Finals Week 1

@swancommander and A.J. Galante(Danbury) continue their analysis through the FPHL playoffs. We now head into the final weekend. Will we have a 3-peat? Will the new kids on the block rise to the top? It all comes down to the final games in Binghamton.

The conversation continues in the Discord — join free here: https://discord.gg/7UVWaJyR4d

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:07

Good morning. Good morning, today it's a globalized. Global light. Testing the right speaker. Right. Testing the left speaker. Left. No. Now, now. Are you ready for a journey that goes beyond the hot spectrum? What the fuck is the one hockey is now bringing you behind the scenes. Behind the screen. Beyond the arenas. Beyond the glass. This is FPHL. Beyond the glass.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

What's going on, everyone? Welcome back to another episode of FPHL Beyond the Glass. I'm your host, Eric Swanixwine Commander, on social media. This is the official podcast of the Federal Prospects Hockey League. And we are joined once again by AJ Galanti, the general manager of the Danbury Hattrix, who's been in it for the long haul with us here for playoffs. Been having fun. It's uh been a good little playoff series here, uh, on the show and in uh and in the league. So we're gonna we're gonna keep that going. I this is like the most predictable and unpredictable playoffs at the same time, like it's so exciting. Like, I think everyone was like, there's no shock that Binghamton's in it. The Continental division was super entertaining the way it played out. It's just it's very weird because that it's like half very predictable, half extremely unpredictable, but it's been super entertaining. Like the whole thing seems unpredictable.

SPEAKER_00 2:05

Listen, man. Uh, I have people that aren't really, you know, Fed League fans, not even really hockey fans. Sometimes, you know, I'm like, hey, you gotta watch this weekend. I was like, watch this game. And uh we said it last week with this finals. It's like it's like it's like David and Goliath. It's like it, there's so many we we talked about it last week, like how many like themes and storylines there were, and um 1-1 after a weekend. So it's like it's gonna go five, it's gonna go five. You you know it's going five. I mean, at this point, that's just how this playoffs have been all all playoffs. So it's gotta be going five.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Yeah, I mean, I would it'd be it'd be great to see. Um, yeah, I mean, it's just been it's just been crazy. Like this whole season. I mean, look, everyone's talked about it all year long that Binghamton was the team to beat, and now uh PD, you know, last man, you know, they're they're the last ones to get a chance to do it. It comes down to three games in Bighamton. Um, you know, so again, the the the stage is set. Like if it was a movie, this is how it would go.

SPEAKER_00 3:13

Listen, I've only been involved with Bighamton. I I've only been involved with the Federal League technically this year and a bit of last year here in Danbury. Um, you know, I know this league's been around for a while. If PD comes and wins this all, this has to be the greatest uh championship run uh in the history of this league. I would assume again, I've only been involved. You know, I'm the GM this year of the Danbury, but I mean, I can't see with the way this league is competitive-wise, with the with the quality hockey that's going on, the players, the teams, I mean, uh running the gauntlet, like beating Athens, you know, then Columbus. And then if they come back, if they come back and pull out two games in Binghamton and stop a dynasty, this has got to be the greatest. I mean, again, I I I I I'm pleading ignorance here because I haven't been around this league forever since the start, but I agree with you. How could this not be the greatest championship run ever uh in this league? And and it's I gotta give PD a lot of credit. I had them out in the first round, I had them swept by Athens in the first round, and I got a lot of heat for it. I still get a lot of heat for it. I'd like to take a partial credit for their run, by the way. Okay, a lot of Dan Bray guys on that team, and I lit a fire under them because I know a lot of players reached out to me the nerd. Yeah, I mean, tough, tough love. So, yes, I I I I've been the master behind this whole thing. No, I'm just kidding. But uh, no, listen, um I gotta give them credit, you know. Gary Graham, Nick Graham, you know, the ownership, that fan base. I mean, what an exciting, what an exciting franchise, man. I I'm really happy for them. You know, I know how hard it is to like start a team from an inaugural season, and like, you know, they're breaking attendance records every other game. And and I mean, it's just really exciting.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

I mean, they literally started from the I mean like literally from the ground up.

SPEAKER_00 5:25

It really reminds me so much of you know the Danbury Trashers that first year. I mean, literally from scratch, everything, and um, I mean, you gotta give them credit. They uh they have they have proved me wrong, and um but still I'm sticking. I am sticking with I every week I'm trying to waffle on you, but I am sticking with Binghamton winning. It's gonna go five. Um, I don't know how they're gonna get there. You know, games three and four. I don't know how it's gonna go, but I just know it's going five. It's gonna end up. I'm looking at the calendar here. So what May 10th? The the absolute final game that was possible on the schedule. It's going to May 10th. You can feel it. And uh Binghamton, man, they um you know, sometimes with Binghamton, you know, look, it's Danbury and Twin City were the only teams that beat Binghamton twice this year. It's very hard to beat that team twice. Um you know, and and they punch Binghamton right in the mouth, game one. And Binghamton, sometimes when you poke the bear, no pun intended, okay, it kind of wakes them up because I've seen it. Um, I mean, we played them 3,700 times this year, and um, there were times where we kind of had a better period, and when you poke that bear, man, they wake up. So I'm interested. I'm really interested. Friday to me, this Friday the 8th, okay, is really even though I'm picking Bingo and five, I really think Friday's gonna determine it. Because if PD comes in Friday and punches them in the mouth again, that's gonna be um, you know, like we talk about the pressure, Binghamton, it's all on them right now. The pressure is all on them, and the reason I'm not worried for them is because they've been through this before and um they know how to handle business. But I'll tell you what, if PD wins on Friday, I think anything, anything's possible. Uh, anything is possible, it's gonna be very, very interesting. Friday, Friday night is really for me the the X Factor game.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

Yeah, it's gonna be important. I mean, I even regardless, I'd like like we've been saying, like, I don't think you could ever count PD out. And I think everybody would agree with you that, yeah, the favor is in big, you know, Binghamton's favor right now, which I think again, I think everybody would agree, but it almost has to be, right? You can't have the underdog story if the if the you know king of the ring is not the king of the ring, right? You gotta have uh, you know, just again, it just everything's perfectly set up and and interesting to your point. If PD does win Friday night, I mean again, let's not discredit that either. To beat PD two games in a row, that's a tall order as well. I think these guys are for real, like they've had the toughest schedule in the league. Um, you know, are you could argue that they've had the toughest schedule in the league all year long, and you know, it's part underdog story, part. I think now everybody's seeing their their true colors, like seeing what this organ is like they I think they've been this team for a while, and they've just been through, you know, a very, very tough schedule this year. And it's I mean, it's it's just non-stop excitement. I mean, this is I agree with you, like this probably has to be the best finals or best playoffs in you know, Federal League history, and it's just so it's just been so it's just been so entertaining, no, no dull moments. And yeah, I mean, even if Binghamton comes out on top, I still think it would be one of the you know a tremendous story because think about think about what they're having to do to defend their three-peat, right? It's not like this playoffs is not business as usual, like oh, here we go again, right? It's just twist, turn, curve ball. I mean, regardless of the outcome, this is gonna be you know one of the best playoffs that the league has ever had, I would say, if not the best.

SPEAKER_00 9:25

And and listen, I mean, I was just saying, what a run PD, like if PD wins it all, okay. Oh, but on the greatest, but if you look at it from Binghamton's standpoint, if they you know, listen, that was no cakewalk getting through port, okay, in the set, you know, in the and and for them to three-peat again. We're talking about history. This doesn't happen, you know, this doesn't happen regularly. For them, I mean, look, by next week, we either have a dynasty or we have a David and Goliath story, like a team that stopped the dynasty and went through all the trials, tribulations, obstacles. Let's put it this way: you have whoever wins it is the champion, right? Like sometimes you see, like sometimes there's always like even if it's mentally, ah, a little asterisk there, uh, you know, best of three, they got a little lucky there. No, whoever wins this one, they are the FPHL champions, and there's no there can never be an asterisk, there can never be like a second guess. Um, and I just think like I've been saying every week, I think it's just a testament to this league and where it's going and how it's growing, and and um, but yeah, I'm I'm I'm hyped for this weekend again, and uh it's it's gonna be very, very interesting.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. And um, PD's fans once again showing up. I mean, they set another attendance record this past weekend. Like, that's that's been cool because they've been going back, you know, like Bighamton obviously is very, very strong in attendance, very, very strong with the fan base. I mean, even the fans and PD, they're showing up. It's like these two organizations are going toe to toe, you know, everywhere. I mean, you know, like the games have been great. I mean, the first game, PD obviously uh was outshot, you know, pretty by pretty big margin by Bighamton. But I mean, PD, like they made their shots count, like they were shooting, they're shooting well.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

Um, you know, it's I mean, I mean, uh, again, Dominic Tamey, I I correct me if I'm wrong. I feel like he was named goal the other year. Uh, I think maybe not. Um, I mean, look, you got the goaltender of the year, then you got Colgan who's you know been through everything in this league. I mean, we we said it last week when we were going kind of down the checklist of previewing this final series. I mean, on paper, you it's like there's like you said, there's like so many opposites and similarities, and it's like it's like it's like styles, it's like a fight, you know, styles make you know, uh fights, and and I'm telling you, stylistically, what a what a way could have drew it up better.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Yeah, absolutely. And you know, special teams obviously playing a part, and it's like that's so big this time of year, like special teams. Like, if you can make your special teams count, like you have to.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

Well, listen, that's that's what I'm interested with. You just hit it on the head because Binghamton, as great as they are, uh I mean, stacked top to bottom, you can get under their skin. And I feel like if PD, they got some agitators too. I feel like if P D, you know, look, I don't care what anyone says, Bingo's feeling the pressure right now, even though the series is tied. Um, you know, they're feeling just as much pressure as PD, even though they're gonna be at home the next, you know, potentially three days in a row. I feel like if PD can can get under bingo's skin, and like you said, you know, turn the pendulum over to their end in terms of like you know, power play time and everything, that could really be a um, that could really be an interesting aspect. Because Binghamton does have times as good as they are, like they they kind of their wires get crossed every now and then. And uh I actually you just hit on the head. I feel like whoever's the most disciplined, especially Friday night, is gonna is gonna take it. I know that sounds like a generic thing to say, but it's true. Whoever could remain calm, cool, and collective, I think is is gonna be another huge factor for this for you know the next few games.

SPEAKER_01 13:29

Yeah, there's just like so many little details that add up, like where, like, yeah, being disciplined, right? Where one penalty can you know can cost you. Um, you know, just you know, little things making sure you you know that shots are on net, not going wide, like you know, there's also because there's also the percentages, right? Like, you know, I know we uh um you know, I know we talked about the the shot advantage that Binghamton had in the first game, but like most times if you double a team up on shots, you're gonna win. Um, you know, so there's like little statistical things too, like where you got to give yourself the chance to be successful, force them to be good, and you know, just little things that you know, everyone says it's a game of mistakes, and you know, you just gotta do the little things right and be consistent with the little things. And yeah, I feel like uh the team that does more of those little things right and executes those often has a better chance to win, like even just statistically.

SPEAKER_00 14:22

Yeah, I mean, you know, it and again, it sounds so obvious, but trust me, when I'm in the locker room and you know, listen to the coaches, and you know, these things are preached to players, but sometimes it doesn't always translate. So it is, it sounds, you know, a fan might say, Well, yeah, guys, that's obvious, but it's not so obvious all the time because you know it's one thing to look at it from a thousand miles away, but when you're in that arena, you know, Binghamton's a very tough place to play. You know, when you're when you're in the environment and the pressure, you're feeling it, you're tight. That's when, you know, and that's why I think ultimately in the end, the little things that you can't quantify statistically, that's why I just feel like Binghamton has that razor's edge because they've been there, they they felt it before. Um, but again, I've been I I feel like I've been wrong more than I've been right this postseason. So I could be totally off, but I just feel like that's the one razor's edge going Binghamton's way is that that experience. And um, I just feel like they'll find a way. But like I said, if PD comes out and punches bingo in the mouth on Friday, oh man. I mean, we can't retape this, so my my pick is already in, but I'm telling you, PD, let's put it this way if PD wins on Friday, I think things are gonna get very interesting.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

Yeah, for for sure. And what one thing that, you know, for everyone at home, pay attention to this because you know, we're talking about like little details and everything. One thing that's so important that I think people don't realize, and I honestly think a lot of players and teams and coaches overlook this at times too, is faceoffs. Like the team that could dominate face-offs. Like, if you look back at the Olympics this past year, right? The US-Canada Championship, I didn't check it myself, but from what I heard, the US was like completely dominant in face-offs, right? Like high percentage dominant, right? So when that happens and you gain control of the puck, you take the other players' top uh the other team's top line, they spend 15 seconds of their shift trying to get the puck back. Now, very often you'll have guys for fans at home, you'll have shifts that are only 30 seconds long. So you now take the top players on the other team out of the game for half of their time. They spend half their time trying to get the puck, and that is so big. If you could take the other team's top guys and eliminate them from 50% of their time on the ice, that wins a lot of games.

SPEAKER_00 17:04

Listen, we when you know, I'm gonna bring this back to Danbury real quick. When we were looking, you know, when a bunch of the college graduates were available and the junior age outs, we picked up a kid. Oh, so happy we got him. Uh a kid that graduated from post-university here in Connecticut, um, Joe Santoro. And the reason I was scouting Joe Santoro was his face-off percentage in college, okay, was like 70, something crazy. Um now again, does that translate to pros? You don't know, but stats are stats, and I'm like, we gotta get it. I mean, there was other guys with bigger goal lines, stats with assists, and right. I'm like, no, we need a face-off guy right now because he lets those other guys go to work and do their thing. You couldn't, and um, you know, listen, shout out to our head coach John Beershan, because he really told me about midway through. He's like, Look, we really got. I mean, he really, I mean, uh, it's an obvious thing. You'd love to win every faceoff, but he just like you explained it, really broke down just how much energy it takes, like you said, to retrieve the puck back. Because, like you said, I mean, um, so face-off, I mean, that is huge, you know, that is a huge stat that a lot of people really overlook. And um, you know, Bingo's got some guys, and and listen, so does PD. I mean, they so now I want to go back and look at the face-off percentages the last two games because I'll tell you what, that's a that's an amazing point you made, and it couldn't be more true.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

Yeah, I think there's there's probably a heavy correlation, and there probably will be. So, I'll be something fun for the fans at home. Like when you're watching the games this weekend, pay pay attention to the face-off wins. They're you know, so so so important. It'd be like it's like it would be like starting. Like, imagine getting a start of football game every quarter.

SPEAKER_00 18:54

You start with with the ball getting kicked to you, or a pitch, or a pitcher that the first pitch is a strike. I mean, it changes the whole at bat. If you know, if you if you're a pitcher, they they really because I'm a huge baseball guy, all right. Shout out to the Yankees, best team in baseball right now. Okay, that first pitch strike stat they got now. Like, I hear it. I mean, that's a huge, it changes the whole at bat for the batter. Same thing with a face-off, and uh, that's an amazing point. And um, you know, I'm thinking, I'm just doing this off the top of my head. I mean, both teams have some pretty good solid centers. Um, you know, and that's a that's a huge, huge thing to watch for.

SPEAKER_01 19:34

Yeah, who do you think has the it's like let's talk about the road trip? So, or the game, the games being in Binghamton. Whose favor do you think that works in? So, obviously, Bighamton getting to play in front of their home crowd and everything. Um, do you think it's somewhat of a distraction a little bit being home and having everyday life going on around you in the middle of the series? Where at the other hand, too, like PD, I could only imagine is just so dialed and tunnel visioned right now on the task at hand. Where does them going on the road actually help them just stay laser focused? Um, what do you think about that?

SPEAKER_00 20:07

It's a good point. We talked about, you know, we in our hat tricks group chat, we were talking about it, you know, a few weeks ago. Would you guys rather start on the road? On the you know what I mean? Um, because next year we are going all the way, Dan Barry. Um, you know, my thing is I don't know. I I mean I feel like I feel like there's a lot more pressure on the home team. I feel like, like you said, no matter what, you have friends, family. Um, you know, I hate to be this way because I'm a father and and I have a wife, and it's like you're at home and there's always something going on. I I don't know how many of the Binghamton players may have wives or kids, but not in a bad way, but that will affect your naps, your sleep, you know, like um those little things. I mean, friends, oh, can you get me a ticket? Oh, can I get a couple tickets for my friend? Like you said, what I've learned is you know, whether building a team. There's a lot of actors, those little, those little, those little things all add up. And I feel like it's just these are those things that you like I said, you can't quantify with data. Like, how does it feel to be at home? Nobody knows but them. And I think it's just one of those things where that experience is gonna help Binghamton because I feel like they've been through this, but I tell you what, for a lot of other teams, they have to close it out at home. Hey, we're tied one one, we gotta win two at home out of three. That's a lot harder than it seems. I I I feel like people, I feel like people really overplay at I I don't know. I home field, home ice, whatever you want to call it, I don't know. I just always feel it's a little overrated at times, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 21:51

I just feel like I feel like pros and cons. Yeah, you know, like and now now like you got my wheel spinning more, like even just like you know, being at home and everything. Thing. I mean, the home team, they gotta decide what they want to eat. They gotta cook it. They gotta clean it up. They like the road, the road team. None of that. It's all decided for them. No decisions, no brain images. They're focused on one thing. They're not worried about oh crap, gotta go grab my laundry, switch that. I'm gonna need those pants tonight. Like it's it's it's all done.

SPEAKER_00 22:20

It's all mechanics, it's all it's all it's all mechanical. It's it's and you're right. So it's like again, less time. Yeah, man. I mean, listen, um, it's it's very it's it's difficult, you know. I think again, I keep going back to it for Binghamton. They've done this before, they got high-level guys that have been higher leagues, you know, they've won championships all over. I feel like they just I feel like they're gonna be in a flow state. I think they know what they need to do. But this was any other team, listen, if it was Danbury, if we were coming back, you know, our team who's a lot of young guys, if we're tied one-one going into the finals and we got three at home, we gotta win two. I'll be honest with you. I I'm not overly confident because I know how it is over here. I know, hey, you got tickets, or even for myself, I'm just a GM. I know it would be a lot. It's all the little things that you just uh you can't really you can't put a number on.

SPEAKER_01 23:23

Yeah, for sure. And it's just you know, and then and like we said before, the added pressure of not only going for a championship, but going for a three-peat. I mean, it's it's it's a lot of pressure, and it's gonna be that much sweeter, obviously, if they you know if Bighamton pulls it off. I mean, there's just uh a lot of a lot of different dynamics in this.

SPEAKER_00 23:40

Listen, they got um top to bottom, just like PD, top to bottom, they're stacked. They they've been here before. You got the coach of the year, you got, I mean, literally any line that goes, I don't even know who their first line is at this point, because it's like any line that goes out is a first line on any other team in the league. You know what I mean? So it's like goalie of the year, it's set up for them on paper to take it. I mean, we're watching a dynasty, but again, like we've been saying the past few weeks, can't count P out ever. And again, you you hit it on the head, man. It's like it's so odd because if you really analyze it, PD, I guess, is an underdog because you know, you gotta to be the champ, you gotta beat the champs, right? And then goes a two, but PD is friggin' stacked, man. I mean, they like they're not a normal underdog.

SPEAKER_01 24:30

If you really like everyone's kind of seen them for what they are, like what they've been for a while.

SPEAKER_00 24:36

It's it's such a bizarre, I just think that's a testament to Binghamton how dominant they've been for so long now that a team like PD is an underdog like that. Like, people aren't really and look, I'll I'll say the same thing. I didn't think they were gonna get through Athens. And I mean, a lot of people, a lot of hockey people I know were like, just book it. Athens bingo in the finals. They're like, just book it, book it.

SPEAKER_01 25:01

I think a lot of people would have would have said that, would have guessed that.

SPEAKER_00 25:04

So credit to PD, man, going through all the adversity, all the doubters, including myself, not maliciously, you know. Um, it's crazy. It's it's un, it's uh, it's actually I wish it was Friday already because now I'm I'm thinking about face-offs, and I'm that you got me thinking about all sorts of things now. Faceoffs is so big. Uh, I mean, whoever's watching this, like, take out a pad and pen and just start tallying the face-offs because that's really gonna be a big determinant factor.

SPEAKER_01 25:32

Yeah, there's little stats like that that I love. Like, I love face-offs, and then I love like I love just shots on net, like force the goalie to be good. Like, sometimes I find players give you know too much respect to another to the opponent, whether it's the goalie or another player, like where it's like, no, like put that on that, force him to make a save, force him to be good, force him to handle the rebound, let it start, you know, especially like on the point and power play and everything. Like, just get it. Like, I was a goalie, I know puck at my feet from the point, like it was a disaster. Like, you never wanted to deal with that. Like, let it start bouncing around like Plinko, like price is right or whatever, like a foot off the crease.

SPEAKER_00 26:08

Like, listen, Binghamton is very good at deflecting shots, you know what I mean? And they um you're right, and again, a regular like look, a shot from the point with not a lot on it in like January, okay. But in the finals, a goalie too. A shot, any shot right now feels like it's like a breakaway, right? So it's like a goalie their pressure, right? This is not an ordinary game. This isn't you know December, this isn't November, and you know, the finals, like every shot, it's got that little mentally, it's got that little extra on it. So yeah, it could be series changing. So it's uh man, I I just I'm telling you, Friday for me, if PD pull if PD pulls it off on Friday, I'm not changing my pick. I can't, but I tell you, it's gonna get very you know, like you said, for Binghamton to have to win two in a row. Um I don't know, man. We're we're we're gonna we're gonna see.

SPEAKER_01 27:07

So it's gonna be it's it's it's tough, you know. And the other thing, the other thing that's interesting to look for, like I always would tell players like you know, at the beginning of a game, like, hey, get yourself into the game, throw a hit, take a hit, get do win the first battle, right? Win the faceoff, right? Get the first puck deep, get the first shot on net. Do something to get yourself in the game, make a play. It doesn't matter how small it is, make a play, even if it's just you gaining the red line and getting a puck deep, make a play, win that first little battle. And it'll be interesting to see who does that on each side. Um, you know, which team, you know, which team throws the first check, wins the face, first face-off, gets the first shot on that, you know, gets the first puck deep, um, you know, applies the first pressure. It'll be interesting to see who does that out of the gate.

SPEAKER_00 27:50

You're you're 100% right. And it's the same thing. It's what fans don't know a lot of times, is like you said, those mini battles. Um, you know, uh, we started doing it in Danbury the second half of the year, like kind of putting up on the board these little wins, little yeah, you know, who's gonna get the first hit, you know, first shot, you know, um, you know, force a penalty, you know what I mean? So it's uh all these little things, it's fun to analyze, but um, yeah, I'm just excited. I think uh I think it's going game five, and I think when game five comes, I think all the strategies out the window, and it's gonna be like that last round and a heavyweight fight, yeah. Where you just you might see a hundred shots on goal that I don't think it's just pedal to the metal.

SPEAKER_01 28:35

If it goes five, whose favor do you think that works in? I mean, Bigham Tin was they had the luxury of getting a little extra rest before the playoffs, but at the same time, sometimes just yo, object in motion stays in motion, right? Like you keep sometimes you don't take that rest and you just keep grinding, you're just in that mode, you just use that momentum.

SPEAKER_00 28:57

If this goes five, I think if it goes, listen, if if like I said, I think Friday night decides it. If PD wins on Friday, Binghamton's gonna come out like a bat out of hell on Saturday. They might put up 10 goals, and then people are gonna be like, What the heck just happened? But it's that it's that adrenaline. I think whoever wins on Friday has that advantage, you know, mentally. Yeah, but then again, but then again, devil's advocate. Do you take your foot off the gas after Friday night? Like if you win, you kind of be like, Oh, I got we got a game cushion. I don't know, man. I will I I'm trying to act like I'm some great anal like analyst. I don't know. I don't know what's good. I just think if it goes five, I feel like the pressure Binghamton will feel. You know what I mean? To close it out because then you start now things start creeping in your head like, damn, if we lose this at home, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Like, like everything gets everything gets magnified again, and that's what I said a couple weeks back. Like, you know, like Binghamton, I I think has to be careful of where what their focus is, right? You can't be focused on three-peating, you gotta be focused on just winning the championship. Get the whole three-peat thing out of your head because at the end of the day, like, and I know, like, I know it seems like all right, well, they're one and the same, and yes, obviously, like, yeah, you can't have one without the other in this situation, but if the focus like you can't focus on three-peat because you don't you you don't get anything for three-peat, right? Three-peat doesn't mean anything, you know, in the in those terms, right? You gotta for the task at hand is win a championship, and it's just business as usual, do what you got to do to win, win the championship, and then the three-peat is gonna be a byproduct of that, obviously. I just your point, yeah. I think everything is magnified, and I think that if if players um you know kind of lose that focus or lose that headspace, yeah, it could creep up on them quick and really weigh on the on their shoulders.

SPEAKER_00 30:58

PD is playing, even though they lost on Saturday. You watch them, they're playing so loose right now because they're playing with house money, like it's like no one expected them to even be here. Um, I feel like they're just I just feel like they feel like you can't let anyone down.

SPEAKER_01 31:17

No one's gonna be let down. No, like they think they've exceeded most people's expectations.

SPEAKER_00 31:24

Yes, listen, for an inaugural, and I've been there, I could speak on this because I know what it's like to build from scratch an inaugural season, an inaugural team, a new city involved. You know what I mean? Like Damber didn't even have hockey, you know what I mean? So, like you said, they are playing with house money because the fans like like everyone is happy. If they were to not pull it off, no one is gonna be upset because it's like, wow, like look what we accomplished with in a year, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 31:55

So the good will outweigh the negative.

SPEAKER_00 31:58

Oh, yeah. I mean, listen, don't get me wrong, they're not going into this being like, hey, who cares if we lose? They want to win because that's a cherry. But what they have done this year, how can you? I mean, they're playing with house money.

SPEAKER_01 32:10

They're and you can they've already won their season. Yeah, they've already won.

SPEAKER_00 32:15

Look, they beat a big rival in Athens who was like a big brother, right? They they they they they're loose, they're like, hey, you know what? We we got something to lose, but we don't. You know what I mean? And the guy, and the players you see it, they I mean, you look at these guys like Houston Wilson's gotta be the MVP right now if they win it all. You know what I mean? This guy's flying around. Um, they're just paying playing so loose, and that's where that confidence comes in. That you can't put up they their confidence is peaked at the right time, and um yeah, it's gonna be it's gonna be amazing to see this, uh, see this through. Um one way or the other, we're seeing history this weekend. Dynasty, uh inaugural scene, you know. I mean, we're seeing we're seeing history. So I'm a big history guy, and I like to I I I'm just enjoying this in real time.

SPEAKER_01 33:05

Yeah. Anything you want to end this off with here?

SPEAKER_00 33:10

Hey, no, I listen, I uh Binghamton's my saving grace. Okay, I made predictions at the beginning of this. Uh, nothing has gone right for me, except I said Binghamton's going to finals and they're gonna win it. They uh they are my only, I mean, we I've had a personal rough year here in Danbury. Um, I need some sort of salvaging for myself. So, Binghamton, I'm begging you. Uh uh please pull this out for me because you know, if not next year, there'll be some receipts coming in Danbury or Binghamton, doesn't matter. But uh no, I just think uh it's gonna be fun. This has been a great run. Um, I'm just super, super, super excited to see how this all plays out. But it's going, I feel like it's going five. I I really do. And um, I mean, shout out to the Federal League, man. You know, people keep sleeping on us, but I mean, this is some entertaining hockey going on right now, and uh, I think it's just the tip of the iceberg. I think it's only gonna get better each year.

SPEAKER_01 34:12

Yeah, I've absolutely so yeah, sounds great. It's gonna be an awesome.

SPEAKER_00 34:17

Real quick, one thing, it would be history if Binghamton wins, because now you're gonna have the feds' first ever three-peat team, and then what's nice is next year we go into Danbury's championship year, and then we're gonna win two after that. So you're gonna we're gonna have we are set. I need Binghamton to win because I don't think there's ever been in a league ever two three peats in a row. So you'll have Binghamton win three, and then next year we're gonna win, and then we're gonna win two more. So we're gonna have you know, three, two, three peats in a row. So I think it'll be great. Yeah, you can't have two without the first one. Have the have there ever been a uh has there ever been two three peats from two different teams in a row? No, I don't not that I know of. So Danbury's dynasty is in the works. I'm in I'm in the lab now. I got my big buttons so listen.

SPEAKER_01 35:04

Uh I need three-peating now.

SPEAKER_00 35:07

Yes, I need Binghamton to win this so we can start, you know, one half of history, and then when we take the next three years in Danbury, we can say, Wow, the two three-peats in a row, it's amazing. Keep it up north, too. You know, the cold, that's where hockey's played in the cold. You know, the south is nice, you got the golf and all that, but it belongs in the cold. So keep it in the north, and uh, you know, it's gonna be fun, man.

SPEAKER_01 35:30

I love it, AJ. So yeah, I appreciate uh I appreciate you continuing our playoff series here with me. It's been a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00 35:38

Yes, sir. I I appreciate you having me, and um, you know, I I anytime, man.

SPEAKER_01 35:47

All right, let's do our proof of attendance token code for this episode. The code is history. We're gonna see some history this weekend. So we're gonna go. Code is going to be history. Enter the code at swanhockey.io on the podcast page, and you will be eligible to receive your proof of attendance token for watching this episode. Codes must be entered by 9 p.m. Eastern, the night that this show airs Wednesday night. Our magic number is five. Collect five or more of these tokens, and you will have access to the member only channel in Club Fed in the Swan Hockey Discord server. Remember, you can watch all games this weekend on YouTube or Sporefe for free. All games are free, and it's gonna be an awesome weekend. And that's gonna do it for this episode. Until next time, I'll see you guys soon.

SPEAKER_02 36:31

Thank you for being the best part of this episode of FPHL Beyond the Glass by Swan Hockey. We will see you soon. We will see you soon.