Only two of the eight NHL preliminary/first round series stand (3-0), (Columbus did win the first two games at perennial ‘offs disappointment, Washington, with game 3 tonight in Columbus).
Both regular season division winning, amazing first year team, Las Vegas (Golden Knights) vs the L.A. Kings and San Jose (Sharks) vs the Anaheim Ducks, are in the Pacific Division, and almost certainly will clash in the NHL quarterfinal round. Each can wrap up their
Las Vegas, the first expansion team in any of the four major North American sports leagues, to win a non expansion regular season entity and I believe just the second expansion team to make the playoffs without being in an expansion division (the NHL had an expansion division, the NHL West for 3 seasons (’68-’70) while the ’67 Chicago Bulls made the NBA ‘offs as 8 of the 10 teams in the loop that year qualified “Chi” doing so with a poor (33-48) record), now very likely will be the first such team to win a playoffs series. They are a truly amazing team and story, alas a great “danger” to the Las Vegas sports books, already having rewarded bettors and may cause even more “damage,” if they win the conference and/or the big prize, the Stanley Cup.
Meanwhile San Jose, just two years removed from an NHL final appearance, a 6 game loss to Pittsburgh (Penguins), but out of the ‘offs last season, will be at most a slight underdog vs Las Vegas, in what likely would/will be a most interesting series.
Toronto heads the list of remaining cities, with teams in both the NBA and NHL playoffs.
The NBA Raptors are the East top seed, while the Maple Leafs, though third in their “div,” hence sans home advantage vs Boston (the lone city with first round home advantage teams in both leagues’ ‘offs), were tied for third in points in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia, so successful in sports of late (the Eagles and Villanova won it all, unprecedented success a Supe title followed by an NCAA basketball crown), has the NBA East “3,” which is seemingly a good position, in the 76ers while the Flyers third in their “div,” are sans home advantage vs the defending two time NHL champion, Penguins.
Washington’s NHL Capitals lost in “too early to clash,” NHL “quarters,” to the eventual champion, Penguins the last two seasons, have home advantage vs the Columbus Blue Jackets while the “8” seed Wizards, of course do not vs the top seed Raptors in the first round.
Minnesota’s NHL Wild were 5th in overall points in the NHL but in the ridiculous “make divisions” important NHL system, are in the wrong one, finishing third and are sans “home ice” vs the Winnipeg Jets.
Meanwhile, the NBA, Timberwolves, who covered the Denver Nuggets in overtime in the season’s final game to make the ‘offs (almighty ESPN did not see fit to TV that one, making in my opinion, Doris Burke’s non stop “analysis” even worse, during a rout, Phil vs Milwaukee game they deemed the one to televise) are the West “8” seed and roughly 15 to 1 underdogs in their preliminary/first round series vs the (65-17) Houston Rockets, the latter hoping to, but facing a tough road in a bid to join the city’s baseball Astros as their league’s big prize winner.
If only the great announcer, Harry Kalas, a Philadelphia based gem, was still around to enjoy the current Philadelphia sports success.
Five cities have teams in both the NBA and NHL playoffs.
Those cities are Boston, Toronto, Washington, Philadelphia and the Minnesota/St.Paul/Minneapolis area.
Boston has the East two seed in both leagues, however the Celtics are an NBA East long shot sans Kyrie Irving, while the Bruins are second in their division and would not have home advantage in their likely “quarter,” vs the Tampa Bay Lightning.
As the first round proceeds, I will have more details and notes on the cities with teams in both the NBA and NHL playoffs.
The NBA playoffs begin today with once again the Western Conference having the better teams making the great, but beyond over rated and hyped, LeBron James and his 50 wins, East “4” seed, Cleveland Cavaliers, actual slight favorites, to make the NBA Final Round.
If James, whose fine season was hailed by his “from the beginning, benefactors,” ESPN as truly great, (they won 50 games, finishing 4th in the pretty weak NBA East) and the Cavs make the NBA title round, it will be his eighth in as many seasons, since he in my opinion, in unforgivable fashion, jumped teams, which he did again and may well do yet again.
Sadly, news came that the great, talented Chuck McCann has passed away at the age of 83.
His children’s show on local New York television station, WPIX (Ch.11) was legendary.
Mr.McCann was “cuckoo for cocoa puffs,” as he voiced the famous line and also stood out in the film, “The Projectionist.”
My greatest memory of Mr. McCann was his superb performance, as one who was intellectually challenged, opposite the also superb, Alan Arkin’s lead role, in the film based on Carson McCullers’ book, “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.”
That was my greatest Chuck McCann memory, until I had the great fortune to interview him briefly, roughly 7 years ago.
His gracious manner and humor, as he thanked me for remembering his great role in an all-time movie and book, “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.”
Thanks back to you Mr. McCann for the memories heard and seen and most of all, for making me feel so good about thinking so highly of you before we met, by being so gracious when we did meet.
Stuff much better than cocoa puffs (which, I guess a plug, was/is pretty good) awaits you, go easy Mr. McCann, and thank you again.
Recently, I saw a superb, new film “Finding Your Feet.”
This one had most (think about it, there is no such thing as all) almost all if you will, the good things in a film, comedy, pathos and truly good writing and characters.
Richard Loncraine directed this truly moving film, with its “take a leap” message.
The entire cast turned in fine performances with Imelda Staunton (“Sandra”), Celia Imrie as her quite different? sister, “Bif” and Timothy Spall as “Charlie” leading the way. Do not miss this film!
The N.H.L. playoffs begin tonight with 3 games.
Tomorrow night, top seed, Nashville (Predators) hosts Colorado (Avalanche). Last season, the Predators made the Stanley Cup final (they lost to the repeat title winning, Pittsburgh Penguins, who clinched the crown with a Sunday night road win for the second straight season).
Though only two original 6 teams, Boston (Bruins) and Toronto (Maple Leafs) made the ‘offs, NBC and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, can’t be too upset, as only two teams from Canada made the fray (the other, the Winnipeg Jets, who finished second to Nashville in its “div” and the entire league in points.
Pittsburgh, second in its “div” faces Philadelphia (Flyers) in another first round series. Later in the series, I will post notes on simultaneous Pittsburgh and Philadelphia champions, which is the case right now as the Penguins, Philadelphia Eagles and Villanova University (Philly) all are their entity’s champion.
WWE Superstar Bubba Dudley was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during this Wrestlemania Weekend. Bubba and his tag-team partner Devon Dudley have entertained audiences around the world and the “Dudley Boyz” are well deserving of their HOF honor.
I interviewed Bubba back when he was in his “Bully Ray” bad-guy character. The wrestling story-line at the time: He was getting married to Brooke Hogan, daughter of good-guy Hulk Hogan. I caught up with him at Rick’s Cabaret in New York where his bachelor party took place.
Did the marriage ever happen? No, but it was an awesome bachelor party!
Andy B, Bubba Dudley, and Rick’s Cabaret NYC Girls
Some updates and comments will follow as sports, (maybe even the weather), begins to heat up, after Patrick Reed’s Masters golf win plus the NHL and NBA playoffs beginning this week.
Yesterday, a pair of (8-7) games, one, the eighth straight Red Sox win, putting them at (8-1), the other an (8-7) Orioles win at the Yankees, manifests in Boston being 3 and a half games ahead of the Yankees.
First, it is so early, but more to the point, Boston won the one eighth (there is that number again) “div” last year, only to lose in the “quarters” while the Yankees went to #7 ALCS, before losing to the eventual World Series winning, Houston Astros.
Elsewhere, regarding New York and Boston sports, the Mets also have lost but one game and after sweeping the “Wash” Nationals, also have a three and a half game margin over the one eighth “div” favorite, Nationals. Early, of course, but I sensed it.
Only the New Jersey, not New York, Devils among the New York area’s 5 winter sports teams, made the ‘offs.
Meanwhile, though the Boston Bruins “blew up,” as three and a half to one faves vs the eliminated Florida Panthers last night, to fall to second in the division and conference, they are in the ‘offs.
So are the Celtics, who lost as 5 or 6 to one “faves” (vs Atlanta), in the first of two tilts, each a setback for the Boston team in its building.
Neither loss, I think, (certainly not the Celtics’ loss, their loss is the injury to Kyrie Irving) is that important.
Chicago, at one distant pre wild card in baseball point, would have been “my kinda town” today, as both the Cubs (late home opener) and White Sox play day games today.
Neither “Chi” winter sports team, the Blackhawks, for the first time in 10 years, or Bulls made the ‘offs.
A tribute to Blackhawks’ great Stan Mikita, who sadly can not grasp it due to illness, in which his three grandsons skated, was nice and highlighted a disappointing Blackhawks’ season.
However, three recent titles more than offsets, (in my opinion exponentially), this season’s failure to qualify for the NHL ‘offs, which begin Wednesday.
The great hockey player, Stan Mikita, pictured above.
Click below to view Stan’s three grandsons skate in his honor.
First the NFL Eagles and then Villanova brought titles to the “city of brotherly love,” Philadelphia.
Though neither “Philly” winter sports is likely to bring another title in the upcoming ‘offs, both the NBA 76ers and NHL Flyers will be in their league’s post-season.
Even the baseball Phillies were/are expected to improve as their projected win total was a somewhat respectable 77 and a fraction.
Ah 1975, the last Flyers’ crown and a sports wrap show on WCAU that included the great announcer Harry Kalas’ call of a game winning home run by Ollie Brown for the improving, but not quite ready Phillies (4 div titles and one title, that in ’80 would follow).
Ah 1980, spring to winter, all four Philadelphia Major North American sports league teams, made the final, only the Phils, with their first ever crown won it.
Now counting college basketball’s Villanova and their second crown in 3 seasons, “Philly” has two in the proverbial bank and both winter sports teams in the upcoming NBA and NHL playoffs.
Moses Malone, pictured above, led the 76ers to the “promised land”/’83 NBA Title
Andy B Sports 