Three of the four NHL “quarters” ended with road team wins in game 6.
On Thursday past, Chris Kreider had a “natural hat trick” in the New York Rangers series clinching (5-3) win at Carolina in game 6.
Last night, Gustav Forsling scored in the last two minutes of regulation time, lifting Florida (Panthers) (2-1) at Boston, their 6th straight ‘offs win at Boston over the last 2 years, thus eliminating the Bruins (the Bruins have but one title in 51 completed seasons ’73-2024 after winning 2 titles in 3 seasons, doing so in ’70 and ’72. They also won 2 crowns in the first 3 seasons of best of 7 NHL final rounds, doing so in ’39 and ’41, before not winning another until 1970) for the second straight season.
Last season, Florida was a huge underdog vs a record breaking Bruins team. This year with home ice a factor, they were pretty big series favorites vs Boston.
Meanwhile the Dallas Stars also won (2-1) in a series clinching road game 6, their win at Colorado (Avalanche), in 2 overtimes, on Matt Duchene’s goal.
6 of the 8 NHL “quarters” entrants have/had lost in their last NHL final and now all 5 remaining teams have final round loss skeins.
Carolina (’06) and Colorado (’22) won in their last final round series and in fact are a combined (4-1) in final round play with Colorado (3-0).
Neither Florida (0-2) or Vancouver (Canucks) (0-3), the latter leading Edmonton (Oilers) 3 games to 2, with #6 at Edmonton tonight, has ever won the crown.
The Panthers failed to “title” in their first 29 completed seasons (’94-2023) while “Van” failed to raise the Cup in their first 52 completed seasons (’71-2023).
Twice the Canucks lost the final in 7 games (the other final round loss was to a third straight New York Islanders title team in ’82), those to the Rangers in ’94 and the Bruins in 2011.
Both the Rangers and the now eliminated Bruins lost in their most recent final rounds, the Rangers in 2014 and the Bruins in both 2013 and 2019, the latter in a home game 7 vs the St. Louis Blues.
Edmonton “sandwiched” 5 Cup wins (’84,’85, ’87, ’88, and ’90) in between final round losses in ’83 and 2006, the latter in game 7 at Carolina.
Current Dallas Stars player, Matt Duchene, pictured above as a member of the Colorado Avalanche, scored, as cited above, to end Colorado’s season.
It is noteworthy that both the Stars and Panthers won all 3 road games in their quarterfinal series. The Rangers went (2-1) in “quarters” road games with “Van” hoping to do the same in tonight’s game 6 at Edmonton.
“Patriots,” currently playing at the legendary, beautiful and named honoring a great, Ethel Barrymore Theatre through June 23rd, is an outstanding, largely true depiction of events in Russia nee The Soviet Union nee Russia.
Certainly the events are historic, particularly so, concerning Russia, as is the situation involving another excellent Broadway show, “Lempicka” and the Showtime series, “A Gentleman In Moscow.”
In Patriots, the acting is superb from all and beyond so, from the leads Michael Stuhlbarg (speaking of “Showtime” “Jimmy Baxter” on Your Honor and Arnold Rothstein on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire) as Boris Berezovsky and Will Keen as Vladimir Putin.
I cite four more terrific performances with again the whole cast bringing the largely true story to life very effectively.
Luke Thallon, Stella Baker, Rosie Benton, Jeff Biehl, are the four additional, excellent performers cited.
The play was written by Peter Morgan and directed by Rupert Goold.
Click below for tickets information, including that which details how to purchase such.
Patriots on Broadway | Official Broadway Tickets
Left to right, (interesting terms regarding Russia) are Michael Stuhlbarg and Will Keen, each brilliant, as Boris Berezovsky and Vladimir Putin respectively.
Five games into both Dallas current playoffs teams quarterfinal series, the (Great Friday night CBS show with Larry Hagman’s seminal performance as “J.R.”) teams lead 3 games to 2.
In both the Dallas Mavericks/Oklahoma City Thunder NBA “quarter” and the same round, NHL Dallas Stars/Colorado Avalanche, the first 5 games were played on the same day, with only the Saturday May 11th, third games having complete time separation.
Contrast that with the 3 other cities with a team in both the NHL and NBA playoffs, (New York, Boston and Denver,Colorado/Denver/Colorado) whose team’s 10 quarter, minimum 12 and maximum 14 games have all been or would be, contested on separate nights/days from the city’s other ‘offs team.
The ‘Lanche (3-0) in final round play (an ad said “finals” as), which I believe, is second only to the Chicago Bulls, (remember Mr. Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman/Horace Grant among others including 13 time NBA champion, (11 as a coach, 2 more than Arnold “Red” Auerbach) Phil Jackson) made 6 NHL semi-final rounds in their first 7 seasons in Colorado as they moved from Quebec where they were the Nordiques, for the ’96 season, but only one in the 20 completed NHL seasons (’03-2023, with no season in ’05).
That “semis app” was in 2022 when they won their third Stanley Cup, having done so in ’96 and ’01.
I believe there have been two “semis” clashes between the Avalanche and Stars (they were in ’99 and 2000), each resulting in 7th game, home Stars’ wins.
The ‘Lanche (2-4) in those 6 semis from ’96-2002, lost to eventual Cup winning Detroit (Red Wings) twice (’97 and ’02) while the Stars “titled” in ’99 but lost in the 2000 NHL Final.
The video above pays tribute to a great Avalanche player, Joe Sakic as well as the legendary “Hockey Night In Canada,” broadcaster, Bob Cole, (it is his play by play, with I believe Harry Neale providing commentary) who died recently at age 90.
Both NBA conference “2” seeds, the defending champion, Denver Nuggets, who lost the first two games at home and the New York Knicks who won 2 such games, took (3-2) quarterfinal series leads vs Minnesota (Timberwolves) and Indiana (Pacers) respectively, getting 40 or more point(s) #5 performances from 3 time NBA regular season MVP, Nikola Jokic and Jalen Brunson, the latter’s 5th such in these ‘offs, the most since Leb James had 8 in 2018.
Denver bidding to become just the 6th NBA team to overcome a (2-0) series deficit with the first two losses at home, will try to clinch the series tomorrow night in Minnesota.
Friday night, the Knicks and Pacers, who played Friday night games 6, four times in 5 ‘offs series, doing so in ’94,’95,’99 and 2000 with the road team prevailing thrice, play another such games 2 nights hence.
The Knicks forced a game 7 with #6 wins at Indiana in both the ’94 and ’95 semi-final round, winning #7 at home in ’94 and losing it in ’95. They clinched the ’99 semi in 6, with a home Friday night win vs “Indy” in ’99 but lost a #6 Friday night home tilt, as Indiana clinched their still lone NBA final berth (this is their 48th NBA season) in 2000.
Nikola Jokic, pictured above.
Six cities/areas had at least one team in both the NHL and NBA playoffs in 2023. This year again there are six, five being the same city/area.
Last year, the New York/New Jersey area had 5, the NHL Devils, Rangers and Islanders as well as the NBA Knicks and Nets. This time, the Rangers (currently up (3-2), but once (3-0) in the “quarters” vs Carolina (Hurricanes), the Knicks tied (2-2) vs Indiana (Pacers) and the Islanders, ousted by Carolina in the first round qualified for the ‘offs.
In both 2023 and 2024, Los Angeles had 3 teams in the ‘offs, the NBA Clippers and Lakers joined by the NHL Kings. Only the ’23 Lakers, swept by Denver (Nuggets) in the semis, made it past the first round, (one for six) in the 2 seasons.
Last year Boston, had the top ranked NHL and second ranked NBA teams, the Bruins and Celtics respectively. Miami with the NHL Panthers and NBA Heat, Denver with the defending NHL champion Avalanche and NBA West top seed Nuggets and Minnesota with the NHL Wild and NBA Timberwolves, each had one team, their lone such team in both league’s playoffs.
This time Boston, Denver/Colorado and Miami/Florida again had both their winter sports teams qualify for the ‘offs while Dallas replaced Minnesota as a city/area with 2 ‘offs teams.
Last year Denver ended up with another “winter sports” title as the NBA Nuggets won it all.
In 2022, their NHL team, the Colorado Avalanche won the requisite 16 playoff games and raised Lord Stanley’s Cup as NHL champions.
Let’s see what happens in 2024. More details on these ‘offs are forthcoming.
Click below and view John Denver performing “Rocky Mountain High” at one of his concerts.
Mr. Denver dying years back remains a great loss. He was a great performer.
Six of the eight NBA and NHL quarterfinal series currently stand (2-1), one was (3-0) now (3-1), the other is (1-1).
In the N.B.A. , all four “quarters” are (2-1), with home advantage teams, the top ranked Boston Celtics and East second seed New York Knicks ahead, vs the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers respectively, while sans home advantage, Dallas (Mavericks) vs West top seed, and Oklahoma City (Thunder) and Minnesota (Timberwolves) against defending champion (Denver) also have the aforementioned (2-1) quarterfinal series leads.
In the N.H.L. , The President’s Trophy winning New York Rangers got an overtime goal from Artemi Panarin to win #3 at series favorite/lower seed Carolina (Hurricanes) to go up (3-0) and now lead (3-1), while the home advantage team/ big series underdog, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers exchanged one goal wins in “Van,” and now go to Edmonton, with their “quarter” tied (1-1).
Both the Florida Panthers vs the Boston Bruins and Dallas Stars vs Colorado (Avalanche) bounced back to win games 2 and 3, the latter on the road after dropping game 1 at home.
Speaking of home losses, 29 of the 32 ‘offs teams have already lost at home in these ‘offs.
The Orlando Magic will not, but were eliminated in the first round in an all home team wins series, by Cleveland (Cavaliers), leaving the aforementioned top ranked New York Rangers and Indiana Pacers, each (4-0), as the lone undefeated teams at home, with no team unbeaten home and away in these ‘offs.
The Celtics, by far the most likely NBA team to advance, despite another #2 series/home loss that yielded “balloons,” once had 16 of the NBA’s 40 crowns (1947-1986) but have won only one, that in ’08 in the 37 completed NBA seasons since that time.
Why Moses Malone, who died far too young at age 60, beside the fact he was an NBA great?
The Celts pattern in their series vs big underdogs, Miami (Heat) and Cleveland (Cavaliers) evokes memories of the ’81 NBA final when they 6’d Houston (Rockets) and the great Mr. Malone.
Then as in the 2 series these 43 years later, Boston eased in game 1 at home but lost #2 only to win easily in a Saturday game 3 on the road.
There is mucho I can type and same regarding literal and figurative tears, however, let’s keep it about great players dying, tops or near so at their positions, as is the case with SF #37, defensive back Jimmy Johnson, who died days back, at age 86.
Johnson was a first team NFL All Pro selection for 4 straight seasons (’69-’72) and had many other honors. The real often unseen and unheralded greatness of Johnson at his position was he was so respected, teams rarely threw at him or in his direction.
Maybe, right now Jimmy and his great brother Rafer Johnson, who died 4 years ago along with Rafer’s competitor and more important, friend C.K. Yang, Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson and Marty Glickman are discussing that when (my) so called internet “homepage” opened, it did so with a picture of the let’s face it, far more famous football coach, Jimmy Johnson in regard to a Hall of Famer dying.
The Niners Jimmy Johnson played 16 seasons, two on offense, and as stated above but worth repeating regarding this wonderful defender, was so great, that teams did not throw vs him very often, if at all. In the words of SF quarterback, John Brodie ask the top ones of the day, Bart Starr and John Unitas about that.
In later years he had a cast on his arm making him even more intimidating great!
Within a year, the two best running backs in my opinion, but if you count college barely arguably, Jim and O.J. and now another with J, two J’s, Jimmy Johnson, who was as great as any defensive back, have died.
C.K. Yang and Rafer showed great sportsmanship, the friends embracing after Rafer won the decathalon, with Yang second, at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
In my 1986 interview with the great broadcaster, Marty Glickman, himself denied an Olympics opportunity by complicity to the host country and its leader’s horrible actions and feelings regarding Jewish people (talk about understating it!!), lamented the 1980 and 1984 Olympic boycotts, by the U.S. and Soviet Union respectively.
The comradery and sportsmanship of Yang and Rafer were cited by me. Marty liked that.
Few know it and the greatness of Jimmy Johnson # 37, (in those days I and many like me, knew the #’s and adored a far less exposed football) is incredibly understated.
Two more greats, the aforementioned Bart Starr and John Unitas might be saying– Jimmy Johnson can play in our game up here, but we are still not going to throw at him or even in his direction very often, if at all!
Left to right, above Jimmy Johnson #37 defending vs the fine receiver, #18 Ben Hawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles and alone.
Sadly Ben Hawkins, (I think you can see he played without snapping in his chin strap, another wonderful memory/trivia note), died far too young at age 73. He might be in that game up there as well.
Last night the two NHL ‘offs tilts resulted in (4-3) overtime scores, while much more improbably, the two NBA games manifested in 95 points scored by the losing team with 120 and 117 by the respective winning teams.
“The President’s Trophy winning New York Rangers rose to (6-0) in these playoffs, overcoming a meaningful deficit, in fact (2-1) and (3-2), after leading (1-0), for the first time, on Chris Kreider’s tying goal before winning in the second overtime to go up (2-0) vs the series “faves, the Carolina Hurricanes.”The President’s Trophy winning New York Rangers rose to (6-0) in these playoffs, overcoming a meaningful deficit, in fact (2-1) and (3-2), after leading (1-0), for the first time, on Chris Kreider’s tying goal, before riding Vincent Trocheck’s winning goal in the second overtime, to go up (2-0) vs the series “faves, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Meanwhile in the Western Conference ‘offs, the 2022 champion Colorado Avalanche overcame a (3-0) deficit after one period while the game was on the backup channel, and roared back to hand the West top seed and overall second such, Dallas Stars, their 6th consecutive series opening game defeat.
The great player, Nathan MacKinnon tied the game in the third period, before Miles Wood won it in the first overtime.
Both NBA conference top seeds cruised in their “quarters” openers, the heavily favored, top ranked Boston Celtics (120-95) vs approximate, 10 to 1 series underdog, Cleveland (Cavaliers), while the Oklahoma City Thunder, only very slight series favorites, won (117-95) vs the Dallas Mavericks, as both Dallas ‘offs teams lost last in their “quarters” opening games.
Vincent Trocheck, pictured above.
Both the Sunday home teams, the NHL Dallas Stars, who had lost the first two games at home vs the defending champion, Las Vegas Golden Knights and Cleveland Cavaliers in an all home series vs the Orlando Magic, advanced to the quarterfinal round, with game 7 wins.
The Stars won a series for just the second time after losing its first two tilts, the previous one in their first NHL series, an NHL “quarter”/expansion Western Division semi-final vs the L.A. Kings in 1968.
Five “quarters” games have been played thus far and the big story is that the Minnesota Timberwolves won both games at defending champion, Denver, the second one last night in a devastating (104-80) rout.
That result, among “else,” means the defending champions lost on 3 straight nights.
The Golden Knights were eliminated in a (2-1) loss and after winning the first two at Dallas, vs the Stars nee Minnesota North Stars. Denver now after losing the first two games at home goes to Minnesota for games 3 and 4 vs the Timberwolves.
Elsewhere, Jalen Brunson joined Mr. Jordan and Bernard King, behind only Jerry West (6) (please Brian Anderson, cite him as Jerry West not as “The logo,”) with a 4th straight 40 or more points playoffs tilt in a (121-117) Knicks “quarters” opening game win vs Indiana (Pacers).
The game 1 winner won all 7 previous Pacers/Knicks series, “Indy” 4 times all in best of 7 series, (once in a “semi” before being 6’d by the first of 5 Kobe Bryant Lakers’ title teams) and the Knicks thrice, twice in semis, before title round losses in ’94 (alas O.J. ran so well in football, “ran” in ’94 with both the Knicks and eventual champion New York Rangers making big ‘offs “runs” and these 30 years later, the Knicks and Rangers are up (1-0) in their “quarters,” already qualifying as an ‘offs “RUN.”
While the aforementioned Rangers scored 4 goals, never trailing and holding off series favorite, but lower seed, Carolina (Hurricanes) in their late Sunday afternoon opener, the Bruins again down (1-0) won (4-1) at Florida vs the Panthers in their quarterfinal series opening game.
In that only other Stars, then the North Stars and Minnesota based, series win after losing the first two games, it was Cesare Maniago, pictured above in goal for the franchise.
Once again and for the fourth consecutive series, the Boston Bruins won a home 7th and deciding game vs the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Last night’s game was the third straight (2-1) game, a second into overtime and the first one Boston won but win they did, as David Pastrnak, an interview subject just before the game (the sound you hear is Vince Lombardi rolling over in his grave, but alas, one must adapt, (see or read Mr. Darwin) even to the lesser, it would appear) scored in the first two minutes of overtime.
Hampus Lindholm was another game star, scoring the so important tying goal just 1:21 after Wil Nylander “opened” for the second straight game, doing so just shy of the third period’s halfway point, and setting up Pastrnak’s “gamer,” with a diagonal play that was both beautifully executed, however, aided by bad “Tor” defense and goaltending.
Lindholm is not related to the Canucks’ Elias Lindholm, the latter a subject of trade rumors to the Bruins. Another Bruins/Canucks link, each in the “qtrs,” for the first time since Boston won another game 7, that one in Vancouver, to claim their lone crown in the last 50 completed NHL seasons (1973-2023, with no NHL season in 2005).
It was only game 1 of their NBA quarterfinal series , however, after Anthony Edwards hit for 43 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves win at defending champion, Denver (Nuggets) (The Nuggets are just (2-4) ATS in these ‘offs), the series is now considered even, odds wise (maybe not so wise?!).
Meanwhile another Minnesota “T” team, the Twins have reeled off 12 consecutive wins and stand at (19-13), second to (21-12) Cleveland (Guardians) in the surprisingly 4 teams over .500 (the White Sox are (6-26) A.L. Central Division (“Cleve” was denied most March/April wins, dissipating late inning leads, in their April 28th and 30th games, the latter when pinch-hitter Victor Carantini lashed a 2 out, 2RHR lifting Houston (10-9) over the Guardians of Cleveland, which among other things, denied the so often winning, Gill Alexander a 65:1 “most March/April” wins and apparently his VSiN audience, finally learning the location of his/a great sushi establishment, in Sin City/Las Vegas.
Anthony Edwards, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 