A Playoff Viewers Guide to New York Sports

New York City will be the place to be over the course of the next couple of weeks. For the first time since 1994 the Knicks, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, and Nets will all be competing in the NBA/NHL playoffs in the same year. Oh, and the Yankees and the Mets have long homestands coming up. While the ticket prices will be absurd, the competition will be incredible and entertaining. 

In the NBA, the Knicks will take on the Cavaliers, while the Nets are tasked with the 76ers. Game 3, and Game 4 of both series will be coming to NYC this weekend. The Knicks will host the Cavs in Friday and Sunday at the Garden, with the Nets hosting Philly Thursday and Saturday at Barclays. The Knicks held a 1-0 series lead over the Cavs, before it was evened out on Tuesday. Their offensive rebounding was the reason why they held an early lead, but rebounding means nothing when you shoot 29/79 like the Knicks did in game 2 . Even though they lost Game 2, the Garden is sure to be rocking as I do not see the Knicks losing in front of a raucous crowd. I think the Knicks will win in six. In Brooklyn, the Nets will face a much taller task. They are already down 2 games to none and may be lucky to even steal a game against the Sixers. I say that for the second year in a row, the Nets will get swept in the first round. 

In hockey, the Prudential Center will be the place to be this week before heading to MSG on Saturday. The Rangers travel across the Hudson into Newark to take on the Devils in the first round of the NHL playoffs, winning 5-1 in the commencement of the series. The Devils started off their season hot, cooled down, but picked up the pace to finish the season. They earned the two seed in the Metro. The Rangers, on the other hand, got off to a slow start before acquiring Tarasenko and Patrick Kane. With their star power, it will be easy for the Rangers to look past the young Devils as we get further into the series. The Devils truly have nothing to lose, and this series will be the best first-round action in all of the NHL. With this being said, Rangers in six. 

The Islanders will face the Hurricanes in the first round. The Isles snuck into the playoffs, earning the second wild card. The Canes cruised to the number one seed in the Metropolitan division. To be frank, I know nothing more about either of these teams except that the Canes should wear their throwback Hartford Whaler jerseys every night. Hurricanes in 5. 

In the MLB, the Yankees and Mets are both off to a respectable start. The Yankees have been more consistent than the Mets thus far, winning all of their series up to this point. After being swept by the Brewers, the Mets have rebounded to have the same 10-6 record as the Yankees. Both of these NY teams will take on both of the LA teams this week. The Yankees will host Trout and Ohtani, while the Mets will travel to Dodger Stadium. Look for both of these teams to get hot and be in first place in their divisions by the time they face off in June. 

NYC Sports Guide for Week of 4/17:

Monday: Nets at 76ers- Game 2- 7:30pm

    Islanders at Hurricanes- Game 1- 7:00 pm

                Mets at Dodgers- 10:00 pm

Tuesday: Knicks at Cavs- Game 2- 7:30 pm

    Rangers at Devils- Game 1- 7:00 pm

               Angels at Yankees- 7:00 pm

               Mets at Dodgers 10:00 pm

Wednesday: Islanders at Hurricanes- Game 2- 7:00 pm

                    Mets at Dodgers

                    Angels at Yankees

Thursday: Rangers at Devils- Game 2

                 76ers at Nets

               Angels at Yankees

Friday:  Cavs at Knicks- Game 3

             Blue Jays at Yankees

             Mets at Giants

             Hurricanes at Islanders