Spring of '13 Officially Commences Thursday

The Garden could be host to another spectacular spring, just like it did in '94. (Credits: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Championship aspirations take on a different look and feel in the city of New York. Those same aspirations take an even more heightened, exciting feeling when they take place in Madison Square Garden. Then there are the special seasons when both the Knicks and Rangers, who share MSG, engage in those championship aspirations harmoniously. Most notably the springs of '94 and '72 when both teams reached their respective championship Finals captivated the city like none other. The Knicks and Rangers have both played in the postseason the past two years, but not since that storied '93-'94 season has New York had this much excitement about its Garden tenants.

When their respective seasons started, the NHL with a bit of a delay, the Knicks had little expectations to really compete past the first round with the offseason additions that turned the franchise into, what many considered, "An AARP squad." On the other hand, the Rangers were tabbed as Stanley Cup contenders, with the addition of Rick Nash supposedly the final piece to the title puzzle. Their seasons couldn't have went in different directions. The Knicks won their first Atlantic title in almost 20 years, won 54 games for the first time in 15 years and clinched the #2 seed and homecourt all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Rangers struggled out of the gate, before completely altering their season in a mid-season trade flipping the out-of-place Marian Gaborik to Columbus for a smattering of players (including Ryan Clowe from San Jose) who fit coach John Tortorella's system much better. They finished the season 10-3-1, good enough for the sixth in the East. Both the Knicks and Rangers enter the playoffs on fire.

The Knicks have already jumped on their opportunity, up 3-1 on the Celtics in the first round. The Rangers don't start until Thursday. Yet the mutual excitement is already growing in the Garden. Both teams have shared the postseason spotlight the last two years, but it wasn't until this year that there was an real expectation for both simultaneously. There's a real sense the Garden will be opening its historic doors to New Yorkers night after night for epic playoff tilts all the way to June. There's a real belief that something special is waiting in the wings.

So is this the season that both of them capture the hearts of New Yorkers like they did in '94? Can Carmelo recreate Ewing? Can Rick Nash be Adam Graves? Lundqvist, Richter? J.R., Starks? The pieces are all there for their to be a beautiful puzzle being assembled before our eyes. Thanks to the Knicks hot start the buzz is abound. The Rangers can add to it in a favorable matchup with the Capitals. It's go time.

Spring of '13 is here. Get ready New York.