Daily Report – 3/25/25

Here is today’s report:

Yankees

The Yankees fell to the Marlins 2-4 today in an exhibition game.

Also, Ben Rice and Jasson Domínguez were officially informed today that they have made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.

Rangers

It’s the biggest road trip of the year! Tonight at 10:30 PM (9:30 PM CT), the Rangers will kick off a three-game road trip in Los Angeles as they visit the Kings (MSG, MSG2, MSGSN).

The Rangers have won four of their last six games against the Los Angeles Kings, but on December 14, the Kings dominated them with a 5-1 victory at Madison Square Garden.

The Kings boast a .844 points percentage at home, the highest in the NHL this season, making it challenging for the Rangers to secure a win tonight. If Darcy Kuemper starts in net for the Kings, the Rangers should focus on taking a high volume of shots. They need to prioritize shooting from the left circle, slot, and net-front areas, as Kuemper excels against shots from the right circle.

Both teams demonstrate similar skating habits, spending equal time in both offensive and defensive zones. However, the Kings take significantly more long-range shots per game than the Rangers, particularly from the left point. In contrast, the Rangers primarily shoot from the right circle. Therefore, the Rangers must concentrate on defending the slot and preventing deflections, especially since the Kings have the fourth-highest high-danger shooting percentage and the third-most high-danger goals in the NHL.

Defensively, Los Angeles allows only 2.52 goals per game, which is the second-fewest in the league, whereas the Rangers average three goals against per game. On the special teams end, the Kings' power play ranks 28th in the league. Next, the Kings average just 2.93 goals per game, while the Rangers average 2.99.

Additionally, the Kings allow the league’s second-fewest shots per game at 25.4. For a team like the Rangers that struggles to generate scoring chances, they will need to put in additional effort to win this game. On March 18 and 22, the Rangers managed to generate only 13 and 12 shots on net, respectively.

The Rangers find themselves one point out of a playoff spot, making each of their remaining 11 games increasingly vital. Tonight's game is no exception; the Blueshirts likely need to earn at least eight more wins this season to secure a playoff berth.

Here are the current Eastern Conference Wild Card standings:

Photo credit: New York Rangers website

Knicks

Tonight, at the Mecca, at 7:30 PM (6:30 PM CT), the Knicks will host the Dallas Mavericks (MSG).

This Mavericks team looks a bit different from the one that beat the Knicks on November 27. Luka Doncic is now a Laker, Kyrie Irving is out for the season, and Anthony Davis doubts he’ll play tonight. When Dallas beat the Knicks 129-114 in November, Jalen Brunson posted 37 points against his former team. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points and collected 14 rebounds, and Josh Hart scored 12 points. It was, unfortunately, a wasted effort by Brunson and Towns.

Jalen Brunson and Deuce McBride will both sit out tonight against Dallas, which means the former Marquette star Tyler Kolek gets some more playing time. Regarding Kolek’s opportunity, which first arrived on Saturday against Washington, Josh Hart said, “He stayed ready, stayed involved, stayed working, and when he got his opportunity, he was able to go out there and execute.”

The Knicks have gone 4-4 since Brunson injured his ankle, so they need all the help they can get offensively. On Tyler Kolek, head coach Tom Thibodeau said, “I think like for most rookies, there’s a big adjustment from college to the pros, so understanding your team responsibilities and the individual responsibilities. And who you’re guarding, the strengths and weaknesses of the team.” Thibodeau often uses the term “gym rat” when describing Kolek.

When his team fell to the then 18-51 Charlotte Hornets last week, Josh Hart made some controversial comments after the game. “The way we’re losing games, it’s embarrassing,” he said. “We’re not doing what it takes. We’re not doing the extra effort. We’re not giving energy/ We’re crying to refs. We’ve got to pick it up.” He then made some comments about his team’s effort level on Thursday, saying, “I think we got outrebounded by 14 today. A lot of that is effort. None of that takes talent.”

He added, “It’s extra effort, and we’re not doing that, and that’s what’s embarrassing, especially for this team, especially for a Thibs-coached team, a New York-based team. That’s not what we should be doing. That’s not what we’re supposed to be built on.” Against Golden State a couple of Saturdays ago, Josh Hart and Tom Thibodeau were seen yelling back and forth.

When Hart made those comments to the media on Thursday, he attempted to step up as a leader in a desperate locker room. Some leaders are more vocal than others. Hart is simply more blunt than Brunson, which is an uncommon but welcome trait in the New York sports media market. I appreciate when players are honest, no matter how blunt, so I appreciate Hart’s comments and fiery attitude. As long as he performs on the court.

Jalen Brunson will return to the Knicks as soon as next week. For now, they need to rebuild their confidence and gather as many wins as possible. If their depth players can get hot, Brunson’s injury might prove to be a blessing in disguise.

Schedule

7:30 PM (6:30 PM CDT): NYK vs. DAL; MSG

10:30 PM (9:30 PM CDT): NYR at LAK; MSG

That will conclude this report. Enjoy the rest of your day.