The Flyers End Crosby’s Season and Malkin’s Penguins Career

Summary

Empty Netters Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode Title: The Flyers End Crosby’s Season and Malkin’s Penguins Career
Date: April 30, 2026
Podcast: Empty Netters Podcast (Almost Friday Media)
Hosts: Dan Powers, Chris Powers, Dr. Watkins

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Episode Overview

This episode breaks down the key happenings, heartbreaks, and future implications following the Philadelphia Flyers’ upset win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, ending both Sidney Crosby’s season and—potentially—Evgeni Malkin’s Penguins career. The hosts—Dan and Chris Powers, with Dr. Watkins—bring candid analysis, banter, and emotional reactions to the end of a hockey era, dive deep into the cap implications for the Pens, and preview what these playoffs mean for aging stars, contract negotiations, and the improbable Flyers’ playoff run. Later, they cover the Montreal Canadiens grabbing a series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning (“Sleepy Bolts”) and provide a real-time watch-along with live reactions to the double overtime thriller between Vegas and Utah.

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Section 1: The End of an Era in Pittsburgh

Key Discussion Points and Insights

• Malkin’s Future / Contract Situation
  • Dr. Watkins is drinking in memory of Geno: “Let’s pour one out for Geno.” [01:38]
  • Malkin’s contract is up, and speculation ramps up: “Geno might not come back.” [01:50]
  • Clarification: Malkin said he wants to return, not leave. Chris jokes: “He said all of that except the reverse of it.” [02:26]
  • Cap implication: His $6.1 million comes off the books, but the Pens still have old contracts and little immediate hope for a quick rebuild.
• Latang & Aging Core
  • Latang’s three-year deal at 39 called “crazy” [02:51]; team is “already an old team” [04:16].
  • The importance of Crosby, Malkin, and Latang staying together is stressed: “Unless you get rid of Crosby, you’re never going to really have a rebuild.” [11:10]
  • Repeated assertion: Crosby wants to play with them, and that affects all big decisions.
• Goaltending Decisions
  • Debate over starting AHL standout Shelob—whether it was “one game too late” (Chris: “You would have literally won this series…” [06:33])—and the overall lack of risk-taking in Pittsburgh’s approach.
• Series Post-Mortem
  • Penguins were “the third in the NHL in goals for” but went out with a whimper [06:06].
  • Losing to Philly in six, getting “dragged into a Philly mud pit” [07:56], and doubled down on by the Flyers fans’ taunts.

Notable Quotes

• “Geno might not come back.” — Dr. Watkins [01:50]
• “Unless you get rid of Crosby, you’re never going to really have a rebuild.” — Dr. Watkins [11:10]
• “If the Penguins can still make playoffs with those two, then fine. I have no issue with it.” — Chris Powers [11:57]
• “He is still the second best player on this team.” — Dan Powers, on Malkin [12:49]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:35] — Lamenting the Penguins’ elimination, pouring one out for Malkin
• [02:51] — Discussion of Latang's contract and approaching team cap/roster challenges
• [06:06] — “Whimper” exit: Despite being high scoring, the offense faded
• [11:10] — The “Big Three” (Crosby, Malkin, Latang) likely to end careers as Penguins

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Section 2: Flyers Upset and the Meaning for Both Franchises

Flyers’ Grit and Unexpected Heroes

• Philly “dragged [the Penguins] into the fucking mud” [07:56], winning ugly but effective playoff hockey.
• Flyers’ playoff win on home ice—their first since 2012—is celebrated as “very cool” and meaningful [17:08].
• Team effort: nine Flyers had three or more points in the series, but no one was over a point per game. Ristolainen shockingly led in points: “I have no idea how you got that.” — Dan to Chris on picking Risto [22:01]
• Cam York’s “attempted murder” stick throw into the crowd after the win—memorable and “insane” moment [27:12].

Insights & Reactions

• Series Path: Flyers' win was “not how I expected Philly to beat them.” Points to committee scoring and mud-wrestling style [23:18].
• Philly’s Playoff Identity: “They’re playing talkie, and that’s great to see… they wrestled [Pittsburgh] and won.” — Dan [23:18]
• Outlook: “If Philly loses the series in three, they don’t care. Invaluable experience for those guys.” [24:26]
• Fans’ Attitude: “We are hummed in four, and I don’t even care.” — Flyers fan text [24:24]
• House Money: Both teams played with nothing to lose, but the Penguins, as a 2-seed, ultimately had higher expectations [20:30].

Notable Quotes

• “That was the one fucking bear trap they fell into.” — Dr. Watkins [07:53]
• “What a run by the Flyers to make playoffs. Pretty much all my Flyers fan friends were saying, house money, house money.” — Chris Powers [19:58]
• “This Utah team is just fun as fuck.” — Chris Powers (bridging into later discussion) [57:38]

Timestamps

• [07:56] — Penguins “dragged into the mud”
• [16:59] — Flyers' first home ice playoff series win since 2012
• [22:01] — Ristolainen’s surprise scoring lead
• [27:12] — Cam York’s wild stick-throw celebration

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Section 3: Around the NHL Playoffs

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (“Sleepy Bolts”)

Key Insights

• Tampa’s struggles and “sleepwalking”:
  • “I am calling Tampa Bay the sleepy bolts in this game. Sleepy, sleepy bolts.” — Dan Powers [31:56]
  • Multiple mental lapses led to goals: “They were asleep at the wheel three times and it cost them.” [32:06]
  • Losing key battles, Braden Point is ineffective—“He better be dead… his worst season in a long time.” [32:55–34:47], playing through injury.
  • Vasilevskiy’s Vezina-level play now inconsistent: “If there’s just a couple ones that you wish didn’t go in, it’s hard to not talk about that.” — Chris [40:38]
• Montreal capitalizes on secondary scoring:
  • “Doc makes his presence felt… that line’s been great.” [47:04]
  • Montreal’s top line (Caufield/Suzuki) not scoring much but leading in points; the hosts note the remarkable depth scoring [48:21].
  • Stat: Tampa hasn’t led much all series—“You haven’t had a lead in this series. Literally.” — Chris [46:50]

Notable Quotes

• “That is fucking staggering.” — Chris, on Vasilevskiy’s 6-15 playoff record since the 2022 Cup [41:54]
• “If Tampa’s big dogs wake up, I think they will win two in a row. If Montreal’s big dogs wake up, they will win this year.” — Dan [49:37]

Key Timestamps

• [31:56] — “Sleepy Bolts” and quick goals against
• [34:47] — Braden Point’s struggles
• [40:38] — Vasilevskiy’s performance under scrutiny
• [48:21] — Montreal’s top line and depth scoring

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Section 4: Live Reactions — Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth

Key Discussion Points

• Series Drama: Continual back-and-forth; both teams “never out of it.”
  • "Vegas continues to be dead and then not dead. They continue to battle."—Dan Powers [58:17]
• Dorofeyev’s Redemption: Benched in Game 4 (despite being the leading Vegas scorer in the regular season), comes back with a hat trick in Game 5, nearly hits four goals in OT [63:41].
• Mitch Marner Watch: Marner, now in Vegas, still has not scored a goal in the series, raising speculation about his impact and confidence [65:22].
  • “You are too good to be not playing at your best.” — Dan Powers on Marner [68:25]
• Double Overtime Finish: Hosts react live to a Brett Howden shorthanded OT goal, with Marner assisting on the board play to dig the puck out.
  • “That was a great play. He helped dig that puck out. Great pressure in there in the corner. Gets it. Allows Howden to get that puck. And fucking beautiful.” — Dan Powers [72:21]
• Utah’s Resilience: Despite back-breaking losses, hosts feel “Utah Mammoth have won game six in Utah… We’re going seven.” — Chris [74:14]

Memorable Moments

• Stick toss insanity: “Cam York… threw a katana blade into the stand.” — Dan [27:32]
• Media Day flashback: Chris recounts Shea Theodore’s stone-faced reaction to a joke about never getting an early summer thanks to Vegas’ deep runs [61:32].
• Banter on how losing feels as a player: Would you rather be eliminated at home or on the road? ("I almost like the flight of just like one more hang with the fellas." — Chris [18:10])

Key Timestamps

• [58:17] — Vegas “never dead,” comeback drama
• [63:41] — Dorofeyev’s playoff hat trick
• [65:22] — Marner’s post-Toronto playoff struggles
• [70:20] — Howden’s OT shorthanded winner live reaction
• [74:14] — Utah predicted to force Game 7

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Section 5: Notable Quotes & Humor

• “This Utah team is just fun as fuck.” — Chris Powers [57:38]
• “Dragged into the fucking mud… that was the one fucking bear trap they fell into.” — Dr. Watkins [07:49, 07:56]
• “What an insane game that was for Vladar.” — Dan Powers [26:52]
• “Cam York… threw a katana blade into the stand.” — Dan Powers [27:32]
• “I am calling Tampa Bay the sleepy bolts.” — Dan Powers [31:56]
• “The Flyers. Oh. And as a pit fan, very much would rather have lost the game… than force the game seven and be one step away from the reverse sweep.” — Chris Powers [18:41]

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Section 6: Flow, Tone, and Closing

True to the Empty Netters’ style, the episode blends analytical breakdowns with irreverent humor, regional digs (e.g., the “Pitt” vs “the ‘burg” debate [08:15]), and behind-the-scenes hockey culture. There are no punches pulled in criticizing teams or players for mental lapses or contract drama, but the pod is fueled by nostalgia, hockey love, and the perspective of former players-turned-beer leaguers who value locker-room camaraderie as highly as cup runs. Advertisements and extended live banter are omitted here. The episode closes with a plea for ratings, YouTube subscriptions, and a Friday night signoff: "Skate hard."

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Quick Reference: Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 01:35 | Pouring one out for Malkin; Pens’ elimination | | 06:06 | Penguins’ high offense fizzles out | | 16:59 | Flyers’ first home ice series win since 2012 | | 22:01 | Flyers’ unique scoring leaderboard | | 27:12 | Cam York’s stick-throw celebration | | 31:56 | Tampa “Sleepy Bolts” critique and game analysis | | 63:41 | Dorofeyev redemption: playoff hat trick | | 70:20 | Double OT, Howden’s shorthanded OT winner for Vegas |

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For further humor, chemistry, and in-depth, uncensored hockey analysis, check out the full pod. This summary catches the essence, key moments, and quotes for easy catch-up on the episode’s themes and fireworks.

Transcript

[Dan Powers]

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast.

[Chris Powers]

Can you believe what this has become? There was a full 48 hours where

[Dr. Watkins]

I felt like I was like, literally Superman.

[Dan Powers]

Jumbo loves playing Fortnite. So does he.

[Chris Powers]

Gets on the sticks.

[Dan Powers]

Did TR show you the sauna cycle, or was that all you did?

[Chris Powers]

No, I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't taken a body check.

[Dan Powers]

That's kind of nice. So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep. Finished tonight with some chicken fingers and a few Guinnesses.

[Chris Powers]

Ran into you guys.

[Dan Powers]

And that's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready. And we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast, brought to you by BetMGM. It is late yet again. We got the Vegas, Utah game on. Vegas just died at four to four. I'm your host, Dan Powers. Dr. Watkins, back in the studio. And this big bag of shit to

[Chris Powers]

my left, Chris Powers, as always.

[Dan Powers]

We both got funky sweatshirts on.

[Chris Powers]

I know. That was actually really funny.

[Dan Powers]

We were spending too much time together.

[Chris Powers]

I walked in, I was like, what?

[Dr. Watkins]

You guys look like you're about to yell at somebody for surfing in their beach.

[Dan Powers]

Really? I feel like mine's more of a stuff.

[Chris Powers]

Don't hassle me. I'm local.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

I feel like mine's more of a ski vibe. Yours is definitely a surf vibe.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, but I got it for ski.

[Dan Powers]

Hey, ski surf, brah.

[Chris Powers]

Ski surf.

[Dan Powers]

I'm so tired. But that's what it takes, dude. That's. That's. That's what it takes to grind.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

All these guys are grinding.

[Chris Powers]

That's playoff hockey, Dan. That's fucking playoff hockey.

[Dan Powers]

All these guys are grinding. Every. All the fans are grinding.

[Dr. Watkins]

And here we are.

[Dan Powers]

We're heading into OT while we do this episode, but we got three games to cover. Dr. Watkins, I'm really proud of you for being here to celebrate your funeral of your penguins who are dead as fuck.

[Dr. Watkins]

Guys.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, my God.

[Chris Powers]

Wow.

[Dr. Watkins]

Let's pour one out for Geno.

[Dan Powers]

He's got a. He's pouring himself a glass of Evan Watkins.

[Chris Powers]

Little glass of ev.

[Dan Powers]

She just did a real shot.

[Chris Powers]

He had to. For Geno. He deserves that.

[Dr. Watkins]

Geno might not come back.

[Chris Powers]

Gino deserves that.

[Dan Powers]

Do you think so? Oh, Dan, I don't know. Kenny Malkin had 61 points in 56 games this year.

[Chris Powers]

He said that he would never play for the Penguins again. That.

[Dr. Watkins]

He said. He. He said.

[Dan Powers]

He said he hated it as just throwing.

[Dr. Watkins]

I'm fucking drunk already. Do you guys want. I have two other cups if you guys.

[Dan Powers]

You couldn't fucking pay me to drink alcohol right now.

[Dr. Watkins]

You're tired.

[Dan Powers]

I'm so tight. I'm so wiped.

[Chris Powers]

I'm a Gino said, I don't want to be here. I don't want to be a part of the team and I don't want to be retired. In Pittsburgh, they're not even. That's his quote.

[Dan Powers]

That is not true.

[Chris Powers]

He said all of that except the reverse of it. He said, I want to be here. I want to be here next year. I want to be retired.

[Dan Powers]

You did. You did a reverse.

[Chris Powers]

I did not reverse quote. I thought he had said though, because he's up. He's a free agent, right?

[Dan Powers]

Yes. I'm on it. I'm on it. I'm on it. I'm on it.

[Chris Powers]

I believe.

[Dan Powers]

I thought he signed. No. Yeah, he's up this year. 6.1 mil off the books maybe.

[Chris Powers]

I was just a reporter.

[Dan Powers]

I was talking to Nate the other day, our other graphics guy. Nate, who's also a Pens fan. They gave Tanger a three year deal with a niful no move starting when he has this year, next year and the year after that. All at 6.1. Tanger is 39 years old. And that is a crazy contract to have given that man.

[Dr. Watkins]

And he's been a bit of a liability this season.

[Dan Powers]

But you know what's exciting is Carlson and his 10 mil. Next year is the last year of that deal. Someone would eat half.

[Chris Powers]

This coming season is the last year.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, someone could take half of that.

[Chris Powers]

That is what. Even though he has been better lately, he's been great.

[Dan Powers]

I think he's really out of there.

[Dr. Watkins]

He didn't like Sullivan.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, but I mean, how much space do they have?

[Dan Powers]

Carlson had 66 points this year in 75 games.

[Chris Powers]

I mean, that's.

[Dan Powers]

And 15 goals.

[Chris Powers]

That's wonderful.

[Dan Powers]

He's phenomenal. And if they're missing playoffs next year, I would definitely.

[Chris Powers]

Why?

[Dan Powers]

I said if.

[Chris Powers]

But why would they.

[Dan Powers]

I don't know, dude. A lot of people picked them to miss playoffs this year. No one saw them finishing second.

[Chris Powers]

But they weren't aware about the muse. They didn't know the muse was coming.

[Dan Powers]

It's true. They currently have 10 mil in cap space. They're gonna have six available with Geno's off the books.

[Chris Powers]

And they can give him two.

[Dan Powers]

And they've got. But they've got a lot of stuff like Hazy's off the books. Mantha. Is off the book. And they're gonna lose, man.

[Chris Powers]

Dude, But Hazy actually, I Could see

[Dan Powers]

them bringing Mantha back.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, he did well. But he's gonna try to get a lot of money. I don't know if they need to spend it because he is older and we're already an old team. I wouldn't do it.

[Dan Powers]

Mantha is only 31, but he is about to sign a five year deal

[Chris Powers]

and for probably too much. Even though Nate. Which one of you or Nate sent that hilarious text that was like, Mantha just lost so much money this season.

[Dr. Watkins]

Nate sent it. Cause he didn't. He produced so much in the regular.

[Chris Powers]

Dude. He had one of the things that

[Dr. Watkins]

he didn't do fucking shit in the playoffs.

[Chris Powers]

It was crazy. It was fucking crazy.

[Dan Powers]

But unfortunately, Clifton's off the books.

[Chris Powers]

Unfortunately for some.

[Dan Powers]

Skinner's off the books. Shelob needs to be signed.

[Chris Powers]

Shelob needs to be given 10 by 10. Somebody pay Shelob the spider. And you do.

[Dan Powers]

You do assume that the Penguins probably go into next year because they've got this great prospect signing. They've.

[Chris Powers]

They're.

[Dan Powers]

They're signing she loves as like you are the starter next year and that you probably want to coach up the guy.

[Chris Powers]

But that kid has only been in the AHL.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. I mean, he's like 12.

[Chris Powers]

Right, right. I'm just saying sometimes it's hard to

[Dan Powers]

be like, I think putting Sergey Miroshov is 22.

[Chris Powers]

It's. It's a little risky. Unless this kid is truly fucking dope. It is hard to put. I know, but just no NHL experience. It's hard to go, hey, she lob you are.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, no.

[Chris Powers]

I think.

[Dan Powers]

I think. I think you probably signed Stu too.

[Chris Powers]

Okay.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, I. Yeah, but we just. I mean, look, we just got our asses handed to us by a team that had no experience either. So it's like I always would go youth over experience at this point because look where we're at.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. For.

[Dan Powers]

For a team that was so good offensively this year, I. I thought they went out with a bit of a whimper in this game. Like I kind of needed them. The Pittsburgh Penguins were third in the NHL in goals four.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

By only eight. Isn't that crazy? Colorado had 298 goals for this year and Carolina had 291. And Pittsburgh had 290.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. Okay, so that's a fair point. But I was going to say I. The hot take coming. The problem with going down 3, 0 is there is no room for error. And I said, on one of those

[Dan Powers]

lives, we went Secret Secret Service consequences.

[Chris Powers]

I said, on one of those lives, there Was you guys went to Shelob one game too late. If you had gone to Shelob when you went down 2 0, you would have literally won this series, probably in seven, but you would have literally won this series. Then you would have been able to go back to Skinner in the next round, and you would have got three shutouts against the can and beat them, and then everyone would have gone, what the fuck is happening? But you waited one game too long, and it cost you everything. I think the Penguins were better in game I can't quite remember what I thought in game three, but the Penguins were the better team in game four. They were the better team in game five, and they were the better team in game six. For me, they just lost it because Veldar made 40 fucking whatever saves.

[Dr. Watkins]

It's like you said, there's no room for error.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dr. Watkins]

If it wasn't an elimination game, you go, oh, well, it's overtime. Let's go to the next one.

[Chris Powers]

And you go, whatever. Shelob was more money. We have no issue here. But you bring up a reasonable point where I'm like, yeah, but Vadar did have two shutters in a playoff series against gh and LIDAR isn't bad. But, like, if you were the fourth highest or third highest, whatever you said, leading goal scoring team, you can't get shuttered twice by Vladar.

[Dan Powers]

And you did you. You went into this series not afraid of Lar.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

You were like, philly might be scrappy. You didn't expect to get shuttied by Darth Vader.

[Dr. Watkins]

They also. They also got dragged into the fucking mud.

[Chris Powers]

Yes.

[Dr. Watkins]

As I warned and knew they would.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, yeah.

[Dr. Watkins]

And they did.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, yeah.

[Dr. Watkins]

That was the one fucking bear trap they fell into.

[Dan Powers]

They. They got dragged into a Philly fucking mud pit. I was also informed today on Twitter by lovely Pittsburgh fans that maybe it's the spelling, but apparently people from Pittsburgh don't appreciate Pittsburgh being referred to as Pitt.

[Dr. Watkins]

I mean, yeah, it's true. They call it, like, the burger. They call it the burger. Yeah. Pitt is like. They don't really say that very much back home.

[Chris Powers]

Fuck off, dude.

[Dr. Watkins]

What?

[Chris Powers]

Are you fucking insane?

[Dan Powers]

No, there's a good. There's a good reason. There's a good reason.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, my God.

[Dan Powers]

There's a good reason.

[Chris Powers]

We don't prefer mass. I'm not down with mass. We prefer chusets. You want to talk to me? We're called chusets. Fuck you.

[Dan Powers]

Such a bug.

[Chris Powers]

That's insane.

[Dan Powers]

No, there's a good reason. It's apparently the school Pitt P I T T is like, that's the college.

[Chris Powers]

So they're like, if anyone. If you're ever. If you ever say Pitt, they go, they couldn't be talking about. They couldn't be talking about the city. They gotta be talking about specifically.

[Dr. Watkins]

He's just the messenger.

[Dan Powers]

I'm not. I'm not a yinzer.

[Chris Powers]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

I don't know.

[Dr. Watkins]

A. You guys call it pet. Yeah, I'm gonna come after you.

[Dan Powers]

That's what I'm saying.

[Dr. Watkins]

All right, dude, that Crosby's my God.

[Chris Powers]

Takes I've ever heard in my life.

[Dan Powers]

Well, don't you think it's like, people from San Francisco who are like, it's not San Fran, bro.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, Armin got me on that one.

[Chris Powers]

I also make fun of them, though. I'm like, shut up, dude. That is insane. San Fran is an awesomely cool nickname.

[Dr. Watkins]

Have we buried the lead? Have we even. Have we even mentioned that the Penguins have been eliminated?

[Chris Powers]

Flyers won? Okay, Crosby's out. Malkin's on the fucking Panthers. All right, announcement. Malkin signs with the Panthers for two years. Let's get that over with. Boom. Done.

[Dan Powers]

I. In what world? People are already posting. They're like, is this it for the Big three? Is this it for the big three? Why would you.

[Chris Powers]

There was a report. I thought it was literally Geno, but there was a report before the season that said Gino has played his last game as a penguin.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, but why? We've already been down this path. It happened like three years ago, remember? People were like, he's gone. It was when he signed his last deal. We posted that amazing meme of the iceberg separating and that one penguin being fucking almost missing. And then he ran and he jumped.

[Chris Powers]

What was the. What was his contract before this one?

[Dan Powers]

I don't know. You want me to look it up high? It was more than 6.1, I'll tell you that.

[Chris Powers]

What if he goes, I need 6.1 again?

[Dan Powers]

I would probably give it to him.

[Chris Powers]

Really?

[Dan Powers]

He just had 61 points in 56 games.

[Dr. Watkins]

He's in the final year.

[Dan Powers]

Do you have any idea how low 6.1 is now?

[Chris Powers]

Dude, I said this to you the other day, and you got so mad about someone not producing at 6.1, I was like, that is chump change.

[Dr. Watkins]

He's in the final year of a four year, 24.4 million contract.

[Dan Powers]

Evan, I just said it. 6.1, he's talking about.

[Chris Powers]

No, but I went. The contract before.

[Dr. Watkins]

No, I'm going to say exactly what you Say, Dan.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, Dan.

[Dr. Watkins]

I'm going to repeat what you say.

[Chris Powers]

The whole.

[Dr. Watkins]

Here's the thing. It's Sydney. This is a Sidney Crosby thing. He wants to play with Latang and Malkin and is. And unless they trade Crosby, they're going to be stuck with these two guys. Because above Dubas is Crosby at this point. And Dubas has done a great job. But like, we're kind of. Unless you get rid of Crosby, you're never going to really have a rebuild.

[Chris Powers]

Here's a question, for better or worse for both of you, I think. And dude, I have been banging the trade Crosby drum for the last. For the previous three years. But I have always said. And everyone who listens to the show will back me. And for the new Pit to. For the new Berg fans listening today, don't say Pit. I want nothing more than Crosby to retire as a Penguin. If you are making playoffs, even if you're limping in, as long as he's in, then by all means, please God, don't trade him. It was the missed playoff act for three years in a row that I was like, I am not going to sit here and watch Sidney Crosby go out without playoff hockey for the last fucking six years of his life. So you're back in. All good. Keep him. That's fine. And if. If Crosby's going, you have to keep these two. And if the Penguin can still make playoffs with those two, then fine. I have no issue with it. Pay him what you got to pay him. All good. Now. My follow up though is if I'm Sid, I almost want to go Geno, dude, I need you to take fucking three like you probably will.

[Dr. Watkins]

But then I wonder they want to give him one. I think Geno wants two years. I think Dubas just wants to give him one. Yeah, I genuinely.

[Chris Powers]

Fine.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, no, I bet. I Bet he'll sign a 1. I bet it's going to be the same thing as Bergeron. One by three.

[Chris Powers]

That'd be great.

[Dan Powers]

And I don't think that's going to be a problem at all. I think my main point is I have no idea what anyone is talking about being like. It would behoove Pittsburgh to move away from this guy. I think that's insane.

[Chris Powers]

He had a good year.

[Dan Powers]

He had a great year.

[Chris Powers]

He did have a good year.

[Dan Powers]

Dude. If you look at this team, look in the playoffs, who was their leading scorer? Sid, five points after that. Raquel, four points after that. Chino three. Like, he was the third highest too, right? Three games, two goals. Two goals yeah, he was the third highest playoff performer on the team. He was the fifth highest point scorer on the team. And if you go do it by point per game, he was tied for first. He actually, in fact, I mean, no, he was tied for first with Sid. Like, I think he is. He is still the second best player on this team. In what world? And I think my big thing is even if. Let's say he wants 5, like that 5 million by one year, I don't think that's holding you back from signing anybody.

[Chris Powers]

No, not at all. Well, then you'd have five left, right?

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. To me, it's just like we talk about it every year. Who is available? No one gets. I haven't done that yet. I don't think that there's this big free agent available this summer that Pittsburgh is gonna miss out on if they give Geno a one year deal. So we can just end this conversation. You obviously bring Geno back. He's playing at a high level still. Sid wants him there. Tanger wants him there. We're done.

[Chris Powers]

I think it was the 68 games, 50 points dash 24 the year before that. Everyone said before this year even started, they said, oh, this is his last year. Geno's done, he's going to decline again and we don't need this and whatever. And then he shoved a 56 game. 61 point plus 13.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, I think now that they. Now that they did. I mean, we got fucking trunced by fucking Philly, which is painful for Penguins fans. But I think outplaying the expectations of just making the playoffs this year, I think that now their decision making is going to be on hold until they see what they look like next year. And if they get midway through the season and we're tanking, then it's, you know, real. But they might go to next year and say maybe we do just as good as we did last year.

[Chris Powers]

I don't know.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

So then my follow up to the contract thing was going to be, does Sid has one year left and that the 26, 27 season and then he's up again. Does he ever take less? He's been taking a million 8.7 discounts his whole career. Does he ever take less than 8.7

[Dan Powers]

literally no to go?

[Dr. Watkins]

No, he can't.

[Dan Powers]

Literally no.

[Dr. Watkins]

He can't do it.

[Dan Powers]

Like, I literally don't think he can. And also if I'm the Penguins, because I think Sid is going to be. I don't know, man. I don't ever see him being under a point per game.

[Chris Powers]

I genuinely, doubtfully ever.

[Dan Powers]

Like, I think he'll be 44 and he can still do this.

[Chris Powers]

It's actually rattling to me though, that he's been close the last couple years where I'm like, bro,

[Dan Powers]

I don't think so. I mean, he's literally been close, but I don't think it's rattling because I think he's just like, yeah, dude, I'm just doing what I do. Yeah. And it is.

[Chris Powers]

If it was ever. If it ever was in jeopardy, I handle my shit.

[Dan Powers]

So, I mean, I'm sorry. There's not much to talk about in this game. There's. Respectfully, it's a goalie matchup. It was a goalie matchup. I didn't think that there were any, like, crazy chances. I thought she Loves made an insane save on that great Tippett play. Tippett had a one where he crashed the net, tried to go across the crease, and it was just a classic wait out game. Like, she Loves just got his toe across in ot.

[Chris Powers]

No, it was in like the.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, it was like the second period, I think. And yeah, it's. It felt like a. A game that Philly was prepared to play.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, yeah, I see. Yep.

[Dan Powers]

I think that they. You're never counting on Vladar to have a shutout, but when it was tight, I think Philly was like, we'll play tight like this. You know, they weren't really sending anybody. No one was stretching. It was a kind of a chess match, feeling each other out. And then it ended up being a defensive and goalie battle.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

And by God, did they win?

[Chris Powers]

By God. Actually, I can't read this. I got a text from a Flyers fan buddy after the game. He was so fired up.

[Dan Powers]

Okay.

[Chris Powers]

And I was like, God, that is awesome.

[Dan Powers]

I have a lot to say about this Flyers team. And I have a lot to say about Cam York's attempted murder goal celebration. But otherwise, in the game specific, I have a lot to say about the series and this Flyers team. I don't have much to say about this game.

[Chris Powers]

To be honest. I really wanted to do the Malkin thing. We did that. Oh. I wanted to go to this Flyers first series win on home ice since 2012. That's cool.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, sorry. I heard that as playoff win. And I was like, no, no, that's very cool. That is very cool. That's a long time.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. You brought this up earlier, Evan.

[Dan Powers]

I will say this, Ev. I'm glad if Philly was going to win. I'm glad they Won it in this one and not in Pittsburgh.

[Dr. Watkins]

That was a question I was gonna ask you guys. I was like, if you're. If you're gonna be in an elimination game and get eliminated, would you rather do it at home in front of your own fans or away in front of the the other team? What would you. What would you like if you're the on the losing end?

[Chris Powers]

Honestly, I'd rather get eliminated on the road. And I know they're gonna be fucking raining. Everybody was birding but I'm just like all good. This is what I want. I like getting booed by the road fans. It's fine. It just disappointing my home fans. I don't need the like unless you're copey. And it was kind of cool. Yeah, like bye. I don't need that. Just like.

[Dan Powers]

I think there's something to be said about it being kind of not actually. Here's the big question. Would you prefer the flight with the boys getting bombed?

[Chris Powers]

I was about to say that.

[Dan Powers]

Or would you prefer the let's drive home. Let's go to our favorite pub and get bombed? Yeah, fuck.

[Chris Powers]

Both good. Both good options. I almost like the flight of just like one more hang with the fellas. Because not everyone comes to the box.

[Dan Powers]

I think when you get eliminated, you fucking better get your ass.

[Chris Powers]

Just not everyone does.

[Dan Powers]

I know, but not everyone drinks on the plane.

[Chris Powers]

But at least they're there. I'm just like this, what's up, bro? I start dapping every day.

[Dan Powers]

I think I'd prefer to be home. I think I'd prefer to be home and go to the fucking watering hole and drown myself.

[Chris Powers]

You do both. True. Do both. But Evan, I was going to say this. The Flyers. Oh.

[Dan Powers]

Oh.

[Chris Powers]

And as a pit fan, very much would rather have lost the game.

[Dr. Watkins]

You mean a Berg fan.

[Chris Powers]

Sorry. That's gonna be tough.

[Dr. Watkins]

Sorry.

[Chris Powers]

I'm kidding. Sorry. Very much rather get eliminated in game six than force the game seven and be one step away from the reverse week. I'm sure you're much happier you lost the night than come all the way back to Game 7 and then lose.

[Dr. Watkins]

Well, here's the thing. I have planned. I had plans with my wife on Saturday. So I'm glad I don't have to have that conversation.

[Dan Powers]

Can we have a serious conversation? It's playoffs. You gotta stop making plans with your wife.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, I agree.

[Dan Powers]

Dude, like, I'm sorry. Dude, like you have to tell the wife for the next month and a half there are no more plans. Yeah, because we're. You're Gonna be fucking sitting there.

[Dr. Watkins]

I got her tickets to the ballet. It's like a cliche. Tickets to the ballet in February for Valentine's.

[Dan Powers]

I hope she has a blast. Yeah, I hope she has a blast with her friend, because you are sitting with us two morons for the next month and a half.

[Chris Powers]

Dude, you guys seen that? I mean, it's like a long, repeated joke now, but there's that clip that's. Or it's like a Instagram post that's like, hey, got tickets to the Masters? You, like, won a Masters auction. And then my wedding landed on the same day, so if anyone's free that day, she's five, eight.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Dr. Watkins]

That's great.

[Chris Powers]

That's awesome. That's you. That's you for the next two months.

[Dr. Watkins]

It's Saturday night off.

[Chris Powers]

The funny thing about this series was it was so fun. What a run by the Flyers to make playoffs. Pretty much all my Flyers fan friends were saying, house money, house money. We're in the playoffs.

[Dan Powers]

Sorry, everyone. I keep yawning. I'm sorry.

[Chris Powers]

This was enough. It was easy to forget that. I felt like in a vacuum, the Penguins were also playing with house money because every. No one had them in the playoffs. So. Yeah, But I think ignoring the opponent, it was kind of like, well, whatever. It was cool to make playoffs. Once it was the Flyers, it ended up sucking.

[Dan Powers]

I think Dan's got it. I don't want to speak for you.

[Dr. Watkins]

Go ahead.

[Dan Powers]

But I think what you were about to get to. Yes, you're absolutely right about the Flyers. I kind of disagree with you, man. The Pens were too good all year long. And then being the 2 seed, I don't think you anymore have this excuse of, oh, it's house money. If you're the 2 seed, you're. I mean, you're the second best team in your division. That's no longer house money.

[Chris Powers]

Well, there's outliers, right? Like the Pacific. Yeah, they're horrible.

[Dan Powers]

That's an unfair outlier.

[Chris Powers]

I know, but I was just trying to see where the Pens were.

[Dr. Watkins]

I think there's more expectation on the Penguins just because they have more star power. I mean, they are older, but I think there's just more expectations for a guy like Crosby and Latang and Malka.

[Chris Powers]

Agree, agree. Good point. Very good point.

[Dr. Watkins]

You know, I mean, I know that they are not. Haven't. They have not been playing great lately, but.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. Okay, let's get into this Flyers team.

[Chris Powers]

Yes.

[Dan Powers]

They're playing talkie, and that's great to see. Very interesting thing. About this team. Ev, off the top of your head, you watched every second of the series.

[Chris Powers]

Almost.

[Dan Powers]

Who would you venture to guess had the most points on the Flyers in this series?

[Dr. Watkins]

Was it Connecty?

[Dan Powers]

Great guess. No, he was second.

[Dr. Watkins]

I bet it can't be Martone.

[Chris Powers]

Nope. Oh, but I bet he leads them in score now. I think he quieted down.

[Dr. Watkins]

He had two goals, right?

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. That was a crazy miss. It wasn't.

[Dan Powers]

He was tied for the lead in goals with two, which is also not a lot through six games.

[Chris Powers]

Ristalainen.

[Dan Powers]

Like I feel like Rasmus Wristallainen.

[Dr. Watkins]

Oh yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Hell yeah. CP Unbelievable Poll.

[Dan Powers]

I have no idea how you got that.

[Chris Powers]

I just felt like every time they would get a power play, it was like just. I was like, what is he doing up there? And then he would get a point.

[Dan Powers]

So there are nine guys on this roster with three or more points through six games. No one with point. Percent game. Yeah. Risto had five in six. This because of how good scoring the Pens were all year. This is not how I expected Philly to beat them. Yeah, showing this every game was kind of a battle, kind of a dog fight. Right. No one popped off. Zegras didn't have, you know, eight points in six games. Connect Knee didn't have eight points.

[Chris Powers]

What did Zegras do?

[Dan Powers]

Now that you say that Zegras was good. Four points, one goal, three assists.

[Chris Powers]

Okay, okay.

[Dan Powers]

You know Dvorak Couturier in a, you know, hybrid role playing fourth line, sometimes, playing second line sometimes. You know what I mean? He's kind of all over the place. Martone obviously had two goals, but like, that's your rookie. That's your, your, your surprise guy. But, you know, only three points. And that's great for him, but you know what I mean, this was very much a committee. It was, you know, everyone playing their part, getting on the score sheet. But this was not how I expected them to win.

[Chris Powers]

Agree.

[Dan Powers]

And it's kind of why I'm like, this is Taki. They're playing Rick Talk at hockey. They dragged a team into the fucking mud pit and they, they wrestled them and won. And I'm so curious. We're not doing our second round preview. I can't believe that tip didn't go by Logan Cooley. I am so curious if this Flyers hockey rough and tumble get in the shit is going to be effective against the Carolina Hurricanes.

[Chris Powers]

So this. Yeah, right.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, we're not doing that right now. But I am saying this way that they beat the question, that they beat the Pens Was very unexpected for me, and I do not believe that this can be effective against Carolina, but we will see.

[Chris Powers]

The same dude that texted me the text that I will keep between ourselves also texted me as we kept talking. He said, talking about this next round. He said, we are hummed in four, and I don't even care. And I actually think that is the attitude, and I'm not even sure that that's true. Like, maybe this. They are pesky.

[Dan Powers]

You want to talk about house money.

[Chris Powers]

Exactly.

[Dan Powers]

Dan could not agree with that more. If Philly get. If Philly loses the series in three.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

If they get too injured that they can't feel the team and they have to call it in three games, they don't care.

[Chris Powers]

Invaluable experience for those guys.

[Dan Powers]

Making the playoffs this year and getting all the way up to the three seed and drawing the Pens and beating them in six on home ice in over a decade.

[Chris Powers]

Sending Malkin to Florida.

[Dan Powers]

That is the definition of money in the playoffs. Whatever happens to Philly now they are

[Chris Powers]

laughing crazy, and what a run that is.

[Dr. Watkins]

I'm gonna bring up something that really pissed me off, though. There was halfway through the second period, there was an icing that Philadelphia committed, and there was gonna be a face off, you know, in their defensive end, and they pulled some fucking gamesmanship bullshit where, like, I think Konecki was like, oh, I got a skate error issue. And literally three minutes went by of them, like, hemming and hawing with the refs.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dr. Watkins]

And they didn't get a fucking delay game penalty. And I'm like, this is some bullshit, dude.

[Chris Powers]

I wasn't out yet. And you guys were tagging you. I saw you texting Nate, being like, this is delayed game. And I was like, God, I wonder what's happening.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, it's that. It was that. And I'm just like, that shit pisses me off.

[Dan Powers]

Veggies. Pads are so sick.

[Chris Powers]

Dude, I wanted to say this. I'm glad you brought this up, but this can be the last thing. There was a stretch where Porter has the miss right in ot, which was crazy, and I think he kind of got hit, but, like, Shelob, like, threw the stick down to throw the blocker at it, and then it hit the stick, and it was crazy. And Porter's on the bench literally going like this. He was like, oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I was like, dude, dude, it's okay.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, sorry.

[Chris Powers]

Well, just then you have this insane scramble. And then speaking of delay of game, Ev, I was kind of rattled because the Penguins Player, I forget who it was, blocks that shot in the slot and just goes down on it. And he's literally just going like this. And I was like, that's delay of game. But then people start digging at him and it's. And the ref's not blowing the whistle.

[Dr. Watkins]

This was the game winning goal. Yeah, yeah, that was.

[Chris Powers]

And then it squirts loose and I'm like, oh, fuck, the Fire's about to score. And then it's like, block, block, block, chaos. And a Penguins player just ices it. And I thought to myself, incredible icing. Sometimes just take the icing and then win a D zone draw. And it's okay even though your guys are tired. Cause they had a guy down. It was all chaos. And then literally, they lost that draw. Clean bangle.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

And I was like, oh, wow. That was not the right.

[Dr. Watkins]

Do not get the ice.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

I was like, oh, dude, that was insane.

[Dan Powers]

I don't want to move on before saying what an insane game that was for Vladar. I know we've mentioned it, but just like a great series B, great game. Let's just have a quick conversation before we move on to an AD break. Was that a completely unacceptable stick toss by Cam York?

[Chris Powers]

Oh, yeah. Thank you, dude. Thank you. That could have killed somebody.

[Dr. Watkins]

I need.

[Chris Powers]

Need the other angle of that. Like, we only get him throwing it towards Cam and it just disappears. And I go. I was like, dude, that swung mustard on it.

[Dan Powers]

He swung that thing like Indiana Jones's whip and launched it into the fucking 20th row, bro.

[Chris Powers]

Who got that?

[Dan Powers]

When you think there's no way that didn't semi hurt someone's hand.

[Chris Powers]

When you think stick throw, stick throw into crowd, what do you think of you personally?

[Dan Powers]

Butt end.

[Chris Powers]

No, I mean, I mean literal Mark Savard. Same. And it was so polite, you know, like clapped it. Clap, clap, clap. Coming at you.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, you gotta warn him.

[Dan Powers]

Ken York was like. Threw a katana blade into the stand.

[Chris Powers]

Javelin. Dude, that was fucking.

[Dan Powers]

Someone either got a great souvenir or a conkey.

[Chris Powers]

Those stick throws are tough too, because almost inevitably, two people get a hand on it. It's too big, you know, so then it's immediately like, yeah.

[Dr. Watkins]

And in Philadelphia, you know, they're definitely fighting each other to the fore.

[Dan Powers]

That gut torn limb from limb.

[Chris Powers]

That'd actually be fucking numbies. If you snapped it in half, you know that one half. I keep one half.

[Dan Powers]

That'd be nice. You know that scene in the Two Towers when the Uruk Hai cut the head off that goblin and he screams Meat's back on the menu, boys. And then you see a bunch of Uruk Hai disemboweling this guy, tearing him limb as they begin to eat him.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

I believe in Philly, that's what happens to a stick that goes in the sticks. Yeah, they snap that thing into a million.

[Dr. Watkins]

That's what happens when somebody drops a cheese steak on the floor.

[Chris Powers]

Okay, dude, I got a text from somebody today I could not believe just because it was so out of context, you know, it said this. Literally no prompt. I just got a text from somebody that said, there's two texts. The first text said, helm's Deep is so epic. And then the follow up says, makes our problems seem so insignificant. And I was like, wait, do you mean.

[Dan Powers]

Do you think Helm's Deep happened?

[Chris Powers]

I was like, do you mean the product, the movie production of Helm's Deep was so epic, the what those people went through to make that movie reads archaeologist.

[Dan Powers]

That person is literally thinking about the

[Chris Powers]

what the people of Helms Deep.

[Dan Powers]

The conflict going on for those in the battle of Helm's Deep. Dude, also, here's a big question for you. Do you think that person was watching the movie or just genuinely in that moment?

[Chris Powers]

They started thinking.

[Dr. Watkins]

It popped into their head.

[Dan Powers]

They just started thinking about the battle of Helm's Deep. And they were like that.

[Chris Powers]

Holy shit, that one.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, me too.

[Chris Powers]

I responded with, was this Andrew Chatsky? No. Who?

[Dan Powers]

Tell me who it was right now, lad.

[Chris Powers]

I responded with, I've never recovered from that Legolas Miss.

[Dan Powers]

This is the same man who got kidnapped in Puerto Rico.

[Dr. Watkins]

Does this guy ever text you and he's like, man, you know when you're like, sliding down the trunk of an elephant, shooting arrows into an orc.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, dude.

[Dan Powers]

Unbelievable.

[Chris Powers]

Last thing on that series. Shout out Irvine. Irv. Bang. My neighbor Irv.

[Dan Powers]

Huge, buddy.

[Chris Powers]

I was happy for him.

[Dan Powers]

You had. You. You had maybe two things you could have said to go into a last thing on that series, and you nailed

[Chris Powers]

one of them, so.

[Dan Powers]

Shout out.

[Chris Powers]

Shout out Irv. I'm so happy for him. Honestly, dude. And I'm sorry.

[Dan Powers]

All right, that was. No, that's enough. Let's. Let's take a quick ad. Break.

[Chris Powers]

Shout out Irv. Shout out Irv. All playoffs long BetMGM is turning every shot, every save, every sudden death thriller which I am currently watching as we speak. Vegas Mammoth OT game five. They're taking all of them and they're turning them into an even bigger deal with the Stanley cup playoffs. Odd boost token. All you have to do to get Involved with this is you log into your BetMGM account and then you pick an NHL wager to add to your bet slip. If you had Vegas Moneyline, you're still in play. If you had mammoth Moneyline, you're still in play. If you had score a fiab Hattie, you're already paid and it's incredible. But no matter what you bet on, all you have to do is activate the Stanley cup playoffs odds boost token. And then if that boosted bet hits, you get an even bigger payout, which is incredible. You are missing out. If you are not skating with the BETMGM crew just like we are, now is the time to jump in, jump on that ice, rip around with us. You use that bonus code, netters, that's N E T T E R s. When you sign up and you receive your welcome offer, you receive the odds boost token. You receive the hat trick jackpot. You get in on all the fun that we're having. You can chase empty netbets with us. Can you believe that? Get in on the BETMGM fund right now because BetMGM always makes it legendary.

[Dan Powers]

Montreal Canadiens take a three to two game series lead. And I am calling Tampa Bay the sleepy bolts in this game. Sleepy, sleepy bolts. You know why I'm calling them that?

[Chris Powers]

I don't know, because I don't think that.

[Dan Powers]

Dude, they were asleep all game.

[Chris Powers]

They're asleep at the switch, at the light switch.

[Dan Powers]

Game starts three minutes in.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, this is a good take goal. Yeah, I like it.

[Dan Powers]

Then they score in the second period, tie it up 11 seconds later, lose the lead, Kirby dot goal. And then third period starts, a minute and six seconds in goal. Sleepy Bolts. Dude, they were asleep at the wheel three times and it cost them.

[Chris Powers]

And Dan, that is literally leadership and coaching. Like the things that are happening in the locker room are coach going a speech and hey, here's the line going out and then the leadership in the group going, hey, this is what we need this period to get scored on right away and it shit happens. But to get scored on right away or to cough leads up that quickly multiple times in a game. Good take by you. Really good take.

[Dan Powers]

Good. Thank you. I also, dude, we've said this many times. One Braden Point better be hurt.

[Chris Powers]

Dude, he better be dead. Like they might have to go. Braden Point died pre Olympics. This is his clone, but obviously he's not. He's in appearance amazing, but he's not completely. Yeah, the brain isn't there, the hands aren't there. We're not advanced like that yet, but appearance perfect.

[Dr. Watkins]

Directed by Guillermo del Toro.

[Chris Powers]

Yes.

[Dan Powers]

Braden Point. I'm going to go to 20, 21.

[Chris Powers]

Okay. Okay.

[Dan Powers]

Actually, let's go before that. 20, 20. 66 games, 64 points. Actually, before that. 2019. 79 games, 92 points.

[Chris Powers]

Unbelievable season.

[Dan Powers]

66 games, 64 points.

[Chris Powers]

Pretty good season.

[Dan Powers]

56 games, two points less than point per game. You're saying is pretty good? Yep. That is. Dude, come on.

[Chris Powers]

Pretty good.

[Dan Powers]

That is insane.

[Chris Powers]

What is it then?

[Dan Powers]

A point per game season, in my opinion, is fantastic.

[Chris Powers]

Fantastic. We actually have had this debate before. You're wrong, but so am I. So let's come to some agreement.

[Dan Powers]

Point per game in the National Hockey League.

[Chris Powers]

Fanta. You are. You are destroying the integrity of the work.

[Dan Powers]

Is a great season.

[Chris Powers]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

If you can't agree that part three is great, you're a fucking idiot.

[Chris Powers]

I agree. Okay. Thank you. So the second one. Great.

[Dan Powers]

56 games, 48 points.

[Chris Powers]

Pretty good.

[Dan Powers]

That's acceptable. 66 games, 58 points.

[Chris Powers]

66, 58. Pretty good.

[Dan Powers]

82 games, 95 points.

[Chris Powers]

Fantastic.

[Dan Powers]

Thank you. 81 games, 90 points.

[Chris Powers]

Fantastic. But that's maybe being last year.

[Dan Powers]

77 games, 82 points, 42 goals.

[Chris Powers]

Very good.

[Dan Powers]

And then also in that stretch, you went 51 goals, 46 goals, 42 goals. This year, 63 games, 50 points, 18 goals. His worst season in a long time.

[Chris Powers]

How old is he?

[Dan Powers]

29.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, my God. These are the pivotal hours. These are the pivotal hours where you make or break your weekend.

[Dan Powers]

I think anyone in the Tampa Bay fan base, Tampa Bay organization will tell you Braden Point is very hurt.

[Chris Powers]

I think he would. Well, he won't tell you anything.

[Dan Powers]

I think Braden Point is very hurt.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. So they have a hurt point. They have a. They have a dead head and a

[Dan Powers]

hurt Braden Point in these playoffs, through five games, has one goal and zero assists and is a dash one.

[Chris Powers]

That's crazy.

[Dr. Watkins]

He.

[Dan Powers]

Him being a ghost is very, very difficult. And then while he is point over point per game in this series, since Kuch breaking his insane goalless run in the playoffs.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Since game two, he has no goals.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

At what point are you like. Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

And dude, by the time we got to this game, which was like, after the first, because we were coming out of an insane meeting, there was a play. Ant actually. Ant had made a great move. Hit the post. Yeah. And then, Cooch. It wasn't totally his fault, but there was. It was a gaping net, and he just couldn't quite get it to fly flat on a stick. And Steve Levy on the call was like, kucherov you know, can't put it on the open net.

[Dan Powers]

And it's.

[Chris Powers]

He said something like, which continues his tough night. And I was like, man, all stuff has already happened that Kuch is having a tough night. So if you are getting to your point, Dan, nothing from Braden Point and very non regular season. Kuch play from Kuch. I don't know how and you don't even have Headman. It becomes way harder to win these playoff series against a fucking good Habs team. Against anybody, by the way, but certainly this team.

[Dan Powers]

Great Habs team and trust me, we're going to give a little double wrister to the Habs in a second here. But the Bolts are. I mean like Hags is amazing. He has six goals, but after that, Genzel, who scored tonight, has two. No one else has multiple goals and that's okay. You're only five games through the series. But for a team that was way high up there in goals in the regular season, Kuch had 44 goals, Gensel had 38, Hagues had 36. Big drop off though. Sorelli 22, Radish 22. Like you, this team's not really going that much. They have two wins only in five games. I think this is going seven for sure.

[Chris Powers]

Oh really?

[Dan Powers]

I really do. I mean, it's like every time they've had their back against the wall, they somehow come out and win. And I feel like they did this all season long.

[Chris Powers]

So they were streaky all season long.

[Dan Powers]

That's what I'm saying. They would win eight and then lose eight. And this is the shrunken down version of. It's like they have a great game, you know, they get a good win and then they lose the next. And this one, they come out so sleepy. Dude. And I thought Vassi was bad in this game.

[Chris Powers]

There was one. I think it was the, the, the

[Dan Powers]

Kirby Doc goal was another dude happened in game two.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. Okay.

[Dan Powers]

Really?

[Chris Powers]

Shit.

[Dan Powers]

Poke. He tries this paddle. Poke.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

And he gets a little piece of it, but not enough. So it's right. And it's great play by Doc to keep it in his skates. But like if you're doing that, like you gotta fucking.

[Chris Powers]

You gotta whack that shit. Break somebody's leg.

[Dan Powers]

Cricket, paddle that puck out. And I thought the, I thought the, the Gallagher one was a weird one. But the third goal, who got their third goal?

[Chris Powers]

Texier. Yeah, who's that? Whole vine. The third. And dude, I need to say again, so much credit to Kirby Doc. I'm so happy for him. Yeah. Has been amazing.

[Dan Powers]

That Texier goal, it's a good shot, but, like, no screen, weird angle. Vezna. Probable winner. Vassi, I need you saving that, dude.

[Chris Powers]

This one, I'm with you because this one came seconds after that cooch open net miss that I was talking about. So if you're Tampa, you're like, oh, wow, we're about to score to start the third, right? Yeah. And then it goes immediately the other way. Also. Horrible. Osh called this out on the pod. Shout out our boy. Horrible change by Tampa there.

[Dan Powers]

Awful.

[Chris Powers]

Which can happen in the first and third.

[Dan Powers]

I know, Chris. And again. Sleepy.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

And it was a someone on the call. It wasn't. Was that game on espn?

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, that was Osh.

[Dan Powers]

That was Osh.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. It wasn't maybe something.

[Dan Powers]

It wasn't espn. It must have been TSN call.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

But someone was like, unbelievable. Heads up play by Lane Hudson on the pass. It was a great pass, but I chalked that up too. That was a shit change.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, it was awful change.

[Dan Powers]

It's a. Hudson makes a great play. Taking advantage of a bad play. But I just. God, they were sleepy tonight. Dude, it's called weeks on home ice. Sleepy.

[Chris Powers]

Wow.

[Dan Powers]

Vegas power play.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, wow.

[Dan Powers]

We got a Vegas power peeper with eight minutes left in the third in the ot.

[Chris Powers]

And for people that are new, well, Dan and I were just talking about people that are new to it. The second period, the even number, period, you have an extra long change. That's what we mean by. We're saying just in the first and third when it's so easy to get off the ice. You can't get sprung like that. But Dan, I'm with you. They recovered enough. Like, that is just a high glove shot.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

That Vassi just drops into his net and not only will he win the Vezna, but also he looks like a difference maker again in a way that we hadn't totally seen recently. Where I was thinking to myself, yeah, Tampa is going to make a run because of this guy alone. And that one was leaky.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. So, I mean, dude, to go in in a series tied Tutu into that loud Tampa barn and to get a win by the Canadiens. Great.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

But there was just like, it was. I think it was the first period, there was a lane shot from the point that wasn't really screened. That Vassi, like, mishandled. And in the same shift, Zuke threw one on net from the point that wasn't really screened. He mishandled.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

So I was just like, you guys are fucking Asleep at the wheel tonight.

[Chris Powers]

He did make some great saves, though. There was stretches where I was like, oh, Vass is playing great. But I just. Like we always say with goalie, if there's just a couple ones that you wish didn't go in, it's hard to not talk about that. Yeah. I have a stat for you, which I just could not fucking believe about this. Since we're talking about it right now. I was going to save this for later. Since the three straight Cups.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, my God. Dorothy of almost with four goals. If he handles that better.

[Chris Powers]

That's agree. And that would have been. That would have been such a Dorothy of night.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

He's like, yeah, I have four. Are you shitting me?

[Dan Powers]

And Eichel with like four assists.

[Chris Powers]

Yep. Oh, dude. I will save it for this series.

[Dan Powers]

For a fiev.

[Dr. Watkins]

For a fiev.

[Chris Powers]

Nice. There it is right there. The Bolts go win the cup. Win the cup. Vassie, I think, wins one of those con smites, and then they lose in the cup to the Aves, where Vassie plays great.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, since that's 2022.

[Dan Powers]

This is a monster kill by herculean kill.

[Chris Powers]

And you hate. I hate seeing overtime power play goals. I wish every. I wish every team to have a bad power play in overtime. I agree. The. Since the 2022 cup and counting tonight, Fassie is 6 and 15 in the playoffs. Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Not good.

[Chris Powers]

That is fucking staggering.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. And you know, we keep having the conversation. You made that point. If. If Tampa loses this series, they feel like shit. And I came to the defense of the Canadiens and I was like, this Canadiens team is good, but I'm. I am now kind of on your side where they're. They're now one and two at home.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

And you have a game like tonight, which I thought, oh, my God, no way did that just get in? I mean, oh, they're calling no goal.

[Dr. Watkins]

No goal.

[Chris Powers]

But now another penalty.

[Dr. Watkins]

No, maybe not now we got a scrum.

[Dan Powers]

Barbie

[Chris Powers]

is holding a dumbbeat in the face. That's what I'm saying. Barbie's holding his lower jaw, but someone else went down, too. Is that Weeks? We just gotta get every. You just gotta go down.

[Dan Powers]

Looks like it's fucking dirzy.

[Chris Powers]

Everyone's gotta go down.

[Dan Powers]

Another fucking Netter's friend. Blood. Blood on the ice. No. Oh, I think he might have gotten one to the eye. Yeah.

[Dr. Watkins]

Oh, yeah. His eyes on the ice. Yep. He's a Cyclops.

[Dan Powers]

We've got an eyeball on the ice. All right, folks, if you haven't figured it out. We're watching the OT right now.

[Dr. Watkins]

It's at 6:18.

[Dan Powers]

We got to see what happened.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. Here we go. All right.

[Dan Powers]

We got a bounce and puck. Definite high stick.

[Chris Powers]

Played by a high stick.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, really high over the head.

[Dan Powers]

And then it goes to Barbie.

[Chris Powers]

That's got to be a whistle.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, Barbie.

[Chris Powers]

So everyone stops playing. I mean, but this. I can't believe he's in a penalty. Like, Durs goes bang.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, cross right to the face.

[Chris Powers]

So now Durs has to go down. Durs has to flop asap.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

So he goes, boom, I'm down. You see Durs get down there.

[Dan Powers]

They're calling. They're calling one on unsportsmanlike conduct.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. Embellish.

[Dan Powers]

They're giving an embellishment to Durs.

[Dr. Watkins]

Really?

[Dan Powers]

And now a Utah power play.

[Chris Powers]

What? It's like, no way. No, it's four on four. They switched it.

[Dan Powers]

Oh.

[Chris Powers]

Which I'm actually fine with.

[Dan Powers]

Who did they give embellishment to? Barbie.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. He got drilled in the absolute face, and they went like this.

[Dan Powers]

So cross check to the face.

[Chris Powers]

That's actually a harsh embellishment.

[Dan Powers]

Barbie gets called for embellishment. And then that felt like dir.

[Chris Powers]

Is he embellishment?

[Dan Powers]

I'm not. No. We're not saying a friend of the program embellished, but if I were a betting man and I were to say someone embellished there, it was probably Durst.

[Chris Powers]

Barbershev got right up.

[Dr. Watkins]

Honestly, Jersey, cross checking unsportsmanlike for Barbershop.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Harsh. Harsh. But. But I'm glad Utah didn't just get that kid.

[Dan Powers]

I don't know the way how fast Barbie popped up. I'm like, you're fine. I don't really know, but that's why

[Chris Powers]

I think he was embellishing. He literally. He went like this and then got right up. He's like, I'm good.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. But he went down on the ice.

[Chris Powers]

That's embellishment. That is 100% what would have happened. The going down was completely fine. He grabbed his face. He got hit in the face, and then he got up like a man.

[Dan Powers]

But you don't need to fall when you get hit in the face.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, you do. Why he got knocked over. Theirs is a brick shithouse.

[Dan Powers]

I don't think that he got knocked over.

[Chris Powers]

Whatever. I'm glad it's four on four.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. Agree. That was not a good goal play on Tampa. My thought was, yeah, you're one and two at home so far, and you have a sleepy game like that, you have injury or not. Guys. Not performing again. Vassi not performing. If you're Tampa, I think you're pretty upset right now.

[Chris Powers]

And can I pile on? And this is why. And I. I would love if literally I was looking at the playoff bracket. It wouldn't be that shocking if Dallas, Minnesota went seven.

[Dan Powers]

Good.

[Chris Powers]

Edmonton Anaheim went seven. Yeah. Buffalo, Boston went seven. Tampa, Montreal went seven. And Vegas, Utah went seven. Like that is. That feels very. Not a reach for all those. And I was like, that would be crazy if we can get all those game sevens. So I love that you think. Think that Tampa back against the wall. They've been seesawing all series.

[Dan Powers]

Will just.

[Chris Powers]

Oh.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, my God. Clayton Keller and Jack Eichel are such similar players. It's unbelievable.

[Chris Powers]

That will just force it. But going back to the Bell center, where I feel like Montreal should have won twice and just kind of. They were the sleepy haps for two seconds there in Montreal. And Costum. Yeah. How long do you think Tampa was leading in game one of the series?

[Dan Powers]

Oh, I don't. Tell me.

[Chris Powers]

Zero minutes. How long do you think they were leading in game two? And keep in mind, this is a game they won.

[Dan Powers]

Zero minutes.

[Chris Powers]

Zero minutes. How long do you think they were leading in game three?

[Dan Powers]

Zero minutes.

[Chris Powers]

Nope. 7:54.

[Dan Powers]

I thought we were on a roll there.

[Chris Powers]

How long do you think they were leading in game four, which they won.

[Dan Powers]

Four.

[Chris Powers]

Four minutes.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

How much do you think they were leading in game five tonight?

[Dan Powers]

Zero minutes.

[Chris Powers]

Zero minutes. They have been getting dummied. Yeah, dude. And they have two wins to show for it. But it's like it takes everything to somehow claw these victories from the jaws of defeat. I am having currently sitting at this desk a hard time, even though great flurry at the end. Great flurry at the end. I give them credit for that. But I have a hard time sitting here going, they're going to waltz into Montreal and win.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

When I'm like, you haven't had a lead in this series. Literally.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. I mean, again, tons of credit to Montreal. You get Gallagher in the lineup, gets that greasy goal.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

Doc makes his presence felt great. And like you said, that line's been great. Texier gets a gold. But like, again, your big dogs weren't scoring the goals tonight. I think you grease out a win in this one. If you're Montreal, that's. That's what I would call it. On. On away ice. You catch Tampa sleeping. You get a. You catch. When you have a game like this where Vassi has a bad game and make no Mistake, folks. That was a bad game from Vassi. You have to win. And when none of your big dogs are scoring, that is a great game to win.

[Chris Powers]

And here's what I want to say. Here's my stroke off for the Canes. The. Excuse me. For the. For the Habs. Right now, I'm thinking to myself, man, and Osh said this on the broadcast, too. He was like, when I won the cup in 2018, you need everybody doing everything. What people think that means is you need everyone hitting. You need everyone blocking shots. You also need third line guys scoring.

[Dan Powers]

Yes. You just do 100%.

[Chris Powers]

Montreal is absolutely getting that right now. And I was, from watching the series, and we have watched damn near every second of this series. I was about to go, God, you're getting nothing from the top line. And right now, through five games, you have Cole Caufield with one goal, three assists, four points, and Nick Suzuki, zero goals, five assists, five points. So they are leading your team in scoring.

[Dan Powers]

Well, Lane's got five, too.

[Chris Powers]

Lane also five. But it's hilarious to me. It's. It's actually like a double win for me. Win number one is I feel like they're doing nothing and they're literally leading your team in scoring. And win number two is. Imagine when they start scoring goals. You know what I mean? Like, how is Tampa in. How is Tampa down three two and Cole Caulfield and Nick Suzuki have combined for one fucking goal.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. I mean, listen, it's easy to say this through five. Someone has to be winning after five, and it happens to be Montreal.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

But right now, when you have the lead and you're headed back to the fucking Bell center, you feel pretty damn good.

[Chris Powers]

And if.

[Dan Powers]

If the. If the deck stays as it is and you know, like, Cole only has one goal, Zuk has zero. But Point has one point.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Only has his one goal. If you're Montreal right now, you undoubtedly go happy to keep it as is.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Because you feel like you're going to win that battle.

[Chris Powers]

Yes.

[Dan Powers]

Right. I do believe, as I said, I think this is going to go seven. I think Champ is going to find a way to win the next one. But very much so, if anyone wakes up, they will win. If Tampa. If Tampa's big dogs wake up, I think they will win two in a row. If Montreal's big dogs wake up, they will win this year.

[Chris Powers]

I like this take. So it's like my goalie take in Dallas, Minnesota. Yeah. In reverse.

[Dan Powers]

I think if I'm.

[Chris Powers]

If.

[Dan Powers]

If I'm picking, I Say it's going to go seven and if it stays as is, Montreal has the edge for me. I just don't think in any of the losses Montreal has like fallen asleep or Doves has had a really bad game, whereas Tampa has done that.

[Chris Powers]

I guess Montreal is pissed about game four when they're up to nothing and they went, oh yeah, which, which we. Dude, if you. If that was a game that was the Kings or the Bruins or something you were like emotionally invested in. In that moment, you would have gone, that was a puke job. Which it was. Yeah, I wanted to call something you said. You mentioned Gensel earlier and I just wanted to say this Gensel dude, I think you said only two this series, which is probably right. But Gensel. 79 career playoff games, 43 career goals, the highest goals per game by an American born player ever in playoff history.

[Dan Powers]

I said it when we were in Tampa. Jake Kensell is the sneakiest good hockey player on earth. On earth.

[Chris Powers]

Like think about the Americans that have been in playoffs. Patrick Kane, Mikey Madonna. I'm like, no way.

[Dan Powers]

And like Patrick Kane with three cups, you know, Like, I know Gentz has two. Three.

[Chris Powers]

Must have two

[Dan Powers]

because he caught one with pit.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, yeah. And then he got.

[Dan Powers]

Sorry. And then he got. And then he. I think he caught the.

[Chris Powers]

No, he missed that first one.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah. So he only has one.

[Dan Powers]

Missed the first one with Tampa, but caught the second one. Right.

[Chris Powers]

With. You mean.

[Dan Powers]

No, well, Pet has three and he. Does he have two with. With pens.

[Chris Powers]

No, I'm saying they want it, you know, a million years ago.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. And he has one with Pence. Yes, that's. We've said that from the beginning.

[Chris Powers]

No, we were saying which one he caught with that. No, no, no other cup.

[Dan Powers]

We were saying did he catch one with Tampa or.

[Chris Powers]

No, no, no.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, because that was way after. Yeah. So he has one cup.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. So three cup. Patrick Kane. Yeah. And like the fact that he has more like, that's, you know, that's crazy.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dr. Watkins]

He just had the benefit of being on two very good teams so far that have made deep runs.

[Chris Powers]

So amazing.

[Dan Powers]

He way missed those Tampa cups.

[Chris Powers]

But.

[Dan Powers]

But either way. But yeah, I mean, it's like he is, I mean, fuck, man, like 38 goals this year. 41. 30. 36. 40. Like 40. You know, he's just, he's a goal scorer and he's such an under the radar goal scorer. It's crazy. But yeah, I mean, if you're Montreal, you're feeling great.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, yes, you are. Yeah. And the Bell center is going to be a electric factory.

[Dan Powers]

Let's take an ad break and then get into our final series, which we're currently watching. Folks, it is summertime, which means it is rollerblading time. And the only rollerblade you should be focusing on is Bauer. You know me, I'm a Bauer slut. I've got Bauer on my body right now. I have Bauer on pretty much every single day. I've talked all about their new summer apparel line. If you want to have that great blend of athletic wear while also looking good and stylish, Bauer is doing that for you, baby. We already know about how good their gear is. So let's talk about the blades because as I mentioned, at the top, it is blading season. The Bauer Vapor Flylights are unbelievable. You're seeing them all over the ice right now in the Stanley cup playoffs. These guys are wearing these new sleek ass skates. Well, guess what? You can put wheels on them and you can be blading around town looking like the pros on the ice while you do it on the sidewalk, up and down the beach, wherever you want to do it. If you're playing roller on those beautiful indoor rinks or if you're just ripping down the sidewalk, down the boardwalk, whatever you like. Vapor flylight has to be the option. We just posted a video. I'm wearing these things everywhere. I got a nice grocery store right down the street from me. I pop those suckers on, I go into the grocery store with my Bauer Vapor Flylights on. Cuts my grocery shopping in half. It's unbelievable. These things fit amazing, just like a skate. You can bake them, mold them to your feet. You feel incredible. And blading is just so money wherever you're going. If you're going down to the pub, pop on your blades, put a pair of slides in your backpack in a little pull string bag. You can tuck them in your back pocket if you want, get a blade in. It's a little nice workout. You get to where you're going, pop them off, sling them over your shoulder like a badass looking like brink, and then you enjoy yourself and then you blade home. It's fantastic. Blading is so back and the best way to do it is with Bauer and these Bauer vapor fly lights. So what I want you to do, as always, is head to Bauer.com and check out the Vapor Flylite roller skates. They are available right now. Grab yourself a pair. If you're curious about sizes. It's the same thing as your skates. It's what I do. I just look at my skates, boom, plug them right in there and get my roller skates. It's unbelievable. They are incredible. You need them. You got to step up your blading game. Go to Bauer.com to get that done.

[Chris Powers]

When it's Friday and the weekend's about to get going, when does it officially kick off for you? Is it when you fire off that text in the group chat and say, what are the fellas up to? Is it when the playlist comes on and you start bopping? And you start bopping? What if your shower could be part of that routine? Okay. What if you could bottle the feeling of Friday night the entire weekend in front of you? What would that smell like? I'm not talking Saturday morning. I'm talking about Friday night. The entire plethora of options. I want you to be able to grab that and make it a scent. And I got really, really good, good news for you. Dr. Squatch and Friday beers just dropped a limited edition soap called Friday night. Are you kidding me? It's an online exclusive brick built for wherever the night takes you. The scent is called Whiskey business. You get it? Whiskey business. It's smooth mahogany and tobacco up front, bold whiskey notes underneath, finished with suede and spice. There is zero grit, so it goes down easy. Think of it like timeless. Like smooth. Like reliable in a bar form. You can grab a single brick or you can save with the Friday night three pack bundle. It's available now at drsquatch.com and even cooler, we're also running an epic giveaway. I love a giveaway. I know you love a giveaway, so get in on this one. It is a weekend trip to Nashville for you and two friends. The prize includes round trip flights for three hotel for two nights, 500 cash, 500 to the almost Friday sporting club, a curated Nashville itinerary and 500 in DrSquatch products. [e-mail] between April 15 and May 12. No purchase necessary. Are you joking me? Do you want to miss out on that? I freaking hope not. So rally the fellas and go to drsquash.com and grab the limited edition Friday night brick before it's gone. Single or three pack? Kicking it to the last game of the night. Vegas, Utah. And if you've been listening, we're watching right now and we're about to catch up to this game because we're about to go into double ot. But Dan, I want to go back to game four because that something really cool Happened. You said in the live, what am I supposed to do with this guy?

[Dr. Watkins]

He sneezes.

[Chris Powers]

He sneezes and he sneezes. Unprofessional.

[Dan Powers]

Sorry.

[Chris Powers]

You said in the live before game four that we need Eichel to shoot the puck. Yeah, and I said, dude, what are we gonna. What is he. He's 80 years old. We can't teach an old dog new tricks. Amy said, Chris, he's like 20 fucking 8. Calm down. He can do whatever he wants. He's the best player on the ice. Jack Eichel, game four, 11 shot attempt, six on goal, most in the game. Yeah, I think he finished with three assists or whatever, but, man, exactly what you wanted. Did everything you needed him to do. Vegas gets the huge win, ties up the series. Now here we are in game five back in Vegas. I. I said that Utah just looks better in this series. There were stretches. Utah's gonna win the series. They just look better. But it occurred to me that maybe after Vegas steals one OT Thriller game four, that they come home game five, use the juice of the fortress, the crowd, the vibes, the strip, and just win game five. And then Utah's on the ropes. But, dude, Utah, this Utah team is just fun as fuck.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, my God.

[Chris Powers]

It's insane. Every game they come out and I go, here comes the Stinker. Kind of like what we saw with the Ducks, frankly, you know what I mean? Where it goes, oh, here comes the stinker. From the team that hasn't been playoffs. They don't know what they're doing. They've been playing great, they've been impressing us, but they're due for one. And every game they go, fuck you, Stinker. Yeah, you're the stinker. And I'm like, I am. You know what? And it's been amazing so early in this one. I was. I guess this happened to me a few times, but I got worried about Carter Hart again. I was like, oh, man, here comes his stinker. But he reels it in. Vegas has no quit. And then I'm like, oh, Veggie, here comes Veggie Stinker. But then he reels it in, and I don't know which way is up.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, Vegas continues to be dead and then not dead. Yeah, they continue to battle. This one felt like it when Crouser scored in the second period halfway through.

[Chris Powers]

That's the one I was like, part. Yep.

[Dan Powers]

And. And with that one, I was like, you're dead.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

That you. Utah's winning this game. And then quick score a fie Goal. Quick theater goal. I tweeted Shea is having a great game.

[Chris Powers]

Shea is so good.

[Dan Powers]

He's so disgusting. And I was like, veggie probably wants that one back. But Che, it's just, you know, yeah,

[Chris Powers]

players make plays and he's walking down fucking Broadway.

[Dan Powers]

Totally.

[Chris Powers]

So whatever.

[Dan Powers]

But yeah, like Vegas just, like, finds a way. But then it's like Gunther again. Big fucking God, this guy Gunther scores. Carcone scores. And that goal was disgusting, by the way. The pass from Kerfoot was so nice.

[Chris Powers]

Just a quick stat, quick spring two on one.

[Dan Powers]

Perfect pass. Perfect one. Tee gets it upstairs.

[Chris Powers]

He kind of muffined it, but it doesn't matter.

[Dan Powers]

Doesn't matter.

[Chris Powers]

You just have to get it upstairs.

[Dan Powers]

Also, the replay makes it look like a month.

[Chris Powers]

Agree, agree.

[Dan Powers]

It was like flopping, but he hammered it.

[Chris Powers]

Yep,

[Dan Powers]

looks like they got it. And then Scorafev Patty, tie game. Now here we are, we're headed into double ot, so.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Dan Powers]

I. No fucking whatever. What do you gotta say? I'm dead, dude. I got nothing for you.

[Chris Powers]

Theodore. Ev. Theodore has always scared me because our first year of covering the final, we get media passes and we get to go to media day, where it's the day before the game won. And they're all at their booths, you know, and there's a schedule and you can do the thing. And Dan and I were a brand new show, and none of these guys know us at all. And I was. We had done it at All Stars, but All Stars was so chill that I was like, oh, we just make jokes. Which we did. And they all laughed. But then here it's like, like laser focus, cup energy. And I was like, dude, maybe these guys don't want to make jokes here. And I think I made Dan go first. And he made me was Aiden Hale. I can't remember who you got first, but Dan went up and made. And we let the professional reporters ask their real questions. And then it starts to clear out and then we ask something stupid. And whoever Dan went up to first died laughing. And I was like, oh, you know what? They're just. They're just the homies still. And they. They would like, probably a little ease in the tension before game one. So then we got in a rhythm and now we're asking everybody all these jokes. And then I get the Shea Theodore one. And he came over early in the. Into Vegas when they became a team, and all they did was go to the, like the Western Conference finals or the cup, you know, So I went up to him Once the feed died down, the scrum died down. And I was like, shay, since coming to Vegas, you've made the third round or more every year. Do you ever think to yourself, damn, I wish I hadn't come here. It really is killing my summers. And he was like this, no, I would like to win the Stanley Cup. And I was like, oh, no. Cause, dude, he doesn't know. He doesn't know us. Like, he doesn't ever. And I was like, oh, fuck. And since then, I've been literally terrified of him. Like, I don't ever want to see him.

[Dr. Watkins]

You had to go. That was a joke, sir.

[Chris Powers]

Just so you know, Evan fucking guy. No joke, Trishay.

[Dan Powers]

He was not in the mood, and

[Chris Powers]

I'm sure he is. He just didn't know me. And like, was I just like, what is going on? You know? But I was dying, so I was like, I am now terrified of Shay Theodore forever.

[Dan Powers]

I. Yeah, he's so gross. God. But this. We've been stroking off Dallas, Minnesota. This series is just as good. It is. It's so unpredictable. Both these teams are so fun to watch. Neither of them are ever out of it. The fight from Utah. The fight.

[Dr. Watkins]

I've been surprised by Utah being so resilient.

[Dan Powers]

Yes.

[Chris Powers]

Both teams, frankly. Vegas has a ton of comeback wins. Not just comebacks. Like, comeback wins in this season.

[Dan Powers]

And what's crazy too, man, is like the. The goaltending is as expected. Like, Veggie's good, but, you know, Vegas is a good team. And I was like, they could probably get some goals on him. And they have been. I was very much like, I don't think Carter Hart is a definite. Like, you're gonna be a lockdown. And he hasn't been.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. And earlier I thought, like, he might

[Dan Powers]

like, oh, no, this is like a shootout again. And I think the only thing I got to say in here so far is Jack Eichel's doing what Jack Eichel does. You got goals from Barbie. You got goals from Scora Fev. Mark Stone is Mark Stoning. You know, like, he's a.4 4.

[Chris Powers]

What's the score right now?

[Dan Powers]

4 4.

[Chris Powers]

Yep. The dude.

[Dan Powers]

Hold on. You know who's very happy right now is Toronto Maple Leaf fans because Mitch Marner has been. Oh, not very good.

[Chris Powers]

Good point, Dan. Okay, let's. Well, let me go back to Dorothea for a second and then we'll go to Mitch, Dorothy, Ev. Got. And this is another one because Utah is probably feeling like, shut the fuck up. We are gross. And we were in the central and actually had to earn wins. Except unlike the fucking Pacific. But coming into the series, if you're Vegas, you have to be like, we should win this series.

[Dan Powers]

Absolutely.

[Chris Powers]

Fucking Pacific, dude.

[Dan Powers]

If you're Vegas, you go and get Rasmus, Anderson. Everyone's healthy.

[Chris Powers]

And you have Mitch Marner, which I know happened at the start of the year, but you got Mitch Marner.

[Dan Powers]

And you go, we are winning the cup. Like, you want to win the cup? Is Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota. Disgusting. Absolutely. But you are like, we are trying to win the cup.

[Chris Powers]

Yep. So. So Vegas is in. Finds himself in a dog fight. Okay. And in game four, a crucial game for which you come back and win, and I don't have the exact number in front of me. Whoever's listening can look this up. But Dorothy, Ev, who is your leading fucking scorer in the regular season? Not just a helpful player. Your leading goal scorer gets benched in a. In game four when you are down two one and losing. And I'm like, are you fucking kidding me? Like, that is a guy. If Cole Caufield isn't going, which he kind of isn't right now, he's not getting benched. I need him to go because he'll eventually go. Dorothy of gets shut down and then he comes out in game five. Everyone's talking about it. They're like, they need Dorothyv to get going. And he scores. And I was like, oh, that'd be interesting. And then he scores again. And I was like, wow, that would actually be massive for Vegas. And then he's bang. He ties the game with a fucking minute left for a hat. His first playoff hattie. And I was like, oh, so. And he almost got his fourth if he had handled that better in the first overtime. So massive. Look there. If you're Vegas because you hope. You hope you win this game, obviously, because you do not want to go back to Utah, but at least you've got that cooking right now. Where you go, all right. Thank God I'm not about to go out of the playoffs with our leading scorer having no goals. Speaking of no goals, Mitch Marner. Let's go there.

[Dan Powers]

Granted, we're through five games, plus an extra period here, and he has three assists.

[Chris Powers]

No points tonight. Nope, no points tonight. Three assists through five games, no goals. And for context, last year, in a second round exit right for the Leafs, he had to Florida Marner. They play 13 games. He has 13 points, which you will always take. But it's two goals, 11 assists. And that's kind of his game, obviously, but Keep in mind that regular season, 27 goals, 75 assists. He's not, not scoring at all, right?

[Dan Powers]

He's.

[Chris Powers]

He can put the puck in the net. You just need him to do it in playoffs. And dude, you are right. I thought to myself, God, I do not know how the Leafs could have lost this ordeal worse by finishing near the dead last. And Marner granted Pacific, but Marner winning his division with Vegas. But a first round Vegas exit with Marner posting three points in six games and no goals would be at least a salve on that wound.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, it's. It is frankly unacceptable. And I agree. And it's like you, you're definitely, you're

[Chris Powers]

definitely fighting it, you know.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, you're in this situation in this, you're in double OT now. And if I'm Vegas, you know, if I'm Tortorella, I'm definitely looking at that guy and I'm like, can you fucking get it going, pal? And it's not like they're void of scoring, you know, they've got like Ikes has, I think what does he have two assists today? I think Ike has eight points and you know, only has one goal, but has eight points in five games.

[Chris Powers]

And a lot of his assists are. Not a lot, but a few of his assists, including the, including the Dorothy of game tie and goal. With the minute left tonight are hammered shots that people are just putting the rebound in, which is a knock that I'm like, it wasn't an amazing pass, but it was him trying to shoot the puck into the net. And then good things happen tonight, Dan. And I have a question for you because maybe you just know I'm interested to find out from people who are watching Vegas every night what the usual lines have been all year because I haven't been paying attention enough. Yeah, but when the year started and it was Eichel, Marner, Dorofiev, I put a billion dollars on Dorfiev winning the rocket because I was like, oh my God, he's playing with Eichel and Marner. This is insane. And he scored a Hattie. He scored two Hatties in his first four games. Yeah, and that was the line. And the lines tonight have Eichel centering line one with Howden and Barbershev, Marner centering line two with Smith and Stone and Dora Fev on the wing with. On hurdles line. And I'm like, has that. How long ago did that get split up?

[Dan Powers]

I. I couldn't, I couldn't tell you how long that's been happening.

[Chris Powers]

And how long has Marner been playing center by himself? You know, like. Yeah, that's. That's.

[Dan Powers]

I think it's because. It's because Wild Bill is hurt.

[Chris Powers]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

And, yeah, I. I mean.

[Chris Powers]

I mean,

[Dan Powers]

I don't know, man. It's just like, you are. I'm a big Mitch Marner supporter, and these are just guys where I'm like, you're too good. You're too good to be playing, to be not playing at your best. And you're in a dogfight now with this really great, scrappy Utah team. If you lose a game like this on home ice and you only have three points, three assists, no goals, you're looking at yourself in the mirror and you're like, I got to get going here.

[Chris Powers]

There's a million examples of teams mixing up lines. The Bruins just did this where it gets things going. You see this in playoffs all the time. But remember us saying about Nashville the last couple years, maybe this was two years ago. They weren't. They were out, basically. And then they made a really late push because they put Stamcos in and Marcia so. And flip on the same line, and it was like, oh, yeah, wow, they're scoring. That's insane. And we just saw the Oilers announce we're playing McDavid and dry saddle on the same line in game six. Because we said, if we're going out, we're going out swinging. And I'm kind of like, I don't care. What hasn't been working.

[Dan Powers]

Put Marner with Jack.

[Chris Powers]

Put Marner. Like, what are we doing, dude? Like, just put in with Jack and go fucking fight.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. Like, I would no doubt put Marner with Jack and try to get him going, but I think the issue is you need him to be playing center. And here we go.

[Chris Powers]

One highlight for me from this game earlier. Schmaltzy, someone broke a stick. Maybe. Theodore, someone broke a stick. Sprung Schmaltzy on a breakaway. Huge save by. By heart. And then Taniv on the turnaround right after that. Oh, insane save. Crazy. That was awesome. But Veggie has also made some incredible ones down the stretch here. So I think what's going to happen for the viewers is we are going to go like this second overtime just started.

[Dan Powers]

We're gonna just watch, and then you're gonna. This episode will pick up as we celebrate the goal.

[Chris Powers]

Watch this. Oh, no.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, there it is. Holy howden.

[Chris Powers]

Shit.

[Dan Powers]

Fucking Shorty.

[Chris Powers]

Shorty, dude.

[Dan Powers]

Shorty for the game over five on

[Chris Powers]

the power play, I think.

[Dan Powers]

Why did it feel like that was Coming, dude.

[Chris Powers]

Because they had a jack fucking breakaway into the Marner chance off the face. Off into how? Like. Yeah, you gotta fucking get two guys on that or something. Or fucking reverse it. The Vegas has no guys on the ice.

[Dan Powers]

What a rip by Howie. Wow, That's. Dude, you said you don't like power play goals. How do you feel about shorthanded goals?

[Chris Powers]

You know what? Actually that is cool because you take a penalty in overtime and you go, what the fuck? And then to do it in shorty is insane.

[Dan Powers]

I'm just like, look at Hill just in the middle. What a fucking beat.

[Chris Powers]

He loves the boys. I'm. I'm sick for weeks because I feel like this kind of all started on that fucking play. I'm sure he's so pissed at himself. No, that you're.

[Dan Powers]

You're.

[Dr. Watkins]

Fuck.

[Dan Powers]

It's a great shot, Howden.

[Chris Powers]

It is, but I just. God, he's going crazy. Good for him.

[Dan Powers]

Yep. Good fucking forecheck on the penalty kill. Gets the steel. I mean, that is just a singular effort. I mean, no, there's. There's two guys in there, but that's just such a good play by Howden. Deserves to be going bonkers.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, dude.

[Dan Powers]

Rips that puck off the stick and then just lets it fly.

[Chris Powers]

Marner Apple.

[Dan Powers]

Was Marner in the corner with him there? Yeah, it looked like it was him,

[Chris Powers]

dude. Well, that's fantastic, Jackie. Five hole tries to go fibers on the breakaway. On the shorty breakaway again.

[Dan Powers]

Can't get second chances out there on the ice, dude.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. Marner Apple, dude. So fucking four points.

[Dan Powers]

Four points in five games. Hey, listen, that was a good dig.

[Chris Powers]

That was a good.

[Dan Powers]

That was a great fucking fight in the corner there on the pk. And they get the puck out. Howden gets it and score. So Mitch Marner. Okay, I.

[Chris Powers]

Little fight. Little fight, Marner.

[Dan Powers]

Little fight.

[Chris Powers]

I have zero doubt in my mind. I'm putting this on. I'm putting this on the record.

[Dan Powers]

While we were watching that, I was like this. After everything we just said. Marner's gonna shove it up my hoop and score a goal. When that puck almost went to his stick, I was like this.

[Chris Powers]

That would. And that was like a set.

[Dan Powers]

And I'm still going to give him a hoop shove, as in he earned one against me because that was a great play. He helped dig that puck out. Great pressure in there in the corner. Gets it. Allows Howden to get that puck. And fucking beautiful.

[Chris Powers]

Utah Must be honestly, dude, that the weeks play is. Is that shit happens, right?

[Dan Powers]

Like, is this is this two games in a row where Utah has puked on their leg. Puked on themselves.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah, because I guess you give up a shorty in overtime. In double overtime, that is.

[Dan Powers]

And you have. And the other lead. You gave up a goal with the goalie pole cold.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. So they're kicking themselves. So hold on.

[Dan Powers]

Double puke.

[Chris Powers]

Here's where I was headed.

[Dan Powers]

The Utah has a stomach bug.

[Chris Powers]

They have a stomach bug, but now it's out. Get that stomach pump, baby.

[Dan Powers]

That's two games.

[Chris Powers]

The Golden Knights or. Sorry, this. I was going to say before Utah. You just. That amount of tom foolery off a D zone draw on the power play is unacceptable. It was a drawback to Marner who then hits the weak side D, who then almost got it back to Marner alone in the slot. Like if that pass had been two inches better, he has a grade A which is ridiculous. And then it bleeds to the corner anyway. And you've got guys on it. And then you let the two Vegas guys dig it out. Which nearly. Dan. I would argue those two Vegas four checkers were too deep to be on the PK in double overtime. Like if Utah does get that out, I'm like, what are you doing up here?

[Dan Powers]

That's. That's what. That's why I'm saying this was like. It felt like it was coming. I mean there was what, 20 seconds left. I think 16 seconds or something. But like either way, like that you're still. You're an. It's an odd man situation. You can't be too deep. But they. They could feel it.

[Chris Powers]

They knew they were going to come

[Dan Powers]

up with Jackie got that little breakaway and they were like this. We're on him right now. It was even a face off and they still felt like they were on.

[Chris Powers]

But I am going to say this on record. The Utah Mammoth have won game six in Utah.

[Dan Powers]

Bang.

[Chris Powers]

Wow. Yeah. I think this is the way Utah have played them and the way they've played at home and the way they played in this game where they had every chance they. I think this. I think the Mammoth. There's no chance. The Mammoth season ends on whenever the fuck. What day is it? Maybe Friday they play. Yeah. Next game six. I think the Mammoth win that game. We're going seven.

[Dan Powers]

I love that take. All I'll say is, yeah, it's great that it's in Utah.

[Dr. Watkins]

Yeah, it's Friday night.

[Dan Powers]

That's two back breaking games.

[Chris Powers]

Yes, it is.

[Dan Powers]

Two back breaking games. And then after we put a little pressure on Mitchie makes a big play to get to that winning goal.

[Chris Powers]

Who knows?

[Dan Powers]

Maybe he's awake. Vegas is. There are vibes going right now.

[Chris Powers]

Vegas is good, dude. Vegas is good.

[Dan Powers]

And there's also like, you know, two times where we were like this year dead. And then they survive like this and win that. I'm glad they tied that game.

[Chris Powers]

If Dorfy is cooking now, that actually could be Trump. But I still love this Utah team. Dude, they are going to, they are going, they are going to fight. They are going to fight. They're going to fight all the way to game seven. I promise you that.

[Dan Powers]

Unbelievable stuff. Vegas wins it in double O. T. That's going to do it for this episode, folks. We love you. Hope you're loving all the daily content. If you are, please support spread it around. Subscribe to the YouTube. Please, please, please, please. Five star reviews on Spotify and Apple. Please, please, please.

[Dr. Watkins]

Next streams Friday.

[Dan Powers]

Next stream is Friday. We will see you then. And until we do, skate hard.

[Chris Powers]

Your next chapter in healthcare starts at Carrington College's School of Nursing in Portland. Join us for our open house on Tuesday, January 13th from 4 to 7pm you'll tour our campus, see live demos, meet instructors and learn about our associate degree in nursing program that prepares you to become a registered nurse. Take the first step toward your nursing career. Save your spot now at Carrington Edu Events. For information on program outcomes, visit carrington. Edu Sci Fi.