After Joel Kiviranta’s “hat trick” overtime goal (he also had the tying goal, 10 seconds after Colorado took the lead in the last 4 minutes of regulation play) lifted the Dallas Stars into their first NHL “semi” since 2008, the third year Las Vegas Golden Knights advanced to their second, shutting out the Vancouver Canucks.
Each result was in a game 7 of the NHL quarterfinal round, the Stars/Avalanche tilt beginning at 4 P.M. Eastern Time and L.V./Vancouver playing a second straight day, as the tail that is TV, (particularly annoying, as it has David Stern’s mark, via Gary Bettman on it), continues to “wag.”
Bettman, as he seemingly always does, got what he wanted, 3 of the 4 NHL “quarters” going 7, with a team down three games to one, forcing such a game.
Last season, both Dallas and Las Vegas were eliminated in a game 7, the Golden Knights, in a prelim, to a San Jose Sharks team, coached by their current coach Peter DeBoer, whose #7 record rose to (5-0) last night.
The Stars were 7’d by the eventual champion St. Louis Blues, while the Avalanche also fell victim to DeBoer and the Sharks in a game 7/Qtrs loss last season.
Vancouver’s first NHL season was 1971 and in a 50 years inclusive and 49 completed seasons period, they are (3-8) in the quarterfinals, (3-0) in the semis and (0-3) in final round play.
With the ouster of the Canucks (speaking of 1971, that year the NBA Milwaukee Bucks, led by the then Lew Alcindor, later of course Kareem Abdul Jabbar, in just their third season, won the NBA crown on Friday night April 30th. Last night, a Friday, in the NBA ‘offs, which are way more of a joke than the NHL, only baseball’s absurdity tops the NBA’s, the Miami Heat took a seemingly commanding (3-0) series lead vs the top ranked Bucks. If Miami avoids being the first NBA team in history, to lose after a (3-0) series lead, the Bucks will have gone 49 consecutive seasons, sans a title, thrice with the best record, including the last two seasons with the top mark. At least last season, they were afforded the home advantage for their regular season efforts and achievements, not the case in 2020), there are no teams from Canada in the NHL semi-final round for the 6th straight season.
Las Vegas Golden Knights’ goaltender, Robin Lehner, shown above, in that thing called a mask, had 3 shutouts for L.V. in their “qtr” win vs Vancouver, including a (3-0) job in game 7.
Amazing, perhaps pun intended, things and memories flood my mind, in recalling one of baseball’s greatest pitchers, Tom Seaver, who died this week at age 75.
There were the near no hitters, as I recall two on radio and the near perfect game, broken up by Jimmy Qualls, watching with my dad on television.
He won game 4 of the ’69 World Series on “Moratorium Day,” and though not shown in a recent telecast on SNY, I could swear, Tom talked of the U.S. getting out of Viet Nam.
The Mets won the World Series the next day behind Jerry Koosman and that was the peak, even one as great as Seaver, could get no higher.
There was nary another title or even a World Series win, despite Tony Kubek’s optimism toward the latter, in the post game 4 interview.
However, though often not quite able to get to the “finish line,” in the biggest of games, Tom Seaver was along with Bob Gibson, second or third only to Sandy Koufax, among pitchers in my time.
In short, Seaver with phenomenal statistics and pitching know how, was a true great.
Recall among much, the 300th win called by the great Lindsey Nelson on another great, Phil Rizzuto’s day. I raced home from school in April 1970 and saw “Sea,” who did R.C. Cola commercials, strikeout Al Ferrara, who earlier had homered, for his 19th strikeout, tying Steve Carlton, (Carlton did so in a (4-3) loss to two Ron Swoboda homers, vs the Mets the season before), in a (2-1) win.
So many memories, including how cool he and his beautiful wife Nancy, who was with him to the end, as he battled dementia, looked and apparently were together.
It did not manifest for me and I was not “into” a picture with Seaver, on my birthday, 2 months and change, before the real fall.
Yet I cherish his time, his pitching, what he meant and yes the glory of, as Tom said and I loved, referencing the ’69 Mets “just a bunch of young kids who loved to play this game,” baseball–of course, since nearly ruined by wild cards and such—
Go now and feel as you did when Cleon grabbed future Mets’ title manager, Dave Johnson’s long drive and “taste the wine.”
Far or maybe on nights such as July 9, 1969 vs Qualls and the eventually overtaken, first place Chicago Cubs, not so far from perfect, you Tom Seaver were something else!
The hits, all negative, just keep on coming–the latest being the death of a fine actor, Chadwick Boseman, at the so young age of 43, leaving remarkable work both behind and ahead of him.
In the movie “42,” in which Mr. Boseman played the indomitable Jackie Robinson, it is falsely depicted that a Jackie home run ends the game, in which the 1947 Dodgers clinch the pennant.
That, however, does not take away from Boseman’s excellent portrayal, one he also accomplished playing Thurgood Marshall. Less known but in the sports realm, he portrayed the great running back Floyd Little in “The Express” about another great, one who died tragically young, Ernie Davis.
In collaboration with Michael Santasieri, who went on to work, helping autistic adults, I named an “Electric Football” player, subliminally, Thurgood Marshall.
Once, that tiny quarterback figure took off, the little motor purring and seemed to go the wrong way, before turning around and breaking clear for a touchdown.
All of us, but especially in this “US,” face steps forward and back.
Chadwick Boseman took many forward and leaves us way too early, however, with much good work.
Maybe, we can turn and go forward again, however, even what would be a start toward rectifying the injustice, is now only “pick em.”
As Tom Bosley’s “Howard Cunningham” laments in an early “Happy Days” episode, prejudice, really racism, has been around longer.
While the Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to their 4th semi-final round in 6 seasons, riding Victor Hedman’s second overtime period goal in game 5 to beat Boston (Bruins), the Philadelphia Flyers, despite dissipating a two goal lead late in the third period, won game 5 in overtime, to force #6 vs the New York Islanders, in their “quarter,” on Thursday night.
History, which repeated when for the 5th time in 5 Flyers/Islanders series, one team had a (3-1) series lead, did so again, as now in all 5 series, the team first facing elimination, won that game to extend the series.
Most famous was ’75, when the Flyers needed a game 7 win to “semi” the Islanders, in a series they once led 3 games to none.
Teams facing elimination are (8-2) in Flyers/Islanders series.
Victor Hedman, pictured above.
Yesterday, while the Denver Nuggets forced just the second deciding game and first 7th game of this year’s basketball and hockey ‘offs, (16 NHL and 6 NBA series have been completed) three NHL teams joined the Tampa Bay Lightning with seemingly commanding (it appears that teams up (3-1) in NHL best of 7 series are (284-29) but I remember when no team had overcome a straight (3-1) deficit though the ’42 Leafs had overcome a (3-0) deficit) three games to one, NHL quarterfinal series leads.
Meanwhile the Clippers 6’d the Mavericks and the Celtics “opened” the Raptors, winning game 1 of their “quarter.”
The three NHL teams that took (3-1) series leads yesterday are the Dallas Stars, New York Islanders and Las Vegas Golden Knights.
The Dallas Stars are one win away from their 11th “semis” appearance and first since 2008.
From (1975-1984), the New York Islanders made the NHL semi-final round nine times. They were in just their third season when they made their first such appearance in 1975, losing in 7 games to the eventual champion, Philadelphia Flyers.
Currently the Islanders lead the Flyers, who have not won the title since that ’75 season 2 games to one in their quarterfinal series.
The Islanders (5-5) all time in semis, have made just one semi-final appearance after ’84, that a 5 game loss to the eventual and to this point last Montreal Canadiens’ title team in 1993.
Today a fine episode of “To Tell The Truth,” that aired in 1959.
One of the contestants was Don Drysdale, a pitcher on the recently crowned 1959 baseball champions.
Panelists were Kitty Carlisle, Don Ameche, Monique Van Vooren and Tom Poston.
Bud Collyer is the show’s host.
Enjoy watching.
It REALLY would have meant something, if instead of boycotting NBA games for at most, a few days–the players packed up and went home.
There never should have been this joke of a season (they actually played more regular season games) and even the tragic shooting(s) by authority figures could not outdo money.
Hint: The cops, by en large, like sports. Let them be without it. Let us all be without it, and get back on track.
Again, I will not hold my precious breath. Maybe and certainly tragically, somewhere George Floyd can relate.
Read a book, then go watch Orenthal James Simpson run on television, on the football field in 1968. I did.
All eight participants in the current NHL quarterfinal round have been to the final round, with only the Colorado Avalanche (they are down (2-0) to the Dallas Stars), not on a final round loss skein.
Only current “quarters” opponents, the Las Vegas Golden Knights (they are in just their third season and made the final round in their first season) and Vancouver Canucks, among the 8 have never won the title.
Vancouver, in its 49th to be completed season, is (0-3) in final round play. The Vancouver/Las Vegas series is tied at one game apiece, with “L.V.” still a big series favorite, but nowhere near as big, as before last night’s Vancouver series squaring victory.
In future posts more notes on the current final round loss streaks, of 7 of the 8 “quarters” entrants.
The great player, Mike Bossy, was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, when the Islanders won their third straight crown, sweeping the Vancouver Canucks in the 1982 final.
Vancouver lost 7 game NHL final round series to the New York Rangers in ’94 and Boston Bruins in 2011.
It was the Rangers’ first title in 54 years while the ’11 triumph was the first for the Bruins in 39 years.
In the NBA East, it is almost certain that the conference’s semi-final round will match the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics (that is certain) while the Milwaukee Bucks, leading the Orlando Magic, 3 games to 1, will face the Miami Heat.
The Celtics (Boston is now 14-6 vs the Sixers franchise in ‘offs series and this was the first time in 16 best of 7 series between the franchises, 14 as Boston vs Philadelphia-there were two best of 7 series matching Boston and the Syracuse Nationals– either team swept the other), Raptors and Heat all swept their “prelims,” with Milwaukee, likely (12 or so point favorites) to make it 4 straight wins, after dropping their series opener to the Orlando Magic.
In Western Conference play, (can not say out west as this “charade,” which I fear will benefit the great player, but systemic “team switcher,” LeBron James–alas I hail his efforts to fight systemic racism, albeit with speech peppered with “double negatives,” is being played in a bubble in East coast Florida) the Lakers led by James and Utah led by Donovan Mitchell have (3-1) series leads vs Portland and Denver respectively.
The Clippers, a potential roadblock to another “King James coronation,” are (2-2) with Dallas, while Houston, I suppose the tougher potential Lakers’ “quarters” foe are (2-2) vs Oklahoma City.
I once loved the Lakers, suffering their many close call defeats and as my late father remarked, getting “is that all there is,” but relief from their 6 titles (’72 and 5 with Magic., Kareem and Company in the ’80’s, before no longer rooting for them). It has been a long, sick road and why do I care?!!
Donovan Mitchell has led the Utah Jazz to a (3-1) series lead vs the higher seeded favorite Denver Nuggets.
Denver and the Clippers are the only teams among the 16 NBA ‘offs qualifiers, never to have made an NBA final series.
Andy B Sports 