Eleven

So Gallant finally explained why he scratched Kakko, and the explanation is a non-explanation; he just felt more comfortable with a severely injured Strome (who couldn't finish the game) and Dryden Hunt, apparently. I like Gallant, but this was an absolutely unjustifiable move. https://nypost.com/2022/06/13/rangers-gerard-gallant-finally-explains-kaapo-kakko-scratch/

One day more...

That is a press release and not an article.

I still want to know more about these Irish pronunciation conventions. McEnroe just crossed my mind, too. And McIntyre. I'd say it's the vowel, but McNamara is still out there. Edit: And then McAdam crushes the vowel thing.

McNamara, too. I have always wondered about this.

I don't think that's the right one, and Josie's avatar drawing came from a skills competition.

No and never. "Conference finals" or "conference final" is just stupid. End of discussion, Barb.

The article--which I can't seem to come up with right now--was about how Buffalo arguably--please consider that adverb--had the best player in each of three leagues: NHL (Perreault), NFL (Simpson), NBA (McAdoo). So if we triangulate those three, about 1976 or so?

Perreault was arguably the best player in the league at a point in his career (Sports Illustrated certainly thought so). Hasek definitely was. Miller never was. And I like Ryan Miller an awful lot.

Pernell Karl is one of my favorite non-Sabres of all time, but I'm not sure about this idea right now.

Correct. I also have TB and COL in the final, but I got a lot wrong on the way there.

Well, we've got a fun matchup here. @jsb leads, with 339 points, and has picked Colorado. I don't think that @pastajoe, who is only one point behind and who also has picked Colorado, can catch jsb. @Andrew Amerkand @Huckleberry each have 333 and each picked Tampa. So if Tampa wins, we're headed to a tiebreaker.

I really want to know why Kakko was benched.

Good. F the Rags.

Your point, which also is mine, stands regardless. Number retirement shouldn't be so cheap.

You know what to do here. Also, edited now, because we did not go back in time even if it feels that way.

Should be reserved for Hall-of-Fame-Plus level players who spent the majority of their careers with the team.

Does anyone need a recap of my thoughts on numbers being retired? If so, let me know. This is stupid.

The guy punched someone else, too. He is facing multiple charges. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/rangers-fan-arrested-for-brutal-sucker-punch-of-tampa-fan-after-game-5-loss/3729041/

There's definitely someone with a sportcoat and a badge, but I can't tell if he works for MSG, for one of the teams, for the press, for a vendor, for ... It still would have been nice if he had stopped to do something. I think a lot of us can say that we're fortunate to have escaped our early-to-mid 20s.

I don't see any jocular responses here--maybe on twitter?

1. That's not a fight. 2. Did they get the guy? It's on top of Penn Station.

Oh. I thought he was the one who made that really bad rom com about the Sox winning a World Series, and then they did, or something.

Isn't he a notable Boston dude?