At long last, the Capitals are returning to the NHL Eastern Conference finals (against the Tampa Bay Lightning). At long last, they have beaten the Penguins in the playoffs (first time since 1994), ending the Pens’ two-year reign as champs. And at long last, the city of Washington DC, that wretched hive of scum and politics, has a major sports team in the conference finals, first time since the Caps did it in 1998. (Note: the MLS team DC United won the championship in 2004, but it’s probably fair to say MLS isn’t a major sport even now.) Congrats to the Caps and to their long suffering fans. On to Tampa!
Elsewhere…
- Game seven Thursday night between the Pred and Jets, while the remarkable Golden Knights rest.
- On the one hand, LeBron has been putting on a clinic. OTOH, a 4-0 sweep isn’t that exciting. Indeed, the NBA’s second round has been kind of a dud so far as we count down the days till GSW and Houston finally meet.
- Yankees-Red Sox. Can something be both a bore and a dream matchup?
- David Fizdale in in NYC. SVG out in Detroit. The carousel spins. Will Becky Hammon get the job in Milwaukee?
- Get better Sir Alex Ferguson, recovering from surgery for a brain hemorrhage, and Yadier Molina, who needed emergency surgery for a traumatic hematoma. And glad to hear that White Sox reliever Danny Farquhar, also recovering from a brain hemorrhage, was discharged from the hospital.
As ever, all sports topics welcome.