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The Rangers completed their first round sweep of the Capitals. The Knicks pushed the Sixers to the brink with a historic Jalen Brunson performance.
On a wild and successful Sunday for New York sports teams, the Knicks got a franchise record-setting performance from Jalen Brunson and took a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. Then the Rangers took to the ice and completed their sweep of the overmatched Capitals to punch their ticket to the second round.
New York Rangers
The Games
East Quarterfinals Game 3 | Win 3-1 at Capitals | Lead the series 3-0
The Rangers came out flying, gaining an early 7-1 advantage in shots. Unfortunately, the Capitals ended up being the team to get on the scoreboard first, as John Carlson hit a soft knuckle puck that fooled Shesterkin and put Washington up 1-0. Luckily, butthole clenching time only lasted 34 seconds before Chris Kreider tied the game with a trademark deflection. Exactly 2 minutes later, with the Capitals on the power play, Barclay Goodrow finished off a 2-on-1 shorthanded breakout after a beautiful pass from Trocheck got past Alexander Ovechkin's half-assed defense. Midway through the period, Matt Rempe ended Trevor van Riemsdyk's evening with a brutal hit in the corner. Rempe was given a 2-minute minor for interference and the pearl-clutching about him by the NHL media spun into overdrive.
The special teams advantage would continue throughout the game, with the Rangers penalty kill going 6-for-6 and netting that shortie (which stood up as the game-winning goal). In the 2nd period, Shesterkin had to make a few tough saves, maybe the biggest of which was stoning Max Pacioretty in front during a strong push by Washington midway through the frame. Then with the period winding down, the Rangers got a power play and Trocheck buried a nifty pass from Mika Zibanejad to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead heading into the locker room.
The 3rd period was delightfully uneventful. The Capitals had the bulk of the offensive zone time, but the Rangers did a nice job at keeping everything to the outside. Despite getting badly outshot (9-0 to start the period), it never really felt stressful for the Rangers, who seemed content to clog things up and frustrate the Capitals as much as possible. The crowd had pretty much given up, and then Washington took a penalty with 3:31 remaining to suck any remaining hope out of the building. Solid win.
East Quarterfinals Game 4 | Win 4-2 at Capitals | Win the series 4-0
Things started off nightmarishly for the Capitals, as Nick Jensen flubbed a pass in the defensive zone which led to an easy Kaapo Kakko goal just 57 seconds into the game. That's definitely not how you want to start when you're facing elimination. But to their credit, the Capitals didn't go away easily. Martin Fehervary leveled the score about 15 minutes into the period with a shot from the left circle following a turnover by the Rangers. Shortly after that, there was scary moment where Adam Fox had a knee-on-knee collision with Nick Jensen. Fox made every Ranger fan in the world poop their pants as he writhed in pain, giving us all bad memories of when he hurt the same knee back in November. But thankfully, he was able to shake it off and remain in the game. The Rangers headed to the power play, which Fox ultimately rejoined, helping to set up a sequence of 7 passes that ended up in the back of the net, courtesy of a Vincent Trocheck slot shot over a slumped over Charlie Lindgren. Tom "mashed potatoes for brains" Wilson then attacked Fox during the Rangers' goal celebration and put the Capitals back on the penalty kill. Smart guy. It was 2-1 after 20 minutes of play.
The Capitals final push seemed to come in the 2nd period. The Rangers were reeling defensively, giving up a bunch of odd-man rushes and failing to clear the puck cleanly on multiple occasions. Hendrix Lapierre eventually used his speed to fly past four tired Rangers, wisely shot at Shesterkin's pads, and buried his own rebound to tie the game. It was a nifty play and one that served as a scary reminder of the Rangers' defensive struggles against the rush. The period ended deadlocked at 2-2, with the momentum finally feeling like it belonged to Washington for the first time in a long time.
Just 3 minutes into the 3rd period, TJ Oshie whacked Trocheck in the face and took a high-sticking penalty. From there, it only took Artemi Panarin 11 seconds of power play time to bury one and take the lead once again. Once that goal happened, you could feel the wind come out of the Capitals' sails. They still had a few pushes, and the Rangers weren't at their best defensively, but you could really feel that this one was over. For the second-straight game, the Caps took a penalty in the dying minutes and sent the Rangers to the power play, where Jack Roslovic was able to bury an empty net goal to seal it for the Rangers. The 4-2 win was probably the closest of the 4 games in that the Rangers didn't look particularly sharp. However, it was good enough to put the sweep to a very overmatched Capitals team.
And now we wait...
The Series Recap
What I'm Feeling Good About
Special teams. The penalty kill was 15-for-17 (88.2%) with 2 shorthanded goals. The power play was 6-for-16 (37.5%).
Balance and depth. The Rangers got 15 goals from 10 different goal scorers in the series. Plus, 14 of their 18 skaters registered at least a point.
Zibanejad is cooking. After an underwhelming regular season, Mika led the team with 7 points and 12 shots on goal in the series. Exactly what you want to see.
Igor dominated. He finished the series with a 1.75 GAA, a .931 save percentage, and he almost scored a goal.
Taking care of business. They didn't sucked into any drama or thuggery. They just simply outplayed an inferior team and put it away nice and early. Simple.
What I'm Biting My Nails About
Giving up the early lead, as we did in Games 2 and 3, shouldn't be a habit we want to develop. They are a great comeback team, but stop playing with fire.
The rush defense was still shaky at times in this series. The Capitals weren't fast enough to exploit it, but it could bite us somewhere down the road.
Does the energy that Matt Rempe brings outweigh the refs calling a penalty every time he touches someone and the fact that Laviolette won't play him late?
Will getting a week or so off cause any kind of rust that will hurt us early in the next round?
There will be a much tougher opponent on the ice in the second round, there will be plenty of time to stress next week. Enjoy it for now!
The Play of the Week
Matt Rempe says good night to Trevor van Riemsdyk.
New York Knicks
The Games
Eastern Quarterfinals Game 3 | Loss 125-114 at Sixers | Lead the series 2-1
The game began with some intense physicality, but it was Joel Embiid who set the tone early despite playing through personal and physical challenges, including Bell's palsy and a knee brace. His ferocious/dirty play energized the 76ers as they sought to counteract the Knicks' aggressive defense. The quarter saw a back-and-forth contest with neither team able to pull away significantly. Embiid's presence was felt on both ends, but the Knicks managed to keep the game close, capitalizing on their sharp shooting from beyond the arc. The physicality peaked when Embiid was involved in a contentious play resulting in a flagrant foul, after which Mitchell Robinson had to leave the game due to a sprained ankle, adding to the Knicks' challenges. However, the Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson's playmaking and scoring, stayed in contention and took a 3-point lead into the locker room at halftime.
Then Philly hit the Knicks with a freight train in the 3rd quarter. Embiid absolutely dominated, turning in a historic performance by scoring 18 points, including perfect shooting from the three-point line. His explosive scoring spree helped the 76ers build a significant lead, leaving the Knicks scrambling to adjust. Philadelphia's offense clicked as they extended their lead, thanks in part to Tyrese Maxey and other contributors hitting crucial shots. The 76ers' defense tightened, limiting the effectiveness of the Knicks' offensive efforts and taking control of the game's pace.
Entering the final quarter with momentum, Embiid continued to beat the brakes off of the Knicks, earning "MVP" chants from the home crowd as he extended the lead by hitting critical free throws. The Knicks, despite a spirited effort led by Brunson's 39 points and Hart's 20, couldn't overcome the deficit. Philadelphia's strategic execution shone, with key contributions from Cam Payne and Kelly Oubre Jr. helping to maintain their lead. The game concluded with the 76ers taking a decisive 125-114 victory, cutting the Knicks' series lead to 2-1 and setting the stage for a pivotal Game 4.
Eastern Quarterfinals Game 4 | Win 97-92 at Sixers | Lead the series 3-1
The "Jalen Brunson Game" started out fast, as the Sixers, fueled by Joel Embiid's determined play despite his health issues, took an early lead. Philadelphia's strategy seemed to revolve around leveraging Embiid's presence on the court, which paid dividends initially. The Knicks struggled to find their rhythm, trailing by 10 points at the end of the quarter. The 76ers' aggressive start set a challenging pace, but it was evident that sustaining this energy, especially with Embiid's condition, would be critical.
The Knicks capitalized on a significant dip in Philadelphia's stamina at the start of the 2nd quarter, particularly during Embiid's absence on the bench. New York quickly erased the deficit with a 12-2 run, tying the game as soon as Embiid re-entered. The quarter saw Jalen Brunson begin to make his mark, helping the Knicks gain momentum. Tyrese Maxey’s three-pointer broke the scoring drought for the 76ers, but the Knicks continued to challenge, finishing the half trailing by 2, but setting the stage for a competitive second half.
The intensity escalated in the 3rd quarter, with both teams battling fiercely. Brunson continued to excel, driving the Knicks' offense and scoring effectively against a tiring Embiid, who played the entire 2nd half. Despite Embiid's efforts, his fatigue became more apparent as the game progressed. The Knicks started to dominate the boards, especially in offensive rebounds, leading to crucial second-chance points. This quarter highlighted the Knicks' resilience and ability to exploit the 76ers' weaknesses, particularly their dependency on Embiid. In the final quarter, Brunson's brilliance shone brightest. Returning from a brief rest, he immediately impacted the game with critical baskets during a pivotal 6-0 Knicks run that secured the lead. Embiid, despite his earlier dominance, struggled to maintain his effectiveness, missing crucial shots as his energy waned. The Knicks' strategy to maximize rebounds and maintain pressure paid off, outlasting the 76ers' early game energy. Brunson’s historic scoring night, coupled with strong defensive plays and rebounding from the likes of OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, led the Knicks to a 97-92 victory, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. As the series heads back to New York, the Knicks look poised to close it out, bolstered by a standout performance and strategic resilience.
The Series So Far
What I'm Feeling Good About
Absolutely crushing the 76ers on the offensive glass.
It took a 50-point game from an ailing Embiid to beat us.
Brunson finally having that superstar caliber game we've been waiting for.
Josh Hart is a fucking pest and it's great. 17 rebounds in Game 4 is unreal.
The Sixers started criticizing their own fans, which never bodes well.
What I'm Biting My Nails About
Again, pissed off Embiid is frightening. He's scoring and taking cheap shots.
Mitchell Robinson missed Game 4 with an injury, leaving us thin at center.
DiVincenzo has not been particularly inspiring in this series.
How sustainable is the Jalen Brunson doing it all strategy?
It seems like every game the Knicks have won has been a coin flip type game that either team could have won. The only really convincing victory of the series was the Sixers' Game 3 win. Not sure what, if anything, that means. Only that this series is close and anything can happen.
The Play of the Week
Jalen Brunson sets the all-time Knicks playoff record with 47 points in Game 4.
Garden Memory
I won a raffle and got to sit in the Rangers' penalty box during pre-game warmups against the Flyers. We heckled the hell Scott Hartnell, who eventually skated over to us, and blasted a slap shot off the glass right in front of my face. Me and my friends got a big laugh out of that, and then Hartnell skated over and tossed me the puck. It made it kind of hard to hate him.
Sphere Watch
Michael Penix, Kirk Cousins, and the GM of the Atlanta Falcons all attended a weekend screening of Draft Day at The Sphere. Then they walked over to The Venetian and lost $180 million at the Pai Gow Poker table. They did get a few free Michelob Ultras though, so they're figuring they came out ahead.