Mike Macdonald On Seattle Sports 710AM: Test On Sam Darnold's Hip Shows 'Really Good News' - Seattle Seahawks

For the 49ers, Sunday’s game in Seattle is as big a Week 5 game as it can get. First place in the NFC West is on the line, and if the Niners can win it, they’ll have a multi-game lead in the division with tie-breaking wins over both the Rams and Seahawks. That’s a nice little cushion in the league’s most competitive divisional race. San Francisco-Seattle games are always bitter, but the 49ers carry an extra layer of resentment into this tilt after how last season ended, with the Seahawks defense stuffing their offense in a locker twice in three weeks, including a 41-6 beatdown in the NFC Divisional Round. It probably means a little more for 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy, who have spent the last few years tearing through defenses but always seem to struggle against Seahawks coach Mike MacDonald. In their first matchup, when MacDonald was calling plays for Baltimore’s defense, Purdy threw four interceptions in a 33-19 loss on Christmas night that ended his MVP campaign back in 2023.

Connor Hellebuyck's suspension will come to an end on Friday. Elliotte Friedman has the story.

The Edmonton Oilers have only surrendered nine goals in the last five games, which speaks to their quality goaltending, structured five-on-five play, and consistent forecheck. The issue with that number is that five of those nine goals are against the Oilers’ penalty kill, which was a point of emphasis for new associate coach DJ Smith after the whipping that PK took in the postseason. That category has been tough sledding overall for the team, which sits at 68.2 per cent for the season, fifth worst in the NHL. The opposition has scored on the power play in five of seven games, and the Utah Mammoth made it happen twice, punishing Josh Samanski’s double-minor for high-sticking and the team’s bench minor on Thursday. The Mammoth PP bumped up to first in the league at 37.5 per cent, and have scored multiple goals on the man advantage in a game a league-best five times. “I think we’re just attacking,” said Barrett Hayton on the power play’s success. He extended his point streak to five games. “Obviously that first unit’s been so good snapping around, they’re so dangerous, and I think they’ve done a great job kind of keeping that mindset.