National Baseball League

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The Dallas Stars came into Los Angeles tonight knowing this was a swing game, and they played like it. An 8–4 win on the road gives them a 3–2 lead in the series, and now they’ll have a chance to close things out back home in Dallas.
The story really was Manny Martinez. Complete game, five hits allowed, three homers given up but none of them with men on base until late. He stayed composed, worked quickly, and gave his offense a chance to break things open. That’s exactly what you want from your starter in the postseason.
And the Dallas bats showed up. Sung-ho Park’s two-run homer in the fourth set the tone, and then Montez followed with another big swing that pushed the lead out of reach. Fourteen hits total, balanced lineup production, and they just wore down Los Angeles pitching.
The Kings had their moments with a couple of solo shots and a two-run homer in the ninth, but the damage was already done. At this point in a best-of-seven, you’ve got to protect home ice—well, in this case, home field—and L.A. just didn’t do it.
So Dallas heads back home up 3–2. That’s a veteran-type performance from them tonight, taking advantage of mistakes and executing in key spots. The Kings are going to need to find some answers in a hurry, or this series is going to end on Saturday.

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Chicago Blackhawks: 7th Conference Finals berth
1977 1989 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004

“Now ya see, the thing about the hockey game—except it wasn’t the hockey game, it was the baseball game with the hockey people hittin’ the pucks with the sticks but instead it was the bats, and the bats were goin’ ka-POW! and the balls were flyin’ all over the place!
And the Chicago Blackhawks, they come out in the first inning and they say, ‘zip zop bibbity bop—five runs, thank you very much!’ And Colorado, they’re sittin’ there sayin’, ‘but…but…but we got Cale Makar hittin’ the three home runs!’ And Chicago says, ‘HA-HA! We got Jack Klompus hittin’ two of his own, and Nick Foligno hittin’ two, and Bedard, and Kim, and Gonzalez—everybody hittin’ the long ball, the big ball, the kablooey ball!’
So the scoreboard, by the end, is lookin’ like somebody spilled Jell-O all over the numbers, because it’s nineteen to eight, and you can’t even keep up with who’s on first or who’s on third, because they’re all crossin’ home plate like the kids runnin’ around the house when momma says the puddin’ is ready.
Now the Avalanche, they got their homers, they got the zip and the zap, but the problem is, every time they score two, the Blackhawks score four, and then two more, and then another one, and then another KA-POW right over the fence.
And so the Blackhawks, they win the whole series, four games to one, and Mr. Klompus, he gets the MVP, and he says, ‘I ain’t worried about the MVP, I just want to go play the next round.’ And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the kind of attitude that gets you a big ol’ bowl of puddin’ in the Conference Finals.”

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Long Island Islanders: 7th Conference Finals berth
1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004

A Night of Chaos and Triumph: Islanders Storm Past Canadiens in a Wild 13–10 Victory

Ladies and gentlemen, what unfolded tonight in Montreal wasn’t just a hockey—or should I say baseball-in-disguise—game. No, this was something larger, something wilder, something that had the smell of scandal, the roar of destiny, and the raw grit of survival.
Inside the hallowed Bell Centre, in front of more than 48,000 screaming fans, the Long Island Islanders staged an assault—yes, an assault—on the Montreal Canadiens. The score? A staggering, almost unbelievable 13–10. A scoreboard better suited for the Bronx or Wrigley than the frozen rinks of the NHL playoffs. But this wasn’t just sport—it was history, it was spectacle, it was combat.
The Islanders, those oft-overlooked warriors of the Eastern seaboard, secured their 7th trip to the Conference Finals. And leading the charge, the man of the hour, the series MVP—Vinny Hixson. Two home runs. Eight RBIs. A .444 average. He wasn’t just swinging the bat—he was swinging a wrecking ball, demolishing Montreal’s hopes and silencing their faithful.
But don’t be fooled into thinking this was a walkover. No—this was a brawl. Montreal’s Emori Shishido came dangerously close to stealing the headlines. Three home runs. Eight RBIs. A one-man rebellion. He tied the Canadiens’ playoff record, and for a brief, fleeting moment, it seemed like destiny might belong to him.
And then, as if scripted by some higher drama, the Islanders answered back. Mike Bossy—two thunderous homers of his own. Bernabel. Sijtsma. Esparza. The names sound like a roll call of gladiators in a Roman coliseum. Blow after blow, counter after counter, until Montreal’s bullpen collapsed under the relentless barrage.
Let’s not mince words here: this was not just a win. It was a declaration of war. The Islanders now turn their firepower toward a familiar, blood-stirring foe: the New York Rangers. The “Battle of New York” is no longer just a subway tagline—it’s the next chapter in this wild, unpredictable postseason.
So, what’s at stake? Bragging rights? Glory? The Stanley Cup itself? Yes, all of that. But make no mistake—what’s happening here is bigger. It’s about identity. It’s about pride. It’s about whether Long Island, forever cast as the underdog, can finally seize the spotlight in the world’s most unforgiving arena.
Stay tuned. Because if tonight was any indication, the next round isn’t just going to be hockey—it’s going to be warfare on ice.

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Dallas Stars: 13th Conference Finals berth
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2004

What’s the deal with hockey games that look like baseball scores?
I mean, come on! Eleven to nine? That’s not a hockey game—that’s the Rangers playing the Yankees in spring training! You don’t need a goalie, you need a shortstop!
So the Dallas Stars beat the Kings, move on to the Conference Finals. Thirteenth time in their history. Thirteen! That’s not a hockey team, that’s a sequel franchise. Conference Finals 13: This Time, It’s Personal.
And how about Amenzu Jabiri? Series MVP. Batting .588, five homers, ten RBIs, nine runs scored. That’s not a hockey stat line, that’s Barry Bonds on a juice cleanse! “Yeah, I’m hitting everything, no big deal.” Why don’t they just give him the Cup now, let him skate it around Dallas with a ten-gallon hat?
The Kings? They hit five home runs too! Perry, Kopitar, Valdespino, even the catcher, Bryan. Everybody’s knocking it out of the park. And yet—they lose. That’s the Kings for you. They’re like the friend who always insists on ordering dessert, then complains the bill is too high.
Now Dallas moves on to face Chicago. The Blackhawks. The Windy City. Stars versus Hawks—it’s like a bad nature documentary. “The star sits quietly in the night sky. The hawk swoops in… then realizes it can’t actually fly in space.”
But seriously, this Stars team—they’re confident. They’re hot. They’re scoring runs—uh, I mean goals—at will. The bandwagon’s filling up. You know what that means in Dallas: people showing up in cowboy boots, explaining icing like they’ve known it their whole life. “Oh yeah, icing—that’s when you don’t finish your Dr Pepper.”
So here we are, folks. Dallas keeps winning, Los Angeles keeps losing, and hockey keeps pretending it’s baseball. What’s next? Seventh-inning stretch on the power play?

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2004 NHL Conference Finals

Alright, listen, folks. We’re down to the final four, the last four teams standing. These are not your everyday teams, these are the teams that have actually won the Stanley Cup in the past five years. We’re talking champions. The New York Rangers, the defending champions—two-time defending champions, 2002, 2003. These guys dominated the NHL, 149 wins, 13 losses. 149! That’s ridiculous. And they’re coming back to do it again.
Their opponents in the East? The Long Island Islanders. Look, these guys are no joke either. 130 wins, 32 losses, they won the Cup in ’99. So yeah, we’re talking about a matchup that’s got history, prestige, and talent everywhere. This isn’t some fluke—these are the best of the best.
Now, out West, the Chicago Blackhawks. 2001 champions. They’ve got a 143-19 record. They’ve been dominant all year long. And they’re going to face the Dallas Stars. The Stars? Won it all in 2000. They finished 111-51, third in the West behind the Los Angeles Kings. But here’s the thing—playoffs are a different animal, and Dallas beat the Kings when it counted. That’s the thing about playoff hockey, folks. It doesn’t matter what you did in the regular season; it matters who wins when it matters. Dallas vaulted past LA, no doubt about it.
Now, I’m not going to kid you—the easy narrative is Rangers-Blackhawks, a repeat of last year, a repeat of 2001. But I’ve got a feeling Long Island and Dallas are not going to go away quietly. Not at all. These guys are battle-tested. They’ve got experience, they’ve got firepower. You can expect some crazy hockey, some upsets maybe. This is going to be entertaining.
So strap in, folks. It’s going to be a ride. Conference Finals, baby. Four teams, all champions, all hungry. And in hockey, as you know, anything can happen. Anything.

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Conference Finals Game 1: Rangers Take Control Over Islanders
Alright, folks, listen, listen. We’re down to the Conference Finals, the big stage, Madison Square Garden—this is where you separate the pretenders from the contenders. The New York Rangers? They showed you right out of the gate who’s in charge. A 7–2 win over the Long Island Islanders. Seven to two! I mean, come on! That’s not just a win, that’s a statement. That’s your team saying, “We run this town!”
Seong Gi-Hun, the right-hander, he was untouchable. Six and a third innings, two hits, fourteen strikeouts. Fourteen! The Islanders? They had no chance. Nothing. Nada. You can’t beat a guy like that in the playoffs. You just can’t. And Gi-Hun? He’s got ice in his veins. Big pitches when it mattered, and the Islanders hitters? They looked like they were trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.
The Islanders? Yeah, they got a little contribution from Bauer—two home runs. That’s nice. That’s cute. But you’re not winning games 7–2 on two homers. You’re not stopping a guy like Gi-Hun. And it’s funny, because this is the Conference Finals, the big dance, and the Islanders come in with all their history, all their firepower, and Gi-Hun just eats them alive.
Look, the Rangers take Game 1, they’ve got the momentum. That’s what matters. It’s a best-of-seven. You take Game 1 at home, you put pressure on the other team. Islanders? They need to rebound tomorrow. They have to rebound. You don’t want to go down 2–0 in New York in the Conference Finals. It’s tough. It’s really tough.
So that’s where we’re at. Rangers lead 1–0, Gi-Hun’s lights-out, Islanders stunned, Madison Square Garden rocking. And you know how it goes in this city: one win, one loss, everybody’s talking about dynasties and collapses. But right now, the Rangers are in charge, and if the Islanders want to hang around, they better figure out how to hit Gi-Hun—because right now, nobody’s touching him.
Game 2 tomorrow. Tune in. It’s going to be fun.

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Blackhawks 27, Stars 4.
Yep. Twenty-seven to four. I haven’t seen a beating that bad since I tried to ask Peg for dinner without cheese on it.
The Dallas Stars… what a team. They waltz into Chicago thinking they’ve got a shot, and what happens? They get run over like me crossing the street in front of a women’s shoe sale. The Blackhawks didn’t just win—they scored 27 runs. That’s not hockey. That’s not baseball. That’s… cruel and unusual punishment.
Jack Klompus—five hits, two homers, a triple, a double, six RBIs. This guy had so many hits, I thought he was playing against me in high school when I scored four touchdowns in a single game for Polk High. But no. He’s just teeing off on Dallas pitching like they were throwing underhand.
And the Stars? Oh, they “scored” four runs. How sweet. Two home runs, a couple pity RBIs. You know what four runs gets you in Chicago? A cab ride back to the airport.
And the Dallas pitching staff—don’t get me started. Kunisada, Ramirez, Chesney, Cabrera… it was like watching Peg’s family bowl. Every time they threw the ball, something terrible happened. ERA’s climbing higher than Kelly’s hair.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks lineup? Everybody’s hitting. Hextall scores six runs. Bedard scores five. Foligno five hits. Even the catcher hit a home run! The catcher! Back when I played at Polk High, catchers didn’t hit home runs. They caught. And smelled funny.
The United Center crowd was happy, though. Forty thousand fans cheering, beer flowing, nachos dripping down shirts. And me? Sitting here with a cold one, watching a so-called “Conference Final” that looked more like a family reunion softball game where everyone’s drunk—except the Stars, who looked hungover.
So Chicago leads the series 1–0. Big shocker. Dallas, you better figure something out, because right now, you’re not Stars—you’re just the dim bulb in Peg’s lamp.

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Well, hello there, everybody — this is Mel Allen and what a night it was at Madison Square Garden, as the New York Rangers simply overwhelmed their cross-town rivals, the Long Island Islanders, by the eye-popping score of 19 to 5.
Yes, you heard that right, 19 runs for the Broadway Blueshirts, and at the center of it all — none other than third baseman Itsuro Bliebernicht. What a ballgame he had, folks! Three hits in four trips, two mammoth home runs, a double, a walk for good measure, and would you believe it — eight runs driven in. That’s what you call a ballplayer taking charge of a series.
Now, it wasn’t always a runaway. For a time, the Islanders hung in there. After a couple of scoreless innings, they knotted things at two apiece. But in the bottom of the fifth — oh, what a moment — Bliebernicht came up with men on first and third. He lashed a ringing double off Eduardo Roman, and just like that, the Rangers seized a 4-2 lead. From there, the floodgates opened.
You could feel the electricity in the Garden as homer after homer left the yard. Avery Grubin, a pair of long balls. Eli Grubin chipped in with one of his own. Mark Grubin joined the fun with a solo shot, and even catcher I. Oki put one into the seats with two men aboard. The Rangers lineup was relentless — 17 hits, 19 runs, and it seemed every man had a hand in the party.
As for the Islanders, well, they did muster 10 hits and a few fireworks of their own — A. Esparza twice went deep, and A. Sijtsma added a ninth-inning homer. But their pitching staff simply had no answers for this Rangers barrage. Roman took the loss, and from there the bullpen was battered about like driftwood in a storm.
So, at the end of the evening, the Rangers take a commanding two games to none lead in this Conference Final. And now, the series shifts to Belmont, where the Islanders will look to regroup on Wednesday night at UBS Arena.
Yes indeed, what a ballgame! The Rangers on top, 19–5, and one man shining brightest — your Player of the Game, Itsuro Bliebernicht.
And that, folks, is how it happened — how about that!

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Good evening, everybody, wherever you may be.
Tonight, at the United Center in Chicago, the Dallas Stars and the hometown Blackhawks gave us a ballgame that was less a duel and more a fireworks display. When the smoke finally cleared, Dallas prevailed, 21 to 15, in a slugfest that will be remembered for a single, unforgettable performance.
That performance belonged to Amenzu Jabiri. Imagine, if you will, four swings, four baseballs rocketing into the night, and one man circling the bases with the ease of a man who seemed born for the moment. Jabiri went four for five, drew a walk, scored five runs, and drove in seven. Four home runs in a playoff game — tying a record and etching his name alongside some of the game’s most remarkable feats.
The turning point came early. In the second inning, Dallas sent 13 men to the plate and scored nine times. The exclamation point in that frame belonged to Teiji Miyata, the catcher from Osaka, who with two outs and two men aboard, sent a drive over the left field wall. From there, the Stars never trailed.
Still, the Blackhawks battled back. They plated six runs in the seventh, and two more in both the eighth and ninth, with Connor Bedard and Ron Hextall each delivering long home runs. Chicago’s lineup did not go quietly — 15 runs on 15 hits would win you most games. But on this night, it was not nearly enough.
The two teams combined for 36 runs, 33 hits, and 13 home runs. It was a game that tested the scoreboards and the patience of the pitchers, but delighted the fans who braved a chilly October night.
So, as the series shifts to Dallas, the Stars head home with momentum and a tie series at 1 game apiece, thanks to the mighty bat of Amenzu Jabiri.
And so it goes, from Chicago — a game that began with the promise of October, and ended as a testament to power, persistence, and one man’s perfect night at the plate.
This is Vin Scully, wishing you all a very pleasant good evening, wherever you may be.

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Man, let me tell y’all somethin’. The Islanders musta been tired of hearin’ about the Rangers bein’ the big bad champs, ‘cause Wednesday night at UBS Arena they came out like, “Nah, not today.”
Rangers put up 7 runs, which sounds good—until you realize Long Island was droppin’ bombs like it was the Fourth of July. Mike Bossy hit three home runs. Three! I don’t even hit the snooze button three times in one morning. And this man hittin’ ‘em like it’s tee-ball in the backyard. Rangers pitchers lookin’ like, “Coach, you sure we can’t walk him and just go home?”
And then you got Adrie Sijtsma out here actin’ like it’s his family reunion. Two homers, 4 RBI, just feastin’ on pitches. By the time he was done, I swear the Rangers bullpen was lookin’ like they were callin’ Uber rides to get back to Manhattan.
Meanwhile the Rangers lineup… they had some hits, sure. But it was like when you tell your kid to clean their room, and they just shove everything under the bed. Technically somethin’ happened, but the job didn’t get done.
Final score: 12–7 Islanders. And let me tell you, that crowd in Belmont? They were louder than my Auntie’s church choir on Easter Sunday. Series is 2–1 now, Rangers still lead, but the Islanders showed up like, “Don’t forget, we got a little history too.”
And Bossy? If he keeps hittin’ like that, Rangers pitchers might start usin’ the bullpen phone to call 911.

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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AT DALLAS STARS
10/07/2004
So the Blackhawks roll into Dallas, right? And lemme tell ya — this wasn’t a hockey game, it was a freakin’ crime scene. Chicago put up 22 runs on the Stars. Twenty-two! That’s not a score, that’s a goddamn Powerball ticket.
Connor Bedard? This kid’s a lunatic. Five hits, two bombs, seven RBIs, five runs scored. He basically played Wiffle Ball while everyone else was playin’ chess. You know it’s bad when you look up at the scoreboard and it’s the fifth inning and Chicago’s already at, like, 13 runs. At that point, Dallas shoulda just called Uber and gone home.
And the Dallas pitching? Forget it. I don’t know what these guys were throwin’, but it wasn’t baseballs. Looked more like batting practice tosses at a Little League park. Every Blackhawk in the lineup got in on the fun. Ron Hextall’s hittin’ three home runs like he’s playin’ beer league softball on a Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Dallas managed eight runs, which on a normal day is pretty good! But here? It’s like bringin’ a water balloon to a forest fire. You give up 22, I don’t care if you hit four grand slams — you’re still losin’.
Final score, Chicago 22, Dallas 8. Connor Bedard’s basically runnin’ around the dugout like, “Yeah, I own this town now.” And the Stars? They’re sittin’ there in the clubhouse wonderin’ if they should switch to bowling.

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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
NEW YORK RANGERS AT LONG ISLAND ISLANDERS
10/07/2004
So the Rangers beat the Islanders, 22-3. Twenty-two runs! In a hockey game? …Wait, it’s baseball now? I don’t even know anymore.
I mean, 22 runs — that’s not a score, that’s what I spend at Taco Bell after midnight. “Did you order 22 runs?” No, I just wanted a burrito.
Will Cuylle had four hits, two of them home runs. That’s a lot of running. I don’t even like walking to the fridge. Meanwhile, the Islanders managed three. Three runs. That’s adorable. Like when your kid shows you a stick figure drawing and you have to be like, “Oh wow, you tried.”
And the first inning? The Rangers scored 14 runs. Fourteen! By the time the inning was over, the Islanders’ pitcher probably wanted to go work at Starbucks. At least there, if you give up 14 shots, people tip you.
Game 5 moves to Madison Square Garden. Which means the Islanders get to lose in front of twice as many people.

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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AT DALLAS STARS
10/08/2004
From Big D, it was bombs away!
The Dallas Stars turned the lights out on the Chicago Blackhawks, 16-6, in Game 4 to even the series at 2-2. And the big story? Center fielder Amenzu “Jab it outta here” Jabiri! Three-for-three, a couple of singles, a walk or two, and oh yeah — a GRAND SLAM that went back, back, back, back… GONE!
Jabiri drives in four, scores three, and Dallas pours it on like Texas barbecue sauce.
Third inning — Jesse “I Got the Klompus” Klompus goes yard for Chicago, but in the bottom half, Brayden “Boom Boom” Grubin says, “Anything you can do, I can do louder,” with a two-run blast.
Then the fourth — Jabiri turns a Franklin Bautista sinker into a stinker. Four runs cross the plate, crowd goes nuts, Stars never look back.
By the fifth inning? It’s batting practice. George “It’s Always Costanza” Costanza triples, then goes deep later with a three-run shot. Miggy Montezuma’s Revenge Montez homers, Taka Taka Boom Boom Miyata adds one for good measure. Sixteen runs, sixteen hits, see ya later!
Final score: Dallas 16, Chicago 6. Stars tie the series, and we’re heading back to the United Center for Game 5 on Sunday.
As Chris Berman would say: “Jabiri goes back, back, back, back… GONE! Dallas ties it up!”

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New York Rangers: 17th Stanley Cup Finals berth
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Alright bro, here we go — Joe Benigno style rant/recap coming at ya:
Ohhhhhh, you gotta be kiddin’ me! The New York Rangers — BACK in the Stanley Cup Finals! Fifth straight year, seventeenth time overall. I mean, what are we doin’ here?! This is unbelievable.
They absolutely SMOKED the Islanders at the Garden, 11-1. It wasn’t even close. The Isles? Fuggedaboutit. Two hits the whole night. Mike Bossy hits a solo shot and that was it — that was the highlight of their season. Pathetic, absolutely pathetic.
And how about my guy Will Cuylle? This kid is on another planet right now. Eleven-for-seventeen in the series, four bombs, six ribbies, wins series MVP. The Islanders had NO answer for him, none. He’s hittin’ everything that moves. You pitch inside, he’s turnin’ on it. You go away, he’s shootin’ it the other way. I mean, this kid could hit a manhole cover if you threw it at him.
Seong Gi-Hun? Fellas — 18 strikeouts. Eighteen! That’s not a game, that’s a crime scene. He embarrassed them, totally embarrassed them. The poor Isles looked like they were swingin’ blindfolded out there.
Look, I’m not tryin’ to pile on, but the Islanders? They never even showed up to this series. Four games to one, and honestly, it felt like it shoulda been a sweep.
So now here we go — Rangers sittin’ pretty, waitin’ on Dallas or Chicago. Doesn’t matter who it is. The Garden’s gonna be rockin’, baby. Another shot at the Cup. Can you believe this? Five straight years!
Bro… it’s unreal. Absolutely unreal.

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