Lots has been happening in the sports world lately, so let’s get into it.
KNICKS: 17-39
The streak ended with a touph 140-135 2OT loss in Atlanta to the lowly Hawks in a game where the Knicks blew an 8 point lead in overtime with just over a minute to go , and couldn’t hit shots down the stretch in double overtime in a devastating defeat. A 114-96 home loss to the Wizards. It didn’t get much better after the all-star breaks the Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers at home 106-98 at MSG. They are now 17-39.
NETS: 26-29:
The big story is that Kyrie Irving is out for the year with a shoulder injury. But on the bright side the Nets have been winning lately, They ended the Raptors 15 game win streak right before the all star break, with a 101-95 win at Barclays Center. The game back from the break was a rough 112-104 OT loss to the 76ers, but it was nice to see a 46-10 run from these guys without Kyrie. This past Saturday night,(2/22), the Nets blasted away the Hornets 115-86, as they fight for one of the last playoff spots in the east.
RANGERS: 33-24-4
Ladies and gentlemen, we are in a playoff race! The big reason has been who else but rookie goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who is now 9-1 with 7 straight wins and has four 40 save wins in his pocket. The NYR have 8 of their past 10, and are 6-1 over the past two weeks, with wins over the Jets (4-1), Wild (4-3 in a shootout in where the Rangers rallied down 3-1, to force a shootout and won it with a nasty Artemi Pannarin goal, when he made the goalie go down on his stomach before lifting the puck over him), Blue Jackets (3-1, where George made 36 saves in his second straight win after defeating the Wild), Blackhawks (6-3), Hurricanes (5-2), and a home win against the San Jose Sharks 3-2 this past Saturday night (2/23).
The only loss came 3-1 at home against the best team in the NHL, the Boston Bruins (39-12-12) on Sunday (2/16), with the loss being charged to Alexander Georgiev.
The phenomenal play of Igor has reignited a spark in this Rangers team, as they currently are 4th in the wild card race, looking up at the Blue Jackets and Hurricanes who both have 74 points; while the Islanders hold the first WC spot with 76 points. The Rangers are 4 points back with 70, and take on the Islanders this Tuesday night (7PM) in Nassau Coliseum, with Shesterkin expected to make the start once agin for the Blueshirts.
ISLANDERS: 35-20-6
That 0-4 road trip, has significantly hurt the Isles, as they went from a race for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, to fighting for the top spot in the wild card race. To their credit, the Islanders rebounded with 4-1 home wins over the lowly Red Wings and Sharks, that has put themselves in a good spot ahead of their big clash on Tuesday night (2/25), against their red-hot rivals in the New York Rangers.
YANKEES: 0-2(Spring Training)
Luis Severino seems to be going on the shelf with an arm injury, but we will know more this week.
Oh, Spring Training has started and the Yankees, and they re 0-2. It’s fine considering that these games don’t count but here are my takeaways after seeing some prospects in there along with a small sample size of major leaguers, here is what I got:
1.JA HAPP LOOKS GOOD: Two perfect innings from him, looked really comfortable
2. YUMMY LAZANGA: With the 5th spot in the rotation up for grabs, Jonathan Losiga made a strong case for it with a strong inning of work over the weekend.
3.SCHDMIT, KING, ABREU IN ACTION: It was nice to see these guys in action, with Abreu being the only guy who didn’t fair too well as he gave up three runs in less than an inning of work.
4.ANDUJAR IS BACK!: He went deep and made a nice play at 3B, nice to see Miguel back after injuries sidelined him last season.
5. CHRIS GITTENS ON THE RISE: This guy has come out of nowhere with a HR, and 2 hits in the first two games of spring. He seems to have great operas the DH, so I’m curious to see how he fairs the rest of spring. He’s from double-A with the Trenton Thunder. Nice job so far Gittens!
6.FLORIAL CAN RUN: Estevan hustled from second to home to score a run like a speed demon.
7. AMBURGEY LOOKING GOOD: Minor leaguer OF, Trey Amburgey was impressive in his Spring Training debut, as he went 2 for3, with2 RBIS and a great play in RF nailing down a runner trying to stretch a single into a double. Nice job Trey!
METS: 0-2-1(Spring Training)
So far, Spring .Training has been about the starting pitching. Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz started the spring off great with some scoreless innings of work, while Rick Porcello was greeted with a HR to Cardinals youngster Harrison Bader on the second pitch of his outing. As for the offense, the first Mets HR of the Spring belonged to newcomer Jake Marisnick, who went deep on Sunday (2/23) to start off his Spring on the right note.
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