Good morning New York sports fans! Welcome to today's edition of Morning Coffee, where baseballs are flying over the wall and one local hockey team is heading back to Florida with a series tied.
The Grandy Man Can (Three Times!)
Entering last night's game, New York Yankees' center fielder Curtis Granderson was hovering around the .200 mark. But a 5-for-5 night, including three (THREE!) home runs helped raise his average and power the Yankees to a 7-6 win over the Minnesota Twins. Granderson became just the 27th player in Yankees history to hit three home runs in one game, and was the first to do it in the new Yankees Stadium. The win earned New York a series split with Minnesota.
After the jump, we've got news from the ice, your daily dose of SB Nation video and much more!
Devils Quiet Panthers
In many ways, the New Jersey Devils had their most important game of the season at the Prudential Center. After blowing a three-goal lead in their loss in Game 3, the Devils needed a home win to avoid playing an elimination game in Florida Saturday night. There was no hangover from the Game 3 lost, as the Devils blanked the Panthers, 4-0, to tie the series at two games apiece. Martin Brodeur stopped 26 shots, passing Patrick Roy as the all-time shutout leader in the NHL Playoffs. Four different Devils scored in the win. Game 5 is Saturday night.
Giants, Jets Talk Draft Strategy
Isn't it amazing to watch how stark the difference is between the New York Jets and the New York Giants. You have the Super Bowl champs, who say their draft strategy is to simply draft based on a prospect's potential, and not for need. Sounds simple enough. Then there are the Jets, who stroked the fire by suggesting they may be open to trading their first round pick to move up. There's always something brewing with the Jets.
Video of the Day:
All the hockey goodness of last night's win, in an easy 2:30 minute clip (via NHLVideo)
Tonight's Action
The New York Yankees travel to the 100-year-old Fenway Park to start a series with the Red Sox. Word is the Yanks will wear throwback jerseys…which are oddly similar to the ones they still wear today. The New York Knicks head to Cleveland looking for another win to solidify their playoff position. The New York Mets host the San Francisco Giants, looking to rebound from a 14-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Quote of the Day
Nick Swisher, via Twitter: "What a game by our boy @cgrand14!! 3 bombs and 5 hits. Do it brother. Let's get ready for a big series in Boston"