N.Y. Islanders Dominate Flyers in Game Seven

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Isles defeat Flyers; 4-3

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

II - PHI 4; NYI 3*

III - NYI 3; PHI 1

IV - NYI 3; PHI 2

V - PHI 4; NYI 3*

VI - PHI 5; NYI 4*

VII - NYI 4; PHI 0

*overtime

DESTINATION: EDMONTON

After losing two straight games in overtime the Islanders put forth their most dominant performance of the series to advance into the Eastern Conference finals against the awaiting Tampa Bay Lightning.  This will be Long Island's first visit back to the conference finals in twenty-seven years.

Game Seven is as one-sided as it gets.  Midway through the first period the Islanders get a pair of goals from blue liners Scott Mayfield and Andy Green.  Brock Nelson then makes it a 3-0 game midway through the second and Anthony Beauvillier puts the game away on an empty-netter with just over eight minutes left in regulation.

Thomas Greiss makes his second start and third appearance of the series.  In front of him the Islanders permit the Flyers a mere sixteen shots on goal.  Greiss stops them all including two penalty kills for the shutout.  It's the Islanders' second shutout of the series and third since eliminating the Capitals by an identical 4-0 score in game five of the previous round.

vs. Philadelphia

• Goals: NYI 24; PHI 16
• SOG: NYI 236; PHI 204
• Face-Off: NYI 209; PHI 205
• Hits: NYI 310; PHI 290

vs. FLA, WAS, PHI

• Goals: NYI 54; OPP 31
• SOG: NYI 494; OPP 431
• Face-Off: NYI 471; OPP 455
• Hits: NYI 632; OPP 599

100 Years Ago Today 9/6/1920: Brooklyn Robins Back in Second After Dropping Twin Bill at Philadelphia

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions 

Game #130: Monday, September 6, 1920, GAME ONE - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Baker Bowl

Phillies Hold On For Game One Victory

Brooklyn scores twice in the eighth, but it isn't enough as starter Red Causey and the Phillies hold on for a 3-2 victory.  Center fielder Cy Williams opens the scoring in the Phillies first with a two out home run off Robins starter Jeff Pfeffer.  Jeff hurts his own cause in the fourth, when, with the bases loaded Pfeffer fields a bunt but throws errantly to first base.  Two runs score on the play.  Clarence Mitchell singles home two runs in the eighth, but it's too little too late.  Pfeffer loses his ninth game against twelve victories with a 2.88 ERA.


Game #131: Monday, September 6, 1920, GAME TWO - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Baker Bowl

Spitballer Burleigh Grimes Comes up Dry Against Phillies

The Robins once again come up short.  Brooklyn knocks starter Huck Betts out of the box with haste, plating three runs in the first off the bats of Zack Wheat, Hi Myers and Ed Konetchy.  However, Burleigh Grimes can not hold the lead.  Philadelphia scores four times in the second, then pick up an unearned run in the fourth.  Burleigh Grimes yields his six run of the game in the fifth.  After which it's just a matter of the Phillies holding on.  Bill Lamar drives home a run in the eighth and Hi Myers doubles home a run in the ninth.  With one out and two runners in scoring position, Ed Konetchy grounds into a fielder's choice and Pete Kilduff pops up to first ending the game.  New York splits a double-header with the Braves, but Cincinnati sweeps two from the Cardinals.  The defending champions reclaim first place by 1.5 games over the Robins with 24 games left to play.

• RECORD: 73-57 (.554)
• 2nd Place; 1.5 GB

100 Years Ago Today 9/5/1920: First Place Brooklyn Robins Fend Off Braves

 From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #129: Sunday, September 5, 1920 - BR
Boston Braves vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field 

Rube Marquard Out-Duels Boston Braves; Robins Win Fourth Straight

Sunday's game further confirms Rube Marquard can still be great when the Robins need him most.  The soon to be 33-year old southpaw yields just one run in the second inning then whitewashes Boston the rest of the way.  Tommy Griffith's sacrifice fly in the first opens the scoring.  Who else but Rabbit Maranville ties the score in the second.  But the Braves would score no more.  Zack Wheat drives home the go ahead run in the fourth and Marquard takes care of the rest.  Jimmy Johnston continues rewarding Uncle Robbie's decision to start him this season at third base with two hits and .292 batting average.  Marquard improves to 9-7 with a 3.16 ERA, allowing one run on four hits and no walks with five strikeouts.  It's Brooklyn's fourth win in a row.  However, the Reds and Giants cede no ground.  Cincinnati is victorious at St. Louis and the New York Giants trounce the Phillies at the Polo Grounds.  

• RECORD: 73-55 (.570)
• 1st Place; 0.5 GA 
  

Brooklyn Nets: Steve Nash is the New Dude of Flatbush

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Sean Marks Doubling Down on His Investments; Goes All In With Steve Nash

Sean Marks was afforded considerable time for contemplating a new head coach - six months to be exact.  Granted, COVID froze everything in place.  But it didn't prohibit Sean Marks from donning a mask and shopping outside the bubble.  Meanwhile, the pundits entertained us with talk of Mark Jackson, Jason Kidd, Tom Thibodeau (until he was hired by the Knicks) and even Gregg Popovich.  That would have been something, I thought.  Add in the obligatory Jeff Van Gundy click bait and everything seemed like another day at the office.  The head coaching scuttlebutt only picked up again after Brooklyn's exit from the playoffs.  After which, Jacque Vaughn's name was rightfully added to the list of candidates.

But unbeknownst to almost everyone the decision had already been made.  Sean Marks didn't need to go very far either.  His candidate already resided in the Big Apple.  Which is to say Brooklyn's new head coach has been safe and socially distanced from the minds of every NBA executive and credentialed media member this whole time.  

Tom Thibodeau is a damn good coach.  I wanted him like I wanted Pop or Jackson.  But knowing what we know now, well, therein lies the silent assassin that is Sean Marks.  All that is so in the box.  Only now after being illuminated can I say with confidence that Thibodeau would have been a terrible fit for Brooklyn, much like the others, sans Pop(?).  In the first place I couldn't envision, say, Thibodeau yelling at Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving to get back on defense.  But it's really not about that or any of the aforementioned candidates.  Sean Marks is running a proactive organization.  MSG, on the other hand, is still operating a completely reactive shop therefore making Thibodeau the right guy for them to restore order on the floor.  Brooklyn is beyond that.  Pundits may not want to admit this just yet, but Sean Marks is the one pulling the wagon in this town.  Since taking over Brooklyn the Knicks have been steps behind his every move.  Insofar as the rest of the league, that's where Kyrie Irvin and Kevin Durant come in.

Ask yourself this question: would you rather have Kenny Atkinson or Steve Nash coaching Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irvin?  The Nets organization and fans are indebted to Kenny Atkinson for all his efforts.  He helped elevate this organization like no one's business and deserves all his due credit for this emerging situation in Brooklyn.  I liked him and appreciated him, and was dismayed like many other fans when the team and him parted ways.

Steve Nash does not have coaching experience.  I get it.  But does that mean he lacks experience with X's and O's, or does that mean he lacks interpersonal skills and the ability to negotiate multiple personalities, or that he lacks the requisite leadership qualities, or all three?  Because if these are just some of the criteria, I'm checking off the boxes.

Is this the right man to maximize Kyrie Irving's and Kevin Durant's potential together on the floor?  All the focus has been on Steve Nash's relationship with Kevin Durant and rightly so.  Nash will indeed coach him, but Durant trusts Nash unconditionally.  Who wouldn't want to perform under those conditions.  Then there's the enigmatic Kyrie Irvin.  Nash has been here long enough to have New York City coursing through his veins.  He and the New Jersey native will at least connect on that level.  However, Nash is not an authority figure.  He is a former NBA player and member of the Hall of Fame who behind closed doors could probably still toast Irving in a game of twenty-one.  Nash's acumen and resume are something Irving can grasp and respect.  When loners respect someone they quickly submit with little issues, and we know Kyrie has a few.

Durant and Irvin already have their uniforms, but they've lacked for playing time.  All that's about to change.  What the Nets needed moving forward was a coach for who these two stars would be willing to go through a brick wall.  Brooklyn has lots of brick walls.  

I believe Steve Nash is a brilliant hire ... now.

Never saw it coming.

That's how Sean Marks operates.

100 Years Ago Today 9/4/1920: Brooklyn Robins Beat Boston; Reclaim First Place

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #128: Saturday, September 4, 1920 - BR
Boston Braves vs. Brooklyn Robins

Ebbets Field

Leon Cardore Whitewashes Boston; Robins Back in First

Rest indeed does a body good!  Brooklyn romps to a third consecutive victory and reclaims first place.  The Robins score early, often and late en route to a 10-0 whitewashing of the Braves.  Leon Cadore yields twelve hits but no runs and no walks through nine innings full.  He improves to an even 12-12 with a 2.57 ERA.  Rabbit Maranville accounts for three Boston hits.  Hi Myers, arguably in the midst of his best season, leads the charge with a single, double and triple with three runs scored and five runs batted in.  Last year's RBI champ again leads the team with 67 runs batted in.  Jimmy Johnston and Tommy Griffith each slash three hits apiece.  Ed Konetchy and Otto Miller drive in two runs each.  The Reds fall to the Cardinals and into second place, while the Giants edge out the Phillies at the Polo Grounds by a score of one to zero.

• RECORD: 72-55 (.567)
• 1st Place; 0.5 GA

N.Y. Islanders: Someone's Bubble is About to Pop

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Series Tied; 3-3

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

II - PHI 4; NYI 3*

III - NYI 3; PHI 1

IV - NYI 3; PHI 2

V - PHI 4; NYI 3*

VI - PHI 5; NYI 4*

*overtime

Once is an Event; Twice is a Coincidence; Three Times is a Trend

Two Clinching Opportunities Wasted; One Chance Left

Can the Islanders hold the Flyers to a pair of goals or less?  The answer is yes, they've done it three times.  Can the Flyers score three or more regulation time goals?  The answer is yes, they've done it three times.  It's no coincidence all three Philadelphia victories come in overtime.  The Flyers in those games outscore the Islanders by a 13-10 margin - makes sense, one goal per overtime.  Otherwise the Islanders own a 10-3 scoring advantage through games one, three and four.  But the fact both teams are heading into game seven means they're dead even.  Stats be damned.

Somehow special teams have been rendered inconsequential.  You might even say the Isles are lucky to have four PP goals in 17 chances.  Meanwhile, the Flyers are scoreless in eleven PP opportunities.
Said another way, all Philadelphia's scoring is occurring at even strength and that's the last thing Islanders fans want to hear.

Heck, you might even say the Isles were fortunate to have Mathew Barzal on the ice.  He leads the team in game six with nine shots, and (at the time) scores the go ahead goal with thirty seconds left in the second period.

Now trend this ...

The Islanders get in big trouble when they let Philadelphia score consecutive goals.

• They allow three unanswered goal in the first period of game two before losing 4-3 in overtime.  
• Late in the second period of game five they allow back to back goals within three minutes of each other, then in the opening minutes of the third yield a third straight goal before losing in overtime.  
• In the first period of game six Philadelphia scores back to back first period goals within two minutes of each other en route to winning in overtime.

With regards to possession, the Flyers are winning the face-off battle four games against two, but what good is that if you give the puck away thirty times as they did in game six.  Otherwise, Long Island is not lacking for opportunities.  They actually flipped the switch on the Flyers from game five to six.  The Isles took 53 shots on goal versus 31 for the Flyers.  However, Philly blocked another 31 shots, making for 84 total Islanders attempts on net; they in turn blocked 29 shots giving Philly 60 total attempts on net.

So, are the Islanders suffering a crisis in net or is the play in front breaking down?

In his defense, Semyon Varlamov needed Superman x-ray vision in order to see Thursday's final shot on goal.  The crease was packed with bodies like pre-COVID Times Square.  Lest we forget Varlamov was pulled in game two which the Islanders lose in overtime, but he bounces back allowing the Flyers just one goal in game three and two goals in game four.  Varlamov was fending off 93% of all shots on goal through game four.  However, the Flyers have now scored nine goals over the last seven-plus periods.

I don't know who Barry Trotz starts in net: Varlamov or Thomas Greiss.  I do know the Islanders have been playing a lot of comeback hockey lately only to come up short in the end.  Whoever starts in net, the Islanders need to prevent the Flyers from scoring in bursts.

It doesn't seem to matter who the Flyers start.  Carter Hart has started five games and Brian Elliott one.  Each has yielded no less than three goals.

Cue the broken record; the song remains the same.  Scoring and playing physical hockey are not the Islanders problem.  Defense and net minding will once more determine the measure of Islanders success.

They aren't going to outscore the Flyers and still lose the series, are they?

100 Years Ago Today 9/3/1920: Brooklyn Robins Shutout Phillies at Ebbets Field

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBNS

1920 National League Champions

Game #127: Friday, September 3, 1920 - BR
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Burliegh Grimes Hurls Gem Over Philadelphia Phillies

A couple of days rest does the body good.  Just ask Burleigh Grimes.  The spitballer and Ebbets Field crowd reconvene over a four hit whitewashing of the Phillies.  He faces just 32 batters, walking one and fanning four en route to his 19th victory against nine losses with a 2.06 ERA.  Ivy Olson continues his hot hitting going 3 for 5 with a run batted in.   Zack Wheat lifts his average to .319 with a single, double and triple, with two runs scored and two runs batted in.  Hi Myers plates two runs giving him a team leading 62 runs batted in.  The Robins generate sixteen hits overall, with Burleigh Grimes (.323) accounting for two.  Philadelphia moves out and the Boston Braves move in for a short weekend series at Ebbets Field.  The Reds trounce the Cardinals and the Giants defeat the incoming Braves at the Polo Grounds.  Brooklyn spends another day one-half game out of first.

• RECORD: 71-55 (.563)
• 2nd Place; 0.5 GB

Stickball, Seaver and the 70's: Rest in Peace Tom Terrific

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

My Brick at Citi Field Reads:

1977 STILL HURTS!

... along the third base side, check it out one day. 

The year 2020 knows no limits.

I'm devastated like all Mets fans are to learn of Wednesday's passing away of Tom Seaver.  I wish his family peace and calm through this very sad and difficult time, and offer my humblest prayers and sincerest condolences to all he loved and held dear.

Time has no mercy.  We know this well.  We're just never ready for news like this.  It needs a moment to sink in, then in rushes the heartbreaking sense of loss.  As I look back on my own life and contemplate some of the genuine influences in my life, Tom Seaver is in the conversation.  Rarely, if ever, would I include sports figures.  But Tom Seaver was different.  There was no one on my childhood television set representing themselves quite the way Tom did during post-game visits to Kiner's Korner.  I wasn't getting that from Looney Tunes, or Wonderama, Kaptain Kangaroo, Spider Man, or Happy Days, the Merv Griffin Show, Abbott and Costello or the Bowery Boys, certainly not from Archie Bunker or Mary Tyler Moore, not Godzilla, Evel Knievel, Planet of the Apes, or Richard Nixon, but maybe Morgan Freeman when he appeared on the Electric Company.  Seaver constantly preached accountability and championed camaraderie.  He always said something worth listening to, unlike, say, Don Rickles.  Alas, no one was demonstrating to me the level of comportment being put forth by Tom Seaver.

I pretended to be Tom Seaver when playing stickball against my cousin when we were kids.  Growing up watching The Franchise was like having a childhood coach by your side.  I tried imitating his motion the best I could.

Funny thing is my Pop and my uncle were Yankees fans, and my cousin and me were Mets fans (from our Moms' side of the family)!  We all spent equal time watching and going to see both teams.  However, my Pop was a particularly huge Tom Seaver fan and made it his business to ensure we took in as many Seaver starts as possible.  The Yankees fan that he was, we connected through Seaver.  I speak of the seasons spanning 1973-1977, until he was traded to the Reds.  I was coming up on my eleventh birthday, my cousin a year younger.  Tom Seaver's seasons pitching in that classic New York Mets uniform are ingrained in my mind forever.  Tom Seaver and company are the ones who gave this pinstriped blue/orange color scheme its pride and prestige.  That's why I hate when the Mets deviate from their traditional uniform.

In the lead-up to his Opening Day start in 1983, being there to witness him appear from the Mets bullpen and his ensuing walk down the right field line towards the dugout is one of the happiest moments I ever spent at Shea Stadium.  Tom Seaver in an interview once said in order to be successful there are three outs in any given game that you absolutely must execute.  Those words never rang more true for me than when I coached little league baseball for ten seasons.

As a baseball fan, I know this: Tom Seaver is one of the greatest craftsmen to ever toe a major league rubber.  Physically durable, powerful and pure genius on the mound, there are few pitchers who before or since have matched his absolute mastery with a baseball from sixty-feet six inches away.

He is also one of New York City's premiere titans of sport.

I'm otherwise a little short for words.  Another prominent figure of my childhood has moved on. 

The first pitch of his forever game is delivered ... the perfect game that never ends, begins.

Rest in Peace.

Love,
Mike

1944  ~  2020

New York Islanders Upended by the Furious Flyers in Game Five

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Isles lead Flyers; 3-2

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

II - PHI 4; NYI 3*

III - NYI 3; PHI 1

IV - NYI 3; PHI 2

V - PHI 4; NYI 3*

*overtime

Lost Opportunity Number One; Isles Have Two Chances Left to Clinch Series

Perhaps I spoke too soon?

A repeat of game two?  Somewhat .. the Isles in game two storm back with a trio of third period goals to send the game into overtime.  In game five they storm back with two goals in the third from Brock Nelson and Derick Brassard to send the game into overtime.

Similar, but different ...

In game two the Flyers take 31 shots on goal, while the Isles block 13 other attempts.  That theoretically is 44 attempts on net.  In game five the Flyers take 32 shots on goal, but the Isles are forced to block another 28 attempts.  Now we're theoretically speaking about 60 shot attempts in a game which only requires 2:41 minutes of overtime. 

Long Island is still outscoring the Flyers by a 16-11 margin.  They scored four times in game one and have tallied at least three goals in every game since.  Philadelphia's only breaks the three goal barrier during games two and five.  Said another way, the Flyers are having to labor into overtime in order to achieve victory.

Both teams have fifteen different skaters whom have scored during these playoffs.  Both teams also are generally staying out of the box.  Face-offs are likewise being cut down the middle (143-142) favoring the Isles.  What's needed is a difference maker.  Defense is what got the Islanders this far.  Thus, the question which begs asking is can the Islanders limit the Flyers to a just a pair of goals.  Three times in this series they have limited the Flyers to a pair of goals or less.  But in order to do that again they clearly need to tighten up.  Otherwise the real question we should be asking is if these teams are finally playing up to the their respective seedings, or in the Isles case, playing down to their final regular season standing.

We're gonna find out on Thursday, or maybe game seven.

100 Years Ago Today 9/2/1920: New York Giants Gain on Idle Brooklyn Robins

From the desks of:

FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS  &  JOHN McGRAW'S EMPIRE

SEPTEMBER PENNANT RACE

*  *  NATIONAL LEAGUE  *  *

1 9 2 0

Game #126: Thursday, September 2, 1920 - BR
New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

Jesse Barnes Fends Off Pirates; Giants Gain on Idle Brooklyn

New York, after losing four straight to the Pirates, salvages their series finale at Forbes Field.  This concludes the Giants 18-game road trip during which they post a 9-8-1 record.  With Thursday's victory the Giants remain within 2.5 games of the first place Reds whom defeat the Cardinals at St. Louis.  New York has starter Jesse Barnes to thank for finally quelling the Pirates.  Pittsburgh jumps out to a one run lead in the first, but "Nubby" whitewashes them the rest of the way.  George Burns is 2 for 5 with a double and two runs batted in.  Ross Youngs drives in his 60th run of the season and Larry Doyle also drives home a run.  High Pockets Kelley is 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored, Lee King lashes three hits and registers an outfield assist and Frankie Frisch steals his 26th base for the season.  Barnes improves to 17-13 with a 2.82 ERA after yielding a lone run on nine hits and one walk through nine full.  The Giants tomorrow host the Boston Braves.

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Travel Day - 9/2/1920

Reds      69-53 (.566)

Robins   70-55 (.560)

Giants    68-57 (.544)

The Robins game on Tuesday against the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park was postponed.  Today's scheduled travel day means Brooklyn has been idle since Monday.  As a result they slip one-half game behind the Reds, but still own a two game lead over the Giants.  They better take advantage of this break and rest up.  The Robins will be home tomorrow for the first of three games before traveling down to Philadelphia for back to back twin bills slated for next Monday and Tuesday.  Despite their second place standing Brooklyn leads the National League with seventy victories.  In the American League, Cleveland owns a paper thin half-game lead over Chicago and a full game lead over the New York Yankees.

100 Years Ago Today 9/1/1920: Brooklyn Robins Rained Out; New York Giants Lose Fourth Straight at Forbes Field

From the desks of: 

FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS  &  LITTLE NAPOLEON'S EMPIRE

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Game #127:  9/1/1920

GAME CALLED; RAIN

Brooklyn Robins vs. St. Louis Cardinals 

Sportsman's Park

FORBES FIELD

Game #125: Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1920 - BR
New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

Another Opportunity Lost; Giants Lose Fourth Straight at Pittsburgh

Coming off three highly imperative victories against the Cincinnati Reds, the New York Giants lose their fourth straight to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  After climbing to within one game of first place, the Giants now find themselves 2.5 games back of the idle Robins and the Reds whom defeat the visiting Boston Braves.  Otherwise, the look on John McGraw's face said it all as he observes veteran Pirates southpaw Wilbur Cooper limit his Giants to three runs on eleven hits and three walks with six strikeouts for his 21st victory against eleven losses with a 2.38 ERA.  Pittsburgh opens the scoring in the first; withstand three Giants runs in the fourth; then close out the scoring with three runs in the fifth.  New York's southpaw Rube Benton yields four runs, only two earned, on six hits and two walks through 4.1 innings pitched.  By the time John McGraw replaces Benton with Fred Toney it's too late, the damage is done.  Shortstop Dave Bancroft's 36th error leads to a pair of unearned runs from which the Giants do not recover.  New York's catcher Frank Snyder is big man on campus going 2 for 3 with a walk, double, triple, two runs batted in and a run scored.

• RECORD: 67-57 (.540)
• 3rd Place; 2.5 GB

N.Y. Islanders: Flyers Best Effort Still Not Good Enough

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019    PLAYOFFS    2020

Isles lead Flyers; 3-1

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

II - PHI 4; NYI 3*

III - NYI 3; PHI 1

IV - NYI 3; PHI 2

*overtime

Look What the Isles did to the Flyers ... Again! 

What you saw in game four was Philadelphia's best effort.  I promise you.  Alain Vigneault is a good regular season coach but when it comes to the playoffs his system short circuits.

Where's his Cup-O-Fame?  That's me the Rangers fan speaking ... otherwise you Isles fans know I'm an objective observer.

Philadelphia out-shoots (38-33) the Islanders and they out-hit (39-35) the Islanders and it still gets them nowhere.  In fact, game four had all the makings of a bad night: Thomas Greiss making his first start of the postseason and the Isles allowing the most shots on goal since entering the bubble.  But all Long Island nomads know scoring and playing physical hockey have never been problems for the Islanders.

Thomas Greiss indeed makes his first start of these playoffs.  Although Greiss appears in relief of Semyon Varlamov during game two - which the Islanders lose 4-3 in overtime - this marks Thomas' first start since way back on March 7th against Carolina.  Playing in front of Greiss, the Islanders yield a playoff high 38 shots on goal.  A fresh Thomas Greiss steels the show stopping all but two.  A great spot start by him.

But when people say "Flyers turnovers" I say Islanders defense.

After a scoreless first period, Brock Nelson and Philly's Sean Couturier trade second period even-strength goals.  Long Island then takes the wind from beneath the Flyers wings with two goals in the third just four minutes apart by Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Brock Nelson's second of the game.  Yeah, the Islanders allowed a goal in the last two minutes, but in this instance it's okay.

The Islanders now own a commanding 3-1 series lead over Alain Vigneault's floundering Philadelphia Flyers.

100 Years Ago Today 8/31/1920: Brooklyn Robins Take Back First Place As September Looms

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Game #126: Tuesday, August 31, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Sportsman's Park

First Place Brooklyn Robins Achieve Victory Number Seventy with Twenty-Nine Games Left to Play 

Message to Uncle Robbie: Don't look back or you just might see who is behind you.

After all, New York City is still John McGraw's empire.  But it's also a not so subtle reminder that the National League pennant is up for grabs. 

If over these last five months you've remained a member of the staunch Brooklyn skeptics and Robins naysayers, then perhaps Tuesday's contest finally swayed you into believing this surprisingly irrepressible team - virtually unchanged from last season - genuinely stands poised to win another National League pennant.  From the lips of yours truly to the ears of Charlie Byrne!  But the McKeever Brothers and Charlie Ebbets himself believe this to be true.  Fans filing into 55 Sullivan Place in exponentially record numbers are all the proof they need.

With Tuesday's 5-2 victory at Sportsman's Park the Robins finish the month of August with a modest 14-13 record.  However, the true significance of Tuesday's game is that it marks Brooklyn's seventieth victory of the regular season.  It's one win above last season's total; thirteen more than achieved in 1918; and presently matches their 1917 output.  Only difference being this year's Robins still have twenty-nine games left to play.  Everything now points back to 1916 when the Robins win 94 games and capture the pennant by a 2.5 game margin over Philadelphia.  It may take that many wins if not more in order to keep at bay the defending champion Cincinnati Reds and surging New York Giants.  But make no mistake, the road to the pennant presently courses through Brooklyn, as both Cincinnati and the New York Giants visit Ebbets Field in late September.

Back on the field, the Robins lose their series against St. Louis but at least salvage a victory in their final visit this season to Sportsman's Park.  Unlike yesterday Brooklyn stays a step ahead of the Cardinals with a 2-1 lead after three, trading runs in the sixth, then closing with two more runs in the seventh en route to a 5-2 final.  Bernie Neis getting a start in center field goes 2 for 5 with two runs batted in.  Hi Myers, Ed Konetchy and Pete Kilduff also drive in a run apiece.  Starter Jeff Pfeffer improves to 12-8 with a 2.90 ERA, after yielding two runs on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts through a full nine.  Boston's extra-inning triumph over Cincinnati coupled with Brooklyn's victory once again gives the Robins a half-game lead over the Reds. 

Meanwhile, the New York Giants lose yet again at Forbes Field placing them two games out of first.  We know Wilbert Robinson and John McGraw are no longer the close friends they once were.  It seems the only things they have in common theses days are their respective issues playing Pittsburgh.

• RECORD: 70-55 (.560)
• 1st Place; 0.5 GA

Subway Series Recap with The Coop on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH & MIKE

GUEST

THE COOP IS BACK! 

"My Summer Family" - Taryn Cooper

New York, New York, it's a hell of a baseball town where local Mets and Yankees fans ride in a hole in the ground (hopefully wearing masks while practicing social distancing).  The subway system has run parallel with New York City's baseball history for well over a century.  In fact, five score and sixteen years ago local fans via the city's new subway system begin commuting to the Polo Grounds and Washington Park in Brooklyn.  Before long fans are third-railing their way to Ebbets Field and Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium decades later.  Today's commute to the new modern parks is no different.  However, Major League Baseball is doing its damndest to impose change upon the game and its fans.  This begs the question: is it worth swiping a MetroCard be it to River Avenue or Rosevelt Avenue in order to see a seven inning ballgame?

A recap of the five game Subway Series that was between Bronx and Queens

#LGM

100 Years Ago Today 8/30/1920: Cardinals Twin Bill Sweep Drops Brooklyn Robins Into Second Place

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #124: Monday, August 30, 1920 - GAME ONE/BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Sportsmans Park

Veteran Bill Doak Gives Robins a Birdbath

Cardinals veteran starter Bill Doak, in the midst of one of his best seasons, offers the visiting Robins no quarter.  He faces just 29 batters while limiting Brooklyn to five scattered hits and no walks through nine shutout innings.  He improves to 17-10 with a 2.64 ERA.  Tommy Griffith, Pete Kilduff, Otto Miller and pinch hitter Bill Lamar account for the Robins only hits.  Brooklyn is 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.  Facing Rube Marquard, the Cardinals break a scoreless tie in the fifth.  The score remains unchanged through the seventh.  But the roof caves in on Marquard during the eighth.  Wilbert Robinson makes no move as Marquard issues a lead-off walk to Hal Janvrin then yields three straight base hits.  St. Louis goes on to tally four runs en route to a 6-0 whitewashing.  Marquard's record now stands at 8-7 with a 3.29 ERA after allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits and four walks with five strikeouts through eight innings pitched.



Game #125: Monday, August 30, 1920, GAME TWO/BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Sportsmans Park

Leon Cadore Ruins Ferdie Schupp Shutout; Cardinals Complete Twin Bill Sweep

Where'd everybody go ...?

Brooklyn buckles in the late innings as the St. Louis Cardinals complete a twin bill sweep at Sportsman's Park.  Leon Cadore toes the rubber opposed by former New York Giants southpaw Ferdie Schupp.  The two duel through a one-all tie through six.  But similar to Rube Marquard in game one, the roof caves in late in the game atop Leon Cadore.  St. Louis erupts for two runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth.  Reliever Sherry Smith fares no better.  Jimmy Johnston accounts for three of Brooklyn's six total hits, but only Cadore himself can muster the Robins' lone run batted in - a home run, no less, in the third.  Otherwise, Ferdie Schupp effectively shuts out Brooklyn's positional eight.  Cincinnati defeats the Braves at Redland Field and take back possession of first place.  Meanwhile, the New York Giants are swept by the Pirates in their twin bill at Forbes Field.

• RECORD: 69-55 (.556)
• 2nd Place; 0.5 GB