National Baseball League

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“On a September night in Vancouver, the Minnesota Wild and the Canucks met not on the ice, but on the diamond. And wouldn’t you know it, the Wild had a most unlikely hero. Jerry Seinfeld — yes, that Jerry Seinfeld — playing second base as if he’d been born with a glove in one hand and a microphone in the other. Two hits, two runs scored, two driven in, and even a couple of walks for good measure. It’s a funny game, isn’t it?
Early on, Minnesota set the tone. A run in the first, two more in the second, and before the Canucks could even blink, it was 3–0. By the fourth, with a man on and a pitch that just hung there like a curveball waiting for the punchline, Andy Grubin turned it into a three-run homer. Six to nothing, Wild.
Now, baseball has a way of humbling everyone — pitchers, hitters, even broadcasters — but tonight, it humbled Vancouver’s staff most of all. By the eighth inning, Hyun-woo Kim stepped in against Tomas Pineda. Two men aboard, two outs, and a fastball that came in straight and left even faster. A towering drive, high, deep, gone. Eleven to one. The Wild weren’t just winning, they were dancing.
To their credit, Vancouver did not fold. H. Pennypacker gave the hometown fans something to cheer about with a two-run homer, and they clawed back three in the eighth. But baseball, like life, often comes down to timing. For Minnesota, the hits came when they needed them most. For Vancouver, they came too late.
And so the story of the night belongs to Jerry Seinfeld — the comedian turned ballplayer who reminded us all that sometimes the game writes a script so odd, you couldn’t make it up. Minnesota wins it, 11 to 4, and heads home with a two-games-to-none lead in the series.
And folks, that’s baseball.”

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“Well, the Whalers came into Long Island needing an answer, and they sure got one this afternoon. Kevin Dineen led the way — two hits, a home run, four runs driven in — he set the tone for Hartford’s offense in what became a 16–8 victory over the Islanders.
It started early. A solo shot from Jaime in the first, another blast from Kawenaula in the second, and Hartford jumped out front, 2–0. The Islanders hung around, but the Whalers kept stacking runs — Dineen with the long ball in the fifth, Bania crushing a three-run shot in the sixth, and by then Hartford was in full control.
Long Island finally broke through with four in the fifth — Bauer’s two-run homer the highlight — but each time they pushed, Hartford had an answer. Castillo added a homer in the eighth, Zuke a bases-clearing triple, and the Whalers just poured it on.
Archuleta gave Hartford five innings, limited the damage, and the bullpen did enough to close it out. For the Islanders, Pastor worked five but gave up three homers, and things unraveled quickly once the bullpen took over.
So the series is even now at a game apiece. Final score again from UBS Arena: Whalers 16, Islanders 8. Game 3 shifts to Hartford on Monday night.”

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Gio: “Boomer… eighteen to TWO! The Rangers just demolished the Flyers at the Garden. I mean, this wasn’t even close. This was a football score. This was Giants–Jets preseason type stuff, except the Flyers were the Jets.”

Boomer: “Yeah, Gio, and the crazy part is it started early. First inning — Will Cuylle goes deep, two-run shot. Then Ben Rice, the kid, he just kept getting on base, scoring four times. He had a homer, a couple singles, two walks. That’s five times he’s on base in a playoff game. That’s what you call a table setter.”

Gio: “Table setter? More like a buffet, Booms. They put up SIX runs in the fourth, three more in the fifth, and then five in the eighth just for fun. I mean, Bliebernicht hits a grand slam, Cuylle goes deep again, Kramer homers, Ising homers… everybody’s hittin’ bombs! The Flyers pitchers looked like they were throwing batting practice at a Little League game.”

Boomer: “I’ll tell ya what, Cuylle is a monster. Three hits, two home runs, four runs driven in — he’s turning into the guy you circle in that lineup. And then Kramer, three hits, four RBIs… just relentless.”

Gio: “Relentless is right. And the Flyers? They had five hits total. Five. You can’t come into the Garden in the playoffs and lay down like that. Sanchez didn’t have it, the bullpen was a disaster. Jasso comes in, doesn’t record an out, gives up four runs! Four! ERA over a hundred, Booms! That’s not even real.”

Boomer: [laughs] “Yeah, that’s when you know it’s a bad night. And the Rangers’ pitching? Godinez, six strong, seven strikeouts, only one run. Exactly what you want when your lineup’s putting up eighteen.”

Gio: “Series now 2–0 Rangers, and they head to Philly Monday. Flyers fans are already booing the team in their heads, they’re not even there yet. Place is gonna be toxic if it gets ugly early.”

Boomer: “Well, that’s Philadelphia, Gio. But right now, the Rangers are rolling. Eighteen runs in a playoff game? That’s making a statement.”

Gio: “Statement made. Flyers are toast. Rangers are up 2–0 and looking like a juggernaut.”

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“Lemme tell ju somethin’, okay? Minnesota, dey don’t mess around, mang. Dis guy Roelse? He’s like a machine, chico. Nine innings, two hits, no runs — he shut dem Canucks down like cockroaches. Vancouver? Nothin’. Zero. Big fat zero on da board. You come into my house, you swing da bat two times, dat’s all you got? Please, mang, get outta here.
And da Wild? Heh, dey bring da power. Rolon hittin’ doubles, Kona drivin’ guys in, Grubin smashin’ da ball outta da park. Five runs, ten hits, boom boom boom, like da bullets in my little friend, mang.
Now Minnesota up three–nothing in da series, one game from sendin’ Vancouver back home cryin’ to their mamas. You think you can stop dat train, chico? No, mang. Say hello to da Conference Finals, okay?”

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“Da Blackhawks… da Blackhawks… I tell ya, da team just can’t catch a break, huh. They comes into Calgary, they try, but lemme tell ya somethin’ — Lloyd Braun, da first baseman, da guy’s like a freakin’ hurricane out there! Four hits, two home runs, a triple, scores four runs… SIXTEEN to six? SIXTEEN TO SIX, PEOPLE! You kidding me?
And da pitching… ohhh, da pitching… Bautista starts, gives up six runs in three innings. Three innings, SIX RUNS! Then da bullpen comes in, one guy gives up three, another gives up three… I mean, c’mon! You can’t win games like dat.
And da hits, da bases, da stolen bases… Braun, Kadri, Mier, everybody’s got somethin’ goin’ on while da Hawks are just… I don’t know… watchin’! TEN hits for Chicago, EIGHTEEN for Calgary. That’s like… embarrassing, I tell ya. Embarrassing!
I mean, da series is still goin’, but Chicago better wake up, ‘cause Braun and da Flames… they’re not stoppin’. They comin’ atcha full speed, and da Hawks? Well… dey better pray.”

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Ohhhhhh, lemme tell ya somethin’, folks — this one… this one’s a whopper! I mean, come on, you got the Long Island Islanders rollin’ into Hartford like they own the place, and lemme tell ya — Jack Bauer… the guy’s a machine! Five hits, TWO home runs, a triple, two singles, scores four, drives in five… TWENTY-THREE RUNS, people! TWENTY-THREE! You see numbers like that, you’re thinkin’ “Craig, you’re kiddin’ me, right?” No! This is real life, buddy!
And then Carlos de la Cerda… BAM! Grand slam in the seventh, puts the Islanders at 20-0. Twenty to zero… I mean, you need binoculars just to watch the scoreboard! Hartford? Hartford’s scratching their heads like “what the hell is goin’ on here?”
And the pitching… ohhh boy… Mäntymaa starts, gives up five in less than an inning! Less than an inning! Then Hernandez, then Ortiz, then Barrales… it’s like a freakin’ parade of disaster! Meanwhile, Long Island’s like, “yeah, thanks, we’ll take it from here.” Bauer’s on the bases, de la Cerda’s swingin’ for the fences, everybody’s contributin’ — Bernabel, Sijtsma, Bossy, Esparza, Clark, Valenzuela… it’s like a freakin’ clinic!
Look, Hartford’s gonna have to rethink life after this one. Twenty-three to seven! Islanders take Game 3, 2-1 in the series, and I’m sittin’ here like, “someone call a coach, someone call a shrink, someone explain this!” Bauer’s Player of the Game, and lemme tell ya — he earned it, no doubt.
This is Long Island sending a message, baby. You want a blowout, you want fireworks? Well, this was it. 23 runs, 22 hits… Hartford, pack it up, go home. Islanders… they’re on fire. This is what the playoffs are about!

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Rangers, they came out swingin’, givin’ it all they got — ten runs, fifteen hits, one error — not bad, not bad at all. But lemme tell ya, them Flyers… ohhh, they weren’t takin’ no punches. Twelve runs, thirteen hits… and Jonas Suriel, the guy was like a freakin’ machine, I’m tellin’ ya! Two for four, homer, triple, walk… seven RBIs! Seven! That’s the kinda number you only dream about, kid.
Bottom of the seventh, Rangers ahead 5-4… Suriel steps up, bam! grand slam! Crowd goin’ nuts, city goin’ crazy, and you just sit there thinkin’, “hey, this is playoff hockey, this ain’t nothin’ easy.”
Both teams swingin’, runnin’ all over the place, bases loaded, big plays… Rangers got some standouts too — Bliebernicht, Cuylle, Rice — givin’ it everything they got. But them Flyers, they just kept comin’, never backin’ down. They tie records, break records, Suriel set a new Philly playoff RBI record… it’s like watchin’ two heavyweights go toe-to-toe in the ring, just punch for punch, inning for inning.
Pitchin’? Eh, Contreras got lit up for eight runs, yeah, but hey, that’s hockey, that’s playoffs, that’s the fight, y’know? And Gutierrez held Philly together until the end… big props.
So, bottom line, kid — Rangers still lead in the series 2-1, Flyers show they ain’t goin’ down without a fight, and Suriel? He’s the kinda guy you write home about, the kinda guy you remember. It’s tough, it’s gritty, it’s what playoff hockey’s all about.
Yo, you feel me? This one was a battle, no doubt. And tomorrow… tomorrow, they lace ’em up again. Another round. Another fight.

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Minnesota Wild: 3rd Conference Finals berth
1984 1988 2005

Well, folks, what a day for hockey here at the Xcel Energy Center! For the third time in their history, and the first time in seventeen years, the Minnesota Wild have punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals! Can you believe it? Absolutely sensational.
The Wild wrapped up the Conference Semifinals with a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, completing a clean sweep, 4-0 in the series. Minnesota made it look easy, controlling the game from start to finish, but it wasn’t just any win—it was a statement. Juan Rolon, series MVP, was sensational at the plate, hitting .412 with an on-base percentage of .474, driving in 2, scoring 4, and knocking one over the fence. What a performance!
Gohki Nakao on the mound? Picture-perfect. Seven innings, only three runs, striking out two, keeping Vancouver off balance the whole way. And when you need a closer to lock it down, J. Ochoa was there to slam the door with two scoreless frames.
Offensively, Minnesota got contributions from everywhere. Mendosa with two doubles, Seinfeld with a timely homer, and Rolon himself adding a big long ball to the highlight reel. The team played smart, clean baseball—fielding solid, base running sharp—and they did it in front of 39,666 ecstatic fans. The energy in this building, folks, you could feel it in the rafters!
So here we are: Minnesota Wild, sweeping their way through the semis, heading to the Western Conference Finals. Who will they face? It’ll be the winner of the Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames series. That matchup will be announced once the semis conclude, but one thing’s for sure… the Wild are riding high, playing their best hockey of the season, and folks, you won’t want to miss it.
This is Mel Allen, saying from the Xcel Energy Center, “The Minnesota Wild are on the march, and the road to the Cup is wide open!”

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Alright, lemme tell ya somethin’, okay? Da Chicago Blackhawks, da Bears of hockey, they come outta Calgary tonight… and lemme tell ya, it wasn’t exactly da ol’ Monsters of da Midway kinda game, alright? 14-8, Flames. 14-8! I mean c’mon! You can’t even blame da wind!
So here’s da deal… Nazem Kadri, da kid’s like da Walter Payton of da hockey world tonight. Three home runs, six RBIs, scores three times—I mean, he’s doin’ everything but takin’ a victory lap around Soldier Field! He says, “I’m just doin’ my job,” but c’mon, buddy… you just put da Blackhawks on da ropes, capisce?
Da Flames are up 3-1 in da best-of-seven, so da next game? It’s back at da United Center, home turf for da Blackhawks. Da fans are gonna be loud, they’re gonna be rowdy, but Kadri and da Flames? They’re like da unstoppable train from Calgary, I’m tellin’ ya.
Da Blackhawks… they tried, okay? Klompus hit a couple, Foligno, too… but da pitching? Fuggedaboutit. Calgary just hammerin’ everything that moves! You got Chew, Braun, Grubin… everybody swingin’, everybody hittin’… I mean, it’s like da whole lineup’s got da playoff fever, you know what I’m sayin’?
So da story’s simple: Flames almost there, Blackhawks gotta answer back. Next game Wednesday… it’s gonna be loud, it’s gonna be crazy, it’s gonna be da kind of hockey where da ice melts and da fans lose their minds!
And you know what we always say… da Bears, I mean da Blackhawks, they’re gonna fight, but Kadri? He’s da guy ya gotta stop. Good luck with dat!
Bears! Da Bears! Er… Flames! Da Flames!

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The Hartford Whalers thought they were gonna coast tonight, right? But the Long Island Islanders weren’t havin’ it. Alfonso Jaime comes up in the 9th inning with two outs and absolutely drills a three-run double to tie it up. I mean, talk about clutch! That’s the kind of hit that keeps your heart pounding and your head spinning. But, and this is a big but… that’s about all the Whalers could manage offensively.
Now, fast-forward to the top of the 10th. Here comes Warming Bernabel—this guy, he steps up and unloads a solo homer. Just like that, the game’s over. Islanders take it 6-5 in extras. That’s textbook pressure play, folks. You gotta love the resilience of Long Island. They battled back, they stayed poised, and they took advantage of every opportunity.
On the mound, Raul Casarez for Long Island was solid—7 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs. He kept the Whalers in check long enough for that late-inning heroics to pay off. And for Hartford, the bullpen gave it a shot but just couldn’t hold it together in the extra frames.
Bottom line: Islanders now lead the series 3-1, just one win away from the Conference Finals. Whalers, you gotta regroup—can’t rely on a clutch hit here and there. Long Island’s coming, and they’re coming hungry.
Next game Thursday at UBS Arena. And let me tell ya, it’s gonna be a showdown. Extra innings, pressure situations, playoff hockey at its finest. Boom! That’s how you do it.

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Alright, lemme tell ya somethin’, this one’s straight outta the ring, ya know what I mean? The Rangers roll into Philly thinkin’ they’re all big and bad—three-time defending Stanley Cup champs, 2-0 lead in the series… they’re struttin’ around like they own the place. But lemme tell ya, the Flyers, they ain’t havin’ none of that.
They came out swingin’. Series tied 2-2 now, bam! Just like a Rocky fight, you get knocked down, you gotta get up, and Philly got right back up off the mat. And talk about a hero… Jude Barry, this guy was hittin’ everything in sight. 3-for-5, two home runs, 3 runs scored, 4 RBIs… the kinda guy that makes you believe, “Hey, maybe we got a shot!”
Game tied 5-5, bottom of the fifth—Barry steps up, a runner on first, and he crushes a two-run homer. Pow! Just like that, Flyers go up 7-5. That’s the kinda clutch punch that turns the tide in a fight.
Both teams swingin’, scores jumpin’, it’s 11-9 Flyers at the end. The crowd’s roarin’, the ice is hot, and you can feel the energy. Series is tied, baby, and it’s anybody’s game now.
Next fight—I mean, game—Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Rangers better bring their A-game, ‘cause Philly’s not backin’ down. And that, my friend… that’s playoff hockey, Rocky style. You get up, you swing, and you fight till the bell rings.
Boom.

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Calgary Flames: 3rd Conference Finals berth
1983 1992 2005

Awwright, lemme tell ya somethin’, da Bears guys style, ya know what I’m sayin’?
So dis one, ohhh, dis one’s a real shocker! Da 104-win Flames, they roll into Chicago—home of da 135-win Blackhawks, right? Everybody’s thinkin’ da Hawks are gonna stomp, but ohhhh nooo, da Flames got other plans! They come out swingin’, and boom! 8-4, series over, Calgary’s dancin’, Chicago’s in mourning… da Hawks ain’t goin’ back to da Stanley Cup Finals, no sir!
Da Flames, they got Mila Grubin, series MVP, center fielder, hittin’ bombs like it’s nothin’. And Kadri, Braun, Salles… ohhh, they’re all makin’ plays, runnin’ the bases like maniacs. Chicago tryin’, throwin’ punches back, but Flames just keep comin’, and that’s da story!
Oh, and lemme tell ya, first inning? Jack Klompus and Juan Ramos, they get ejected right away—bench-clearing brawl, bam! Crowd goes wild, but Flames just roll right over ‘em.
So, Calgary moves on to face Minnesota in da Conference Finals. Da Hawks? They go home, lickin’ their wounds, wonderin’ “What happened?” Heh, I tell ya, dat’s playoff hockey, baby.
Da Bears would be proud… da Flames are fightin’, punchin’, and takin’ names! Da Hawks, they got knocked down, and dis time, they ain’t gettin’ up. They needed Ditka to win dis series, but he's too old now.
Woahhh!

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New York Islanders: 8th Conference Finals berth
1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005

Boomer: “Ayyy! Good morning, New York! It’s 6 o’clock on WFAN, I’m Boomer Esiason, alongside Chris ‘Carton’ Carlin, and ohhhhhh, do we have some hockey news to start your day with!”

Carton: “You better believe it, Boomer! The Long Island Islanders are moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals! That’s right, eight times in the past nine years these guys are making deep runs in the playoffs. Unbelievable!”

Boomer: “Yeah, and it wasn’t even close today. Islanders take down the Hartford Whalers 7-4 at UBS Arena, and they close out the series 4-1. Jack Bauer, the series MVP, is just ridiculous—.409 average, 3 homers, 9 RBIs, 7 runs scored. The guy’s doing it all!”

Carton: “And let’s talk about some of the other guys too, Boomer. V. Hixson, M. Bossy, A. Esparza—they’re all hitting home runs in the same game, stealing bases, just piling on the Whalers.”

Boomer: “Yeah, and don’t forget Adrie Sijtsma! This guy sets the Eastern Conference playoff record for stolen bases with six. Six steals in one playoff game! That’s insane, Carton.”

Carton: “So, the Islanders are waiting now. They’ll face either the New York Rangers or Philadelphia Flyers. That series is tied 2-2, so whoever comes out of that is gonna have a tough matchup in the Conference Finals.”

Boomer: “Bottom line: Islanders are peaking at the right time, they’re clicking on all cylinders, and once again, Long Island is putting the rest of the East on notice.”

Carton: “That’s right, Boomer. Eight times in nine years in the Conference Finals… that’s not luck, that’s dynasty-level consistency, folks!”

Boomer: “Ayyy, Islanders fans, enjoy it while you can. This is your team, your time, let’s see if they can take it all the way!”

Carton: “We’ll be following every pitch, every hit, every steal. WFAN’s got you covered, 24/7 Islanders playoff action!”

Boomer: “Let’s get this show rolling… it’s playoff time, baby!”

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Mike: “Ayyyyyy! Good evening, New York! It’s Mike Francesa, alongside Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, and ohhh boy, do we have a playoff blowout for you tonight!”

Mad Dog: “You’re not kidding, Mike! The New York Rangers just put the Philadelphia Flyers through the wringer at Madison Square Garden, 27-5! I mean, are you kidding me? Twenty-seven runs! This isn’t even hockey anymore—it’s a massacre!”

Mike: “And it’s Kosmo Kramer who’s the difference-maker, folks. The guy goes 4-for-6 with 6 RBIs, two home runs, and just dominates the Flyers pitching staff. Absolute clinic!”

Mad Dog: “And it’s not just Kramer, Mike! Bliebernicht, Cuylle, Ising, Bristol—they’re all slugging, hitting doubles, triples, homers—racking up 26 RBIs as a team! The Flyers had no answer for this!”

Mike: “Listen, Philadelphia had their moments—Barry hits a couple home runs, Yanez too—but this was just overwhelming. And the Rangers pitching? Gi-Hun strikes out 18 Flyers! Eighteen! That’s tying a playoff record, Mad Dog!”

Mad Dog: “Mike, this is game-changing, series-changing. Rangers now lead 3-2 in the Conference Semifinals. Flyers have to go back home, and they’ve got their work cut out for them on Saturday at Wells Fargo Center.”

Mike: “Yeah, it’s a pivotal Game 6 coming up. Flyers can’t afford another blowout like this, because the Rangers are rolling. And with Kramer swinging the bat like this? You better believe he’s feeling it!”

Mad Dog: “New York’s fired up, the crowd at MSG is loving it, and the Flyers…they look shell-shocked. This is why playoff baseball—uh, hockey—is insane!”

Mike: “All right, we’ll break it down inning by inning, stat by stat, because folks, this game deserves every second of analysis. Twenty-seven runs…27! Unreal.”

Mad Dog: “Rangers, boys, they came to play, they came to crush, and they came out swinging. And now, Philly’s sweating bullets. Saturday can’t come fast enough!”

Mike: “Unbelievable. Just…unbelievable.”

Mad Dog: “That’s why you watch the playoffs, Mike. This is why you watch the playoffs!”

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Mike (fired up, fast):
“Alright good afternoon everybody, Mike and the Mad Dog, how are ya, DOGGIE! And lemme tell ya, we got ourselves a series now! Flyers, Rangers, Game Six in Philly — and the Flyers survive! They win it 6–4, and we go to a Game Seven Monday night at the Garden. Dog, lemme tell ya, Yohemas — absolutely enormous! The home run, the double, two runs scored, two knocked in, he was the difference in the ballgame.”

Mad Dog (high-pitched, rapid-fire):
“MIKEY! MIKEY! The place was goin’ absolutely bananas at the Wells Fargo Center, they were screamin’, they were goin’ nuts, Yohemas with the moonshot in the fifth, that place was SHAKIN’! And the Rangers — hey listen, Rice hits the leadoff homer in the first, Bliebernicht adds one in the fourth, they’re up 2-0, they look like they’re in control. And then Gutierrez settles in, big gutsy performance, gives ya six-plus innings, holds the line, and the Flyers bats come alive. Mikey, WE GOT A GAME SEVEN, BABY!”

Rocky (gravelly, heartfelt):
“Yo, lemme tell ya somethin’, this is what Philly’s all about, ya know? Gettin’ knocked down, comin’ back up, punchin’ your way outta the corner. Yohemas? Guy swung the bat like he was goin’ toe-to-toe in the tenth round, eh. Crowd behind ya, your city behind ya — that gives you the strength, like when I had Adrian yellin’ for me, ya know? And now — forget about it — we goin’ to New York, we goin’ to the Garden, one game, winner takes all. That’s heart, that’s guts, that’s fightin’ spirit. That’s what champions are made of.”

Mike (cutting back in, sharp):
“And Rocky’s right, Dog — the whole season comes down to ONE GAME at the Garden. Flyers, Rangers, Game Seven, Monday night. You can’t script it any better.”

Mad Dog (screeching):
“CAN’T WAIT, MIKEY! CAN’T WAIT!”

Rocky (soft but firm):
“Yo, don’t forget… it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

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Philadelphia Flyers: 2nd Conference Finals berth
1996 2005

Mike (laser-focused, fired up):
“Alright, good afternoon everybody, Mike and the Mad Dog! Flyers, Rangers, Game Seven, Madison Square Garden — and DOGGIE, the Flyers have DONE IT. They go into the Garden, they knock out the dynasty, they win it 8–5, they take the series 4 games to 3. And lemme tell ya right now — the Rangers’ run, seven straight conference finals, five straight Cup Finals, three straight Cups — it is OVER. The Flyers advance to just their second-ever Eastern Conference Finals, Dog. Couturier — MVP of the series, batted over .500, 10 RBIs, 13 runs scored. The guy absolutely destroyed the Rangers.”

Mad Dog (high-pitched, going nuts):
“MIKEY, YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD! This is the END of an era! The Rangers — without the three Grubins, without Sattler — they just didn’t have the horses! They fall apart late, bullpen collapses, Flyers hit FOUR home runs in this ballgame! Couturier with two, Yohemas with one, Barry with one, Seki with the dagger in the seventh, the three-run bomb that finished ‘em off! And the Rangers, you can’t win when Rice goes 0-for-5 in the biggest game of the year, you just can’t do it! Flyers bullpen came up HUGE, Rivera, Kosaka, Jasso slam the door — SERIES OVER! Flyers and Islanders in the Conference Final, Mikey, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!”

Rocky (gravelly, heartfelt):
“Yo, I gotta tell ya, this one hit me right here, ya know? All those years, the Rangers fightin’, goin’ the distance, winnin’ the big ones — but sometimes, the punches add up, eh. You lose your best guys, you get tired, and then some new fighter steps in the ring hungry. That’s the Flyers. Couturier, Yohemas, Barry, Seki — these guys came in like underdogs, swingin’ with everything they got. And now they’re movin’ on, they got belief, they got heart. Rangers? They’ll always be champs in their own way, but every dynasty’s gotta fall sometime. Flyers earned this one.”

Mike (firm, sharp):
“And Rocky’s dead on, Dog. This is what sports is all about — the rise, the fall, the heartbreak, the joy. The Flyers go from never-historic to HISTORY. Game Seven on the road, they get it done.”

Mad Dog (screeching):
“THE DYNASTY IS DEAD, MIKEY! THE DYNASTY IS DEAD!”

Rocky (quiet, with heart):
“Yo, but remember… it ain’t about how hard you get hit, it’s about how you keep movin’ forward. Flyers kept movin’ forward, now they’re fightin’ for somethin’ bigger. Flyers versus Islanders, Eastern Conference Finals, coming up!”

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