1.   Art Thiel writes about the fourth playoff game of the Sonics versus Lakers.

2.   Backup goalie Steve Shields will make only his fourth playoff start.

3.   By the time the Vikings won their fourth consecutive playoff meeting with the Rams, the phenomenon was openly referred to as a jinx.

4.   Chicago trails the Galaxy by three points in the race for the fourth playoff seed and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

5.   He might be starting for the Clips, but the Raptors entered the game as the fourth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

6.   In the Western Conference, the Phoenix Coyotes stopped battling weeks ago because they were slotted into the fourth playoff spot no matter what.

7.   San Antonio, though, never lost its poise before closing out its fourth straight playoff series on the road.

8.   The Caps, a playoff long shot at the beginning of the season, are just five points behind the Flyers for the fourth playoff spot.

9.   The Bruins are battling New Jersey for the fourth playoff spot and a chance for a home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference.

10.   The Sox are still wild-card favorites, still leading the Angels, Rangers, and Blue Jays for that fourth playoff spot.