When It Rains, It Pours

This time there was no bank heist; this time Igor Shesterkin couldn't save his team.

The Eastern Conference Finals between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers are tied at two games a piece, but for all intents and purposes, this series couldn't be more lopsided. Save for five periods, the Panthers have been the better team. Their size and forechecking have been too much for the Blueshirts to overcome.

Tuesday night's loss was particularly frustrating. New York outshot Florida 12-11 in the opening frame and took a 1-0 lead into second period, courtesy of a Vincent Trocheck power play goal, their first of the series. It was, by far, the Rangers best period of hockey since game one against the Carolina Hurricanes, and only the third time in the postseason they held the opponent scoreless in the first period. 

And then, just like in game three, the wheels came off. The Panthers pinned the Rangers in their end pretty much the rest of the game. They outshot New York 29-10. It was only through the sheer brilliance of their Vezina trophy goaltender that they didn't lose in regulation. A reckless cross-ice pass by Mika Zibanejad at the blue line in the opening minute of OT forced Blake Wheeler to take a hooking penalty, which led to the game winning, power play goal by Sam Reinhart.

Optimistically, one could say that the Rangers accomplished what they had to do in Florida: they got the split and recaptured home ice. Realistically, however, they are very fortunate to be tied. By any and all rights, the Panthers should be ahead 3-1 with a chance to close out the series at the Garden Thursday night. And here's the dilemma the Rangers find themselves in: not only are they being badly outplayed by the Panthers, their record going into a game five hardly elicits confidence. Including the last series against the Canes, since the 1991-92 season, the Rangers are 13-23 overall in game fives, 0-6 in their last six conference finals, four of which were at home. Talk about having two strikes against you.

The simple truth is that the Panthers top players are playing better than the Rangers top players. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaaeghe have eight goals between them, while Mika Zibanaejad, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck have two. Indeed, the Rangers most effective forwards against Florida so far have been Alexis Lafreniere and Barclay Goodrow. Each player has three goals a piece.

While it was encouraging that their power play finally showed some life in game four, the Rangers still haven't been able to solve the Panthers forecheck. They continue to get pinned down in their own end. The relentlessness of the Florida attack is forcing New York into turnovers that are leading to scoring chances against Shesterkin. According to Steve Valiquette, the Panthers had 12 high-danger scoring chances to the Rangers 5 in game four. It was 11-2 in the second and third periods.

And even when the Rangers do manage to successfully exit their zone, they have been unable to sustain much of a forecheck in the Panthers zone. That's because Florida is number one in the NHL in puck retrieval. Below is a breakdown of the shot totals in games three and four. They reveal the enormity of the Rangers problem.

Put succinctly, these numbers are unsustainable. No goaltending in the world can overcome such a disparity. The Hurricanes outshot the Rangers, sure, but many of their shots were from the permitter. The Panthers are getting more than a third of their total shot attempts from the slot. There is not one shot stat above in which the Blueshirts are competitive. If these numbers don't improve by game five, the Rangers season will come to an end June 1.

There is plenty of blame to go around, but the lion's share has to go to Zibanejad and Kreider. Neither has registered a point so far in this series. Zibanaejad, in particular, hasn't scored a goal since game one of the Carolina series. He missed a wide open net while the Rangers were on their second power play of the first period in game four, which would've given his team a 2-0 lead. His lack of judgment on that cross-ice pass in OT cost his team a win. And while Kreider's hat trick in game six against the Hurricanes clinched that series for the Rangers, he has a grand total of five shots on goal in this series, none in game four.

Zibanejad and Kreider aren't the only ones with a lot at stake. At his postgame presser, head coach Peter Laviolette expressed frustration at the Rangers inability to handle the Florida forecheck. "We're spending a little too much time playing defense, especially in the second period, and we're not able to move and generate the way we want to out there." Laviolette was brought in specifically to make the necessary adjustments to get this team over the hump. If he's stumped, that's a problem.

Whether it's splitting up Bonnie and Clyde or starting the second power play unit ahead of the first, the time for patience is over. Two years ago, Gerard Gallant chose to stand pat while the Tampa Bay Lightning ended the Rangers season. A repeat performance at the hands of the Panthers will not sit well with a fanbase that has been waiting 30 years for another moment that will last a lifetime.

The Sunshine Snatch

This just in: Authorities in Sunrise, Florida are investigating an alleged heist that took place at Amerant Bank Arena yesterday afternoon. The Florida Panthers, according to law enforcement officials, were robbed of what should've been a win and a 2-1 series lead against the New York Rangers. While they don't yet know the identity of the culprit, they do have a description. He's 6-1, 197 lbs, and was last seen driving on I-95 wearing a goalie mask. Police are encouraging anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of this individual to contact their local precinct before game four on Tuesday.

Seriously, what happened in game three made the 1978 Lufthansa heist look like a couple kids stealing their buddy's lunch money. Igor Shesterkin - the above culprit, in case you were wondering - has stolen many a game in his relatively brief career as an NHL goaltender. None could compare with what we witnessed yesterday afternoon, especially in the third period, when the Rangers spent most of the twenty minutes trapped in their own end. After tying the score at 4 at the 6:58 mark, the Panthers tried repeatedly to get the go-ahead goal, but were turned away each and every time. Not even a time out called by Peter Laviolette with 11:30 left in regulation was able to stem the onslaught.

It was, without a doubt, the worst period of hockey the Rangers have played in these playoffs, and that includes the third period in game five against the Carolina Hurricanes. Conversely, it was the Panthers best period, certainly in this series. Which makes the result - a 5-4 OT win for the Blueshirts - that much more remarkable.

Consider the following: The Rangers are 0-8 on the power play through three games; their top players - Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Adam Fox - have yet to score a goal; and the team as a whole has played maybe four good periods of hockey the entire series. By any objective metric, the Panthers should be up 2-1 instead of down 1-2. And yet, strange as it may seem, the Rangers are two wins away from their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in ten years.

The lack of production from the stars is becoming alarming and is unsustainable. As Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post pointed out, "Either the Rangers are so deep that they might be unbeatable, or their stars are in such a slump that they might be doomed." Yesterday, it looked more like the former as Barclay Goodrow - AKA Clarke Gillies - scored a pair of goals, the latter while New York was shorthanded, and Alex Wennberg - one goal in 19 regular-season games as a Ranger and none in the playoffs - netted the game winner in OT.

But if New York wants to avoid the latter, it must get its power play going, and soon. As I wrote in my last piece, "there is no pathway to a Stanley Cup for the Rangers that doesn't include a productive power play." The Panthers, with one power play goal in game two and two in game three, are winning the special teams battle. Their relentless forechecking is starting to take its toll. Eventually, it will wear the Rangers down. It's only a matter of time. Resiliency can only take you so far in the postseason. Just ask the New York Knicks.

Look, the Panthers are the bigger team; that's pretty obvious. The Rangers, when they get their transition game going, are the faster one. We've seen examples of that speed in this series. We need to see more, a lot more.

Two years ago, the Rangers held a 2-1 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals before finally running out of gas. This year's team didn't have to play as many games to get to this point. That could prove to be the difference between winning the Cup or falling short.

We'll know soon enough if it is.

Goody Enough

For sixty minutes, the New York Rangers threw everything they had at the Florida Panthers. They fought tooth and nail for every inch of ice. They scraped, they clawed, they hit and they got hit. They were twice the team they were in game one. And all it got them was a 1-1 tie going into overtime. The Panthers, having won game one at the Garden 3-0, and with it home ice, were playing with house money. A win would give them a stranglehold on the series going back to their home arena. The Rangers were looking at an almost impossible task, one that only one team since 1945 had accomplished: winning a best of seven conference or league final series after dropping the first two games at home.

Barclay Goodrow's snapshot from the slot at 14:01 of OT didn't just win the game for the Rangers, it saved their season. If ever there was a must win situation, last night was it. So now the Presidents' Trophy winners get an opportunity to recapture home ice with a split in Sunrise, Florida. The hockey gods were indeed merciful, for a change.

But while Goodrow's teammates celebrated their good fortune, there is still much work that needs to be done if this team is to advance to the finals for the first time since 2014, and only the second time since their Cup year of 1994. For starters, the special teams have been anything but special of late. After going 11-25 on the power play in their first six postseason games, the Rangers have gone 1-16 over their last six, including 0-4 last night. The Rangers record over those first six games was 6-0; over the last six, it's 3-3.

The concern is palpable. Going into this series with the Panthers, the Rangers had two advantages going for them: their goaltending and their power play. Well, Igor Shesterkin has held up his end of the bargain. The former Vezina Trophy winner has gone toe to toe with Sergei Bobrovsky. Not counting the own goal Alexis Lafreniere deflected past him in game one, Shesterkin has stopped 51 of 53 shots on goal for a .962 save percentage through two games. That's the sort of brilliance that can earn a player the Conn-Smythe Award.

But no matter how brilliant Igor may be, he cannot drag this team across the finish line all by himself. He needs help. Put succinctly, there is no pathway to a Stanley Cup for the Rangers that doesn't include a productive power play. None. Their 5v5 play simply isn't good enough. During the regular season, New York had a GF% of 50.15 at 5v5. By contrast, Florida was 56.57. The fact is the Rangers got lucky last night. They actually outscored the Panthers 2-0 at even strength. Depending on that luck to continue would be foolhardy.

The problem is a familiar one. For all the elite talent on this team, the Rangers power play remains as predictable as dirt. They tried mixing it up a bit against the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, and, eureka, it worked. But then like a drunk on a bender, the old habits returned. Since game three of the Canes series, the Blueshirts have stubbornly resisted even tweaking their power play. The results - one power play goal in the last six games - speak for themselves. The Panthers know exactly what's coming and they are prepared for it. In the first two games of this series, the Rangers have yet to register a single high-danger scoring chance with the man advantage. If Peter Laviolette and his staff don't rectify this problem soon, game five will be the last home game of the season for this team.

But even if they manage to fix the power play, there's one more nagging issue that besets them. The Rangers continue to have trouble exiting the defensive zone. While not as proficient as game one, Florida was still able to pin New York in its own end most of the game. The lack of clean exits is bound to take its toll as the series progresses, especially the way the Panthers take the body. The Rangers must find a way to get the puck into the neutral zone that doesn't involve multiple hits along the boards. Laviolette was hired because of his ability to make adjustments on the fly. Now would be a good time to make at least two of them.

Game three is Sunday afternoon. The Rangers are tied with the Panthers. They have Barclay Goodrow to thank for that.

Panthers Send Rangers a Wakeup Call

The scoresheet said Florida 1, New York 0 late in the third period. Close game, right? Well, if you were on the ESPN app, maybe. But no one who watched the game live could, if they were being honest, say it was close. Apart from a brief flurry with just over seven minutes left in the game, in which Alexis Lafreniere hit the post, the Panthers played, for all intents and purposes, a flawless road game.

Quite frankly, I was taken aback by the posts I saw on Twitter. The normally critical fanbase was bending over backwards to rationalize what happened at MSG last night. "It's just one game.""They were one play away from tying the score." "No need to panic." "They were rusty." "The Panthers aren't really that good."

I agree with most of the above statements. Yes, it is only one game. Even the '94 team lost game one against the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Finals and game one against the Vancouver Canucks in the Cup Finals before winning in seven. It still takes four games to win a series. Yes, despite being outplayed, they were one play away from tying the score. Yes, I agree, there's no need to panic; Laviolette and his coaching staff will make adjustments. And, finally, they did look rusty, or perhaps tentative would be a better word; that won't be the case in game two, hopefully.

But let's get something straight right now. The Panthers really are this good. They put on a clinic last night. They pinned the Rangers in their own end most of the game and dictated the play. I counted on one hand the number of times the Blueshirts had a clean exit into the neutral zone that wasn't intercepted by the Panthers and dumped back in. The only reason it was still 1-0 halfway through the third period was because Igor Shesterkin made several key saves, especially in the second period where the Rangers went almost 14 minutes without a shot on goal. The normally raucous Garden crowd sounded more like they were attending a funeral than a playoff game, that's how quiet it was.

Consider the following: since losing game one of their last series against the Boston Bruins 5-1, the Panthers have not given up more than two goals per game once. Check out these scores: 6-1 Panthers, 6-2 Panthers, 3-2 Panthers, 2-1 Bruins, 2-1 Panthers and 3-0 Panthers. And lest you think this was all Sergei Bobrovsky's doing, the players in front of him did most of the heavy lifting. The shots on goal against were 15, 17, 18, 28, 23 and 23 respectively. Even Freddie Andersen couldn't have blown those games, though I suspect he would've tried.

This isn't the Carolina Hurricanes the Rangers are playing here. This is the toughest opponent they have faced, quite possibly in years. The Panthers have size and depth throughout their lineup; they can defend as well as any team in the NHL; and they have a world-class goalie in net just in case they make a mistake. Beating them will require more than just an adjustment or two.

The fact is, despite the outcome, New York didn't play all that badly last night. This wasn't a repeat performance of game five against the Canes in which the Rangers managed only one high danger scoring chance. The Blueshirts actually showed up for this one; the Panthers were simply the better team from start to finish.

Which is why the Rangers, if they have any hope of winning this series, are going to have to go where they historically have resisted going: the middle of the ice. Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanajed must drive to the net when they have the puck. Pulling up in the offensive zone and forcing a cross-ice pass that has no chance of connecting with a teammate is only making the Panthers job easier. To advance in the postseason you need to go where angels fear to tread. Yes, they will get hit, and hit hard, if they do that. But that's part of the game.

Chris Kreider summed it up best: "Our whole entire game has to be a lot better. It wasn't there nearly enough tonight. It boils down to playing north-south hockey, getting pucks out, getting pucks in. That's the kind of hockey they played."

Bottom line: there needs to be a greater sense of urgency from everyone; a desire to do whatever it takes to win. The Panthers showed that desire last night; the Rangers must find it by game two or this will be a very short series.

NHL Playoff Preview (Round Three)

And then there were four.

The conference finals are set to begin this week, and for the second time in three years the Rangers find themselves on the verge of a finals appearance, having dispatched the analytics darlings of the hockey world: the Carolina Hurricanes.

I went four for four in the last round, which brings my playoff record up to an outstanding 11-1. My lone blemish was the Winnipeg Jets. I still can't get over just how badly they were beaten by the Colorado Avalanche. 

Unlike last season, there are no surprises here. No wildcards that got hot late and made a run. All four of these conference finalists are legit Stanley Cup contenders, meaning any one of them could find themselves hoisting that chalice in June. And that makes this the most unpredictable third round in years.

Like the last round, I'll start with the East and end with the West.

Eastern Conference:

New York vs. Florida: The last time these two franchises met in the postseason was 1997. It would be the last hurrah for Messier, Gretzky, Tikkanen, Leetch and Richter, and also the last time the Blueshirts would make the playoffs until 2006.

Both these teams avoided long, drawn-out series in their first two rounds. The Rangers swept the Washington Capitals and beat the Hurricanes in six, while the Panthers needed only five games to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning and six games to send the Boston Bruins packing. That means that both teams will have plenty in the gas tank this round. And they will need it.

It's no secret that the Rangers rely on their special teams and elite goaltending. Against the Canes, New York went 5-18 on the power play and scored two short handed goals, while Carolina went 2-21. Overall in the playoffs, the Rangers power play is operating at 31.4 percent, while their penalty kill is at 89.5 percent. Both are second best among active playoff teams. The Panthers power play isn't quite as impressive, coming in at 22.0 percent. However, their penalty kill is a formidable 86.1 percent.

Both teams have elite forwards in their top six, led by Artemi Panarin for the Rangers and Sam Reinhart for the Panthers, and depth throughout the lineup, though Florida's third line is slightly better than New York's. Both teams have solid defensive pairings, though the Panthers D is slightly bigger and more physical, Jacob Trouba notwithstanding. The key for the Rangers will be Adam Fox. The former Norris Trophy winner has only four assists in the playoffs. He needs to step it up in this series.

As in the last round, goaltending will be crucial for New York. Igor Shesterkin outperformed Freddie Andersen, who as it turned out, didn't quite live up to his billing. The Rangers net minder has a 2.40 goals against average and a .923 save percentage in ten games. His opponent, Sergei Bobrovsky, has a 2.37 goals against average and a .902 save percentage in eleven games.

Unlike the Hurricanes, the Panthers just don't throw a ton of shots at the net in an attempt to create "chaos." They excel at driving to the net and creating high-danger scoring chances. It is imperative that the Rangers stay disciplined with their puck management and do their best to keep the area in front of their net as clear as possible. The more pucks Igor sees, the more saves he will be able to make. The Panthers led the league during the regular season in being penalized, mostly due to their physical style of play. If that trend continues in this series, the Rangers must make them pay.

Interesting tidbit: Paul Maurice and Peter Laviolette share something in common. They both coached the Hurricanes. Maurice was replaced by Laviolette in '04. Then in '08, Laviolette was replaced by Maurice. Both men left notes for each other.

Last year, the Panthers made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Rangers, after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals the year before, were eliminated in the first round by the New Jersey Devils. Both teams have something to prove to themselves and to their respective fan bases. This should be one helluva series. Rangers in seven.

Western Conference:

Dallas vs. Edmonton: Last season, the Stars lost to the Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals. This season, they knocked off Vegas in the first round and now find themselves up against the NHL's perennial bridesmaids. The Oilers, led by Connor McDavid, have been knocking on Lord Stanley's door for the last four years but have never made it passed the conference finals. This season under Kris Knoblauch, they've learned how to take care of their own end. The result is an offense that can still light up the sky combined with a defense that can shut down opponents.

The Stars have the edge in depth - they can roll four lines - and in goal. But the Oilers have the edge on special teams where their 37.5 percent power play will wreak havoc on a Stars penalty kill unit that is a woeful 69.2 percent. It should be noted that the Colorado Avalanche also had a very potent power play - 36.7 percent - yet still lost to the Stars.

Two years ago, I picked the Oilers over the Avs in six. So what happened? The Avs swept the Oilers. This time around, I'm going with the better all-around team. Stars in six.

Just in case the Rangers don't advance, this is my prediction for the Stanley Cup Finals: 

Panthers over the Stars 4-3. 

Conn-Smythe Trophy: Matthew Tkachuk 

The Future Looks Bright for the Knicks

In the end, time was never on the New York Knicks side. Once they blew that nine point, fourth-quarter lead in game three and lost to the Indiana Pacers, this series became a war of attrition. And wars of attrition never end well for the team that is shorthanded. Apart from game five, the Pacers were in total control the rest of the way. They won every matchup on both ends of the court. Not even the raucous Garden crowd could save their beloved team.

The list of the Knicks walking wounded could fill an NBA roster. Julius Randle (shoulder), Mitchell Robinson (ankle), OG Anunoby (hamstring), Bojan Bogdanovic (foot), Josh Hart (abdomen), and, yes, even their MVP, Jalen Brunson (hand). You can't keep saying "next man up" once you've run out of men. Brunson was the last straw. Once he went down, Tom Thibodeau was basically left with a five-man rotation. In other words, no bench.

It sucks, I know, that the season had to end this way, because let's be honest: if the above players had been healthy and available in this series, the Knicks would've won in five. You know; I know it; even Indiana knows it. But that doesn't change the facts on the ground. Injuries are a part of the game and always will be. Thibodeau, for his part, didn't blame his team's loss on injuries. Instead, he congratulated the Pacers and looked forward to what lies ahead for this team. And what lies ahead is very promising.

Think about it: the Knicks went 12-2 in the month of January with a roster that included Isaiah Hartenstein, Randle, Anunoby, Donte DiVincenzo, Hart, Precious Achiuwa and Deuce McBride. They beat teams like the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Philadelphia 76ers (with a healthy Joel Embiid) and the Miami Heat with that roster. Fully healthy, this is a team that can compete for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. And that's before Leon Rose uses one or more of his first round draft picks to land another scorer, which you gotta believe he will spend the bulk of the summer doing.

But who to get? There's Dejounte Murray. The shooting guard would make the ideal two. A backcourt of Brunson and Murray would be formidable. Atlanta will ask for the proverbial king's ransom for him. Mikal Bridges is another intriguing possibility. Though technically more a small forward than a guard, he did play with Brunson and Hart at Villanova, so there's a history between the three. Like Murray, he will not come cheap. Assuming the Brooklyn Nets are willing to part with their number one star, you'd have to think they'd be reluctant to trade him to a cross-town rival.

Then there are the usual suspects: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Paul George. I'd pass on all three, especially Durant, who when he had the chance to sign with New York five years ago, chose Brooklyn instead because he thought the former was "not cool" to play for. Fuck him. As for Booker and George, neither has done much for their respective teams. The last thing Rose needs is to replicate his predecessors mistakes by bringing in high-priced mercenaries who have historically underperformed in the playoffs. The reason Knicks fans have fallen in love with this team is because they work their butts off. Whether they're up by ten or down by ten, they never stop hustling. Can you imagine KD running up and down the court the way Josh Hart does? Neither can I.

Which brings me to an issue that was brought up by Mike Greenberg on ESPN. Greenberg suggested that perhaps the reason the Knicks sustained so many injuries was because of the system Thibodeau employs. Let me put this to bed right now. Yes, Thibs demands a lot of his players; yes, it can take its toll. But, no, it had absolutely nothing to do with the injuries. Robinson broke his ankle against the Boston Celtics in December and then re-injured it because of a dirty play by Embiid in the Sixers series; Randle dislocated his right shoulder driving to the basket against the Miami Heat; Anunoby had bone spurs that required surgery and then pulled his hamstring reaching for an errant pass in the Pacers series; Bogdanovic stepped on an opposing players foot in the Sixers series; and Hart pulled an abdominal muscle reaching for a rebound in game six of the Pacers series. Every one of these injuries could just as well have occurred with a different coach employing a different coaching style.

And here's another bogus claim that needs to be put out of its misery. Thibs does not bury players on the bench; they bury themselves. Alec Burks was given multiple opportunities to earn playing time; he didn't capitalize on them. Yes, it was nice to see him contribute some in the playoffs, but for anybody who was watching this team during the regular season, the last player they wanted to see on the court was Burks. He was, for all intents and purposes, useless. Worse than that, he was a negative, meaning he cost his team valuable points.

But all that aside, I'm very bullish on the Knicks. It's been a very long time since I've been able to say that about this franchise; the 1990s, in fact. With Rose and Thibs at the helm, they are in good hands. 

The future looks bright for the men in orange and white.

Hey, that rhymes.

Kreider and Shesterkin Save the Rangers Bacon

It was May 25, 1994, and the New York Rangers were trailing their rivals, the New Jersey Devils 2-0 midway through the second period of game six of the Eastern Conference Finals. The only reason it was 2-0 and not 5-0 was because of Mike Richter. He practically stood on his head doing his best to keep his team within striking distance. A loss would've ended the Blueshirts season, and 54 years would've become 55 and counting. Those "Nineteen Forty" chants would've gone on, perhaps forever. 

That's when Mark Messier took over. He fed a drop pass to Alex Kovalev in the right face-off circle, and the winger beat Martin Brodeur with a slap shot to cut the Devils lead in half. And then the Captain had the third period of a lifetime, scoring a natural hat trick to propel his team to victory. Two days later, Stephane Matteau completed the series comeback with a double overtime goal. On June 14, the Rangers would finally exorcize their demons and capture the Stanley Cup.

Last night, the Rangers found themselves trailing by two goals entering the third period of a game six. Though the circumstances were different - this Rangers team was ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes instead of behind - the ramifications were almost as dire. New York had jumped out to a 3-0 series lead and the Hurricanes were now twenty minutes away from forcing a game seven at Madison Square Garden. There was a very real chance that the Rangers would become only the fifth team in NHL history to lose a series after leading 3-0.

Igor Shesterkin, like Richter 30 years earlier, had done everything possible to give his team a chance at avoiding what may well have been the worst collapse in franchise history. He made save after save and was even aided by several posts that the Canes hit. But to overcome the deficit, the Rangers needed someone else to step up and take the reigns.

Enter Chris Kreider. The twelve-year veteran scored three consecutive goals to stun the crowd in Raleigh. An empty netter by Barclay Goodrow was the icing on the cake. The Rangers won the game 5-3 and took the series 4-2. For the second time in three years, New York has advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals where they await the winner of the Florida / Boston series.

There's no easy way to put this. The Rangers were very fortunate. They had played five consecutive periods of poor hockey in which they were outscored 7-2. Their power play had gone ice cold. Had Freddie Andersen not gifted them with two questionable goals - the first to Artemi Panarin in game one; the second to Kreider in game six, the final outcome might have gone the other way. For those who still insist that goaltending is overrated, hopefully this series will serve as a wakeup call. From Ken Dryden to Andrei Vasilevskiy, elite goalies have always played an integral role in their teams Stanley Cup championships. Maybe instead of trading for Jake Guentzel, Don Waddell should've traded for someone like Jordan Binnington or Jacob Markstrom. Either would've done a much better job in net than Andersen. The fact is, had the Hurricanes gotten better goaltending in last year's playoffs against the Panthers, there's no way in hell they would've been swept.

But that's Carolina's problem, isn't it? As for the Rangers, they will have their work cut out for them against Florida, assuming Florida wraps up its series tonight in Boston. Unlike the Canes, the team formerly known as the Puddy Tats doesn't take a bunch of shots from the perimeter in the hopes of causing "chaos" in front of the net. They drive to the net and make life a living hell for opposing goaltenders. The only reason the Bruins forced a game six is because Jeremy Swayman did his best Patrick Roy impersonation. I can assure you if Sam Reinhart has the puck on his stick 20 feet out from Shesterkin, he's not going to hit the post. The Panthers have no discernible weaknesses. If the Rangers struggle at all in this series, they will lose. Period.

But for now they can relax and celebrate. They have advanced to the NHL's version of the Final Four. The last time a Presidents' Trophy winner made it this far was 2015. That team, oddly enough, was the Rangers.

And our hero of the day, Chris Kreider, was a member of that team.

Rangers Phone It In

"They wanted it more." - Vincent Trocheck

I'll say this for Trocheck, he's honest.

With a chance to close out their series with the Carolina Hurricanes in front of their loyal fans, the New York Rangers had one of their worst performances of the season. How bad was this game? According to CSA Hockey, which is owned and operated by Stephen Valiquette, they had only one high danger scoring chance to the Hurricanes 10 the entire game.* And that one HD scoring chance was Jacob Trouba's shorthanded goal in the second period, which gave the Blueshirts a 1-0 lead that they took into the third period. Think about it: as bad as they played, they were still 20 minutes away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

It is incomprehensible and indefensible that this team was not prepared to play a Carolina team that was facing elimination. Even during their swoon in January, the Rangers mustered better offensive efforts. Frankly, I'm at a loss to explain it. And now this team, which had a commanding 3-0 series lead, heads back to Raleigh, clinging to 3-2 lead, but facing a Hurricanes team that has all the momentum on its side.

It is an axiom in sports that when you have your opponent pinned, you don't let him off the mat. Perhaps it was unrealistic to believe that the Rangers were going to sweep a Hurricanes team that finished only three points behind them during the regular season. And given how tight this series had been through the first three games, two of which went to OT, the law of averages dictated that the Canes were due for a win.

But what happened at the Garden Monday night had nothing to do with the law of averages. This loss was not inevitable; in fact, it was completely preventable. Considering how the Rangers imploded last season against the New Jersey Devils, you'd think every player in that locker room would be cognizant of that fact before the game. You'd think that, but you'd be wrong.

Alarm bells should be going off all over this team. From their slow starts, to their suddenly ice-cold power play, which is now 0 for its last 8 after starting the series 4 for 9, the sense of urgency is simply not there. About the only thing they're excelling at is their penalty kill, which is 19-20 with two short-handed goals in this series. Overall in the playoffs, the Rangers penalty kill is a league-best 91.9 percent.

The Rangers will have to step up their intensity if they expect to put away Carolina. What worked in games one, two and three did not work in games four and five, and it won't work in game six either. Of all the teams in the playoffs, the Rangers should know that most of all. Two years ago, they were faced with no less than six elimination games and they went 5-1 in those games. So far this postseason, the Hurricanes are 2-0 facing elimination; it is imperative that they not get to 3-0 after Thursday night.

If the Rangers need a little inspiration, they need look no further than the other tenant that resides at MSG. After getting embarrassed by the Indiana Pacers Sunday afternoon, the New York Knicks took to the court Tuesday night and, in front of their adoring fans, returned the favor. They outscored the Pacers in every quarter and out rebounded them 53-29, en-route to a 121-91 rout. Now that's what I call resiliency; that's how you take care of business. If the Rangers were smart, they were watching that game and hopefully took some notes.

Fourteen years ago yesterday, the Philadelphia Flyers, down 0-3 to the Boston Bruins, successfully completed a four-game series comeback. They're one of only four teams in NHL history to achieve such a feat. The coach of that Flyers team was Peter Laviolette. If the Rangers don't wake up, Laviolette will have the distinction of being the only head coach to be on both sides of an 0-3 comeback.

And that's a piece of history neither this coach nor this team should want any part of.

* According to Valiquette, this was just the 9th time since 2016 that the Rangers had been limited to one or fewer HD scoring chances in a game.

Knicks Running on Fumes in Indiana

The final outcome in game four of Eastern Conference semifinals was never in doubt. The Indiana Pacers routed the New York Knicks 121-89. They led by 20 after one, 28 at the half, 38 after three, and 42 early in the 4th quarter. The Knicks led once in this game: 2-0 in the opening minute. Here's all you needed to know about how bad things went for the Knicks: Alec Burks was their leading scorer at halftime with 11 points. The Nova triplets? They finished a combined 1-13 from downtown.

The series is now tied at two, with game five at the Garden Tuesday night. Just based on what we saw on Sunday, it could well be the last home game for the Knicks. Seriously, you'd have to be the world's most incurable optimist to believe this team will be able to summon the energy needed to extend this series to seven games, much less advance to the conference finals. Let's face it: they looked gassed out there against a healthier and much deeper Indiana team.

You could see this series starting to slip away in the 4th quarter of game three. The Knicks led 90-85 after the 3rd quarter, and 98-89 with 9:46 to go in the 4th. They would make only two more jumps shots the rest of the way, getting outscored 26-16 in the quarter and losing 111-106. For only the second time in these playoffs, the Knicks failed to close out a game in which they led in the 4th quarter. Think about that. A team that, sans game five of the Sixers series, has owned the 4th quarter, got owned.

And now this incredibly resilient team, which has lost half its roster and more closely resembles a walking MASH unit, has to pull a proverbial rabbit out of the hat in order to keep their postseason dreams alive. And just to be clear, if the Knicks lose game five, there will be no game seven. The Pacers will close it out in six.

This wasn't the way it was drawn up. After the trade with Toronto, the Knicks had a front court of Isaiah Hartenstein, Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, a back court of Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVencenzo, and a bench that included Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa and Deuce McBride. Then Randle went down, followed by Anunoby. Leon Rose added two more pieces to the puzzle in Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic with the hope that Randle, Anunoby and maybe even Mitchell Robinson would return in time for the playoffs. On paper, this had the makings of a genuine championship contender; at the very least a conference finalist.

But Randle never did come back; and while Anunoby did, his injury in game two of the Pacers series, coupled with the injuries to Robinson and Bogdanovic in the Sixers series, has all but crippled this team. Coach Tom Thibodeau, facing a depleted bench, has been forced to play his starters 45 plus minutes per game. The wear and tear is finally taking its toll. All the perspiration in the world can't overcome exhaustion; and right now the Knicks look exhausted. To quote a passage out of the Bible, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

The good news? Regardless of what happens in this series, the future of this franchise looks very promising. Randle will be back, as will Anunoby and Robinson. Rose still has all his first round draft picks that he can use to land a proven scorer who can be the third option - perhaps even the second option - to Brunson and Randle. That this team managed to win 50 games this season mostly on spit and polish is a testament to its work ethic. Fully healthy, they could easily win 55 to 60 games next season.

But for now they still have to contend with the Pacers for at least two more games. The Garden faithful will be in their corner Tuesday night, as they have pretty much all season. 

Will it be enough? We shall see.

Are the Rangers and Knicks Bound for Destiny?

Sometimes the stories write themselves. 

In the Spring of 1994, the New York Rangers and New York Knicks embarked on a magical run that saw each team make it to their respective league finals. The Rangers beat the Vancouver Canucks in seven to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1940. However, the Knicks came up short in their bid to win their first title since 1973, losing to the Houston Rockets in seven. 

That would be the last time both teams advanced as a tandem that deep into the postseason. The Rangers lost to the LA Kings in the 2014 Cup finals; the Knicks to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA finals. That's as close as either team would get to a championship. One Stanley Cup since 1940 for the Rangers; 51 years and counting without a title for the Knicks. Sad, isn't it? The hockey and basketball gods are indeed cruel.

Fast forward thirty years and the local hockey and basketball teams are once again embarking on what could be another magical run. The parallels couldn't be more striking. 

First, the Rangers:

Coming off a disappointing 1992-93 season, then General Manager Neil Smith hired Mike Keenan, an experienced and accomplished coach with an impressive resume. Keenan brought structure and discipline to the Rangers locker room, and the Blueshirts went on to win the Presidents' Trophy. They swept their first round opponent, the Islanders, and took a 2-0 lead over their second round opponent, the Washington Capitals, before eventually capturing their first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

Coming off a disappointing 2022-23 season, General Manager and President Chris Drury hires Peter Laviolette, an experienced and accomplished coach with an impressive resume. Laviolette brings structure and discipline to the Rangers locker room, and the Blueshirts go on to win the Presidents' Trophy. They sweep their first round opponent, the Washington Capitals, and hold a 2-0 lead over their second round opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Now, the Knicks:

In the 1993-94 season, the Knicks finished as the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. Head coach Pat Riley, in his third year with the team, was an experienced and accomplished coach with an impressive resume. The Knicks beat their first round opponent, the New Jersey Nets, and took a 2-0 lead over their second round opponent, the Indiana Pacers before eventually losing in the finals.

This season, the Knicks finished, once again, as the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. Head coach Tom Thibodeeau, now in his fourth year with the team, is an experienced and accomplished coach with an impressive resume. The Knicks beat their first round opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers, and hold a 2-0 lead over their second round opponent, the Indiana Pacers.

Like I said, sometimes the stories write themselves. 

Of course, we have no way of knowing how all this ends up. It could be that both teams go on to win titles; it could be that one of them goes on to win; or it could be that maybe both teams do what their histories would suggest: fail.

Between the two teams, the Rangers stand the better chance of at least going to the finals. For one thing, they're healthier than the Knicks; for another, their path out of the Eastern Conference is considerably easier. Let's face it: the Boston Celtics are far and away the best team in the NBA. Even with Julius Randle and a healthy OG Anunoby, the Knicks would have a hard time getting past them in a best of seven series.

Frankly, with the latest injury to Anunoby, the Knicks look more like a MASH unit than a basketball team. The return of Jalen Brunson from a foot injury to start the second half of game two invoked images of Willis Reed's grand entrance at the Garden in game seven of the 1970 finals, which ironically occurred 54 years ago to the day. At the rate this team is losing players, I wouldn't be shocked if we saw Jericho Sims and Deuce McBride start in game three.

One of the advantages of being as old as I am is that I've learned to temper my enthusiasm with a healthy dose of reality. I've had more than my fair share of disappointments involving both teams. While I would dearly love to see Jacob Trouba hoist the Stanley Cup, I'm not about to hold my breath.

I will say this: both teams are in good hands. If they don't win a championship this year it won't be because their respective front offices are incompetent; it'll be because the competition was simply better. The fact is Chris Drury and Leon Rose are both outstanding executives who have patiently and methodically assembled rosters that should contend for years to come. Not since the '90s has that been the case.

If you're looking for something to pin your hopes on, maybe that's it.

Knicks Playoff Preview (Round Two)

Having disposed of the hobbled Philadelphia 76ers in six games, the New York Knicks face the fully healthy and quite deep Indiana Pacers. The Pacers beat a Milwaukee Bucks team that had to deal with injuries to Giannis Antetokoumpo and Damian Lillard in six games. Clearly, both teams benefited from their opponents inability to be at full strength.

In this series, the only injured player of consequence is Julius Randle, who went down with a dislocated right shoulder at the end of January and is out for the playoffs. Mitchell Robinson is still hampered by his surgically repaired ankle, but will be able to play. The Pacers appear fully healthy.

To say these teams have a history would be putting it mildly. Prior to this series, they've met a total of seven times in the playoffs with Indiana holding a 4-3 edge. The two most notable meetings were in 1995, where Reggie Miller's 8 points in 8.9 seconds in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals helped propel the Pacers to a series win; and in 1999, where Larry Johnson's last-second four-point play won game three of the ECF and helped get the Knicks to what would be their last trip to the finals.

The three keys to the Knicks winning this series are as follows:

1. Play good defense. During the regular season, the Pacers went 2-1 against the Knicks. In their two losses, New York allowed Indiana to score 125 and 140 points; in their one win, New York held Indiana to just 105 points. For the Knicks to prevail, they cannot get into a track meet with the Pacers. They must play a half-court offense and slow down the tempo.

2. Control the boards. The Knicks are one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA; the Pacers are one of the worst. Isaiah Hartenstein, Robinson, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, who Tom Thibodeau uses at the 4 in place of the injured Randle, averaged 6.5, 7.8, 6.8 and 12.3 rebounds respectively against the Sixers. They must continue their domination on the glass against Indiana.

3. Thibs must use his bench more. There's no way to sugar coat this. Indiana has a deep bench and they utilized it quite effectively against Milwaukee. Without Bojan Bogdanovic, Thibodeau basically went with a seven-man rotation. The exception was game four when Hartenstein got into foul trouble and Thibs was forced to use Precious Achiuwa in the 4th quarter. What that means is that Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVencenzo and Hart are all playing more than 40 minutes per game. That is unsustainable, especially against a team as athletic as the Pacers. Like it not, Thibs must use Achuwa and Deuce McBride more; and maybe even Alec Burks, even if it's only for a couple of minutes.

If the Knicks can contain the Pacers high-powered offense, if they can control the boards, and if Thibs plays his bench more, the Knicks should move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, if the Pacers are able to set the tempo and Thibs remains stubborn, the Pacers will be victorious. I'm going with the former here. Knicks in seven.

Here are my predictions for the rest of the second round:

Eastern Conference:

Boston over Cleveland in six. Cavs fans were chanting "We want Boston" in their series clincher against the Orlando Magic. The basketball gods heard them.

Western Conference:

Denver over Minnesota in seven. This presupposes Jamal Murray is relatively healthy. If he's not, the Timberwolves will take the series in six.

Oklahoma City over Dallas in seven. It is criminal the way a majority of the media in this sport ignored what the Thunder have quietly accomplished this season. They're about to get an education.

Like I wrote in my last preview, if the Knicks move on, I'll preview the next round. If not, here are the two teams I think will meet in the NBA Finals.

Boston over Denver in seven. Kristaps Porziņģis returns and gets his ring.

NHL Playoff Preview (Round Two)

One round is in the books - almost. Three to go. 

Round two begins Sunday afternoon with the New York Rangers hosting the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden. We'll have to wait until later tonight to find out who gets the "pleasure" of playing the Colorado Avalanche: the Vegas Golden Knights or the Dallas Stars. The only surprise so far was how badly the Winnipeg Jets played. The number one defense in the NHL during the regular season got lit up like a Christmas tree by the Avs, and the likely Vezina trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck surrendered a total of 24 goals on 177 shots over five games for a save percentage of .870.

Just like I did in the last round, I will begin my preview of round two with the Rangers and work my way down by conference. I do this in fun, so no wagering.

Eastern Conference:

New York vs. Carolina: For the third time in four years, these two teams will meet in the postseason. The Hurricanes beat the Rangers 3-0 in the 2020 Qualifying Round; the Blueshirts returned the favor two years laster, winning 4-3 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. This will be the first time since round one in '20 that Carolina won't have home ice in a playoff series.

Both teams disposed of their first round "opponents" in short order: the Rangers in four; the Hurricanes in five. Both teams are genuine Cup contenders with elite-level talent that are capable of going all the way. Both are well coached and both have excellent special teams. Ten different players scored for the Rangers against the Caps, while twelve different players scored for the Canes against the Isles, so clearly depth is not an issue for either team.

Since their last playoff meeting, the Rangers and Hurricanes have made changes to their rosters; the former by signing center Vincent Trocheck, the latter by acquiring winger Jake Guentzel at the trade deadline. Both players have improved their respective teams. If Filip Chytil, who's been out with a concussion since November, plays, that will give the Blueshirts a third scoring line.

Two years ago, the Rangers had a huge advantage in net. That won't be the case this time around. While Igor Shesterkin is still the better goalie, Frederik Andersen, who was out due to injury in '22, narrows the gap significantly for the Canes. There'll be no blowouts in this series. Expect a lot of 2-1 and 3-2 games with both teams winning at least one game in the other's arena. Look for Peter Laviolette to use the Alex Wennberg line on the Sebastian Aho line.

This series will go the distance. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it takes overtime to decide the winner. Rangers in seven.

Florida vs. Boston: For those assuming the winner of the Rangers / Hurricanes series is a lock for the finals, I would advise them to cool their jets. Florida was quite impressive in their five-game takedown of the Tampa Bay Lightning. There isn't a weakness on this Panthers team. They have depth throughout their lineup and elite goaltending. Meanwhile, the Bruins needed a full seven games to defeat a Toronto Maple Leafs team that was without Auston Matthews for two of those games. I doubt the Puddy Tats will need that many to do the same to them. Panthers in five.

Western Conference:

Dallas or Vegas vs. Colorado: The Avalanche went through the Winnipeg Jets like shit through a goose. They won't be so fortunate against either the Stars or the Golden Knights, both of whom are putting on a clinic for how hockey is supposed to be played. That's because both teams are considerably deeper and faster than the Jets and can go toe to toe with the Avs. Stars or Golden Knights in seven.

Vancouver vs. Edmonton: In some respects this might be the most intriguing series of the playoffs. The Canucks have made several trips to the finals, but have never won the Cup. The Oilers haven't won it since the glory days of Gretzky and Messier, but have come up short over the last few years. Rick Tocchet might win the Jack Adams award but it's Kris Knoblauch who's gotten Connor McDavid and Co. to commit to playing defense. If Thatcher Demko can't go for Vancouver, this could get ugly. Oilers in six.

In the event the Rangers don't advance, these are my predictions for the balance of the playoffs and year-end awards:

Playoffs:

Eastern Conference Finals: Panthers over Hurricanes 4-2

Western Conference Finals: Stars or Golden Knights over Oilers 4-3

Stanley Cup Finals: Panthers over Stars or Golden Knights 4-3

Conn-Smythe Trophy: Matthew Tkachuk

Year-end Awards:

Hart Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon

Jack Adams Award: Rick Tocchet

Norris Trophy: Quinn Hughes

Vezina Trophy: Connor Hellebuyck

Knicks Avoid the Unthinkable

This time around, the New York Knicks didn't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. This time around, they took care of business. They made their last four free throws; they fouled when they were supposed to; and they didn't when they weren't. In a game that saw them jump out to a 33-11 first quarter lead and trail 71-61 midway through the 3rd, the Knicks played about as perfect a fourth quarter as they've played all season long and, as a result, they beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-115 Thursday night to take the series four games to two.

Make no mistake about it, this was a must win for New York. Yes, they still had a game seven at the Garden to fall back on. But let's be honest: after suffering a crushing last minute loss in game five, a loss in game six would've shifted all the momentum of this series to the Sixers. And there's no way in hell the Knicks were going to take that chance.

On a night when their bench was outscored by the Sixers bench 42-5, the starters led the way. Jalen Brunson had 41 points and 12 assists; Donte DiVencenzo, who'd been missing in action since game two, had his best game of the series with 23 points and seven assists; Josh Hart led all players with 14 rebounds and drilled a critical three pointer with 25 seconds left to put the Knicks ahead for good; and OG Anunoby contributed with 19 points to go along with nine boards.

But Brunson was the star of the show; indeed the entire series. The Knicks MVP became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1973 to record 35 or more points and 10 or more assists three times in a best of seven series. When you think about how many great players the NBA has had over the years - Julius Irving, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steph Curry - that Brunson is the only one to tie Robertson's record is quite a feat. He continues to confound his skeptics while dazzling his fans.

To truly appreciate what Brunson has meant to this Knicks team just consider that before Julius Randle went down at the end of January, Brunson was averaging 26.8 points and 6.5 assists per game. Since then, he's averaged 31.6 points and 7.1 assists per game. If you prorate that over an entire year, that would make Brunson second in the NBA scoring, ahead of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and 10th in assists, ahead of Damian Lillard, you know, the guy Stephen A. Smith wanted the Knicks to get instead of Brunson. And to think there were those who ripped Leon Rose for overpaying for this guy. That $104 million contract now looks like the steal of the decade.

So now this incredibly resilient team, with its MVP and depleted bench, gets a few days off to prepare for the Indiana Pacers on Monday. The last time these two teams met was 2013 in the second round. The Pacers won that series 4-2. The Knicks would like nothing more than to avenge that loss. 

It won't be easy. The Pacers had the number one offense in the NBA during the regular season, averaging 123.3 points per game. And unlike the Sixers, they have a bench that can score, led by former Knick Obi Toppin. The good news for New York is that while Indiana can score, they also had the fourth worst defense in the league, surrendering an average of 120.2 points per game. Compare to the Pacers, the Sixers are practically the 1963-64 Boston Celtics!

My second round preview will be forthcoming. Suffice to say this will be tough test for the Knicks; even tougher than the Sixers. Tom Thibodeau has his work cut out for him.

28.9 Seconds

There's no way to sugar coat what happened at Madison Square Garden last night. The New York Knicks were 28.9 seconds away from advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Deuce McBride had just nailed a 14 foot jump shot to put them ahead 96-90. The crowd was going wild. Yours truly was pumping his fists in the air for joy.

And then...

Then the roof caved in. The most disciplined team in the NBA unravelled like cheap sackcloth. They made error after error and wound up losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in overtime.

Let's go through each of them.

One: After the Sixers called their final time out, Tyrese Maxey took the inbounds pass and was fouled by Mitchell Robinson while making a three point shot. Maxey made the free throw to cut the Knicks lead to two. Every basketball player from high school on knows that when you're up by six with under a minute to go you don't foul under any circumstances. Robinson had no business being anywhere near Maxey. He should've been under the basket to secure the rebound in case Maxey missed. Terrible lack of judgement.

Two: After the Knicks inbounded the ball, Josh Hart was fouled with 15.1 seconds left. All he had to do was make both free throws and the Knicks would've been up by four. Instead he missed one, thus giving the Sixers life.

Three: With the Knicks up by three and the Sixers out of timeouts, Maxey dribbled the ball across half court and drilled a 34-foot three pointer to tie the score at 96. Mike Breen, who called the game on MSG Network, said the Knicks could not let Maxey take that shot. But that's exactly what they did. Instead of fouling him when he was in the backcourt and letting him make two free throws, they gave Maxey a chance to tie the game, which he did. Unconscionable.

Four: With 8.1 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the Knicks elected not to call their last time out to set up a play. Instead, Jalen Brunson took the inbounds and dribbled the ball up court where he took a wild shot that was blocked out of bounds with no time left on the clock. 

We all know what happened in the overtime; that's not the point. The point is the game should never have gone to overtime in the first place. 

And, no, this collapse was not, as Chris "Mad Dog" Russo said on ESPN's First Take, the same as what happened to the Sixers in game two. In that game, after Brunson made his three pointer to pull the Knicks to within two, there was a sequence of events that happened in quick succession, beginning with a bad inbounds pass by Kyle Lowry and a loose-ball scramble that led to two three-pointer attempts by Donte DiVincenzo; the latter finally going in. The whole sequence took 14 seconds. Before the Sixers knew what hit them, they went from leading by five to trailing by one.

The Knicks had numerous opportunities to recalibrate, gather themselves and prevent this collapse. Their poor judgment and lack of execution was what did them in. And now they have to go to Philly to play a game six instead of resting up and preparing for the winner of the Milwaukee / Indiana series. And don't assume they win that game. You think the Sixers are going to lose two out of three in their building? If I were a betting man, I'd say we're heading back to the Garden for a game seven.

And here's the thing: even if the Knicks manage to advance, what this series has revealed is that, apart from Brunson - who scored 40 in a losing effort - this is an offensively challenged team. Face it: once Julius Randle went down with that shoulder injury, the Knicks no longer had a genuine second option to go to. DiVencenzo has been inconsistent pretty much all season; with the exception of game two where he put up 19 points, he's been virtually invisible this entire series. And while Hart has contributed on the boards, his offense sometimes has a nasty habit of disappearing as well. Think about it: were it not for the 42 points the bench scored in game one, New York would be trailing 3-2 in this series instead of leading 3-2.

In retrospect, it was a mistake for Leon Rose not to go after someone like Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline. Yes, it probably would've cost him multiple first round picks, but it would've been worth it. Unlike DiVencenzo, who, let's be honest, is more of a sixth man than a starter, Murray is a  bonafide star who averages 22.5 points per game. "Can you imagine a backcourt of Brunson and Murray?" I wrote back in January.

Regardless of how this series ends up, Rose must do everything in his power to land a scorer during the offseason. For the Knicks to be legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference, they must have multiple options on the court. Right now they have only one.