National Baseball League

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Alright folks, strap in — because this one was uglier than a Zamboni crash on opening night. The Rangers absolutely dismantled the Panthers at Madison Square Garden, 17–2, and I’ve seen closer scores in beer league curling.
Let’s just say the Panthers’ pitching staff looked less like a defensive wall and more like an open barn door in January. O. Gomez got the honor of starting, but after three innings and six earned runs, he was basically just throwing souvenirs to the fans. And then, like a relay race from hell, the rest of the Florida bullpen took turns getting lit up like a Christmas tree.

On the flip side, New York’s bats were so hot you’d think they were corked, aluminum, and plugged into a car battery. Avery Grubin, our hero of the night, went 2-for-4, cranked a three-run homer in the sixth, drove in five runs total, and probably had time to sign a few autographs between bases. Barton Sattler had three hits, three RBIs, and also managed to get himself ejected in the seventh for starting a brawl — hey, gotta leave your mark somehow.

Speaking of brawls, it got spicy in that seventh inning. Sattler and Florida’s Wilfredo Hernandez decided to exchange pleasantries, and next thing you know, it’s a bench-clearing festival. If there’d been popcorn vendors on the ice — er, field — they’d have sold out.

Meanwhile, Rangers pitcher Seong Gi-Hun was a strikeout machine, fanning 15 and tying the EC playoff record. He gave up just two runs, both courtesy of E. van de Griendt’s two-run bomb, but otherwise looked like he was playing against mannequins.

Final tally? Rangers take Game 1, 17–2, out-hit Florida 17–4, and basically sent the Panthers back to their hotel rooms to think about what they’ve done. Same place, same teams tomorrow night… if Florida dares to show up.

Or, as I like to call it — New York 17, Florida Not-Enough.

Bench-clearing brawl in the 7th: entertainment value? 10/10. Punching accuracy? 3/10.

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Ohhh boys… lemme tell ya somethin’ — that was a greasy one. The Dallas Stars just took down the Colorado Avalanche 6–3, and it was all ’cause of this big sexy unit Armando Pagan. Guy went 3-for-4, smashed a homer, got two more singles, three RBIs… probably had a couple cheeseburgers after too, ya know?
Game was tight at 1–1, sixth inning rolls around, and boom — Pagan cranks one over the fence off Alexis Castaneda. Two-run shot. Crowd goes nuts. I’m standin’ there thinkin’ “yep, that’s how you do ‘er, boys.”

Then Dallas just kept rollin’ — couple more runs, everybody high-fivin’, lots of belly bumps. Manager Jordan Rodriguez says the team had “energy.” I’d say they had cheeseburger power, bud.

Colorado tried fightin’ back late — MacKinnon and Makar each popped one over the fence in the eighth — but too little, too late. Martinez pitched like a champ for Dallas, Sanchez cleaned it up for the save, and boom — series is tied 1–1.

Game 3’s in Denver on Wednesday… hope Pagan packs extra burgers for the trip.

[jg2977]

Good Grief, What a Game
(By Charlie Brown)
I don’t even know where to start. The Calgary Flames beat the Chicago Blackhawks 16–7 last night, and I think I’m still trying to figure out how they scored that many runs. I mean… sixteen? In a playoff game? If my team ever scored that much, I’d probably faint.

It all started okay for Chicago — they were only down 2–1 after the first inning. I thought, “Maybe this will be close.” But then came the fourth inning. No one out, and here comes Julio Mercado. He smacks a three-run homer off Jim Gould, and suddenly it’s 8–5. I’d say that was the turning point, but honestly, the turning point was probably when the Flames got off the bus.

Mercado didn’t stop there. He hit another homer in the fifth. Two in one game! Five RBIs! I can’t even get one hit in a whole season, and this guy’s knocking baseballs into orbit.

N. Kadri and M. Grubin were hitting everything, V. Gutierrez joined in, and even L. Bautista hit one out. The Flames just kept piling it on — three runs here, two runs there, and before you knew it, the scoreboard looked like a pinball machine.

Chicago had their moments — C. Bedard hit two home runs and R. Hextall and N. Foligno added one each — but it just wasn’t enough. The Blackhawks pitchers looked about as comfortable as I do trying to kick a football when Lucy’s holding it.

The series is tied 1–1 now, with Game 3 in Calgary on Wednesday. If Chicago wants to win, they’re going to need to figure out how to stop Mercado. Or maybe bribe him with a Snoopy snow cone machine or something.

Final score: Calgary 16, Chicago 7.
Good grief.

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“Islanders Hold On After Ninth-Inning Scare”
By Bobby Murcer
“Well folks, let me tell ya — this one had a little bit of everything. You had great defense, some timely hitting, and one of those ninth innings that’ll get your heart rate up if you were in the stands.

Long Island had themselves a ballgame thanks to Adrie Sijtsma. That kid was all over the place — three hits, a triple, a homer, drove in three runs. And let me tell you, that home run in the sixth inning? That ball got outta here in a hurry. Three-run shot, turned a tie game into a 4–1 lead. And in the playoffs, that’s a big ol’ cushion.

But baseball’s funny — that cushion almost wasn’t enough. In the top of the ninth, Montreal made it real interesting. They loaded the bases, and here comes Asher Grubin — big ol’ first baseman, already had a double in the game. Now if you’re Long Island, that’s the last guy you wanna see in that spot. One swing and the Canadiens could’ve gone ahead.

But here’s where the Islanders’ defense came through. Grubin hits a sharp one-hopper to short. Sijtsma fields it clean, flips to second for one, over to first — double play! Just like that, ballgame over. You could almost hear the whole place exhale.

That’s playoff baseball for ya — you can be cruising along, and in one pitch, you’re staring down trouble. But Long Island’s up two games to none, and now they head to Montreal with the momentum.

And folks… that’s how you win a series — you make the big plays when you need ‘em.”

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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE — FLORIDA PANTHERS AT NEW YORK RANGERS — SEPT. 23, 2003

Live from Madison Square G, the Panthers rolled up, thinkin’ they gon’ pull a lil’ heist on the Rangers, but nah son… them Blue Shirts was on some “not in my rink” steez. Final score? 12-8, yo.
Big ups to my boy Big Salad from Florida, who was straight up slangin’ dingers like they was mixtapes out the trunk. Dude went two for three, two taters, six ribbies, and a walk. Homie was cookin’ — but his squad’s bullpen? Bruh… looked like they was pitchin’ Wiffle balls out there.

Game flipped in the bottom of the 3rd, right? Rangers’ Barton Sattler stepped up with two cats on, dropped a 2-run double into right-center like “hold my beer”. That made it 4-2 New York, and from there they just kept stackin’ runs like bills in a shoebox.

The Rangers had bombs droppin’ everywhere, man — B. Rice hittin’ two homers, A. Grubin smashin’ one, Cuylle runnin’ triples, snatchin’ bases — like they was tryin’ to get featured on SportsCenter AND America’s Most Wanted.

Meanwhile, Florida’s pitchers… bro, them ERAs lookin’ like bad credit scores. Alvarado? 23.14. Martinez? One-oh-eight point oh-oh. I ain't even tryna clown but… y’all gotta call the bullpen repairman or somethin’.

Player of the Game? No contest — Big Salad, straight up. You can’t hate on two homers and six knocked in. But the scoreboard don’t lie, G — Rangers now up 2-0 in the Conference Semis.

Next game? Sept. 25th, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise. Panthers better come correct or they gon’ be goin’ home like last call at the Legion.

Weather? Clear skies, 61°, wind comin’ in from right at 12 mph — basically perfect for droppin’ bombs.
Attendance: 53,639 fans, plus one dude in the 300 section yellin’ “SHOOOOOOT” every time somebody touched the puck, yo.

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So, yeah… I’m supposed to be in economics right now. Supposed to be. But then I heard Dallas and Colorado were playing Game 3 of the Western Semis right here in Denver, and, well… sometimes life hands you a pop fly and you just gotta swing, right?
Cut to me leaning on the railing at Ball Arena, soda in one hand, nachos in the other.

First inning — Dallas comes out lookin’ sharp. Quick two runs. Everyone in blue’s cheering like they just aced the SAT. But I’m telling you right now — in baseball, overconfidence ages worse than cafeteria meatloaf.

Top of the third, the Stars are still cruising, then Jorge Sanchez steps in for Colorado. And… boom. Home run. Crowd loses its mind. Guy next to me spills his beer. I’m pretty sure the mascot just fell over. He does it again later. And again. That’s three, if you’re counting. That’s not just a hot streak — that’s Ferris Bueller calling in three sick days in a row and getting away with it.

Bottom of the third is where the script flips. Cale Makar — yes, the hockey guy, don’t ask me how this makes sense — smacks a 3-run blast off Melvin Quezada. Suddenly it’s 5–3 Colorado, and the Stars’ dugout looks like the DMV on a Monday morning.

Dallas tries to rally — George Costanza (no, not the bald guy from TV… I think) hits two homers, drives in five, and struts around the bases like he just conned the principal into giving him detention on purpose.

But here’s the thing — when Jorge Sanchez is turning baseballs into souvenirs and Colorado’s lineup is hotter than a July parking lot, you’re not catching up. Final: Avalanche 8, Stars 7.

Leans in closer, whispering like I’m sharing a state secret:

Game 4 is tomorrow, same time, same place. You can sit in algebra and learn about polynomials… or you can be here, watching Cale Makar casually bend the laws of sports.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and watch a playoff game once in a while, you could miss it.

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Big Game. Big Runs. Big Chili.

Calgary win. 10 to 4. That’s… ten runs. Four for other guys. Ten bigger than four. Simple math. I’m good at math.

Mila Grubin? Oh boy. Like chili in October. Perfect. Two big hits. One home run. One double. Walked twice. Ball hit him once. That’s five times on base. That’s like five bowls of chili. Big bowls.

Luis Bautista also smash ball far. Three people score. That’s like adding extra beans to the pot. You think too many beans? No. Never too many beans.

Chicago try hard. Bedard hit home run. Trevino hit double. But they leave eleven people on bases. Eleven! That’s eleven bowls of chili spilled on the carpet. Can’t eat carpet chili. (Trust me.)

Pitchers… hmm. Calgary pitcher Pastor? Strong. Steady. Like slow cooker. Chicago pitchers? Little messy. Like crockpot with lid off.

Series now 2-1 for Calgary. Game tomorrow. Same place. If they win, maybe I bring chili. If they lose… still bring chili. Chili make losing better.

Player of Game: Mila Grubin. Also Player of Chili: Me.

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Islanders One Win Away from Conference Finals After Game 3 Victory in Montreal

MONTREAL — In the hours before Game 3, Long Island’s dugout had the quiet confidence of a team that understood the stakes. With a 2-0 series lead, the Islanders came into the Bell Centre knowing that a win would put them in commanding position. They left with exactly that — a 7–5 victory that now puts them one win away from sweeping the Canadiens in the Conference Semifinals.

Left-hander Chris van Laar delivered the kind of performance Long Island has come to rely on this postseason. Over seven innings, he allowed just four hits and two runs, striking out three and keeping Montreal’s dangerous middle of the order in check. His only real blemish came in the third inning, when A. Wadi and P. Newman hit solo home runs.

The pivotal moment came in the sixth. Trailing 2–1 earlier in the fifth, Long Island had already surged ahead on L. Clark’s two-run blast, but in the sixth, Jack Bauer doubled into the gap in left-center, scoring two more and giving the Islanders a 4–2 lead they would not relinquish. That hit — Bauer’s only one of the night — was emblematic of Long Island’s approach: timely, situational hitting rather than sheer volume.

C. de la Cerda added a two-run homer in the seventh, padding the lead. Montreal made it interesting in the eighth when A. Grubin doubled in three runs off reliever A. Suarez, trimming the deficit to 7–5. But E. Rios closed the door in the ninth with a perfect inning, earning the save.

For Montreal, J. Salgado absorbed the loss, yielding six runs (five earned) over 6.1 innings. The Canadiens left 11 men on base — an opportunity gap that now looms large as they face elimination.

The takeaway: Long Island has shown an ability to generate runs from anywhere in the order, and with van Laar’s steadiness at the front of the rotation, they’ve kept Montreal off balance. Tomorrow’s Game 4, again at Bell Centre, could send the Islanders to the Conference Finals for the franchise's 6th time — and history is on their side. Since 1985, only one team has come back from a 3–0 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series.

As Jack Bauer put it afterward, “We are some kind of hot right now.” And the numbers back him up.

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HOW—HOW—DO YOU BLOW THIS GAME?! I mean, I’ve been watching sports my whole life, I’ve seen collapses, I’ve seen choke jobs, I’ve seen flat-out disasters… but THIS? This is an all-timer.
The Rangers—your New York Rangers—jump out to a 6-0 lead! Six to nothing! In a playoff game! And this is a team that’s lost, what, six games ALL YEAR? They’re supposed to be the bully on the block! They’re supposed to walk in there, step on Florida’s throat, and head to Game Four up three games to none. Instead? They take the foot off the gas, start daydreaming about tee times in West Palm, and they hand the Panthers their first win of the series on a silver platter.

Eighteen hits. Eighteen! And they score ten runs. You leave a million guys on base—twelve, officially, but felt like fifty. You’ve got Cuylle going 4-for-6 with two bombs, you’ve got Bliebernicht hitting triples, Rice smacking doubles—and you STILL lose? What are we doin’ here?!

And don’t get me started on the pitching. H. Macias gives up five runs in the third inning like he’s throwing batting practice at a Little League picnic. Then Guillen comes in, five more runs! Two home runs! And Vera—Vera!—comes in for the eighth, walks guys, gives up the game-winner to Big Salad, who’s about 112 years old and hasn’t been relevant since ’92, and you let HIM beat you?

You know what this was? This was lazy baseball. This was “oh, we’re up 6-0, we can coast.” NO YOU CAN’T. Not in the playoffs. Not against a team fighting for their lives. Florida ran all over you—Almeida steals THREE bases, Salad steals one, Iwai steals one—you looked like you’d never heard of a pickoff move in your life.

Now? Instead of putting Florida in a coffin, you’ve given them life. You’ve made this a series. And tomorrow night? Amerant Bank Arena is gonna be jumping, Florida’s gonna be loose, and YOU are the ones who have to answer for this disaster.

I’ll tell ya—if they lose Game 4, and God forbid, this thing goes 7—you circle this night as the moment the Rangers coughed it up. Absolutely disgraceful.

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They thought they could come into our house and leave with their heads still on.
The Stars didn’t score for seven innings. Not a scratch on us. We watched them swing and miss, over and over, until their shoulders sagged. When prey tires, that’s when you strike.
Jorge Sanchez struck first. In the second inning, a double set the table. In the third, he took Kunisada’s changeup and sent it into the deep, dark seats — three runs across, the air going out of Dallas’s lungs. They didn’t recover.

By the fifth, it was over. Another swing from Sanchez — a triple this time — and then Okuhara’s blade, a two-run shot that finished the work. We didn’t just beat them. We carved them apart. Every inning, another cut: MacKinnon’s speed stealing bases, Jaime’s single slicing through the infield, Miyake’s double breaking whatever pride Dallas had left.

They finally found two runs in the eighth, too little and far too late. You can’t outrun what’s coming for you.

Now the series is 3-1. One more game, and they’re gone. I’ve already written their name in my book. All that’s left is to cross it out.

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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AT CALGARY FLAMES
SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 — GAME 4

The truth is simple. The Blackhawks won. The Flames lost.

Chicago scored twelve runs. Calgary scored four.
The margin is not narrow; it is decisive.

Connor Bedard struck three home runs. He crossed the plate four times. He drove in six runs. He did his duty.
Nick Foligno contributed as required—two hits, two runs, two driven in. Others played their parts.
Chicago left ten men on base. This mattered little.

Calgary’s efforts were insufficient. Bautista, Kadri, and Grubin each struck a home run, but none could alter the outcome. Their pitchers yielded sixteen hits, twelve runs, and control of the series.

Series: tied, 2–2.
Next battle: September 27, United Center, Chicago.

No excuse will suffice. Victory is earned, not spoken of.

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Long Island Islanders: 6th Conference Finals berth
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"Hmph. You should’ve seen it. The Long Island Islanders… my lot… they weren’t about to let those fine, noble Canadiens have their way. No, no. We slit their throats in four games straight, and this last one—ha!—this last one was the feast."
"Montreal thought they had us… they were up, feeling all proud with their tidy little lead. But then we came for them in the sixth—Mike Bossy, that sly old fox, smacked a home run with two already on base. Took the smile right off their faces. And in the eighth? Bauer sends another one flying. Bossy joins him with his second of the day. Oh, they were gasping like trout on a riverbank."

"But the true slaughter? That came in the tenth. Extra innings, the crowd nervous. First, Lance Clark—whack!—sends one over the wall with a man on. They were still reeling from that when Jon Valenzuela strolls up and—ha!—sends another one into the stands. Back-to-back. Like a wedding toast followed by a dagger in the ribs."

"8–5, the final score. Sweep complete. Montreal’s blood on the floor, our boots already marching to the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth time in our history. And Bossy? Named series MVP, of course. Two homers today, two in the series before… four runs scored, four batted in. If he were one of my sons, I’d have given him a keep."

"As for Montreal… well, let’s just say their errors matched their hits. And in the end, what does a fine reputation matter, eh? When the gates close, and you’re inside, and we’ve got the knives."

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ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! The New York Rangers, the team that’s supposed to be cruising, stomping the Panthers into the ground, instead what do they do? They let Florida back into this series like it’s a freakin’ charity game! You got an 11-9 barn burner LOSS at Amerant Bank Arena, and it’s the Panthers who blast you with homers from “Big Salad” — yeah, that’s right, Big Salad — who put up FIVE RBIs, two homers, and scores two runs, practically carrying the whole damn team on his back!
The Rangers’ pitching? Garbage! G. Contreras gives up FIVE runs in barely over four innings, looking like a sieve out there. Then you got your bullpen falling apart like a house of cards. And the Rangers’ hitters? Yeah, they tried — nine runs, nine hits — but it just wasn’t enough. They left runners all over the place, couldn’t close the deal when it mattered. And guess what? That means the pressure’s on! Game 5 at MSG, the Garden, and the Panthers just tied this series 2-2!

The Panthers? They came to play with fire tonight. That 2-run homer by Salad in the eighth? Clutch doesn’t even begin to cover it. Rangers, you better wake up, or this Cinderella story is gonna end your season before you can say “Stanley Cup.” This isn’t last year’s walk in the park! This is a dogfight! And right now, Florida’s biting your throat!

Get ready, Rangers fans. Sunday’s gonna be one hell of a fight, and the Rangers better bring everything — because Big Salad and the Panthers are hungry, and they’re not going away quietly!

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Alright folks, here’s the scoop from the American Airlines Center where the Dallas Stars put on a clinic to stave off elimination, beating the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 in Game 5 of this Conference Semifinal series. Manny Martinez was absolutely masterful today, tossing seven shutout innings, scattering four hits, striking out five, and throwing 97 pitches like a man possessed. That’s pitching under pressure, folks, and Dallas needed every bit of it to keep their hopes alive.
From the jump, the Stars made it clear they weren’t backing down. George Costanza set the tone early with a third homer of the postseason, a rocket off Rockies’ starter Rob Amador in the first inning. Then Rafael Contreras and Sung-ho Park added insurance runs with clutch RBI hits in the 3rd and 4th innings respectively. That’s the kind of timely hitting you need in the playoffs, especially facing a tough Colorado squad that just couldn’t find their rhythm at the plate today.

Amador gave it a solid seven, but those three runs were enough to get the job done for Dallas. The bullpen, with Leon Sanchez locking down the final two innings for the save, finished the job strong, preserving that zero on the board against a potent Avalanche lineup.

Now, with the series at 3-2 in favor of Colorado, Dallas heads back to Ball Arena in Denver for Game 6 on Monday. It’s win or go home for the Stars, and with Manny Martinez pitching like that, you have to like their chances. Colorado needs to find a way to break through Martinez’s dominance if they want to close this out at home.

So buckle up, hockey fans — this series is far from over, and it’s about to get real interesting in Denver.

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Alright, folks, listen up — this one’s a doozy. The Chicago Blackhawks absolutely crushed the Calgary Flames in Game 5 of this Conference Semifinals series, 23-12. You heard me right, twenty-three to twelve. It’s like a slugfest at the United Center, and Chicago came out swinging like a team possessed.
Jack Klompus, the third baseman, was an absolute beast tonight — two home runs, five runs scored, four RBIs. That’s the kind of performance that wins you playoff games, plain and simple. And Nick Foligno? Forget about it. The guy went 5-for-7 with two triples, three doubles, seven RBIs, three runs scored — a monster night at the plate. He even said, “Trying isn’t good enough in this league. You’ve got to get results.” Well, Nick, you got results all right.

Now, here’s the jaw-dropper: Connor Bedard drew six walks in this game. Six! That’s right, six free passes. The guy was working the count, making the pitchers pay, and setting the tone for Chicago’s offense. You rarely see that kind of plate discipline in a playoff game. That alone tells you how fierce the battle at the plate was.

Calgary put up 12 runs, which would be enough to win most games, but not when the Blackhawks are scoring 23. Emilio Trevino, Jimmy Lautzenheiser, Ron Hextall, Connor Bedard — everybody chipped in. It was offense from start to finish. The Flames pitching? Well, they just got hammered. Big innings for Chicago in the second, fifth, and beyond. A lot of runs, a lot of damage.

Look, this series now sits at 3-2 in favor of Chicago. They’ve got the momentum. Calgary’s gotta regroup and find a way to stop this offensive barrage, or it’s gonna be a long night in Calgary come Game 6.

Bottom line? If you like runs, you saw a clinic tonight. If you’re a Flames fan? You’ve got your work cut out for you. Game 6 Monday at the Saddledome — don’t blink.

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Alright, folks, listen up — this was an absolute ROLLERCOASTER at Madison Square Garden, and I gotta tell ya, the New York Rangers just took the Florida Panthers to the cleaners, 16-3! Sixteen to three! I mean, COME ON! This isn’t just a win — it’s a statement. The Rangers are not messing around.
The guy who lit it up? Itsuro Bliebernicht. This third baseman was everywhere tonight. Two home runs, five RBIs, three runs scored — he was the difference-maker, no doubt. And that big three-run homer in the seventh? Game over, baby. That’s the kind of clutch performance you need in a pivotal Game 5. He put the Panthers on their backs and stomped them down.

But let me tell ya, it wasn’t just Bliebernicht. This whole Rangers lineup was firing on all cylinders. They racked up 18 hits, 15 RBIs, 6 walks — it was like watching a buzzsaw tear through Florida’s pitching staff. Mark Grubin, K. Kramer, B. Sattler, W. Cuylle, and that monster game by Bliebernicht — these guys are locked in.

Speaking of pitching, Seong Gi-Hun was a man possessed on the mound. He struck out 19 Panthers, setting and then resetting the Eastern Conference playoff strikeout record multiple times in the same game. NINETEEN STRIKEOUTS! That’s domination on a whole other level. The Panthers might as well have been swinging at air.

Now Florida tried, they put up three runs, but let’s be honest — they were completely overwhelmed tonight. O. Gomez, their starter, got rocked early, gave up seven runs in just 2.1 innings. After that, it was all Rangers. The Panthers need to find an answer fast, or this series is done.

Rangers take a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven series, and the next game? Tuesday night in Sunrise at the Amerant Bank Arena. Florida better come ready to fight, because New York is bringing the heat.

Bottom line: This was a statement game by the Rangers — a COMPLETE statement. They dominated in every facet — hitting, pitching, fielding — and now the Panthers are on the ropes. This series is far from over, but New York is coming with a vengeance. Mad Dog’s calling it: The Rangers are not done yet. Not by a long shot.

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Alright, alright, alright — this one’s for all the hockey heads out there who know the stakes, know the pain, and know the glory. Dallas Stars versus Colorado Avalanche, Game 6, Ball Arena, Monday, September 29th, 2003. You wanna talk about a rollercoaster? Strap in.
So here’s the deal: The Dallas Stars, they needed this one like Kramer needs a sliding door to break. Must-win situation, right? And guess what — they blasted through the Avalanche, 9 to 6. Bam! Series tied up, baby, back to Dallas for the big Game 7. It’s do or die, like when Newman’s gotta sneak the mail past the dog.

Now, let me tell you about Amenzu Jabiri. This guy was everywhere — three hits in five at-bats, including a home run, two triples, a walk, five RBIs, two runs scored. I mean, come on, the man’s a machine! If Jabiri were a sandwich, he’d be the full works — meat, cheese, extra pickles, and that special sauce you can’t quite put your finger on.

And Sung-ho Park, that first baseman, he’s no rookie. Five-time All-Star, steady as a rock. Dude drew three walks, and in the seventh inning, he gets a run-scoring walk. That’s clutch! Like when Elaine finally gets a date — it’s all about timing.

Dallas manager Jordan Rodriguez summed it up perfectly: “You gotta get in and get hot.” Playoffs aren’t a long, slow march. It’s a sprint, a mad dash, a frantic grab for anything you can get. Rodriguez knows what he’s talking about — I mean, the man’s not wrong.

On the other side, Colorado didn’t go down easy. They had fifteen hits, six runs — not shabby at all. But when your pitching’s getting hammered, and your defense slips up, you’re in trouble. Gotta tighten up those screws, Avalanche, or the big party in Dallas won’t be very fun.

So here we go — Game 7, Wednesday, October 1st, American Airlines Center, Dallas. You want excitement? You want tension? You want drama? This is it. It’s hockey at its finest, baby. Stars and Avalanche going toe-to-toe like Jerry and Newman in the mailroom.

And remember this: Amenzu Jabiri tied the Western Conference playoff record with two triples tonight. That’s history. You don’t see that every day. Not in this game, not in any game.

Stay tuned, folks. This series ain’t over, and I wouldn’t miss Game 7 for the world. It’s gonna be a doozy!

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Alright, so here’s the thing — I’m telling you, this game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Calgary Flames? It was a freakin’ barn burner! I mean, come on! You got Calgary just lighting it up, 16-9. That’s not a hockey score, that’s like a basketball game with skates on! It’s unbelievable.
Mila Grubin, the Flames center fielder? This guy, he’s like the quiet guy at the party who suddenly pulls out a guitar and starts rockin’ the joint. Three hits, two home runs, a double, seven RBIs. Seven! That’s not just a stat, that’s a statement. He’s carrying the whole damn team on his back.

And then there’s Nazem Kadri — the guy’s got a hot hand too. Bases loaded, two outs, and what does he do? A two-run single. Like, no big deal, right? Wrong. That’s what you call clutch! I mean, I don’t even understand how someone gets three walks in one game, but he did it. Three! That’s patience, that’s skill, that’s something you don’t see every day.

Juan Medina, Calgary’s manager, he’s got the right idea. “I wouldn’t want to be playing us right now,” he says. Yeah, no kidding. If I was on the other team, I’d be sweating bullets, nervous as hell. The Flames are on fire, and it’s not just the weather in Calgary, it’s these guys on the ice.

Look, it’s all tied up now — Game 7 coming up at the United Center. You gotta be there, you gotta watch this. This is playoff hockey at its finest — drama, intensity, guys giving it their all. It’s like a Seinfeld episode where everything’s just a little bit crazier than you expected.

So mark your calendars, folks. This one’s gonna be something special. And trust me, you don’t wanna miss Mila Grubin when he’s on a roll like this. It’s like lightning in a bottle — rare, electric, and oh so satisfying.

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New York Rangers: 20th Conference Finals berth
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Alright… listen… here we go… Rangers… are back… to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Twentieth time… in franchise history. Twenty. Times. Okay? You don’t get to twenty by accident.
That’s not… a fluke… that’s not… “oh they got hot at the right time” — no, no. That’s history.
And this game… 14–7… down in Florida… in Game 6… you end the series on the road?
That’s what real teams do. That’s what championship teams do.
You don’t come back to the Garden for Game 7, you don’t give ‘em life, you bury ‘em.
And they buried ‘em.

Itsuro Bliebernicht — series MVP. Deserved it. Hitting five hundred in the playoffs.
FIVE. HUNDRED. In the playoffs!
Five home runs, twelve RBIs, fourteen runs scored.
Folks — you can’t even do that in Strat-O-Matic without cheating.

Mark Grubin… what can you say?
Four hits… two home runs… a triple… a double… thirteen total bases.
He was the entire offense and the dessert cart.
Guy basically was the Rangers offense tonight.
I’m tellin’ ya — he was like watching Mantle in his prime.

Now they get… the Islanders.
The Battle of New York.
This isn’t some random Tuesday in February.
This is for the Stanley Cup Final.
The crowd’s gonna be insane, the hits are gonna be nasty, and somebody — mark it down —
somebody’s gonna be a hero we’re still talkin’ about ten years from now.

Florida? Forget it. You give up fourteen runs in an elimination game,
you’re gonna see that score in your nightmares.
They’ll be havin’ team shrink sessions about this game in January.

Bottom line — this Rangers team… is dangerous.
If they keep hitting like this, keep playing like this,
you could be looking at a year the Cup comes back to MSG again.
And I don’t say that lightly. I’ve seen a lot of Rangers teams.
This one… this one’s for real.