The NHL quarterfinal round begins tomorrow night with the New York Islanders visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning.
New York led by John Taveras, who scored the tying and winning goals, dispatched the Florida Panthers in six games. It was the Islanders first playoffs series win since 1993.
Meanwhile the Lightning, a finalist, a year ago losing to now ex champion, Chicago (Blackhawks) in six games are in the “quarters,” again after a series win vs the Detroit Red Wings.
After the ouster of the Blackhawks and L.A. Kings in the first round and the failure of the Boston Bruins to make the playoffs, this year’s Stanley Cup champion will be one that has not won the title since at least 2009.
The St. Louis Blues, riding a decisive goal by Troy Brouwer, reached the NHL quarterfinals with a win vs the defending champion, Chicago Blackhawks in game 7 at St. Louis.
Brouwer, a member of the Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup winning team, a title that ended a 47 completed seasons’ drought (1962-2009), scored to break a third period tie for a team ripe with playoffs failure, sans a Stanley Cup finals win, no less a title, in its previous, you guessed it, 47 (completed) seasons (1968-2015).
Rather than cite the Blues’ playoffs failures, I laud the tremendous Chicago Blackhawks, three time Stanley Cup champions starting in 2010 (also 2013 and 2015) and ousted in 7 game series (2011, 2014 and 2016) and 6 games (2012) in the playoff years sans a title.
In citing Blues hero, Troy Brouwer (pictured below) and showing a promotion at Maple Leaf Gardens involving Dick “Bulldog” Brower, one recalls the great NHL Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltender Johnny Bower.
Troy Brouwer pictured above.
It is almost certain that it will be the NBA West second seed, San Antonio Spurs vs the third seed, Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA quarterfinal round.
The Spurs swept past the Memphis Grizzlies in 4 straight games, three more than decisive.
Oklahoma City is a huge favorite to wrap up its series vs the Dallas Mavericks in tonight’s game. “OKC” as they are often called, leads the series three games to one.
There will be the drama not only of a seventh and deciding game, but also that concerning a team that has failed continually in the playoffs against a team that has triumphed so often when the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks visit the St. Louis Blues tonight.
The Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cup crowns in six seasons, the only three “Chi” titles during the presidency of the Chicago associated Barack Obama.
Conversely the Blues have never won the Stanley Cup even a Stanley Cup finals game (0-12), albeit as an expansion entity granted access to the finals vs established teams (1968-1970), and most telling have failed vs Chicago, including two seasons ago with a (2-0) series lead and now are forced to a 7th despite a (3-1) series lead.
The top ranked teams in each NHL conference (the Washington Capitals and Dallas Stars) both failed to clinch their series in game 5 home games Friday and now seek to do so on the road in a pair of game 6’s today.
At noon Eastern Time, the top ranked Washington Capitals, a team held to one goal in two games by the Philadelphia Flyers, a team whose owner 80 plus year old Ed Snider’s death was called “a TRAGEDY” on NHL Network last week, hope to end the Flyers’ inspirational season in game six.
Meanwhile the Dallas Stars, once the Minnesota North Stars, now must travel to Minnesota for game six as they hope to wrap up their series vs the Minnesota Wild today.
Caps beat Flyers behind Michal Neuvirth’s 44 saves, force Game 6
The problem with the above from ESPN.com is that Michal Neuvirth is the Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltender and that the Flyers, to the delight of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, won to force a 6th game at home vs Washington (Capitals) at noon Eastern Time today. Again the Flyers and NOT the Caps won the game cited above (game 5).
Driving home Friday night I was appalled that neither WINS nor WFAN gave scores on two of the four hockey playoff games and gave no other baseball scores other than those involving the local Mets and Yankees.
Worse, an update reporter on WFAN got cute and said Cardinals trail rather than Padres lead. Why tease/”aggravate” Cardinals’ fans and yes bettors. Cite the winning team first!!
It was ominous for them, when another (3-0) San Jose (Sharks) advantage vs the L.A. Kings became (3-3), but this time the Sharks, who dissipated a (3-0) series lead to the Kings two years ago, scored the last three goals of the game to beat the Kings (6-3), and win their opening round series 4 games to 1.
San Jose now awaits the winner of what has been an all road team wins, Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators series, in the NHL quarterfinals. That series is tied two games apiece, with game 5 tonight, a 3 p.m. Pacific Time start, in Anaheim.
Joe Pavelski had the goal to make it (5-3) Sharks and scored 4 goals in the Sharks 3 for 3 wins in Los Angeles. The Sharks would open at Anaheim sans home advantage if the Ducks win the series vs Nashville but would open at home with series home advantage if the Predators prevail.
Joe Pavelski, a truly fine hockey player, pictured above.
Jake Arrieta authored his second no hit game in 16 starts on Thursday night past. He had a sensational season last year, at least in the regular season.
After a not so hot start vs St. Louis (Cardinals) in the Division Series, Arrieta was held back until game two by the fine, but vastly over rated Cubs’ manager, Joe Maddon.
As with some Maddon decisions, I strongly thought it a mistake BEFORE the Cubs lost game 1 sans Arrieta and then game two, when the eventual 4 game sweep winners, the New York Mets, jumped on Arrieta for three first inning runs en route to victory.
It is a long unfair season Cubs fans, do not print World Series tickets yet, however, the Cubs likely will win their division and failing that almost certainly make the baseball tournament.
Also very likely is that Arrieta will pitch very well and Maddon will manage the team well, the latter especially if the Cubs are comfortably ahead.
One NHL series is over while three teams have seemingly commanding three games to one leads as the opening round is about half complete.
For the second straight season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have dispatched the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round. Last year they won a tough 7 game series despite losing two home games. This year, Tampa Bay won all three at home en route to the series victory.
The top ranked Washington Capitals lead the Philadelphia Flyers three games to one, as is the case with the Pittsburgh Penguins leading their series with the New York Rangers.
In the Western Conference, the San Jose Sharks lead the Los Angeles Kings three games to one. Both the Capitals and Penguins are higher ranked, while the Sharks are lower ranked than their first round opponent.
So far the series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets has gone as I expected. That is not the case in some other series but that is a different matter.
As I predicted the Rockets would win at least one game which they did last night on James Harden’s heroics but Golden State, playing without Steph Curry in the last two tilts still leads the series two games to one.
The Warriors will win easily in game four in Houston and then win by less than the expected amount in game 5 back in their home arena.
James Harden, pictured above, led the Houston Rockets to what was very likely an aberration game win last night.
Andy B Sports 