NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Happy Monday! I want to take a minute to extend my condolences to Tall Matt on the loss of his mom. This site is called Meet The Matts and Tall Matt is Chairman Emeritus. With that said, lets look at today’s menu: Hot NY Mets, NY Knicks and NY Rangers Win Game 1.
Hot NY Mets
Where do the NY Mets go for their apology? I am talking to you, You Suck! Well, maybe not an apology, as it’s a long season, but definitely no doom and gloom. The Mets went on a 6-game winning streak from last Sunday to this Sunday, losing one to the New York Yankees West aka the Los Angeles Dodgers. The loss denied them the sweep but they had already won the series. This puts them still 3rd in the East, 2.5 games behind arch-rival Atlanta. However, winning three five consecutive series including a sweep (vs the Pirates) put them on track to to climb out of that hole. They still need more consistent hitting and better base running, but the have the 6th best ERA – which offsets being at the top in starting pitcher walks. The key is the Mets are getting timely pitching and hitting while still waiting for their big stars to wake up.
Knicks win Game 1
The decision by the Knicks to focus on being the #2 seed and drawing a harder match-up was tested on Saturday. A couple of key players came up big for the Knicks. As expected Thom Thibodeau shortened his bench – and I remember having this discussion on here as to who would miss out. Thibodeau gave out DNP (Coach’s decision) to Jericho Sims, Alec Burks and to the surprise of many Precious Achiuwa.
On the 76ers side, Joel Embid Embiid may not be a 100 percent, but he is still a handful.
Since his return from injury, Mitchell Robinson has been coming off the bench but his played on Saturday got him twice as much minutes as Isiah Hartenstein. The only other subs were Deuce McBride, who was electric off the bench and makes the mid-season trades to free him up for more playtime look great, speaking of which one of the guys from that trade, Bojan Bogandanovich also had his jump shot working. In the starting line-up it was another massive performance by Josh Hart, who continues to pull a double double while being a guard playing power forward. OG Anunoby, a 3 and D, specialist was missing the 3 but helped with his D to try and contain Philly’s Tyrese Maxie. Maxie was handful for Anunoby and star guards Donte DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson. Maxie played almost a full game and led all scorers with 33 as he beat defenders with the ball and without the ball.
Thankfully the Knicks were able to keep it to just Maxie and Embid doing damaged as the rest of the Philly starters were in the teens and no one on their bench got in the teens. It is the ability to make Maxie and Embid work for their points while shutting down the rest of the team that will be the key to the Knicks winning this series.
Rangers win Game 1
The Rangers 4th Line would like you to know they are The Fourth Line and not just the checking line.Two goals from The Fourth Line of Matt Rempe, Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey were a key in the Rangers win over the Washington Capitals in Game 1. In 2:06 minutes the Rangers scored 3 goals and took a stranglehold of the game. Good work by Goodrow behind the goal found Vesey with the puck who found Rempe who scored his first playoff goal. 33 seconds later, Alexis “Lafy” Lafreniere found the Artemi “The Breadman” Panerin who found the net to end his playoff pointless streak, and extend the Rangers the lead.
The Fourth line was back at it again after Goodrow won a faceoff leading to a powerful slap shot goal for Jimmy Vesey. In a flash the Rangers were up 3-0, before the Caps scored a goal but then Mika Zibanejad found his old buddy Chris Kreider on a beautiful to give Kreider a breakaway against the goalie and a patient backhander with the goalie at full stretch led to the fourth goal. And that was how it stayed at the end of the third period, with the Rangers getting a big win at home to start the series.
Thanks for reading and come tomorrow to hear from the Juan Soto’s biggest fan, Ben Whitney.
