All 4 Games Last Night Yielded (3-1) Series Standings

After as cited above, all four in the “attrition full,” ‘offs had results manifesting in (3-1) series standings, 5 of the 7 entities that are through 4 games, stand that way while now heavy series “fave,” Dallas leads NHL President’s Trophy winning Winnipeg, but series underdog even at the start, (2-1) with #4 in “Big D,” tonight. (Ode to Don Drysdale who won 25 games “the year before”).

The New York Knicks, now up (3-1) in a bid to make their first “semis” appearance in 25 years are now (3-0) in games 4 vs the Celts when holding a (2-1) series lead. Jalen Brunson had 39 points for the Knicks while attrition befell Boston, as it has Cleveland and Golden State, who also trail (3-1) in their “qtrs,” when Ja Tatum was carried off the court and based on Celts only “5” in #5, is unlikely to play in that tilt, which might be the season’s last for the 18 time and defending NBA champion, Boston Celtics. (Alas more serious, even tragic injuries involving Tatums past, as a legal but brutal play by Jack Tatum on Darryl Stingley led to the latter’s inability to walk, while reliever Ken Tatum’s no fault hitting Paul Blair in the face certainly was bad and hurt the superb fielding Blair’s career).

Elsewhere, “Minne” (Timberwolves) bidding for a second consecutive “semis app,” and just the third in their 36 seasons existence, lead (3-1) after they won by “enough” in an all “wease,” vs the Curry-less Warriors. (The Warriors made 5 straight NBA final rounds, winning 3 from 2015-2019 and then after big fan Brad Weiner had died, they took a 4th (by rights they ought to have “taken a fifth,” but James had “silver” in his pocket) in 2021.

Both highly regarded Carolina (Hurricanes) and last year’s finalist and Carolina’s in ’06 when “Caro” won their lone crown, Edmonton (Oilers), won easily last night and lead the ’18 champion Washington Capitals and 2023 title winning Las Vegas Golden Knights respectively, (3-1).

The Oilers, who won 5 straight final rounds (the last of which in ’90 sans Gretzky), after being denied by another great team, the New York Islanders, who swept them in ’83, have lost in their last 2 final round appearances.

Last season Florida (Panthers) went up (3-0) vs them and held on to win (2-1) in a home 7th and as cited Carolina beat them in ’06, that also in 7 and by a (3-1) score (e net goal late), in the game for “all the marbles.” (Peter Falk was in “All The Marbles”).

Florida won both at home and are (2-2) with Toronto. As cited, Dallas, “semi’d out” by Edmonton last season leads Winnipeg (2-1).

Mark Messier, also an integral if not most important component of the lone New York Rangers title team since 1940, is pictured as an Edmonton Oilers player.

He was on 5 title teams with Edmonton. (’84,’85,’87 ’88 and ’90).