Results tagged “devils”

• Bucks 102, Knicks 87: Where to begin on this one? The Bucks shot 74 percent from the floor. They went on a 23-2 early to ice the game .They outscored the Knicks, 40-22, in the first quarter. Brandon Jennings, whom the Knicks passed over for Jordan Hill, had 22 points and eight rebounds. David Lee's 18 points led the Knicks, now 1-6 and losers of three straight.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: So How Bad Are the Knicks?"

• Cavaliers 100, Knicks 91: Is finishing within nine points of the Cavaliers a moral victory. What about holding LeBron James to 33 after he scored 53 in his final trip in the building last year. To answer the first question, not when the team trailed by 23 at the half. As for the second, James shot 12-for-17, had eight rebounds and nine assists, so he was hardly in check. Larry Hughes had 18 (Larry Hughes!) and David Lee led the Knicks with 21. The Knicks, now 1-5, have Milwaukee on the road on Saturday.

     

Yankees 7, Phillies 3: For the first time since 2000 and the 27th time in franchise history, the New York Yankees are the World Champions of baseball. The Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies four games to two behind the bat of Hideki Matsui and the solid pitching of Andy Pettitte. Matsui was 3-4 in the game, including two two-RBI hits off Phillies starter Pedro Martinez and two more RBI against Phillies reliever Chad Durbin.

• Yankees 8, Phillies 5: Things looked bleak when Andy Pettitte gave up three runs in the second inning. But Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the fourth that was originally ruled a double, but then reversed by the umpires with instant replay, and then the Yankees -- helped by an Andy Pettitte RBI single -- scored three in the fifth. They added a run each in the sixth, seventh and eighth and now own a two games to one lead in the World Series. Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher also had homers, and Johnny Damon had a critical two-run double.

• New Jersey 4 Pittsburgh 1: The Devils did what only one other team has accomplished this year- they beat the Penguins. Mark Frasier got things going with a goal in the first and Martin Brodeur stopped 32-of-33 shots to make Pittsburgh 9-and-2.
• Montreal 5 Rangers 4 (OT): New York blew 3-1 and 4-2 leads as the Canadiens stormed back and earned the win in extra time. Scott Gomez had two assists in his first game as a Canadien against the Rangers and New York now has a three-game losing streak.
• Washington 3 Islanders 2 (OT): Maybe it’s a New York thing? The Islanders also blew a two-goal lead as the Capitals scored twice in the third period and then again in OT to earn the two points.

• Angels 7 Yankees 6: The Yankees overcame a miserable start by A.J. Burnett only to have their bullpen give the game away. New York put the first two runners on in the first, but failed to score while the Angels jumped all over A.J. Burnett for four runs in their half of the inning. And that’s exactly where things remained until the seventh. With two outs, Mark Teixeira delivered a bases-loaded double to clear the bases and put the Yankees on the board. A-Rod was intentionally walked and Hideki Matsui followed with a single to tie the game. Robinson Cano followed with a triple to put New York up 6-4.

This game took over five hours, but it leaves the Yankees in the catbird seat in the best-of-seven ALCS. Alex Rodriguez hit a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 11th. Is it safe to retire the "he's not clutch" storyline? In the 13th, the Yankees took advantage of Maicer Izturis' throwing error, as Jerry Hairston, who led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice, scored. Starters A.J. Burnett and Joe Saunders dueled to a draw, each allowing two runs. Alfredo Aceves served up the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th, but Rodriguez saved his and his teammates' bacon. Derek Jeter had a solo homer and an error that proved meaningless. Robinson Cano had an RBI triple and two errors that proved meaningless. Was this a classic, or just long?

   

Yankees 4, Angels 1: If the Angels have to face the CC Sabathia they faced tonight three times in this series, they might as well give the Yankees three wins right now. Sabathia dominated the Angels in Game 1 of the ALCS, pitching eight strong innings, allowing only four hits and one walk while striking out seven.

• Devils 3 Florida 2: Tomas Vokun had a good game, but when you face 41 shots, letting in three of them is to be expected. Unfortunately for Vokun, the Devils clamped down on his team, allowing them only 21 shots, and Martin Brodeur stopped enough of those for the win. Travis Zajac and Brian Rolston both had 2 points to lead New Jersey.

• Rangers 4, Capitals 3: Twice the Rangers rallied from one-goal deficits to win their third straight game and their second straight on the road. Marian Gaborik had the game-tying and go-head goals one minute, 42 seconds apart in the middle of the third period. He has at least one point in every game this season and his making good on the Rangers investment. The Rangers are now 3-1 after losing the opener to Pittsburgh last week. Ryan Callahan and Ales Kotalik also lit the lamp. Capitals star Alex Ovechkin didn't get much done and finished without a point.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Rangers Make It Three Straight"

In the first of 301 eight games against the Devils, the Rangers recovered from a slow start and took care of the the Devils, 3-2, in Newark. John Tortorella called a timeout 1:24 into the game -- the Devils struck first on a Rob Niedermayer goal 1:10 in -- and the Rangers apparently got the message.

• Rangers 5 Ottawa 2: Hockey has blue lines. The Rangers have blue shirts and blue seats and apparently Blue Man Group as fans. They performed before the game and maybe it inspired New York. The top line had a huge night with four goals and two assists while Michael Del Zotto made his case to stay in the NHL and not return to juniors with his first goal and a solid game.

The 2009-2010 NHL season started last night, but our three local squads begin play tonight and tomorrow. How will the teams fare this season? Each team — the Devils, Rangers and Islanders — have very different expectations heading into the season.

Yankees 9 Mets 1: The final score may not have been close, but the Mets threw the game away by committing three errors in the second inning. The first one, a wild throw by David Wright is somewhat understandable, he had picked the ball up barehanded and was off-balance as he threw it. That put Melky Cabrera on second and he scored when Ramiro Pena blooped a double down the rightfield line. Pena then scored when C.C. Sabathia hit a single up the middle to make it 2-0 Yankees.

Brian Leetch is headed to the Hall of Fame and he won't be the only former Ranger in the class of 2009. The NHL announced today that Leetch, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille, who played parts of two seasons with New York, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this November. Leetch played over 1100 games as a Blueshirt and holds the team record for assists with 741. He was the Rookie of the Year in the NHL in 1989, won two Norris trophies as the best defensemen in the league and was named MVP of the 1993-94 playoffs. The Rangers actually traded Leetch twice in his career. First in the off-season in 2003 before promptly resigning him and more famously in 2004 when they shipped him to Toronto for a package of players and draft picks. That was all forgotten in 2008 when the Rangers put Leetch’s #2 into the rafters at MSG. The NHL also announced that Devils GM Lou Lamoriello will be enshrined in the Builder’s Category of the Hall of Fame. Lamoriello has made the Devils into a perennial powerhouse, winning the Stanley Cup three times, most recently in 2003.

• Washington 2 Rangers 1: For the first time in their history, the Rangers have blown a 3-1 lead in a series. Unlike the previous two games, Henrik Lundqvist showed up and played a solid game, but the game-winning goal was one he should have stopped.But, it isn’t fair to lay the blame for this on Lundqvist. Start with Drury and Gomez, the high-paid centers who both had forgettable series. Nikolai Zherdev disappeared again and Wade Redden showed made Rangers’ fans further rue his contract. It will be an interesting offseason on Broadway as a lot of big decisions need to be made.
• Carolina 4 Devils 3: Only 101 seconds away from a Game 7 win, New Jersey allowed the tying goal and then the winning goal in less than a minute. Eric Staal scored with 32 seconds left to give the Hurricanes the series and send the Devils home to a very tough offseason.
• Yankees 11 Detroit 0: Phil Hughes gave the Yankees the big start they needed in his first appearance of the year and the Yankees put up 10 runs in the seventh for the win.

• Cardinals 12, Mets 8: Maybe the Mets should have just stayed in New York. Their three-game road trip to St. Louis turned out miserably, and it was capped by this disaster under the Gateway Arch. Livan Hernandez allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings, and the Mets' late rallies were a day late and a dollar short. Panic is beginning to set in, but everyone needs to calm down. A 6-9 record is not the end of the world. With Johan Santana set to face the Nationals, the Mets' four-game losing streak should be history Friday evening, too.
• Devils 1, Hurricanes 0: Martin Brodeur tied another record with his 23rd playoff shutout. This one is 100-percent legitimate -- unlike his wins record which includes shootout wins -- and it put the Devils on the doorstep of the second round. He made 44 saves in a thrilling duel with Carolina's Cam Ward. David Clarkson scored near the midway point of the second period. Carolina had a flurry of chances at the end -- remember the Hurricanes scored with 0.2 seconds remaining in Game 4. The Devils can advance Sunday if they win in Raleigh.
• Wizards 1, Red Bulls 0: Carlos Johnson got sent off in the second minute -- that's the fastest red card in league history -- and the Red Bulls couldn't double their win total.

• Rangers 4, Capitals 3: Brandon Dubinsky scored the go-ahead goal right after Markus Naslund got out of the penalty box as the Rangers drew first blood in this first-round playoff series. Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves, and Scott Gomez had two assists. After a scoreless first period, the Rangers saw Washington strike first in the second. Then they rattled off three straight in an 11-minute span. But they gave up a goal with 49 seconds to go in the period. Luckily, Dubinsky lit the lamp in the third. Game 2 is on Saturday.
• Devils 4, Hurricanes 1: This game was not as interesting. Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner each had a goal and an assist. The Devils had a 3-0 lead by the 11:33 mark to go in the second period. Chalk up another postseason win for Martin Brodeur.
• Yankees 4, Rays 3: All things considered, a 5-4 road trip is not that bad for this team, especially after an 0-2 start. Derek Jeter scored the tying run and knocked in the go-ahead run as the Yankees took two of three from the Rays. A return home to open the new Yankee Stadium comes Thursday.
• Mets 7, Padres 2: Good Oliver Perez showed up. The Padres' bullpen imploded in the seventh. The Mets picked up their first win at Citi Field and got back to .500. Gary Sheffield's first start included nothing more notable than his grounding into a run-scoring double play.
• Knicks 102, Nets 73: Is Lawrence Frank finished? No Vince Carter and no Devin Harris made for an easy Knicks victory.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Off on the Right Foot"

Can the retooled Rangers take out the Washington Capitals? The Rangers lost three of the four games between the two teams, but that was before John Tortorella took over as coach. It was also before Nik Antropov, Derek Morris and Sean Avery joined the team.

• Yankees 6, Royals 1: This version of CC Sabathia looks a lot more like the one the Yankees paid $161 million for than the version that showed up on opening day. The hefty lefty threw 7 2/3 innings of scoreless ball as the Yankees won their third straight game. Nick Swisher, who appears eager to maximize his playing time, and Jorge Posada each knocked in three runs apiece. The Yankees go for the sweep behind Joba Chamberlain on Sunday.
• Mets 8, Marlins 4: Livan Hernandez's first start with the Mets went well. He pitched into the seventh inning, giving up two runs and striking out four. Jose Reyes, who suffered an injury scare during a double play, had a two-run homer and an RBI double. Could the Marlins, with their pitching staff, be a challenge to the Mets in the National League East? The loss was Florida's first of the year. The Mets improved to 3-2 and snapped a two-game losing streak.
• Flyers 3, Islanders 2: Too bad there is a draft lottery for the NHL. Otherwise the Islanders would be in the ole catbird seat. They had already wrapped up the league's this record earlier this week, so this game didn't matter.
• Devils 3, Hurricanes 2: This could be a playoff preview. Dainius Zubrus scored late after David Clarkson and Zach Parise struck early. The Devils have won four of five entering the playoffs.
• Nets 103, Magic 93: New Jersey's youth movement continues. Vince Carter had 27, but Brook Lopez helped shut down Dwight Howard.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: All Is Well in Yankeeland"

• Rangers 3, Canadiens 1: So what if this game was handed to the Rangers on a silver platter? Chris Drury scored the first and third goals for the Rangers after Montreal turnovers. New York now has a two-point lead over Florida with two games to go. With more wins than Florida, all the Rangers need is one win or one Florida regulation loss. If they get in the playoffs, anything can happen with a hot goaltender and their defense. Their offense, however, is another story.
• Maple Leafs 4, Devils 1: Put the Atlantic Division on hold. The Devils proved it's possible to lose despite outshooting a team 48-18 and still lose. Jamie Langenbrunner scored for the Devils, who had a two-game winning streak snapped.
• Hurricanes 9, Islanders 0: This game was exciting. For Carolina. The Hurricanes spaced out the scoring, netting three goals in each period.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Inching Closer"

• Boston Bruins 1 Rangers 0: A good effort wasn't enough for the Blue Shirts, who were blanked by the Bruins in Boston. The lone goal was a "weird" one 9 minutes 4 seconds in—the NY Times described, "Blake Wheeler followed through on a slap shot at the blue line, striking the puck while it was on end. The shot sliced through the air at a diagonal pitch and swerved between the pads of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist." The Rangers are currently 8th in the Eastern conference; if they remain there, they'll face the Bruins in the playoffs.
• Devils 3 Buffalo Sabres 2: The Devils got their second win in a row by keeping their 3-0 lead, in spite of Buffalo charging back with two goals in the third period. Zach Parise scored his Devils-leading 44th goal of the season and Martin Brodeur got his 555th win.
• Islanders 3 Tampa Bay Lightning 1: The Isles scored 23 seconds into the game and the kept the momentum throughout the meeting. Goals game from Richard Park, Radek Martinek (the game-winner, during a second period power play) and Josh Bailey. Of course, the Islanders' and Tampa Bay's meeting was notable because the two teams, along with the Colorado Avalanche, are in contention for the worst record in the league—and a number 1 draft pick.
• Toronto 102, Knicks 95: Well, it's official. The Knicks have been mathematically eliminated from any possibility of sneaking into the playoffs this year. The Raptors beat them last night amidst a run of their own to try and avoid the same—Toronto's won six in a row to keep themselves just barely alive. Al Harrington and Chris Duhon each scored 22 points; the Knicks are sure ending the year on a whimper, having lost 10 of the last 11.
• Chicago 103, Nets 95: The Nets made a late run and took the lead with just under three minutes left after trailing throughout. But the team went cold down the stretch and didn't get much from Vince Carter, who went two-for-ten while playing with a sore left Achilles tendon he injured during a Friday practice. Carter is expected to play against the 76ers today, as the Nets do whatever they can to hold off joining the Knicks in making their absence from the playoffs official. Brooke Lopez put up 20 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.

• Bruins 1, Rangers 0: The Rangers had 31 shots, but no goals. And if they don't shape up in their final three games, they could have no playoff berth. The Rangers sit in eight place and have a game against Montreal and two against Philadelphia remaining. Why did the Rangers go 0-for-2 on the power play? Because they couldn't even draw a third penalty.
• Devils 3, Sabres 2: Maybe the Devils do like the Rangers. By holding on against Buffalo, New Jersey helped put some distance behind the 10th-placed team in the Eastern Conference.
• Raptors 102, Knicks 95: Well, it's official: The Knicks are not making the playoffs. Oh well. “I don’t know, I was pretty disappointed that we didn’t do it to be honest with you,” head coach Mike D'Antoni said. Don't worry. There's always next season. The Knicks haven't made the playoffs since 2004.
• Bulls 103, 94: The Nets are not making the playoffs in all probability. Brook Lopez had 20 points to lead New Jersey in the loss. Why are all the local teams in a season-ending slump? Only the Devils can afford it.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Holding on for Dear Life"

• Bobcats 96, Knicks 85: The Knicks, facing another team hoping to make the playoffs, but were unable to gain ground against a team that is 2.5 games out of the playoffs. Against former Knicks coach Larry Brown, the Knicks were without Quentin Richardson, but did have Eddy Curry. Curry, who played in only game this season and has had some personal issues, managed less than three minutes on the court. Curry did get into the box score with three fouls though. Gerald Wallace led the Bobcats with 23 points and just missed a triple double. The Knicks have lost 7 of their last 8 games.
• Penguins 4, Rangers 3: The Rangers fought back to tie the game twice against the Penguins, but were unable to tie the game after Sidney Crosby scored the go-ahead goal halfway through the final period. Crosby's goal extended his point streak to 15-games. In their 12 games with New York, Nik Antropov scored his 6th goal and Sean Avery picked up his 9th point.
• Hurricanes 2, Devils 1: Martin Brodeur managed to stop 46 shots by Carolina and New Jersey still lost. Patrik Elias scored in the 1st for the Devils, but the Hurricanes scored two in the 3rd period to snap New Jersey's home winning streak at 11 and hand them their 4th loss in a row.
• Flyers 4, Islanders 3 (shootout): The Islanders won the first two periods of this game against the Flyers. Unfortunately, the Flyers managed to dominate the 3rd period, scoring 3 goals in under 4 minutes to take a brief lead. Danny Briere and Mike Richards scored shootout goals for the Flyers, who are in 4th place in the Eastern Conference.
• Revolution 1, Red Bulls 1: The Red Bulls nearly had their first regular season win against the Revolution in over three years, but New England scored the tying goal in the 90th minute. New York is unbeaten in their last six home openers.

• Magic 106, Knicks 102: Is Nate Robinson anything more than a chucker these days? He finished this game 6-of-23, including 1-of-7 from 3-point land. Even discounting the final desperation heave, that's not a good line. Mike D'Antoni won't be pleased with that or the 46 free throws Orlando shot. Remember, D'Antoni specifically tells his teams not to foul. The Knicks entered play Monday 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot but needing to pass five teams to qualify for the postseason. They now have 12 games remaining. At this point, they better get used to seeing the pingpong balls of the draft lottery. Wilson Chandler had 17 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
• Flyers 4, Devils 2: Is this a losing streak for the Devils? As strange as it sounds, the Devils have lost two straight games and three straight on the road. The last time the Devils lost consecutive games was Jan. 6 and 8. All this means is that the Devils will have to wait before celebrating a clinched playoff spot. Two early goals in the third period by Philadelphia ended the drama in this one. Brendan Shanahan and Jamie Langenbrunner had the Devils' scores.
Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Playoff Pipe Dream"