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Dan
Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast.
Marty
Can you believe what this has become? There's a full 48 hours where I
CP Alec Martinez
felt like I was like literally Superman.
Dan
Jumbo loves playing Fortnite so he gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the sauna cycle or was that already.
Dr. Watkins
No, I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't taken a body check. That's kind of nice.
Dan
So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep.
Dr. Watkins
Finished tonight with some chicken fingers and a few Guinnesses.
Dan
Ran into you guys. And that's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready. And we're back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast, brought to you by BetMGM. Vegas is through. Now the canes are on the precipice of a gentleman sweep. We got Dr. Watkins behind the sticks. CP Alec Martinez joining in the studio. Before we get into anything, congratulations.
Marty
This is, this is, this is our first topic. Like come on, come on. I, I am in. I am in awe and I am in. I'm in a state of shock.
Dan
Before we get into it, I did want to bring something up because it was. I got my wheels turning. We're doing dinner tomorrow and the menu, steak or chicken parm. One of the great Sophie's choices of mine. But on that topic, have you ever been to Craig's in West Hollywood?
Dr. Watkins
Oh yeah. You have. Is a one legged duck swimming circle.
Dan
Dude. Boys, to queue up the next 10 minutes talking about this restaurant.
Dr. Watkins
It's unreal. I have chicken parm as long as your arm.
Dan
I had never been. I had never been there restaurant I've ever been to.
Dr. Watkins
Really.
Dan
I genuinely, I think it is. I mean I gotta go one or two more times to solidify it, but it is immediately top two restaurant in LA for me. That place is everything I could ever want in a restaurant.
CP Alec Martinez
Where is Craig's?
Dr. Watkins
It's on Melrose, right?
Dan
Yes, yes.
Dr. Watkins
So isn't. Didn't Craig get his start at Dantana's like forever? I think that's a story. I don't know. Don't quote me on that.
CP Alec Martinez
That would make sense.
Dan
So much sense. Because I fucking love Dantana's. That's the best Italian in my favorite.
Dr. Watkins
That's my favorite spot.
Dan
Unbelievable.
Dr. Watkins
Number one.
Dan
And it has, it has a. It old school Italian joint vibe and. But it's an American restaurant.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
And that makes sense why they have fucking chicken parm on the menu.
Marty
Right.
Dr. Watkins
The waiters are wearing tuxes like the bartenders are in those like red jackets.
Dan
Yeah, it's Unbelievable.
Dr. Watkins
Quintessential LA dude.
Dan
You know we used to go to Dantana's.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah.
Dan
Oh, yeah. That makes. I mean, that's. That's for sure. It's classic. Yeah. But everything about, like, the. The decor inside, the vibe inside, how it looks, the menu, everything was perfect. And the number one thing for me, dude, was the volume of music was the most perfect thing that's ever happened to me. Like, it was. I go on rants about this all the time. If I'm sitting in a restaurant and we are sitting across from each other and I am raising my voice so you can hear me. Drives me fucking insane.
Dr. Watkins
It's miserable.
Dan
It. Thank you.
Dr. Watkins
You lose your voice.
Dan
You lose your voice and you're like straining and tired. And I'm like, was I supposed to be having, like, a nice meal here? And now I'm fucking exhausted and my voice is raspy. This is insane.
Marty
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Like, I'm having dinner. I'm not at a sporting event.
Dan
Correct.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Dan
And it was like, we sat down right as. It was like, Rod Stewart showed up. That was pretty sick.
Marty
It was incredible.
Dan
Have you lost your mind?
CP Alec Martinez
Rod Stewart?
Marty
Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
Do you think I'm sexy?
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Unreal, too.
CP Alec Martinez
And Craig's.
Marty
It was in the flesh.
Dan
The fact that Rod is still.
Dr. Watkins
Wait, hold on. They were. They played that while he was in there. That's unreal. Like, imagine that's his walk in song.
Marty
Like, anywhere.
Dan
I'm walking in in 90 seconds.
CP Alec Martinez
I' right outside, get my table ready.
Dr. Watkins
All right, Hit it. That would.
Marty
But. But, dude, it takes him so long to get in, you know, he can barely move down. And then like, God, hold on.
Dan
Run it and hit it.
Marty
Loop it, loop it.
Dan
He was looking good.
Marty
He also was looking fried.
Dan
Yeah. Yeah, he was. I appreciate how he still does his hair the exact same way too, which is fantastic. Yeah, but, man, I was like. It was right as it was getting bustling. People were running in and it. It never. As many people as got in there. It never raised over that volume. And I was like, this place is perfect.
Dr. Watkins
It's a great spot.
Dan
It' great spot, dude. Like, that. I can't get over the menu, too. I was looking at the menu and I was like, everything on here I want to eat.
Dr. Watkins
Like, I'm thinking like an open table review. And you're talking like, everyone's talking about the food. You're talking about the music.
Marty
I'm like, literally, dude.
Dr. Watkins
Or like a Yelp review. It's like, hey, food was average, but the music was dial.
Dan
And Marty, I'M like, not even the music they played, just the. I'm talking the volume.
Marty
Yeah,
Dr. Watkins
okay, fair enough.
CP Alec Martinez
Like, if I can nerd. Just like, yep, perfect.
Dan
Dude, it was. I'm so glad that you've been there, cuz. Like, yeah, you know, I have that
CP Alec Martinez
start on my places I want to go, so I'm going to go.
Dan
You have to go.
Marty
I.
Dan
It's like, you know, it's hard to
Dr. Watkins
get out of the South Bay, actually, like, kind of along those lines. But it was the song that played. This was Christmas Eve. I was playing in LA. This must have been over 10 years ago. My parents and my family were out. I was hosting Christmas and I took them to mb post Shout out. Mb.
Marty
Great spot, Great spot, that place.
Dr. Watkins
But we're just sitting around and then all of a sudden, like, having Christmas Eve dinner. My ears perk up and I'm like, like, what's that? And they played Dick in a Box and I was like, this place is fucking awesome. And I'm like, on Christmas Eve.
CP Alec Martinez
But it is a Christmas song.
Dr. Watkins
It is technically a Christmas song.
Marty
And I'm like that together. Yeah, this is.
Dr. Watkins
This is unreal. Like, I have respect for them for obviously this long.
Dan
Oh, yeah.
Dr. Watkins
I am a repeat customer. We. My wife and I go there a lot, but I've never heard that same playlist played again. But I'd say, like, Christmas.
Marty
Hey, bring it back.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, bring it back.
Marty
Dude.
Dan
It's. You know, it's funny you say that. Have you ever heard. Do you ever watch that show the League?
Dr. Watkins
Oh, yeah.
Dan
You know, Taco.
Dr. Watkins
Taco? Yeah. Your kid. You know any tricks yet? Yeah, talking about. It's like, that's my. That's my daughter. Isn't that what it is?
Marty
You.
Dr. Watkins
Do you know any tricks yet? Years ago, it's a human.
Dan
He made. What the. That actor's name? John something. Doesn't matter. He made a Christmas song called,
Marty
like,
Dan
Merry Christmas, exclamation point. And it's about the texts you send your friends on Christmas. And it's just like, merry Christmas. And I was actually in a restaurant once and they played that and it's like, no way.
Marty
That sounds good.
Dan
It's really good. And it sounds like a Christmas song. It's like a nice piano. And I was like, oh, this is a nice song. And then I was like, wait a
Marty
minute, is this Christmas? Is this.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, I kind of respect that.
Marty
You.
Dr. Watkins
You throw, you know, you throw a couple of those in the. In the standard, like, Christmas playlist, dude.
Marty
And I promise you, you are Creating repeat customers that way, like, for anyone that hears it is like, oh, I love this place.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. Like, how do you. Like, that's good business, right? Like, that brings people back.
Marty
There's something they say in the restaurant biz. I think it's like a. Who's the bar rescue guy?
Dan
John Taffer.
Marty
Taffer.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Dan
I think it's a Vegas legend.
Marty
But it's like, if you go. If you can get them to come three times, they're a customer forever. Right? Like, that's his. That's, like, his strategy with bar. So he'll off. He. Like, what he pitches a lot is like, if you come, it's like, hey, thanks so much for coming here. You get 15% off your next visit. Or like, a free dessert your next visit. So people are like, I'll come, you know, so, yeah, he's like, I give away free stuff for two more visits. Because then you've been three times. And now you're like, oh, I actually like this place. I'm coming a lot. And that. I think you can bypass the three times. I'm like, oh, dude, I'm in play
Dr. Watkins
Dick in a Box. And, like, I'll come there once a
Marty
week, stash it for you.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. Put a placard on this bar stool. I'll be here every day. All right.
Dan
You're also sure Social bug situation. You're not forgetting that place? Like, if you go somewhere and Dick in a Box plays, you're like, I'll remember this restaurant.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, here I am. It's, like, legit 2026. That must have been at least. Yeah, it was over 10 years ago, and I'm still talking about it. My family still talks, and we're still.
Dan
Dude, you're back in LA because of mb.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, that's pretty much why I moved back.
Marty
Yeah. Like, I do. I need. I need that.
Dr. Watkins
It is way too hard to fly in and go to MB post.
Dan
Yeah. I am so obsessed with being. Becoming a regular somewhere where, like, the entire staff knows me, and they're like, what's up, Dan? Like, same booth, same order. Like that. Being a regular at Craig's would be so badass.
Marty
Yeah, dude. Especially because it's. It's like a spot, like, hard to get arrest.
Dr. Watkins
There's probably, like, a few A listers that are regulars, right?
CP Alec Martinez
Guys, you gotta. You gotta do your. I'm already a regular at the Galley. Okay.
Marty
Oh, I've never been there.
CP Alec Martinez
You know. The Galley.
Marty
Yeah, I got.
Dan
Are you actually.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah, absolutely. I was just there tonight.
Dan
You're fucking Kid, that's where you watched the game?
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah.
Dan
Do you know this?
Dr. Watkins
Did you watch the game, though?
CP Alec Martinez
It was. I mean, it was on my phone, and I ended up talking to a bunch of Australian tourists for most of it, but I had an eye on that.
Dan
But it was on.
CP Alec Martinez
They didn't score.
Dr. Watkins
You said you didn't look up much.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah, Like, I watched the first period here, and then I was like, I'm gonna go watch the rest of the Galley. And then the half.
Marty
That was a perfect decision. Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
And I met these weird Australians who were like. Yeah, we just came to. They were in Mexico.
Marty
I don't know.
CP Alec Martinez
It doesn't matter anyway.
Dan
No, no, no. Do that again. And do your best Australian accent.
CP Alec Martinez
You touched my penis. Or the succulent Chinese meal.
Dr. Watkins
Good night.
CP Alec Martinez
Shrimp on the Bobby.
Dan
That was very good.
CP Alec Martinez
Now, anyway, Galley's cool.
Dan
Have you been there? No, it's right up the road. It's like.
Dr. Watkins
Actually, I think I have.
Dan
Dude, it's like a. It looks like an old ship. Like, the vibe is like. You feel like you're in an old wooden ship.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Dan
And it's a steakhouse. Like, their whole thing.
Dr. Watkins
Diversity. Diversity is an old wooden ship, I believe.
Dan
Diversity is an old wooden ship.
Dr. Watkins
That was the only thing you could think of when he said that, I was like, I'm not even listening to the story anymore.
CP Alec Martinez
It's. Here's the thing. I like it because it was. It's from 1934, and I like old fucking places like Musso and Frank Smokehouse. Like, I like weird, old, trippy places.
Marty
Yeah. Even if I heard they have a
Dan
great burger good at the Galley.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah, I had. They have. They have filet mignon tacos at happy hour for 14 bucks.
Dan
Holy shit.
CP Alec Martinez
And they were really good.
Dan
Well, the fun. Like, they are a steakhouse, and they're famous for their salad dressing. And there's this whole story about the salad dressing and how, like, the guy who started it. It's just fucking Russian dressing. It's like. No, it' crazy.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, it's fine.
Dan
But it's like, you go in there, and it's actually, like, kind of an expensive steak, and you're like, I'm sitting in diversity right now, and I'm spending, like, $80 on a steak. What the Is happening? No, but, dude, we got to do. We go to Muso and Frank slot and do boy dinner, and we all. We all order just a steak and martinis.
Dr. Watkins
That's awesome.
Dan
It's fantastic.
Marty
Do you go.
CP Alec Martinez
Do you go prime rib at.
Dan
At Musso Yeah, I have, but not usually.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah, it's. It's a lot.
Dan
It's so much.
Dr. Watkins
And, like, size wise.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah. It's giant. And it's also pretty fucking rare.
Dan
You're like, it's. Yeah, it's rare and fatty. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Pretty gnarly, maybe. Unpopular opinion. I'm not a big prime rib guy.
Marty
Oh, okay.
Dr. Watkins
I'd much rather have a steak.
Marty
Me too. But. But you like. But you don't like prime rib or you do also like it if I have the option.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, yeah.
Marty
I'd rather the steak too, but I'm, like.
Dan
Ever ordering prime rib?
Dr. Watkins
No.
Dan
Same if someone's doing, like, we're making a roast, like a big. Yeah.
Marty
Christmas dinner. Dick in the box.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Dan
Yeah.
Marty
Some horseradish.
Dr. Watkins
You know, like.
Marty
Yeah, I'm all in, baby.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. Dude.
Dan
I will do a prime rib sandwich.
Dr. Watkins
Oh, yeah.
Dan
With, like, horseradish and, like, I'm. Now I'm happy.
Dr. Watkins
When we. Or when I played in Chicago last year, like, that was my go to.
Dan
Was it ever.
Dr. Watkins
And then it was actually. My wife was pregnant at the time, so that was. I'm pretty sure my daughter just grew on prime rib dip. Yeah.
Marty
Prime.
Dr. Watkins
She's just, like, 90% prime rib.
Dan
Crushing prime rib sandwiches to while she was pregnant. Yeah, that's.
Marty
I know.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah. You need that blood. My mom was a vegetarian until she had me as a kid. I was like. She was pregnant with me, and she went to a steakhouse and was like, give me a steak as rare as possible. She was a vegetarian for, like, three years before that.
Dan
That's.
Dr. Watkins
Is that, like, frowned upon as being pregnant?
Dan
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Dr. Watkins
Because it was, like, cooked.
Dan
That's not. No, that's not why I asked. I asked it because I feel like sometimes when people are pregnant, they don't want steak or, like, red meat, so that fires me up. Give me a fucking French dip.
Marty
Yeah. If I. If I'm lucky enough to have kids, I hope that Sandra's cravings are awesome, not weird as fuck. Because sometimes they're so shitty and you're like, oh, okay.
Dan
I hope Alice is such, like, a health nut, clean eater. I hope she gets pregnant and she's like, let's get Taco Bell tonight. And I'm gonna be like, fuck it. Like, let's just live a little.
Dr. Watkins
Way to think outside the bun, honey.
Dan
Our kid will come out an absolute piece of sh.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. My wife. It was prime rib dip, Kiwi and, like, Kiwi. Kiwis. Yeah.
Dan
That's so funny. I Need to know what? At what moment she realized she was craving kiwi. Like, how is that something? You're like, you know what I want right now? It's kiwi.
Dr. Watkins
That's sick. And then we lived on top of like a Whole Foods, like the apartment building. That was cool part. And so the amount of times that I had to go down there to get the fresh squeezed oj. Yeah. Like, my wife just crushed that stuff.
Dan
I mean, these are all good cravings. Yeah.
Marty
This is what I'm saying. Like, this would. I would enjoy this.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Dan
It's fantastic. All right, let's talk about Vegas.
Marty
Shock and awe, dude. And I asked. You weren't even in here. I asked Marty, I know you picked. You have to pick Vegas. You even said that when we were doing. You're like, I'm obviously picking Vegas. But I was like, were you just taking Vegas because you had to take Vegas?
Dan
Oh, no.
Marty
You knew actually leave. And he was like, I actually knew
Dan
this was going to happen. What I want to know is, I
Dr. Watkins
didn't know it was going to happen, but I believe that they could get it done. Yeah.
Dan
At what point were you like, oh, it's over. Like, game after game two, were you like, yep, they got it.
Marty
Which one? Not really.
Dr. Watkins
Not. Not.
Marty
That wasn't the three nothing.
Dan
No, I think that was game three. Okay.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Marty
I think maybe the abs went up. Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
Game three was the three zero comeback.
Marty
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dan
I mean, that. That's actually.
Marty
I. Game two was the one. The abs were up one nothing going into the third. And then Jack scored off the post. And then.
Dan
Yes.
Marty
Hurdle scored off the bar down, I think, like, late. But it was like the AVS were 450 with the two period lead.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Marty
And then lost.
Dr. Watkins
Well, I think they. They won, like, the mental grind and the way that they won, like for them obviously to come out in game one and beat them pretty handedly. And then game two, the way that they won, like, that's depressing. On the other end of it.
Dan
Yep.
Dr. Watkins
And then game three, like, I kind of thought after game three that they were going to finish it off just because, I don't know, the bench just looked down and looked rattled. And then you obviously have the. The addition of McKinnon. Whatever happened with him. Yep. Got hurt. And then McCarr is obviously nursing whatever he's nursing. I just was like. But not even just that. It was also like Vegas was just firing on all cylinders. And they were like, I don't know what the metrics were, but it looked like, they outplayed them in most, like, facets of the game.
Marty
100%.
Dan
Dude, we talked about this morning, we were like, they. They. They won every game. Like, even. I mean, say what you will about the first period lead in game three, but, like, after that, it was all Vegas. And I know they came back in Game 2, but it was like Vegas was all over them all game. The Jackal felt like the dam was about to break, and then, like, they just. They beat them every game. It was unbelievable.
Marty
It was.
Dan
It is.
Marty
I have a lot. But a lot of buddies in Denver, a lot of abs. Fan friends. And they are like, besides. Yeah, yeah. Like, everybody. I have. I have. That is. I said this in one of our shows. That is one of the most staggering playoff exits I've seen in a long time from a team as talented as we all thought they were. Just the way that went. I was like, holy.
Dan
I think I saw something today. It was like, presidents, a President's Trophy team has been swept in the playoffs, like, three times.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
And two are torn.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. It's like a kiss of death.
Marty
I know.
Dan
It's so crazy.
Dr. Watkins
Well, shout out my buddy. I've got a couple buddies in Denver, too, and Garrett, Shout out if he's listening. Yeah, but he was asking me after game one. He's like, I don't really like the way this is going. He's like, do I have anything to worry about? And I was like, oh, yeah.
Marty
Oh, yeah.
Dan
Yeah, you do. You better believe it.
Dr. Watkins
And you ruined it. I have not gotten a text from Garrett since.
Dan
Garrett, sit for a bit.
Dr. Watkins
But I have, like, a little bit of, like, the President's Trophy thing. Like, is it, like, do you have too much success during the year? Like, do you not face enough adversity? Where then if you face any in the playoffs, well, then all of a sudden, this is, like, uncharted territory. Like, you think of all this. All the shit that Vegas has gone through the past season. Like, did that just prepare them for that?
Marty
I don't know.
Dr. Watkins
That's. That's not, like, a monumental take, but there's something to it.
Dan
I. Listen, it's enough of a thing where we got to talk about it, like, what? And I don't mean, like, right now, but the. I don't know what it is, because it's. It's. It's like, with Colorado, I could definitely hear the like, yeah, maybe they just were coast. They're not coasting, but they were cruising all year, and they're kind of like, dude, we're a fucking wagon. And then, yeah, they sweep LA and they have that crazy Game 1 against Minnesota, but then they're up 2, 0, lose 1, and then bank, and they're like, yeah, whatever, we're fine. So that could be it for sure. But then it's like, fuck me, man. How many times do we see, like, Boston loses in round one against Florida, and, you know, the Caps have lost multiple times with it. And it's. I don't know what it is because, like, I don't think it's just a lack of adversity. And I'm also not entirely sure it's, you know, you emptied the clip too much in the regular season. Because it's like, how many times do we say, postseason is a totally different game? So I don't think it's that, but it's something. I mean, it's weird.
Marty
Monty came on this past summer or whatever, but we were asking the cup easier, and he. And. And not everyone has exactly what I'm about to say, he said. But I do think it's a thing about the President Trophy. Monty said the expectations, when you are that good within the whole organization, are essentially like, you're going to the Cup. And it bleeds into, like, PR and stuff. Like, we have people coming up to us being like, hey, so for travel, for the cup, like, we need to figure out what interview, you know, like. And he's like, it's the first round. And all the chatter is like, blah, blah, blah. And obviously, the B's broke the record regular season that year, so it was. It was, you know, intensified.
Dr. Watkins
But that was a year we won, wasn't it? No, that wasn't 23.
Dan
It was. Oh, sorry. Yeah, I was thinking Kings. That was. That was the year you won. So.
Marty
But I hear that kind of happening if you're the President Trophy team, because you're like, we're nasty where we're expected to go, you know, like, it's just kind of in the room. It's like, we're going maybe less so in the conference finals. Like, at that point, you're like, all right, we. You know.
Dan
You know what's crazy about that, too? That Bruins team breaks that record, has that loss to Florida, and there's that. Everyone plays like, you asked that question, what are some of the greatest what ifs in hockey? And people show that freeze frame of the Martian breakaway. Because it was like, well, that was game seven.
Marty
No, it was game five, bro. It was going to be a five game.
Dan
Was that game.
Marty
Yes. Good day. You Guys, it was like, they're up 3:1, never won again heading into OT.
Dan
That's right. And he missed that breakaway. And the Bruins since then, I. I know it's only been a few years, but, like, they. They were the best team in the history of the league, and they haven't sniffed a cup run since. Yeah, like, it's. It's crazy how much that changed after that. Yeah, it was like. After that, it was like, and we're done here.
Marty
You stick.
Dan
I'm not saying that.
Marty
Yep.
CP Alec Martinez
I have a point that might make sense. Maybe the last team that was a President's Trophy winner that won the cup was the Blackhawks in 2013.
Dan
Is that right?
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
And that was a lockout shortened season.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. We only played 48 games.
Dan
Right. So it's like that was the bo. That was Boston losing.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, we lost to them in the conference final.
CP Alec Martinez
So is that. Is there something about the. The amount of games you're playing where you maintain the winning and then you get to the. The fucking playoffs and you're like, that's interesting. You know, I don't know, maybe there's something to it.
Dr. Watkins
Like, maybe that, like. And this is not anything about Colorado, but it's like the way to have success in the regular season isn't always the same as having success in playoffs because you hit, you know, you said like, oh, this is an entirely different animal.
Dan
Yeah, right. Definitely.
Dr. Watkins
So, like, yeah, you can win the President's Trophy and still win the cup because if you do the things the right way and that. But again, like, if I looked at Colorado, I'd be like, oh, well, they do things really well the right way. They're not like a. I don't know.
Dan
No, it's true.
Dr. Watkins
They earned it for a reason.
Dan
The president's trophy in 22 when Colorado won. I'll tell you, let me look at
Dr. Watkins
it,
Dan
because I didn't. Or I thought it might have been Colorado, but it was not. But who did they beat?
Marty
Oh, yeah, the Panthers.
Dan
Oh, that's right. Oh, yeah, it was the Panthers that year.
Marty
That's hilarious. With Huberto. Like, they were nasty.
Dan
They were disgusting. And they lost round one to Tampa, right?
Marty
Like, didn't they get rinsed by Tampa? And they're like, see you later.
Dan
And then right after that, everything changed.
Marty
They became the best team of all time. Huberto Weeks, dude. In 99, the Stars won the President's Trophy and the Cup. I don't know who won in 2000, but.01. Then the Avs won the President's Trophy and the cup, and then 02, the Wings won the President's Trophy and the Cup. So there was like a four year stretch where they were like, oh, yeah, just.
CP Alec Martinez
There you go.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
What about matchups? Like, if the Ducks win, do the AVS beat the Ducks and go to the cup final?
Marty
Yeah, I meant to ask someone that on the live. I'll ask you guys here. Do you think Minnesota would have played Vegas better or do you think they also would have been swept?
Dan
No, I don't think so. And God knows if Eric Sinek comes back.
Marty
True.
Dan
I. I don't. I feel like I look at the way Merle said it really well the other day, he was like, that's this series. Vegas, Colorado. And it was so surprising because Colorado is very much not a team that you would expect to do this. It did feel like men versus boys. Yeah. And no disrespect to Minnesota, but I look at the way Colorado beat Minnesota and I'm like, if Vegas just did this to Colorado, I feel like they would have done.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
The same thing to Minnesota.
Dr. Watkins
Talk about, I think you wouldn't be giving Vegas enough credit if you said that too, for being as good as they are. Does that make sense?
Marty
Yeah, it does.
Dan
Yeah, for sure it makes sense. And I mean, it's like, I know Cale was out a couple games and banged up, and then you have like the Quinn Hughes element, which is definitely an element. But talk about a group that's like, not really that familiar with this type of hockey yet versus right. Vegas, who is the most familiar with it. So, yeah, I don't think they would have put up a better fight, frankly.
Marty
I think that's probably right. I mean, Vegas is vibing right, dude.
Dan
They're truly firing on every cylinder that exists.
Dr. Watkins
Well, that's what someone asked me just the other day. And it's like the power of that belief, like, that's what you could. And that was part of the reason why I thought, like, after game three, it's like this team, I might have text you guys maybe after game two. It's like when you take two in their building, it's like all of a sudden that feeling creeps in and you're like, we can do this thing.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
You know, especially when everything, you know, the public or whatever was stacked, including
Marty
you three on me.
Dr. Watkins
Stacked against them. No, but it's like all of a sudden. And what Torch has done to help that team believe, it's like, it's. I don't know, it's just something that can't be underestimated. Like, you just have this group and the way that they won when everyone said that they couldn't and then they sweep. I mean, it's insane. It's insane. So, like. Yeah, that you can't underestimate the power of the belief in that room. And I think that's part of the reason why they're firing.
Dan
I agree. I, I, I got pretty fired up seeing how fired up Mitch was too when he was like. You see that after, when they were celebrating on this. Do you see this?
Marty
No. Oh, yeah.
Dan
They're like getting the trophy. And like, he kind of just like looked out at the stands and like, threw a fist bump and he was like, he was just pumped. He was like, let's go. And I was like, oh, yeah, dude. Like this. I, I genuinely feel like that was the first moment for him where he was like, oh, I'm about to play in the Stanley Cup Final. And I was like, that is fucking sick.
Dr. Watkins
He looked like Will Ferrell in Stepbrothers after he, like, he's got the, the toilet paper under his arm at Costco and he gives, like, he gives a fist bump, but he walks out. That's exactly what it looked like.
Dan
That is so good.
Dr. Watkins
But that's the thing.
Dan
Like, that's a big Will Ferrell episode.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, no, it is. Sorry, that's my fault.
Marty
No, no.
Dan
Now I'm thinking about Frank the Tank in Old School. At the end, he's like, yes, I'm fucking back, dude. That's genuinely everything that's going on right now. It's unbelievable, man. They're just, I mean, they are.
Marty
It's awesome.
Dan
Everything's going right for them. It's wild. I'm pumped for Mitch this Game four, nothing came.
Marty
Oh, well, let's take an ad break
Dan
if we're going to. Oh yeah, let's take an ad break.
Dr. Watkins
Am I reading this one?
Marty
Yep. You're up.
Dr. Watkins
Nope.
Marty
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Dan
Before we get into this game, are you open to input? I just took a glance down at your legs.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
I think you gotta moisturize on your legs a little bit more.
Marty
I don't have time. What do you mean? Dude, I barely have time to moisturize my face. Yeah, I can't also do my legs.
Dan
You're looking a little ashy down there.
Marty
Yeah, well, you know, actually not that bad.
Dan
A little bit.
CP Alec Martinez
Do you.
Dan
Here's a question for you.
Dr. Watkins
No. Come on.
Dan
You don't moisturize?
Dr. Watkins
No. My face, not the rest of my body. Do you? I just actually, my wife gives me a hard time.
Dan
The guy in the shower that you wash up here and you're like, the drip down wash. No, that's disgusting. There are people who do that.
Marty
Yes.
Dan
That was like a poll on the Internet a little while ago. And people were like, no, I do that. And I was like, so what?
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, we said somebody called the FBI. We'll call them on that.
Marty
Correct, Correct.
Dan
Correct. No, no. My question is because this happened to both of us. I have literally no hair on my legs where my skates are and down.
Marty
Oh, yeah. My skate rubs right here. So it's just like.
Dan
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Marty
Gone.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. Well, I wore bunga pads, so I had to.
Dan
Okay.
Dr. Watkins
So maybe that's why. Yeah, you saved it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And my last name is Martinez.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
Which helps.
Marty
Yep.
Dr. Watkins
Actually, yeah, I got hair there.
Marty
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
No, my wife gives me a hard time because she's like, will you please moisturize? Because I'm always. I'm like, hey, my back kind of itches. Will you scratch my back?
Dan
And she's.
Dr. Watkins
And she's like, you need lotion? I'm like, why Do. Why would I use lotion when I can just ask you to scratch my back?
CP Alec Martinez
She's the one who's going to have to put the lotion on. That's the thing that is.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
Like, either way, it's work. Yeah.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
I can't reach that anyway.
Dr. Watkins
I don't have the elbow or shoulder mobility to get my back.
Marty
Yeah, right.
Dr. Watkins
Like, this is most. I can bend my elbow.
Dan
Yeah, you're. There's no chance you're.
Dr. Watkins
I'm hooked.
Dan
Yeah. You're like, I'm gonna need three more.
Marty
You want me to lotion my back? Dude, who's paying for the surgery?
Dr. Watkins
I squirted all over the shower wall. Just bear.
Marty
Just like, grizzly bear it. She needs to make you a lotion wall.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Dan
She's a scratching post for a cat.
Dr. Watkins
It's great.
Marty
Go roll around.
Dan
All right, let's get into this game, for the love of God.
Dr. Watkins
Riveting combo.
Dan
This game was. We actually had this morning, this series. I never know what to expect every game to game this. I did not expect this game. This was such a fucking snooze festival. Thrilling for the Canes, but we were talking about it. Those three goals went in, and the. The game was over. Like, they could have called. They could have been like this. Yeah, right.
Marty
Yep.
Dan
You guys are done playing, and that's that. It was unbelievable.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. I saw those three, and it's like, all right, I'm gonna hop in the car.
Marty
Yeah, right. See you later. The Marty St. Louis said they will continue, so I'm not ruling them out. This is not.
Dan
No, no, of course.
Marty
By any means. I want to establish that there's fight left in those haps, but if Carolina rolls, is it almost like. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is montreal, to me, doesn't look like they're out of gas. Like, oh, we were. We were firing. We were playing better earlier, and now we're playing badly. I think they've run into an opponent who is making them look like.
Dan
I think it's a combo, but I'm gonna kick it to you because I think what you said was incredibly accurate.
Dr. Watkins
I think it's just the difference between playing eight games versus 14 in the first two rounds.
Marty
So. Yeah. So then it is.
Dr. Watkins
It is like, they don't look actively tired, but it's just. I mean, you play those hard, especially those game sevens.
Marty
I know.
Dr. Watkins
It's, like, grueling. Grueling.
Dan
Yep.
Dr. Watkins
And that's the. That's the difference. I see. But it's like, all right, well, Dovish has stood on his head. But then, you know, tonight, like, eventually that's going to catch up with you. You would think, right? Yeah, I don't know.
Marty
Yep. No, I mean, dude, the, the. This has been a. I would actually love to get this data for the whole league, but the Bruins were horrible at home. Buffalo was not good at home. Montreal has been horrible at home. Tampa was horrible at home. A lot of teams were. Have not been protecting home ice at all. And I think that'll be the one. If they go out, that'll be the one. Big regret the Habs have from this joyous run, by the way. They are like, wow, this was awesome. And we're in the Eastern Conference finals. All good, very bright future. I think they will look back on this and be like, damn, dude, we got killed in Montreal.
Dan
Yeah, well, I have an interesting take on that.
Marty
So.
Dan
I mean, when you said that to me, I was like, I completely agree. And I agree with you too. They don't look like they're just wrecked, but I mean you're looking at the simple puck battles. And like when we talked about they haven't passed 20 shots in three straight games. I didn't even know how many shots
Marty
they had in game one.
Dan
But. But I assume it was more than 20. It's a big part of it is what Carolina's doing to them to frustrate them. And it's like they're just winning so many 50, 50 battles and you have to assume that part of that is like this team went to war for two back to back seven game series and Carolina fucking square danced through two series and they're like, we got a little more gas than you. And it is nuts that Dobes gives up three goals in this game and he finishes with like a 9:2:9 save percentage. Like he stood on his head, he saved 40 and like there were so many breakaways, there were so many two on ones. There were so many almost breakaways or near breakaways for Carolina in this game. The puck dropped and it looked like Montreal was like, oh, like it's that. I think they thought the game was starting at 6:30 and it's or sorry for us West Coasters like, but they were just not ready to go in this game. And I think I said to both of you a while ago, if Montreal goes down 3:1, I still think that they can make it interesting because they're so scrappy. If they get gentlemen swept, it will be for the fans. Definitely a letdown. Especially after Game one, you got to assume that they were like, we can do this. I personally think if you go down in a gentleman's sweep, even if you go down in six, there's no. There would be no shame in that. But if you go down in a gentleman's sweep, I actually think the narrative will switch back to, oh, no, this Carolina team is different.
Marty
That's where I was headed with.
Dan
And it's like, dude, they were the number. What? We said it this morning. Like, they didn't have that many points less than Colorado. Like, this team was a fucking wagon all year. They were the best team in the East. They swept their round one and round two opponents, and now here you go. They figured it out two OT games in a row and then beat the shit out of you in this game. It's like you're kind of like, oh, fuck, man. They might. They.
Marty
They're good.
Dan
So, I mean, I don't know how many times we have to say it this. Even with this again, they're not out of it, but Montreal's so ahead of schedule. Yep. They're going to be good for so long, especially with doves. So it's like, I think they're fine. You're okay. I think more than okay.
Marty
Yeah. I hear that.
Dan
You're like, fuck, Carolina's sick.
Marty
I hear that.
Dan
Yeah.
Marty
I guess to. It's. The playoffs are tricky because especially between five and six, I feel like it's such a swing of reactions.
Dan
Yeah.
Marty
Losing in five, losing in six. It's like one game. It's like, oh, my God. And I do feel as though the. If the. The Habs fans put it that way, the Habs fans got very cocky and loud coming into this round. And then after that Game one. Yeah. They were like, we are. We'll fucking beat Colorado. You know, like, they were like, we're ready to go.
Dan
They got horny for sure.
Marty
Yeah, they were extremely horny.
Dan
Like, I don't. I don't know. I'm not sure I'm ready to call them cocky because at least the ones I've been interacting with online, they've been actually quite. They're like, oh, man, we're getting our teeth kicked in.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
But they got horrible before.
Marty
They were.
Dan
They were really horny.
Dr. Watkins
Good on them, too, though. I agree completely. Right. Ride the wave, Right? Yeah. This is a roller coaster.
Dan
It's been so long since they've been. I mean, the 21 Covid year, whatever. But, like, it's been a long time since they've been this competitive And I'm like, fucking get horned up, dude.
Marty
Yeah. Hell yeah. Why not?
Dan
Amazing.
Marty
Yeah. No, no. And that is important. You're right. Ride the wave. Ride the wave.
Dan
But it was.
Marty
This was. This was a very. This has been a big come down crash down to earth where I'm like, holy fuck. I heard on the. I don't know if you guys heard, they said the Habs because they lost Game 4 against Buffalo at home. They were up to one, lost Game 4, and then lost Game 6 at home to Buffalo, and then lost these two. That is the first time Montreal Canadiens lost four straight home playoff games in their franchise history. Wow.
Dr. Watkins
Oof.
Marty
That was, like, tough.
Dr. Watkins
Someone asked me this.
Dan
Crazy.
Dr. Watkins
Someone asked me this the other day and on. On Twitter, actually. And it's like the difference between a. Like a home game and a road game. Yeah. Like, there might be something to like you're on a business trip, you don't have distractions. You're with the boys the entire time. Like, you have a conference room, like your meal room, and that's where everyone hangs out. You got your meetings the night before. Like, you're really not doing much.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
And it's like when you're at home, there's like some distraction. Like in 12 and 14 and all of our playoff times, we didn't end up doing this in Vegas, but in la, we stayed downtown. They got us a hotel room the night before home games. So it was like, is there something to do with that? Where it's like, I don't know. They just wanted us to have our, like, get a good night's sleep. They didn't want kids to be keeping them up and like, things like that. And that sucks from a family standpoint. But, like, is there something to be said about that?
Dan
Definitely.
Dr. Watkins
Where it's like, you go on the road, it's like, all right, it's business. But then at home, you just naturally have different distractions.
Marty
Right.
Dr. Watkins
Of just life. Yeah. Right.
Dan
We talked about it with the Kings this year. They saved Jimmy's job four or five times this year on road trips. They would be at home, lose three in a row, and it'd be like, oh. People started talking about gym and then they'd go on a four game road trip and go 4 0. Because they're just like dialed on the road. And they were like, this is crazy. I think it's totally a thing. Summer camp. You talk about it all the time. When you're on the road with the boys, it's. There's so much camaraderie and I agree. You're almost more dialed on the road because it's like you don't have your usual comforts that you do have at home and your normal spots. You're always talking, everyone being like, where are you guys going to get food? Like, when are you napping? And it's like, everyone's synced up, dude. You're cycling, you're on the same period. It's great.
Marty
So true.
Dan
It's actually, you know, like, you just get in a rhythm. I think the road. Road rhythm is so real. And I do wonder sometimes in a city like Montreal with how intense it is, and. And I mean that in a good way, and how raucous the fans are. And when they play Coldplay in that barn, it's so electric. There is, as the home team, there's. There's, I think, probably a little bit of pressure. There's so many distractions there. Like, I could see that being a thing, for sure.
Marty
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
There's also this, like, weird thing that you get, and this might be a little bit more in, like, regular season, but, like, if you're on that, like, I. I played out west the entire time. Even Chicago, we had. I mean, that travel was a little bit easier, but in Vegas and la, like, we would do those big eastern swings where you're like, you're gone, like, 12 days, 13 days, sometimes two weeks, and you play like seven or eight games or, you know, and it's like that first game when you come back home is such a trap game because you just naturally, like, you're like, ah, I'm home.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
And then so many times. And that was one thing, like, Darrell Sutter was always all over us about, because you, You. You have a good road trip, and then you come back and it's like, yeah, you're in your. You're sleeping in your own bed. You're, like, on the couch. You're doing all this stuff, and so you just naturally just relax. And then you.
Marty
You just get pumped.
Dr. Watkins
You just get pumped. The first. The first game back, all of our
Dan
gambling fans listening right now are taking out the Notebook and they're like, oh, my God.
Dr. Watkins
But maybe there's something to do with that, too.
Dan
Like, definitely.
Dr. Watkins
I mean, maybe not as much in the playoffs, but it is. It is a real thing to the point where, like, coaches acknowledge it and they're all over you about it. Yeah. Yeah.
Marty
Well, I mean, dude, it makes sense because the team you're playing is on their business. Like, they're on there, like, oh, I'm the Rangers, and I'm on my big west coast swing. And they're like, okay, here we go.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Dan
It's like, I know Buck Buffalo tried it and it didn't work, but, like, there is part of me with Carolina because I loved what Stoney said after they took care of business in that Game four. He was like, after the game talking about how, you know, yeah, this is a good team. They could get one, and we could, if let's say Colorado had won, we could be like, oh, yeah, we're fine. But we were kind of like, no, fuck that. Take care of business and just put them away. You've got to be feeling that way if you're Carolina.
Marty
Yes.
Dan
I think right now, for the first time in years in the Eastern Conference final, you are elated with where you are, but you don't want to breathe any life into the ghosts, and you don't want to breathe any life into the possibility. And there's. I'm, I'm genuinely wondering if, like, if I'm rada. I'm almost like, you're. You're all staying in a hotel.
Dr. Watkins
Where's your jacket, by the way?
Dan
You mean my Ghostbusters suit? Yeah, it's right there. Yeah, it's right over there.
Dr. Watkins
Okay.
Dan
And I, I, I didn't want to get. I didn't want to prematurely put on the suit here for them, dude.
Marty
Well, you bring up an interesting point that I hadn't considered. The Canes, obviously, they have all their Eastern Conference shit, but if the Canes were going to lose the series in seven, and it was like, they lose game one, they win game two, they lose game three, they win game four, they lose game five, they win game six. That's just, that's a good series, you know, and we lost. And honestly, there's a spin zone of, like, it was a fight, at least, you know, it didn't go down.03. Whatever, boys. Like, we're right on the doorstep. I know it's a nightmare, but you're still like, there's a narrative. If they lose now, it's. It's all of a sudden sucks horribly again, you know?
Dan
Like, you mean if that Carolina loses this series? Yeah, buddy.
Marty
You know what I mean?
Dan
Because, like, I've got for you, if they lose this series now, it's worse than anything that's ever happened, which, which sucks.
Marty
Which is kind of unfair because I go, dude, you're playing a really good team, and you had a seven game. It just, you know.
Dan
But, dude, life is not fair. So correct. I mean, that is. That is the funny double edged sword of this is like there is no. There will be no comfort or resting for the Carolina Hurricanes unless they win this year. Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
Imagine losing to a team that shoots three shots a game.
Dan
Yeah. Yeah, that would be tough. But yeah, I mean, I. It sounds weird to say. I think the only thing worse than losing, I mean if they had gone up 30 and then lost, that would
Marty
be worse than this.
Dan
But I think being up 3:1 and then losing is worse than getting swept. I swear to God.
Dr. Watkins
I would argue that it's actually worse because the way they lost game one.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
It's like, all right, well, we ended up losing this, but we didn't come out.
Marty
Yeah. We weren't even playing actually.
Dan
Great.
Dr. Watkins
So I think. I think it would be worse to
Dan
do it this way.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, do it this way.
Dan
This is the worst case scenario.
Marty
That's what I mean.
CP Alec Martinez
So things are. We've determined things are terrible for the Canes right now. Is that. Is that what we're saying for both sides?
Marty
No. Truly.
CP Alec Martinez
No. But both teams are in Hess and
Dan
I am telling you, it's like it is genuine hell. Because if they go home, think about how fired up those lunatic Canes fans are going to be if Montreal scores first. Definitely. They're going to be like, oh my God. Like that's. I'm like, this is a fucking nightmare. Then you have to go back to Montreal.
Marty
Yeah. But at least maybe they suck at
Dan
the best stinks at all.
Dr. Watkins
I think like a team like this though, like with their history in this playoffs, like, you cannot give the habs.
Dan
Exactly.
Dr. Watkins
You cannot.
Dan
No, not because they're so scrapped.
Dr. Watkins
They can win a game with. With getting 12 shots.
Dan
Yeah.
Marty
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
And it's like, I can't give any of these guys no. Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
And.
Dan
But. And I will say huge, huge for this game was a ho. Scoring, scoring again. We talked about this morning. I mean, I called out aho. I was like, I mean, we talked about it earlier. It was like, you got to get going, buddy. Like, you got and beautiful goal. And that was. I look at that. If I'm Montreal and it's like, ah, who scores? Stank scores.
Marty
You're kind of like, Freddie has another shutter.
Dan
Just an insane dish from Ehlers on that first goal. That stall goal was beautiful. I don't know how Miller found him. Yeah, like, that was just. That was such a great example of Jordan stalls so strong.
Marty
Dude. I don't even know how he got
Dan
his stick on it, but I get and key too. I mean like, he was like, I think he's gonna have his. He's gonna stay there and just like feathered one right on it.
Dr. Watkins
He's hard to play against.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
Really?
Dr. Watkins
He's a big ball. Like, there's certain guys in the league that as a defenseman, you know, like, listen, if this guy parks in front, like, I'm not moving him.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Like I have to work around this guy. Like hurdles kind of the same way, you know, like barbershop. Yeah. And it's like I'm. I'm gonna try to get on this guy's hip and if a shot comes this way, maybe, maybe I can give him like a little bit of a shot and use my. But it's like, what am I going to do? Try to push this guy out from the front. Like, it's just not happening. It's like Holmstrom back in the day. Like, you just got to deal with it.
Marty
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, and he's, he's a. That was a little. The only time I actually thought Montreal was going to make a push was after that heroic. A minute 45. Five on three kill. And that was a little wire cross from Phil. What are you doing?
CP Alec Martinez
Crazy. Wait, who took the penal on that? 5 on.
Dan
I was like, yeah, he on Stall.
CP Alec Martinez
Ross, check Stall's head. I was going to ask you, Marty. Like, there, there was a shot where he. It was like a close up shot where he was hitting Stall in the head. And Stall's kind of saying he wasn't even angry. He was like, almost like. He was like, come on, man. Like, what do you say when somebody's like ramming their stick? But he's not angry. He's almost like, what are you doing?
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, it, it's like you disappointed your grandpa.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
You know, like, I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed. Which is so much worse.
Dan
Like, that's also a guy that you're like, you. Phil probably did that and he's probably like, sorry. Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Honestly, like, yeah, that's. Sorry, man.
CP Alec Martinez
Like, he wasn't even mad. He was just like.
Dan
It's like that old clip. You remember that clip where back in the day habs bees. PK like cross checks Birgi in the back and they're down. Birgi was miked in the game and they're down on the ice and Bergy literally just turns around and goes, come on, man, don't do that. And then PK turns back and he goes, oh, dude, I thought you were Marshy.
Dr. Watkins
So, like, that happened to me in the. In the conference final against Montreal when Ty was there.
Marty
Oh, no way.
Dr. Watkins
He cross checked me so hard in the back and I'm like, come on, man. I was in your wedding.
Dan
You're my. I'm your pal.
Dr. Watkins
Hey, I thought we were friends. I know. I mean, I know there's no friends out there, but it's like, man, come on. I'll never forget that.
Dan
And then.
Marty
Did he say anything?
Dr. Watkins
He didn't. I can't remember. We're going to have to get him on here and talk. Like, I can't remember. Maybe. I think he might have said sorry, like in the handshake line because that was like, game. Was that like game two? I can't remember which one, but it was like significantly later.
Marty
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
And like the first thing he said,
Marty
I don't know about that.
Dr. Watkins
Like, hey, sorry about that cross check. At this point, I just like, I'm so pissed that we lost kidneys.
CP Alec Martinez
Thank you.
Dan
Yeah. Seriously, my L5 is not happy. I do think this game went about
Dr. Watkins
as
Dan
good and comfortable for Carolina as it possibly could.
Marty
Dude, they did the thing that I've been bitching about where they went up 3 0. And then I'm like, well, everybody plays differently now. And here comes the other team and they were just like, they weren't. They didn't even keep scoring. They just suffocated you.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Marty
And I was like, oh, my God.
Dan
And like we keep saying, like, if we're. If we're doing the spin zone for Montreal, I mean, doves that this game could have been nine.
Marty
Nothing.
Dan
Yeah, like they had a lot of chances after three. Nothing. Like they had six.
Marty
Six chances.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah.
Dan
Yeah. They had five on three. He's a stud, man. This isn't a flash in the pan. This is not a. Like, oh, may. Maybe we got something like, this is a. Give this guy a seven year deal immediately. Like, this is your goalie for the next 10 years.
CP Alec Martinez
Montreal on the stop signs they have stickers that say do be.
Dan
Yeah, yeah, they're coming up.
Marty
That's awesome. That is awesome.
Dan
That's amazing. So, I mean, that's great. He's, you know, he gave up three, but he's playing great still. But Carolina, you get a shutter from Freddy. Aho scores. Stank scores. I mean, this was just great. And I know it's an empty net, but you like Svetch finally.
Marty
Exactly. Dude.
Dan
I know.
Dr. Watkins
It's not like floodgates keep them coming.
Dan
Svetch gets another one.
Dr. Watkins
Guys start feeling Good about that stuff. Obviously they feel good because they've been winning, but when you're having personal success, too, and it starts going in, that makes it a big difference.
Dan
If Carolina. Friday night. Friday night, yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
Was today Wednesday? Yeah.
Dan
Yeah, it'll be Friday. If Carolina takes care of business. Do you think it. Because it felt like, frankly, after game three, everyone was like, I don't even care. Comes out of the East. Vegas is just too good. Do you think if Carolina takes care of Montreal in five, that will change a little bit of the. Like, hey, I don't know. These are now two very good teams.
Marty
I mean, I think what I said this morning was Carolina. Dan made a comment comparing the Knights run to the Knicks run. And I was like, well, the difference is the Knicks presumably have, like, the Thunder waiting for them who are the heavy favorite, and we're like the 1 seed all year. And I was like, vegas doesn't really have that. They're going to be the favorite. But then I was like, actually, Carolina is the one. No, and maybe not against Carolina. Like, Carolina is the 113th.1 seed who is like you. I'm not the favorite. That's what I'm saying.
Dan
So I was like, I think there's as much as we all dog. Not me, but the world Dogs. Carolina. Oh, you can't get past. If you get past the Eastern Conference final against a very fucking good team in five, I think that is going to make everyone take a bit of medicine and be like, that might have been there.
Marty
It might.
Dan
Might have been the monkey off the back.
Marty
Or it might have been their cup, though. Like, they might have been. Yes. Like, everything. We just have to win this round. And then they get home. Home. Like, this is their road trip. And then they come home and the cop.
Dan
We're going to see them over the weekend running down the streets with the
Marty
Prince of Wales, like, exactly like Vegas is like, oh, my God. Okay, that's a good question. Let's take an ad break and then we'll be right back.
Dan
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Marty
As you all know, Dan and I are now hosting Stanley Cup Live. And that means we have to be on all day. We have to be on our game. And the first place that starts is with our hydration. And I'm telling you, Liquid IV is the only sugar free hydration product on the market that is clinically demonstrated to hydrate faster than water alone. And it's so easy, it's so convenient. That's my favorite part about it. It's easy to bring. We're gonna be flying all over the place. It fits in my carry on, but it fits in your gym bag. You can bring it with your work lunch. It's awesome. And, and it's, it's so, it's so good because they've got the hydration multiplier, sugar free. It's designed to keep you hydrated for marathon days, which we are going to have when we're on set, which is amazing. And the benefits are just so awesome. It helps me recharge. It even helps me recharge my social battery. Just not, not even just my hydration alone.
Dan
Alone.
Marty
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Dan
It's not over.
Marty
It's not over.
Dan
But I was, to be clear, it's not over.
Marty
It's not over. But I was enjoying the Marner thing too. I was like, man, that's so sick that this is happening for this guy. And I think if you're a hockey fan, unless you're a very disgruntled Leafs fan, I gotta believe you're happy about this because it's cool. He's one of the best players in our game and I'm glad he's getting to shine. But it's been cool to see some guys on this Carolina team like Keandre and Ehlers, where I'm like, man, man, this must feel sick, you know, because it's, it's awesome. You guys had some. How far did you guys go that first year? You got to Vegas conference finals.
Dr. Watkins
That was the bubble year. So yeah, we made. We lost at Dallas in the right.
Marty
So you got like a tape, you know, you're like, holy shit. But. And then it was like, blah, blah, blah, and then you get through. But it must be cool when you first get to a new team where you go, oh man, okay, new team. I haven't really dealt with this in my career or whatever. And then you're just like, bang, like, we're nasty. We might win it all.
Dr. Watkins
Well, it's also like, like when you go to a team like that, then oftentimes a team had to pay you or they gave up something and you want like, as a player, you want to win. You want to win, but you also want to validate, like they put that trust in you, like their management and all that. Like, you want to validate their decision. So you're like, I mean, obviously you want to win, you want to play for your teammates, you want to play for the fans, you want to do right by the city, like all that stuff.
Marty
But I'm in the trade. Like, I was like, you want to be the guy that you're like, we got the side of this.
Dr. Watkins
It's like when I was traded for two second round picks and it's like, they better suck. Like if those two picks turn into Connor McDavid, I'm like, oh, damn it.
Dan
You know, it's a great question. Do you know who those picks are?
Dr. Watkins
Yeah. Leah Anderson and then Jordan Spence. Yeah, that's awesome. I think, don't quote me on that, but I think someone told me that like when I was at the Kings game, couple, whatever. Yeah, I don't know. A month ago. That's a month ago.
CP Alec Martinez
I don't know.
Marty
Yeah, I have no idea. Time is.
Dan
But yeah, I was actually just looking at a tweet that we had after it was about a little over two weeks ago that Minnesota lost and I was like, fuck, that's such a brutal way for Minnesota to go out. There's just no stopping this ABS team. They're going straight to the Cup. Whoops.
Marty
Yeah, right?
Dan
Whoops. Fucking A. Wow, that's funny.
Marty
Oh, that. Yeah, yeah, that. Yeah, so, but no, I totally hear that, dude. And, and also specifically look at those two I just named. I mean, holy. The jets and the Rangers are horrible. And they're like, we're going.
Dan
You know what, man? I feel I the, the ricochet shot this is going to be at Rangers fan. I have a long standing beef with the Rangers.
Dr. Watkins
Oh, they don't like me either.
Dan
Oh, really?
Dr. Watkins
Oh, yeah.
Marty
More justified.
Dan
I say. Really?
Dr. Watkins
I still, I still get, get death threats.
Dan
Yeah. Yeah. It's actually the amount of say, dude,
Dr. Watkins
this is like over 10 years.
Dan
The amount of comments that we've been seeing on all of the episodes that are like, stop making me like Alec Martinez. And we're like, yeah, I get it, dude. Hold on, hold on. I, I, because I was about to bring up when that trade happened, I was like this, I was like, he is going to be so good with Carolina and so many bitter Rangers fans were like, he's going to suck after this many times. And blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And he's just like, so good for this team. And I'm like, yeah, you were wrong about that one.
Marty
Okay, so. Yeah, that is correct, Dan and the Ers one, you. Obviously, I didn't. I did not see the jets thing coming. And they got hot late. But just like the jets season went to hell in a way that a lot of people predicted.
Dan
I did see that coming.
Marty
We all picked them to make playoffs.
Dan
Yes. But I. If you remember, I picked them to be. I. I think I might have picked them a wild card team. Interesting. Because I. Dude, I. I just. I was like, I think the things that they lost are way worse than people think.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
But I could have never predicted the heli.
Marty
Injury as it was.
Dr. Watkins
Didn't they win the president's draft two years ago?
Dan
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then there was like, the whole like, can Hellebuck win? Thing. And they just barely eeked by. By the blues. And then they got clapped in the second round. And then Halley won a gold medal.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
So suck it, everybody.
Dr. Watkins
Good Michigan boy.
Dan
Yeah.
Marty
Yes.
Dan
Now he's getting traded to Buffalo.
Marty
God.
Dr. Watkins
For Owen Power.
Marty
God. Perfect, dude. Perfect.
Dr. Watkins
I was singing the same thing. Oh, yeah.
Dan
It's a great turn.
Dr. Watkins
You just pissed off the entire upstate New York.
Dan
Everyone in Buffalo is asleep, dude. And they just, like, their antennas just went up.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
Like, are they talking about Owen Power?
Dr. Watkins
Some guys crushing a Ted's hot dog for breakfast and it just spikes the thing on the ground.
Marty
And then here was the other thing I wanted to say. I saw. And there's a part of this tweet that's unfair, but I saw a tweet that said something like, oof. More. Another two shitty conference finals for the NHL. They get all these great rounds, and then the conference finals are bloodbaths. And the point of the tweet was this. And the reason the tweet's slightly unfair is the Western Conference final was a snooze fest, but in reverse. Like, everyone. Like, if the abs had swept, you'd be like, yeah, of course. Like the. Yeah.
Dan
See, like, we get less hockey, but. But there's a part of me that's like, that Western Conference final was electric because we were all like, holy shit, what is happening?
Marty
Exactly. Which is why it's kind of unfair. But this. The point of the tweet that I was trying to make, which I think is cool. Cause Every time people get mad about the lack of 18 format, they're mad about the early rounds, they're mad about, oh, it's Colorado, Dallas in the first round. This sucks. But the reason it actually sucks is. Cause it forces you into, like, whoever comes out of the Pacific side, whoever comes out of the Central side plays in the conference finals, where it would be cooler if it was just like it should. And again, it happened in reverse. But when the Pacific's so weak, if the abs had just crushed them, you'd be like, yeah, this. You did this to yourself, NHL. You know what I mean? Like, I think that's why people want 18 back. But what do you guys think about that, like, conference finals lately? Because I do kind of feel like we get more sweeps there than maybe the other rounds. And I don't know why that is unless it's this format.
Dan
Yeah, I mean, it's a, It's a good observation by you, but I go back to what you just said. This sweep happened in the exact opposite that we thought. So I'm kind of like. I mean, I don't know, man. I think it's just how teams play each other. It's, it's. I, I, I have come around to. If I were setting up the, the playoff structure, I wouldn't do it this way, but I, I don't think it's a bit.
Marty
I don't mind it.
Dan
I don't mind it. I think I would switch it, but
Marty
I don't mind it.
Dan
I trust Gary with my life.
Marty
Life.
Dan
And it's like the, you know, it. Sometimes we're getting matchups that I wouldn't have expected to get, and that's kind of fun.
Marty
What's the last, like, Tilt Conference final we've had? If you can think of it off
Dr. Watkins
the top, I've got one.
Dan
Okay.
Dr. Watkins
It was us in Chicago.
Marty
Yeah, but, but though that's a while. That's what I mean. Like, the ones I can think of are. Because there are, There are Hammer ones, like, just like that. But I'm like, Like Bruins, Tampa. The year the bees won, like, seven game or one game seven. I'm like, oh, those are amazing.
Dan
In 23, when they lost to. You played who in the conference final? Carolina. And swept them.
Marty
Yeah, they swept Carolina.
Dr. Watkins
Oh, yeah.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Ours with Dallas that year was pretty good. What did we. Did we win in game six?
Marty
Six.
Dr. Watkins
But the first two went into ot.
Marty
Yeah. Okay.
Dan
That was a good one.
Dr. Watkins
Howden scored one in ot, I think Game two. I can't remember who Scored Jack made a sick pass to. Was it Barbashev?
Dan
Yep.
Dr. Watkins
It's like from behind the net this backhand play. Maybe that was a game tire last year.
Dan
Edmonton clapped Dallas.
Marty
All right, here we go.
Dr. Watkins
Dude.
Dan
Right.
Marty
Conference finals last year. Four one, four one. The year before. Four, two, four two.
Dan
Those are both good.
Marty
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
But six game.
Dan
Yeah, six is good.
CP Alec Martinez
Good.
Dan
One game away from perfect. Like.
Marty
Well, no, I'm looking for perfect. 4244 24042. Okay. Here you go. Tampa. Tampa Islanders 20214 3.
Dan
That one's holy. That I remember that. Islanders team crazy. That is right. I totally forgot about that.
Marty
And 4241.
Dan
4240.
Marty
Oh, here you go. Good one caps. You have the caps one caps beat Tampa in seven.
Dan
Yep. That was a four battle.
Marty
But that was Vegas four one over. Over jets.
Dan
Yeah.
Marty
So, yeah, see, you know, it's. I'm asking a lot, but it's like you'd love some. Some seven gamers in the conference final.
Dr. Watkins
For sure. The other thing too. And I thought I saw something and I just looked it up, but they said that there was 2.1 million viewers at game one in the Western Conference final.
Marty
Wow.
Dr. Watkins
And that's like the most ever for a Western guy since. Since 2018.
Marty
Yeah. There you go.
Dr. Watkins
Like I thought, well, I don't know. I'm a Vegas guy, so it's like.
Dan
No, I mean my buddies. Game one of the Eastern was crazy viewership too.
Dr. Watkins
I thought it was great series though.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
I know Abs Fans aren't thinking. But in terms of quality of hockey.
Marty
Yeah, totally.
Dan
And like that Game three was electric. Game four was electric. And it's like I stand by a sweep is. You know, we got robbed of three more games of hockey. Sure. But. But I think a surprising sweep. It's an upset like that. That was fun to watch. Yeah. I think everyone tuned into those games because they were like, holy. Is Vegas going to do this? Yeah, that was in itself a cool. Yeah. I mean. Sorry. We are murdering Colorado fans right now because they were like, those were the four worst moments of my life. And I'm like, Yep.
Marty
Sorry, dude. 2015, Tampa over the Rangers fourth in seven and Hawks over the Ducks in seven.
Dan
That was the per year.
Marty
Perfect year.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Marty
God, that's awesome. Okay.
Dr. Watkins
Like, will people only be happy if all four rounds go seven games?
Marty
Dude, I want every series to go seven. The whole. Every. Every game. Every series. Automatic seven.
Dan
I am. We always joke when we. Especially in the final, when we start Traveling. And it's like we're just flying commercial, like peasants and just dying. I'm always like, I hope they sweep. I hope every Cup Final is a sweep so I can just go. And people are like, are you kidding me?
Dr. Watkins
I think I told that story when I was on the first time.
Marty
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
You're like, yeah, we obviously want to win the Stanley cup, but, God, we just don't want to hop on another airplane.
Marty
Yeah, because we were talking about, keep
Dr. Watkins
me off this curve. Like, I don't want. My parents are texting me that. Will you just finish it off already? Like, we don't want to do this. Like, all the families are going back and forth.
Dan
Yeah, dude. In 20.
Dr. Watkins
So we're only that. That easy, right?
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
In 23, when we got back for. What fucking game was that? Five. You guys wanted five. In 23, when we got back to Vegas for game five, we were being like, if you sons of bitches don't win this, I'm gonna go out on the ice and kill all you guys. Because we were like, well, that's a
Dr. Watkins
story Jack tells, too. Like, Phil was all pissed, dude.
Marty
That was. We talked about this, but that was so sick. I talked about, in the context of you being like, how do you manage your emotions when you're up that big in a game? Right? And you told that awesome story with the coach, but the. For us, it was awesome because I was like, please just win today. And then it was like, go, go, go. We were like, yes. It's just like an absolute party in second period.
Dan
I mean, you guys couldn't have known this, but, like, this isn't breaking news now, but it's, like, about an hour or two before the game, we just, like, caught wind through various people that Matty was, like. His sternum was shattered and, like, couldn't get out of bed. And we were like,
Dr. Watkins
yeah, we had heard that, too.
Dan
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I believe it.
Dr. Watkins
That was. That was Kolasar, right?
Dan
Oh, dude, he ran through him like a train. That was such a hard hit.
Dr. Watkins
Coley hits hard. Yeah, dude.
Marty
But remember, I think it was Matthew hit Jack. Jack on a toefect. But, like, remember that? Yeah, dude, I was.
Dr. Watkins
I had to jump in on that one.
Dan
Really?
Dr. Watkins
Yeah, bro.
Marty
I was. This is gonna make me sound like such a. But I was so tired at that game. Like, we'd just been running around. I was literally, like, exhausted. Dude.
Dr. Watkins
Dude.
Marty
So we were. And, dude, we don't get seats. Like, I have a media pass, right? But I'm not. I don't have a seat. So a lot of the game, we're just wandering around, you know, I'm, like, finding vantage points, whatever.
Dr. Watkins
Standing.
Dan
Yeah, exactly.
Marty
It's exhausting. I'm just on my feet. We've been running around Vegas. I can't remember which game that was, but I was so, so legitimately exhausted. I walked in. I was up on the suite level, but I walked out. Just. I was, like, doing laps up there, and I found just a little table and there was some TVs or whatever, and I literally was just like. Like, I was like, I might take a nap, but I obviously am not going to do that. But I was sitting there like this, and I was watching the game on the TV. And those TVs, like, every rank are like five seconds behind. And, dude, I just heard the loudest crowd reaction. But the puck was so far from being a goal that I was like, what? Like, something's about to happen. And then I kind of saw Jack, like, wheeling around, and I just knew. I was like, oh, something horrible is about to happen.
Dan
Happened.
Dr. Watkins
That was like, in the second period, right? Yeah, I remember. It was right inside the blue line.
Dan
Yeah, yeah.
Marty
And I was like, oh, my God, dude, that was crazy. We talked about it when he came on where he was like. I kind of was. He was like. I just was up the Windock. I was scared because of that, you know?
Dr. Watkins
And he saw him coming at, like, the very last second, which it almost looked like he. He didn't correct.
Dan
Yeah.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Marty
That was crazy, dude. Yeah. Yeah. Right?
Dan
Have you guys. Just because you brought up Coley. Have you seen this? The absurd amount of players from the 2015 draft that are on this Vegas team. No, it's in the 2015 draft. This Vegas team has the number two pick, Jack Eichel. The number four pick, Mitch Marner. The number five pick, Noah Hannifin. Whoa.
Marty
That's already crazy. Crazy.
Dan
And then they have the number 52 pick, Jeremy Lauzon. Number 53 pick, Rasmus Anderson. And I'm pretty sure Coley's in that sec. Or no. The number 69 pick, Keegan Kolasar. The number 76 pick, Aiden Hill. Like, it's. It's crazy. It's crazy amount of strong year.
Marty
Yeah. Yeah. Having two. Having two, four, five is going to
Dan
be insane when they trade for McDavid this year. Yeah. Come on. Holy. Oh, it's unbelievable.
Marty
Well, listen, Cabs dead or what? What do you think?
Dr. Watkins
I don't know. I think. I think the Canes are rolling pretty good now. I Think it's. It's a tough one to come back against that.
Marty
I've been trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Like every time this comes up I'm like, the habs are. To get one. There's too much.
Dan
But they're scrappy. I know they're scrappy.
Marty
They hang around.
Dan
It's like I. Another sub 20 shot performance. I think that I just saw a stat before I closed my laptop. This is the. It's the least amount of shots over a three game span in NHL Stanley cup playoff history. They look. I don't want to say beaten down. They just look gassed. Yep. And Carolina feels like they are coming into their own.
Dr. Watkins
They played twice as many games.
Dan
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dr. Watkins
That's a real thing.
Dan
It's a very real thing.
Marty
That's a factor.
Dan
I think it feels like Carolina's got it. It feels like they have. They are close to busting the ghost. They are close to completing the stream cross and taking care of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. And I am. I think that they can do it. But I. I do believe Montreal scrappy. I don't think they're going to go down without a fight.
Marty
Dude. The man. I can't remember where, but we met these two guys at a meet and greet. An empty nerds meet and greet. Father son from Alabama and they love Hawk.
Dr. Watkins
Was it Nick Dowd?
Marty
Yes. And his dad? Yeah, it was Nick and his dad. I was like, dude, you got to get out there. And they, they love hockey and they were on a. They're all currently on a mission to see a game at every barn and it's awesome.
CP Alec Martinez
That's awesome.
Dan
We've like run into them a few times.
Marty
Yeah. And they're like, they're.
Dr. Watkins
How far are they?
Marty
I think half.
Dan
Oh, over now.
Marty
Yeah. But like they're Hawking dude. In the same. They like and they pick sick games or whatever. They have game six Bell center tickets. So I gotta take the five to get the Bama Boys.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Marty
A playoff game at the Bell Center. That's because that would be numbies.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah.
Dan
That would be.
Dr. Watkins
That's just people helping people. Just for good thing. Yeah. Root for good things.
CP Alec Martinez
Get that. Get that message to the Habs right now. Maybe they'll give him some motivation. Score a little more. Just shoot a little more.
Marty
Right.
Dan
Shoot.
Dr. Watkins
All right, boys, hear me out. There's two guys from Alabama.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah. We know you wanted to win before,
Dan
but Marty Krieg was like this. All right, boys.
Marty
I got.
Dan
I got CP on the floor.
Marty
Yeah.
Dan
Like, what the.
Marty
Yeah, exactly.
Dr. Watkins
You think I'm. I'm going to do Wolf of Wall Street? Actually, there's two guys from Bama. Yeah.
Dan
Two guys from B. I'll tell you what.
Marty
But if they fucking come back and win this series, the Bama boys are going to every fucking game of the Stanley cup final, I promise you. Now they know for the price of
Dr. Watkins
on the house, they're lighting the torch in the final.
Dan
Yeah,
Dr. Watkins
you gotta get a second torch.
Marty
Absolutely correct. That is awesome.
CP Alec Martinez
I don't think they know any French. I'm willing to bet I don't know any French.
Dan
Hey, before we wrap up, Ev, congrats to you as well. Yep. Evgeny Malkin.
CP Alec Martinez
I am score.
Dan
He's.
Marty
What do you score?
Dan
It was really funny, you know, he
Marty
says he's like, I come back one more year.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah, no, it's cool. And apparently he's got like a crazy bonus situation where he does. If they make the.
Dan
I think you can make up to nine mil.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah. He makes like a million dollars if they make the playoffs. And for every round of, like, you know, half.
Marty
Does that not hit the cap?
Dr. Watkins
Is that how that it does the following year?
Marty
Oh, interesting.
Dr. Watkins
Yeah.
Dan
Yeah. Okay.
Marty
So, yeah, I mean, dude, that's how they should have done it. I actually thought 5.5 was a little more than I thought.
Dr. Watkins
But you can only get those if you're after or if you're older than 35.
Marty
Oh, cool.
CP Alec Martinez
It's the weird thing about being a Penguins fan right now is it's kind of like. It's like, you know when you, like, go to the sphere and you're like, hey, we're gonna watch the Eagles do like all their greatest hits.
Marty
Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
I think that's what like, going to a Penguins game is going to be like now, where it's like, remember the good old days. They're still here, they're still playing. Guys. Let's just be appreciative that they're still going.
Marty
Absolutely.
CP Alec Martinez
Because they're not. Seriously, I don't think going to be a contender with this core. They will have a good team, but I think they're just trying to sell tickets and God bless them, because it's. Once those guys are gone, it's gonna be. It's gonna be the dark ages.
Marty
I know, but it was weird that they made it this year. Like, they were. They were better.
CP Alec Martinez
Yeah, they were unexpectedly.
Dan
Yeah.
CP Alec Martinez
But still gotta have said fucked over by the flyers.
Marty
Yeah, that did. That was unpleasant.
Dan
Which you have to ask yourself was it worth it?
CP Alec Martinez
No.
Dr. Watkins
This is.
CP Alec Martinez
I'm telling you, Pittsburgh media people were like, I would rather not make the playoffs than get swept by the. Or not swept, but beat by the fucking Flyers. So. But, yeah, but of course I love Gino. He's a legend. And if those guys want to play until they're 50 years old, whatever, It's. It's great.
Dan
That's great.
Dr. Watkins
Bring yogurt back.
CP Alec Martinez
Bring yogurt.
Dr. Watkins
Dude, how deep can we go with this?
Dan
Yeah, he would sign, too.
Marty
Oh.
Dan
If they offered him a contract, he'd be like this. Oh, yeah, tomorrow.
CP Alec Martinez
Great.
Dan
I bet he would score 30, too.
Dr. Watkins
He probably would. Yeah.
Dan
30 goals, two assists. Yes. It'd be great. All right, that's it for this episode. Marty, thanks for coming on and driving down here. It's great.
Marty
Enters after door.
Dan
Enjoy your first night off of playoff hockey since the beginning of playoffs. Yeah, kind of.
CP Alec Martinez
Oh, really?
Dan
Yeah. No game tomorrow or tonight as you're listening to this. So rest up, get ready for Friday. We'll see you then.
Marty
Skate hard.
In this lively episode, the Empty Netters crew welcomes Stanley Cup champ Alec Martinez to break down the latest NHL Conference Finals action. At the heart of the discussion: the Carolina Hurricanes stand poised on the brink of finally banishing their Conference Final "ghosts." The crew dives deep into the ongoing series, the Canes’ dominance, Colorado’s early elimination, playoff narratives, the President's Trophy curse, and memorable personal insight from Martinez’s time on the ice. The tone is punchy, irreverent, and locker-room real, blending sharp hockey analysis with the boys’ signature blend of inside stories, friendly roast sessions, and the type of chemistry only ex-teammates can bring.
Vegas Advances: The hosts dissect Vegas’ shocking sweep of Colorado, highlighting the Golden Knights’ depth, belief, and ability to “win every game.”
Colorado’s Collapse: The Avalanche’s disappointing exit sparks a debate on the psychological burden of the President's Trophy.
The President’s Trophy Jinx: The group reviews historical examples, pondering why regular season dominance rarely translates to playoff success and referencing Jim Montgomery's off-air insights on organizational expectations.
Postseason Pressure: Alec Martinez points out the compressed 2013 Blackhawks season as perhaps the only recent exception, linking the grind of the regular season to playoff fatigue.
On Restaurant Volume:
"If I'm sitting in a restaurant…raising my voice so you can hear me—drives me fucking insane." – Dan (03:00)
On Being a Regular:
"I'm so obsessed with becoming a regular somewhere where…the entire staff knows me, and they're like, what's up, Dan?' Like, same booth, same order. – Dan (08:07)
On President's Trophy Curse:
"That is one of the most staggering playoff exits I've seen in a long time from a team as talented as we all thought they were." – Marty (15:22)
"Is it, like, do you have too much success during the year? Like, do you not face enough adversity?" – Dr. Watkins (16:14)
On the Canes’ Game 4:
"Those three goals went in, and the game was over. Like, they could have called it." – Dan (29:03)
On Playoff Fatigue:
"Difference between playing eight games versus fourteen in the first two rounds—doesn’t look like they’re out of gas, they just ran into a different team." – Dr. Watkins (29:45)
On Carolina's Mindset:
"You cannot give the Habs…any life. They can win a game with 12 shots." – Dr. Watkins (41:48)
On Aho Stepping Up:
"Huge for this game was Aho. I called him out…beautiful goal…if I'm Montreal…Aho scores, Stank scores, you're kind of like [shoulders droop]." – Dan (42:16)
On Dober’s Emergence:
"This is your goalie for the next ten years. Give this guy a seven-year deal immediately." – Dan (45:59)
On Penguins Nostalgia:
"It's like going to the Sphere and you're like, hey—let's watch the Eagles' greatest hits. That’s what Penguins games are gonna be like now." – Alec Martinez (69:01)
The Empty Netters squad, joined by Alec Martinez, brings high-level hockey analysis with an everyman, beer-league touch. The episode oscillates from vivid lifestyle digressions (dining, being a "regular") to deeply competitive playoff breakdowns, weaving in humor and candid on-ice perspective. Key recurring motifs include the weight of expectation (President’s Trophy curse), the realities of playoff grind, the intangible value of locker-room belief, and the relief/momentum of teams like Carolina on the verge of exorcising playoff demons.
The banter about locker-room oddities, NHL folklore, and fan rituals gives the episode its warmth, while candid behind-the-scenes insight keeps fans locked in for hockey wisdom (with more than a few belly laughs along the way). The emotional whiplash of modern playoffs—where momentum, pressure, and past failures all swirl together—comes to life, making this a must-listen for fans invested in the Canes’ potential breakthrough and the chaos of Cup season.
Next Up: The hosts will be watching to see if Carolina can cross the finish line—or if there’s one last twist in a wild playoff year. As always: "Skate hard."