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ISLES TORCH FLAMES, 20-6
Sijtsma’s five-star show fuels blowout as Cup chase begins
The Islanders didn’t just light the lamp Wednesday night — they burned the whole building down.
In a jaw-dropping 20-6 demolition of the Calgary Flames at UBS Arena, the Isles made their intentions for the Stanley Cup Final crystal clear: this is their time.
Adrie Sijtsma was the firestarter, going 4-for-5 with two homers, a double, five runs scored and five RBIs in a career night that already has his name buzzing around Belmont. The shortstop set the tone in the bottom of the first, belting a solo shot that sent the 43,589 fans into a frenzy — and the Flames into an early hole they never crawled out of.
By the third inning, it was already over. A seven-run blitz buried Calgary, and when the Isles piled on five more in the sixth, the rout was official. In total, Long Island racked up 24 hits, with every starter notching at least one knock.
“We like the roll we’re on,” manager Rocky Dunn said, understated after watching his team score more like the Jets’ opponents on a bad Sunday than an NHL game.
Calgary’s only highlight came from slugger Lloyd Braun, who launched two solo homers. But the Flames’ pitching imploded, coughing up crooked numbers in nearly every frame.
Game 2 of the Finals is back at UBS Arena tonight — and if the Isles swing anything like this again, the Flames could be extinguished before they know what hit ‘em.
NEXT: Isles vs. Flames, Game 2, Belmont — Isles lead series 1-0.
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