.png)
The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 series lead thanks to a double overtime thriller. The Knicks closed out the Sixers and opened strong-ish against the Pacers.
Both teams are in Round 2, with games happening at the Garden on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week inside the World's Most Famous Arena. What a postseason in New York!
New York Rangers
The Games
East Semifinals Game 1 | Win 4-3 vs. Hurricanes | Lead the series 1-0
I had the pleasure of sweating out this 4:00 PM start with my kids begging for snacks and my in-laws asking for clarification around the puck-over-the-glass delay of game rules in the waning seconds. It required multiple adult beverages to get through it. Mika Zibanejad continued his scorching hot play, scoring just 3 minutes into the game to give the Rangers an early lead. Carolina struck back soon after with a fluky bouncing puck from the point that alluded Igor. Then January 6th participant Tony DeAngelo started doing dumb shit and the Rangers' power play went to work, netting two quick goals directly off of face offs. Special teams continued to be a huge contributor, with the Rangers power play going 2-for-2 and the Hurricanes going 0-5.
The second period went scoreless, but it seemed like Carolina was dominating a good chunk of the possession time as they tried to come back. The Rangers did a nice job at keeping everything to the outside though, and not allowing any high-quality chances.
But, as good teams usually do, the Hurricanes broke through in the 3rd period, pulling to within a goal on a Martin Necas snap shot in opening minutes. About five minutes of butthole clenching time followed, but then Artemi Panarin buried a nice feed from Alexis Lafrenière to give us a two-goal cushion once again. It's a good thing he did, because we needed it. Carolina struck with the goalie pulled at 1:47 left on the clock. Then they proceeded to pin the Rangers in their own zone for over a minute, peppering us with chances in an attempt to tie the game. Butthole clenching time was back in full force. It almost produced a diamond when Vincent Trocheck batted the puck over the glass and took a delay of game penalty with 40 seconds to play, setting up a 6-on-4 opportunity for the Hurricanes. But the hockey gods, and an undisciplined Andrei Svechnikov, helped us out with an interference penalty on the ensuing face off that negated the 'Canes power play. Mika had his hat trick bid at the empty net swept aside, but we held on for the 4-3 win.
Thank god, because then I had to leave for my anniversary dinner which would have been a pretty awful time had we blown a 4-2 lead and lost in overtime. I owe you one, Igor.
East Semifinals Game 2 | Win 4-3 (2OT) vs. Hurricanes | Lead the series 2-0
This was a boring game that definitely didn't leave my basement viewing area littered with the remnants of my nervous pacing. I am extremely proud of myself for two reasons. First, I didn't drink at all during this game. My weekday sobriety is still going strong, playoffs be damned. Second, I didn't wake up my kids while celebrating the overtime winner. I've officially gotten old.
Anyway, the Rangers got two goals from Alexis Lafrenière but still found themselves in an unfamiliar position — trailing to begin the 3rd period. In fact, this was the first game of the playoffs in which the Rangers have been losing to end any 20-minute frame. But what has been the story of the series so far? Special teams. And after Dmitry Orlov tripped Will Cuylle 5:22 into the 3rd period, the Rangers headed to the power play. Chris Kreider banged in a rebound on the doorstep and the game was gloriously tied at 3!
Despite another power play at the very end of the 3rd for the Rangers, things headed to overtime and butthole clenching time was in full effect. Jacob Trouba went for a comical flying elbow against Martin Necas early, which will make all the Ranger haters clutch their pearls even though he fucking missed and face planted directly into the boards. Man, Trouba had a rough night. Three penalties, a giveaway that led to Carolina's third goal, and this:
LOL. Honestly, not sure what else to even type here. It's honestly hard to type anything since my fingernails are gnawed down to bloody stumps. Both teams had great chances in both overtimes, the goalies were great (especially Igor). We probably should have lost multiple times. But we also had a few chances to end it of our own. All in all, we probably got outplayed, but you know what they say — bend and don't break. Eventually, former Ranger (and guy who's name looks least like the way it is pronounced) Brady Skeji took a cross-checking penalty against Vincent Trocheck. Trocheck made him pay for it with a game-winning power play goal that violated the NYC noise ordinance and will send this series to Raleigh with the Blueshirts up 2-0.
The Series So Far
What I'm Feeling Good About
Our special teams have been electric.
Igor was absolutely rock solid in the third period and beyond of Game 2.
Vincent Trocheck is making his Conn Smythe case.
Mika Zibanejad looks the best he's looked all season.
We held serve at home and we're 6-0 in the playoffs. Holy shit.
What I'm Biting My Nails About
Carolina is going to be absolutely pissed about their loss in Game 2.
Jacob Trouba had a nightmare of a game in Game 2.
Matt Rempe is unplayable in the 3rd, so we used 11 forwards in a 5-hour game.
The Hurricanes seem to gain the zone whenever and however they want to.
We blew 2-0 series leads in 2022 and 2023. Home team hasn't lost yet. Not over.
The Play of the Week
Vincent Trocheck wins it in double overtime.
New York Knicks
The Games
Eastern Quarterfinals Game 6 | Win 118-115 at Sixers | Win the series 4-2
For some reason this game tipped off after 9:00 PM Eastern, completely wrecking my beauty sleep. But maybe that helped the Knicks out. They had been starting slow in the other games in this series, but they jumped right out of the gate in this one. Eventually building up a 22-point 1st quarter lead, it looked like the Knicks were going to cruise to a series victory. But then Buddy Hield decided to finally do something for the Sixers. And it turns out that something was saving their season. He started draining three-pointers and sparked a 34-11 run for the Sixers, completely erasing their early deficit and making Knicks fans want to drink from the East River. Now trailing 54-51 at the half, I was starting to get sad I had stayed up late for this.
But I was now invested, so I watched the rest of the game flip back and forth like every other fucking game in this series. Anunoby had an emphatic dunk with just over 2 minutes left to put the Knicks up by 8, but once again Philadelphia slugged their way back. It wasn't until Josh Hart's tie-breaking three-pointer with 24 seconds left that it felt like the Knicks actually had it in the bag. And even then, we had to hold our breath through the never-easy free throws to close it out in the waning seconds.
Eastern Semifinals Game 1 | Win 121-117 vs. Pacers | Lead the series 1-0
Trying to watch these games sober during the week has been rough. Another Knicks game, another emotional rollercoaster. I almost spilled my Lacroix when Jalen Brunson turned on the jets in the 4th quarter, scoring 21 of his total 43 points. The dude was literally everywhere, hitting crucial shots and just refusing to let the Pacers pull away. This man’s playing on another level, matching legends like Michael Jordan and Jerry West with his scoring streaks in the playoffs. My living room was a mix of nervous farts and pure elation. The drama peaked in the last minute for a change. Donte DiVincenzo sank a tie-breaking three with just 40 seconds left, and I did an awkward dance that made my disinterested wife look up from Pinterest for 4.5 seconds. The Pacers cut it close right after, but a pivotal (read: controversially soft) offensive foul on Myles Turner flipped the game. Questionable/beneficial calls aside, this team once again shows such grit and determination. They simply find ways to win in the dying moments almost every night.
Brunson’s performance has just been insane. Can't say enough good things about him. He's not quite my favorite Number 11 to rock the Garden, but he's something special.
The Series So Far
What I'm Feeling Good About
The Jalen Brunson show rolls on.
Illegal screens. :-)
DiVincenzo seems to be scoring again after a rough start to the playoffs.
Anunoby had some great defensive plays and really brings it down the stretch.
Up 1-0 after a game we should have lost. Gotta steal a few to make a long run.
What I'm Biting My Nails About
Mitchell Robinson is out 6-8 weeks with a stress fracture.
We didn't really have a rotation to begin with. Now we have like 6.5 players.
Weren't able to out rebound a bigger Pacers team in Game 1 like we did to Philly.
Slow starts continue to hurt us. Never seems like we can just run away with one.
T.J. McConnell annoyed me all of Game 1. That guy gave Indy a big time spark.
The Play of the Week
Josh Hart buries a huge three-pointer to bury the Sixers.