N.Y. Mets: The Confounding Michael Conforto Contract Crisis

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Steve Cohen 

vs. The Unknown Variable

Mighty Market Makers In Their Natural Habitat

It was the early 1990s, and baseball card fever was high.  I tried to get my hands on as many Todd Van Poppel and Ben McDonald cards as possible.  A kid named Chipper Jones and another pitcher named Darren Dreifort, in whom minor investments were also made.  Mining these prospects and others is how I first became familiar with super-agent Scott Boras.  I was lured in because whenever some highly touted amateur was about to go pro, Boras was on hand as lead and bold new principal on the scene establishing groundbreaking askings and making markets.  Therefore, I simply followed the money.

In the 2014 draft, the Mets selected one of Boris' clients with the tenth overall pick.  His name is Michael Conforto, who, after this upcoming season, becomes an unrestricted free agent.  Conforto is a huge fan favorite.  He is also the team's union representative.  This is to say Boras and Conforto potentially adhere to the same business model emphasizing player and salary advancement.  Chief among their negotiation articles is no retreat and no surrender along the salary front, only forward and upward movement.

As one of, if not the preeminent agent in the game, Boris has extracted billions of dollars out of MLB owner's bank accounts throughout this post-Marvin Miller era.  He firmly urges his clients to exercise their right to free agency.  In numerous instances, clients were encouraged to take the best offer available.  Robinson Cano is a recent example.  The Yankees made him quite the handsome offer, but Cano and his agent instead "settled" for Seattle's far more lucrative offer.  No need to revisit how that worked out, but it certainly speaks of standard operating procedures.

Boris, on occasion, has let clients dictate the location, meaning staying put in the only place they've known and grown to love.  A case in point is David Wright, who the Mets signed to the largest contract issued in team history.  Otherwise, Boris is agreeable only if the terms are relatively on par with current and projected market growth.

But whereas at least some measure of collective unity exists among (agents and) players, the MLB owner barons are their own worst enemy.  They've known this about themselves for 130 years.  This is nothing short of capitalism at work, wherein the open market is designed to set a worthy price.  If Team A is willing to compensate a player more than Team B, selling one's labor is simpler.  Hence, the extinct reserve clause.  Owners through the decades have often been suspected of colluding over certain collective bargaining issues, such as suppressing compensation.  Their problem is that one ever-present maverick owner refusing to play along and upends the buffet tables again and again.

And there's the rub ...

I am fearful of Scott Boris bringing Michael Conforto to the free-agent banquet and having some other organization sweeping in and making an offer they can't refuse (be it on a personal basis or for the betterment of players).  What will burn me more is if it's to a team that knowingly cannot afford him and will seek to trade said player within a few years - a scenario we've seen played out many times before.

Thus, there is no reason for debating Conforto's worth.  That's for Steve Cohen to decide.  He knows all about being a market maker.  But unlike Scott Boris, he lies on the bidder side of this transaction.  You or I could rationalize why Francisco Lindor deserves more money than Michael Conforto.  But Scott Boris can indeed convince some owners (sans Steve Cohen) why Michael Conforto is on the cusp of becoming the best baseball player.  You or I couldn't convince ourselves of that, I believe.

The questions beg to be asked: is Conforto a franchise player or someone who elevates the brand?  More importantly, what owner will value Michael Conforto in their uniform more?  This now seems more about needing to overpay if only to satisfy an increasingly itchy fanbase.

 

What I can say with some certainty is what the union has achieved for its past players laid the groundwork for today's players, which in turn benefits tomorrow's players, and so on.  

Michael Conforto shares an emotional connection with Flushing.  Francisco Lindor, not so much, or not yet.  And whereas Conforto has 2015 stamped on his Mets resume, Lindor's is yet to be written.

Unfortunately, hometown discounts under today's conditions are bad business. 

N.J. Devils: Mackenzie Blackwood Turns Away Bruins

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

Devils lead Bruins; 4-1

I - BOS 3; NJD 2*

II - NJD 2; BOS 1#

III - NJD 3; BOS 2

IV - NJD 1; BOS 0

V - NJD 1; BOS 0

*shootout

#overtime

Devils Extend Win Streak to Four Against Boston

Kyle Palmieri's goal at 16:37 of the first period holds up.  It was his seventh of the season.  He now has 16 points in 32 games making the Smithtown, Long Island, native a little more attractive to other teams as the NHL trade deadline approaches.  Since arriving from Anaheim, Kyle has touched or topped 20 goals in each of his first five seasons with the Devils.  Were it not for last year's pandemic shortened schedule, he was on pace for the second 30 goal season in his career but finished with 25 goals and 20 assists in 65 games.

Ty Smith's 17th assist ties his for team-lead with 19 points; Jesper Bratt picked up the second assist on Palmieri's goal.

Boston unleashed 40 shots on goal, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped them all for his first shutout of the season.  Nine saves came on special teams and 31 at even strength.  He made 17 saves in the third period but none more important than his kick-save with just seven seconds left in regulation - absolute thievery.  It's the Devils' second blanking of the Bruins.  Three weeks ago, Scott Wedgewood likewise shutout the Bruins in a 1-0 final.

The Devils and Bruins resume hostilities on Tuesday.  Afterwhich, Newark hosts the Washington Capitals.  The Devils are winless in six games this season against the Capitals.  However, they have now taken four of five games against the Boston Bruins.

Captain Nico Hischier remains out.  He has played just five games this season.  

Brooklyn Nets: The Beard Burns Rubber Through Motor City

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

The Motor City Madman

Excuse me; pardon me; The Beard coming through ...

James Harden essentially said I got this.  He was 14/30 from the field and 12/14 from the line and posted game-highs with 14 rebounds and eight assists.

And there's the rub ... distribution.  Harden wasn't much interested in sharing.  With Coach Nash implementing a nine-man rotation, no other Net attempted more than eight shots.  That was the cutoff point as five other players did indeed attempt eight shots apiece, but no more.

For a third time, Harden this season scores forty points or more.  It's his second time as a member of the Nets and the second time this month.  His 44 points Friday against Detroit match his season-high effort back on opening night while still with Houston.  

Steve Nash was in a sharing mood, as no player received any less than twenty minutes.  But whereas Harden clocked in a game-high 42 minutes, Jeff Green was next in with a comparatively paltry 30 minutes.

DeAndre Jordan was the only other starter to score double digits.  His ten points in 20 minutes were highlighted by a romp through the lane for a monster dunk.  He just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.  Blake Griffin has dunked more with the Nets than he has in the last fifteen months.  He was second to Harden with 17 points in 20 minutes off the bench.

It's hard picking on Joe Harris (this time) when no one else attempted more than eight shots.  But I was expecting more from Harris than what the Nets got on this now completed three-game road trip.  It started out well enough; he scored 17 points in 32 minutes during their four-point victory at Portland.  Then against the Jazz, poof!  After going 0/3 from the field in five minutes, he never saw the floor again. 

Otherwise, he capped off a ponderous trip with nine points in 29 minutes against the Pistons. 

Sean Marks strikes again.  Here comes LaMarcus Aldridge.  Defensive help at the center position is on the way.  All the Nets need is for the 15-year veteran to work together with Nicolas Claxton and DeAndre Jordan.

 

N.Y. Knicks: Down Goes Mitchell Robinson

From the desk: KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

MONDAY

HEAT

vs.

KNICKS

FROM

EIGHTH AVENUE GYM

THE HEAT IS BACK ON NERLENS NOEL

With Saturday's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Knickerbockers have now won three straight games for the fifth time this season.  Can they finally breakthrough with a fourth consecutive victory when they play the Miami Heat Monday night at the Garden?  

Miami enters Sunday's action eighth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 24-22 record.  The Knicks record is just the opposite.  In fact, they are now two games over .500 for the first and only time since Jan. 6, when they improved to 5-3 with a surprise twelve-point victory over the Jazz.  They're 6-4 in their last ten and are one of six Eastern Conference teams with a plus point differential.  The number four Charlotte Hornets and the Heat cannot say the same.

Just as Derrick Rose returned to the lineup after a bout with COVID, the Knicks will again be going forth minus the services of center Mitchell Robinson, who recently returned from surgery for a fractured hand.  He is a formidable presence in Coach Thibodeau's defense.  Midway through the first quarter of Saturday's game against the Bucks, on a play in which he caused a Milwaukee turnover,  Mitchell Robinson suffered a bad landing and hobbled off the court with a potential fracture/break of his right foot.

Having to deal with Brook Lopez and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Nerlens Noel was called upon again to pick up the slack.  He scored six points, but more importantly, secured a game-high eleven rebounds (five offensive), with three blocks and two steals in 31 minutes.

Also playing minus all-star Julius Randle, the Knicks held Milwaukee under 100 points en route to a four-point road victory.  Alec Burks and RJ Barrett each scored 21 points apiece.  Burks led the team with a plus-13 in 41 minutes.  Barrett led with seven assists.  Immanuel Quickley scored 13 points in 26 minutes off the bench.

N.Y. Rangers: Because Trading Brendan Lemieux is the Off-Broadway Thing To Do

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Nick Fotiu, Nick Fotiu,

Wherefore Art Thow, Nick Fotiu?

You can sum up the last fifty years of Rangers hockey this way: weak up the middle and lacking overall physicality and toughness.

If you're too young to remember the days of The Smurfs on Ice at Madison Square Garden, consider yourself lucky because it's this very condition that has frustrated Rangers fans for many, many decades.  Back in the day, Emile Francis ignored all the clamoring to beef up the roster, and it cost him and the organization at least one Stanley Cup and maybe even two.

History says the Rangers never draft big and refuse to toughen up.  When Mike Keenan arrived in town, he recognized this post-haste and effectively ordered general manager Neil Smith to change it, and he was right!  Of all people, I thought Jeff Gorton (who comes to the Rangers via the Boston Bruins) and John Davidson would understand this.  I thought the exit of Alain Vigneault finally signaled the end of it.  But shame on me.  Finesse still rules the day.

Once again, there goes the little bit of toughness and hard-nosed play the Rangers possessed. 

Extenuating circumstances around Saturday's trade of Brendan Lemieux to Los Angeles make this no less infuriating. 

Was Brendan Lemieux destined to remain with the Rangers beyond this season?  That very likely is a definitive no, thus rendering my words to a mere rant.  I get it; the Rangers wanted to make room for Vitaly Kravtsov who's KHL season just ended.  They come away from this with L.A.'s 2021 fourth-round draft pick.  

Lemieux certainly wasn't going to be protected for the Seattle expansion draft.  But will the Rangers use that pick to draft someone who isn't afraid to mix it up in the corners, win possession, and actually make a decent pass to the more skilled players who should be positioned in front (but can't fight their way through a wet paper bag)? 

And here I wanted to see Lemieux on the third line ...

Regardless, my point still holds true, now and moving forward.

Damn Smurfs!

N.Y. Rangers: Look What the Blueshirts Did to the Flyers, Again

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

THURSDAY

Rangers 8

Flyers  3

FINAL

That Piano Falling Out Of The Sky Has a Flyers Logo On It

Philadelphia is flying in a bad way.  Since returning to the ice on Feb. 18 from a four-game quarantine, the Flyers are 7-10-2 and fading fast.  

They were borderline eligible to play this game.  

Thursday's defeat against the Rangers was their fourth straight loss and fifth in their last six games.  Moreover, they've surrendered five goals or more in seven of 19 contests.  On March 17, the Rangers shut out the Flyers by a whopping 9-0 final; on Thursday, another lopsided 8-3 final score.  All told, the Rangers have taken two of three and outscored the Flyers through five games by a 27-14 margin.  For Philly, there's no hiding from the Rangers' 17-3 goal advantage in their last two games together.

Mika Zibanejad strikes again, with three power-play goals along with three assists for six points.  That makes twelve points in his last two games against the Flyers.

Otherwise, the Rangers scored three times in the first, three times in the second, and twice more in the third period.  Pissed off Pavel Buchnevich scored once at even strength on a second time while shorthanded just 0:33 seconds into the third period.  Ryan Strome actually opening the scoring at 8:01 of the first period en route to a four-point night, and my guy Brendan Lemieux assisted on K'Andre Miller's second-period goal.  Filip Chytil capped off the scoring with his fifth goal of the season.

Oh, and Adam Fox had five assists ... just saying.

The Rangers welcomed back goalie Igor Shesterkin who sustained a groin injury exactly three weeks ago.  He faced 44 shots on goal, making nine special team saves and 41 saves overall.

Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: The Dodgers, Springtime, and Brooklyn

From the desk: A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN

meets

BROOKLYN TROLLEY BLOGGER

with guest

ARMCHAIR DODGERS HISTORIAN

Rob Barnes

eighty-five minutes

Dodgers Town ~ Cherry Blossoms ~ Casey Stengel ~ Cuba ~ Spring Training

Duke Snyder and snakes ~ Pete Rieser ~ Jackie Robinson ~ batting helmets ~ Prospect Park Zoo 

tomatoes ~ Coney Island ~ gardening ~ Ernest Hemingway ~ Cuban X Giants

Brooklyn Nets ~ Brooklyn Americans ~ Brooklyn Cyclones

Flatbush Avenue and more Brooklyn!

Surging New Jersey Devils Set Sights on Washington

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

Flyers lead Devils; 2-1

I - PHI 5; NJD 3 

II - PHI 3; NJD 1

III - NJD 4; PHI 3

Storming the Capital ... Hockey Team of Washington D.C., That Is.  Tell Your Friends.

No one is trying to kid anybody.  The Devils, like the Rangers, are still a rebuilding club.  They place respectively seventh and sixth in the division as a direct result of Buffalo's ongoing implosion.  Otherwise, the Devils and Rangers would be fighting a four-point battle between seventh and last place.

Of course, with rebuilding come tempered expectations.  There is no need to tell Devils fans, who very recently suffered through a 4-10-2 stretch after the team's return from a mass observance of COVID protocol.  During that time, I remember P.K. Subban one night in post-game commentary saying (paraphrasing) that these Devils still had more learning to do.

The education continues, and Newark is suddenly trending with wins in four of their last five games versus the aforementioned moribund Sabres, two of three from the Penguins, and Tuesday's win against the flummoxed Flyers.  The regularly scheduled follow-up game against the Flyers had already been postponed due to COVID, this time affecting Philadelphia's camp.

Therefore, the Devils will re-engage the Washington Capitals in a back-to-back set on Thursday and Friday.  It will be interesting to see how the seemingly smarter and (moreover) healthier New Jersey rank and file measure up.  

The Devils this season are 0-4 against the Caps, getting outscored by an 11-17 margin.  But if the Devils are, in fact, trending in the right direction, and they have indeed finally shaken off the last remnants of COVID from their systems, then they just might be up for the task. 

🏒

On Tuesday, the Devils scored early and held on late to defeat the Flyers for the first time in three tries.  Michael McCleod opened the scoring midway through the first period.  After the Flyers tied the game, Kyle Palmieri put the Devils back ahead on a power-play goal with just 0:06 left in the period.  The second period was all Newark.  Goals from Yegor Sharangovich and Travis Zajac staked the Devils to a 4-1 lead.  Zajac similarly closed out the period with his fourth goal of the season with a mere 0:24 seconds showing on the clock.  The Devils then withstood two goals by Philadelphia, the second coming too late, by Sean Couturier at 18:58 of the third period.  

Rookie blueliner Ty Smith assisted on Newark's first and last goals, giving him 17 points in 20 games.

Mackenzie Blackwood faced 33 shots back in net, making nine saves on special teams and 30 saves overall.  He allowed one goal on the PK in the first and two goals at even strength in the third.

N.Y. Knicks: Julius Randle Part of NBA's Magnificent Seven

From the desk: KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

22-22 (.500)

Sixth Place

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Coach Thibs and the Time Bandits Turn Last Season Into a Distant Memory

Recent losses against the Sixers and Nets were just as meaningful as any of the Knicks' twenty-two victories to date.  That's how lively and competitive they've played under Coach Thibs.  

If you bet the over on the season's projected win total, then this is hitting the jackpot.  Lest we forget the Knicks last season finished with a 21-45 (.318) record.  On Tuesday, they achieved win number 22 of the season with 28 games still to play.  Defense is clearly leading the way.  The Knicks are the NBA's third stingiest team averaging 105.3 points allowed per game.  However, they also own a +0.3 point differential, which at this moment cannot be said of two other top-eight Eastern Conference teams.

After a quiet return to action on Sunday, Mitchell Robinson was 7/9 from the floor and 2/2 from the line for 16 points in 31 minutes off the bench.  He tied for a game-high twelve rebounds and blocked three shots.  I suspect he and Nerlens Noel will switch roles shortly.  

Alec Burks was 6/12 from the field and a perfect 6/6 from the line for 20 points in 29 minutes and Immanuel Quickley scored 14 points in a brief albeit efficient twelve minutes, both also off the bench.

Timing well with Mitch Robinson's return, Elfrid Payton was also back in action.  He slashed for seven points, five rebounds, four assists, with three steals and a plus-twelve in 21 minutes.  

Meanwhile, Derrick Rose remains out under COVID protocol - nine games and counting.

Otherwise, Coach Thibodeau in customary fashion made his starters earn their pay.  Julius Randle led the floor with 37 points on 13/24 from the field, 7/10 from behind the arc, and 4/5 from the line.  RJ Barrett was next in with 21 points and a team-high five assists in 39 minutes. 

Julius Randle is averaging 37.1 minutes per game, second only behind Brooklyn's James Harden who clocks in with a league-high 38.0 minutes per game.  Of the league's top thirty scorers, Julius Randle ranks #27 with 23.3 points per game but is one of only seven players in the top thirty averaging a double-double.  The other six are Joel Embiid, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, James Harden, Nikola Vucevic, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

It is said people are largely a product of the people they surround themselves with.  

Julius is keeping good company.

N.Y. Rangers: Best Hot Wing is Right Here in the City

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Upstate vs. Downstate

EMPIRE STATE PUCKS

Sabres  3

Rangers 5

FINAL

Artemi Panarin Governs Over Downstate Victory Over Western Neighbor

When you're in the midst of a season with no expectations, playing the Buffalo Sabres still comes with expectations.  It's called the food chain, and for the present time, the Rangers are two species up on the pecking order from Buffalo; 

... not to mention the Sabres are playing minus their injured center Jack Eichel.

When there are expectations, sometimes you're bound to be disappointed.  Yes, this implies the Rangers did something wrong.  A scoreless first period in any game is reasonable to expect.  But yielding the opening goal at 3:52 of the second period was somewhat deflating.  As per the cardinal sins of hockey, allowing a goal just over one minute into the third period was annoying.  Then ... then, allowing that game-tying goal just 3:13 minutes later was quite a disappointment.

What really has me incensed is Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapoo Kakko, all playing under 15 minutes.  The trio of Julien Gauthier, Kevin Rooney, and Brendan Lemieux also wasn't up to snuff.

Keith Kincaid faced only 16 shots, made three saves on special teams, but only 13 saves at even strength.  He nonetheless earns his second straight victory and still sports a representative 2.22 GAA through seven appearances.

Meanwhile, Artemi Panaris continues proving beyond a shadow of a doubt just how indispensable he is to the Blueshirts.  He elevates the team and those playing alongside him.  The Bread Man fueled Monday's second-period counterattack, then helped punctuate an unnecessarily hard-fought victory in the game's closing moments.  Panarin assisted on Kaapo Kakko's game-tying goal in the first.  Shortly thereafter, he assisted on Chris Kreider's power-play goal putting the Rangers ahead by one.

At 18:18 of the second period, Adam Fox gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead on feeds from Pavel Buchnevich and the surging Mika Zibanejad.

Chris Kreider also said to hell with all the complaining about his streakiness.  After Buffalo tied the game at three, Kreider restored the Rangers lead on feeds from Ryan Strome and Adam Fox.  

With under a minute left in the game, Artemi Panarin again factors in assisting Kaapo Kakko's second goal of the game and a 5-3 final margin of victory.

Panarin and Adam Fox finish the game with three points each.  Kreider now has seven goals and eleven points through twelve games in March.  Pavel Buchnevich has scored in nine of eleven games played this month for 16 points.

Brooklyn Nets: How Joe Harris Can Win The West

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SUNDAY

Wizards 106

Nets    113

FINAL

Third Time's The Charm; Flatbush Finally Conjures a Victory Over Wizards

After a mind-numbing one-point defeat on Jan. 3 and an equally disappointing three-point loss on Jan. 31, the Nets come away with a seven-point victory over the Wizards at Barclays Center.

Blake Griffin made his Brooklyn debut.  He scored on a classic dunk as if to show people he still can, but perhaps more to just get it out of the way.  It was his only two points of the game to go along with two rebounds in 15 minutes.  Sunday's game was Blake's first action since Feb. 22, after going down again with an ongoing knee issue.

Getting the start, Jeff Green attempted just one shot and was 3/4 from the line for three points in 25 minutes.  DeAndre Jordan contributed twelve points and five rebounds, but his defense (-7) limited him to 17 minutes.  Making up for both, Nicolas Claxton was again the key player off the bench and at both ends of the floor.  He was 7/10 from the field en route to 16 points with three rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. 

Kyrie Irving led the way with 25 shot attempts and 28 points in 35 minutes.  He only shot 1/6 from behind the arc but was a perfect 7/7 from the line.  James Harden was right behind with 23 attempts and 26 points, with a team-high eight assists.  Harden also struggled from three-range.  Together, Harden and Irving were just 4/15 from three. 

I did not forget Joe; I saved him for last.  Harris was 3/7 from behind the arc and 1/2 from the line for ten points in 35 minutes.  I understand he's largely at the mercy of Harden's and Irving's ball distribution. Still, sorry, Sunday evening's familiar performance-light is no way to earn your new contract as an everyday starter.  He has indeed established a well-earned reputation since joining the Nets, and teams are paying attention.  Therefore, the next move, adjustment, is now his to make.  

Even before the trade to acquire James Harden, I've been adamant about Joe Harris needing to step it up whenever Kevin Durant and/or Kyrie Irving is out of the lineup.  It just so happens the Nets are having more problems than a math book trying to keep both together on the floor for any meaningful length of time.  Thus, I've been keeping a spotlight on Joe Harris, and yes, this has everything to do with his disappearance act two years ago in the playoffs against Philadelphia.

Joe Harris this season has appeared in all 43 games to date, but only 19 games played alongside Kevin Durant, and not since Feb. 13 at Golden State.  Granted, when KD is playing, opposing teams pay less attention to Harris and vice versa.  Without Durant, teams can better defend Joe's three-point threat.  One can argue at least Harris is holding his ground.  But the same vigor can be put into arguing he has not effectively elevated his game when the team's more premier players become unavailable.

In 19 games during which he and Durant have played together, Joe Harris averaged 5.4/10.5 from the field (51.4%) for an average of 14.9 points per game.  Four times he eclipsed 20 points in a game and on Jan. 31 scored a season-high 30 points in the above aforementioned ponderous loss against Washington.  

In 24 games played minus Kevin Durant from the starting lineup, Joe Harris to date is averaging 5.2/10.0 (52.0%) from the field and 14.3 points per game.  He's likewise posted four twenty-point efforts in Durant's absence, topping out at 28 points on Jan. 7 in a big win over Philly which, in truth, remains Joe's signature game of the season.  Otherwise, on Feb. 16 and again on  Feb. 18 he scored twenty-plus points in consecutive games for the first time this season.  

Through eight games in March, Joe Harris is averaging 4.7/10.2 (46.0%) from the field and 13.5 points per game. 

Overall, Joe Harris is currently averaging 5.3/10.3 (51.8%) from the field and a career-high 14.6 points per game (last season he averaged 14.5 ppg).

The Nets now head West to face Portland, Utah, and Detroit.  Kyrie Irving will not be traveling with the team citing family issues.  Meanwhile, Kevin Durant is expected to miss a few more weeks.  That leaves James Harden as the big man on campus.  However, Joe Harris is a senior on the Flatbush Avenue campus.  But his grades in March indicate he is fading.

Eight times through 43 games this season, he scored twenty points or more - that's almost one every fifth game.  It's time he put up three such games in succession; two out of three would be just fine.  Joe is no novice anymore.  The ability is there.  Three other times he posted 19 points in a game.  Maybe James Harden on this trip will inspire into him some measure of killer instinct like he tries to do with DeAndre Jordan.

Is it too much to ask Joe for 60'ish points over the next three games?  

It's called elevating your game when the team needs it most.

The Metsian Podcast Begins the Countdown to Opening Day with Mets Rewind's John Strubel

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH & MIKE

GUEST

METS REWIND

JOHN STRUBEL

120 minutes

Spring Training ~ Starting Pitching ~ Contract Negotiations

MLB Rules ~ Mets Board of Directors ~ The 1975 Mets

and much more!

#LGM

N.J. Devils: Mackenzie Blackwood Puts Penguins Into Deep Freeze

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

Devils lead Penguins; 2-1

I - NJD 3; PITT 2

II - PITT 3; NJD 1

III - NJD 2; PITT 1*

*overtime

Three Wins in Four Games is a Trend

And that's a wrap!

Jesper Bratt's wraparound goal at the 2:50 mark of overtime was just as artful as the weaving and assists he received from Ty Smith and Pavel Zacha.  

With the Devils coming off Saturday's loss at Newark, Sidney Crosby opened the scoring on Sunday just 3:37 into the first period.  There would be no change in scoring until 4:48 of the second period on Sami Vatanen's second goal of the season.  And that's the way things stayed for the remaining 35:12 minutes left of regulation.

Mackenzie Blackwood returned between the pipes.  He faced 35 total shots, including three on the PK, and stopped all but one during even strength.  Otherwise, after yielding Crosby's goal in the first, Blackwood shut out the Penguins over the final 59:13 minutes of play.

The Devils played near equal hockey, as did their competition.  They finished just minus-one in shots on goal, minus-two in hits, and plus-two in face-offs won.  Both teams were scoreless in two power-play opportunities each.

After playing Pittsburgh three times in four days, including back-to-back nights, the Devils come away with two wins out of three.  They are now 3-1 in their last four.  There's a chance, as I suggested when writing about Mika Zibanejad, many Devils players might finally be getting over any lingering effects of the COVID virus and needing to adhere to quarantine protocols.  

N.Y. Rangers: Mika Zibanejad Has Entered The Building

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Rangers lead Capitals; 3-1

I - NYR 4; WAS 2

II - NYR 4; WAS 1

III - WAS 2; NYR 1

IV - NYR 3; WAS 1

Ponder If You Will: Life Without David Quinn

Why is it that since his head coach was placed on quarantine Mika Zibanejad has eight points, and the forward lines without all the nonsensical mixing and matching have played more consistently?  

Or, could it be that Mika is finally over any lingering effects since he himself contracted the COVID virus earlier this year?  

Speculation aside, his goal late in the third-period was rather nifty, converting a defensive takeaway in the Capitals zone into an unassisted game clincher.  After scoring just six points through the first two months and 19 games this season, Mika now has 13 points through eleven games in March.

Pavel Buchnevich appears to be in a similar condition.  After scoring 13 points through the season's first 19 games and at one point getting bumped off the first line by David Quinn, pissed-off Pavel has now scored 15 points through ten games played in March.

Congratulations are also in order, as Bret Howden notched only his twentieth SOG and his first goal of the season ... into an empty net, that is.  He has five points this season, three of which have come in the last four games.

Meanwhile, with or without Quinn, the streaky Chris Kreider is again trending in the opposite direction.  After putting up eleven points during a seven-game stretch, Kreider has since only registered four points in his last eight games, during which time the Rangers have posted a 3-4-1 record. 

Keith Kincaid was back in the net.  He faced 29 shots, four on special teams, and stopped all but one at even strength.  The Rangers blocked 23 other shots.  Otherwise, Kincaid earns his second win since being called up. 

And don't look now, but the Rangers have defeated the Washington Capitals for the third time in four games, over which time they've outscored the Capitals by a 12-6 margin.

N.Y. Islanders Issue Philadelphia Flyers a Reality Check

From the desk: LONG ISLAND NOMADS

Saturday Night Fever

Flyers    1

Islanders 6

FINAL

Islanders Halt Three-Game Skid Against Flyers in Commanding Fashion

Look what happened to the Flyers, again.  Two games after getting undressed 9-0 by the Rangers at the Garden, the Islanders bounce back from Thursday's disappointing defeat against Philly with a 6-1 drubbing of the visitors Saturday at the Barn.

Like thieves in the night, the Flyers in Thursday's match scored with just over two minutes left in the third period to snap a three-all tie and come away with a 4-3 victory.  But on Saturday, the Isles offered no quarter.  Long Island scored four times within the span of about nine minutes in the first period.  Jean-Gabriel Pageau opened the scoring with a power-play goal shortly followed by Jordan Eberle's goal at the 8:01 mark.  Two minutes later, Casey Cizikas scored the first of two first-period goals for a 4-0 Islanders lead.  However, before the period expired, Joel Farabee finally got Philadelphia on the board at 17:52 with his 13th goal of the season.

After a scoreless second period, Anthony Beauvilliere and Josh Baily each scored a goal in the third, giving the Islanders a 6-1 final margin of victory.

Playing without their captain Anders Lee (lost for the season), Long Islanders centermen still generated ten shots on net with four goals and seven points.  The other guy with a C on his jersey, albeit in his name, Casey Cizikas, now has six goals for the season.

• Anders Lee will undergo right knee surgery to repair a torn ACL; he is out for the season.  He last played in a 5-3 victory on Mar. 11 against the Devils.  The Isles are now 3-2 in his absence.

Goalie Ilya Sorokin earns his seventh straight victory while benefiting from an average of 4.0 goals per game worth of support.  He faced 24 Philadelphia shots, including four on special teams, stopping all but one at even strength.

This was Long Island's first victory this season over the Flyers in four tries.  Saturday's game, coupled with the Rangers defeat of Washington again, locks the Capitals and Islanders together in a first-place tie with 44 points apiece.  Since losing five straight back in January (and two postponements against Buffalo), the Islanders are now winners 17 of their last 23 games.  Their plus-24 point differential ranks fourth in the league.

N.Y. Rangers: Alex Ovechkin Lowers Iron Curtain on Artemi Panarin and the Blueshirts

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

ALEX OVECHKIN

Photo: 2008 Playoffs vs. Rangers

FRIDAY

Rangers  1

Capitals 2

FINAL

At 13:18 of the third period, Alex Ovechkin scored his 13th goal of the season.  Three minutes and nine seconds later, he would score again, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead and Washington's final margin of victory.  

Ovechkin's patented one-timer from the left circle - that unmistakable shot we've witnessed now for sixteen years, one of the singularly greatest NHL mental snapshots of all-time - played a part in neither goal against the Rangers.

In fact, these were of the variety even Phil Esposito would be proud of.  Positioned in front and boxing out Blueshirts, Ovechkin twice cleaned up loose rebounds for goal #719 and #720 of his illustrious career.  He recently passed former Boston Bruins and New York Rangers favorite and Hall of Famer Phil Esposito who's 717 goals now rank seventh all-time.  Fifth on the all-time list is Marcel Dionne, with 731 goals.  That puts Ovechkin eleven goals away from tying Dionne with 26 regular-season games left to play.

717 Career Goals; 184 w/ Rangers

Coming off an impressive 9-0 shutout of the Flyers, Alexandar Georgiev faced just 18 shots on goal.  He stopped all but two.  After making initial saves, he left two free-range rebounds in front with nary a Blueshirt around to contest Alex Ovechkin, who easily cleaned up.  

Meanwhile, the Rangers peppered Washington goalie Vitek Vanecek with 33 shots who stopped all but one, a power-play goal by Artemi Panarin at 16:42 of the first period.  It was his eighth goal in 18 games this season.  Moreover, Panarin has registered seven points in his last four games since returning from Russia.

This was Washington's first defeat of the Rangers in three games.

N.J. Devils: Straight Out of the Playbook

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

THURSDAY

Penguins 2

Devils   3

FINAL

As if by design ... I'm sure this was more along the lines of what Lindy Ruff and Tom Fitzgerald had in mind.

New Jersey's 2019 number one draft pick Jack Hughes opens the scoring midway through the first period on assists from Ty Smith and Kyle Palmieri.  After which, the big-name import, P.K. Subban scored on the power play at 8:42 of the second period from feeds by Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes.  Just over a minute later, Newark's long-time veteran, Travis Zajac puts the game out of reach at the 10:19 mark of the second period with his third goal of the season assisted by Damon Severson.

Goalie Scott Wedgewood takes care of the rest.   It's hard to say the Devils were lucky to come away with the victory because that just isn't the truth.  Jake Guentzel scored during a Penguins power play with a mere 0:13 seconds left in the second period.  Then, with just 0:05 seconds left in the game, Bryan Rust scored making it a 3-2 game and the final margin of victory for New Jersey.  Otherwise, Scott  Wedgewood faced a season-high 42 shots on goal en route to his third win of the season.  Sidney Crosby accounted for eight shots (and no points).  It's the second time in the last eleven days Wedgewood needed to make at least 40 saves in a game, as this contest harkens back to Wedgewoods's 1-0 shut out of the Bruins.

New Jersey's 2018 first-round pick, Ty Smith picked up his twelfth assist of the season, and with two points, Jack Hughes now has 16 points in 27 games.  Now in his 15th season with over 1,000 games played with the Devils, Travis Zajac with an assist picked up point number 543 of his career.

With victories over Buffalo and now Pittsburgh, the Devils win back-to-back games for the first time in a full month, when they defeated the Rangers and Bruins in their first two games back on the ice after returning from COVID quarantine protocol.

N. Y. Rangers: Blueshirts in a Landslide

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Rangers vs. Flyers series tied; 2-2

I - NYR 3; PHI 2*

II - PHI 4; NYR 3

III - PHI 5; NYR 4#

IV - NYR 9; PHI 0

*shootout

#overtime

Back to the Future: Blueshirts Post Largest Goal Total Since 1986 Smurfs Scored Ten Against the New Jersey Devils

No head coach, no staff, no problem.  

Or, was David Quinn the problem all along?  

That can be debated.  

In any event, minus their entire coaching staff crowding the bench area and busting their pucks, the Rangers veterans took it upon themselves to lead the troops after Monday's overtime backbreaker in an uproarious bounce-back effort against the Flyers on Wednesday.

Insofar as Quinn, Brendan Lemieux might have something to say.  After all, he's the one who lit the fuse igniting a Blueshirt explosion.  Lemieux converted feeds from Adam Fox and Bret Howden to open the scoring at 7:05 of the first period.  At 14:47, Artemi Panarin netted his seventh of the season for a 2-0 Rangers lead.

The Flyers, throughout the second period, appeared to be skating in the west side railyards.  The Rangers, in turn, unleashed a seven-goal attack against Philadelphia goalies Carter Hart and Brian Elliot.  Mika Zibanejad posted a hat-trick and assisted on two other goals by Pavel Buchnevich and another by Jacob Trouba.  Then with just 0:27 seconds left in the second period, Filip Chytil scored his fourth goal of the season for a 9-0 Rangers lead.

Alexandar Georgiev was back between the posts demonstrating a marked improvement in performance after getting the hook in each of his last two starts against Pittsburgh and Boston.  If anyone needed a confidence booster, it was him.  Georgiev faced 26 shots on goal and stopped them all for the shutout.

Circling back to Lemieux, it was his second goal and sixth point in limited minutes.  The Rangers need his physicality on the ice.  The Rangers got four points from their blueliners, a goal and assist from Jacob Trouba, and assists by Adam Fox and Libor Hajek.  Pavel Buchnevich finished with four points.  Even Bret Howdenn attempted a shot on goal.  So, you know things went well.

With the victory, the Rangers tie the season series against Philadelphia at two wins apiece.

Brooklyn Nets: Fourth Quarter Defense Is a Real Thing

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Nets lead Pacers; 2-0

I - BKN 104; IND 94

II - BKN 124; IND 115

James Harden Leads Flatbush to Sixth Straight Victory with Eleventh Triple-Double as a Member of the Nets

BROOKS CLAIM SHARE OF EASTERN CONFERENCE HIGH GROUND

We've seen this kind of first quarter out of Flatbush before, wherein Indiana jumps out to a 15 point lead.  The Nets chip away and reduce their deficit to three by halftime.  Brooklyn then normalizes and outscores the Pacers 66-54 in the second half, highlighted by a 35-24 finish in the fourth.

And there's the rub ...

This run the Nets presently are on began back on Feb. 10 against these very Indiana Pacers.  Since then, they've won 14 of 15 games.  The last time Brooklyn allowed 30 points in the fourth quarter was on Feb. 15 against Sacramento.  Afterwhich, they've now limited opponents under 30 points (25.0 point average per fourth quarter) for a twelfth straight game.  In this game, the Nets also outrebounded the Pacers by a 50-34 margin. 

In the absence of Kevin Durant (and Blake Griffin), James Harden continues carrying this team on his shoulders.  That's no slight against Kyrie Irving, who is playing very well but also didn't participate in this game.  That said, we all know who is doing what, how, why, and when.  Wednesday night James Harden registered his eleventh triple-double since arriving in Brooklyn.  He scores a game-high 40 points, his most as a Net, to go along with a game-high 15 assists and team-high 10 rebounds.

Meanwhile, the education of Jam Master DeAndre Jordan also continues.  Harden fed him five times en route to a ten-point game in 20 minutes.  DeAndre still needs help, but that's for Sean Marks to decide come trade deadline.

Joe Harris stepped it up, playing a prominent role in the game.  He was 7/11, including 5/7 from behind the arc, for 19 points in 37 minutes.

Tyler Johnson and Jeff Green led the charge off the bench with 15 points each.  Nicolas Claxton was a plus-24 with eleven points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in 23 minutes.

Philadelphia finally lost in overtime against Milwaukee.  Therefore, the Nets and Sixers closeout business tied for first in the conference with identical 28-13 (.683) records.

N.Y. Mets: Grapefruit League Offers Dellin Betances No Quarter

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

SPRING TRAINING

2021

Dellin Betances' Grapefruit Struggles Continue Tuesday Against Houston Astros

Spring Training means different things to different players.  Some merely work on timing or building arm strength; some are trying to impress and win jobs, while others are just biding time until Opening Day, whatever their respective case may be.  

However, there's one player whose Grapefruit League performance is likely being fueled by desperation, a veteran pitcher who turns 33-years old later this week and is suddenly being forced to relearn his craft in the face of losing upwards of four mph on his fastball.  

It's not a stretch at this point to say the future career of reliever Dellin Betances potentially lies in the balance.  

There no denying for five seasons as a member of the New York Yankees, he was among the American League's dominant relievers.  From 2014 through 2018, Betances averaged a 2.31 ERA in 74.2 innings pitched, highlighted by an efficient 5.2 H/9 and potent 14.7 K/9 averages.

All that came to a grinding halt when in 2019, he developed a right shoulder impingement.  But that was only the beginning of an injury-riddled season futher beset by a strained lat muscle and a torn Achilles tendon.

Just over two months after pitching his last game as a Bronx Bomber on Sept. 15, 2019, (then) Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen signed free agent Dellin Betances to a two-year pact with a third-year player option.

After missing all but one game the previous season, Dellin returned in 2020 to make 15 appearances in which he yielded ten runs on twelve hits and twelve walks with eleven strikeouts through 11.2 innings pitched.  All of which translated into a 7.71 ERA, a 2.057 WHiP, and a career-low 18.6% strikeout rate against batters faced.

With just 16 regular-season appearances over the last two years, the beleaguered reliever entered Tuesday's action, having previously faced 15 batters and yielding five runs, four earned, on three hits (including a home run), and three walks with a strikeout over three innings pitched.  Pitching Tuesday afternoon against the Astros, Betances faced six more batters, allowing two earned runs on two hits with a strikeout.  All told, he's faced 21 batters to date, surrendered six earned runs on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts over four innings pitched.  

Needless to say, efforts being made towards readapting his repertoire are not going well.  At this point, we fans are left hoping for any measure of effectiveness, further adjustments, positive trending, and/or ultimately, a turnaround of fortunes.  But the pragmatist in me says normalizing a 13.50 ERA and a bloated WHiP over two with just 15 days left till Opening Day is just not practical.

Spring Training is as Spring Training does; the exhibition season continues.

Brooklyn Nets: The Hoops of Flatbush Defend Home Turf

From the desks: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH & KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

MONDAY

Knicks    112

Nets       117

FINAL

Top Spot in Conference Continues Eluding Flatbush

I - BKN 116; NYK 109

In a match-up pitting the NBA's 2nd most prolific offense versus the league's stingiest defense, Las Vegas set Brooklyn as 7.5 point favorites.  Forty-eight minutes later, the visiting Knicks proved better than the handicappers anticipated and damn near pulled off an upset.  

Knicks fans might argue they - Julius Randle, that is - got screwed by Kyrie Irving and the guys with whistles.  I didn't see it that way.  But a clearly upset Julius Randle would later storm off the court in a bit of a huff.  That's good; it will make the next encounter between teams that much more intriguing.  In any event, the Nets win by five, and if it's any consolation, the Knicks cover—an otherwise entertaining, tightly contested game to be enjoyed by all, sans the final score.

As if ...

Manhattan falls to 9-13 away from their island and sinks back to par with a 20-20 record.  They remain in the Conference mix at number seven.

The Nets are now winners of five in a row and 9-1 in their last ten games.  If you care to extend it further, they are winners of 13 of their last 14 games.  Brooklyn's problem is Philadelphia going 8-2 over their last ten.  The Nets remain hot on Philly's tail, but for some time now, they have been unable to break through that last half-game barrier.

Julius Randle finished the game with both a team-high 33 points and 12 rebounds in 41 minutes.  RJ Barrett contributed 23 points in 35 minutes, and Immanuel Quickley had 21 points in 34 minutes.

Brooklyn did a better job of ball distribution and well outscored the Knicks in the paint.  Kyrie Irving was an exceptional 13/18 from the field en route to a game-high 34 points.  James Harden went triple-double yet again, with 21 points, while leading the floor with 15 rebounds (all defensive) and 15 assists.  Jeff Green also had the Midas touch shooting 8/11 from the field, including 2/2 from behind the arc and 2/3 from the line for 20 points.

N.Y. Rangers: Monday Night Faux Pas

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

 

MONDAY

Flyers      5

Rangers   4

FINAL

Keith Kincaid Targets Panarin, But Throws a Pick-Six in Overtime Loss to Flyers

The Blueshirts played nine games minus the services of Artemi Panarin.  They achieved a pair of victories each against the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, respectively, two beleaguered squads flapping and floundering about like a fish out of water.  The other five games include one loss against the Philidelphia Flyers, two losses against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and two against the Boston Bruins. 

Despite the disparity of talent levels between clubs, some might describe what the Rangers achieved as hanging tough until their breadwinner returned to the ice.  Insofar as wins and losses, they did just that.  But I'm just not buying it.  It's been said many times: to be the best, you gotta beat the best, and that's not what happened.  The sixth team in the division beat up on the seventh and eighth place teams in the standings, that's it. 

A stiff jab at 3:47 by James van Riemsdyk followed up with a straight right by Ivan Provorov at 5:05, and the Rangers were down 2-0 in the first period.  

Enter Artemi Panarin, who started slicing up a freshly baked loaf of points.  He finally put the Rangers on the board at 8:12 of the second, then over the next six minutes, assisted on goals from Colin Blackwell and Julien Gauthier for a 3-2 Rangers lead.  However, at 18:27, Gauthier got whistled for high-sticking.  Just nine seconds into the power play, Joel Farabee stuck it to the Rangers by tying the game at three.

• Since returning from his Russian sabbatical, the Breadman has baked four points in two games; three came Monday against the Flyers.

Kevin Rooney scored an uplifting goal at 2:56 into the third.  But Julien Gauthier got whistled at 4:53 for another very costly high-sticking infraction.  A mere ten seconds later, Claude Giroux once again made the Rangers pay for the errs of their ways.

Into over time, they go ...

Keith Kincaid - forced to fill in while Igor Shesterkin remains out with an injury - messed up.  His pass from the goal line to a waiting Panarin at the Rangers blueline was simply too soft, too free and easy, and completely lacking urgency.  As you can imagine, it was picked off by Jakub Voracek, who to took it to the house unassisted.  

It's the equivalent to a quarterback throwing a game-losing pick-six in football.

Long Islanders Continue Bedeviling New Jersey Hockey Club

From the desks: LONG ISLAND NOMADS & THE BRICK CITY STYX

Islanders lead Devils; 5-1

I - NYI 4; NJD 1

II - NJD 2; NYI 0

III - NYI 2; NJD 1

IV - NYI 5; NJD 3

V - NYI 3; NJD 2

VI - NYI 3; NJD 2*

*shootout

SUNDAY RECAP

Islanders Gain The High Ground

The Long Islanders defeated Newark for the fifth time this season and thereby extended their consecutive winning streak to nine games.  They also increased their division lead by four points over the Capitals and finished the night with the most points in all of hockey.

Devils Get Lost In The Details

Meanwhile, the Devils continue suffering the agony of defeat after defeat.  Sunday's game marked their fourth straight loss.  It's the ninth loss in their last ten games and the twelfth loss in sixteen games since returning from quarantine.

🏒

Each team was minus their respective on-ice captains, Anders Lee for the Islanders, and Nico Hischier for the Devils.  So, there's that ...

After Kieffer Bellows opened the scoring on feeds from Sabastian Aho and Jordan Eberle just 4:18 into the first, the Devils catch a big break on Andy Greene's delay of game penalty.  Janne Kuokkanen makes the Islanders pay with a power-play goal at the 5:12 mark.  New Jersey then takes their own turn committing a big mistake - it won't be the last one - when Brock Nelson scores on feeds from Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey with just two seconds left in the first period, giving the Islanders a 2-1 lead.  New Jersey tied the game at 16:04 of the third when Yegor Sharangovich converted feeds from Dmitry Kulikov and P.K. Subban.

This brings us to big mistake number two.  Subban appeared to score the game-winning goal in overtime.  But the Islanders challenged an off-side violation and were proven correct.  The devilish perpetrator was positioned in place on the far board but on the wrong side of the line, a clearly avoidable mental mistake and costly one.

Sure enough, the Islanders go on to win in a shootout at Newark.  But it's just hockey.  There's nothing more to see here.  All is well.  You can go back to your home now.

A Metsian Podcast: Just Basking in the Florida Sunshine w/ Guest, Baseball Author Brian Wright

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

w/ SAM, RICH & MIKE

GUEST

Baseball Author

Brian Wright

seventy-seven minutes

#LGM

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Blank Bruins at Boston

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

SATURDAY

Rangers  4

Bruins   0

FINAL

When In Boston, Do As The Bruins Do; Courtesy Brendan Lemieux.

Wanna know what I'm most proud of about Saturday's game?  Brendan Lemieux's two penalties.  He committed his first infraction at the 0:53 second mark of the second period, a boarding call against Trent Frederic.  The second occurred with under two minutes remaining in the game; misconduct when he reengaged with Trent Frederic.  Otherwise, five other Rangers penalties involved innocuous hooking and holding.  That makes Lemieux the only one handing Boston a taste of their own chowder.  Coach Quinn's problem child was technically issued twelve penalty minutes, but it was punishment well earned!

All hail Keith Kincaid.  Saturday marked his fourth appearance and his first victory of the season.  Keith stopped every one of Boston's 18 shots on goal for the shutout.  He made five saves on the PK, twelve saves at even strength, and was forced to make a shorthanded stop as well.

K'Andre Miller opened the scoring at 3:06 of the first period.  Midway through the third period, Brad Marchant got whistles for slashing K'Andre Miller.  Back in the second period, Marchant was called for slashing Alexis Lafreniere.  Here we have two instances where Marchant - whose tactics are familiar to all -  takes cheat shots at two of the Rangers youngest players.  Did anyone in a Blueshirt answer address these offenses?  Of course not, and thus I applause Brendan Lemieux.

Nice to see Chris Kreider scoring points against top competition.  That's why he's still here.  His goal at 5:42 of the second gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

THE BREAD MAN IS BACK!

Back from Russia with love, Artemi Panarin played in his first game since Feb. 20 against Washington.  He beat the Bruins to the puck in the right corner, spun, and unleashed a pass to Ryan Strome waiting in front (exactly where he should have been!), who in turn converted on a one-timer for a 3-0 Rangers lead.  Strome led the team with six shots on goal.  Pavel Buchnevich closed out the scoring on a feed from Chris Kreider at the 16:12 mark of the third.  Buchnevich leads the team with 22 points in 26 games.

Know who was not on the ice?  Jack Johnson, that's who.  That means the blueliners are back together again.