If you're reading this, it means that...THE ST. LOUIS BLUES ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS! Trust me, I wasn't planning for this when the team was dead last in the NHL and I didn't have high hopes for them in the playoffs. But when they beat the Jets in round 1 and the Stars in round 2, that's when I realized 'Hey, this team might just pull off an epic comeback!' Anyway, here it is!


We find our dynamic duo in St. Louis, Missouri at the Enterprise Center - home of the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues. Tonight, it was Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals between the Blues and the San Jose Sharks. Should the Blues win, they advance to face the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals. Sharks win and they force Game 7 Thursday night in San Jose. Where's Zack, you may ask? Well, he's got most if not all of the neighborhood at his place for a Game 6 watch party, but Milo and Melissa have promised to give him game updates. We see Milo in a retro Chris Pronger jersey while Melissa is sporting the jersey of her favorite Blues player - Vladimir Tarasenko. While Milo's covered in blue and yellow facepaint, Melissa's done her lips in blue on the top, yellow on the bottom - obviously the colors of the St. Louis Blues. As for the signs - Melissa's carrying one that sports '#TakeNote! #LetsGoBlues!' on one side and on the other, it says '#PlayGloria'. Milo's sign had a countdown starting from 16 on one side, 11 of those numbers have been crossed off. The other side read 'Hunting For A Blue June!'

"You think the Blues will do it tonight, Milo?" Melissa asked her boyfriend of just over 2 years.

"I know they will! And when they do...Zack's gonna go ballistic!" Milo answered cheerfully as they found their seats - Section 116, Row D, Seats 1 and 2. Just over 90 seconds into the game, David Perron would get the scoring going as he took a Ryan O'Reilly pass and fired it by Sharks keeper Martin Jones to give the Blues a 1-0 lead early.

"NICE ONE, PERRON!" Milo cheered.

"ONE STEP CLOSER TO PLAYING 'GLORIA'!" Melissa added.

Later on in the opening frame with just under 4 minutes to play, Barclay Goodrow of the Sharks took a tripping penalty and the Blues took advantage as Vladimir Tarasenko, Melissa's fave player, stuck one in the back of the net to make it 2-0.

"VLADDY!" Melissa cheered. "NICE GOAL, VLADDY!"


The 2nd period began with some amazing saves from Jordan Binnington of the Blues...

"Milo, why didn't we pick Binnington up in our fantasy league?" Melissa asked.

"That's a mistake we won't be making next year!"

...however, 7 minutes into the 2nd period, the wall cracked as Dylan Gambrell scored his first NHL goal to cut the lead to 2-1. Halfway through the period, the Sharks come within a gnat's lash of tying the game up at 2, however...

"BINNINGTON!" Milo and Melissa shouted.

"How...how did he make those saves?" Melissa asked in awe.

"THAT TEARS IT, MELISSA! We're so drafting him in our fantasy league next season!" Milo declared. Strangely enough, his Murphy's law curse hasn't popped up as of yet. The Sharks would get called for a hook with 9:03 left in the 2nd period as Justin Braun would get called for a hook. After struggling during the man advantage, the Blues would break through thanks to a tip-in by Braydon Schenn to make it 3-1 Blues.

"3-1, Milo!" Melissa called out.

"We are so close to the Cup Finals, I can almost taste it!" Milo answered back.

"You up for taking Zack to Boston for Game 1 of the Cup Finals if the Blues win?" Melissa asked.

"That would totally make his 16th birthday!" Milo confirmed. "I'm so there!"

That's where the score would stand after 2 periods - 3-1, Blues lead it.


"1 PERIOD TO GO! You got Laura Branigan's 'Gloria' ready, Melissa?"

"It's ready to go after the final horn, Milo! We just need the Blues to hold station for another period!"


Zack FaceTimed in during the intermission...

"Hey, guys! How's the game?" Zack asked through Melissa's phone.

"Amazing, Zack!" Milo answered.

"Blues lead it 3-1 after 2!" Melissa told Zack, giving a game update. "You watching the game back home?"

"Take a look!" Zack answered as he guided his phone around the scene at his place. "We're freaking out right now! We're ready to play 'Gloria' once the Blues win!"

"Same here!" Milo cheerfully replied.

"That's our Milo!" Zack chuckled. "Don't look now, Milo...but looks like Melissa's getting ready to pounce."

"I'll be ready for her, believe me."

"3rd period's about to start! Talk to you after the game...hopefully playing 'Gloria'!"

"Looking forward to it, you guys! Enjoy the rest of the game!"

"You too, Zack!" Melissa replied, cutting off the FaceTime. The 3rd period began with a penalty being assessed to Pat Maroon, the hero of the Western Conference Semifinal series against the Dallas Stars - 2 minutes for tripping. This set up a Sharks power play, but they would not capitalize. Binnington would continue to make stop after stop after stop, riling up the crowd even further - energizing Milo and Melissa to the point of no return.

"If the Blues win tonight, it's gonna be because of Binnington!" Melissa called out.

"I'm already planning next season's fantasy draft now, Melissa! We're making Binnington a priority pick after tonight!"

"9 minutes to go, Milo! GET FIRED UP!"


And fired up they were! As the clock ticked down, Enterprise Center got louder and louder. With under 7 minutes to play in regulation, Tyler Bozak all but sealed it for St. Louis as he took a David Perron pass and fired it right on by the keeper to make it 4-1.


"THERE IT IS!" Milo cheered.

"THIS ONE'S ALL BUT OVER!" Melissa answered, pecking Milo on the cheek as chants of 'Let's Go, Blues!' roared.

With less than 5 minutes to go, the chants shifted from 'Let's Go, Blues!' to 'WE WANT THE CUP!'

"I can't believe this, Melissa..."

"What is it, Milo?"

"The Blues were last in the league as the calendar flipped to 2019. Now they're on the brink of advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals! Did you ever think this could happen?"

"NEVER! Not in a million years, Milo!"

"San Jose keeper to the bench!" Milo called out. Seconds later, after Oskar Sundqvist's shot went wide, Ivan Barbashev picked up the slack for the empty net tally to make it 5-1 Blues.

"LAST MINUTE OF PLAY IN REGULATION!" Melissa called out in tune with the PA announcer.

"Melissa, get ready to play 'Gloria'!"

"On it!" Melissa answered, taking out her phone.

The final horn soon sounded. THE BLUES ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL!

"BLUES WIN! PLAY GLORIA!" Milo and Melissa called out in unison as Laura Branigan's 'Gloria' played through the loudspeakers.


Gloria, you're always on the run now

Running after somebody, you gotta get him somehow

I think you've got to slow down before you start to blow it

I think you're headed for a breakdown. So, be careful not to show it

You really don't remember, was it something that he said?

All the voices in your head calling Gloria

Gloria, don't you think you're falling?

If everybody wants you, why isn't anybody calling?

You don't have to answer

Leave them hangin' on the line

Oh-oh-oh, calling Gloria

Gloria, I think they got your number

I think they got the alias... that you've been living under...

But you really don't remember, was it something that they said?

All the voices in your head calling Gloria

A-ha-ha, a-ha-ha, Gloria, how's it gonna go down?

Will you meet him on the main line, or will you catch him on the rebound?

Will you marry for the money, take a lover in the afternoon?

Feel your innocence slipping away, don't believe it's comin' back soon

And you really don't remember, was it something that he said?

All the voices in your head calling Gloria

Gloria, don't you think you're falling?

If everybody wants you, why isn't anybody calling?

You don't have to answer

Leave them hangin' on the line

Oh-oh-oh, calling Gloria

Gloria, I think they got your number

I think they got the alias...that you've been living under...

But you really don't remember, was it something that they said?

Are the voices in your head calling Gloria!


As the Clarence Campbell Bowl was presented to the St. Louis Blues and 'Gloria' played once again, Milo crossed out the number 12 on his sign and FaceTimed in Zack.

"Zack...Melissa and I have a special 16th birthday present for you."

"What is it, Milo?"

Milo smiled as he pulled 4 tickets out of his backpack and showed them to Zack, surprising him.

"Are those tickets to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final?"

"They are!"

Upon hearing this, Zack called Amanda over. "Amanda...we're going to Boston for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final!"

Amanda smiled and screamed loudly. "PLAY GLORIA! WE'RE GOING TO BOSTON!"


I just couldn't resist doing this! The St. Louis Blues are going to the Stanley Cup Final! LET'S GO, BLUES! Remember...

IT'S MILO'S WORLD AND WE'RE ALL LIVING IN IT!