[jg2977]

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.