NEW YORK, NY – What a great time of year. Just as some parts of the cold Northeast saw their first snowfall, the sports world is heating up. The NFL is in full swing. The NBA and NHL have gotten into gear. And Major League Baseball is treating us to a gem of a World Series, in which one long-suffering fanbase will finally see their team hoist the trophy. But puck it; let’s start with hockey.
The New York Rangers are playing some fantastic hockey to start the campaign. They’ve won five of their first seven and have done so avec (for you French Canadiens) style. There have been two come-from-behind wins, including Wednesday night’s win over Cheesy Bruin’s improved Boston Bruins team. They are finding success with speed and a relentless offense. Rookie Jimmy Vesey has been a stud so far. He’s been getting a lot of ice time and making it count. Brandon Pirri has been a revelation also. The young centre (Canadian spelling) is a sharp-shooter and seems to score at will. He bulged the onion bag twice Wednesday night.
Chris Kreider has had a stellar start, playing an excellent two-way game. And the aforementioned Pirri and Vesey are two-way players, also. Mats Zuccarello, Derek Stepan, and Rick Nash have always been defensively responsible. A good 200-foot game has helped to protect the soft underbelly of the Rangers, which looks to be their defence (again with the Canadian spelling). But aside from shipping a goal ten seconds into Wednesday’s game and Lundqvist giving up a softie for the Bruins’ second, the Blueshirts defence has been fine. We’ll see how long that can hold up.
Meanwhile, King Henrik Lundqvist hasn’t seen a lot of action because the Rangers are not giving up many shots. It’s a sight to see after last year’s nightly shooting gallery. Here’s hoping the Blueshirts keep this level up through April and beyond.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9lh7mdekB_k
On to Baseball…
Tonight, we get back to baseball! With Game 3 of the World Series in the Windy City, it will be the first World Series game at Wrigley Field since the end of World War II, which hasn’t ended – according to conspiracy theorist West Coast Craig.
The series is knotted at one win apiece after the Indians’ and Corey Kluber put on a pitching clinic in Game 1 win and Jake Arrieta matched his performance for the Cubs in Game 2. The Cubbies have the better starting rotation but the Tribe are set to pitch Kluber on short rest in games 4 and 7.
I think this series goes the distance, with Chicago edging out Cleveland. It will be the first World Series for the Lovable Losers (sounds like a DJ Eberle team) since Teddy Roosevelt was in office and the Ottoman Empire was still around. But things could all go pear-shaped for the Wrigley denizens. The Indians are a formidable opponent and would be worthy champions.
Could the city of Cleveland celebrate their second title of the year next week??? We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, we give you Nilmarie Huertas, girlfriend of Francisco Lindor.
That’s it for me today. Come back tomorrow for Junoir Blaber… or someone cool.
