Empty Netters Podcast: The Flyers Shock The Met And Clinch the 3 Seed
Podcast: Empty Netters Podcast (Almost Friday Media)
Date: April 14, 2026
Episode Overview
In this episode, the Empty Netters crew unpacks a thrilling and chaotic final weekend of the NHL regular season, highlighted by the Philadelphia Flyers’ shocking clinch of the third seed in the Metropolitan Division. Dan Powers, Chris Powers, and Evan bring their signature brotherly banter and sharp hockey insight to breaking down wild card chaos in both conferences, the fallout for teams left on the outside, and dig deep on the NHL’s best and worst front office storylines. Later, they’re joined by Tal Pinchevsky to talk about his new Hartford Whalers documentary and the enduring legacy of lost franchises. The pod wraps with Coachella stories, the annual debate on NHL theme songs, and a wild Beer League Hotline scenario.
Key Segments & Discussion Points
1. Wild Card Weekend Chaos & Playoff Clinching Drama
- Eastern Conference shakeup: The Philadelphia Flyers beat the odds to clinch the #3 seed in the Metropolitan Division, knocking out the Capitals and Blue Jackets.
- Key elimination results:
- New Jersey Devils eliminate the Red Wings with a 5-3 win.
- Blue Jackets beat the Canadiens 5-2.
- Senators blank the Islanders 3-0—locking in wild-card spots for Bruins and Senators.
- Boston Bruins’ steadiness: Bruins were a wild card bubble team “all year,” as Dan reminds everyone he called this perfectly in preseason.
- “No one has ever been more fucking dialed than I was in our season previews when I was like, Boston will be a wild card bubble team all season.” — Dan Powers (04:35)
- Ottawa Senators’ late charge:
- “The Sensation from the death. Just what a fight.” — Chris Powers (04:11)
- Summing up the playoff mix:
- Boston & Ottawa clinch wild cards; Red Wings and Islanders now eliminated.
- Ongoing jostling for Atlantic division seeding: Sabres, Habs, Bolts all in play.
Timestamp:
- Wild card context and results: [02:32] – [06:44]
- Boston & Ottawa playoff outlook: [03:41] – [05:46]
2. The Detroit Red Wings: "ISER Plan" Autopsy
- Disappointment in Detroit: Long, heated debate over Steve Yzerman’s management and the missing identity of the “ISER Plan”.
- “There is no ISER plan. Like, that's my biggest takeaway from the Wings the last few years.” — Chris Powers (07:07)
- “A lot of the naysayers and the boobirds about [Yzerman] not being a good GM have a lot of ground to stand on right now.” — Dan Powers (07:41)
- Key issues highlighted:
- Top four players (DeBrincat, Raymond, Larkin, Seider) all had strong seasons, but the depth falls off a cliff.
- Patrick Kane’s performance dissected: “I need you to score goals. You’re Patrick Kane. Even if you’re 37... I need you to get more goals than 16.”
- GM job security:
- Debate over Yzerman’s future: “I don't think Iserman will be fired. But for the first time... if you're a Red Wings fan and you’re upset with Steve Yzerman—I get it.” — Dan Powers (13:10)
Timestamp: Detroit Red Wings “ISER plan” breakdown: [06:54] – [14:56]
3. Metropolitan & Western Conference Wild Card Math
- Philly’s clutch win:
- “The Flyers could lock themselves in and eliminate both Washington and Columbus if they win this game tonight.” — Dan Powers (16:14)
- Islanders collapse: “They felt like the most locked... when we had Schaefer on the pod. It felt like they were such a lock for playoffs.” — Dan Powers (16:49)
- Islanders & Sharks heartbreak: Both franchises were in the driver’s seat for a spot, but slip out due to brutal last-week stretches and injuries.
- Western Conference race:
- Kings catch fire to potentially win the Pacific after an up-and-down campaign.
- Kings’ playoff scenarios explained and potential matchups discussed (Kings vs. Oilers rivalry, etc.)
- “The Kings are on a four-game heater... They could literally win the Pacific. It’s hilarious!” — Dan Powers (18:48)
- Jets and Caps, top teams from last season, both miss playoffs.
Timestamp:
- Philly’s clinch and Met breakdown: [15:21] – [17:45]
- West playoff chaos: [18:26] – [22:42]
4. Farewell to Legends: Kopitar & Quick’s Last Rides
- Anže Kopitar:
- Celebrating his legacy in his emotional last regular season home game:
- “He’s the all-time leader in points, assists, game-winning goals and games played for the Kings... The greatest King of all time.” — Dan Powers (24:17)
- Jonathan Quick’s Retirement:
- Recognition of career and question whether the Kings will “mend fences” over his exit.
- “That’s a jersey number retiring.” — Chris Powers (25:50)
Memorable moment:
- Reflecting on aging with your childhood heroes: “You just watch the people you grew up loving just get older, to retire.” — Chris Powers (24:19)
Timestamp: [23:01] – [26:32]
5. College Hockey: Denver’s Dynasty, Michigan’s Agony
- Denver’s third title in five years:
- “Denver wins their third title in five years... Johnny Hicks was fucking ridiculous in net.” — Dan Powers (29:10)
- Michigan’s continued heartbreak:
- “The most horrendous run for Michigan since 1998 continues to be so depressing and embarrassing...” — Dan Powers (26:58)
- Coach Dave Carle’s future: Extended discussion on whether young Denver coach will jump to NHL or build a dynasty in college.
Timestamp: [26:32] – [33:47]
6. Interview: Tal Pinchevsky & The Hartford Whalers Documentary
- Origins of the film: Tal and co-director Pat Pickens realized the definitive Whalers documentary hadn’t been made, and got to work with support from Sacred Heart University.
- Three dozen interviews with Whalers alumni, staff, and devoted fans.
- Standout moments in the documentary:
- The “Brass Bonanza” theme song origin story (“...had the record in his house.” — Tal, 40:58), logo creation, and the family aspect with Gordie, Mark, and Marty Howe.
- “Half the league’s head coaches are former Whalers... Every time I would talk to someone... they're like: Oh, yes, I can talk about this for days.” — Tal (39:52)
- Emotional footage of the last game in Hartford and the city’s sports heartbreak.
- Whalers’ enduring legacy:
- “It’s everywhere. Everyone loves the Whalers. Right.” — Tal (36:28)
- “The logo is everywhere. It is, without a doubt, the number one vintage logo...” — Dan (43:46)
- Carolina Hurricanes and Whalers Night:
- Panel debates the respect/disrespect of “Whalers Night”—Carolina embracing Whaler heritage after relocation.
- “I think it is the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” — Dan (55:20)
- Community ownership as a relic:
- The Whalers were owned by a collective of Hartford businesses and the community, an era unlikely to be repeated.
Timestamp: [35:56] – [70:29]
Notable Quotes:
- “About half the guys who are in the parade are like ‘I don’t know if this is a good idea. We won one playoff round and they threw a parade for us.’” — Tal (47:53)
- On Whalers’ legacy: “They've been gone longer than they were a team, so true. But it was a lot of fun.” — Tal (65:34)
7. Around the NHL and Playoff Predictions
- Tal’s East/West picks:
- “I think Ottawa is firmly in that spot...” — Tal (66:08)
- Panel analyzes which teams could still make a run, goalie showdowns in the West, and possible first-round upsets.
Timestamp: [65:44] – [69:14]
8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Banter
- “It is pure fucking mayhem and you love to see it.” — Dan Powers wrapping up the wild card preview (23:01)
- Chris on beer league etiquette: “I like the cut of his jib. I like that about him. He likes that about her.” (93:42)
- On retirement rumors: “Do none of us believe Ovechkin is actually retiring?” — Evan (71:27)
- Coachella headliner wisdom:
- “It would be so easy to just literally go up on stage and sing all your most streamed songs. And everyone on earth would go: it was amazing.” — Chris (78:56)
- “If it's not for you, that's totally cool. But shitting on Coachella and people who go to Coachella—uncool.” — Dan (91:28)
Other Highlights
- Hockey theme song blind ranking: Lively debate over best/worst NHL TV theme music.
- ESPN’s classic “da-na-na-na-naaa” is crowned the GOAT ([102:44])
- Beer League Hotline:
- Hilarious moral dilemma about handling a dirty, undersized-but-tough woman in a father-daughter beer league duo.
- Coachella stories: Riffing on headliner setlists, wild bathroom stories, and what makes festivals worth attending.
Episode Timeline
| Topic | Start | Key Timestamps |
|---|---|---|
| Opening banter / playoff stakes | 00:00 | [02:32] |
| East wild card updates | 02:32 | [02:56], [05:13]|
| Red Wings/ISER Plan analysis | 06:54 | [06:54]–[14:56] |
| Met & West playoff breakdown | 15:21 | [18:26], [22:06] |
| Legends Kopitar & Quick | 23:01 | [26:32] |
| NCAA Hockey Finals | 26:32 | [33:47] |
| Whalers Documentary interview | 35:56 | [70:29] |
| Playoff predictions | 65:44 | [69:14] |
| Not Ice / Coachella | 76:54 | [91:28] |
| Beer League Hotline | 92:55 | [97:14] |
| NHL TV Theme Rankings | 99:12 | [104:27] |
| Final playoff results reaction | 104:44 | [107:54] |
Final Word
This episode of Empty Netters is a perfect encapsulation of what makes the show a favorite among NHL diehards: hilarious and authentic brotherly banter, deep analysis on league drama and GM messes, a love of hockey culture, and a willingness to chase any tangent to its weird, beer-league conclusion. Through their interview with Tal Pinchevsky, the crew digs up the soul of a lost franchise—and reminds us what’s at stake for every city, every spring.
“We are getting to the most fun time of the year... Playoff hockey is the greatest thing of all time... Stay dialed in. We will see you very, very soon. Until then, skate hard.” — Dan Powers (108:39)
