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A
Ice is ready. And we're back with another live episode of the M200 podcast, brought to you by BetMGM. May 4th be with you, everyone. Happy Star Wars Day. And CP. A lot of people just lost a bunch of money with you not wearing sunglasses right now.
B
Dude, I was ready, as always. I was ready to be dead today because I thought maybe something might happen last night. But then nothing happened last night.
A
You never know. I.
B
Well, actually hilariously, I had an event from 3:30 to 9:30 yesterday that's too
A
long of an event.
B
So I taped. I had all the games or the two games recorded and dude, we'll get into it, obviously, but two of the craziest games of all time for different reasons. So by the time I get out, Dude, I have 1 billion text messages. Like literally every thread that exists in my phone had something to say about those hockey games. So as you're going back and you click on a text, it just drops from 1015 unread to like 1000 and something. Yeah, you don't even know how high to scroll on threads. So I spent the entire night completely sober, literally reading text messages and then watching the two games, which were a delight.
A
Delight.
B
So I'm so glad that happened. But.
A
Holy. Dude, I have to share this with you guys. I'm pissed at myself. I didn't take a screenshot. But for the chat, for everyone watching, you can see the ticker. Lots to get into. Two insane games last night and then more action over the weekend. We're going to get into it all. Zach, I wanted to show this to you. We. Someone tweeted at us.
B
Hold on real quick. Everyone's saying they can't hear anything.
A
Oh, so.
B
So maybe we'll. I'll talk in the chat. Oh, that sounds.
A
Yeah, I hear everything. Maybe it was.
B
Maybe now it says it's better. So
A
we're going. All right, here we go. All right, well, it sounds like everyone just heard. We're getting into all the action. It's going to be amazing. CP not hungover.
B
Unbelievable.
A
But you know, everyone thought they were going to smash that. Yeah, but they didn't. So I was just saying over. I think it was over the weekend. It might have been like on Friday or something. This is what happens every year. Like we, we. We come with the positivity. We. We love the netters community, the network. Everyone is so positive and awesome and we're always just fucking giving a double wrister to every team. Being happy. Go lucky about everything. The second a team loses in playoffs, lunatics show up and start talking shit and being really aggressive and angry and violent, and it's hilarious at us in, like, some. At us, some in general. Yeah, but I. I didn't even direct this at anyone. I. I posted something on X a little while ago that was just a general thought, and I was like, if you were a fan of a team and you've been steady talking shit online and then your team gets swept, you gotta take your medicine. That's all I said. I was like, just take your medicine. Like, if you were. If. If we were talking shit to Gavin. Yeah, for. For everyone watching Dr. Locks. Gavin, best guy in the world. Philly fan. Chris and I are Boston fans. We like the Celtics. Gavin likes the Sixers when it's 3:1. If I were talking shit to Gavin.
B
Yep.
A
And then the Sixers come back and win in seven. I can't say shit now. I didn't talk shit to Gavin because I know the Celtics are fucking bitches and they were going to choke that. And Gavin, when the Sixers won, was like, oh, my God, you knew. And I was like, correct. Celtics fucking stink. But if you talk shit and then you get swept, you got to take your medicine.
B
Yep.
A
So I posted something like that, and a ton of Senators fans were, like, not even talking at me. They were like, that, I'll talk all the I want, blah, blah, blah. And I was just like, I didn't even direct this at Senators. Like, the Kings got swept, dude.
B
Remember we said this? Remember when that Kings fan, when we were walking out of the suite?
A
Unbelievable.
B
He looks at the ass fan, and he's like, you'll be golfing in a week anyway. And I was like, whoa, dude, I don't think they will, but that's okay. So I hear you.
A
So this fucking clown on. On Twitter posts a. Like, a freeze frame of this show, and he goes. He goes, these guys are so broke that they're still using microphones with cords in them. This show is a joke or something. And I was like. I replied to him, and I go, can you tell me what podcast doesn't have chords in their microphones? Like, the cord chirp. Yeah.
B
Was in funny.
A
And I was like, that is your chirp here. And he then sends a screenshot of the fucking jankiest, shittiest Amazon microphone. Like, he clearly typed in. Actually, you can see it in the bar. It was like, best cordless podcast microphone.
B
Yes.
A
And sent a screenshot from, like, an Amazon search. And I was just like, jesus Christ, man. We are getting. So I just Wanted to make clear, like, this setup is so fucking nice. And I was like, we've, we've worked so hard to get the live working and everything. Great. And then this fucking dipshit online is like, why didn't you buy this Toys R Us microphone?
B
I was going to say you loser. Half the lives have crashed. Like, if you go on a chirp me, go ahead, get us.
A
There's so much to chirp us about. Like lives have crashed the. You can't even hear the sound at the beginning. This guy's like this. You have chords. I'm like, good God almighty.
C
Yeah, get us where it's.
A
It's supposed to get. Yeah. Like if you want to chirp us, chirp us about what is worthy of chirping us for. Do you want to jump right into Minnesota, Colorado first and foremost?
B
Yeah.
A
Okay. Amazing. What, what event were you at for six hours though?
B
I was, I was, it was a whole start door to door. I had to leave at 3:30 to get there at 4:30 to. To, you know, it was a whole thing.
A
Hey, people are loving your shirt.
B
Oh, gas. It's a great shirt.
A
Unbelievable.
B
Oh, geez. Schaer. I show this thing to Schaer, dude.
A
Makes me want to play.
B
Matthew Schaefer goes like this. What is that goes.
A
What is. What shirt are you wearing?
B
And I go, are you insane, dude?
A
Yeah, I love that it's on a gray cuz like I, I the OG Gray control, dude.
B
So they sell it in, in every color. Yeah. But I was like, it's got to be. You have to get gray.
A
It's got to be great. All right, Minnesota, Colorado, let's get into it. My first thought, I can't believe you didn't watch this live.
B
I know.
A
My first thought was, we got the. Oh, by the way, have we ever seen round to start before round one ended.
B
I asked this to someone the other day because I was like, don't have to wait because the fire started on Saturday. Yeah. I was like, you don't have to wait. And somebody was like, somebody said they weren't doing it this year and they'd be pretty sure that that had been happening recently. And I actually think they're right. But it used to be you did. Yeah, but I'm pretty sure that's kind of a thing.
A
I love it.
B
Me too. What I find weird is I don't think Buffalo is playing till Wednesday. And Buffalo, Montreal. And I knew the game seven was yesterday, but I was like, Wednesday feels a little long.
A
Yeah.
B
Like, why not Tuesday Yeah, that feels fine. But anyway, yeah, they're. Now. We start whenever we want, Dan. Start whenever we.
A
I'm. I'm thinking it was exactly a week since the apps have played, and it was like, first thought, you know, are the ABs going to be a little rusty?
B
I guaranteed it. I guaranteed they lose it.
A
And you know my take on that? I'm like, I think it's the dumbest
B
take in the world.
A
I think they're fine. That, dude, the ABs come out and score three straight goals. It legitimately looked like, you know, this is relevant. Kentucky Derby just happened when they bring the horses out and they bring Phillies out next to them to get them all boned up.
B
Wars. He didn't like that, by the way.
A
Really?
B
He was like, we got to get rid of this.
A
He thought it was too archaic.
B
Trevor, what's wrong with that? He was like, dude, stop.
A
Yeah. He's like, this is insane. But, yeah, they bring the Phillies out to get them all horned up, so they're revved up and ready to go. That is what the ABS team looked like. Yeah. It looked like they were a bunch of feral animals who were just ready to rock. I. They came out so hot. It was insane.
B
Yep.
A
Insane.
B
So actually, well, let's do it. We'll do the whole game first. But I totally agree. When they went up three nothing, I was like. And, dude, going back to read the text was funny. Once I had seen some of the action when. When they went up three nothing, the tone of all the text threads were like, holy shit. The Aves were just playing the Kings game because that's what the Kings wanted. Now they're. Now they're playing a team that can score, and they go, want to play this way, dude, watch this. Here's 10.
A
Yeah.
B
And legitimately, I was like, I was way off. They're going to kill them. And the abs are now terrifying.
A
Yeah.
B
But it. That turned pretty quickly. It wasn't like, I didn't live in that. That long.
A
It was so. It goes three nothing. Yeah. And, like, we're talking to Marty. We're talking to Wyatt. Everyone was like, I'm. Wyatt was like, I'm turning this game off. Like, this is nightmare. And you know what's funny? I. It's also relevant May the fourth. I was flying this weekend. Yep. And I don't know what came over me, but I. Or we had talked about on the show. I have flown so much that I have seen every movie that.
B
Yeah. Yeah.
A
Has to offer. So I was like, I got to rewatch Some stuff here. And the OG Star wars movies are on there. And I was like, you know what? I haven't seen those in a while. And it actually.
B
It was funny.
A
It occurred to me, last night was on Disney plus and I saw something for May the fourth, and I was like, oh, shit, that's tomorrow. Yeah. So, like, I was ahead of the game.
B
Nice.
A
I've been watching.
B
I've been doing it.
A
So I was watching all the Star wars movies, and I had about 30 minutes left in Return of the Jedi. And I was like, I want to watch this. I want to finish it last night.
B
Oh, oh.
A
At home. And when it got three, nothing. There was a part of me that was like, but on. Maybe I fucking turn this off. Maybe I get a little dual screen action going on. But then Wild score, and I was like. I was like, still in the little fight. Still in the fight. Then they score again. And I was like, okay. And then it was just like, bang, tied. And I was like, holy, dude, this is unbelievable. When the Wild took the lead, I was like, this is the greatest game I could have ever met. It was also the most perfect start to that series.
B
Yes.
A
I don't think we're gonna have a drunk shootout like Ducks Anaheim or Duck. Ducks Oilers. But that start to this series could not have been better.
B
I had a question for you. As I was rewatching, I. And I didn't want to reignite the threads. I was like, I'll just deal with this tomorrow.
A
The.
B
Obviously it was only the second. I think maybe the third, but I think the second. But it was shades of the Mammoths come back against Vegas.
A
Yes.
B
Take the lead, and then you lose by three.
A
Yeah.
B
I was like, sitting here going, is that a puke? Like, in your mind, you're like, you came back after getting murdered. You came all the way back like this. You're my bitch. I'm now winning.
A
Yeah.
B
You can't lose that game.
A
I disagree because it happened so early. Like, it wasn't like. I mean, the Mammoth were winning that game with like four minutes left. Right? So. So I don't think it's a puke at all. And then also there was. They didn't have the lead for more than 30 seconds.
B
I know.
A
Like, it was fucking insane. Like, they got the lead. And I tweeted. I was like, holy shit. Like, alert. The Wild have the lead. And then literally two minutes. Like, yeah, alert. It's tied again.
B
Yeah. Yeah.
A
So I don't think there was a puke. I also, as they got the Lead there. You knew they weren't going to hold it long. It was like, this game is going to go back and forth. Spooky stuff with the Kale injury.
B
Spooky stuff.
A
So much. There have been so many posts about, you know, Quinn, Kale. Here we go. And that was. So what do you think happened there? I thought he, like, pulled his groin. His leg kicked up so high.
B
Well, he said, did you see the post game? I kept watching. He. They asked him. And, dude, that was actually scary because I'm always like, God, how are people getting hit in the face with skates? And then like, I'll play. Like that happens. And you're like, holy shit. Like, that could have been horrible.
A
Oh, dude. You see Foligno kind of.
B
Yeah.
A
I mean, late, but he was just like, oh, my God. Jesus Christ.
B
So after they asked him and he would. And Kale was like, I'm not gonna get this quote exactly. But he was like, you know, I went to go get the puck. I knew he wasn't going to be playing the puck, which is fine, because, you know, I'm just. Everyone's trying to make a play. He was gonna take the body. And he was like, dude, I literally just got off balance. Like, he hit me in a good spot, but I just lost my balance. Yeah. And I just went flying.
A
Yeah.
B
And I think Ace was like, what were you thinking when you're up in the air? And he was like. I was just thinking like, okay, just don't get hurt on the way down. Yeah.
A
What I'm saying is, like, I wonder what he hurt.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
Because, like, that's why I mentioned the groin.
B
Yeah.
A
Like, he can. Can kicks.
B
Yeah.
A
And then his knee hits the glass, too. I was like, is it his knee or is it his elbow or something? But definitely a wonky play. He comes back. Thank goodness, two times.
B
Fuck you.
A
Yeah. And, you know, it was funny. He got his first after Quinn scored.
B
Yeah.
A
And I. I was sitting there alone watching. And when Quinn scored at Cale, had. Was back by then, I was like, cale's obviously scoring tonight because it just. Yeah. That back and forth is going to be so fun. But, I mean, drunkest game of the playoffs. Genuinely drunker than that one particular. What was that game for? It was game four, Anaheim, Edmonton. Drunkest game of the playoffs. Did you notice? I think it was seven of the nine goals. Walstead has a right circle problem.
B
Yeah. Interesting. Yeah.
A
Every goal was scored on the right circle. Yep. And it's like that. So many went that over the pad under the glove that you wonder was Colorado being like, hey, this is a weak spot for him, whether before the game or in the middle of the game, because genuinely, almost every single goal was scored right from that spot. Yep. That was wild.
B
You could. There was a. Some. Some wacky bounces. I kind of feel like more. Not kind of. I feel like more wacky bounces put goals in Colorado's net than wacky bounces put goals in Edmonton's net. Edmonton.
A
Weird.
B
Now we're all up then in Minnesota's net. But. So I don't mean to excuse Wedgwood, really, because he gave up six goals, but just like there was some crazy shit. Yeah, but it was one when I was watching it, dude, and I knew the game out crazy because of all the text, but when I was watching it, I was thinking to myself, I had asked you about Walstead, and we. And I. When Eva was on, I was like, holy shit, what a performance from that kid. This was one. Panger was even saying on the broadcast, you have nights like this, and I wonder what the head coach is going to do next game, because maybe it was film. Maybe they did see something, but maybe it was just a bad night. But at the end of the day, I'm like, dude, they are firing pucks back past you. Like, just an onslaught of pucks are going in this.
A
I think it was like he had 810 say percentage and it was like negative 4 point something goals saved above expected.
B
And this is the luxury of having Gus. Right. But. But, you know, you don't want to just cut the kid's head off after an incredible round one series, literally. But I am like, whoa, dude. Maybe we sit down for a second, maybe we catch a breather.
A
You know what I always find funny? Whenever, Zach, you might not be aware of this, but whenever there's a game like this, where it's a shootout. Yeah. Neither team pulls the goalie. They're like this. We're just in a. We're in a firing squad here. Whatever. I. I find that so interesting because
B
I'm like, pull him and you'll win. You'll win.
A
Like, why not pull him? He's. He's leaky as.
B
Just so crazy.
A
It is. It's this weird unwritten rule almost in hockey where it's like, if both goalies are getting lit up like Christmas trees, you just leave them in and let them shine. And I'm like, I don't know. Yeah, maybe pull him. I mean, someone else might be seeing it better. Yep. I don't get why they do that? Because. Because, I mean, frankly, if. If for me, I. I suppose it was late too, because. Did they get two empty net goals or was it just.
B
Oh, they just got the one.
A
Yeah.
B
It was just the N. They went 86.
A
Yeah. After the Wild took the lead and then immediately Colorado tied. I would have pulled Walstead. Yeah. I would have pulled him and been like, we're going to start over and Gus, it's your net. Don't get scored on again.
B
Yeah. And you guys just keep going on.
A
If you pull them is Bednar then like full, full punk. They have two guys get Black Widow.
B
They have two guys that they think are even.
A
That's what I'm saying. So, I mean, it was just that. That was crazy. And what was also crazy was this question we had going into this series. Ken Wedgwood carry his unbelievable play in the regular season into playoffs. He did so in that first series, but then in this one, I mean, Wedgwood was not good in this game.
B
Correct.
A
And that.
B
That's some bad bounces.
A
Not taking anything against. You know what? I'm so sick of this bat. We're gonna get into. Bounce ship.
B
Yeah.
A
With Montreal, Tampa, all the idiots being like puck luck, blah, blah, blah. I. I'm not taking anything away against from the Wild and how good they are offensively. They're incredible. But there was a lot of chatter. I mean, Jesus Christ. Landiscog straight up said it on the bench. I don't know if you caught that, dude.
B
No.
A
Watch this. Yeah. They were like, what? You know, what's going on in this game? And he was basically like, well, you know, we just finished a series against a team who can't fucking score goals. So it's definitely a bit of a different situation. It was the. The most. Not indirect direct chirp at la.
B
That's not a ricochet, but headshot.
A
Yeah. LA is a team who all season long didn't have the best offense. And Colorado goes up against them and handles them in four games. Now they're playing Minnesota and you definitely. You win that game and you feel great about it, but at the same time, if you're Colorado and you're looking at Wedgwood and you're like, you just played for the first time in these playoffs a team that can score goals and you gave up six. Yep. You don't feel awesome about that.
B
But at the same time, dude, what series was it? I was trying to think about this when I was watching it. I'm pretty sure it was Edmonton, Calgary, like When, When Tkachuk and Johnny were on the Flames. Yeah, they had a first round series that or maybe second round, but they had a series in there that was literally like 8. The first two games were like 8, 6, 7, 5. And everybody was like, holy fucking boat race. This is insane. No deal. We played here, then it settled in. But, and somebody, if you guys remember in the chat, look that up because that series was an all timer to start. Find out how many goals were scored in like the first one or two games in that series. But I hear you're right. Everything you just said is right. But I also think, weirdly, Colorado can go, dude, we are, we are transformers. We. I will do whatever. I don't give a fuck. You want to do this, dude, you think I can't score eight? Like, yeah, even if Wedgwood is going to give up seven every game. I, I, if I'm Colorado, I go, I can score eight against them. And Wallstead. No, no problem.
A
That, like that, that is the funny question. It's like whenever a game like this happens, I feel like as a fan, you just get out of it and you're like, jesus, yeah. And you're just thrilled about the win. But you, you then don't ask questions of shit is, do we have to worry about Wedgwood? Yeah, it happens all the time. Every time someone wins a game like that. I mean, look at Ducks fans in that. Fucking insane. Yeah, they were just like this fucking, all right, Dosti, we're fine. And I'm like, well, dude, maybe not.
B
You know, it was hilarious, man. I have a note from, from game six, Tampa, Montreal too. And honestly, it was kind of that one more than game seven. But I have a note from game six that which was a one nothing overtime. Yeah. And I just, at the very end of my note is like, that was such a fun hockey game. You know, there was a lot of chances, couple power plays, nothing crazy. That was so fun. Yeah. And then I watched this and I'm like, oh, actually this is fun. That sucks. This, you know, it's so awesome. I think every game should be a thousand.
A
I never know quite how to react because there are those great games we always reference. Game 7, Boston, Tampa, 2011. One nothing game. It was awesome. It's pure hockey. Right? But I'm like that, give me nine, six.
B
Yeah, I don't give a somebody. I think it was. Caleb was like, there's a lot of emotional swings though, in these games.
A
Oh, yeah.
B
He's like, when he just, just. It's hard to manage your emotions on the bench.
A
When this is happening, when. When Minnesota ties that game and you're Colorado, you are definitely going, oh, my God, you've got to be kidding me. Because you're riding so high in that three nothing moment.
B
Yeah.
A
Especially after sweeping a team. You come in and you're like, we are going to this.
B
Yeah. Yeah. Literally. Oh, Dan. At three nothing legitimately, it was like, oh, dude, this is also a sweep.
C
Yeah.
B
We now might go. We might go 16 and. Oh, yeah. And it's hilarious to me that anybody said this was a good series. Yeah.
A
Oh.
B
Oh, the Wild are coming.
A
Oh, the Wild.
B
And then it was water freezing under
A
the Golden Gate Bridge.
B
Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, exactly. Right?
A
It's nonsense.
B
So I didn't. Do you have any other massive highlights from that game?
A
No, I mean, I. There were. There were. There's part of me that's like, oh, you know, there were great goals. Like, Quinn's goal was just such a great seeing eye shot. Also, I want to give Quinn credit for his bank shot goal because I don't think we got to talk about it.
B
I did talk about it.
A
I mean, that was. Oh, yeah. Ava was talking about that like that. I can't believe there are people who don't think that that was intentional.
B
Well, I will say this. And I said it on the thing. Krill is backdoor.
A
Oh.
B
I do have one more thing to say about the series, but Krill is back door. So I think Quinn is going this
A
one or the other.
B
Yeah. This is either going to hit something good or get put it in a dangerous area. Yeah. I don't think he was literally like, I don't even see Krill. I'm just. I can hit this off this. Which. Which maybe some people do think.
A
Yeah.
B
But I definitely think the haters who are like, he was just passing it. Like, I'm like, he knew. He knew that Danger. That was danger. Stranger danger. This is what I wanted to say. The only question I have or the two questions I have for the Wild, because I'm with you. That was a fucking blast. And you're fine. You can score. You know, you can come back. Against Colorado, 1, their power play was over three again. And after we said against Dallas, like, oh, they can't score in the power play, but they look so good. They look great. They're snapping it around. Eventually it'll go in. I'm like, okay. But eventually it does have to go in because Colorado was one for two. Dallas went fucking 40% or whatever. They went. You. I Can't believe you won that series against Dallas. Getting rinsed in the special teams battle so badly. I assure you, you will not beat Colorado if you get rinsed in the special team. Yeah, you got a fucking power play. Go.
A
You've got to get the power play going. There's no doubt about it. And I stand by. I said it. In the Dallas series. I do not understand what the problem is because they look so good on the power.
B
It looks perfect.
A
There are tons power plays that go cold when they. They can't even set up. They can't even break it in. This team gets set up instantly and they're snapping it around like nothing I've ever seen.
B
It's like power play film. And then they just can't score.
A
Yeah, I. There's a part of me that's like, I would. And you know, you. You wonder what his possession is like. But you've got. Boldy is on the half wall most of the time. And I think Krill is low or in front of. And I watch Quinn and Faber sometimes. It's. Who else it was? Was it Brinker who was up there with. With Quinn for a little while?
B
Maybe, I can't remember.
A
Maybe put Krill at the top to like you. You need to start spraying some shots. So that's my big thing with Minnesota's power play. Like, I need more shots on net, through dangerous areas, through traffic. Maybe Boldy setting up for the one timer. Girls sometimes on the one timer. That's it. But I'm like, I don't know, maybe don't play the one timer. Maybe play the bumper. Maybe play that, you know, work it down low, get it right into the middle. Or maybe let Quinn put some seeing eye pucks through. Yes. They need to start shooting the puck on the power play more.
B
Yep. And then my second thing was, and I'm not smashing the panic button yet because I can't because my hand is broken. But even if it was healthy, I wouldn't smash. Here it is. I'm not smashing this panic button yet. But you eventually need Krill to get going a little bit.
A
One apple.
B
You scored six goals.
A
Bat.
B
Boldi's been incredible kind of carrying you. Quinn's doing a lot.
A
I'm like, I think absolutely, I need
B
you to score a goal.
A
I think hit it.
B
Score goal.
A
Because he. My thing with Krill, we've talked about him so often as this game breaking player.
B
Absolutely.
A
And even in series like this, when you're playing some of the best teams, how noticeable is Quinn Hughes on The ice. How Noticeable Is Nathan McKinnon on the ice? How noticeable is Cale McCarr on the ice? Right.
B
Yep.
A
In that game as drunk, this is where he should thrive.
B
Yep.
A
He's a Russian man.
B
He's a Russian man.
A
A drunk game should be your haven. Yeah, I don't think he was that noticeable last night. I thought Matt Boldy was way more
B
noticeable than as he has been all playoffs.
A
And maybe he's battling something. But Krill, I want to, I want to let him out. I want, I want him to just start wrestling the Bears in the woods. Like, be in your element and start buzzing because I, I do think I need more of him.
B
Okay, well, because of the as before, we move on because of the schedule starting before it was all done, which I love. We didn't we have to cheat on two of the series. But Dan.
A
Yes. I, I, I wrote all of mine down before any game started. And I'm being I being dead honest with my picks.
B
Okay. Amazing. So you start on this one.
A
Yeah.
B
Abs wild. What do you got? Abs and seven. Same. So listen, and, and ladies and gentlemen, pray, pray this goes seven because this is going to be so fun. I went abs because a they. I thought they, I thought they would lose game one, but they are rested. They're fine. Minnesota had a really tough series. They. Both teams are powerhouse, stacked. I think home ice doesn't matter as much in hockey, but I think it'd benefit Colorado if we got to a game seven.
A
Yeah.
B
So I just thought this was going to be. And I think this one is going to do kind of at Minnesota. Dallas did where it just goes like, like I, I'll. I have Minnesota winning game too. You know, it's going to go ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding all the way. But I, I. Feed me seven of these games.
A
Feed me seven. I need seven. All right. Ready?
B
Yep. Dude. Oh, my God. I have so much to say about that.
A
The Montreal Canadiens take down the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven in Tampa. And we've got a lot of questions to bring up. I.
B
If it's okay with you, we're going
A
to get into the game, then we will get into the questions.
B
But also, if it's okay with you, I want to do a little Game 6 stuff first, because we didn't that happened on Friday.
A
Okay, sure.
B
I'm able to talk about that. And, and I stand by. Game 6 was one of the most fun games I've ever seen. So I'll kind of rapid fire my thoughts and you can chime in or not do it. But game six, Bell Center.
A
God, dude. Yeah, What a.
B
What a venue. Just the place looked fucking batshit. It did, legitimately. Like, they have chance to close out the Bolts, but they want it so bad. That first period was the best first period of the series, even through game seven and one of the best first periods. I mean, obviously, you just get to go, what was the score after this one? The Colorado one. Three two. Or was it like, after the first three two?
A
Yeah.
B
So, like, that is so sick. And, you know, it was incredible, but that first period in Montreal, Tampa, someone go back and check, but I think the shots were like 12:10, which means they. Both teams are flying. Cole hit the post like there was. Deneau had to save off the goal line. There was incredible chances, but incredible saves. So many shots, so much action. I was like, this is literally perfect. This is literally perfect playoff hockey. It was unbelievable. Then you get, after chirping Vassi, personally chirping Vassi for some leaky shit in the playoffs, he gets that glove save. I forget who hit that rebound, but you've seen the highlight where he makes the save and then. And somehow, like, in a split, still pushes and makes that glove save, which was fucking batshit. Then. Oh, yeah. Dan, can I show you this? I know you saw, but you just forget because it was Friday. I pulled this up just to Just to have this conversation. This play right here is a penalty shot.
A
In every other series, based on that, the penalty shot that was called for Martinook, even the. Even the Arvidson one, it is like, the same thing.
B
I'm like, dude, you are. You are clearly behind him from even deeper.
A
I think the call that they're saying
B
they called that one.
A
Yeah. I mean, it's crazy.
B
That's a penalty shot, and I'm not even rooting particularly for. I was just like, that is a penalty shot. So they. The Bolts get the power play, they can't score. But you got to be thinking, man, I would have loved Jake Gensel on a fucking penalty shot right there. And then the Bolts hit two posts on that power play, but just can't get it done. A couple heroic kills late. Cooch took a trip in ot, a heroic kill. And then. And then Hagel makes an incredible play, and then Goncalves wins it.
A
Just that hockey game was that Gonzalez has been so good all playoffs, and then I was shocked that that was his first goal.
B
Oh, was it? Of the series. Wow. That's insane, dude. The. That. That game was close to Boston, Tampa, and it was just so great. And in that moment, I was thinking, tampa has a real shot to do this. Because I didn't think, I didn't think I could get through that game.
A
Yeah. My hot take is I didn't find that game that entertaining. I thought the first period was super entertaining. And then it was the third for me. Like, they, I thought they both got a little, like, scared and tight.
B
Yeah.
A
And like, no one wanted to take a chance. And I was like, well, one of you score.
B
Dude, please.
A
And just like, do something in this game that doesn't take away from. You're right. Like, the first period was super electric and the power plays are always tense, but I, I was a little bit like, get something going here, guys.
B
Yeah.
A
The third period in particular, I was just, I was kind of bored.
B
Okay. Okay. So then we go to game seven.
A
Yep.
B
And John Cooper, I happened to be watching as I was rewinding everything, had a interview before the game that ended up being very prophetic, where he said, he goes, I've been in a lot of game sevens, and some of them, I can be man enough to admit we weren't the better team and we lost in that game, but some of them, I feel like we were the better team and we lost. And that's game seven. And I was like, holy hell, dude. This was one of the great beatdowns I have ever seen in playoff hockey legitimately.
A
Yeah.
B
I have never seen a team just dominate a playoff game. I was like, oh, my God, this is insane.
A
Yeah.
B
And then they lose. Like, holy shit, dude. The nightmare fuel. If you're Tampa.
A
In my honest to God opinion, the. Well, I was doing hockey talk in the morning and a bunch of people were like, what are you calling? And I like, a coward. I was like, I can't call it. Like, I really don't know. I, I, I had a strange feeling that Montreal was going to take this. And it's because before the game. Yes. Which is such a thing for me to say when I literally on the story, I couldn't say who was.
B
Yeah.
A
Because I felt I was like, am I just being an idiot?
B
I thought it before the game, too.
A
That. And that's. And the reason I felt that was because of Doves.
B
Ye.
A
Vassi stole one, Right. Vassi stole one in game six. But I was like, Dobash was so good.
B
He was incredible.
A
And I was like, I feel like he might come in and be like, fuck you, I'm getting mine now, too.
B
Yep.
A
And they come out, Tampa's flying all over them shots are 10 to 2.
B
I changed my vote to Tampa immediately. I was like, oh, this is a bloodbath.
A
When Zuke scored, I. I looked at Gavin and I went, that. That is game. If you're getting pumped like this In a Game 7, the Tampa's all over you at home and they score that goal, I was like, that is going to suck the life out of this team. And it didn't necessarily do that.
B
Yeah, I was about to say actually,
A
but I was like, the office is over. Like, Montreal is winning this game, dude.
B
Funny, because I. That thought entered my brain. And then when Tampa came out and literally the Habs didn't have a shot in the second period.
A
Yeah.
B
I went like this. Oh, this dam is going to break. Tampa's gonna tie it this period eventually. And then probably one. And then Tampa did tie it. And I was like, literally, I would have put my mortgage on. Yeah. Because I was like, montreal might not shoot again. Yeah, this is a joke.
A
I did think once the seal was broken, maybe they're going to get a second quick. And then. But yeah, then when it was just a shootout.
B
Well, no, then when it went.
A
Then when it was just a stalemate and it was just one. One forever.
B
And I was. Baseball bat one in from behind the goal line, you're like. Then I was like, dude, the two Montreal goals are a tip that was going 10ft wide, that hit a bolt and a baseball bat in from the back.
A
I am so glad that you brought that up, because I. I would like to talk about this. The. The man. I think I might be mean to Tampa Bay fans today.
B
I think you have some stuff that you've talked about to me about Tampa that I want you to say that is completely correct. I think this take, or I'm guessing I haven't heard this, I think I'm going to disagree with this take because maybe it is mean to Tampa fans.
A
Let us be very clear. First and foremost, was that tip going wide? Yes, of course it was going wide. And the. It was. That was the first period, right?
B
Yeah.
A
The amount of shit I was seeing online of already boohooing and making excuses from Tampa fans, being, like, unbelievable that this game seven is going to get dictated by puck luck like that. It was the first period.
B
And I'll add, that is game. That's why you don't get to a Game 7. Tampa has no one to blame with themselves that they're even in game seven. So you should have. You should have been. If you care, you should have won this series already. You. When you went down, you had to force a game seven. When you get to game seven, you can't be upset because pucks go in like, this is. That's one game.
A
That's.
B
That's how the world works.
A
So my take on this was. Listen. That it was going wide. Yes. My take is that is still a good tip. You agree with that?
B
Well, it's a. It's a great tip because you. He changed direction on a puck that Vassi was tracking. Like, I. I'm. I'm kind of of the attitude that literally any tip is a good tip. You can get your stick on the puck. It's a good tip.
A
And here's the thing, man. Here's a fucking news flash for people. When you tip a puck, you are trying to tip the puck, change its direction towards the net, create chaos, and hope anything can happen.
B
Yep.
A
Obviously, I'm not saying Suzuki was like, I'm gonna tip this, and then hopefully it hits another guy's shin and goes in. He's trying to tip it on net. But the goal of being a net front person tipping a puck is to put it towards the net and hope something happens. That worked. He. He redirected that puck and then it hit someone's shin pad and went in. Yep. That is. That is lucky. But it's not lucky that he tipped it towards the net. That is skill. He did his job.
B
Yeah. Yeah.
A
And then he got a little bit of an assist. But what bothers me is there were a lot of fans acting like Suzuki is just bumbling around in front of the net and randomly it hits him, then someone else and goes in. No, Suzuki made a hockey play putting the puck towards the net, and then there was puck luck off the shin. But you. I. I reject anyone discrediting the play by Suzuki. Suzuki made a high talent, high IQ hockey play that then had some puck luck and went into the net.
B
And I would say the same with the second one.
A
Okay, I disagree.
B
Okay. Getting that puck out of midair towards the net is high talent, high skill.
A
Oh, but New Hook is trying to bank that off of Vassi. 100%.
B
Yeah, I think that's probably right.
A
How many goals have we seen where guys come. If you see the goalie out in their crease and you're behind the net. How many times have we seen it in the NHL where guys throw it off their back?
B
Yeah, like that.
A
That is a play. If you are in the NHL, you're good at hockey. Folks, this isn't Wednesday beer league.
B
That.
A
That is A play where New Hook looks up, sees him, and is like, I'm throwing this at the net. He's out of his net. This could hit him and go in. Is there always an element of luck in that? Sure. I imagine now, I did see a bunch of people being like, the luck happened before when it bounced around behind the net, and then it came to him like that. Is that not.
B
Dude, every half the goals this playoffs have gone in off the end board. Like, literally hits the end board, and something insane happens.
A
Yeah. So listen, I will. I will show sympathy to Tampa fans. No doubt that those are two unusual goals.
B
Yep.
A
And there's no question. And I'm not denying that. I just don't like chalking it up as, like, such a bullshit game. We got so unlucky, guys. The Habs players are going out there and they're making fucking plays. If these were. If these were things, guys, where every now and then you see someone dumps a puck in, right, and the goalie goes to go behind the net, and then it hits weird off the stanchion and redirects in that, I would be like, yeah, that's bullshit.
B
Yeah.
A
These are both plays made by Canadiens players where they're making plays, putting the puck towards the net for a goal.
B
Yep.
A
They're unusual goals. No doubt about it, and I have sympathy for you in that regard, but just don't discredit the talent that it takes to make those plays. They are plays to get a shot on net. They're not random. Like, oh, I was actually passing it, and it deflected off five skates and went in. Both of those plays were, I'm trying to take a shot on net to
B
score a goal, and maybe Dan Tampa. And I think they had 29 shots.
A
And.
B
And I was talking to our boy David, actually, and he was like, that's the best Tampa's played in months. And I completely agree, like, legitimately, it's the best they've played all series and the best they've looked in so long. So they had, again, 29 shots. I don't know, but maybe they go, maybe we should just start getting more to the net. Yeah. Because Dovish has been incredible and deserves all his flowers. And I think the. The killer to. To try to defend Tampa fans a little bit is, I believe Vassie goes in game six, he gets a shutout, and then in game seven, he's go. He goes. I'm going to get a shout out again, because I assure you, no normal shot will get past me tonight. I promise you that. And then one tip ricochets off his defenseman, and then one puck gets baseball batted from behind the net, hits him in the arm, hits him in the leg, and goes in and he goes, no way. We're going to lose because of this. Right? And then all the Tampa forwards go, yep. Cooch goes, I have zero points in seven career game Sevens. We are going to lose. And I'm like, holy hell, dude.
A
It is also so tough, Chris, that the. That is true. He was like, I'm not letting a shot in. It is tough sledding for him that there were nine shots.
B
Yeah. It just looks so shitty, like, you
A
look like such a bum.
B
Yeah. Until you see the highlights.
A
And then I go, yeah, there's the cooch, dad. 007, dude. Seven game sevens, zero goals, zero assists. So, yeah, it's a tough look for. For Vassy, and this is a perfect opportunity now to. Let's get into the conversation about Tampa.
B
Yep.
A
I. I posted last night. I was like, you and I have been some of the biggest Kuch defenders of all time.
B
Yes.
A
And we just. Glazed Glaze. Glazed. We had a full conversation. Was that last year or this year where we said he might be the best Russian player?
B
I think it was this year.
A
And what's funny is, regular season, that is way more of a conversation than many of you would like to admit.
B
Regular season, he is. I don't need to get into this again.
A
But you're a psychopath. But I was like, we are massive Cooch Glazers. We have to have a conversation about Cooch. And I'm going.
B
And I'm.
A
I'm positioning this now. And we're going to talk about Cooch, we're going to talk about Cooper, we're going to talk about Vassi, we're going to talk about Tampa in general, because this one is no disrespect to the Habs. Great fucking team, this one. You have zero excuses for zero.
B
And, dude, I want a little. A little slack on my stance at the start of the series, because now that it's happened, I feel like this is the narrative. Like I said, if you lose to the fucking Habs in the first round, you are fucked. And now everyone's like, God, Tampa is fucked.
A
I think I know the reason I push back on you is because you said you were embarrassed. And I was like, I think that's disrespectful to Montreal. I. But I'm with you 100% in that. I'm like, you got some Explaining to do.
B
Yes.
A
So who do you want to start with?
B
Vassi.
A
Okay, let's start with Vassi. I think based on what you said, I. I am not ready to give him shit.
B
Me neither.
A
He only had nine shots on net and he gave up two. That sucks.
B
But both were insane.
A
Both were. The first was not saveable.
B
Correct.
A
The second, I think he made another bad poke check attempt.
B
Okay.
A
And then got himself out of position, and then that went in. But either way, it was still wonky
B
shutter in Game 6. He's been. But he's been leaky in playoffs. Like, you look at his stats.
A
No.
B
20, 23. It's not good.
A
No doubt about it. So that part I will talk about. For the last four playoff series, you have not been what everyone hails you to be.
B
The likely Vesna winner.
A
Yes. Everyone is like, you are Mr. Con Smythe.
B
Yeah.
A
You are the. The guy. Last four playoffs. Sorry, not playoff series. Last four playoffs. Last four years in playoffs, you have not been the guy that everyone talks about us.
B
Okay. Cooch.
A
Nikita Kucherov. When I posted that, it was very interesting. I think 50, 50 split. There were some. I actually do have a funny screenshot, Zach, that I'm going to show with you on this 50, 50 split. Tampa fans being like, I am a Tampa fan. I completely agree.
B
Yeah.
A
And then there are the Cooch defenders, which I totally get, who were like, are you fucking kidding me, dude? Like, he's still blah, blah, blah. He's still this, he's still that. We are massive Cooch fans. We always defend him. We think he should have won MVP the last three years.
B
Yeah.
A
There is no denying that. So here's the other thing. Save for two, when he was only one point shy, he is point per game or more in his playoff career every single season of playoffs. That is remarkable. Yep. We are talking about the Cooch standard. It's the Christian.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
Dark Knight Rises. Tenet. Not the best movies for Christopher Nolan movies. For movies in general, they're incredible. But for his standard, they're not the best Cooch in these playoffs. Having seven points in seven games, that's great. You would kill for that. But when you're Nikita Kucherov and the team depends on you like this, and you have one goal in 22. Your last 22 playoff games, two goals in, like, 24 or whatever, that is not good enough per your standards. It is. That is a simple fact. So when I tweet, like, we got to have a conversation about Nikita Kucherov. Ra shout Out Ra. He was like, so that erases his entire legacy. And I was like, no, dude. And when did I ever say that? In quote, we need to have a conversation about Kucherov. That's me literally just saying, let's have a conversation. And Merles, who we almost brought in on this episode. Merles was like, dude, like 100. Like, did he get his cups? And now he's like, it. I don't care. Because that's a question.
B
It's a question. And to just put it in terms sometimes when you go. I mean, we say it's about Tuka all the time, who I love. And yeah, is one of the greatest goalies to ever. To ever lace them up in the NHL. You go, your stats are amazing. But sometimes in that position, you just need a save. You need to. You need to bail me out because we suck and we give a breakaway and you got to save it, Cooch. The Tampa Bay Lightning rely on Cooch to score high leverage heavy dick goals. In times when we go, oh, we are out shooting the Habs a billion to five. But we're losing, and we might lose this season. I need you to just go, I got us. Let me just score. And then we'll get to overtime and we can win and we'll grind them down, whatever. Those are the goals that the super super superstars are required to score. It is a. It is a tough job. Not everyone can do it, but that's why you do it. And I just want to say this, Dan, because again, we're not having this conversation, but Alex Ovechkin, 147 career points in 161 playoff games.
A
Yeah.
B
So, you know, decently under point per game. Kuch. 177 points in 159 playoff games. Decently over. So I'm like, he has been great. But you look those cup years, the three years in a row, 34 points. Led every. Led playoffs. 32 points led playoffs, 27 points since then. And granted first round exits. But it's like six, seven, four, six. And it's like, oh, dude, you used to dominate here. Not just come at point per game with all apples.
A
Yep.
B
Right. So it's like, oh, man, dude, that you are missing that.
A
Yeah.
B
And again, it's not easy to dominate in the National Hockey League. But I think you are Nikita fucking Kucherov. Dominate.
A
Okay. Completely agree with that. And so I saw a couple of these replies. A bunch of people were going, well, it doesn't help that point is a ghost. Yep, that Is true. But we. I kept saying, point better have a dislocated spine, bro. Based on how he is playing.
B
I mean, I feel bad for him.
A
And that's not me chirping point. I'm saying, like, I. I would imagine that Braden Point is insanely injured. Yep. Because Braden Point is a remarkably talented player and he is not playing well at all.
B
He's not doing anything.
A
Cooch knows that whatever's going on with. With point coach is aware of. So if you are as good as Nikita Kucherov, it is your responsibility to level up and be like, points hurt. I can't rely on him. I got to do some.
B
And look what he did all the end of the regular season with point justice hurt. Five points a game.
A
And you saw his goal in game two that we were at, and the way he celebrated, he. He was like, Jesus, getting the monkey off my back. I gotta score, I gotta perform.
B
Unfortunately, it's still there.
A
So. Yeah.
B
Yeah.
A
So I. I don't accept the point injury excuse for Cooch here. And there were a couple. A couple comments, people being like, dude, like, look at him on the empty knuckle. Like, he's wasn't an empty knuckle in this game, but, like, it was like a couple games ago or whatever. He's just like dogging it. He's like, he's visibly frustrated. His body language is this and that. So I'm like, yeah, man, I'm sorry. We're having a conversation.
B
Yep.
A
And it doesn't take away how fucking insanely good he is, how good he is in the regular season, how good he's been in the playoffs. But if we're going to talk about these guys as the best in the league, top three player in the world, you cannot do this in the playoffs for as. As many years in a row as you have. He's 33 years old. He's had two hip surgeries. That's a factor for sure. But at the same time, he's 33 years old. He still scores 100 and fucking 40 points every year.
B
Yeah, exactly.
A
So I'm like, I'm not. I'm not going to accept that really either. This is. You're. And I'm saying this as not talking shit about Cooch or to Cooch. I think he's fucking insane. I'm saying it from a standpoint of. I bet he's frustrated, too. You hear those interviews during the regular season where he's like, I fucking just love hockey, man. I bet he is pissed. And I bet he Would tell you, I am not pleased with. With the way I've performed in the last four playoffs years. So it is what it is, 100%.
B
Cooper, you can't fire. I can't fire.
A
You cannot fire Cooper. There are a couple of people, one of our great Internet friends who. He's an Oilers fan. He was like, john Cooper, welcome to Edmonton.
B
Yeah.
A
And I was like, could you fucking imagine leaving Tampa and going to Edmonton? What an awful coaching decision that would be.
B
No, no. Not even because of that. Literally, because of your lifestyle. Like, I think he's literally, like, built his whole life.
A
I mean, like, in Tampa, I would shed so many tears on behalf of John Cooper. If he gets fired and then takes the Edmonton job, I would be like, Jesus Christ, dude.
B
Dude, you can't. Good coaches are a. Are such a commodity in this league, and you can't. I've learned this late in our hockey covering career. You just can't lose them. Yeah. Like, it's literally unless the team.
A
Can I pause real quick? Just on Twitter, another great friend on Twitter, we just tweeted, is cooch no longer reliable in playoffs. And this person says, this implies he ever was. Those are the comments on the other side where I'm like, are you guys trolling or are you delusional? Because just do yourself a favor and look at the two Stanley Cups he has and look at his numbers and you can answer your own comment and question. Yep. So that is where I'm like, we are having the conversation. But when I said, no, of course not. We're not talking about his legacy. He's been incredible. We're talking about the what have you done for me lately? Reality.
B
So, yeah, we agree on Cooper.
A
You cannot fire Cooper. I didn't love his post games.
B
I didn't see the post game, dude.
A
His. He did a couple of things where he went. He was like, the hockey gods have been in my corner time and time and time again, and they weren't in my corner tonight. Yep, fine. He then said something like, sometimes you win the game, but not the score.
B
Which I know. I hate that.
A
But he referenced Milan, too. He goes, it happened to me in February in Milan, and it happened tonight.
B
It's kind of a tough year for Coop, honestly.
A
You know, Coop is one of the great coaches in our game. I'm a little. I'm a little tired of this too cool for school shit. These little quotes. The, like, calm demeanor he has. Dude, I. There is nothing lamer to me. Nothing lamer than we won that game. When you Lost? You fucking lost?
B
Yep.
A
Yes. Did you outplay them? No doubt, dude. But you lost. Yeah. So miss me? With your little fucking cheeky quotes about how you were so much better but you lost the game because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the fucking scoreboard and
B
ours currently reads fucked.
A
Exactly.
B
Yep.
A
So I. I don't give a shit. It. Those little quotes, they don't make me feel better as a player. They don't make me feel better as a fan. You fucking lost.
B
You.
A
You have a silver medal hanging around your neck. Quit talking about how you are the better team you are out of the playoffs. Quit talking about how you.
B
You.
A
You lost the score, but you won the game. Show me some fucking fire. Get up there and go. We every year talk about how we're one of the best teams in the league, how we're one of the best franchises in hockey. We have been fucking bounced in the first round four years in a row. Is it four or.
B
Yeah, yeah, once by the Leafs four
A
years in a row. Talk about that. Talk about how you're pissed. Talk about how every year you've got a Heart finalist, you've got a Vesna finalist, and you've lost in the first round four years in a row, and that's fucking unacceptable.
B
Bullshit.
A
I want to hear that. I don't want to hear this like, hey, you know, I'm just. I'm talking. Talking you down. I know it's frustrating that dude get fucking fired up for me, because this shit is not acceptable. And that leads me. Unless you have something more to say about that.
B
Just that nothing. I've always said to you, nothing makes me happier than when an athlete or coach is in the post game saying some shit that they will kind of regret where they're like, I'm gonna fucking kill myself. This is the. I'm so fucking fuming mad. This is the most pissed I've ever been in my fucking life, you know, Because I know they're just in the moment, but I'm like, thank you. Because as a fan, if I care this much, which is probably unhealthy, but if I care this much, certainly I want the. The player to be feeling it even more than me. So I kind of hear you when they come out going, and I'm not just saying, coop, when any of them come out and go, you know, you live another day. And I'm like, I know that we'll live another day, but can we just be fucking bummed and furious right now?
A
Thank you so I. I was talking to my buddy Dave, Panthers fan, and obviously he hates Tampa. Yeah, the last bit I have on this is Tampa last year. Clown noses. We got caught up in the hype of how good they were in the regular season and we picked them to beat the Cats specifically because we thought the Cats were going to be way more injured than they were.
B
Yep.
A
This year we picked them. Or I think we both had them in seven over Montreal.
B
I think I had six.
A
But yeah, we both picked them to win this series because they were so good. I. I do not. Let me preface this with the. The Mickey Mouse Cups take. Yeah, dude, I hate it. I cannot stand when fans try to discredit Tampa Bay's cup because of the bubble. If you think hockey players gave a shit about COVID and the bubble, you're fucking out of your mind. And also, I don't care about the division breakdown and how Canada had their own conference and Montreal was in that cup final when they maybe shouldn't have been. It's the cup final.
B
Yeah.
A
It doesn't fucking matter. They're NHL players. They're good teams. They made playoffs and it happened how it happened. Yep, Their cups are legitimate. There is no debating that. And I also don't care about the. A bunch of people are being like this. You know, I saw a tweet today that was like, tampa, when they're not 20 million over the cap. And it was a picture of the Leafs. Yeah, good chirp, good chirp. But in years past, the cap rules were the cap rules. Your fucking team could have done it too. And your team got Florida spanked by the Tampa Bay Lightning. So shut the fuck up with that. Their cups are their cups. That said, the way we talk about this team and them being this titanic team in the east every single year, and now here we are, four straight first round losses. We need to recalibrate the way we talk about the Bolts and because it is a what have you done for me lately? League and world and fucking life. And you can't keep walking around with a 50 pound like you are the biggest guy on the playground when you've lost four years in a row in the first round.
B
Dude, I was giving those. Take the lead.
A
Do you want to talk some hockey or.
C
Yeah, well, I was looking at the Flyers next, but.
A
Oh, yeah, okay, we do got the Flyers next.
B
Okay, well, the Hurricanes are pretty good. The Hurricanes are very good.
A
I think we should get them in here. Yeah, hold on. We're almost done. Okay.
B
Literally the last thing I was going to Say, is Tampa. How many minutes you think Tampa was leading game six, which they won?
A
Oh, zero.
B
Zero.
A
Yeah.
B
How many minutes were they leading Game seven?
A
Yeah. Zero.
B
Zero. They spent five of the seven games in the series with zero leads. I have. You want to recalibrate something? I have never recalibrated anything harder than the Montreal Canadiens After I saw Marty St. Louis doing the Wolf of Wall Street.
A
Holy.
B
Dude. I was fully torqued.
A
Yep.
B
I could not be more in on the abs after I saw him doing the we're not leaving thing. That was amazing. Buffalo. Montreal is going to feed families, so I got to start this one. So you have your prediction that you already wrote.
A
Yeah. Buffalo.
B
Buffalo, Montreal. I'm starting. I'm going habs in seven strictly because of doves. I think he's. I think he's touching. Touching something hot right now.
A
I have habs and seven as well. And dude. And it's funny, in the bachelor party I was on, I was talking to the bachelor's brother Matt, and we were like. He was like, I think if Tampa wins, Tampa will or will beat Buffalo or will lose to Buffalo.
B
But if Montreal.
A
If Montreal wins, Montreal will be Buffalo. And I was like, I actually think you're right.
B
And I. And this is so tough because I have so many good buddies who love the Habs and I love that city and that team. I want Buffalo for the story because it's just like, holy. But I fear the goalie play. But Lion, I don't know. We'll get into that. I agree.
A
I think game one. I've said this a few times.
B
Times.
A
And it's been true. I think game one tells us a lot. A lot, a lot, a lot. But right now, the goalie play is absolutely in the hands of Montreal, and I love that for them.
B
Zach, does this mic work? Yeah, it's all good. Come on in locks.
A
Wow. Gavin McHugh, nephew of Liam McHugh. You know, from TNT.
C
Yep. That's my uncle. Look, a little Flyers talk. Dude, this is awesome. Who has it better than us right here, right now?
A
No. Absolutely no.
B
Flyers vanquished. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins correct all time series.
C
Who felt a little like they're a little overrated going into the playoffs.
B
Yeah, but you got scared, though, when it started, when the Penguins.
C
Yeah, I mean, it would be Philly fashion to go up, you know, 3, 0. Then all of a sudden you're staring up 3, 2.
B
Okay, so then, dude, now you hit the canes.
A
Can we talk about the. The one. The world we're Living in right now. Bruins dead, Celtics dead. Flyers and Sixers.
B
Flyers beat. The pain.
C
That's why there's a little bit of life where I actually kind of believe in the Flyers, because there's something going on.
A
There's something going on in the city of Philly.
B
So, dude, the Canes had the best record in the east every year. They look like a juggernaut entering the playoffs. Every year they blow it. At some point. At some point after coming into the series, I was like, maybe this. Maybe this is where this happens. Maybe they go, fuck, we got clipped by the Flyers. Game 1. The Canes looked very good.
A
Yes.
B
Do you. How do you respond?
C
However, when you look at it on paper, like, the Flyers actually played a pretty good game. Yeah. And like the shots on goal, and obviously they're the more aggressive team. They're actually getting the hits. And, you know, I feel like they are going to be able to bounce back in this series. Vladi goalie, he's a dog.
B
He's 20ft tall.
C
I mean, dude, I'm talking may the
A
4th be with you. Darth Vader, like, this is. This is his month.
C
And you know what? And you know, it's so. And you know, it's so funny. I was so excited to play the Hurricanes for the exact reason that you just said. Because every year the Hurricanes are buzzing going into the playoff. And then, you know, a team like in the east, it's been nothing but lightning. Panthers, you know, like, the fucking Canes never do dick.
B
Never do dick. Dude.
C
That's why I was excited. Now that the Flyers buzzing, they have a little bit of momentum. All the thing that's the only thing you need in hockey. And I feel like they could bounce back. I mean, the shots on goal, it's not like they got like four fleeced. Game one, trust me, I am like
A
locks is dialed on hockey, right? This is incredible.
C
I mean, I'm. I'm pretty. I'm. I'm a bot when it comes to hockey. But.
B
But, dude, you know what I like, because the Canes went up. I think they're up 20 in the first. They go up 3 0. Yeah. After that, because, dude, the Penguins were, on paper, a more skilled team. They had more goals in the regular seat. You know, it's like everything should have. They should have rolled. Yeah. And the Flyers mucked it up against them.
C
Yeah.
B
And in this game, they have to do the same. I thought they came out the start of this game and we're trying to play fast paced and they were Getting hemmed in. And the canes went up. Then the third period, they went back, right back to the script. It was like there was scrums. Everybody fucking. Taylor Hall's in a fight. Everybody's in a fight. And I was like, 10 to.
C
10 to two shots on goal for the Flyers in third.
B
Dude. And I was like, you don't want this.
C
Yeah.
B
You don't want. But they let themselves do it. And I was like, if you play this game, you will lose. You know, hold on.
A
I'll say this, because that is how Philly beat Pitt.
B
Yes.
A
Made them play a different game.
C
They got to stick to the script.
A
Yes. And they did that too late in this.
B
Yes.
A
Like, when you're saying Carolina doesn't want that. When you're up three nothing. I love it when a team is trying to. Because I'm like this. You're a desperate little bitch. You're a turtle on your back.
C
Yeah.
A
Squirming around because we're beating the shit out of you, and now you're trying to get dirty. You look like a little brother throwing a tantrum. They need to do that at the drop right away.
B
Yeah.
A
Because what I will say is Carolina handily took care of Ottawa, who also tried to muck it up a little bit. And I kept saying during that series, Carolina's so happy to play this game. Yeah. There'd be the times where Ottawa would tie it and then, boom, goal. Yep. Like Carolina was. I. I think I said they're playing with their food a little bit. I. I do think this Carolina team is so much better than that pit team in that if it is a muckfest and Philly, like, squeaks in a goal, they're good enough to get, like. To get their head out of the mud and tie it or get the lead back. So I think it's going to be a combo. Philly does need to be Philly, and they need to muck it up. But you also have guys like Trevor Zegras. You have guys like Owen Tippett. You have guys like tk they got a score, too. Like, they need to be. Get, like, start. Drag them into the mud, but then let your talent show in the mud, too, because you're. I don't think you're gonna be.
B
You got mud guys and you got gold guys.
A
Yeah. You're. My point is, you're not going to beat Carolina. 1.
B
Nothing.
A
You're not going to beat them 2. 1. Like, you need to score while playing in the mud.
B
Yeah.
C
The flyers are the St. John's the NHL.
B
Totally.
C
You know, they're St. John's they're. You need to play your style of game. It's gonna have to be gritty. You can't fall far behind because this is not a team that's gonna claw back from down three zero. Dude, you know, once. Once it's immediate deep waters. Once the Flyers go down two goals, let alone three.
A
Yeah, correct.
C
So, like, they just need to see one go through the bucket early. And that's when I feel like you give this team a little bit of life in a game and they start to believe a little bit. That's what happened in the Penguin series. All of a sudden it was 30
B
through the whole city.
C
I feel like. I feel like that first game, they kind of go back to the drawing board. They understand that they didn't necessarily play their style. They're trying to play a little bit up. Obviously. Nerves. Game one, new series, you know, young kids. Yeah. I feel like now game two, you reset, go back to the drawing board and you beat. You beat those cowards down in Carolina
B
and lost the Hurricanes. Dude, Locks, the Canes haven't lost yet in playoffs. Like, they swept. Dude, you. You want to see them bleed like, when they lose, how are they going to respond to their first loss in playoffs, you know?
C
Plus, the Flyers are coming off a very high, high emotion win. Like they.
A
So true. So true.
C
Not only did they just make the playoffs, they just won a series against their biggest rival. Like, yeah, it was a little bit of a letdown spot then having to pack the bags, travel, go on the road and play Carolina. I mean, now game two, like I said, you reset. You reset and you get things leveled out. Flyers and seven.
A
Wow.
B
Flyers. That's incredible, dude. Incredible.
A
All right.
B
All right.
A
Thank you.
C
Flyers, go. Flyers, go six.
A
I love it.
C
Fuck the Knicks. Fuck everyone. Have a good one.
A
Thank you.
B
Fuck.
A
Fuck the Knicks. Fuck everyone.
B
Dan, let me read you this.
A
Absolutely.
B
Because I think this is incredible. We've been talking about this a lot on this pod because now we should. We. Now that Locks is left, we should say the Canes are incredible.
A
I was about to say. And Locks is gone. Kane's in five.
B
Dude, two things for me that Keandre Miller play on. On Garnet's breakaway.
A
Yes.
B
Was one of the great Superman dives. Just getting the puck. I'm bitching about penalty shots and the Genel play. I was like, incoming. This was the most clear incoming penalty shot I've ever seen. That is one of the greatest.
A
One of the greatest plays I've ever. The only play better was Hagel save on Slafkovsky. Within that, that was the most miraculous thing I've ever seen in my life. But that, that Keandre play was insane, dude.
B
So that was nuts. Stank scores 90 the game. The Canes have played five games in the playoffs. Stank has opened the scoring in four of them. Not for his team, for the. For the game. Yeah, and let me. Let me give you this awesome stat that you were unaware of. And I would like your brain to become aware of it because. And I would like everybody in the chat's brain to become aware of it before you run your mouth and make a fool of yourself. Six times a fool. Before you can acquire this information. This is also from our boy Dennis. Okay. Marty Naches, 59 postseason games with the Canes. 59 postseason games with the Canes, 11 goals. Miko, it is
A
gone. What I was gonna say. It is funny how like it. Sometimes I forget that Nate just played for the case. Yeah, ridiculous.
B
Marty Naches, 59 postseason games with the Canes, 11 goals. Miko Rantnan, 24 postseason games with Dallas, 10 goals. Stank, man. 20 postseason games with the Canes, eleven goals. Yeah, and people being like, oh my
A
God, these people bringing up the trade a lot, man. Like, who won the trade?
B
11 goals in 20 playoff games. We're talking about cooch, where's gotta score, gotta score. All this guy does is score. All he's done is score at every level he's ever played. And the bigger the moment gets, the bigger he gets. Which is hilarious because he's five foot nothing. Yeah, but he's got 11 goals in 20 playoff games and he's. If he's going to continue to do that. The Canes look fucking money.
A
Yeah, they sure do. Listen, we said the Flyers are playing with house money, getting into the playoffs, beaten Pitt. This is just such a win and an exciting time for them. Someone asked on Hockey Talk yesterday, is Carolina actually really good or are they just playing bad teams? And I, I was like, that's a great question, because Senators aren't bad.
B
Senators are not a bad team.
A
They are not bad. But, but they were a wild card team.
B
I think they would have given other teams way more trouble than they gave the Kings.
A
I. I agree, but again, I. I said it's a great question because you currently look at the fact that they are 5, 0 in the playoffs.
B
Yeah, right.
A
And the Flyers, while a three seed, were. Felt like a wild card.
B
Totally. Totally.
A
So I think it's a great question. I think this win was so impressive and so important for Carolina because they took care of Ottawa. But as I, I've said so many times now, it was a weird. They were just like letting Ottawa hang around and then they would just beat them.
B
Yeah.
A
Coming out here, not getting dragged into the mud fight Freddie pitching a fucking shutout. Dude, it was that, that was just Freddie. And I mean, dude, a 3 nothing win in round two is so much more impressive than a 9, 6 win.
B
Yeah. Yeah.
A
And that's not me comparing Carolina and the Colorado, but I'm talking about what a tale for your team. For your team. Yeah. Two games, you're looking at that nine, six game. And when you're Colorado, you come into that locker room, you go, Jesus Christ, boys. Yeah. You come in after a 3 nothing win in round 2 and you're like, oh, we are fucking.
B
We are wagon.
A
Yep, we are a wagon. And Carolina is a wagon. Stank being red hot is huge. Jarvey needs to get going. I know he's got some shoulder shit going on, but like he's still making plays. He's such a good player.
B
Great play on Stank. Second one.
A
He doesn't need to be all over the score sheet to be an impact player. They don't need him. Whereas a guy like Cooch needs, does need to be all over the score sheet to be an impact player. Jarvie kills, penalties. He, he's great. Five on five. He's blocking shots. He does everything.
B
He is blocking shots.
A
So he does need to get going here. And I believe he is going to get like, this is what I said yesterday, not the player you need to worry about. Yeah, like, but, but can we just fucking stroke off Taylor hall for a second?
B
What? Dude, that's. He was part of all that too.
A
Like my, my Taylor hall stance is. I think Taylor hall has made the conscious decision at this point in his career to go, I, I've won a heart trophy. I was the first overall pick. I am a talented player. Even though he's what, 34?
B
Yeah, probably 34.
A
Yeah, I think 34. He is a talented player. He knows on this team with guys like Aho, Jarvi, Ehlers, Stank, he doesn't need to be a 70, 80 point guy. He's happy being a 50, 60 point guy. But then he goes, I'm going to do that because I'm going to save it and in playoffs I'm going to elevate. Yep, he is elevated in playoffs the last three years.
B
Awesome.
A
And it's Amazing. The.
B
I got eyes on the first period in this game just because I want to see the Flyers. Did the Flyers unlock something or were the canes just on the. On the brakes? Because they were like, whatever, it's three nothing and you guys are little. Little baby boys.
A
Little baby boys.
B
Okay, you're first on this one. Canes. Flyers. What do you got?
A
Canes in five.
B
In five. Give me canes in six. I think Flyers. I think the Flyers can muck it up enough, but I am going. Canes in six. Okay, Bruin Sabers, game six Sabres take
A
care of business handily. Five one, knock the Bruins out.
B
We were saying before the game to some people, man, and just like it was in game five, man, it's got to be a sway masterclass again. If the Bruins are going to win, we need a sway shutout. It's got to be this way. And then. Which is tough because it's like. It just feels like he's always going to do that, you know, there's no. There's no wiggle room. And then bang. Great play by Darlene. But Alex Tuck scores four minutes into the game. And we were all, like, on all of our threads, we were like, well, yeah, goodbye.
A
That's.
B
That's probably night night, which is insane. Four minutes, a hockey game. But it literally, it just felt like you would have to keep Buffalo to one goal the entire game to somehow win. And if they're going to score that fast, we in big trouble. So then.
A
Oh, yeah, after that.
B
Or there was the disallowed goal, which I forget who batted that in, but there was the disallowed goal. So you're already a little leaky or a little shaky, a little nervous. But then middle stat gets a breakaway. And at this point in the game, the. I think it was the Bruins second shot.
A
Four one, by the way, I said five.
B
Okay. Um. It was the Bruins second shot on goal. That middle stat breakaway, and you're going, oh, wow. Buffalo's controlling play. They're already winning. This is a nightmare. That is the type of goal that, if that ties the game there, Boston. The crowd gets back into it. Boston goes, wow, we're getting so outplayed. And it's 1:1. Who cares? Changes the entire complexion of the game. So just. This is my first opportunity of many to just absolutely bow down to Alex Lyon and the plays he's made. And I was just talking about this earlier, but you just need a save. Sometimes you just need a huge save when you go, whoops, sorry, we up, please. Just give us this one save. This guy has been doing that since he went in. Yeah, he's making the saves in those pivotal moments that can change the course of the game. He gives it to you every time. It's incredible.
A
I'm gonna stroke off the sabers real quick because really the only things I have to say in this game or in this series are all about the Bruins.
B
Okay.
A
Sabres are incredible. I. I picked them in six.
B
Yep.
A
I'm happy to have gotten that right.
B
Yep.
A
I think you did too.
B
No, I beat in seven.
A
Oh, yeah. Like, Tuck is going. Tage could be going a little bit more, but he's still just doing everything, contributing.
B
Though
A
everyone has answered the bell of like, how are playoffs going to be for you guys? Because this Bruins team is great and they're tough out and you knock them down, you're dealing with a red hot sway. And like, even in this game, man, like, he only gave up three goals. And this felt very similar to game four for me. Yeah, like, the boys just. You get out shot 12, 6 in the first period on home ice like
B
that in an elimination game.
A
The boys have just hung out, sway out to dry multiple times in this series, which is tough. But then again, we also hear they are so fucking hurt. Like, everyone was dead for the Bruins and I know everyone is, but like some significant injuries for the Bruins. But the Sabres have just answered every question, Dan, and I absolutely love it. And I'm so excited for this series. I know I picked Montreal in seven,
B
but I said I was like, I want Buffalo to win.
A
Yeah, me too. And it's like it can so go both ways on that one. Like, I think that's going to get to game seven and it's going to be like Montreal, Tampa, where I'm like, this is a coin flip. Both these teams are amazing. The big thing for them is goaltending and Lyon stepping in and being as good as he has. It's amazing, man. Several games is remarkable. So I want to get to the Bruins first and foremost because most of what I have to say is like, them, their team as moving forward. We gotta discuss Chucky wirecross. That was incredibly insane. I said this yesterday on the story. Can't do that. Yep, not okay. Wires cross moment for sure. And I'm going to get Charlie is. Charlie can be a rat. And I. I've said this.
B
Yeah, in a good way.
A
I love this about.
B
Yep.
A
I. I love rats. I think rats are so important in hockey. And Charlie is definitely a rat when he wants to be this Guy has been through so much this season.
B
One of the most dramatic seasons I've ever seen for a player in my entire.
A
I mean, the injuries, the pucks to the face, the jaw, breaking the teeth lost all. All of this shit is insane. What he did was so unacceptable. He will get at least five game suspension, as he should. You cannot come in and tomahawk someone.
B
Yep.
A
That said Zach Benson, slew foot was a piece of shit move. Yep. You know how I feel about slew footing. It is the biggest pussy thing you can do in hockey, in my opinion. And Zach Benson was a rat this series.
B
Yes.
A
And the fact that he scored in that game too, was so awesome. And I just said, I love it about Charlie being a rat. I love it about Benson being a rat. Benson being the size that he is, the player that he is. And leaning into a rat role is like, that's Brad Marchand.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
Like Zach Benson could be Brad Marchand for the Buffalo Sabres. That's exciting. I love him being a rat. Keep doing it. Don't fucking slew foot people. And when you're winning a game, I think it was four. It might have been four one at that point. Going in and slew footing Charlie, that was fucking trash behavior. So I get. I say that to say I get why Charlie was so pissed.
B
Me too.
A
You're about to get eliminated. You've had the season that you've had. And then this fucking guy slew foots you. My wires would have crossed you. You just can't tomahawks. So I think Benson should get suspended one game, actually. I think. But if he doesn't, whatever. Charlie absolutely will get suspended and should get suspended. But yeah, understandable. Wires crossed. But you just can't do that.
B
Yes. So some things for me on the Bruins, big picture there. First of all, they go 03 at home. Right. In the playoffs. And from nine minutes left in the game when it's 21 Buffalo till the empty net goal goes in, which went in with like three something. The Bruins didn't have a shot. Shot attempt.
A
I know. So.
B
And I'm like, you're down one and if you lose, you're eliminated and you're at home. And it's the third period. This is the end of the game. This is the last nine minutes of the game and they didn't shoot the puck. That is so unacceptable. It's hard for me to even wrap my head around that stat. What do you think about this too? This is nothing. And this is me being a boomer. A bit. But I. The power plays were, oh, the Sabers were over four. Bruins did not get one. And that also happened to the Edmonton elimination game. They did not get one and the Ducks got two, three or two in. In my opinion, infractions are committed throughout all the time. Like, it's not like there's no team has ever literally played a clean hockey game. And I'm not saying they need to be dead even, but I am just like, you got to even that up a little bit. In my opinion. That is my take. And remember, that ref got Seward for the hot mic. That was like, I got to call it.
A
Yeah, yeah.
B
But I was like, yeah, you do. I can't have a team in an elimination playoff game have kill four penalties and have no power plays.
A
I. I hear that. I definitely hear that. But I don't know, man. When the ISIS tilted this significantly, there are times where like, I'm like, there aren't infractions. Like, if you're getting beat down and you're just chasing the whole game the other. Why is the other team taking penalties? So I actually think it is sometimes likely that Buffalo is not really doing anything there. But you were right. They happen all the time. And it, oh, four to nothing feels unfair.
B
And I'm like, dude, yeah, like, just call a fucking penalty.
A
But. But as a ref, like, you can't be sitting out there looking for like, I gotta call buff flowing something here.
B
Yeah, I'm kind of like, yes, you are. But I. But I hear you. I'm certainly not being like, well, it's one for one. I'm just saying like, dude, no, I get it. Be aware of the situation here. This is ridiculous. And then I, I just did want to shout out pasta because he. He's only. He scored the one goal, but it was the play in the neutral zone that I'm shouting out like, he stepped up a Buffalo breakout pasta, made a big hit, freed the puck up, then jumped in the two on one great passover. A dude who's been. Has to carry so much weight. I thought that was a nice play. But the Bruins, man, they just, they shot themselves in the foot with that face off play to Pasta that Linda, you know, like, yeah, that one. Actually, I kind of.
A
I think pasta is like. I mean, he's frustrated. He. He should be a heart finalist.
B
Yeah, yeah.
A
What he does like, it's unbelievable. So he is. Unless you have anything more on this game, I want to get into the Bruins.
B
Oh, the Bruins.
A
Yes. Okay, sure, the Bruins. I actually, before this Series I, I have been preaching how bright the future is for Boston. There's so much shit to be talked about. Don Sweeney in the past, I've done it. And this is now probably the third live in a row where I've been like, I, I give him so much credit for this year, for the retool, the restructure, this, that and the other. What David Posternak said in his exit interview. Yep. Was eye opening for me. Did you see this?
B
You said it to me. I didn't see it. You texted it.
A
It was a clear call out to management of Pasta going, get me help.
B
Yep.
A
So this guy has had 300 point seasons in a row.
B
I can't do it.
A
Is it four 400 point seasons in a row? I've said this many times. David Posternak is the most skilled, talented player in the history of the Boston Bruins. Yep. I include Ray Bork, I include Bobby Orr, I include Esposito. He to have the player in Today's game scoring 100 points four years in a row. And especially when you look at this year and last year, who he's playing with and doing it, you have a generational, generational talent. And in his postgame, he was like, I'm about to be 30.
B
Yeah.
A
I want to win. I, he was like, I've sniffed a cup once. I had one shot at the cup.
B
Yep.
A
And I'm about to be 30 and I want help. Like I want to go and get one here. This guy signed an eight year deal. He is committed to this franchise. Morgan Geeke has been a breath of fresh air. That's amazing. You kind of lucked into that when you signed Morgan Geeke. You didn't think he was going to be a 40 goal guy. And I got news for you, he's a 40 goal guy. He didn't literally score 40, but, you know, 39.
B
Yeah.
A
Because of David Posternak. Victor Arvidsson was a fucking delight this year.
B
What a fucking miracle.
A
Bye. Yep, he's gone. I don't think Boston is signing him because he's about to get a five year fucking deal.
B
Yeah. Damn right.
A
Bye. He's gone. You have the exciting kid line of Fraser Minton, who's Nadinov and Hagan's. Hagan's got fucking scratched, got health bombed and it's his first.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
First jump into the NHL. I'm not giving Hagan shit. On the other hand, you look at Porter Martone, exact same situation, and look at what he's done for this Philly
B
group power play one, pumping in goals.
A
Hagan's couldn't do that.
B
Yep.
A
So while the future is bright for Boston, they've got Hagans, they've got Minton, who is great this year. Too much in the playoffs. You've got Letourneau on BC. You've got Zellers, Pasta being 30 next year, McAvoy being 29 next year. You've got Sway, who's locked up. You do. When you've made the playoffs this year and you've accelerated the rebuild, you do have to look at a guy like Pasta and a guy like Chucky and be like, we should try to compete right now.
B
Yeah.
A
So the Bruins, while I am like, the future is bright, you have to look at the fact that in 2011, they won a Stanley cup that no one expected them to win. They then lost in 13. They then lost in 19. They have two President's trophies. First, choke jobs. You wasted the prime core of Bergeron, Creche, Marchand and Chara.
B
Yep.
A
And Rask.
B
Yeah.
A
You wasted that.
B
Oh, dude, I say this all the time. It's a trap.
A
The Boston Bruins won a Stanley cup in 1972. Then they won in 2011, and they have, in my opinion, choked in 2019, lost in 13, and now you have another generational player like Posnak, like McAvoy, like Sway. What are you going to do with it? What are you going to do with it? In a time where the east feels pretty open? You've got Toronto trending down, Tampa trending down. I'm sorry. Like, Headman is so hurt. He's not playing. Cooch is 33 points. A broken man. Like, these teams are trending down. You have the opportunity to trend up. What does Boston do now? And I think that Pasta call out was a. Like, hey, Don, great job with guys like getting. Bringing Geeky and getting Minton in that trade, who's a great little player, drafting Hagan's. Letourneau, Zellers. That's five years out. What are we doing now? I think it's a very interesting question.
B
Yeah. Especially because you just look at your. You're behind Montreal for sure. You're behind Buffalo as it seems right now. I know Buffalo's been so, like, they can. They had a great year and then they were awful. Like, you're behind Buffalo, so now you're in this race with Detroit and Ottawa and, you know, a Tampa retool maybe. Right. Like, that's your situation right now.
A
Yes.
B
So figure it out. Because.
A
Figure it out.
B
It's go time.
A
Yep. And again, you have a guy like David Posternak who is just straight up like, go get me help. We you want to talk about. And this is my last thing you want to talk about. Is Auston Matthews going to get traded? Is Brady Tkachuk going to get traded? Is Connor McDavid, is Leon Draisaitl going to get traded? If you're not making phone calls on all four of those guys, Yep. As Don Sweeney, you are.
B
You're not a serious franchise.
A
You are not. You're not a serious gm, you're not a serious franchise. And I'm. I'm dead ass. All four of those guys. I would put a package together and call those teams and go, I'm being aggressive here and I'm prepared to give you. You've got the fucking AHL goalie of the year in DPA tro.
B
Yep.
A
You got Hagan's, you got Letourneau, you got Zeller. You have great pieces for the first time in a long time. Yeah.
B
Make a move.
A
Potentially, when we see the lottery, if it's six or lower, you got that Toronto first round pick. Pray to God it's six or lower. You gotta make a fucking move. Yep. You have to.
B
Just to put a bow on it for Buffalo. What a moment for the Buffalo Sabers. Dude, into the second round. It's fucking incredible.
A
If I. What if I do not get to Buffalo for round two? I will agree.
B
What they have accomplished this year, especially after the start they had right until December 9 or whatever it was. I mean, my God, the fact that they sat here and said, we're going through this again, it will never end in this city. We'll never make playoffs. Life is unfair. Get me a bowl of cereal. But instead, dude, lather up a new plate of wings because you're playing hockey in fucking May. How sick is that? Buffalo.
A
It's Incredible.
B
Calendar says 5 month 5 and you're playing Hawk.
A
It's incredible.
B
I'm thrilled for them. I'm thrilled. Honestly, I'm thrilled. They did that before game seven. They didn't need that. Yeah, I'm glad they handled it in six. I'm glad that lion has been so massive because, God, that's kind of how you do it in playoffs. What a swing. And then it's just like you said, Tage isn't even really going yet. Their potential, they haven't even reached their potential. I saw a quote from the Canes that said, we're still searching for our perfect game, which is hilarious because they haven't lost in the playoffs. It's a very Rod thing to say. I think Buffalo is still searching for their perfect game. Think about that. You're into the second round and you haven't even played the best you guys can play yet.
A
No question about that. That's a great fucking point by you.
B
So I'm like, man, dude. And, and, and finally, actually, last thing, they're doing everything that you need to do in playoffs that I was concerned they couldn't. They are. They are smothering teams with the forecheck clogging up the neutral zone. Boston doesn't have a shot for six minutes at a time in an elimination game. Buffalo everywhere, they're scoring goals. They're. They're getting goalie play. They're not getting hemmed in their own zone. They're breaking out cleanly. Like, everything. I was like, oh, man, it's a different game in playoffs. The Buffalo Sabres said, asked and answered. You fucking bitch. And I said, thank you. Good day. Enjoy the second round. I cannot wait for that series. Me too.
A
Let's wrap things up in this episode. Talking about the Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth series. Golden Knights taking care of the Mammoth five to one, Dan.
B
Unfortunately, the Mammoth have only won 33% of their playoff games at Delta, which
A
is such a crazy swing because if people forget they were undefeated, there was
B
a stress, a long stretch in Mammoth history where they were undefeated.
A
They were undefeated.
B
And now, unfortunately, they are not.
A
This game, for me, CP this game was over before it started.
B
Yes, it was. Which I was very surprised by. I said the Mammoth would win. I was like, boom.
A
It was, it was a good little battle, I think, I think Howden scored like five, 15 minutes into the first period. But it just, it felt like, to me, like, I think, or let me see. Yeah, 10, six and shots. Like Vegas was all over them. And when Howden scored, I was like,
B
dude, it was crazy. Dan. It was the best Vegas has looked by a. A country mile.
A
Yeah. And I, I. For me, this game was the first time in this series where I went, ooh, do we have to be worried about Vegas?
B
Yes.
A
Like, they are truly.
B
I completely.
A
All the games before their comebacks, like, you know, they had unbelievable comeback wins. This was the first game where I was like, oh, boy. And also credit to him, Carter Hart's best game.
B
Yep.
A
I thought, I thought Utah, they didn't have that many shots, but I thought Utah had some pretty good chances that Carter made, like, big saves on. And you wonder if he is now, like, you win this series in six games. You played every second of every game. And you wonder if Carter Hart is finally like. Because people forget like he didn't play a full season.
B
Yep. Right.
A
You wonder if this was him being like, oh, I'm in my. I'm in my bag now. I'm in my Duffy.
B
Well, dude, the only thing I'll say though is the one goal they did score. The Yamamoto shot. Heart has to have like. It literally just hits him right here and goes in. And I'm like, if I'm Vegas. The only thing that scares me is as good as he has looked, he's still giving up a goal like that every now and then. And dude, it's the playoffs. Like there are, you know, goals sneak in here and there. I'm not saying every goalie has to be perfect, but it's just his.
A
His.
B
He has the ability or the. The. So I don't know what to call it.
A
Ability.
B
But he has the possibility to give up goals like that occasionally. And that scares me as a team where you're like, please, because dude, that one. I almost made this joke. This makes it sound harsh, but in beer league when you can't hit, all we can really do on D is just force a guy wide outside the dot of the circle. And then if the shot goes in, I look at my goalie and I go, are you insane?
A
Yeah.
B
What do you want me to do? Yamamoto gets taken wide and just fires a wrist shot from the near far hash of the circle and it goes in. And I'm like, that can never go in, literally ever.
A
Yeah, that's absolutely true. If you're an NHL goalie in the playoffs, you cannot be letting that in. He did shut the door otherwise. Yes, yes, but, but you're right. Someone said on our page yesterday, someone was like, like Utah choke job, but the future's bright. And I was like, I don't even think of it that way, man. Agreed. I don't think that there's any. Even though I was on here on the live show last week, being like, they blew that game. They did. But I don't think this is a choke job. Vegas is a very good team. Vegas is. They've been in the playoffs every fucking year except for one of their entire existence. They've won a Stanley Cup. They've been to another. This team is no joke. You always say they are the team that goes and fucking makes the most drastic moves in the world. Marner becomes available, they go get them. Rasmus Anderson becomes available, they go get him. Jack Eichel becomes available, they go get him. Carter Hart becomes available, they go get him. Vegas wants to win. That is a dangerous team to play. And you took them to six. That's great.
B
Oh, dude, be incredibly proud. I'm so sad we didn't get to go back. We were trying to. Our schedule got jammed. I'm so sad we didn't get to experience that again. But this mammoth team sucks, losing in the playoffs. You should be on cloud nine right now.
A
And I will do a little gas up for the mammoth year. I mean, you make the playoffs in your second year of existence, you take Vegas, a great team who won the Pacific. Say what you will about the Pacific to six games. That's fantastic. But the bigger thing for me is this, that Utah is that you are officially a playoff team now. And you are officially a destination.
B
Yeah, yeah, sure.
A
Because while it happens with trades, you get guys like Mikhail Serkachev, you get guys like Sean Dersey, you get guys like Mackenzie Wegar. You have these players who get there and they go, oh, fucking rights.
B
Yep.
A
You have Clayton Keller who commits to the team.
B
Yeah.
A
You have Nick Schmaltz who commits to the team. You have Logan Cooley. You are a team that players are not happy to be at, but desperate to be at. You have your new facility. You have an amazing arena that's only going to get better.
B
Yeah.
A
You have an amazing fan base that's only growing and going to get better. Utah is without question a destination now. This is a team that players want to play for. And you're a playoff team.
B
Yep.
A
That's fantastic. Vegas. This is a big time opportunity to go right back to the Western Conference final. We love the Duckies. Can't wait to go to a game this round. But what do we do? Last week talking about Mitch Marner being like, you got to wake up, dude. During the show.
B
Yeah.
A
Mitch wakes up, makes a great play, gets an assist on the game winning goal. He comes into this game two Tux.
C
Hey.
A
Hey.
B
What? Hey. Hey. Welcome to the party, pal.
A
Dude. Genuinely welcome to the party, pal.
B
Dude, that was because. Dude, that was how. And gets the goal. Which by the way, was also off a Mitch shot. Like Mitch fired that dude. And I said this on the Friday live. We got to be shooting off the end boards more. I literally do not understand how. No. In every goal in playoffs is just a ricochet off the end boards that bounces back out in front and someone scores. It is insane. And people need to be actively doing this on purpose. Yeah. But Mitch Marner Fires one off the end boards, bounces out to Howden goal. You know, after a dominant first period. Yeah, we are 40 seconds left in the second, still one nothing. So this is one of those. The Mammoth are hanging on and you go, fuck, put them away. Put them away.
A
1.
B
One bad bounce and we're fucking tied. Then Marner hammers that slap shot in huge cellie and I was like, oh shit. And that. And then obviously gets another one too, which made it even better. But this was a. Okay, dude, thank you, buddy. Because I paid good American dollars to get your ass out of Toronto to bring you here. Where you said, the only reason I'm not winning, going deeper in playoffs and winning cups is because of the Toronto media and the pressure and all the. Yeah, here, you're here now you home now no one need, no one cares. You can just participate, but you got to participate. Yeah, he kind of wasn't like, I saw this headline that was like marner clutch. Marner is the reason Vegas is, is doing well. And I was like, nobody listening it. But now, yeah, but Now I'm like
A
2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points in 6 games.
B
Yep.
A
Jack Eichel, 1 goal, 8 assists, 9.6 games. Like your two best players are going and you know, like if Mitch is away also Mitch. The amount of shit that Toronto players got for their playoff collapses. Mitch has 70 points in 77 playoff games. Yeah, like Mitch. And you know, unbelievable game winning assist in four nations like Mitch can play in a big game and you get out of the first round in six games. Both of those guys are over point per game. I want Jack scoring more, definitely. But you're going up against the Ducks now and you gotta be. If you're Vegas, you've got to be like, we, we are winning this series. We have to win this series.
B
So. Well, I don't want to do the prediction. Yeah, I'll save that stat for there. Yeah, I think I go if you're Vegas. But Dan, I just think though Mitch needs to, Mitch and Jack need to score like this. I think all the assists aren't going to be enough to carry them through because they have some. I, I, I've, I've been concerned all year with their defense and I know they have some studs back there. Shea Theodore's incredible, Hannifin's incredible.
A
Yeah.
B
But you're missing that Petrangelo guy, which we'll say for the millionth time where I'm like, this matters in playoffs and you either need a guy like that or an incredible goalie and you're not getting incredible from heart. You're getting good. And you don't have this. This minute eating on the blue line, you know? So I've. I've still been afraid it's going to catch up to Vegas if they don't get an incredible offensive performance. They have guys that can do it, but I need them to actually do it. Yeah. This was a step in the right direction for Mitch.
A
Yeah. I mean, it's like, right now, going into the series, you have Mitch and Jack in a very great headspace.
B
Yes.
A
And that's huge.
B
Yep. Okay. Do you want to do the prediction?
A
Yeah.
B
Okay. I think. You start this one, or. No, I start there. I can't remember.
A
You start.
B
All right, I'm going to start, and what I'm about to say is going to blow your mind, but I'll tell you why. Yeah, I'm going. I'm having sick thoughts over here.
A
I'm ready.
B
Ducks in five. And I'll explain. I'll explain.
A
Ducks in.
B
Oh. I was like, holy shit.
A
Ducks in seven. Wow.
B
I can't believe you're on Ducks.
A
Yeah.
B
Okay. Here's why. Let me read this to you. Last year, Vegas versus the Wild, Round one, Game one. I'm speaking from the Vegas POV here. Game one, win. Game two, loss. Game three, loss. Game four, win. Overtime. Game five, win. Overtime. Game six, win. The exact same thing happened this year against the Mammoth, like, literally with the overtimes like that verbatim. Vegas did the same thing in the first round.
A
So they're gonna win game one against the Ducks and then lose four straight.
B
So I have no choice but to assume that the exact narrative in round two is going to happen. I don't think the Ducks are going to win in five. The universe is. Is exerting that upon.
A
Sure.
B
So I am. I am not one to. To poo poo the universe.
A
Yeah.
B
So I don't think this is going to happen. But I have to say Ducks in five, because something magical is happening, and I love magic.
A
If. If Quenville can shore up the defense even a little bit for the Ducks, Dostal can lock in a little bit, which. Which, let's be honest, has been hard for them all year long.
B
Yes.
A
They will win this series because I do think there are guys banged up on Vegas. I don't think Vegas's D is that threatening. And the fucking Duckies, they've got so many guys who can score. Yep. So I think they can pull it off.
B
My fear for the Ducks, though, is this the avs for example, just played two such different teams, right? They played a team that can't fucking score and then they played a team that can score.
A
Yeah. You fear as they're playing the exact same team.
B
The Vegas just played the, the. The young dumb full of come team who's like we're pumped to be here.
A
Yeah.
B
And they kind of took a second to get and then they're like okay,
A
you're terrible, go away.
B
And now they're like, are you just the mammoth again? They're like, yeah, hell yeah we are. And I'm like, oh, Vegas in four. It's a good point. So we'll see.
A
But this might make us eat crow here heavily.
B
This is going to be fun.
A
Yeah, this is going to be fun. This was fun. Amazing, amazing live show. What do we got for games tonight?
B
TP tonight we have Canes versus the Flyers Vladar on May 4th. That's interesting. Interesting. That's extremely interesting. And then I believe we have Vegas Ducks game one at 9:30 Eastern. So yeah, we're going to find out real quick how high flying the Ducks are, how the power play looks and if, if which one of these goalies can stop the punk. But yeah, two great ones to a game. Two a game.
A
One.
B
I'm fired up.
A
Fired up as well. That's going to do it for the live show. We love you babes. Thank you so much for tuning in. You're all amazing. Make sure to subscribe to the YouTube please. If you're watching on YouTube right now, smash the subscribe button, share it around. We will see you tomorrow. Regular episode. Yeah, we're going to watch the games tonight. We'll record tonight. Episode will be out tomorrow morning.
B
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EMPTY NETTERS PODCAST – EPISODE SUMMARY
Episode: "Please Hockey Gods Give Us 7 Games Of Wild Avs"
Date: May 4, 2026
Hosts: Chris & Dan Powers (Empty Netters Podcast – Almost Friday Media)
This episode kicks off the second round of the NHL playoffs, with deep dives on an absolutely wild Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche Game 1, analysis of the Montreal Canadiens’ massive upset over Tampa Bay, hot takes on the state of the Lightning's core and coaching, big-picture breakdowns for every ongoing series (including Flyers-Canes, Bruins-Sabres, and Golden Knights-Mammoth), and sharp banter, listener chirps, and classic brotherly energy. If you're hungry for insight into how the playoff narratives are changing—along with a ton of inside-yet-fun hockey culture talk—this is a can't-miss.
Both hosts—surprisingly—pick the Ducks over Vegas (Dan: Ducks in 7, Chris: Ducks in 5 “because the universe demands it”).
| Topic | Start – End | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------:| | Fan Culture, Podcast Banter | 00:00 – 06:15 | | Avs-Wild: Game 1 Recap & Series Analysis | 06:15 – 27:06 | | Habs-Lightning: Chaos & Core Questions | 27:17 – 56:17 | | Buffalo-Montreal / Flyers-Canes / Bruins | 57:13 – 85:01 | | Knights-Mammoth, Ducks-Vegas Preview | 85:07 – 97:28 |
End of summary – Empty Netters, May 4, 2026