Rangers Daily: Another epic Garden moment; Pettersson trade rumors
Has Madison Square Garden ever been louder for a New York Knicks or Rangers moment or game than it was Wednesday night? And where does that historic 29-point comeback by the Knicks — the largest in NBA Finals history — rank in the annals of MSG?
Or for a singular play, how about OG Anunoby skying to the famed MSG rafters to put back Jalen Brunson’s miss with his incredible, improbable tip-in with 1.2 seconds left on the clock?
Oh. My. Gosh.
Hours later, writing this Rangers Daily, reliving that once-in-a-lifetime moment, trying to it put in some kind of perspective, brings chills and a jolt of electricity.
I was there for Matteau! Matteau! Matteau! Game 7, double overtime, Eastern Conference Final, the Rangers’ 2-1 victory which catapulted them into the 1994 Stanley Cup Final. A couple of weeks later, I was there at MSG again, working Game 7 of that Cup Final, the first championship in 54 years for the Rangers.
I never imagined I’d hear The Garden louder for a sporting event than on either of those two nights. Not that there weren’t other moments when I thought the roof was going to get blown off the building on 33rd Street. Derek Stepan’s Game 7 OT goal against the Washington Capitals in 2015? Yeah, that was loud. Marty St. Louis’ OT winner in Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens’ later that spring? Yup, crazy loud.
And listen, the Knicks certainly have had their moments over the years. Larry Johnson’s epic four-point play. John Starks’ postseason dunk over Michael Jordan. Heck, how about their 22-point comeback win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final just a few weeks ago at MSG?
Signature Madison Square Garden moments.
Nothing like Wednesday night, Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Knicks run out of their own building, down 27 at the half. Humiliated. Mocked by the Spurs. And then how they chipped away at the deficit. The Garden crowd helping unnerve the young Spurs into a dreadful second-half collapse.
Brunson and Anunoby were the stars at the end, fitting because they led the comeback in the third and fourth quarters, too. But you know how much New Yorkers love their own, and embrace blue collar play — and players. So, it’s only fitting that Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn kid who starred for a high school in Queens, came off the bench and made some of the biggest plays in the biggest moments of the biggest game of the season.
I wasn’t inside the building Wednesday — my son was, thrilled for him — so I can’t measure if it was as loud as those memorable Rangers moments I was able to be at in person. But it sure as hell sounded insane through my TV screen. And the pandemonium inside that arena helps vault this game, this OG moment right up there near the top — if not at the summit — of incredible sporting events in MSG’s history, and that includes the first Ali-Frazier bout in 1971, perhaps the greatest heavyweight title fight ever.
Keep in mind, this series is not yet over. Knicks are up 3-1, one win away from their first NBA title since 1973. And the Knicks must lock down one more victory or else this epic comeback and heart-stopping finish won’t mean as much, as incredible as it was.
Remember, Stephane Matteau’s 2-OT magic only is remembered so fondly because the Rangers sealed the deal in the Stanley Cup Final.
But it all sure feels mighty good right now.
New York Rangers news and analysis
Analyzing Alberts Smits as an option for the Rangers with the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft, after the Latvian defenseman won the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence.
Here’s an article of wishful thinking, John Kreiser looks at some key RFAs the Rangers should have interest in, though it’s unlikely they land any of them.
Breaking down what Brett Berard’s future with the Rangers looks like after reports that the young forward could be traded this summer.
Here’s another round of end-of-season Rangers report cards for defensemen Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen.
NHL news and rumors
Vancouver Province: Ben Kuzma breaks down likely destinations for Elias Pettersson, and whether the Vancouver Canucks will look to trade the star center this summer.
TSN: The NHL is “moving ahead” with investigation into Mike Babcock at the request of the NHLPA before he can be named coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
Sportsnet: Per reports, the Ottawa Senators expressed interest in trading for Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk.
Philly Hockey Now: William James breaks down why the Philadelphia Flyers could be a good landing spot for young goalie Sebastian Cossa, should the Detroit Red Wings trade him this offseason.
