Rangers move into tie for wild-card spot after shutting out Islanders in lopsided rivalry win
NY Post
There haven’t been many Battles of New York in recent memory with as many playoff implications as the last couple games between the Rangers and Islanders.
And for the second time in a week, the Blueshirts asserted themselves in the Eastern Conference postseason race with a definitive 4-0 victory over the Islanders — one of several teams they are vying against for a playoff spot — to move into a tie with the Red Wings for the second wild-card spot.
“It sometimes works for you like a snowball, if you keep going, and then just keep scoring, keep winning — that’s confidence,” said Artemi Panarin, who posted two points, including an empty-net goal, in the win. “You’re making better decisions with the confidence that you get.”
Whichever way this one went, it was going to have significant meaning for the winner.
That it was the second-to-last game before the trade deadline for both teams only added to the magnitude.
The Islanders were three points behind the Blueshirts coming into the game, with just a single point separating the six closest teams in the East looking from the outside in on the postseason bracket.
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Just over a week into the automated ball-strike system (ABS) experiment, Aaron Boone is not a fan.
The Suns could look very different come next season.
The Rangers’ trade-deadline picture continues to come into focus.
Deebo Samuel is a man of few words on his way out of San Francisco.
MLB’s controversial all-time hits king could have a shot at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
MIAMI — Mitchell Robinson said his minutes limit was “supposed to be about 18” after his encouraging season debut Friday night.
INDIANAPOLIS — So many of the questions directed his way at the NFL Scouting Combine prompted an almost bewildered — and amused and delighted — response from Howard Cross III.
DETROIT — Cade Cunningham broke out of a slump by scoring nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and the Detroit Pistons pulled away to beat the Brooklyn Nets 115-94 on Saturday night.
INDIANAPOLIS — Tyler Warren wears No. 44 because of an old Jet.
Of course this is not 2018, this deadline does not represent a sea change in philosophy resembling that one. But, just as seven years ago, the hierarchy — different general managers, same CEO — is not homing in at making a run at eighth place at the expense of acquiring future assets in exchange for expiring contracts.
TAMPA — It was all but certain even before Giancarlo Stanton left camp last Monday to tend to a personal matter, but now it is official: The Yankees DH will begin the season on the injured list.
Chris Kreider missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury Friday, when the Rangers lost to the Maple Leafs 3-2 in their fourth game back from the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
MEMPHIS — Mitchell Robinson’s long-awaited return was about as promising as the Knicks could’ve envisioned.