NHL 1st Round Recap: Islanders beat Florida, Rangers heading home early

For the first time since 1993, the Islanders are going to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Last night, New York beat the Florida Panthers by the score of 2-1 in a double-overtime showdown. The game ended in perfect fashion with captain John Tavares scoring the winning-goal in front of thousands of fans at the Barclays Center. 

Tavares after his double-overtime goal last night

Tavares, who also scored the team's game-tying goal with less than 1 minute remaining in the third period, talked to reporters after the game. He said "It's hard to even believe it's over. It was hard fought, give Florida a ton of credit; it was a heck of a series. Every game was tight."

Full-Round Recap: 

Game 1: Islanders W 5-4 @ Panthers

Game 2: Islanders L 1-3 @ Panthers

Game 3: Islanders W 4-3 in O/T vs. Panthers

Game 4: Islanders L 2-1 vs. Panthers

Game 5: Islanders W 2-1 in O/T2 @ Panthers

Game 6: Islanders W 2-1 in O/T2 vs. Panthers

Sunday's game gave a glimpse at the Islanders' resiliency and maturity as a group. The most nerve-wracking play came when the Panthers had possession with the Islanders net empty. Nick Leddy stood in front of the goal area and properly blocked a wrist shot by Aaron Ekblad. He then helped take the puck up the ice, which led to an eventual goal by Tavares. 

Exhaustion was key in this game for both teams. Tavares said he felt his legs cramping up, and if he hadn't scored off Kyle Okposo's rebound, he wasn't sure if he would have been able to continue. Tavares ended the game with 34:49 minutes on the ice. Leddy finished with 39:12, and defenseman Travis Hamonic ended with 39:06. 

Greiss has been very impressive for the Islanders

Also, what a game (and series) from goalie Thomas Greiss. The 30 year old backup had 41 saves in Game 6, and finished with his second-straight double overtime win. "He played great,"  coach Jack Capuano said. "What we were up against with the team that they have, to win series your special teams and your goaltending have to be really good... Thomas made some big saves and kept us in it."

Capuano also acknowledged what this win meant for the organization, and how far this team had to come to get to this point. He said "We went through the rebuilding stage with a young hockey club and went through some tough times, we knew eventually we'd get to this point. I can't be more proud of the group that we have, led by our captain."

The Islanders took a huge stride in their franchise history last night, and they will look to push forward en route to the Stanley Cup. Next up is the Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished in the 2nd seed in the Atlantic Division, and defeated the Red Wings 4-1 in the first series. 

The Islanders-Lightning series has not yet been given a schedule start date, but Tampa Bay will be given home advantage for Games 1 and 2 as they had a higher seed ranking. Keep an eye out for my series preview.

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Hank will have to wait another year to get that first ring

Unlike the Islanders, the Rangers playoff run was cut very short this year after they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games. The entire series was a struggle from the very start for New York, and goalie Henrik Lundqvist did not get enough defensive support to do his part. In fact, Lundqvist came into the game with a career record of 15-4 in his last 19 starts with his team facing elimination. 

The team was outworked, out-skated, and embarrassed by the Penguins in all five games, and the aforementioned Lundqvist allowed 10 goals on the final 41 shots against him. While one could argue that it was not entirely his fault, it does not take away the fact that this was a demoralizing defeat, one that raises big questions about the team's future.

Full-Round Recap:

Game 1: Rangers L 5-2 @ Penguins

Game 2: Rangers W 4-2 @ Penguins

Game 3: Rangers L 3-1 vs. Penguins

Game 4: Rangers L 5-0 vs. Penguins

Game 5: Rangers L 6-3 @ Penguins

The current core had a solid run, winning eight playoff series and making three appearances in the conference finals over the past four years before this season. While they never successfully won a Stanley Cup, it was not for their lack of trying. 

The front office consistently sought after the big fish on the free agent and trade market, sacrificing four first rounders and five seconds along with Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Anthony Duclair, and Aleksi Saarela to acquire proven veterans such as Rick Nash, Marty St. Louis, Keith Yandle, and Eric Staal to give the team an extra boost to put them over the hump. 

These moves now put the Rangers in a tough predicament, as they are now the oldest team in the league, with the average age of 28.23, and the organization is bankrupted by the win-now moves that were previously mentioned. The league is getting younger and faster, so the Rangers are certainly trending downward in that department. 

The Rangers do have some youth talent, such as Brady Skjei and Dylan McIlrath, and they should give both a larger commitment next season. This means they should cut ties with aging veteran Dan Boyle, who now stands at 39 years old, and is an unrestricted free agent once the season comes to a close. 

Yandle may be playing for another team next season as well, although he had an excellent season, posting the most assist by a New York defenseman since Brian Leetch. Yandle will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it is expected that teams will line up to bid for his services. He is likely to get a larger offer than anything that the Rangers can offer, unless they cut ties with Dan Girardi or Marc Staal. 

Could we see Buchnevich in NY next season?

Eric Staal, acquired from the Hurricanes at the trading deadline, will probably not return to the Big Apple. Staal was extremely ineffective down the stretch, and may see himself taking a one year deal over the summer to reestablish his value. It is also expected that Dominic Moore and Viktor Stalberg move on as free agents. One of these roster spots could go to top prospect Pavel Buchnevich, whose KHL contract expires next week. 

The Rangers still have a piece of their core that is in tact. Mats Zuccarello, who is coming off a career season, is still only 28, and same with Derick Brassard. Derek Stepan is 25, Chris Kreider is 24, and J.T. Miller is 23. It is not an elite core, but could compete as the organization tries to replenish the system. 

There are some questions about head coach Alain Vigneault as well. He has been a huge part of the team's success in the recent years, but deserves some share of the blame for this year's failures as well. If he gets another chance next season, expect him to be on a very short leash. 

David isn't done just yet

David Wright has been an icon for the Mets ever since he put on the uniform in 2004, but his career hit a rough patch last season when he suited up for just 38 games. Wright faced a severe injury that many thought would force an early retirement for the 33 year old third baseman. 

In the short sample size last year, Wright hit .289/.379/.434 with 5 HR and 17 RBI, proving that he is still very capable of putting up above-average numbers when healthy. That notion has continued so far this season, as he has hit .279/.404/.512 with 2 HR in 11 games so far. 

While Wright's numbers have declined to the point where we may never see another 30-30 season again, many seem to still have confidence that he will provide a solid presence in the lineup, including myself. 

Two nights ago, after Wright hit two home runs against the Phillies, manager Terry Collins had some words to say about the team's captain. Collins said "Star players should never surprise you with what they can do. They do things that capture your attention and he's dangerous here."

Wright's condition, spinal-stenosis, has been well-documented as something that may be with him for the rest of his life. In response to that, he has undergone copious amounts of training and preparation before each and every game. To me, this makes his bounce back so much more unique, as he isn't going through normal wear and tear that a veteran player would deal with. 

Of-course, Wright will be given periodic days off to ensure that he doesn't aggravate the injury, but so far so good. The team hasn't given a game expectation for him just yet, but as a fan I would be thrilled if we can get 120-130 games out of him.

Keep in mind that David is under contract for the next four seasons after this one, so the Mets absolutely have to hope that his back stays in good shape, or else his tenure with the team could be tainted. 

It is a complete shot in the dark to predict what his end-of-the-year numbers will look like, but judging on his track record, I would be happy with .280/.350/.470 with 10-15 HR and 70 RBI out of the two spot in the lineup. 

Defensively, it is clear that his gold glove day are behind him. While he still has a good amount of range for someone his age, his arm strength has significantly gotten worse, making the once-called "easy out" just a little bit more difficult. 

Wright will probably always be my favorite Mets player, as I grew up with him being the young-stud of a Mets team that was trying to find their way. Admittedly, It will not be easy for me when he retires from the game, but hopefully we are looking a few years down the road, and not anytime soon. 

2015-2016 Nets Season Review

As predicted by many, the Brooklyn Nets finished very poorly in the 2015-2016 campaign. The team limped to the finish line with a 10 game losing streak to close out the year, and unfortunately things are not looking too great for owner Mikhail Prokhorov and company. In this article, I will do my season review for the Brooklyn Nets. 

Final Record: 21-61

Winning %: .256

Home Games: 14-27

Away Games: 7-34

Individual Statistic Leaders: 

Games Played: Bojan Bogdanovic (79), Shane Larkin (78), Wayne Ellington (76)

Points: Brook Lopez (20.6), Thaddeus Young (15.1), Sean Kilpatrick (13.8)

Rebounds: Thaddeus Young (9.0), Brook Lopez (7.8), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (5.3)

Assists: Jarrett Jack (7.4), Donald Sloan (4.4), Shane Larkin (4.4)

Steals: Thaddeus Young (1.5), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (1.3), Shane Larkin (1.2), Chris McCullough (1.2)

Blocks: Brook Lopez (1.7), Henry Sims (1.0), Willie Reed (0.8)

Free Throw %: Sergey Karasev (.929) Sean Kilpatrick (.898), Jarrett Jack (.893)

Field Goal %: Willie Reed (.571), Thaddeus Young (.514), Brook Lopez (.511)

Minutes Per Game: Joe Johnson (33.9), Brook Lopez (33.7), Thaddeus Young (33.0)

Biggest Surprise: Thaddeus Young

Honorable Mentions: Bojan Bogdanovic, Sean Kilpatrick

When the Nets acquired Young in Februrary 2015, it was strictly a salary dump on the part of the T-Wolves. Young was a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Nets were looking for someone to take aging veteran Kevin Garnett off their hands. 

While he had a solid track record of success with Philadelphia, many believed that he may had hit a decline earlier than anticipated. After averaging 13.8 PPG for Brooklyn in 28 games last year, the team re-signed him to be their power forward for the foreseeable future. This past year, he was arguably the team's MVP on the offensive side and defensive side of the court. The only cause for concern is his declining 3 point percentage, which sat at a minuscule .233 % last season. 

If the Nets are serious about rebuilding their ballclub, they should seriously consider offloading Young to acquire future assets. As a team that has traded away countless draft picks, specifically the Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce deals, they may be able to snag a late-first rounder for the 27 year old Young. The time to trade him would be now, as his value is as high as it's ever been. 

Biggest Disappointment: Jarrett Jack

Honorable Mention: Andrea Bargnani, Lionel Hollins (Fired Jan. 2016)

Jack had a fantastic season for the Nets, but it was cut short due to a torn ACL and MCL that he sustained in early January. The disappointment was not necessarily as a result from poor play, rather a missed opportunity by Brooklyn. 

To give perspective, Jack was averaging 12.8 PPG, 7.4 AST, and shooting 89% from the free throw line before getting injured. He would have been a very solid trade chip for Brooklyn, and as said before, they could definitely use some of those. The point guard will now miss a significant portion of next year, but with a strong comeback, may be able to rejuvenate his trade value. 

Pending Free Agents:

• Sergey Karasev (Restricted Free Agent)
• Henry Sims (Unrestricted Free Agent)
• Donald Sloan (Unrestricted Free Agent)
• Markel Brown (Restricted Free Agent)

In case you missed it, check out my 2015-2016 Knicks Season Review.

2015-2016 Knicks Season Review

The Knicks concluded their 2015-2016 season on Monday night when they lost to the Indiana Pacers. The team finished a season in which they started hot, but fizzled out a few months into the season. In this article, I will do my season review for the Knickerbockers.

Final Record: 32-50
Winning %: .390
Home Games: 18-23
Away Games: 14-27


Individual Statistic Leaders:

Games Played: Robin Lopez (82), Langston Galloway (82), Derrick Williams (82)

Points: Carmelo Anthony (21.3), Kristaps Porzingis (14.3), Arron Afflalo (12.8)

Rebounds: Carmelo Anthony (7.7), Robin Lopez (7.3), Kristaps Porzingis (7.3)

Assists: Carmelo Anthony (4.2), Jose Calderon (4.2), Langston Galloway (2.5)

Steals: Carmelo Anthony (0.9), Langston Galloway (0.9), Jose Calderson (0.9)

Blocks: Kristaps Porzingis (1.9), Robin Lopez (1.6), Kyle O'Quinn (0.8)

Free Throw %: Jose Calderson (.875), Lance Thomas (.857), Arron Afflalo (.840)

Field Goal %: (Min. 3 Games): Robin Lopez (.539), Kyle O'Quinn (.476), Jose Calderon (.459)

Minutes Per Game: Carmelo Anthony (35.1), Arron Afflalo (33.4), Kristaps Porzingis (28.4)


Biggest Surprise: Kristaps Porzingis

Honorable Mentions: Lance Thomas, Derrick Williams, Jerian Grant

Phil Jackson has loved Porzingis since day one. After being booed on draft night, the Latvian seemed to have a massive chip on his shoulder, and proved his worth almost instantaneously. In the first 20 games of his young career, he averaged 14.1 PPG, 9.4 REB, and shot almost 36% from the three point line.

During that span, he rejuvenated a fan base that was shell shocked by last year's trainwreck of a season. Porzingis morphed into a viral sensation that every New Yorker loved and embraced. Although he was expected to show promise, not many believed that he would provide such a profound impact in his rookie season.

The 7 foot 3 power forward finished the 2015-2016 season with 14.3 PPG, 7.3 REB, .333 3P%, and a .838 FT%, but will likely fall short to Karl Anthony-Towns of the T-Wolves in the Rookie of the Year award race. Porzingis showed many why the Knicks took him with their lottery pick, and will be a very nice building block for the team moving forward.


Biggest Disappointment: Derek Fisher

Honorable Mention: Kyle O'Quinn

In June 2014, the Knicks signed Derek Fisher to be their new head coach. They gave the long-time NBA guard a five-year, $25 million contract to lead their new-look team. At the time, it looked like a solid signing, as he was very familiar with the triangle offense, which is the playbook that Phil Jackson has notoriously used upon his players.

Fast forward to February 2016, where the Knicks lose 9 out of 10 games, and let Fisher go. Over one and a half seasons in New York, he put up an overall record of 40-96, and was replaced by Kurt Rambis.

The reason why he was a disappointment was not only his on-the-court actions, but other distractions such as an incident with forward Matt Barnes. In October 2015, Fisher got into an altercation with Barnes at the home of Barnes' ex-wife, and this lead to an insane amount of media attention.

It was never meant to be with Fisher, and now the Knicks enter the off-season with a major coaching decision to make. Do they bring back Rambis, sign an experienced coach like Mark Jackson or Tom Thibodeau, or take a shot in the dark with fan favorite Patrick Ewing?

Pending Free Agents:

• Arron Afflalo (Player Option)
• Derrick Williams (Player Option)
• Kevin Seraphin (Unrestricted FA)
• Langston Galloway ($2.7 Qualifying Offer)
• Lou Amundson (Unrestricted FA)
• Sasha Vujacic (Unrestricted FA)
• Cleanthony Early (Restricted FA)

In case you missed it, check out my Nets 2015-2016 Season Review

Recap/Playoff Preview for the Islanders and Rangers

The regular season of the NHL officially came to a close last night, and the Rangers and Islanders finished 4th and 5th in the Eastern Conference, respectively. The Rangers, who finished with 101 points, will square off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, April 13th at 8:00 pm Eastern. The Islanders ended the year with 100 points, and will face the Florida Panthers on Thursday, April 14th at 8:00 pm Eastern. 

Before we dive into the playoff preview, let's take a look at some of the end of the season statistics.

Starting with the Rangers, 

Games Played: J.T. Miller (82), Keith Yandle (82), and Mats Zuccarello (81)

Goals: Derick Brassard (27), Mats Zuccarello (26), Derek Stepan (22), J.T. Miller (22)

Assists: Keith Yandle (42), Mats Zuccarello (35), Derick Brassard (31), Derek Stepan (31)

Points: Mats Zuccarello (61), Derick Brassard (58), Derek Stepan (53)

+/- : Ryan McDonagh (26), Dan Girardi (18), Kevin Klein (16)

Shot Percentage: J.T. Miller (16.3), Mats Zuccarello (15.7), Derick Brassard (14.8)

Goals Allowed Per Game: Antti Raanta (2.24), Henrik Lundqvist (2.48)

Save Percentage: Henrik Lindqvist (.920), Antti Raanta (.919)

Brief Preview:

New York has gone deeper in the playoffs in each of Alain Vigneault's two seasons then they had in any of their previous 10 seasons. They got to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in the 2014 season, and Game 7 of the Conference Final last year. 

J.T. Miller had a breakout season for NYR

In order for the Rangers to win, they need Rick Nash to be effective, as well as mid-season acquisition Eric Staal, J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, and Chris Kreider. Brassard, Stepan, Zuccarello, and Fast have been relatively consistent this season, so it is vital that the team's aforementioned forwards step up their game. 

Right now, it is unclear whether captain Ryan McDonagh will play in the series, as well as defenseman Dan Girardi. In their place, the team will look to Marc Staal, Kevin Klein, Dan Boyle, or Keith Yandle to help pick up the slack. 

Of-course, Lundqvist needs to be at the top of his game, as the Penguins have some talented scorers. 

Speaking of those Penguins, they have had a whirl of a season. After starting the season 15-10-3, they fired coach Mike Johnston, and promoted former Rangers assistant Mike Sullivan to the position. Sullivan turned around the team, making them into one of the hottest in the league.

The headliner for Pittsburgh is still Sidney Crosby, who finished with 36 goals and 85 points after a very slow start. The organization also has star defenseman Kris Letang and speedstar Carl Hagelin, a former Ranger forward. 

Evgeni Malkin, who was one of Pittsburgh's consistent offensive threats, is recovering from an upper body injury that may keep him out for the entire first round. On the topic of injuries, their star goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, has been sidelined with a concussion. Fleury was replaced by backup Matthew Murray, who went 4-0-0 in his absence. However, Murray was injured in a collision on the ice this past Saturday, putting his status in question. 

Both Fleury and Murray's status for Wednesday are unknown, and if they cannot play it will put the position in the hands of third string goalie Jeff Zatkoff, who has made 35 career NHL starts in 3 seasons, going 16-14-3. 

Now, let's move to the Islanders

Games Played:  *TIED* Frans Nielsen (81), Nick Leddy (81), Brock Nelson (81), Josh Bailey (81), Nikolay Kulemin (81)

Goals: John Tavares (33), Brock Nelson (26), Kyle Okposo (22)

Assists: Kyle Okposo (42), John Tavares (37), Nick Leddy (35)

Points: John Tavares (70), Kyle Okposo (64), Frans Nielsen (52)

+/- : Johnny Boychuk (17), Nikolay Kulemin (13), Thomas Hickey (9)

Shot Percentage (Min. 70 games): Cal Clutterbuck (18.80), Brock Nelson (15.80), John Tavares (13.20)

Goals Allowed Per Game: Jaroslav Halak (2.30), Thomas Greiss (2.36)

Save Percentage: Thomas Greiss (.925), Jaroslav Halak (.919)

Brief Preview:

The Islanders, led by cornerstone piece John Tavares, are trying to end a long post-season drought. The team has clinched a playoff spot in 3 of the last 4 seasons, but have been unable to win a series since 1993. Coach Jack Capuano has won over 200 games since taking the position in November 2010, but his job may be in jeopardy if the organization cannot find a way past the Panthers. 

The Islanders are looking for their first series win since 1993

New York may begin the playoffs without their top defenseman, Travis Hamonic, due to a lower body injury that he sustained on March 31. Calvin de Haan was regarded as the team's most underrated defenseman this year, as he was among the NHL's top blockers. 

Not only if the team missing Hamonic, but they will be without star goalie Jaroslav Halak as he is out with a lower body injury as well. Halak is unlikely to come back unless the Islanders find a way past the first round. Despite this, backup Thomas Greiss has been solid all season long, and was arguably their most valuable player during the first half of the year. 

Postseason hockey always relies on strong goaltending, and this series won't be any different. Greiss, who has only participated in one career NHL playoff game, will need to step up big time if the Islanders have any chance of staying alive. 

The Panthers have been of the most surprising and exciting teams in the NHL this year. Led by Jaromir Jagr, Florida won the second division title in franchise history and is back in the playoffs for the first time in four years. 

Starting goalie Roberto Luongo, a former Islanders draft choice, turned 37 on April 4, but remained a top tiered goalie in the league. Backup goalie Al Montoya rebounded from a mediocre 2014-2015 season, so in the event of a potential Luongo injury, the Panthers are well equipped with a replacement. 

The trio of Jagr, Aleksander Barkov, and Jonathan Huberdeau (the latter two being acquired by the Devils in 2015) has dominated games with their ability to control the puck, combined with creative passing. 

Aaron Ekblad, the team's first pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, paired with Brian Campbell, are regarded as offensive-minded defenseman, and Ekblad's knack for shooting on the power play makes him a valuable commodity. 

Taking away some positives from Game One

Opening Night was frustrating. I will certainty not deny it. The Royals had swagger, were aggressive, and the Mets were caught napping for the first 7 innings or so of the ball-game. Whether it be the Royals knack for getting weakly-hit bloopers or the Mets' poorly timed errors, it looked like a repeat of the 2015 World Series. Despite this, I was able to locate some positives in last night's 4-3 loss. 

1. Michael Conforto

Man, how good did he look? 

As the DH, Conforto was replaced by Yoenis Cespedes in LF, a move that made sense as it allowed Juan Lagares to enter as the center fielder. Conforto, who had some big time home runs against the Royals last October, went 2-2 with 2 walks as well. The only downside was that he was caught stealing against Salvador Perez, but I loved the aggressiveness. 

Conforto is going to have a huge season. I'm cautiously optimistic about 25-plus home runs with a .275-.280 or so batting average. While I love Juan Lagares, there is no way that he and Conforto should platoon this season, as Michael has done nothing to prove that he CANNOT hit left handers just yet. 

2. Jerry Blevins

I understand it was only one appearance, but how big would it be for Jerry Blevins to have a full season of success this year? Of-course, the 32 year old broke his arm not once, but twice in 2015, and was brought back on a one year contract over the off-season. On Opening Night, Terry Collins gave him three batters to face, and he retired them all in order. 

One of the biggest problems for the Mets last year was a lack of a left handed reliever in the bullpen, so all eyes will be on Blevins to see if he can continue his solid, albeit brief, success for the team in 2015. 

3. The new double-play combo

Having Daniel Murphy and Wilmer Flores up the middle last season made it very difficult for the pitcher's to successfully generate double play ground balls. While neither Asdrubal Cabrera or Neil Walker have ever been regarded as excellent defenders, it was obvious that they were on the same page as they nonchalantly turned a few double plays to help out Matt Harvey big time. 

I love Flores and will always be a Murphy fan, but if the new duo can put up decent offensive numbers and do all the little things in the field, I would have no problem whatsoever with the infield changes that the Mets made in the off-season. 

4. The team was resilient

How many people shut off their TV after the Royals scored their fourth run? I know for a fact that I wanted to, but after last year, I knew that anything was possible. The Mets had an awesome 8th inning rally against Joakim Soria. 

It all started with a Juan Lagares single up the middle, and continued with Curtis Granderson walking. After David Wright struck out, Yoenis Cespedes followed with a walk of his own, and Lucas Duda came to the plate. Duda singled on a soft line drive to left field, scoring 2 runners. After this, Neil Walker grounded into a force out, but picked up an RBI as Cespedes scored on the play. 

Soria was clearly off his game, and the team took advantage. What stood out to me most was Neil Walker, as his hustle to first base kept the line moving and made it a one run game. 

I think that the Mets are going to show a lot of this grittiness in 2016 as they are full of veteran players who know how to do the little things in order to win ballgames.  

The next game is on Tuesday against Kansas City, with Noah Syndergaard facing off against Chris Young.