Are The Rangers Destined to Win the Stanley Cup?

 Is it inevitable that the New York Rangers are going to hoist the Stanley Cup in less than a month?

At times in this postseason, it certainly has felt that way. And considering the way the Rangers have pulled off their last three victories in this postseason, it feels even more like the Cup Final could be a coronation of the 2023-24 Rangers sheer greatness.

Granted, it's only 2-1 in favor of the Blue Shirts after three games. The Florida Panthers are the reigning Eastern Conference Champions for at least a little while longer. Anything can happen in a seven game series, just ask the Knicks, who most thought would trounce the Pacers.

But aside from health, which the Rangers have a lot of -- for the most part -- as compared to their MSG co-tenants, this team has had the "IT" factor for a while now.

 The New York Rangers love the comeback. Twice on Sunday, the Rangers watched their leads of 2-1 and 4-2 vanish, but they never gave in. A lot of that credit is to goalie Igor Shesterkin and this tenacious Rangers defense.

Over the final eight-plus minutes of Game 3, including overtime, The Florida Panthers were credited with 24 shot attempts. On six of those shots were on goal, and were stopped by the Rangers All Star netminder. The rest were either blocked or straight up missed. 

In short, no matter what the Panthers tossed at the Rangers they found a way to hang on. Then with 14:30 to go in the OT, the puck just so happened to find Alex Wennberg's out-stretched stick, and bounced back into the net for the game winner.

It's been that kinda run. A couple days earlier Barclay Goodrow netted the game winner on a slap shot at the Garden in overtime to send New York to a 2-1 victory, while tying the series a game a piece.

All of sudden people have long forgotten what happened in Game 1, when the Rangers scored on themselves.

And let, us not forget what happened in Game 6 in Charlotte when Chris Kreider went off for three-goals in the third period to send the Rangers to the East Finals.

It's been all comebacks all the time. 

(Article was also featured on Fox sports Radio New Jersey.com)

Knicks Season Ends in Game 7 vs. Pacers

PACERS 130 - KNICKS 109 - IND wins series 4-3. 

 In the end, the injuries proved to be too much to handle. 

The 2023-24 New York Knicks who captured the hearts of their fans across the Tri-State Area with their grit and toughness all season long, took the Pacers to the brink in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, only to fall in Game 7, 130 - 109. 

At the end of the day, the injures piled up beyond repair. In Game 7 alone, Jalen Brunson left the game with a fractured left hand, and Donte DiVincezo had the wind knocked out of him at one point as he tried to lead the Knicks practically, and even literary by himself. 

Josh Hart who played 37 minutes, despite a abdomen injury he suffered in Game 6, managed to score only 10 points. 

OG Anunoby who missed the past four games with a hamstring injury, lasted only five minutes. A shame, because in the opening five minutes of this game, he gave New York a lift with five points. 

So as Knicks fans settled into their seats, pleading and hoping their Knicks would find a way to keep this season going, reality quickly settled in too. 

The Pacers were on fire. They hit just about every shot they took, leading by 12 points by the end of the first quarter, 39-27. At halftime, the Pacers were hitting at an astounding 70 percent from the floor. They finished the game shooting 67 percent, a new NBA playoff record. 

Everybody was in double-figures for Indiana. 

Tyreese Haliburton led the way with 26 points, while Paskal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard each had 20 points a piece. 

The Pacers were one of the NBA's highest scoring teams during the regular season, and proved in this series against the smaller Knicks to be too much. 

Whether it be on the boards, careening inside the paint, or taking long distance mid range shots. The Pacers were better than the Knicks. 

The Knicks missed having Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle plugging up the middle, because Myles Turner and Isiah Jackson ate the Knicks lunch all series long. 

The Pacers pounded the Knicks inside, and by Game 7 they had worn them down completely. 

Still this series doesn't at all diminish what the Knicks accomplished this season. 

It was the best season the Knicks have had in over 11-years when the Knicks won 54 games with Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and crew, but lost in the conference semi's to ... you guessed it .. the Indiana Pacers. 

The feeling though is different. The Knicks have a core now. They just need to get healthy, and build this team to become stronger inside, and maybe then the Knicks can finally get back to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. 

London is Calling the New York Jets

 The New York Jets and New York Giants will be heading overseas this season as the NFL unveiled its 2024 International schedule.

After weeks, days and even hours of rumors and speculation, the NFL confirmed what many had believed: the New York Jets will take on the Minnesota Vikings in London, England on October 6. The Giants will head to Munich, Germany to take on the Carolina Panthers on November 10.

 JETS - VIKINGS

The Jets and Vikings are two of seven NFL teams that have partnerships with the United Kingdom, so it is no surprise that both teams are heading across the pond for this match-up.

This will be the third time the Jets have played in London. New York is 1-1 in the UK, with a win over the Miami Dolphins in 2015, and a loss at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.

Minnesota is 3-0 all time in the UK.

This will be Aaron Rodgers second ever appearance in the UK. He made his first two seasons ago with the Green Bay Packers, when the Giants beat the Cheeseheads 27-22.

GIANTS - PANTHERS

The Giants are one of 10 NFL teams that have a partnership with Germany. The Giants have never played in Germany, although they are 3-0 in the International Series with all their wins coming in the United Kingdom.

In fact, Big Blue won the inaugural London game back in 2007 over the Miami Dolphins.

The rest of the NFL schedule will be announced tonight. 

Jets Kick-off Season with 49ers on Monday Night

As I wrote for Fox Sports New Jersey: 

 The New York Jets will open the 2024 season in San Francisco.

News broke early Tuesday that Gang Green will face the defending NFC Champions on Monday Night Football on September 9 out in Santa Clara, in a game that will have plenty of sizzle leading up to it.

JETS – NINERS SIZZLE

For Starters, it will be Aaron Rodgers Jets debut 2.0. The opener will mark the second straight season the Jets begin on Monday Night Football. Of course, the hope is that Rodgers plays the entire game healthy. Last season, the pomp and circumstance of his Jets debut ended in disaster four plays in when he tore his Achilles.

Robert Saleh returns to the Bay: Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh was a long-time assistant under 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. In 2020, Saleh was the Niners Defensive Coordinator.

Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich Returns to the Bay: Jets Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich played in San Francisco for a decade, and there were even rumors this off-season that San Fran was kicking the tires on poaching him from the Jets staff to be their new D.C. Ulbrich ultimately stayed in New York.

This figures to be a monster undertaking for the Jets, but one that if their defense brings its A-game, (and they are going to need to), they will have a shot to pull a victory out.