In hockey news, the Rangers and Devils won, the Islanders lost. And in the depressing basketball update, the Knicks and Nets lost—the Nets are now 0-15.
In hockey news, the Rangers and Devils won, the Islanders lost. And in the depressing basketball update, the Knicks and Nets lost—the Nets are now 0-15.
For the first time in six games, the Islanders fell in regulation in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota on Friday. They allowed the Owen Nolan game-winner with 67 seconds remaining. Jon Sim had a goal and an asssist. Despite trailing by one goal after the first period, the Islanders rallied to take a 2-1 lead entering the final session. But the Wild tied the game 6:58 into that one and then won it late. Martin Biron had 26 saves in the loss.
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.
They needed until their seventh game, but the Islanders finally won a game, 4-3 over Carolina, albeit in a shootout. They also blew a two-goal lead in the third period before recovering to win the shootout. Matt Moulson, Andy Sutton and Tim Jackman each had a regulation goal. When the shootout rolled around, it was rookie John Tavares sealed it. Dwayne Roloson earned the win in net. The Islanders, now 1-3-3, travel to Montreal for Thursday's game.
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.
According to the LI Press, Islanders owner Charles Wang has "abandoned" his billion-dollar plans for a new hockey arena in Hempstead called the Lighthouse. Last week, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said the hockey team would be welcome in Brooklyn, but the Atlantic Yards' Barclays Center isn't big enough to house a hockey rink... Now, word—via ESPN Radio— has it that the Isles have reached out to Queens to see if something can happen in Flushing!
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.