diff --git a/app/bracket_view.py b/app/bracket_view.py
index 726a8b1..09410bf 100644
--- a/app/bracket_view.py
+++ b/app/bracket_view.py
@@ -42,10 +42,23 @@ def build_bracket_view(year, bracket_payload, fetched_at=None):
     west_cf = [slot(ltr) for ltr in WEST_CF]
     cup = [slot(ltr) for ltr in CUP_FINAL]
 
+    all_rounds = [
+        (1, east_r1 + west_r1),
+        (2, east_r2 + west_r2),
+        (3, east_cf + west_cf),
+        (4, cup),
+    ]
+    current_round = None
+    for r, matchups in all_rounds:
+        if any(m["state"] == "active" for m in matchups):
+            current_round = r
+            break
+
     return {
         "year": year,
         "fetched_at": fetched_at,
         "bracket_logo": (bracket_payload or {}).get("bracketLogo"),
+        "current_round": current_round,
         "east_r1": east_r1,
         "west_r1": west_r1,
         "east_r2": east_r2,
@@ -54,10 +67,10 @@ def build_bracket_view(year, bracket_payload, fetched_at=None):
         "west_cf": west_cf,
         "cup": cup,
         "rounds": [
-            {"label": ROUND_LABELS[1], "east": east_r1, "west": west_r1},
-            {"label": ROUND_LABELS[2], "east": east_r2, "west": west_r2},
-            {"label": ROUND_LABELS[3], "east": east_cf, "west": west_cf},
-            {"label": ROUND_LABELS[4], "cup": cup},
+            {"label": ROUND_LABELS[1], "round_num": 1, "east": east_r1, "west": west_r1},
+            {"label": ROUND_LABELS[2], "round_num": 2, "east": east_r2, "west": west_r2},
+            {"label": ROUND_LABELS[3], "round_num": 3, "east": east_cf, "west": west_cf},
+            {"label": ROUND_LABELS[4], "round_num": 4, "cup": cup},
         ],
     }
 
diff --git a/app/routes.py b/app/routes.py
index 65fc4cf..c01d791 100644
--- a/app/routes.py
+++ b/app/routes.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import json
+import logging
 
-from flask import abort, make_response, render_template, jsonify, send_from_directory
+import requests as http_requests
+from flask import abort, make_response, render_template, jsonify, request, send_from_directory
 
 from app import APP_VERSION, app, static_v
 from app.config import SCOREBOARD_DATA_FILE
@@ -19,6 +21,18 @@ from datetime import datetime
 from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
 
 _EASTERN = ZoneInfo("America/New_York")
+_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def _fetch_date(date_str):
+    url = f"https://api-web.nhle.com/v1/score/{date_str}"
+    try:
+        resp = http_requests.get(url, timeout=10)
+        resp.raise_for_status()
+        return resp.json()
+    except http_requests.RequestException as e:
+        _logger.error("Failed to fetch scores for %s: %s", date_str, e)
+        return None
 
 
 def _max_playoff_round(raw_games):
@@ -69,15 +83,27 @@ def index():
 
 @app.route("/scoreboard")
 def get_scoreboard():
-    try:
-        with open(SCOREBOARD_DATA_FILE, "r") as json_file:
-            scoreboard_data = json.load(json_file)
-    except FileNotFoundError:
-        return jsonify({"error": "Failed to retrieve scoreboard data. File not found."})
-    except json.JSONDecodeError:
-        return jsonify(
-            {"error": "Failed to retrieve scoreboard data. Invalid JSON format."}
-        )
+    date_param = request.args.get("date")
+    today_str = datetime.now(_EASTERN).strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
+
+    if date_param and date_param != today_str:
+        try:
+            datetime.strptime(date_param, "%Y-%m-%d")
+        except ValueError:
+            return jsonify({"error": "Invalid date format. Use YYYY-MM-DD."}), 400
+        scoreboard_data = _fetch_date(date_param)
+        if not scoreboard_data:
+            return jsonify({"error": "Failed to retrieve scoreboard data for that date."})
+    else:
+        try:
+            with open(SCOREBOARD_DATA_FILE, "r") as json_file:
+                scoreboard_data = json.load(json_file)
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            return jsonify({"error": "Failed to retrieve scoreboard data. File not found."})
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            return jsonify(
+                {"error": "Failed to retrieve scoreboard data. Invalid JSON format."}
+            )
 
     if scoreboard_data:
         raw_games = scoreboard_data.get("games", [])
diff --git a/app/series_view.py b/app/series_view.py
index ed0a575..691d49c 100644
--- a/app/series_view.py
+++ b/app/series_view.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ def build_series_view(series_id, payload):
         "played_games": played,
         "next_game": next_game,
         "series_logo": payload.get("seriesLogo"),
+        "has_live": any(g["live"] for g in normalized_games),
     }
 
 
diff --git a/app/static/script.js b/app/static/script.js
index 98b445e..021f29c 100644
--- a/app/static/script.js
+++ b/app/static/script.js
@@ -1,13 +1,65 @@
+let failCount = 0;
+const STALE_THRESHOLD = 3;
+
+// ── Date Navigation ──────────────────────────────────
+
+function localDateStr() {
+    const d = new Date();
+    return `${d.getFullYear()}-${String(d.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, '0')}-${String(d.getDate()).padStart(2, '0')}`;
+}
+
+let viewingDate = localDateStr();
+
+function isToday() {
+    return viewingDate === localDateStr();
+}
+
+function shiftDate(offset) {
+    const [y, m, d] = viewingDate.split('-').map(Number);
+    const dt = new Date(y, m - 1, d + offset);
+    viewingDate = `${dt.getFullYear()}-${String(dt.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, '0')}-${String(dt.getDate()).padStart(2, '0')}`;
+    updateDateLabel();
+    startAutoRefresh();
+}
+
+function formatDateLabel(dateStr) {
+    if (dateStr === localDateStr()) return 'Today';
+    const [y, m, d] = dateStr.split('-').map(Number);
+    const dt = new Date(y, m - 1, d);
+    const yesterday = new Date();
+    yesterday.setDate(yesterday.getDate() - 1);
+    if (dt.toDateString() === yesterday.toDateString()) return 'Yesterday';
+    const tomorrow = new Date();
+    tomorrow.setDate(tomorrow.getDate() + 1);
+    if (dt.toDateString() === tomorrow.toDateString()) return 'Tomorrow';
+    return dt.toLocaleDateString(undefined, { weekday: 'short', month: 'short', day: 'numeric' });
+}
+
+function updateDateLabel() {
+    const label = document.getElementById('date-label');
+    if (label) label.textContent = formatDateLabel(viewingDate);
+}
+
 async function fetchScoreboardData() {
+    const url = isToday() ? '/scoreboard' : `/scoreboard?date=${viewingDate}`;
     try {
-        const res = await fetch('/scoreboard');
+        const res = await fetch(url);
         if (!res.ok) throw new Error(res.status);
+        failCount = 0;
+        setStale(false);
         updateScoreboard(await res.json());
     } catch (e) {
         console.error('Failed to fetch scoreboard data:', e);
+        failCount++;
+        if (failCount >= STALE_THRESHOLD) setStale(true);
     }
 }
 
+function setStale(stale) {
+    document.getElementById('stale-banner').classList.toggle('hidden', !stale);
+    document.querySelector('main').classList.toggle('stale', stale);
+}
+
 function updateScoreboard(data) {
     applyMeta(data.meta);
 
@@ -34,6 +86,14 @@ function updateScoreboard(data) {
         if (hasGames) restoreClocks(grid, clockSnapshot);
     }
 
+    const anyGames = sections.some(s => s.games && s.games.length > 0);
+    document.getElementById('empty-state').classList.toggle('hidden', anyGames);
+
+    restoreScroll();
+
+    const liveCount = (data.live_games || []).length + (data.intermission_games || []).length + (data.pinned_games || []).filter(g => g['Game State'] === 'LIVE').length;
+    document.title = liveCount ? `NHL Scoreboard (${liveCount} Live)` : 'NHL Scoreboard';
+
     updateGauges();
     maybeNotifyOT(data);
 }
@@ -372,10 +432,17 @@ function persistSeenOT(set) {
 
 function maybeNotifyOT(data) {
     if (!('Notification' in window)) return;
+
+    const candidates = [...(data.pinned_games || []), ...(data.live_games || [])];
+    const hasPlayoffOT = candidates.some(g => g['Playoff OT']);
+
+    if (hasPlayoffOT && Notification.permission === 'default') {
+        Notification.requestPermission().catch(() => {});
+        return;
+    }
     if (Notification.permission !== 'granted') return;
 
     const seen = seenOTKeys();
-    const candidates = [...(data.pinned_games || []), ...(data.live_games || [])];
     let changed = false;
     for (const g of candidates) {
         if (!g['Playoff OT']) continue;
@@ -396,32 +463,68 @@ function maybeNotifyOT(data) {
     if (changed) persistSeenOT(seen);
 }
 
-function requestNotificationPermission() {
-    if (!('Notification' in window)) return;
-    if (Notification.permission !== 'default') return;
-    Notification.requestPermission().catch(() => {});
+// ── Update Toast ─────────────────────────────────────
+
+function showUpdateToast() {
+    if (document.getElementById('update-toast')) return;
+    const toast = document.createElement('div');
+    toast.id = 'update-toast';
+    toast.className = 'update-toast';
+    toast.innerHTML = 'New version available <button class="update-toast-btn">Reload</button>';
+    toast.querySelector('button').addEventListener('click', () => location.reload());
+    document.body.appendChild(toast);
+}
+
+// ── Scroll Restoration ───────────────────────────────
+
+const SCROLL_KEY = 'nhl_scroll_y';
+let scrollRestored = false;
+
+function saveScroll() {
+    sessionStorage.setItem(SCROLL_KEY, String(window.scrollY));
+}
+
+function restoreScroll() {
+    if (scrollRestored) return;
+    scrollRestored = true;
+    const y = parseInt(sessionStorage.getItem(SCROLL_KEY) || '0', 10);
+    if (y > 0) {
+        requestAnimationFrame(() => window.scrollTo(0, y));
+    }
+    sessionStorage.removeItem(SCROLL_KEY);
 }
 
 // ── Init ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-function autoRefresh() {
+let refreshTimer = null;
+
+function startAutoRefresh() {
+    stopAutoRefresh();
     fetchScoreboardData();
-    setTimeout(autoRefresh, 5000);
+    if (isToday()) {
+        refreshTimer = setTimeout(startAutoRefresh, 5000);
+    }
+}
+
+function stopAutoRefresh() {
+    if (refreshTimer) { clearTimeout(refreshTimer); refreshTimer = null; }
 }
 
 window.addEventListener('load', () => {
-    requestNotificationPermission();
-    autoRefresh();
+    updateDateLabel();
+    document.getElementById('date-prev').addEventListener('click', () => shiftDate(-1));
+    document.getElementById('date-next').addEventListener('click', () => shiftDate(1));
+    document.addEventListener('click', e => {
+        if (e.target.closest('.series-link')) saveScroll();
+    });
+    startAutoRefresh();
     setInterval(tickClocks, 1000);
     if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) {
         navigator.serviceWorker.register('/sw.js').catch(err => {
             console.warn('Service worker registration failed:', err);
         });
-        let reloading = false;
         navigator.serviceWorker.addEventListener('controllerchange', () => {
-            if (reloading) return;
-            reloading = true;
-            location.reload();
+            showUpdateToast();
         });
     }
 });
diff --git a/app/static/styles.css b/app/static/styles.css
index c03ca79..47a800e 100644
--- a/app/static/styles.css
+++ b/app/static/styles.css
@@ -54,6 +54,46 @@ header {
     color: var(--text);
 }
 
+/* ── Date Navigation ───────────────────────────── */
+
+.date-nav {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    gap: 0.6rem;
+    padding-bottom: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.date-btn {
+    background: var(--badge-bg);
+    border: 1px solid var(--card-border);
+    border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+    color: var(--text);
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    padding: 0.25rem 0.6rem;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    transition: background 0.12s ease, border-color 0.12s ease;
+}
+
+.date-btn:hover {
+    background: #333;
+    border-color: #555;
+}
+
+.date-btn:focus-visible {
+    outline: 2px solid var(--cup-gold-1);
+    outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
+.date-label {
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    min-width: 6rem;
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
 /* ── Layout ─────────────────────────────────────── */
 
 main {
@@ -71,6 +111,78 @@ main {
     display: none;
 }
 
+.update-toast {
+    position: fixed;
+    bottom: 1.5rem;
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translateX(-50%);
+    background: var(--card);
+    border: 1px solid var(--card-border);
+    border-radius: var(--radius);
+    padding: 0.6rem 1rem;
+    font-size: 0.82rem;
+    color: var(--text);
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 0.75rem;
+    box-shadow: 0 4px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+    z-index: 1000;
+}
+
+.update-toast-btn {
+    background: var(--cup-gold-1);
+    color: #1a1200;
+    border: none;
+    border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+    padding: 0.3rem 0.7rem;
+    font-size: 0.78rem;
+    font-weight: 700;
+    cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.update-toast-btn:hover {
+    background: var(--cup-gold-2);
+}
+
+.stale-banner {
+    text-align: center;
+    padding: 0.45rem 1rem;
+    background: rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.12);
+    color: #fca5a5;
+    font-size: 0.78rem;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    letter-spacing: 0.03em;
+}
+
+.stale-banner.hidden {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+main.stale {
+    opacity: 0.6;
+}
+
+.empty-state {
+    text-align: center;
+    padding: 4rem 1rem;
+}
+
+.empty-state.hidden {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+.empty-state-heading {
+    font-size: 1.1rem;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    margin-bottom: 0.4rem;
+}
+
+.empty-state-sub {
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+    color: #555;
+}
+
 .section-heading {
     font-size: 0.7rem;
     font-weight: 700;
@@ -232,8 +344,10 @@ main {
 }
 
 .team-record {
-    font-size: 0.72rem;
-    color: var(--text-muted);
+    font-size: 0.78rem;
+    color: #999;
+    font-weight: 500;
+    font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
     margin-left: auto;
     flex-shrink: 0;
     white-space: nowrap;
@@ -1020,7 +1134,13 @@ main {
 }
 
 .bracket-matchup-complete {
-    opacity: 0.75;
+    opacity: 0.55;
+}
+
+.bracket-col-active {
+    color: var(--cup-gold-2);
+    border-bottom: 2px solid var(--cup-gold-1);
+    padding-bottom: 0.2rem;
 }
 
 .bracket-matchup-empty {
diff --git a/app/templates/bracket.html b/app/templates/bracket.html
index 4cf2386..b02a992 100644
--- a/app/templates/bracket.html
+++ b/app/templates/bracket.html
@@ -21,31 +21,31 @@
         {# Desktop: 7-column grid (East R1 | R2 | CF | Cup | CF | R2 | R1 West) #}
         <section class="bracket-grid" aria-label="Full playoff bracket">
             <div class="bracket-col bracket-col-r1 bracket-col-east">
-                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading">First Round</h2>
+                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading {% if bracket.current_round == 1 %}bracket-col-active{% endif %}">First Round</h2>
                 {% for m in bracket.east_r1 %}{% include "_bracket_matchup.html" %}{% endfor %}
             </div>
             <div class="bracket-col bracket-col-r2 bracket-col-east">
-                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading">Second Round</h2>
+                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading {% if bracket.current_round == 2 %}bracket-col-active{% endif %}">Second Round</h2>
                 {% for m in bracket.east_r2 %}{% include "_bracket_matchup.html" %}{% endfor %}
             </div>
             <div class="bracket-col bracket-col-cf bracket-col-east">
-                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading">East Final</h2>
+                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading {% if bracket.current_round == 3 %}bracket-col-active{% endif %}">East Final</h2>
                 {% for m in bracket.east_cf %}{% include "_bracket_matchup.html" %}{% endfor %}
             </div>
             <div class="bracket-col bracket-col-cup">
-                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading bracket-cup-heading">Cup Final</h2>
+                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading bracket-cup-heading {% if bracket.current_round == 4 %}bracket-col-active{% endif %}">Cup Final</h2>
                 {% for m in bracket.cup %}{% include "_bracket_matchup.html" %}{% endfor %}
             </div>
             <div class="bracket-col bracket-col-cf bracket-col-west">
-                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading">West Final</h2>
+                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading {% if bracket.current_round == 3 %}bracket-col-active{% endif %}">West Final</h2>
                 {% for m in bracket.west_cf %}{% include "_bracket_matchup.html" %}{% endfor %}
             </div>
             <div class="bracket-col bracket-col-r2 bracket-col-west">
-                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading">Second Round</h2>
+                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading {% if bracket.current_round == 2 %}bracket-col-active{% endif %}">Second Round</h2>
                 {% for m in bracket.west_r2 %}{% include "_bracket_matchup.html" %}{% endfor %}
             </div>
             <div class="bracket-col bracket-col-r1 bracket-col-west">
-                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading">First Round</h2>
+                <h2 class="bracket-col-heading {% if bracket.current_round == 1 %}bracket-col-active{% endif %}">First Round</h2>
                 {% for m in bracket.west_r1 %}{% include "_bracket_matchup.html" %}{% endfor %}
             </div>
         </section>
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
         {# Mobile: round-by-round accordion, round 1 open by default #}
         <section class="bracket-accordion" aria-label="Playoff bracket by round">
             {% for rnd in bracket.rounds %}
-            <details class="bracket-round" {% if loop.first %}open{% endif %}>
+            <details class="bracket-round" {% if rnd.round_num == bracket.current_round or (bracket.current_round is none and loop.first) %}open{% endif %}>
                 <summary class="bracket-round-summary">{{ rnd.label }}</summary>
                 <div class="bracket-round-body">
                     {% if rnd.get('east') %}
diff --git a/app/templates/index.html b/app/templates/index.html
index 861e2b9..b46b6b5 100644
--- a/app/templates/index.html
+++ b/app/templates/index.html
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@
 <body>
     <header>
         <span class="header-title">NHL Scoreboard</span>
+        <nav class="date-nav" aria-label="Date navigation">
+            <button id="date-prev" class="date-btn" aria-label="Previous day">&larr;</button>
+            <span id="date-label" class="date-label"></span>
+            <button id="date-next" class="date-btn" aria-label="Next day">&rarr;</button>
+        </nav>
     </header>
     <section id="playoff-banner" class="playoff-banner hidden" aria-hidden="true">
         <a class="banner-main" href="/bracket" aria-label="View the playoff bracket">
@@ -45,7 +50,12 @@
             </div>
         </a>
     </section>
+    <div id="stale-banner" class="stale-banner hidden">Connection lost &mdash; scores may be outdated</div>
     <main>
+        <div id="empty-state" class="empty-state hidden">
+            <p class="empty-state-heading">No games scheduled today</p>
+            <p class="empty-state-sub">Check back tomorrow</p>
+        </div>
         <section id="pinned-section" class="section pinned-section hidden">
             <h2 class="section-heading section-heading-gold">Spotlight &middot; Game 7</h2>
             <div id="pinned-games-section" class="games-grid"></div>
diff --git a/app/templates/series.html b/app/templates/series.html
index a59762e..3ae86aa 100644
--- a/app/templates/series.html
+++ b/app/templates/series.html
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="{{ static_v('icon-32x32.png') }}">
     <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="{{ static_v('styles.css') }}">
+    {% if series.has_live %}<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="30">{% endif %}
 </head>
 <body class="playoff-mode series-mode">
     <header class="series-header">