense-paid summer basketball camp scholarships for middle school students (rising sixth and seventh graders) to the Carolina Basketball School for boys and Wolfpack Basketball Camp for girls. Students can download an application by clicking here for boys camp and clicking here for girls camp. (READ MORE)

TWITTER POLL

The NASCAR circuit is in Fontana, California this weekend for the second race of the season. Cast your vote.

Which driver will finish higher in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race?

— Bladen Online (@BladenOnline) February 26, 2023

Saturday’s result: Which team wins the Virginia at North Carolina college basketball game?
• 14 votes – North Carolina 50%, Virginia 50%
• Outcome: North Carolina 71, Virginia 63

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

• 2007 — Roger Federer reaches a new milestone breaking Jimmy Connors’ 30-year-old mark with his 161st week at the top of the ATP rankings. Connors set his record from July 1974 to August 1977. The ATP rankings began on Aug. 23, 1973. Federer took the No. 1 spot on Feb. 2, 2004.

POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY

• PREMIER: Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur, 8:30 a.m., USA

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: North Carolina at Duke, noon, BALLY SOUTH

• BASKETBALL: Davidson at Duquesne, 12:30 p.m., USA

• NBA: Phoenix at Milwaukee, 1 p.m., ABC

• PGA: Honda Classic, 1 p.m., GOLF and 3 p.m., NBC

• LIV: Mayakoba Invitational, 1 p.m., CW

• MLB: N.Y. Yankees vs. Toronto, 1 p.m., MLBN

• NHL: Washington at Buffalo, 1 p.m., NHLN

• NASCAR CUP: Pala Casino 400, 3:30 p.m., FOX

• NBA: L.A. Lakers at Dallas, 3:30 p.m., ABC

• XFL: San Antonio at Orlando, 4 p.m., ESPN