Oh the pressure on each home team in tonight’s two NHL quarterfinals, seventh games, as both the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks, the home teams, (vs defending champion Pittsburgh and upstart Edmonton respectively), have bad history in such encounters, sharing 6 time , game 7 losing coach Bruce Boudreau.
The Ducks, all under Boudreau have dissipated (3-2) series leads and lost #7 at home, the last four seasons.
“Wash” denied in a home 7th twice under Boudreau, is (1-8) in previous series vs the Penguins, twice losing a home 7th game to the Pens in years the Penguins won it all. Pitts dispatched Wash in the ‘offs en route to all four of their titles.
Predictions: Mike Emrick and NBC Sports Network gets a classic, (2-1) Wash on an overtime goal by T.J. Oshie is one prediction, the lesser known announcer out West gets an easy (4-1) Anaheim victory, as I go double “chalk,” which can make a most annoying sound.
The latest example “chalk” king, Mike Francesa on WFAN yesterday, being virtually certain there would be a #7 in Ott/Rangers, but once he said it, Eric Karlsson and Ott in 6, should not have been a surprise.
Eric Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators, pictured above.
“Ott,” no relation to Mel, is going to its third “semi,” winning in ’07 vs Buffalo, “taking the fifth” to clinch a game NBC moved off its primary station to make way for pre Preakness coverage and losing to eventual champion New Jersey (Devils) in ’03.
Anaheim coached by Randy Carlyle, their current coach who is in his second stint there, took “Ott” in 5 in the ’07 Cup Finals. That was one of only two Cup Finals to go less than six games, the usual money making barometer for the network since ’02, the other an L.A./New York tilt with built in better ratings.
Alas Mel Ott and the New York Giants once “final’d” a “Wash” team in 5, that in 1933.
Speaking of three, starting soon, the Wash area has THE game (how dare ESPN.com compare 5th of Wash Wizards nee Bullets at Boston Celtics with CAPS/PENS–get the caps, check who has a realistic title chance!!!) Caps/Pens, Wizards at Celts and first place Orioles at first place “Wash” Nationals.
After there were no decisive 7th games in the first round of the NHL ‘offs for the first time since 2001, and just the third time in the 30 seasons of such possibilities, there will be at least two seventh games and perhaps a third, in the 4 “quarters” possibilities.
Tomorrow night the top ranked Washington Capitals will host the defending Stanley Cup champion, Pittsburgh Penguins before the NHL West top seed, Anaheim Ducks do the same against the upstart Edmonton Oilers in decisive seventh games.
Meanwhile tonight, the New York Rangers, trailing three games to two vs the Ottawa Senators in their “qtr,” return home and are nearly nine to five “faves,” to give Gary Bettman and the NHL a third seventh game in these quarterfinals.
Some “exactly” 45 years ago Rangers’ history to note; on this date exactly 45 years ago, Tuesday May 9, 1972, the Rangers stayed alive with an upset win at Boston vs the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals which then ended on a reasonable, “ice not melting” Thursday May 11th.
Then the great Bobby Orr, Wayne Cashman and goaltender Gerry Cheevers led a Bruins’ Cup clinching victory.
If the Rangers win tonight, # 7 would be played on that game’s exact 45 year anniversary. Even if not, the NHL will not have progressed into its semis, as its war of attrition, not skill, continues.
One more thing, what a shame either the Pens or Caps will go out as early or “calendar late,” as the quarters, while either the Sens or Rangers will advance to the semis, having not played either team, as they (Pens/Caps) unfairly, played each other as early as the quarterfinal round.
This is not because the “doing it the right way,” Yankees are (21-9), which includes a three game sweep at Wrigley Field, of the defending champion, slow starting, Chicago Cubs.
Certainly the far bigger story is that the Nashville Predators have advanced to the NHL semis for the first time, winning (3-1) to (4-2) the St. Louis Blues in the quarters.
An additional note is the only other St. Loo team, the Cardinals (now the state of Tennessee, once with no teams, remember the scene in “Cast Away,” regarding the Tennessee Titans nearly winning the Supe, has three teams, one more than St. Louis, which once had 4 to the state of Tennessee’s none) swept all 3 games from the Braves, nearly 35 years after sweeping Atlanta in the 1982 NLCS, en route to the title.
Nashville is now (1-4) in NHL quarterfinal series, and will open their first semi on the road either in Anaheim or Edmonton.
The Ducks (Anaheim) host the Oilers in #7 of their quarter, on Wednesday night. The Ducks have lost game 7 of a series at home after holding a (3-2) series lead, the last 4 seasons and hope to avoid a 5th such occurrence Wednesday night. Already the “related/equivalent” L.A. area, Clippers had a bad “5,” this year, losing a series in which they led, for a fifth straight season, an NBA first.
It was exactly 45 years ago today, that the Los Angeles Lakers completed one of the greatest single seasons in any major sport, by winning the NBA Title, their first in Los Angeles, with a home (114-100) victory vs the New York Knicks in game 5 of the finals on a Sunday night at The Forum in L.A.
The Knicks had defeated the Lakers in game 7 of the NBA finals to win their first crown by almost the same score (113-99) just two years earlier.
This was the second title for playoffs MVP, Wilt Chamberlain and the first and only as a player for another great, Jerry West.
The Lakers had a regular season record of (69-13) a record until “Chi” broke it in 1996. They won 33 straight games which is still a record in any of the four major sports leagues. It was quite a team and a remarkable season.
Wilt and Jerry West, two of the greatest ever.
Yesterday, Friday May 5th, a day the L.A. area, Anaheim Ducks staged an almost unprecedented comeback victory at home, vs the Edmonton Oilers, scoring three goals to force overtime after pulling net minder Gibson and winning (4-3) on Corey Perry’s goal in the second overtime, I remember an L.A. area team win, exactly 45 years earlier.
On May 5, 1972, Jim McMillian took over in the overtime leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a game 4 win at Madison Square Garden vs the New York Knicks that gave them a (3-1) Finals Series lead, in a series they clinched two nights later.
Speaking of 45 years later and vs an NHL team based in Canada (they just seem unable to win), the Rangers on the exact anniversary of a game 3/1972 finals victory, won (4-1) for the second straight game and not only squared their “Qtr” vs the Ottawa Senators but are bigger series faves now than they were before the series started, despite “Ott” having this afternoon’s #5 and a potential game 7 at home.
Corey Perry’s goal in the second overtime last night lifted “An” (4-3) over Edmonton in game 5 and into a (3-2) “Qtrs” lead.
The Ducks (Anaheim or “An”) were the second team in NHL annals to team score as many as 3 goals to even force overtime with less than 4 minutes remaining in the tilt.
Perry with Ryan Getzlaf getting an assist won it.
Both the 2015 and 2016 NBA finalists (to this point, there never was an NBA Finals series matching the same teams for three straight seasons), are (6-0) thus far in these ‘offs and have (2-0) “quarters” leads.
The defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who sailed through the much weaker NBA East a year ago, going (12-2), take a (2-0) series lead into Toronto vs the Raptors tonight.
Their two losses within the Eastern Conference last year, came in this situation, but in the semis.
Golden State (Warriors) with the NBA’s best record for a third straight season, lead the Utah Jazz two games to none, after two double digit, but no cover home victories.
An evening viewing party was held for NY Mets fans on the Rick’s Cabaret NYC Roof Deck and Cigar Lounge. The fans watched the Mets game on the club’s flat-screen TVs and then celebrated the team’s victory with the beautiful Rick’s Cabaret NYC girls.
“The Roof Deck is such a fun place for a party,” explained Rick’s Cabaret NYC girl Kelly.
Ronnie the Limo Driver from the Howard Stern Show stopped by. “He is the best,” said Rick’s Cabaret girl Marilyn. “He is a lot of fun to hang out with–he is so nice!”
“The Champagne was flowing and there were so many hot girls,” cooed Rick’s Cabaret NYC girl Diana. “Oh, and everyone enjoyed the food prepared by Chef Franklin Edwards.”
Rick’s Cabaret New York is known for its beautiful entertainers and warm hospitality. It is a favorite spot for pro athletes from all the major sports. Conveniently located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan (50 West 33rd Street), it is across from the Empire State Building and just one block away from Madison Square Garden.
I will not give an opinion on the play in which the great player, Sidney Crosby was injured, an injury that will cause him to miss at least one game.
However, I have strong opinions on two matters in which the NHL has made the wrong decision.
First and foremost is that the top two teams in the regular season should never be meeting as early as the league’s quarterfinals, it is bad enough when it manifests in a league semi-final.
However, due to the inane “within the division” playoffs format, the top ranked Caps and defending champion Pens, the teams with the top two regular season points marks are clashing as early as the quarterfinals.
Next the 4 rounds of best of 7 is a contest of attrition, not necessarily of skill and talent.
On a flipping the channels day, “Romance on the High Seas” and an episode of “Friends,” “brought” two favorites and a note or two.
In the 1949 movie, “Romance on the High Seas” directed by the great Michael Curtiz (many great films but one need only say “Casablanca”) there was Don DeFore, for whom so many years ago, I subliminally named an “Electric Football” running back.
In the movie, DeFore was a “Mr. Kent” evoking my favorite from and including Superman, Clark Kent.
On “Friends,” there was the great character actor named Phil Leeds. He delivered a great line.
Mine is where have they all gone, character actors and many other good things?!
Phil Leeds, pictured above.
The first round of the NBA playoffs is finally over with one 7th game played and in it, the Jazz won at L.A. vs the Clippers making them the first lower seeded team to win after 7 higher seeded teams had advanced.
According to notes I read, the Clippers are the first team in NBA history, likely sports history, to lose a series in which it led, for as many as five consecutive seasons.
Tonight the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors begin to “slosh” away in one “Qtr,” in which I anticipate and look forward to Marv Albert broadcasting the games on Turner Network Television.
A prediction: The Cavs in 6 just as in last year’s “semi,” but a much better effort from the Raptors this time, I dare say with a win at Cleveland in one of the first two games.
Last year en route to a title, largely “gifted” to them by their easy conference and the unjust suspension of Dray Green for game 5 of the finals, “Cleve” went (9-1) at home in the ‘offs, which is quite impressive.
Other “quarters,” San Antonio vs Houston, Golden State vs Utah and yesterday the Boston Celtics “opened” vs the Washington Wizards nee Bullets.
How far we are from another Sunday afternoon series opener (the ’75 semis) between the Celts and Wizards/Bullets. Phil Chenier or Nick Weatherspoon anyone?
Andy B Sports 