DESPERATE TIMES FOR NY RANGERS

In a game in which NY Ranger fans were expecting a bounce-back performance from their team, what they got instead was something from a team that looked like a shell of their former self.  The Rangers took a 1-0 lead and then basically played a game in which they looked as if they were trying NOT to LOSE instead of PLAYING to WIN.  That approach almost never works and sure enough, it cost them in the end as Boston played a relentless game in route to a 2-1 comeback victory.

This puts the Rangers in an unthinkable 3-0 series hole and on the verge of elimination.  What makes it worse is that they could possibly get eliminated on home ice.  Talk about embarrassment!  I wasn't expecting from this series, not even close.  Let's face it, the Bruins have outplayed the Rangers in practically every facet of the series and have done the little things that you need to do to win.  If the Bruins do end up winning this series, they totally deserve it.  Tomorrow night is the NY Rangers last chance to win a game to keep the series going.  Lose this, and it's tee time for the Blueshirts and a disappointing end to a team filled with high expectations.  Catch the game here at 7pm (w/audio).  We'll have plenty of giveaways (rally towels, t-shirts, etc) for the diehard Ranger fans who haven't jumped ship yet!

Cheers!

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE....

When I last posted on the blog, we were talking about the NY Rangers and the Boston Bruins and how they survived epic Game 7 matchups to move on to the NHL Eastern Conference semi-finals.  At the same time we also had the NY Knicks in the midst of a battle against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals.

That was last week.

As we start a new week, we find that there's only ONE NY sports team left on the playoff trail: The NY Rangers.  The NY Knicks were ceremoniously bounced from contention over the weekend by the Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 2.  So that leaves us with the Blueshirts with the dubious task of carrying the title hopes of the Big Apple on their shoulders.

Thus far, things haven't started out well for the NY Rangers in their battle against Boston. The Bruins hosted the first two games and won them both.  This puts the pressure on the Rangers to hold serve as they host the next two games this week (Tuesday/Thursday).  While I don't think the majority of Rangers fans are in panic mode just yet, I do feel that it is very important that they win the next two or else panic will set in quickly.  Personally, I think they will not only win the next two games, they will win the series in 6 games.  That was my prediction before the series started and I am sticking to it.   Yes, that means that the Blueshirts will have to win four straight- but with the talent on this team, they can do it.

We'll see what happens.  Stay tuned....

Catch the Blackhawks vs Red Wings, Game 3 tonight as well as the Mets & Yankees in action during "Chill-Out Mondays", where you can enjoy drafts of Anchor Steam, Blue Moon, Bud/Bud Light, Coors Lt, Lagunitas IPA, Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, Molson Canadian, Shock Top Apple Wheat or Sam Adams Summer for only $2 ea.! And if beer's not your thing, then there's 2-for-1 wine by the glass to enjoy as well!


Cheers!

BRUINS and NYRANGERS LIVE ANOTHER DAY!

We witnessed two EPIC Game 7's last night and both games were indeed epic for different reasons.

The first EPIC game featured the NY Rangers and the Washington Capitals.  Going into last night's matchup, neither team were able to win a game on the road.  So going into Game 7, this bode well for the Capitals, who were the home team.

However, the NY Rangers had other ideas as they attacked the Capitals from the start, scoring the game's first goal about seven minutes in.  After that, there was no stopping the NY Rangers as they dominated play, both offensively and defensively.  Add to that the stellar goaltending by Henrik Lundqvist and the Capitals had no answer for the Blueshirts.  By the time it was all said and done, the Rangers had solved the road jinx, winning in convincing fashion, 5-0, much to the delight of the packed bar of Ranger fans.

In the meantime, while NY Rangers fans were busy celebrating the domination of the Capitals, a strange situation was unfolding in the other Game 7 matchup between the Bruins and the Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs had jumped out to a 4-1 lead midway through the 3rd period and seemingly had the game all locked up until the comeback of the ages took place.  There's this saying in hockey that the worst lead to have is a three-goal lead.  Well, that saying proved to be true as the Bruins chipped away at Toronto's lead, including scoring two goals 31 seconds apart to tie the game with less than a minute to go.  Then to add insult to injury, they score the winning goal in overtime to cap off the comeback of the century.  So the bar crowd was celebratory and stunned all at once.  Simply a bizarre finish to a bizarre game.

So now we have all of the matchups set for Round 2.

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (7) Ottawa Senators

(4) Boston Bruins vs (6) New York Rangers

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs (7) Detroit Red Wings

(5) LA Kings vs (6) San Jose Sharks

Games begin tonight with Pittsburgh vs Ottawa, followed by LA vs San Jose.  Catch both games here! And remember that we'll have ALL NY Rangers games w/audio!

TONIGHT: The NY Knicks continue their Conference Semi-Final matchup with Indiana, playing Game 4 tonight (7pm w/audio).  The Knicks currently find themselves down 2-1 in the series, but I fully expect them to rebound quickly and take control of this series.  While you're here, enjoy $3 select craft beers ALL NIGHT during CRAFT BREW TUESDAYS!

Oh, and if you happen to come across a Maple Leafs or Caps fan, buy a drink, will ya?  They could use one right about now.

Cheers!

EPIC GAME 7'S TONIGHT

Hi folks! Sorry for the gap in between posts.  I went away for a couple of fun-filled days in Montreal (I'll save the details for that trip in another post), and as soon as I returned, I found myself immersed in work.  The bar's been pretty lively of late, between the NBA and NHL playoffs and great weather bringing out patrons dying for a fun night.  I gotta say, I can't complain.

That being said, the playoffs have been going pretty well, aside from the fact that my beloved Canadiens got eliminated from the playoffs (a tough pill to swallow).  The NY Islanders and Brooklyn Nets had good showings in their matchups before getting eliminated.  The NY Knicks made it past Boston in their first round matchup but now find themselves in a bit of a dogfight against the Indiana Pacers.  That leaves us with the NY Rangers.

They found themselves playing the Washington Capitals in the first round of the NHL playoffs and if you follow their playoff history with the Caps, you'll know that their matchups have always been tough and usually goes the distance.  And this season, that has been the case again.  Each team had been able to hold serve at home and now it comes down to Game 7 tonight, in Washington.

Can the Rangers break Washington and steal a win on the road?  That is the glaring question going into tonight's game (8pm w/audio).  They haven't been able to do it so far- and if they want to advance to the next round, they will have to find a way;  And in an hostile environment too.  Will the Rangers advance?  Join us tonight and find out!

While you're here, keep an eye on the other Game 7 matchup between Boston and Toronto (7pm); The winner of that game plays the winner of this game in the next round.  Talk about a pressure packed environment!  Should be fun!

Get here early and enjoy $2 domestic drafts ALL NIGHT! And most importantly: LET'S GO RANGERS!

RAISE THE CUP AT THIRD and LONG TONIGHT!

NHL Network invites all hockey fans to stop by Third and Long tonight before the start of the NY Rangers/Washington Caps game to "Hoist the Cup"!  Here's your chance to take a photo with the "Virtual" Stanley Cup (free of charge), and upload your pic for your own keepsake!

While you're here, enjoy $2 domestic drafts and 2-for-1 wine by the glass, ALL NIGHT LONG!  Join us!


Cheers!