Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 559: Featuring Matthew Tkachuk + Will Arnett

Summary

Podcast Summary: Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 559: Featuring Matthew Tkachuk + Will Arnett

Host & Authors: Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette (Biz), and Mike Grinnell (Merles)
Guest Appearances: Will Arnett and Matthew Tkachuk
Release Date: May 2, 2025
Platform: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music (ad-free for Prime Members)

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1. Introduction and Podcast Updates

The episode kicks off with Ryan Whitney and Biz celebrating their integration into the Barstool Sports family, expressing enthusiasm about the positive turn of events for their podcast community.

• Ryan Whitney [00:14]: “Spittin Chickfila. What is up folks? Welcome to episode 559 of the Spit and Chicklets podcast.”

The hosts give a playful nod to their sponsors, including a humorous promotion for Pink Whitney vodka, tying it into the excitement of derby weekend.

2. Playoff Reflections and Team Performances

2.1. Toronto Maple Leafs’ Second Round Success

The hosts express jubilation over the Maple Leafs advancing past the second round, highlighting key moments and player performances.

• Ryan Whitney [02:10]: “We're off the second round. It's jubilation relief.”

They discuss the dramatic moments, such as the incorrect lineup card involving Nylander, and the impressive goaltending that secured their advancement.

• Ryan Whitney [04:27]: “They had the wrong Nylander in the lineup, just an incredible one of what would have been the most classic Leafs moment of maybe the past 50 years.”

2.2. Critique of Opposing Teams

A heated discussion ensues about other teams’ performances, notably the Ottawa Senators' struggles and the LA Kings' inconsistent play.

• Biz [10:11]: “As much pressure. They don't.”

• Ryan Whitney [22:36]: “Does it make Florida look great if that was your backup?”

3. Guest Appearances

3.1. Will Arnett

Will Arnett joins the conversation, bringing a mix of humor and insightful commentary about the playoffs.

• Will Arnett [13:32]: “Guys like me and Biz, we're getting down to work. We got a war to get to.”

He shares his experience witnessing the Leafs’ advancement and interacts jovially with the hosts.

• Will Arnett [14:06]: “Seeing that first goal by McDavid was like watching Formula One races.”

3.2. Matthew Tkachuk

Matthew Tkachuk joins later, offering a player's perspective on the playoff series and team dynamics.

• Matthew Tkachuk [77:55]: “I’m proud of the way he played all year. It’s a tough team to go up against.”

He discusses the challenges his team faces against formidable opponents like the Toronto Maple Leafs and shares insights on team motivation and strategy.

4. In-Depth Team Analyses

4.1. Edmonton Oilers vs. LA Kings

The hosts delve into the dynamics between the Edmonton Oilers and the LA Kings, evaluating goaltending performances and strategic decisions.

• Ryan Whitney [23:20]: “You got to go, Picker.”

They analyze key players like Connor McDavid, discussing his impact and the Oilers' overall team mentality.

• Will Arnett [17:50]: “Connor McDavid's moves are highlight-worthy. Nobody's ever done it.”

4.2. Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes

A robust discussion unfolds around the Washington Capitals' performance, particularly focusing on Tom Wilson’s physical play and the Capitals' depth.

• Matthew Tkachuk [86:07]: “They have this unicorn that completely flipped that series on its head.”

The conversation highlights the Capitals' strengths and the challenges Carolina faces when contending with their physicality.

5. Coaching Strategies and Leadership

The episode features an extensive discussion on coaching strategies, particularly criticizing the LA Kings’ coaching decisions and praising effective leadership in other teams.

• Biz [10:13]: “It's like the Leafs, we have to be like the Oilers.”

They debate the importance of coaching in playoff success, emphasizing how strategic adjustments can make or break a series.

• Ryan Whitney [10:49]: “This isn't about you right now.”

6. Player Performances and Development

Highlighting standout performances, the hosts commend players like William Nylander and Connor McDavid while critiquing others for inconsistency.

• Ryan Whitney [6:29]: “He gets the empty netter on a.”

Discussion revolves around how certain players contribute to their teams’ successes and areas where improvement is needed.

• Matthew Tkachuk [77:55]: “He’s a gamer. So I’m happy with how he played all year.”

7. Social Media and Fan Engagement

The podcast touches on the role of social media in shaping player perceptions and fan engagement, critiquing how some fans and media interactions can influence team dynamics.

• Biz [49:44]: “We don't need the ridiculousness. We're professionals.”

They discuss the impact of online interactions and the importance of maintaining professionalism amidst fan and media scrutiny.

8. Predictions and Upcoming Games

In the latter part of the episode, the hosts make predictions for upcoming series, analyzing potential outcomes based on team performances and player conditions.

• Ryan Whitney [49:42]: “I want Merle to be corrected in saying that he's called him a fraud squad.”

They anticipate intense matchups and reflect on the strategies that might influence the outcomes of upcoming games.

• Matthew Tkachuk [86:07]: “We just gotta relish that role.”

9. Closing Remarks and Future Episodes

The episode wraps up with promotional content for upcoming streams and episodes, encouraging listeners to engage further with the podcast.

• Ryan Whitney [136:43]: “You guys can be the professionals. You are good. But they have no respect for you.”

They announce a live stream for Game 7 and outline the podcast’s schedule for covering ongoing playoff series.

• Biz [135:58]: “We got wars all over this, all over this show.”

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ryan Whitney [02:10]: “We're off the second round. It's jubilation relief.”
• Will Arnett [13:32]: “Guys like me and Biz, we're getting down to work. We got a war to get to.”
• Matthew Tkachuk [77:55]: “I’m proud of the way he played all year. It’s a tough team to go up against.”
• Biz [49:44]: “We don't need the ridiculousness. We're professionals.”
• Ryan Whitney [136:43]: “You guys can be the professionals. You are good. But they have no respect for you.”

Conclusion

Episode 559 of Spittin’ Chiclets offers an engaging deep dive into the NHL playoffs, enriched by guest insights from Will Arnett and Matthew Tkachuk. The hosts provide a mix of humor, critical analysis, and passionate support for their favorite teams, making this episode a must-listen for hockey enthusiasts seeking detailed discussions and insider perspectives.

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For more episodes, visit barstool.link/schiclets.

Transcript

[Whitney]

Hey Spit and Chiclets listeners. You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Biz]

Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is Barstool Sports.

[Whitney]

Our white whale, Sidney Crosby. Shave his head. Shave his head. Shave his head. Ryan Whitney, Paul Vincent R.A. mike Grinelli. Spittin Chickfila. What is up folks? Welcome to episode 559 of the Spit and Chicklets podcast. Coming to you on a Friday morning. And we got some happy members of this pod. Everyone's actually happy. And we're going to get into why. Everyone knows why with Biz and I. But Merls, you're on a heater. Keith, the Cats. What can we say besides thank you so much to Pink Whitney? Pink Whitney, the pink lemonade flavored vodka. Take your shot with Pink Whitney. Hey, it's derby weekend, guys. What's a beautiful little colorful drink you can have to watch the ponies race? Pink Whitney. Take your shot with it. Make a drink with it. I just really could picture somebody sitting in the corner of Churchill Downs watching a big old horse round the corner as they sip on their Pink Whitney with their bet. Maybe coming on through. Shout out DraftKings as well, but Pink Whitney, the number one flavored vodka in the world. Take your shot with Pink Whitney and thank you so much to them, guys. What a playoff. What a playoff. And our man Biz overload our man Biz for anyone who missed it Wednesday on game Notes, we made an appearance after a brutal game five loss at home for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The man came on the show helping out Armdog and Merles and. And we thought he'd snap. We thought he'd overreact. But he came in calm, cool and collected and he ended up looking like a goddamn genius for it. So Biz, congratulations. You guys are now 2 and 13 in potential series clinching games. Great job.

[Ryan Whitney]

AS 99. The Great One said, stats are for losers. Throw those out the window. We're off the second round. It's jubilation relief. And going back to your comments and I don't want to keep it. I want to keep it positive. I don't want to be too negative. Merle's in the chat last night saying that it's a cease and desist TNT for me doing a state of the union address as if though it it was game notes his idea to even do it.

[Whitney]

It was his ip. It was his ip. I think he was saying check.

[Merles]

Check the game notes. Check the text thread. I invited you on. We said our fans need the Maple Leafs. The union address. You agreed, bro, I would have loved.

[Ryan Whitney]

To do it on my own personal social channels. Maybe the Spit and Chicklets podcast. I don't know if you've heard of it. It was on our YouTube channel. I could have done it on my own Instagram, Twitter, but no, you invite me on to your podcast Game Notes. Right? And it was like a scene out of Goodfellas and Whit was there with a sniper right in the back of my head to ambush me. You didn't prepare me at the fact that you'd also invited Wit.

[Whitney]

That was all me. No, no, no, no. I kind of bullied my way on. I said, I need to be on and witness this idiot.

[Ryan Whitney]

And. And your friend Merls isn't going to give me the heads up as though I'm about to be ambushed.

[Whitney]

And G. Angie, we all attacked you, baby. We all got you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Exactly. So not only did you say that I stole your idea when I was having a calm, cool, collect State of the Union address, you offered me up your platform, in which I believe that's the highest recorded or listened to and watched episode of Game Notes in its history. So. You're welcome, Matt Mur.

[Whitney]

Thank you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, it.

[Merles]

It's actually your podcast, so that's how we started it.

[Ryan Whitney]

So I.

[Merles]

Do you guys have a release and, And.

[Ryan Whitney]

And mixing up the MO and putting up the foundation to your home has gone to your head and maybe the. The confidence of not only one, but two of your teams advancing, potentially advancing. We got Vegas, we got Colorado, and it goes back to. Whit said. We're all happy because we're all advancing at least one of our squads. And Army's team, the Winnipeg jets, also have the opportunity to close out tonight. So it could be a clean sweep. The only guy really sucking his thumb is Mike Cornell.

[Whitney]

Yeah. His team wasn't even in the dance.

[Ryan Whitney]

They didn't even get the dance. Bunch of virgins, just like the Ottawa Senators. So rip to Brady and the squad, it was a tremendous run. It was a tremendous fight, but just not enough weapons and not quite there in order to compete and go on to the second round. So I'm so happy, relieved for my Toronto Maple Leafs. I'll throw it back over to you, Whit, but anything you guys want to say before we dive into all these series?

[Whitney]

No, I was. I was very impressed with the. With the Leafs resolve. I mean, notwithstanding that they. They put in the long. The wrong lineup card, so they had the wrong Nylander in The lineup just an incredible one of what would have been the most classic Leafs moment of maybe the past 50 years. And that's saying something. And. And just to know. Just to know that the. The refs. That they. They saw it and that they went to Toronto, apparently. I don't know exactly how it was saved, but, I mean, what a Leafs thing to do. But you guys bounce back.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Whitney]

And you guys. You guys got a goalie right now. What a game he played. He was. I thought that Ottawa went down to nothing. They look brutal. And they really picked it up and they started coming and they tie it up. But Stolarts in the process, before they even tied it up. I mean, he made some incredible saves. Incredible. I'm curious what sends fans. I mean, Leafs fans think of the Peron tie in goal like, it's a beautiful shot. My son was like, did he mean to do that? I'm like, yeah, he did, I think. But is it still not on the goal? You can't be giving up goals from behind the goal line, in my opinion. But it didn't even matter, Biz. It didn't even matter. And Patchy already gets moved up in the lineup as Leafs fans are ready to lose their mind that he's even playing. And Scotty Lawton gets ripped on since he's been brought over. And he blocks the shot at the end of the game. And Nylander, the correct one. William, he gets the empty netter on a. And Keith sent the funniest text I think I've ever read on the group chat. He said the core four work their best bag off when the net's empty. I mean, it was. It was an incredible empty.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, yeah. Okay. You're starting early, aren't you? Hey, Mr. Kitty.

[Whitney]

You guys are going to war, and.

[Ryan Whitney]

Me and me are going to war. I'm. We might start an. Only fans, are you getting throttled by the current Florida Panthers team?

[Whitney]

Jesus, you're the only one that would be getting throttled in. The only fans.

[Ryan Whitney]

I mean, Jesus Christ, can you get Matthew Kachuk and Aaron Eckblad's ball bag out of your mouth soon enough, Keith? I mean, you might as well. You might as well be on the.

[Biz]

You're using. You're using the NHL's money to talk about the.

[Will Arnett]

The.

[Biz]

The fucking Toronto Maple Leafs.

[Whitney]

Keith, you played for the Panthers.

[Biz]

Exactly. That's what I was gonna say.

[Ryan Whitney]

I was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the Phoenix Coyotes finished worse in the standings the year prior. Therefore, they won the.

[Whitney]

No, but they tried putting you on waivers, but they put the wrong name into the league waiver wireless.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's why you still have that jacket Clarification on that. So they do it digitally and when they pulled up Nylander, it pulled up Alex and accidentally filled that in. But it was caught before puck drop for those of you wondering what Whit was talking about. So the thing is though, if that's the lineup card and the puck is dropped and the other team says, hey, they put in the wrong guy, he's not filled in on the score sheet, he's done so he ain't playing that game. So those two big goals that he scored, including that second one to give him a little bit of a cushion, they're scrambling. And just like last year, everybody's like, where the one of our core four when the game matters. So crazy, crazy situation before puck drop. But going back to what you said, Whit, Ottawa must have had six to seven odd man rushes during that period of time where they didn't have many shots. It was like 11 or 12 shots. But stolars had to come up so big when the boys were turning things over and and fumble it in their own end. There's no doubt in my mind that they were a little bit puckered up even playing with the lead because it when went 2 0, Ottawa flipped the switch. And then you saw the real Ottawa Senators, the one that we saw the two games prior, who controlled majority of the play. So goaltending absolutely huge. I felt like to a man the defense really stepped up. I felt so maybe more in the beginning of the series with the clutchness of the offense, the power play needed to come through with a big goal. Poppy early on with that big screen in front of the net, probably.

[Whitney]

No, it was just a. That's on the ice, I believe.

[Ryan Whitney]

Not a great goal by all. Mark, as Hank talked about, he said you could still look up without having to sacrifice your foot. Positioning where he brings his right leg in too much where when he goes down on the butterfly, he should cover past the post. He didn't a very heads up shot by Matthews to keep that on the ice and pick that spot. But once again, just like the Vegas game with Mark Stone, it comes down to that net front presence in that screen. So, so happy he chief was getting ridiculed for putting patches in the lineup. Ridiculed. And then people saw him on the second line and they were ready to burn more jerseys. And the fact that he comes through with that big play on the Kneelander goal to get an assist. But that glorious shot in the slot on an unbelievable play by Holmberg, who I thought was very solid. And Max Domi with the patience, coming out from behind the net with that backhand, beautiful clutch goal. Takes a lot of pressure off the boys, especially at the fact that they just tied it up. But, boy, oh, boy, we're on the greener pastures. The second round against the Florida Panthers, Boys, a big, big, big W. You know.

[Biz]

You know why Chief is getting, you know, ridiculed and all these players are getting ridiculed? It's because of dummy fans like you. And hockey Illuminati. Let these fucking guys play. Stop.

[Whitney]

So much pressure. They don't. They don't.

[Biz]

It's like you guys, you, you. I'm looking at you, Paul Bisson. You are the problem.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, yeah?

[Biz]

Yeah, you're the problem.

[Ryan Whitney]

The guy who came on and gave a free yoga session and told everybody calm themselves before puck drop. I'm the problem. I wasn't going crazy. I was telling, hey, let these guys figure it out. Not every game's going to be a Picasso. We could figure it out. So I came on and gave a State of the Union address to tell all the lunatics to calm down. And I'm the fucking problem.

[Biz]

Well, yeah, you're the problem. After the game, you got confetti flying in the office. You just won Stanley Cup.

[Ryan Whitney]

You can't celebrate a win.

[Biz]

This isn't basically if you're not used to winning. But those guys, they're used to winning. You see what they said after the game? Brad Marchant gets player of the game to close out the Tampa Bay Lightning. Hey, guys.

[Whitney]

Yeah.

[Biz]

This is all the guy who had.

[Ryan Whitney]

To jump ship to try to win another championship. Oh, that guy.

[Whitney]

That's where he's going. That's where he's going. And I respect you. Piss.

[Ryan Whitney]

You gotta find storylines, Durant.

[Whitney]

You gotta find storyline.

[Ryan Whitney]

You mean he's probably got a worse hairline than Kevin. Durant had to jump ship, go over to Golden State warriors to finally win his championship. Bergeron and Tara were on his jock strap around.

[Biz]

It wasn't a call.

[Ryan Whitney]

First time, it didn't even count. You want to talk to me about Brad Marchand now for Hawk.

[Whitney]

For hockey Illuminati like it is interesting. Pacioretti, right? Number 67. 1967. A little. That's. That's a sign. That's a possible sign. Also, pacioretti making that play on Jensen. Jensen has full control just inside. Just inside his defensive blue line. Great stick to get it away. Nylander gets that shot off makes it two nothing. That was a huge moment.

[Biz]

Yeah.

[Whitney]

Credit for Ruby. And then I think I said on game notes when you got off, this is why they brought him in. Right. They needed a coach who'd been there, done that, who'd been through the wars, been through the battles of the playoffs. The ups and downs, the swings where Leafs fans really make it so difficult for. For anyone on the team to stay somewhat in the middle if they are paying attention, which, God, I hope they're not. And I don't think they are. But it's a market where it's up and down and up and down. In Burubi, starting with the first goal of the series, when he looked at Mark Savard with the death eyes and said, calm the fuck down. He is a calm person, a calm coach, and he got him on through. And the core four, the core five with nice, they. They all did their job in game six. They really did. They're in for a big time, big time different type test coming up here. And we'll get into that. But the Toronto Maple Leafs have gone through. Merle, do you have anything other on this series that. That you thought of once? It.

[Ryan Whitney]

Anything else you want to take credit for? Mur. Maybe. Maybe the Leafs power play? I don't know.

[Merles]

I was going to pump your tires with the busy bet it came out hot. Got the two goal scores right out of the way early. And then there was chances. They had chances. Nice. Had a couple of good chances for the point. Tavares was in on a couple, but a great bet. I'm happy I was never a bigger lease fan. Cause I was on it with you last night. But I still would like to know if it's true the refs are the one that found out Nylander was out of there. And why are they getting involved? That's not their job, I don't think.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, you know what? I actually caught wind that I have a very special guest coming on who actually called in the glitch and I want to bring him in right now.

[Whitney]

Is this Illuminati?

[Biz]

Yeah, you know it is.

[Will Arnett]

All right, guys, listen, listen. And it's all fun and games, but we're getting down to work. Guys like me and Biz, we're getting down to work. We got a war to get to. And last night, Whit, you know, look, Whit's crying. I already got him crying.

[Whitney]

Hey, Will. Will. My team moved on as well. I'm happy.

[Ryan Whitney]

This isn't about you right now.

[Whitney]

Said wit, you're crying. Biz.

[Biz]

Whit, you're not crying.

[Whitney]

Oh, I'm not crying, man.

[Ryan Whitney]

Will, how does it feel, buddy?

[Will Arnett]

It was, it was unbelievable. I, I, I was like. I ran in the other room. My son was in the shower. I was like, get out of the shower. What are you doing? The Leafs just moved on. He's like, what?

[Biz]

The Leaf just beat the eight seed.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Let's go, guys. Pump the brakes.

[Will Arnett]

Listen. Oh, my God. This is, this is like hockey social media, live. You go on there, you make one comment. Biz, you're so, you're so brave. I see you taking people on, telling people to off, which is hilarious. It's unreal. They, they. I was at the game the other night, Biz. You and I were talking about this.

[Ryan Whitney]

You were. I was at the game, sweating, though.

[Will Arnett]

It was sledding, you know, it was tough sledding. I take my dad. My dad's 86. He's having the time of his life, you know, and, and he's been, you know, whatever. People are booing in the stands. I'm like, what are you doing booing? Who boos for their own team? That is just. That is bush league, man. And I'm like, come on, get up.

[Ryan Whitney]

Stand up. I thought they started doing that when they put you on the jumbotron.

[Will Arnett]

Well, that was the first boo. That's true. That. Let's be honest. I got a lot of like, hey, I thought you were going to be a good luck, luck charm. I guess not, eh? And I'm like, I'm with my dad for nothing.

[Ryan Whitney]

Your dad's like, thanks a lot, son.

[Whitney]

You're starting to kind of look like Shanny. Like, remember Shannon had the long flow? Like, he's almost. You're, like, morphing into your guy.

[Will Arnett]

I know people say that a lot. They. People say I'm like a better looking, in better shape Shanny. I get that so much. And I did actually. Do you remember I did that thing about him for the NHL awards years ago when he was, he was head of player safety?

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Which he.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Which brilliantly, before his tenure, it was called, like, you know, penalty or whatever the hell it was called. Player enforcement, and they changed it to player safety. Brilliant move.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Anyway, and then I did that video of him, and I was in pretty good shape at the time, and I, I feel like I made him look good. Let's be honest.

[Ryan Whitney]

You looked unbelievable. What were you most impressed of in that first round from the Leafs?

[Will Arnett]

I was impressed that they just, they just, that they held on that they didn't like. Everybody's going, oh, the collapse. And here we go. You see it all the time. And they didn't, they stuck top. I mean, Pacioretti. Unbelievable. What an unbelievable move. And guess what? Willie Nylander. Is there anybody cooler on the planet than Willie Nylander?

[Ryan Whitney]

Not a lot of guys.

[Will Arnett]

Do you remember? Wait, you were there?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Well, Yan's is a hater. He, he actually pretty much still works for the Florida Panthers, so you might be catching some flack for him. So we're actually going to war with that guy.

[Whitney]

Well, listen, Florida's outfit will remember Nylander's outfit that night.

[Will Arnett]

This is, I was going to say, first of all, Florida has such a long, rich hockey history, but, you know, so we're at, for, we're out for dinner last year at the, at the, at the All Star Game in Toronto. It's, I don't know, negative 10 degrees out and we're sitting there, Shanny was with us and in comes Willie in, in a tank top, middle of winter. And I'm like, is that the coolest guy I've ever seen?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yep.

[Will Arnett]

Like it was unreal.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, until he shuts it down on the ice a little bit and doesn't back check. But hey, I got cool too.

[Whitney]

But that's cool when you're, when you're one of these TikTok players.

[Will Arnett]

But you know what? His game has changed all of them and changed. Watching Matthew's game change the way it has in the last year has been super, super amazing to watch. Seeing him lead by, by, you know, skating back and checking guys and playing in the, in, in the defensive zone has been unbelievable. And, and watching him not carry the puck as much through the neutral zone, you know, dishing it off to other guys, trying to set it up, really trying to be the quarterback. Much more than just getting in there and sniping has been unreal. And I think that there is, you do see that difference. There is such a team mentality now, which is, which is great.

[Whitney]

I, I think we should mention biz. Sorry. I knew the Leafs were going to win game six when I saw the report come out. Matthews didn't break his own stick in game five. Everyone thought it was frustration and Matthews was disgusted. And he had broken Ridley Greg's stick in game one or two. And that was a nice move, right? Fuck. Fuck them. Fuck the sense. But now game five comes around, he's breaking his own stick. They're getting shouted at home. Well, the report comes out that was actually Ridley Greg's Stick again. And I had wondered when the clip came, when the clip originally came out, I wondered. He broke the stick and threw it on the ice. I'm like, why is he throwing it on the ice like that? Why wouldn't he give it? No, he actually grabbed it on the way to the bench. And I was like, oh. It wasn't frustration, it wasn't disgust. The Leafs are still okay. Matthews isn't losing his mind. And he goes on to score. He gets the first power play goal, I believe in third. 31 attempts in series clinching possibility games. And then the Leafs go. And they, and, and I thought they were going to blow it. I really did. But I'm happy for Will, I'm happy for Biz, I'm happy for my son Wyatt. Even though I was blatantly rooting against him as he was up in bed yelling, what's the score? What's the score? But I now know that you guys are going to meet the train that's coming. The new train, the bright line that goes through Florida.

[Merles]

Do.

[Whitney]

Do any ants. And you know, I'm going to let you guys enjoy this. But I did want to mention that Matthews was never disgusted breaking his own stick. It was another member of the Ottawa Senator stick again.

[Ryan Whitney]

What? Yance, do you have anything to say?

[Biz]

I do, yeah. More towards Will. Not you, sure. But any, you know, unsettledies. How good do you go feeling going into this series after, you know, going overtime? Three games against Ottawa. Not a great team. A team that you guys probably should have beaten four, maybe five. Got to give them credit. They played hard. But on paper, everyone talking before the series, you guys are going to work them. You guys, it's going to be a, you know, sweep. Maybe a gentleman sweep. But any, any inkling in your brain that it's like where you, you really think about the game of hockey and the game of life. That. Do you think that you guys have a chance against Florida?

[Will Arnett]

Game of life go deep much? Okay, first of all, let me say, Yens, all due respect as an official representative and ambassador here with my co. Ambassador. My. My jacket's not. I don't have it. I. I'll never wear it. I don't wear it before. I'm on the. I'm on the west coast. I never wear it before 9am and that's one of the unwritten rules. He knows that I'm not supposed to mention that. It's like Fight Club. So the deal is this. Jens, all due respect, this is the NHL. Okay? So wake up Any team is capable on any day. Again, I say that. Jens, I would never say that to your face in case you take all my teeth out. But yeah, let me just say, all due respect, this is the NHL. Anybody's capable of anything any given night. The center is a good team. They made it into the playoffs. Every guy on that team was the best playing hockey player within 200 miles of where he grew up. These. It's not a bunch of scrubs. Those are all unbelievable professional hockey players. Brady Tkachuk, any team in the league would love to have him tomorrow. And they pay. They pay a gazillion dollars for him. Claude Giroux is a Hall of Famer. I mean, you got these guys and the lineup is. So to expect that you're going to go through and just crush these guys, you know, is. Is ridiculous. And they're young and they're. So you have that. The Leafs did win in overtime, but they did win those games in overtime. And. And they lost all those games in overtime against the Bruins over the years against whomever. Name the team that they lost all those series in overtime. And you could say to those teams that went on to win the Stanley cup, well, you won the Stanley cup, but you. The Leafs took you to overtime four times. That's not on the score sheet, man. You know, so.

[Ryan Whitney]

And keep it. And keep in mind, Will, like, we didn't have to like run any players late and try to injure them. We didn't have to get help from the league by getting somebody suspended who did something pretty much exactly similar to what.

[Biz]

I just don't hit anyone.

[Will Arnett]

Well, we're too busy playing hockey. Y. That's the problem. We're not there. It's not a clown show for us. You know what I mean?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, exactly.

[Will Arnett]

They're acting like Ding Dongs. You know, we're out there playing the game of hockey like a bunch of professionals. We are the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club, okay? And we come with a lot. We have a lot. We play with a lot of pride. Wit is about to throw up.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, the one thing I want to ask you though, is how awesome is it with the feeling of having an actual starting goaltender, a guy that you can trust, that you believe. By the way, who is Florida's backup?

[Will Arnett]

Does it make you look great?

[Ryan Whitney]

It's not about Florida. Right.

[Will Arnett]

Does it make Florida look great if that was your backup? Because.

[Whitney]

No, it makes him look even better.

[Will Arnett]

Will. I don't think so. I go the other way with it. With. Okay, okay. I go the other Way with it. Stol Arts has been unbelievable. What a monster. I mean, I mean, this guy, so cool. I mean, think about, think about what he's been thrown into and how he's played. It's unreal, you know, I mean, a year ago, was everybody bidding on trying to get Stol Arts? No. And now again, here's a guy that every single team, anybody who's watching would be like, boy, I wish we had him in that, you know? So, I mean, do you think the Kings wish they had stolen?

[Whitney]

I mean, I'm not going to lie. I kind of wish we did. And we just went four in a row with our backup.

[Will Arnett]

Edmondson would love to have him. By the way. I love wit. All due in fairness. And my, my buddy is going to kill me. My buddy Louis. Let's, let's just tip our 40s for Louis K. He's the biggest Kings fan out here is my buddy. I love him, but I love, I love Conor and I love seeing Conor win. I love that guy. He's unreal. I mean, it's just, I'm, I'm pretty stoked for that Oilers team up and down the the lineup. Even seeing Scorp get another chance is so awesome. I mean, it's pretty sick. And so I, I, I actually texted with near the end of the season, I guess it was like in March with Connor, and he said, Leafs, Oilers now. What are you going to like, where's your allegiance going to be?

[Ryan Whitney]

I think he meant he was going to be going to the Leafs once time with the Oilers.

[Whitney]

We'll save that. Take that. You had that changed the whole series for the. By the way, people on spaces were mentioning that to me. Go into the others.

[Will Arnett]

Let's talk about Connor Leafs. I mean, can we talk about that in an unofficial.

[Ryan Whitney]

Show? Right? Yeah, I don't want to kill the buzz. Merles, was there anything you wanted to ask? Will, I don't, I know we don't want to take too much of his time, but Merles, you got, you got.

[Will Arnett]

I saw you were the victim of a pretty, pretty robust you this morning on social media.

[Merles]

He's been coming after me all week, but, you know, I know Puck. He doesn't. We'll get to that series in a little bit, but now that the league.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm glad you stopped by. The channel that Merle's built, this whole. He built the whole station. The Spitting Chiclets YouTube channel from 404,000 subscribers.

[Merles]

But now that you guys are actually on the, on the, on the real stage you got through the first round. Who's a Maple Leaf player that will be watching now that's kind of the unsung hero for. For the Leafs that is going to help you guys get to the second. Through the second round of the third round.

[Will Arnett]

Wendell Clark. Sorry, what's the question?

[Merles]

There's a guy in the Leafs that we don't know.

[Will Arnett]

It's always Wendell Clark for me. I don't know. You know. Yeah, it doesn't it seem like every playoff somebody emerges who nobody picked. Right. That sort of that dark horse player. Tampa had a few over the years guys who stepped up and all of a sudden had three or four unbelievably timely goals. I think, I think that Willie's going to be that guy. Would I like to see, you know, who's got better hockey sense than Mitch Marner? Watching Mitch Marner kill, you know, on the penalty kill is almost as exciting as watching them score. It's unreal watching. He's just like a. He's just playing chess out there on the power kill. I think it's pretty cool.

[Ryan Whitney]

The power kill. Yeah, that's what we should call it.

[Will Arnett]

That's what I know who I'd like.

[Ryan Whitney]

To see step up who I thought played okay this series. He was physical, but still hasn't scored no goals in the last 17 Bobby McMahon meets.

[Will Arnett]

There's no again. And by the way, he looked pretty good last night.

[Ryan Whitney]

He was hitting. He's physical.

[Will Arnett]

He was hitting. He was quick on the forecheck. He was getting there along the boards. He was really trying to go for it. And he'll get his chance. And when he gets his chance, he, you know, he's. He's pretty dangerous.

[Whitney]

Well, it'll only get easier against Florida, you know.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I got. I got two X factors in the series.

[Will Arnett]

Let's go.

[Ryan Whitney]

Because of the Florida Panthers and how they're a goon squad. Y. I think that Ryan Reeves draws in and if I was Craig Barube, I would put him in game one. I'd have him patrol in that blue line.

[Whitney]

Who you taking out?

[Ryan Whitney]

Anybody on the. I would take anybody on the fourth line. Yeah, I don't care. Doesn't matter to me. I'd put Revo in to set the tone. Maybe put him as like a seventh definite anywhere. Just put Revo on the red line and warm up. And number two, Craig Barub. I think he should challenge Paul Maurice first game, look over, give him the and do that. Challenge him really serious upside down from the start.

[Whitney]

We're full WWE mode.

[Will Arnett]

Well, we're just. Yeah. Oh, come on.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's. That's the Florida Panthers. Mo. Yeah, they're trying to be a bunch of bullies. Scrum it up every time, put Revo in the lineup. I might even dress Chief. Put him in gear.

[Will Arnett]

Look, I mean, look, both.

[Ryan Whitney]

He could. Reggie Dunlop, he could coach.

[Will Arnett]

And it is their game. And if you don't believe it, watch their game. Watch any of their games the way they play. And also just watch the Four Nations. Look at that clown show that started before the puck dropped, right? Just like starting the game with three fights in a row. Like, you know, give me a break.

[Whitney]

I. I just don't get like, Biz has been on this train.

[Will Arnett]

I mean, that's speaking as a professional. That's seeking as a ch, you know, Canadian champion hockey team who lives in.

[Whitney]

The U.S. no, but like, it's like, we're professional. We don't play dirty. We don't run around and try to hit, hurt people. It's like, dude, this is the Stanley cup playoffs. You've been watching this since you were seven years old. Biz, what part of you thinks that how Florida plays and what you're saying you don't do isn't part of winning the Stanley Cup?

[Ryan Whitney]

Dirt bags.

[Whitney]

Nah. Yeah, you won't admit it.

[Biz]

You want to be dirt to fight the other coach. What are you talking about?

[Ryan Whitney]

Clean fight and clean fair challenge. 1 1v1.

[Whitney]

Because Lemieux was a clean player and he didn't win anything. Right? Right.

[Will Arnett]

Two men enter, one men leave. That's all we're saying. Right, Biz?

[Ryan Whitney]

That's what I'm saying.

[Biz]

Well, I just got to give you a compliment. Well, I think a lot of Toronto Maple Leafs fans should take a little bit out of your page. The way that you act, the way that you appreciate all these players, talk highly about them. Just a love. You can see your love of the game. And then you got idiots like this guy in the top, right, who just want coaches fighting and Ryan Reeves fighting and warm ups. Let the players play Biz.

[Will Arnett]

Listen, take a page out of Will's.

[Ryan Whitney]

This guy support this guy's supporting teams where guys are injecting each other with needles in their ass, cheating 20 games before playoffs to try to get the extra edge. And then they're going full RA Road rage or roid rage. Excuse me? Mode. You know, game five.

[Will Arnett]

I don't know. I don't know anything about that. I can't. I. I won't comment on anything like that. I'm not taking.

[Ryan Whitney]

They probably do have road rage, too, in those golf carts down there.

[Will Arnett]

Y. I appreciate it. Listen, man. Yeah, I do. You know, I think that everybody's got their lane, and so Biz is out there on the front line. He's fighting in a dirty war, and he knows what his job is, and he's out there doing it, and he. He's taking the assignment. By the way, Biz, your State of the Leaf Nation last night address. I found tears. I stood up.

[Whitney]

Oh. With the confetti after, like, they won the cup.

[Ryan Whitney]

Don't thank me. Thank Merle.

[Will Arnett]

My favorite part was watching. Was watching Hank and going like, oh, man, I hope this confetti doesn't get in my hair and on my suit. You know what? I. He's so. He's like the most handsome guy who's ever been in the hockey world. He's such a. He's such a cool dude.

[Ryan Whitney]

That dude unbelievable my hair out of place.

[Whitney]

Oh, well, thank you so much. We appreciate you coming on. You're. You're a legend on this show. And I will, like, I gotta be a little honest here that Keith says, be more like Will Arnett as a Leafs fan. The problem is this guy's texting Shanny. I mean, it's 50 to 60 times a day, so if you somehow get Shanny's number, I mean, you don't want to be a complete stalker like Will is, but I guess he has the jacket, so you could do what you want, but Will Arnett.

[Will Arnett]

I don't want to pull Reg. The first jacket.

[Biz]

Wow.

[Ryan Whitney]

The first.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Biz]

There's already turmoil in the team.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, it's. It's because I saw. You know, I saw one of their. I saw Wendell wearing one of their alumni jackets, and I said, I got to have one of those. And he's like, well, you never played for the team, dude. I was like, well, that's a fair point. But there's.

[Whitney]

Neither did Bass.

[Ryan Whitney]

He wasn't with him shooting in the gym. No. We gotta ask you, Will.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Prediction, round two.

[Will Arnett]

Prediction, prediction, round two. I hate to say that I think we go seven. I think this is a grind. Look, I love the fact that Florida's gotta travel to us, right? And that's. No, you know, it's. Whatever. It's a three hour flight. Who.

[Whitney]

No, that's a big deal, Will.

[Will Arnett]

But it is a big deal. And. And so I think that that's good. And I really hope. I have a lot of faith in Leafs fans that they're going to get up and, and they're going to cheer for this team. And here's the other thing I always want to remind people, and I love, I love Leafs Nation. I love being a part of it. This is. Think about. It's a strong fan base that has been winless for over 50 years.

[Whitney]

Torture. Tortured.

[Will Arnett]

Tortured. And that they still show up as it says something. So when I say that, they boo. I'm not shaming them. I'm just saying, guys, come on, remember, you got to remember. And you guys all know, every one of those guys who's out there on the ice wearing, wearing the Maple Leaf, they don't. They didn't come there to lose. They don't want to lose. They want to win. And for whatever reason that night, the four nothing night, they lost, it didn't click. Whatever happened, happened. There's not every one of those guys left the rink that night dejected because they wanted to win. These are guys who are at the top of their game and they're incredible competitors and they need our support. So let's stand up. Let's stand up in what you call the Yacht Club. I will say I had a few guys around me, Biz, and I, I said to you last year, like, I don't believe in the Yacht Club, but I saw a few guys in suits sitting there chitchatting, drinking red wine. If you're drinking red wine in the stands at a Leafs game, you got to check yourself in the mirror. Okay? I swear to God, I have. You know, you should either be rocking ice cold Molson or nothing else. And if you're going to have a drink, have it behind the stands. But when you. Or Diet Coke or tons of Diet Coke.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I meant a bag of Coke, but.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, bag of Coke.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, sure. I think there were a few of those, too. One dude out of shades up in the Raft game, I'm like, what are you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Since. Since you live in la? Yeah, majority of the time, yeah. Matt Murley here has been very critical of the LA Kings, calling them frauds all season long to the point where later in the season they finished 9:1. And he was like, you know what? I'm wrong. They're not frauds. And then has flip flop after watching that first round series, how do you feel about him kind of degrading the players and the effort they put in to have their coach ruin it, but all of a sudden just continue to call them frauds?

[Will Arnett]

Well, it's a slap in the face.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's a slap in the face.

[Whitney]

Yeah, they Just lost for the fourth year in a row to the same team.

[Merles]

Guys, they were up two nothing in the series and they lost four straight to a team without their best defenseman and a backup goalie that used to play in Austria.

[Will Arnett]

But, but again, I'm going to remind you, I. And I'm going to start naming some names and then you're going to start realizing what we're talking about. We're.

[Ryan Whitney]

We're.

[Will Arnett]

We're talking about Leon Dryle, we're talking about Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard. These guys, they're no joke, right? I mean. I mean, we were there. I remember my. I remember being on that All Star, being part of that All Star weekend and sitting there on the. Standing there on the bench doing zero, having zero impact, just as a bystander. But watching. Watching Connor McDavid pick up speed between the blue lines was one of the most incredible. And I've been to Formula One races. This was more exciting than watching. It was unreal. So. So when you say that they lost to a team that they should have won against, again, I throw that out. This is the playoffs. We're talking a whole new. These guys are at the. Who. Who's ever played with the kind of skill at that speed like Connor McDavid? Nobody ever.

[Ryan Whitney]

Thank you for talking some sense.

[Will Arnett]

Nobody's ever done it. That goal that he almost had last night, that he put that he. That. That when he tried to go short side in the. In that. In that top corner. If I had gone in, it would have gone. I mean, that's. Every one of his moves is a highlight move. And so. Yeah, you lost against that guy. No, it's like saying you lost against Muhammad Ali, like. Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Awesome.

[Will Arnett]

Any more questions, boys?

[Ryan Whitney]

No, we appreciate. Appreciate you.

[Will Arnett]

Listen, I appreciate you guys. You guys are. Look at this. What a beauty.

[Ryan Whitney]

I. I'm honored to be a member.

[Whitney]

My friend, the history of that organization.

[Will Arnett]

I'm gonna leave you this. I was FaceTiming with a friend of mine last night and then you came on in the. It was between periods with the jacket and the tie, and I, And I literally pointed the phone. I said, look at this beauty. Look at this beauty. Eh? I mean, it's.

[Ryan Whitney]

Don't. Don't have too much fun. We don't want to upset Keith Yandel. It's all business.

[Whitney]

Well, yeah, it was the first.

[Biz]

You guys are playing in the cricket already.

[Will Arnett]

Hey, listen. Yeah, we have a lot of.

[Ryan Whitney]

Started at Will's place for.

[Will Arnett]

We are. Well, I'm driving the bus. I'M driving the bus.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay, nice.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. And then I'll plan the route. And then you plan the route. Well, you're out front with a stick clearing the way. You know what I mean?

[Ryan Whitney]

The one from last night, the leaf stick.

[Will Arnett]

I love that leaf stick. Listen, all jokes aside and everything about the clown show. Yeah. The Florida Panthers are a good hockey club, and there's no question about it. And we said. And that's why. And read between the lines. Biz said, we're going up against Goliath. We have respect for this hockey club. Obviously, defending Stanley cup champs. They got. They beat down Tampa Bay, so there's no question about that. But we got to get ourselves geared up to go up into this battle, and that's what we're doing.

[Whitney]

Will, thank you for coming on. I will leave you with this. Florida has no respect for you. That's the difference. That's playoff hockey.

[Will Arnett]

Well, good.

[Whitney]

You guys can be the professionals. You are good. But they have no respect for you.

[Will Arnett]

Good. Well, a month from now, when they're cleaning out their cleats, they can. They can question whether that was the right move.

[Whitney]

Okay, everyone.

[Ryan Whitney]

Two weeks. Two weeks. Not a month. Two weeks.

[Whitney]

We. We got rid of the skates, guys. We're playing softball in the second round.

[Will Arnett]

Because I live in California.

[Ryan Whitney]

Boys on those.

[Whitney]

All right. Beef sledge.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey. What an appearance. Round of applause, Chiclets Nation. Let's go. Will Arnett.

[Whitney]

Will Arnett and Biz, the tag team. The two guys who never played for the team, leading the way. I respect it.

[Merles]

The grand marshal of the parade. I would have said it earlier, but I'm afraid now you'll steal that line from me and probably use it on PNP tomorrow.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, hey, I'm gonna do a State of the Union address. Come do it on my channel, and let's get 10 times the viewership we normally get. And then I'm gonna take credit for the idea that of a State of Union.

[Merles]

But I said stay. I said I came up with the picture of the meme that was all my ideas, and you delivered the content. I'm the idea.

[Whitney]

We're in his head.

[Ryan Whitney]

I mean, he's rattling, this guy.

[Whitney]

He's rattled. But, guys, I'm gonna go out west, and I'm going to remind you of something. It kind of involves what Will just said. There's a place in Edmonton, Alberta, Rogers Arena. Nobody, and I mean nobody's drinking red wine at Rogers Arena. And this place is a terror dome. It's. Look at Murr. Yari. Curry, Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe, all in one. Will Arnett. And the Edmonton Oilers just stuffed the LA Kings in a locker for the fourth straight year. This was the best Kings team we had to face. Merle's brought up. We're missing our best defenseman. And still, still we go on to win four straight games. Send them pack. And that is now going back, going back to game four against Dallas in the Western Conference final. Game six against Dallas in the Western Conference final. Game four against the Panthers in the Stanley cup final. Game six against the Panthers in Western Conference final. I mean, Stanley cup final. And then three in a row in this. That's seven straight home wins. That is a home ice advantage that is unlike any in the league.

[Merles]

What about game three of the Stanley cup finals?

[Whitney]

True. We'll forget that. We'll forget that. We'll forget that. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter.

[Ryan Whitney]

That guy Biz is back seven and one.

[Whitney]

Okay, listen, listen. I'm gonna say right now that this team. Something happened. And I'm not talking Hiller with the challenge. I'm not talking sitting back in game four, Game five. This team just found it. They found their legs. They found their depth in game five and game six combined. Leon and Connor had three points. That. That's. We scored nine goals. It's Connor Brown. It's Adam Henrique, it's the janitor, Matthias Yanmark. It's the D doing together. And Calvin Pickard, for as insane as it was for him to start some of these games that people were like, you got to put Skinner back in. The guy won four in a row. Merle's mentioned he was in Austria. And the Kings, yes, they didn't have the depth the Oilers had and, and they had the lead. And then they sat back and Bis can blame the coaches. Biz put. Biz is putting no onus on the players of the Kings, nothing. But it was the Edmonton Oilers players who came together as one. And now, similar to you, Biz, we're. We're going to war. We got a tough one in front of us. I'm not going to deny that. And we start in Vegas and they took us down in six two years ago. But I can't believe how good the Oilers looked the last two games. It's really reminding me of the run they went on last year, which, remember, nobody gave them a chance last year against Dallas. Oh, they're going to get worked by Dallas. Nope, nope, they're not. And I think really it's going to be an incredible Series, and we're going to need goal Tang. And I don't really know who you start. I think you have to go, Pickard. Game one.

[Ryan Whitney]

You got to go, Picker.

[Whitney]

Yeah, you got to go pick.

[Ryan Whitney]

Just McDavid going over them as soon as they won the other night in overtime skate. He's just got the confidence. Yeah, he. He lets in a go a bad goal from period to period, but so does Skinner. Right. And it feels like Pickard's at least got a little bit of the mojo and they're playing better in front of him and let him, you know, maybe he's going to get more used to the way they are playing in front of him, you know, and moving away from him. I felt like getting that goal for Darnell. Nurse was such a huge confidence booster. Maybe he can change things up moving forward. I didn't think he looked very strong for the entire series.

[Whitney]

You can't play him and Bouchard together.

[Ryan Whitney]

You gotta split them up. You gotta split them up. I thought Evander Kane evolved throughout the series. Like, you could tell he got his feet wet and got used to the back to the playoff hockey very quickly, where he's going to be a factor. Yeah, your guys. Your guys depth, definitely. Wait. Woke up. Excuse me. And was a lot better to the second. The second half of the series with the picker.

[Biz]

The picker thing. I had Grant Fear as a goalie coach in Phoenix, and he always used to tell me, I think. I think I've heard Wayne say it, too. It's like I just had to make the last save. I knew my guys could go out and score a goal. Like, he didn't care if they won 86 or 8 7. He just had to make that one extra save. And that's all Pickard's got to do because there is no lead that's safe with. You know, when you're playing Edmonton, you could be down three in the first period and end up losing six four. It's like, so there's no lead for those guys that I think they're not comfortable with. Like, they go in after the second period, down two. I don't think there's any panic in their game.

[Whitney]

There's a lot of belief in the Oilers room and it's. It stems back to last year. And yes, we know how game seven went, but to come back in that series, like, that creates something. And all year it was kind of like, what is this team? And there were so many changes, and there were guys brought in who weren't playing Great. I mean, Skinner has. Skinner played one playoff game after like 15 years and he hasn't played since. So I feel bad for him. But you see, like, they trade for Frederick and he's injured and he comes back and he gets injured 10 seconds into the game. It's like, oh my God, what is this trade? But they stuck with him in this series and he did not look good, like at the beginning of the season. And even for Kane, he's starting game two. It's like, God, you understand you've been out this long. But as I said at the beginning, they found their legs. They found something. They found the way they need to play. And as much as you want to chirp, Jim Hiller, Knobloch, did. Did really decide, like, I'm not gonna just play my big guns 25 minutes. These guys, if we're gonna continue to move on and play deeper into the playoffs, we need depth, scoring. And by playing these guys more like Brown in game six was. I mean, he had three points. Like the pass to Henrique on the two on one. Fighting off a defender. Like, that's the guy we saw in the finals against Florida. And that's the guy that when you lose the players that they did, it's like, all right, we're gonna need Brown and Yanmark and. And they waited and they waited and now they're here. So looking at Vegas, it's. It's scary. And we'll get to Vegas. They moved on. But it's just hard for me not to believe in the Oilers. Like, they always, always come through. I said on game notes, they are. It is a roller coaster. But goddamn, are their games entertaining and fun to watch. It's. It's crazy the amount of skill you see, and I don't know if I'm being a homer here and biz like, shoot me straight. But I watch Toronto, Ottawa, and then I'll. And other series as well. Tampa, Florida, and then I click over at 10:00 Eastern and I watch the Oilers and the games just look faster. The games look like they're at a different speed. And I know Will's bringing up McDavid speed and the team speed, but they are so fun to watch because of the pace of all these games. To me, it's like I'm just sitting at the edge of my couch and it's back and forth, back and forth, but it's always entertaining. And that's why I'm loyal to the oil. That's why I know this team could continue to move on you're saying more.

[Ryan Whitney]

Entertaining than watching Toronto?

[Whitney]

I think so, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, I would agree with that.

[Whitney]

I also thought necessarily always a good thing, right.

[Ryan Whitney]

I thought there were point in times where Leafs looked timid and nervous and you know, not going after it the way that you see the Oilers do, especially the top guys. I think that was my biggest gripe where they'd have like 8 to 10 minute lapses where normally Edmonton, if they have a few bad shifts, they're able to turn back the momentum in their favor quicker and control that. And usually that's done by at least Leon and Connor. But like I said, throughout the course of that series it felt like even the third and fourth line started contributing like that Arvidson play over to Yanmark in that one game. So they are just. They're starting to get their feet wet. They're not looking as old, small and slow as I thought coming into playoffs.

[Whitney]

Yes.

[Ryan Whitney]

And I'm still not going to agree that LA is the Fraud squad. I think there was a lot of decisions that the coaches made, including spreading out ice time appropriately. The call to challenge that one goal, the not addressing sitting back in the third periods not only from game three, but also game four, which was even worse when there was 113 shot attempts. So like I screenshotted a tweet and it just has to be so frustrating for Kings fans because you saw a Vesna nominated goalie in net. You saw top power play in playoffs home ice advantage. They led the series as far as in minutes like most of the series. They had the second most goals in playoffs at that point. They got contributions from guys like Clark on the back end who he had two goals. You had a defensive making nine and a half who had more goals than. And other younger players stepped up.

[Whitney]

Spence scored in Game 6 and LA fans are like, why hasn't he even play more? It was a sick goal too.

[Ryan Whitney]

I know, I know. But that ain't his decision. That ain't the player's decision. You're proving my point. Kempe, Deno and Gavrikov elevated their play. I thought Gavrov had a heck of a series, especially at the fact that him and the three other guys had to play all the ice time on the back end. And then I, yeah, then it says Edmonton wins the series. I just don't. It doesn't make sense. It doesn't. I think that they got hosed and I don't think they deserve the Fraud squad title. And that's all I got to say about that. But credit to Edmonton and everything they were able to do and make. The adjustments that Knobloch made last year in that run just like he did this year. The adjustments he usually makes work out and that's why he's a great coach. And the thing is is LA didn't have that and if they did, it would have been series over in four or five games.

[Merles]

The coach is part of the team and he is. Is the maybe the biggest reason they lost, but he's part of the team. They cannot beat the Oilers. It's in their head. That's. Oilers have the experience. They go in the locker room down. We're like, whatever, we're going to beat this team. We always beat this team. And LA Kings are thinking the opposite. Oh, we can't beat this. Probably going to lose it this time.

[Ryan Whitney]

Players podcast the whole organization to call that effort that the players put forth fraudulent. I. I can't. It doesn't sit well with me and also it takes away from what the Edmonton Oilers are with, as Will Arnett put. So I'm going to leave it at that. I'm not going to argue with you anymore. But the details of. Oh, I'm going to release a statement. Okay. We're going to call it the State, State, State of the Union. Like a lot, a lot of discrepancies here, Mercury, but we're going to move that.

[Merles]

That team like we knew it. So we don't need to talk about him anymore. The whole organization's frauds. They traded Jonathan Quick to the Columbus Blue Jackets. They put up a statue of Dustin Brown like the whole organization just. They're done.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's chirping a captain who won two Stanley Cups. I can't believe it. I can't believe it.

[Whitney]

Hey, they haven't won a series in 11 years now and four in a row to. To Edmonton. It is.

[Ryan Whitney]

This guy's claim to fame is wearing the number that McKinnon now wears in color and he's chirping a guy who has a Statue outside of crypto.com, who's got two Stanley Cups that he captained.

[Merles]

Where's Jonathan Quick? Where's the Jonathan Quick statue? Instead they trade him to Columbus.

[Biz]

Still playing.

[Ryan Whitney]

He probably doesn't want it anymore.

[Whitney]

Yeah, they're going to give him one when he retires, I believe.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't think he's showing up because of mer.

[Will Arnett]

I think.

[Biz]

I think that topic's a little sensitive for Biz because I think he sees a lot of what the Leafs had to deal with with the Bruins For a long time. And the Kings not being able to beat that one team, that's fair. I mean, at the end of the day, right? Like, even Will said it, like, you lose to fucking Connor McDavid, like in Leon Draisettle, like, these guys are top, top tier players, two of the best in the world, if not the two best. And I agree with you, Biz. I don't think the blame should be on the players as much as the coaches for not putting them in the right situations, not give them the right game plan to win. And maybe, maybe they did and they didn't execute it the right way. But, you know, from, you know, sitting on my couch, it looked like they did what they did what they were being told and it did not work and they kept doing it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Why don't we get the chat involved? I'm interested to hear. We don't need to hear the answer quite yet, but gee, you can kind of see how the answers come in. Would you deem them the fraud or choke squad? That's the last question I'm going to ask.

[Whitney]

You want to be either one?

[Ryan Whitney]

I. I want Merle to be corrected in saying that he's called him a fraud squad. Yes. I want to. I want to hear choke squad out of his mouth.

[Whitney]

I just am with him. That. That includes the coach. I. This is a.

[Ryan Whitney]

We can move on.

[Whitney]

This is an endless argument. The last thing I want to say about the Oilers is Klingberg was signed in the middle of the year, right. And he didn't look great. And he's coming back from this hip surgery and you don't know what to expect. And kind of risk free with the deal. And at one point it's like, all right, he doesn't have it anymore. And we talked a lot about the deal he turned down from Dallas and how much money he cost himself and kind of feeling bad, dude, that. That guy was unreal. In that series, including the save last night, I forget what the score was. He's Pickard got like outside the crease. He kind of run over and he ends up like saving a goal. Like he's sitting on the puck, which people told me that should have been a penalty shot. I'm like, no, he didn't put his hand on it. But then Butcher Cross is like, no, that should be a penalty shot. Did you know? I thought it was only if your hand covered it in the crease. Apparently, if it's. If you cover it in any way. I didn't.

[Biz]

I thought it was hand too.

[Whitney]

Yeah, so Klingberg was great. Can't wait to see what, what happens with, with Vegas. I mean, what a series it's going to be. I think, I think I'm kind of like, I'm kind of you right now. Biz where everyone, everyone's picking against us. Can, can we battle through the adversity of the Internet and come on top and beat two, the last two Stanley cup champs? That's the question. I don't know. I don't know.

[Ryan Whitney]

But I don't. I think if, I think if Han Hanifin and Petro don't pick up their game, I didn't feel like they had a great series against Minnesota. It was nice to see that, that Eichel and the big boys like Mark Stone, those guys picked up their play towards the second half of that series against Minnesota. So if Petro and Hannifin are a lot better and I go on the boys with. I think they moved up William Carlson to that top line. I think if they continue to keep buzzing right now that, that they have a pretty good chance of taking down the Oilers. But I mean with those two players, man, it's hard to count them out.

[Whitney]

Murals, why don't you, why don't you talk to us quickly about DraftKings before we go on to the next series because there's some action as these second rounds begin and we still have one game seven coming and the possibility of another.

[Merles]

We have so much action. NHL playoffs. But wit Derby week is here. The Kentucky Derby. Gentlemen, suit up in your sharpest ladies. Let those wide brim hats turn heads. The race is on tomorrow. But who will rise above the rest and be crowned king of the track? Find out on DK Horse. The number one downloaded horse betting app DraftKings is turning up the thrill with the king of the track promotion. Here's how to get in. Head to the DK Horse app. Opt in and bet $5 or more on a horse to win the Kentucky Derby. If your pick crosses the finish line first, you'll win a share of $1 million prize pool. Who will reign supreme? Download the DK Horse app and use code Chicklets. That's code Chiclets on DK Horse. Bet $5 or more on a horse to win the Derby for your shot at a piece of 1 million only on DraftKings. The Crown is yours and I'm going to give you a little pick, a little little touch. Today's the Kentucky Oaks which is the girls running the biggest race. But tomorrow, Kentucky Derby. It's going to Be wet. There's a horse called Sandman. Remember who we used to call Sandman? Bugsy. So he's a 17 horse right now. I will be on him. Sandman to win the derby, but head over to DK Horse app gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER 18 and over, 21 and over in certain states to open owner access in advanced deposit wagering account and.

[Will Arnett]

Resident of state where DK horse is available.

[Whitney]

Eligibility restrictions apply.

[Will Arnett]

Void where prohibited.

[Merles]

Opt in and place a $5 plus straight win.

[Whitney]

Bet on the Derby first.

[Merles]

Eligible bet only. Must win to share $1 million cash reward via click to claim. Expires in 30 days.

[Will Arnett]

Ends May 3.

[Biz]

See [e-mail] bet/offers details.

[Ryan Whitney]

Are you allowed to say why you called him that?

[Merles]

Yeah, he's. He was always hungover and he's. His legs would be trash in the morning, so it looked like he was skating in quicksand.

[Whitney]

He said it. It feels like I'm just in quicksand. I can't move.

[Merles]

Guys, we did run a poll on the YouTube. Are they the Fraud Squad or Choke squad? And after 500 votes, 53% says choke squad and 47% says fraud squad.

[Biz]

I mean, me and you busy.

[Will Arnett]

We know. We know.

[Biz]

Puck.

[Merles]

It is now 5149. It's moving, though.

[Biz]

Yeah. Because it's all Edmonton.

[Ryan Whitney]

Halfway. All right.

[Merles]

All right.

[Whitney]

Hey, I won my series either way, like we called it.

[Merles]

I will tell you one thing. To transition it as. As an 18 to 1 shareholder in the Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup, I'm happier playing Edmonton than I am la, because LA had Vegas's number. So I'm. I'm happy with everything. Edmonton, Vegas, we're going to war with. And I know we got.

[Whitney]

We got wars all over this, all over this show, but before we get to that, Merle's game of the month last night. And buddy, you were in trouble. Merles dropped his game of the month on May 1st. Nonetheless. So he's got the whole month to go. He already took his game of the month, but Colorado is down 4 to 3 at home.

[Ryan Whitney]

And boy, what a game.

[Whitney]

Forget the tying goal. I don't know. And maybe the chat can get involved. Any you guys, have you ever seen a crazier, more fluke game winner in the history of the Stanley cup playoffs? He'll shoot it directly off the face, shoulder, neck area of Blackwell. It goes in, nobody's around. McKinnon has no clue, like, what the hell happened there to the Dallas Stars.

[Merles]

It's Mixer Season. Every goal this year has been in the mixer, bouncing around and everything. And I got to be honest, I swear, nobody will probably believe this, but I went into the closet, I got out the 29 ads jersey to make the little promo video for game of the month. And then in the whole, it was chaos. I'm watching two screens, the whole chaos. All of a sudden I'm down and I'm so worried about losing my game of the month. I realize I don't have the jersey on. I left the jersey in the room where my kids are sleeping. So I have to sneak in there, I get the jersey on, I put it on for the third period and that happened. But I, I gotta, I gotta say, I went to the bathroom and I'm like brushing my teeth in this thing. I forget how big and bulky those old school jerseys were.

[Ryan Whitney]

So slow.

[Whitney]

They were heavy too. Yeah, they were heavy. I, I, I just look at this series and you know, a lot was being discussed about Ranton while he was struggling and, and you didn't hear much on the other side about Neches. Neches gets that goal, right? He's, he's, he's got, he's on the board now. And to me, the AVs, like they get out to the two nothing lead and Merle's golden goose, Arturi Lekonen, he gets one. And you're thinking, all right, like this is kind of how everyone saw this going. But I'm starting every game to believe in Dallas more and more once again without their best forward and their best defenseman. They're doing this to Colorado. Maybe a worry for Colorado fans, right? Like, I don't know if they're like how like I thought we should take care of these guys easier, but we, we cannot question the coaching of Pete DeBoer. Yes, they just lost a game that they could have closed it out, but you saw him bring up after I love game sevens at home. What is that guy? Has he lost a game? Seven?

[Ryan Whitney]

I think he's eight. No, eight.

[Merles]

No, eight.

[Biz]

NoS, I thought he would lost last year.

[Whitney]

No, because Edmonton beat him in six.

[Biz]

Oh yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Eight. No, in game seven, Pete DeBoer. Well, not even just the game winner, but the first goal by Nachushkin, that was a double doinker too. So as far as puck lock, Dallas got kicked in the dick in that game. But I think that ultimately kind of like Edmonton, you create your own breaks and when you're putting that much rubber on net, they hit a couple posts. I think Manson hit a post. I think Nate Just hit a. Hit a post. So as far as play, they looked exactly like they did the game before in Colorado. Like in as far as controlling the play and peppering Ottinger with shots. Ottinger, I thought, played out of his mind. Played a great game. Don't understand on the tying goal what Dadnov was doing. Like, did you see the breakdown? Like, they, it was weird that they were like almost exchanging chances with them after they had the lead and when they were up 4, 3. Like dad knobs the F3 and he just comes dipping in and it gives them just an automatic three on two. And it's a great play. Like pop from the side. I think it was Nelson who shot it in. And the chushkin, the choo choo train. The fact that he kicks that up to his stick with his knee, right to his blade and then the back of the net like he's a fucking menace, this guy, man. And I don't know who to root for. Dallas is so good at home. Colorado doesn't necessarily play the exact same on the road. So I view it as a coin toss. And I would like to see Colorado advance because I feel like they're even more entertaining. But I don't think it matters either way because if Dallas ends up getting Haskin, him back and Robertson, and they keep playing this way the way they had against Colorado, I view them as the cup favorites.

[Whitney]

Biz, the tying goal that you bring up. Yeah, you cannot dive down there. But what's more impressive was it actually wasn't Nelson. He dropped it and it was Landiscog, this animal. He's now moved his way up onto the first power play in the second line playing with Nelson and Nichushkin and he like, that's, that's a. I mean, I talk about the Oilers guys coming back from injury, like 20, 30 games the season for Kane spent three years for Landiscog, and he looks phenomenal. And that's what, that's why you're like kind of it. The Colorado, the feel good story. I know Dallas Stars fans won't love that, but I'm. If I'm a Stars fan, I'm. I, I think you're saying 50, 50. I'm very confident going into game seven. I, I just think that with DeBoer's history and granted at some point that's going to end, but what you've done at home and how good game five, how easy it was for you in game five after everyone wrote you off after game four, I just think that the way they play, they're suffocating. And if. If Ottinger shows up, dude, they're. They're very difficult to beat.

[Ryan Whitney]

As the series has progressed, too, I feel like Blackwood's looked more and more normal. He needs to have a hell of a game. Like last game, they went in there, he leaves, he lets in that shitty goal nine seconds in. They can't be having none of that nonsense. He needs to shut the door for McKinnon and the boys and prove as to why they gave him that big ticket. And they see him as the goalie of the future. Makara has looked, in some cases, very average as well. Like Game three. I didn't think he was great. Even after game five. He was very accountable. He says, I need to be better. I need to be moving my feet. That's when I'm at my best, when we're closing them off defensively and gaining offense from shutting things down defensively. So he had some pretty strong. Strong enough criticism of himself going into Game six, having to be better. Still think there's more left to show. And the fact that they don't have one of those across the ice. He needs to be the difference maker in Game seven. Like, he has to be the Cale Makar that scored 30 fucking goals in the regular season.

[Whitney]

Yeah, I thought he looked good last night, but I hear what you're saying. DeBoer did mention after, like, I think his quote was, I've never seen or. I'm amazed at some of the bounces and some of the calls that were going on out there. There's been a lot of complaints. You go on both sides. Right? Like, because you talked about. I think it was game five where Ben got high sticked and people are saying it's a dive. And. And Mark was a dive. Yeah, it did.

[Ryan Whitney]

That was a dive.

[Whitney]

But, but. But DeBoer's trying to say that now they're getting screwed on the calls and it's more about just playing that long game for Game 7. But Biz, I have to ask you, you interviewed McKinnon after the game, not into the question about the Bednar lookalike?

[Ryan Whitney]

No, not necessarily. We were done with him. You know, I figured, yeah, why not squeeze?

[Biz]

He was done with you.

[Ryan Whitney]

So the shots on him on screen, and, you know, you can't see us at the panel. So I go, liam, hey, give me one more, one more. Because it popped in my head about the Bednar lookalike behind the Dallas or in Dallas behind their bench. And, yeah, probably not the Right. Time to ask it.

[Whitney]

You know, series is over. I think he plays along, but, like.

[Biz]

Series ain't over and they lost that game.

[Whitney]

Yeah. He goes, we lost 6, 2. I don't give a. Something like that.

[Ryan Whitney]

Not my finest moment. Not my finest moment.

[Whitney]

But you know what?

[Ryan Whitney]

Accountability. I did my loser lap, I would.

[Whitney]

Say, in my opinion, I think Dallas has probably dove a little bit more than Colorado this series. Like, there have been a couple clips. You're like, all right, that's blatant. And finally, in the Winnipeg St. Louis series, we saw Sunquist get it. Like, the diving is a little out of control right now in the playoffs. I know it's. It's started getting a little louder and louder within the Internet and fans, but it's kind of like, guys, we. We don't want to look like soccer players out there. Like, it's getting a little ridiculous. And I feel like playoffs is when you grind through and you see the teams who don't take the dives usually end up playing longer and longer because they're not looking for a call.

[Biz]

So my thing is with the cross. The cross checking to me is I think it's gotten so bad that guys are just abused. Like, if there's a scrum on the wall, you just see guys going to work, and then, you know, you get cross checked two times. You feeling it, you guys. I mean, we all know there's no padding there, so you're feeling every one of those cross checks. And then maybe on the third one, you're. You're diving to you like a ref. I've gotten cross checked two times here as hard as I possibly could. Can you maybe give me one? So they. They're taking dives, but I agree with you. What I think DeBoer is doing a little bit of gamesmanship on. They're kind of calling out Makar for diving a little bit, but I think that's more just like, hey, if it comes to a Game 7, we're going to be ruthless on this, guys. And maybe it's in the ref's mind to not make those softer calls and kind of let a play that, you know, maybe he has been diving a little bit. But I. I agree with you. I think that's all gamesmanship, and I think for game seven, put the whistles away and let the boys play.

[Ryan Whitney]

Lower the cage.

[Whitney]

Yep, lower the cage.

[Ryan Whitney]

Lower the cage.

[Merles]

I love the way. I love when the coaches are doing that. I remember Terry and in the newspaper all the time in our playoffs, getting on those refs and it would work out and, and go back to Will Arnett saying like, nobody cares if, when you win the Stanley cup, what happened in the series, if you draw a penalty for diving and you end up winning the state, like a game that ends up winning Stanley cup, nobody's going to remember that. So fuck it. If you got to embellish one to get the ref's attention like, like Keith's saying, then fucking do it.

[Whitney]

This is coming biz. This is coming from Murr, who was never afraid to throw the head back. Oh, really? I think of our playoff runs in Wilkes with you and this guy draw like one every two games.

[Merles]

We used to. I talk about all the time and I don't know why teams don't do it more. Terry and used to put me and army out there in the last two minutes to try to draw a 4 on 4. So when you pull the goalie, it's 5 on 4 instead of 6 on 5. I thought it was genius. So we would go out there and we'd give the shot, throw the shot. I have no problem with it. If it's going to help you win the Stanley Cup.

[Whitney]

Well, whether you're, whether you're, you know, looking to embellish, to get a call your way, whether you're ripping clappers on the ice or making moves in the markets, you need speed, precision, and a game plan. And that's why we're rolling with Kraken, the official crypto exchange of spit and Chiclets. When it comes to buying, selling and swapping over 300 different cryptocurrencies, Kraken is the real deal. No slow plays, no laggy platforms. No just deep liquidity, fast execution and a rock solid trading experience. And here's the best part. You could set up recurring buys and dollar cost average without the hassle. No stressing over markets, market timing, or letting emotions take over. Just link your bank in minutes. Automate your bitcoin purchases monthly, weekly or even daily. Lower fees than card transactions, and no more manual deposits. Just stack sats like a beauty. And look, crypto is a lot like hockey. You don't just throw the puck around and hope for the best. No hope plays. You need a game plan. Whether you're stacking bitcoin for the long haul or diving into the wild world of meme coins, Kraken's got your back. And here's the cherry on top. Kraken is rewarding up to 200 in USDG. When you share your referral link with family and friends, get Your buddies in the game and everybody wins. So don't be a pylon like me. Get off the bench, get on Kraken and start stacking. Head to kraken.com barstool this is not investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss and is offered to US customers excluding Washington, New York and Maine through payword Interactive. So, boys.

[Biz]

Wow, what a read.

[Whitney]

Thank you guys. It's a special thing for our podcast when somebody reads correctly. I know maybe a sad statement.

[Ryan Whitney]

You were, you were talking about the. The coaches like the gamesmanship from DeBoer and you know, we've seen a little bit obviously from Heller snapping on. On a guy asking a question. One of the reporters in that series going back to Tampa, Paul Maurice and John Cooper going at it. Well, all of a sudden Winnipeg, St. Louis, we got Monty and Arneel going at it. Like those are some pretty choice words for each other about Arnel threatening or calling him. What do you say to him? He basically said like, oh, I didn't know he was a.

[Whitney]

We got the video. We got the video.

[Merles]

Medical degree. And let's make it clear 55 got.

[Will Arnett]

Hurt from the faxa hit. He played six minutes after the Shen hit. He didn't come back after he got rocked by faxa.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I didn't know Montevia got his medical degree.

[Whitney]

Trying to say how our player got hurt. He's way off base. Should not make that comment. There's some things that have been going on in this series and that was a repeat of what we've seen before.

[Ryan Whitney]

A player leaving his feet and.

[Whitney]

And then hitting the player in a very unprotected spot like hitting them in.

[Ryan Whitney]

The sense almost blindsided him. Not happy how the call was made.

[Whitney]

Two minute minor.

[Ryan Whitney]

Not even looking at it.

[Whitney]

I mean that. Keith, go ahead. That Monty's clip is so funny to me the way he's talking.

[Biz]

But whit. I called the University of Maine and got the transcripts. Monty was pre med at Maine.

[Ryan Whitney]

No.

[Biz]

Yeah. But then he turned pro so he didn't finish. So he was on his way to be a doctor.

[Whitney]

Him and Cal Ingraham. Korea. Korea was going to be a surgeon.

[Merles]

You know that operation game that buzzes your hand. That's what they use at Maine. That's the kind of school that playing out at the.

[Whitney]

But the way Monty's talking and let me tell you. And then he's like. And he got rocked by Fasca. Rocked. And then Arneel. Keith, you mentioned, I think that you played for him and he's Got. I think he was on the verge of the wires crossing there.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, yeah, he got.

[Biz]

He looked like he was gonna like, cry a little. Like he was so mad. And I played for Arnie. I loved Arnie. Great guy. But he. His wires would cross and he would lose his mind, and it was beautiful. And you can tell why that group is galvanized with him as their coach. Like the, you know, he. He's. He's a part of that team as. As much as we were saying with the LA guys, like, you gotta rally with your group. And he's done that there. And I love the fact that these coaches, all the coaches just have their guys back, show him what it takes to win. Because in playoffs it's everyone and. And all these coaches just having guys back. And he's probably trying to help him out to not get a suspension, maybe, whatever the case is. But yeah, I. I just love the fact that all the. The sound bites that we're getting from these coaches, they're getting in the mix. It's truly WWE style.

[Whitney]

Yep. And. And man, I don't know if I've ever rooted for a player that I don't know or don't root for his team. Like I was Connor Hellebuck, game five. I mean, game five. Cause it's like, oh, my God, like this guy, it's. There's obviously something there. It's like the yips. It's like, what. What is happening? And then he gives up that brutal goal to Snugarude. Right? And it's like, holy shit, it's tied up again. But, dude, he ended up coming pretty. Coming up pretty big in the clutch. And Winnipeg took over without Shively. Who is it? He's not traveling. I don't think to.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, he's done. He's out for game six, which I was gonna ask you guys. Like, it felt like the Shen one. Like, they do have a bit of a point where he did come off his feet a little bit, which it seems though Scheifele's able to get caught. Like sometimes he'll get. Expecting maybe not to get hit in certain areas where the facts of hit like that was just getting caught in the trolley tracks, man. Like, you got to be aware you're in the middle of the ice like you're open season. There's. But I do think that they had part of an argument on the Shen one. Like, if you look at it, you could see that he kind of jumps up and you know, I know it's playoff hockey, but I Felt that at least that deserved a minor penalty. So. Yeah, I don't know. It's, it's.

[Whitney]

He ended up. They ended up with a power play after the Shen One.

[Ryan Whitney]

They did okay. All right. Well, because of the scrum and everything.

[Whitney]

Or I think they had had him originally. Okay, then the scrum happens and, and I'm in agreement there. You got to make sure Winnipeg's on the power play even after the scrum.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. But the facts of one was just getting caught in the trolley tracks, and I don't know if it's like a rib or something. It looked like he kind of had his arm jammed in there when he got hit the second time, but definitely a difficult loss. I felt like Winnipeg was way better in front of Hellebuck. A lot of people making a big deal out of that save he made with a paddle, which was tremendous. Like, maybe got his confidence going a little bit more, but also a little concerning in the sense of, like, when that goes over, he doesn't make any attempt to, like, push off his one leg and slide over where, like, why.

[Whitney]

Was he out so far, what you're saying? Right?

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, I think it's been weird, man, because, like, he, he had comments too, about, like, nobody studies more than I do, and you see how defensive he got in one of the comments. I don't know if we could pull the video up, and if we don't, I'm sure you can go look and find it. But it's almost like, like, oh, maybe he's like a savant as far as a goalie, and he plays in a certain way where his expectation is, is that his or anybody on the weak side of the ice is always going to be taken care of, where all he's going to have to do is square up to the shot. Because I feel like so far this series and even in playoff series in the past, where it's like, oh, well, if it was a backdoor play and it ends up in the net, it's not my fault. Like, I had my guy. Where that's not the case for guys like Vasilevsky, that's not the case for guys like Bobrovsky. Like, those guys end up having to make huge shaves and end up having to go post to post, just like Jonathan Quick did when he helped the LA Kings win a Stanley Cup. So if you want to be that goalie and help your team win, it can't just be this like, oh, I, I, I'm gonna square up to the shot and anything like that. I'M just going to be like, wow, my defenseman should have had it. Or, oh, you, you, you walked in front of me, therefore I can't look through the screen. And it went in. So you scream, me, it's your fault. And I'm just going to stare at you like, he's got to find a way to make big saves when it's not just easy and perfect all the time. And those comments in that video I saw of him and the way he spoke about it, like, nobody studies more than I do. It's like, buddy, nobody gives a fuck. Just stop the fucking puck. Just stop the fucking puck. Just stop the fucking puck.

[Whitney]

I thought that Kyle Conner was incredible, Incredible in game five. Now, you know, no shite for game six is going to hurt. But Mures as the Monty guy, you guys go way back. St. Louis is, I believe, going for 15 in a row at home tonight.

[Merles]

They haven't lost since February at home. And being the Monty guy, I'll give you a little nugget here. He played for the Manitoba Moose and his assistant coach was Scott Arnel. So they got a little history there. I don't know if if they liked each other back then or not. You know, sometimes you don't get along well.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's well documented that Mike Commodore hates Scott Arnel like he hates his guts. Now, Commodore doesn't necessarily have the best track record with all of his coaches. We know that. That's also.

[Biz]

Well, he had him as a head, right? In Columbus.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, correct.

[Biz]

Okay. I had him as an assistant. So it's a little different, you know, A little different.

[Ryan Whitney]

You're playing tummy sticks more with the assistant. You're supposed to be. Buddy, Buddy. It's okay to be somewhat friends with the players, but as a. Oh, we got those. So we have the hell about comments. We're gonna roll them here. Yeah, I want to see. This is weird. This is weird to me.

[Whitney]

I haven't seen these.

[Biz]

I've studied goal 10 extremely hard.

[Ryan Whitney]

Probably.

[Biz]

I probably studied the most out of.

[Will Arnett]

Anyone in this world.

[Ryan Whitney]

So I know.

[Biz]

I know what to do and how.

[Ryan Whitney]

To get my best game.

[Biz]

So that's what I'm looking forward to doing. You know, I gotta get two days here and, you know, time to bring.

[Ryan Whitney]

In a game five.

[Whitney]

I mean.

[Biz]

Yeah, I think you can look at it both ways.

[Ryan Whitney]

Right?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

Good.

[Whitney]

Like, yes. Yeah. That's why I'm kind of like, this is a guy who biz going into that. I mean, that interview is obviously before game five. He's got the weight of the world on his shoulders. And I almost look like that's trying to go back exactly.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like it's a driver's test.

[Whitney]

I don't know. I think it's like, I'm gonna stick to what's made me this good, you know, like the belief in your. In your preparation and how you do things, which. Which at some point, when things are going like this bad for him, it's like, what else are you gonna do besides. Yeah, stick to your routine. It's like a golfer. Like, stick right. Stick to everything you do. But it is odd to say, like, I think I've studied it more than anyone in this world.

[Ryan Whitney]

Little braggadocious about being a rocket nerd of goaltending. I mean, I'm. That's all I'm saying.

[Whitney]

So, girls, you're expecting a game seven here?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Merles]

And he probably gets that question, like, if from the same reporter every day. You tell. He's so frustrated, that guy. But, yeah, they're not. They're not going to lose at home. They haven't lost since February. Why would they lose tonight when Winnipeg's missing their best center? They're, you know, PK Guy, power play. He does it all for them. So that's a huge loss. Yeah. I expect the place to be rocking. Money loves using rocking and rock out and all this, But Friday night, St. Louis, the beers will be flowing. Pronger told us how unbelievable the building was last game. Imagine on a Friday, little earlier, 7pm out there all day on the Blues tonight, no questions asked there.

[Biz]

All right, so we all, we all like a Game seven there and, you know, I just don't think it's fair in this chat like biz gets to bring in, you know, you know, Will Arnett and you know, hockey Illuminati and, you know, guys that just have nothing to do with the game of hockey. Obviously good characters in this world, but I. I would like to bring someone in and I'm going to do that right now. So come on in.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, fucking Christ.

[Biz]

A guy who's in the fucking battle biz. A guy who's on the ice. He's not in LA doing fucking Hollywood shit. He's not in on his computer making up stats for the. This guy is on the ice, winging it.

[Whitney]

Business. Panicked.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I. The best thing about this is I have the second west, second worst haircut on this podcast right now. Oh, no. Did we lose him?

[Whitney]

Imagine your hairline just cut him out. Biz, you had. Your heart rate must be 180 right now, buddy.

[Ryan Whitney]

What is going on.

[Whitney]

It must be panic time.

[Merles]

What did we have there? For the people listening at home there. Who. Who was that?

[Whitney]

That was Matthew Kachuk.

[Ryan Whitney]

Is he done? Is that all you want to do is pop his head?

[Biz]

Yeah, he just wanted to poke his head in.

[Will Arnett]

Wow.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's it? Yeah.

[Merles]

He doesn't have time for you. He just wants to go. He's training. He's just getting ready.

[Whitney]

Biz, that. I mean, Keith, you want to talk wwe? That was straight up. The stone cold glass breaking.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, there he is. I was saying before you left, I'm happy you showed up. I had the second worst haircut on this podcast. Now.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

At least I'm happy I got some hair, so I'm all right with it.

[Whitney]

Matthew, take us. Yeah, go ahead, Biz. You're the guy that's.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's calling, like, where were you? The podcast started an hour and 20 minutes ago. You're. You're late. Just like your hits.

[Biz]

That's not very nice.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

We're just getting ready.

[Ryan Whitney]

We were.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

We got some meetings, some business to take care of, so. It was a good first day at the rink. Now knowing who we're gonna play. It was a fun game to watch last night. Kind of crazy. Wasn't expecting it. Well, I. I mean, I guess don't know if I wasn't expecting it or not, but just the way the game was going, you never know how. Looked like it was going overtime, maybe. We were getting a Game 7, but Leafs played well down the stretch, and now we know who our opponent is. So. Just starting to get ready for them today. So we're good.

[Merles]

Before you start the war with Biz, I want to know, like, did you call Brady? Have you talked to him at all? Try to console him a little bit about his first playoff loss and tell him it's going to be okay?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

I did. I just texted him last night. It was. It was pretty late, so I haven't, like, gone on the phone with him just. Just by text, but I'm proud of the way he played. He's.

[Biz]

He.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

You know, he played great. It was, I think, a very big learning experience to, like, see it firsthand with those guys. And, you know, I thought he. I thought he really led the charge, like, with their team, and it's. It's tough. I mean, your first playoff, you're going up against, you know, as great of a team as the Leafs are, and. And, you know, I think, let's face it, they're deeper, you know, better, more talented team than most teams in the league. So it's, it's, it's tough to go up against that. And I thought Brady and his teammates, you know, back against the wall 2, 30 and able to fight back enough and you know, he could have got to Game 6 overtime, which sure they would have taken, you know, a week ago. So I'm proud of the way he played though. And you know, ever since, ever since four nations, you know, I think people started to realize what type of big time player he can be and is. And you know, he, he was grinding, he's been grinding since four nations with, with stuff too. So I'm just proud of his, his fight. He's, he's a gamer. So I'm, I'm happy with how he played all year.

[Whitney]

Matt, just talk to a, talk to us about Brad Marchon. Like talk about taking a step later in that series. It didn't go very long, but that's exactly what I think Bill Zito had in mind when, when they brought him in. He has to battle back from injury as you did as well, but it seems like just like you, he's found his legs and how nice is it having him in the room? A guy who's won it before, Is.

[Ryan Whitney]

He taking steroids too?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

It's, it's been, it's been unreal having him, having him in and you know, he's, he's got what everybody wants in this league and that's that winning pedigree and you know, being a champion and having that experience and I think that's what our team's greatest strength is, is, you know, we might not be the most skilled team, we might not be the most fast, might not be the most physical, but we're a deep team and we have the experience so we have to use that to our advantage. And bringing in a guy like Marshy, who's done it before and on been such a, been on such a great team and year after year being on great playoff runs, it's, you know, we couldn't have asked for a better addition. And along with guys like Jonesy and Sturmy and everybody that's come in, they've been, they've been absolutely incredible. And like you said about Marshy, like how that line played and how they were down the stretch of that series, it was a big difference maker for us. So we're happy that he is on our side now. That is for sure.

[Biz]

Matthew, you know, I said it three years ago and just the passing of the torch from, you know, Tampa to down a little bit Southeast, down To, you know, Sunrise, Florida said that, you know, you guys have taken that, what, you know, Tampa had done, you know, the last 10 years, and it's kind of, you know, your guys's game right now. And a lot of people had picked Tampa to win this series, including these three idiots sitting right here in front of you. Was there any talk within the group for you guys, like, hey, like, you know, no one has any faith in us right now, or was it just, you know, another, another series we got to take care of our business. It doesn't matter who we're playing.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

Definitely a little bit of both. I mean, we know that, you know, we, we finished third and, and you know, we didn't have, you know, like, you look at a team like Toronto, you know, winning, winning the division and having the unbelievable regular season that they had, and, you know, us having to go on the road, like, it's kind of like the same mindset we're having and playing like that underdog role and, and, and going back to last year is like not many people thinking that we could come out with it. I think it was just added motivation. Not that we really care, but it's just, I don't know, it's just added motivation when people believe in you. And, you know, it's, it's, it's technically still our, our cup right now. So, you know, the, it's kind of got to go through us a little bit. So, you know, we, we were, we were using that all as motivation. And, and I know people probably are just wanting us to get knocked off and knocked off the top, and we're going to try not to let that happen. But I think that Tampa is such an unbelievable team and there are players that have won there, like, very similar, like what I'm saying about the experience factor in winning, like, guys there have done so much and it's been such an unbelievable team for such, such a long time, you know, 10 plus years. And, and for us to knock them out back to back years, it's, it's, it's a huge, huge thing for us because they're the team to beat. You know, like, they've always been the team to beat. So for us to, to go through them, it was, it was great and it gave us confidence last year and hopefully gives us confidence this year going up against another beast in Toronto.

[Ryan Whitney]

So was you saying that, that it wasn't much of a rivalry? That. Was that a misquote? Was that like a, was that a, a subtle dig? Was that throwing maybe a shot At Coop for the fact that he came at your coach. Like, what was that about?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

No, I mean, we always have our coach and our players back, but I guess we'll leave it at that.

[Ryan Whitney]

On. Was it not you got interviewed on ESPN where you said it's not much of a rivalry.

[Biz]

Ask him a question about hockey biz. I didn't bring him on here for you to interrogate him.

[Ryan Whitney]

What do you mean? He said. He. He said it on the broadcast a couple nights.

[Biz]

Yeah, no, he said it, and it's over with. It's not a rivalry because they've beaten him the last.

[Whitney]

You know, after the game biz, when. When the emotions are high, right? Like, just.

[Biz]

No, he wouldn't know.

[Whitney]

It's a little.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, that's funny. Matt.

[Biz]

Listen, listen.

[Will Arnett]

The.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

The games are intense, and it was. It was a great series, and we're just happy to be moving on.

[Whitney]

All right. All right, then. Then take us through game four, because I think it was one of the craziest games I've ever watched, like, for them to get two in 11 seconds and take the lead, and then the same exact thing happens with you guys. Do you ever remember playing in a game like that where things switched that quick?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

Not that quick. I mean, you go from scoring the first goal and being in the driver's seat at home, you know, you don't help, but, you know, you just. You start thinking ahead a little bit, and you just can't help it. You're like, all right, we win this game. You know, we got the goal.

[Biz]

We gotta lead.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

Not necessarily shut it down, but we're in a good spot. And then it's like, oh, my gosh, we're trailing to this team who plays such great D. Like, you're kidding me. How did that happen so fast? And then it's a grind. Playing a team like Tampa, you know, when they have a lead, I think everybody talks about how great of an offensive team they are, but, like, they're so solid defensively, and they've been all year. And then they have Vassi and net like one of the best goalies in the league. And it's just. It's a tough, tough, tough team. So when Ecky scored that goal, it's like, all right, now, like, we got a game again. And then right after that, Jonesy scored, and he's been unreal for us. And our whole back end has been incredible, you know, with and without Eckie. And so I was really proud of those guys. And, yeah, once we got that goal, it's Only a few minutes left, so I was pretty confident in that after. But it was, it was an intense, like I, that was a really, really, really loud building that night. And I mean, other than, you know, game seven last year, like the. Just ebbs and the flows of that game, it's, it's hard to find a louder building.

[Ryan Whitney]

Did Gensel say anything? You on the ice later in the series after, after the hit?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

Not. I can't, I don't recall.

[Ryan Whitney]

Really?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

Too much? No, I don't think so.

[Ryan Whitney]

Did you find maybe it was a tad late?

[Biz]

Fucking serious?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

No.

[Whitney]

You knew this would happen.

[Ryan Whitney]

What do you mean? I can't ask questions. We got Matthew Kachuk on the podcast.

[Biz]

Him about playing your dummy Leafs.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay. Hey, what intimidates you the most about Toronto Maple Leafs?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

I mean, I don't, I don't think there's necessarily like a ton, you know, or crazy intimidation other than like just a lot of respect from us to, to them. Like they've had such an incredible year. Their stars are, you know, how they've been able to produce in their careers and how highly offensive they are and, and then they got stolen net. Who. I mean, I don't know if I scored him much in practice last year. Like he's, he's a stud back then, has been playing great and, and so happy to see the guys that we won with last year having success there. But I think the, the, the thing that their greatest strength is, you know, when their stars are playing the way they are right now, like they're some of the best players in the world. So, you know, that's obviously a big, big task for us at hand to, to try to limit them and to try to try to limit, just try to limit them as much as we can, but it's, it's so hard and obviously Ottawa wasn't able to do it and we're going into Toronto here in game one whenever it starts and that's going to try to be the mindset. But like I said earlier, like you have to take that underdog mindset for us when playing a team like Toronto had such a great regular season, they obviously have home ice advantage to start, so we just gotta, we gotta really relish that role.

[Ryan Whitney]

Sorry, Matthew. I know that the fans in the chat would be bombarding me for not asking the hard hitting questions, so I.

[Whitney]

Don'T know, I don't know.

[Ryan Whitney]

I am technically a journalist, so I don't know why Yan's is getting so offended expecting that you would bombard me with you and Then I wouldn't ask these questions like this is a sneak attack, much like you're hit on Jake Genel. So I'm just trying to defend myself here.

[Biz]

Matthew, I got a question. Seeing that the Leafs had to, you know, go out and basically try to get as many guys from your team last year, you know, to try to get them to maybe win a series to. Is there any, you know, things that you guys might have to change knowing that, you know, there's 17 guys from your team last year on their team.

[Ryan Whitney]

Who, who other than stolen Oliver, Ekman, Larson, Lorenz, and then who's the other one?

[Biz]

Lorenz.

[Whitney]

Three's enough to be 17.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

I got, they got one forward, one defenseman and one goalie. They, they know all of our secrets so we're gonna have to try to come up with a. Something sneaky. But no, like, I mean we love those guys but they're, you know, they're in the way of what we want now. So I'm sure they're, they're doing the same meetings we are right now and they're giving away all our secrets. But, but then they just got to play hard and have fun like that. That's the thing that this is, you know, playoffs get so talked about how high intense and, and the rivalries and, and just how crazy the games are and at the end of the day like just have some fun. I mean it's round two. Like we've, we've been in way more stressful games. We're hopefully going to be in way more down the road and just, just have fun. Like just work hard and have fun and let the result take care of itself.

[Whitney]

Biz thought that was it. Sorry, I know Merle's up. Biz thought it was over though. He thought they, he thought they won.

[Biz]

Yeah, you didn't see the confetti he had going last night. He cursed the leafs for another 200 years.

[Ryan Whitney]

We decided to celebrate like baseball.

[Merles]

Matthew, we talking about those meetings. I was wondering if, if that's still a thing. When I played in the minors we would go through like a binder and you had each player, you know, it had their hometown, maybe a certain skill or, or in your guys case, maybe something you can chirp them about, you know, get him off, off his game. Is that, that stuff still going on?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

Yeah, yeah, we do it. We haven't done that one yet. Normally we do that one closer to, to the game one, but yeah, we'll go through their whole lineup, the guys that are, you know, the projected lineup.

[Biz]

Or whatever.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

And then some of the guys that have been scratched that might get in, they'll go over the goalie, go over their schemes. But yeah, the, the, the one on one, like player by player stuff hasn't happened yet, but that will. And I mean it's, it's more of like if you've played with them, if there's a tendency that maybe guys don't notice and it could be something as little as he's be careful of a reverse hit or, you know, he's strong on the, you know, some of the simple stuff that everybody sees on tv, it's like obviously Matthew's incredible shot. Like nobody has to say that. Everybody pretty much knows that. But it's, you know, some of the littler things and, or if guys have done stuff. I don't know if he can get a guy off his game by something. So that hasn't happened yet and, but it will.

[Biz]

One of the best ones that I ever heard. When you get going through that thing, I think it was Ross Colton and Frank Fortrano was like, yeah, he was my roommate in Providence and that's all he had. That's like nothing to bring to the table. He just said he was his roommate. But Matthew, I, I sent you a video the other night at the member guest and all the guys watching the game and just, you know, all the guys going crazy after you guys won. Like, how much pride do you, you and the rest of the guys take in what you guys have brought to the, you know, the fans down here and, and you know, just making hockey. Like I take my dog for a walk at night in between periods and every house has the games on. It's just so cold. And you guys feel the love from everyone down here.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

And that's, that's the coolest part for me is seeing how much the game has grown and like winning helps that out so much and playing deep into the playoffs. But to see the support we're getting not only in, you know, I'm in Fort Lauderdale, we're in Fort Lauderdale, like, but in all of South Florida, like, they're really just like, like so all in. And, and it's kind of like the perfect mix where like, you know, they're not coming up to you and ruining your dinner to talk about hockey, but, you know, they see you like, they're, they're saying great game or go get them or let's go get another one. And it's, it's the perfect mix down here. And I, it just makes me realize like, how great of a decision that it was to come down here. And kind of like the goal in mind was just see hockey end up like it is now and winning championships and. And kind of trying to change the game down here a little bit and make it a true hockey town. And I feel like it's. It is. So. They love it. That video that you. You texted me was.

[Biz]

Was so cool to see.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

And yeah, like. Like you said, like, five, ten years ago, like, that. That video is probably not many people in that video and probably know what.

[Biz]

Our game would have been on.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

So, yeah, it's. It's pretty. It's pretty incredible to see it. And. And it all comes with success, so hopefully we can keep having some more.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, Walt was supposed to follow Brady around. Is he going to be joining you now for the. For the run?

[Matthew Tkachuk]

I don't know. I have no clue.

[Merles]

Got to get him out of OB's first.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

I mean, he'll probably. He'll probably make his way down here. I know he's. He's not going to go to anyone's in Toronto, so he'll probably come to the ones down here. So I'm sure we'll see him this round.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, Matthew, I want to thank you for coming on, and I'm sorry if any of my questions offended you. And Keith Yandel. I wish you guys the best in this series. Good luck. You're gonna need it.

[Matthew Tkachuk]

I appreciate. Hey, it's just business. I get it. So, looking forward to this round.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay.

[Whitney]

Thank you, buddy. Clown. What a guy.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, again, sorry, man. Like, I didn't mean to offend you there. Like, you seemed, like, genuinely pissed off.

[Biz]

Well, it's like, you know, you bring in your guests, you bring in Will on that. Do I bring up anything in his past?

[Ryan Whitney]

You're being a little. You're kind of being.

[Whitney]

Try to get a quote there, Keith, but, you know, Biz is going to try to get something that's a quote that the Leafs can use. You can't be surprised at all. I knew the minute I saw him the man in the mustache was going to come gunning looking for a quote.

[Biz]

I knew once he gets that mustache on, he thinks he's a real journalist.

[Will Arnett]

No.

[Whitney]

Yeah, he's. He's anchorman. Oh, yeah, he's legit anchorman. And don't forget. Don't forget, Biz was saying, we don't need. We don't need the ridiculousness. We're professionals. And then he was calling for Revo to be dressed in Baruch Paul Marie.

[Ryan Whitney]

Softball Questions to gargle. Oh, yeah, growing the game in south Florida. Like I want to hear about his late hit on Jake Genshell. Can we get confirmation from the chat? Did you guys want the softball questions or do you want the real hard hitting journalism that I brought to that interview? You're welcome, Biz.

[Whitney]

While we wait for the wait for the chat to give our answer, we need to talk about body armor, guys. This episode is brought to you by Body Armor sports drink. Body armor is real hydration with electrolytes, coconut water and no artificial dyes, flavors or sweeteners. With your favorite flavors like strawberry, banana and orange. Mango, but in a brand new look you're gonna love. It's just so good to rehydrate with body armor. It's playoff hockey whether you're a fan or a player. You're dehydrated, you're watching games, you're sweating, you're stressing. And that's why body armor comes in handy whenever you need it. This body armor light 20 calories. This is peach mango. It's incredible. It's time to rewrite your routine and get rid of the sports drink your grandparents drank. Get your body armor today at Walmart or local grocery store near you. Body armor. Choose better. Connor McDavid's a body armor guy. Austin Matthews, I believe is a body armor guy. Matthew Tkachuk. Matthew Tkachuk's a body armor guy. So that look at biz, he went to get his body armor, you know, after winning the Stanley cup last night. Biz is dehydrated so he's drinking his body armor. He's making sure he's ready for the parade. And, and he brought the hard hitting questions. I knew the second he came on, I knew this guy was going to try to get a quote. And I biz, you know what, we've been doing this long enough. I respect it. I respect it because if somebody from Vegas came on, I think I would have came a gun.

[Ryan Whitney]

Exactly, exactly.

[Whitney]

But I respect Matthew. Matthew's not going to give them any bulletin board material. A great surprise attack. Phenomenal. But Matthew came in there.

[Ryan Whitney]

People, people in the chat were calling me Stephen a bissonette. I gotta get the, I gotta get the, the skullet going. I gotta get the shave up here.

[Whitney]

That's the wit look. That's the widow. The hairline just retreated back like kings. Defense. That's my hairline. But that leads us guys back out west and to Merls. Merles has a thousand dollar eighteen to one future on the Vegas Golden Knights and Merls. You had to be nervous. And I want to shout out, Minnesota, what a. What a run, dude. And everything's going to change this summer. You got the suitor suitor buyout gone. You got the Parisi bio gone. And yes, most of that money goes to Kirill Capri software. But I think that Minnesota is in a place right now where the fans can be excited and really happy for the future. But they ran into a wagon Murr and your bet still alive.

[Merles]

Yeah. I thought Minnesota was better the whole series. I don't know how Vegas got away with that. The goaltending I thought was better with Minnesota. Caprisov and in Boldy were better than Eichel and Stone. But somehow Vegas, because they got those big D, they have the experience that we've been talking about. All shows they've been there. They just hung in there and got the job done. I got this jacket. You know, Vegas is the party. You know, you go to that rink, it's loud. It's not like the yacht club where you wear a blazer. You know, I got the bomber party jacket sent to me as a Vegas ambassador. But yeah, my 18 to 1 it looked dead. But I think when you do win the Stanley cup, you do have a series that you're not supposed to win and you get through it. That was hopefully it. And now it's a war between me and your Oilers.

[Whitney]

It's actually funny that our entire pod right now our teams are alive and all three or three of the four of us have amazing home ice advantage. You know, like the places that our teams play at, they're nuts. And then the guy with the blazer and the red wine, it's a little bit different. But biz into this series, you mentioned already Eichel Stone. Stone was incredible.

[Ryan Whitney]

Late in that series he was so the hand eye, goal midair, that is.

[Whitney]

And then he even had a power move in front. Like he's so big, but he's still able to kind of weasel around out there similar to Perry. Like you, you look like you're gonna be able to stop him. And they just have the edge work and the hands. But what did you kind of take away from from Vegas? Ending up getting the job done. I know you were complimentary of Shea Theodore as well.

[Ryan Whitney]

Theodore stepped up big time. I thought that especially power play wise, Minnesota had a pretty good game plan and taken away the low play, which Vegas had a lot of success in throughout the season. They didn't necessarily have the big bomb up top and they were A little bit too reluctant to shoot early in the year, early in the series. Excuse me, where like you saw it with the Theodore goal in game six where Stones parked out front. Just get it there, pick corners, get it there and Stone will do a good job of screening and they're able to finally capitalize. I don't think that there was any anything more obvious than the fact that the top line had to compete better against the Caprisoft Erickson AK bald like they were getting chewed apart. Right. The other thing that stuck out that surprised me, I would say for more part of the series I was surprised that I thought that Minnesota's depth was better. Like I felt that the, the bottom six was genuinely better. Although Howden towards the back end of the season, he's a gamer. He finally looked a lot like he did during the regular season, getting his career high in goals. So the fact that Howden finally came out of his shell like the regular season paid dividends towards the back half. But couple costliers for Minnesota. Like they don't just like LA going against Edmonton. They didn't have the luxury of making these types of mistakes and pulling through. Vegas did. Edmonton did where they could balk and fuck up and then still recuperate where that offside goal that Nyquist didn't drag a leg like that was colossal. That was a 32 Minnesota series lead going back to Vegas. Are going back to Minnesota to close out at home and what and and just maybe some blunders on the back end. Like that one face off where Middleton doesn't get the clear and then he's in front and loses track of it and it ends up in the back of his net. So like just really fumbled the bag a little bit and I was hoping that Z Bouillon would make a little bit more of an impact. He ends up taking the four minute minor in which they score on penalty kill. Can't get it done. Then Rossi, the next game, game six, he takes a four minute minor that they score on so costly penalties towards the end and just couldn't get the fucking job done without those mental mistakes. So credit to Vegas. Good teams find a way, especially when they're not at their best. I expect a way better Vegas team, but I also expect a way better Edmonton team. So this is going to be an unbelievable series. We have Jack eichel against Connor McDavid, the number one and two pick going back at it. Like these guys are competitive as like these guys are the most competitive people on the planet. So the fact that we have that series then potentially like a Dallas, Colorado and versus Winnipeg. It's looking like great series. You got the battle of Florida with, with going against Toronto and then that other series in Carolina, Washington, like I think our series here are incredible. Going into the top eight teams. Incredible.

[Whitney]

I got to bring this up, Wild fans, oh, I feel so bad for you. This stat is insane. The Minnesota Wild are the first team in Major League Baseball, NBA, NFL or NHL history to make the playoffs eight plus times in a 10 year span, but lose in the opening round. Every single in all of the sports, all the sports combined. Nobody's made the playoffs in a 10 year span, eight plus times and lost every year in the first round. And what really, really sucked about this one, it was a final goodbye to one of the best ambassadors the league has ever seen, Mark Andre Fleury. And God, did I want him to get the win when he came in there in game five. I mean he comes in, he has a chance to get the W. Brett Howden scores a beautiful goal. I think there was discussion about John Merrill kind of leaving the front of the net, but then John Hines said it wasn't on him. It was an earlier breakdown. Nonetheless, to see Flower get a win, it would have been, it would have been nuts. And I'm also just disgusted. They cut away, they don't even show the handshakes. It's like I, I what, when did they stop showing the handshakes? One and specifically when. But first ballot hall of Famers finishing his career and that's it. And we don't even see, we got, you know, I gotta wait till the clips come online to, to see Flower get the send off he deserved. What an emotional time for him. But I don't know who wants to take it just kind of what you think about Flower finally be done.

[Merles]

Well, I, I drove him to his first game, so I'd like to jump in first and you know, congratulate people's success, you know.

[Ryan Whitney]

Right.

[Merles]

You know, hey, he doesn't get to that first game safe, who knows what happens.

[Whitney]

Bretton pumping gas possibly.

[Merles]

Yeah, got him there. But yes. And I, I just like that the part you did see eventually on the Internet where he just, he gives the quick wave and he's like, all right, I'm out of here. He was probably breaking down, he wanted to go, but yeah, I would like to see those TVs go to a split screen for the handshake if they do.

[Biz]

Got a game hasn't even started yet.

[Merles]

I know it in the same Same later on, like I'm going to get ahead of it here. I'm going to use this again. Mark this clip biz. So when TNT uses my idea again, when the, when the guys get handed the Stanley cup in June, cut to the interviews but have two screens going so you get to see each player raised the Stanley cup properly.

[Ryan Whitney]

First ever State of the Union address happened on the Game Notes podcast. I don't know if you guys knew that. Thank God for the Game Notes podcast or I would never do numbers because it's not like my videos I take selfie style aren't getting 10,000 shares.

[Merles]

It wasn't the concept that was. I was joking about calling it the leaf State of the Union address.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, okay, okay.

[Biz]

I'll say about Flurry Wit and obviously what he's done on the ice, you know, being, you know, one of the best goalies in the league for the last 20 years, great ambassador for the game. But what really like sticks out to me is the year that he got pulled and Murray was the guy and he was just such a good teammate and I thought it was such a good lesson for, I mean, even me, I was still in the league when that happened, just being a good teammate for it. I thought everyone in the league saw that and was like, okay, it's not about yourself. I think little kids growing up, you see that. It's not about you, it's about the team. Just what he, like, he had every single right to, you know, bitch and complain and, you know, and then he gets, he gets put on not waivers for the expansion draft. So in. In just zero complaints ever. Just a guy that it just seemed, and I never played with him like you guys did, but just a guy that just seemed happy to be in the NHL, to be at the ring, to be part of the greatest league in the world and. But I just think obviously his numbers and everything speaks for itself. But just from the outside looking in the way that, you know, he looked as a teammate and how much he respected the league, that's kind of what, what, you know, sticks out most to me and you know, a fierce competitor too, but he was a fun guy. Like a fun guy to be around, a fun guy to play against. He's chirping, he's yelling in his crease, he's having fun. And I can't think of a goalie that is as good as him, you know, and obviously a first ballot hall of Famer that was a guy that was a jokester in the locker room, a guy that was Talking before the game. Yeah. Jester in the room.

[Whitney]

Normal.

[Biz]

Yeah, normal, normal, normal. And most goalies are normal. Sephora on game days, but it seemed like he was like that every day. And, you know, I would imagine that's gonna translate into more goalies being like that and seeing how he, you know, handled himself on and off the ice. And he, he definitely left a lasting impression on this league for. For the, for the eternity of time.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, that's. That's what I'm most impressive. Impressed with. Excuse me. Just the fact that he could wear both hats, like, be the silly guy and be the great team locker room guy. Where, you know, you, you have the. An 82 game season. A lot of doldrums, a lot of like, oh, God, you know, we're going to the rink today, we're gonna go practice. Like, I know it's the NHL and everybody should be jazzed up every day. Well, that's not the case. Right, but the fact that he would go to the rink, put a smile on everybody's face, around and then, and then play to the level that he played to for as long as he did. Absolutely remarkable. Undeniably. He's a Hall of Famer, first ballot and what a run, boys. I don't think they'll ever be another Mark Andre Fleury or anyone near what, what, what his character and, and what he's about. But hell of a ride and can't wait to get him on the podcast.

[Whitney]

I also will always think of, when I think of Mark Andre Fleury, I'm thinking of the yellow pads. Maybe that's crazy, it's 20 years ago, but he came into the league as the first overall pick and the greatest draft of all time. And he had those yellow pads. He was a rock star from the beginning. So incredible to see. And congratulations, Tim. Little breaking news here, Victor Headman. He played with a broken leg throughout the playoffs. Not ideal, just classic NHL warrior type things right there. So what else do we have? Oh, Montreal.

[Merles]

Say one more thing on Flurry. And those yellow pads is. I remember him. And it's for goalies out there. He was the guy. He would never let an extra puck go in the net. If there was a rebound, he was diving to get it. And then remember when you were like a jerk off and you're standing in the line waiting and you would try to score from like the corner? It's almost like he had an extra eye. He would be playing the real shot, but then see you trying to sneak that in. He would dive over and get it and he would be laughing about it where other goalies would come over and two hand you. So his, his compete level was the same in practice and that's why he was so good. So young goalies out there practice harder than you play.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hear, hear.

[Whitney]

The Washington Capitals are, are, are quite possibly for real. I, I, I've been completely wrong on them. I think going back to the first week of November after their start, I'm like, ah, this will cool off. And then you get to Christmas time. I don't know if they'll keep it up. And they have not slowed down one bit. And we've talked a lot about the locker room and some of the videos that have come out about Carberry addressing this team and the way the team gets along. And yes, every team that's in the elite eight that's still playing, they're close knit rooms. But this team with the OV goal chase and then getting the job done against Washington and my main takeaway from the series is Tom Wilson and maybe, maybe there's way other, other factors that people think about, but it's like they have this unicorn that completely flipped that series on its head in Montreal. Game three, it was madness. They lose the game, but he's the fight on the bench. Game four, he buries Kyrie who ends up playing game five, you know, stick taps to him. But they have a guy who when the playoffs come is legit petrifying to play against. And they have Dylan Strom and they have Chickren scoring big goals and Biz, I don't know what you think. Like, like, were you as wrong as I was on Washington or were you not really as hard on them as I had been?

[Ryan Whitney]

No, I, I picked Carolina. Going to the Eastern Conference finals before playoffs have begun. I didn't think Washington were frauds per se. I just was like, I don't know if they can sustain what they did during the regular season. I feel like maybe there's some flaws we don't know about in that lineup that are going to get exposed and I am going to be changing my pick. I think that Washington is going to win that series and for the reason that you just mentioned where you have a guy like Tom Wilson, Carolina especially like at least Montreal, they had Anderson, like someone who could remotely stand up to him. Where, I don't know, man, I, I look to a guy like Brent Burns. I look at that as being the only guy who really wouldn't be that intimidated by Tom Wilson and maybe Biz.

[Whitney]

Jordan Stall Jordan Stahl, right?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, I was sticking to him too, but. But he, he's a pretty even keel, calm demeanored player who they're going to need on the ice shutting down top lines and trying to prevent teams from scoring where I don't necessarily want him involved in that type of bullshit. There's a fine line. I don't think I've ever seen the wires cross on Jordan Stahl. Like, I just don't know if that's in him. But maybe in order to get to the next step and the next level, those guys have to find it and maybe they do it collectively as a group. I have definitely been very impressed with Svetch. Do I want him fighting Tom Wilson? Absolutely not. We saw how the OV experiment went. He should just keep scoring goals the way he's been going. But I think that Tom Wilson as the X Factor is going to be something very, very difficult to contain for a team who doesn't have anything remotely close to toughness. Like, this is not a tough team. It's a team that comes at you. Four lines, 60. They get help from both goaltenders. I also think that if they have any chance, they need Anderson playing the way he was before he got ran by Timo Meyer. That's another thing too. I think the shot playing, I don't know. But the shot volume is going to come from Carolina. We know that. But for how big Washington is, I don't know if they're going to be able to get to the inside like they were in the last round against New Jersey. So it's going to be tough sledding for the Carolina Hurricanes. We're going to really find out what they're made of. But I think this is going to be a very good matchup. But I do have Washington winning this in six games.

[Merles]

Guys, we do have a little breaking news here. We just received this email and it's in regards to the Washington Capitals and I'd like to read it you guys. Hi there. Hope you're doing well. I'm on the management team for Juicy J and Project Pat and we've worked closely with the Washington Capitals as Alexander Ovechkin loves Banzer maker dance track back. We've received a ton of inquiries having the guys about having the guys on spit and Chiclets and I'm reaching out to see if there's any interest for the guys coming on Juicy J boys.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey, Foals. That has fools written all over.

[Whitney]

That is such a Foley email.

[Biz]

Do you remember our night with Three 6 Mafia at Ross's Bachelor party in Vegas.

[Whitney]

They were there. Yeah.

[Biz]

Juicy. Yeah, it was the. All of it was the whole crew.

[Whitney]

Keith do the whole interview. I mean, I just keep saying bands I make a dance. Bands I make. I'll just keep saying that over and over.

[Ryan Whitney]

So how'd you get your start? They are slinging dope, selling dime bags on the corner. Hey, but shot at. Like, I need to change career paths. So I started spitting dog is to your point?

[Biz]

I think if you don't think Tom Wilson's going to be in the crease every single time against Freddie Anderson, knowing, you know, his history of, you know, not willing to, you know, play through some injuries, he's going to be in that blue paint all series long. If Freddy's playing, do we know if he's playing with.

[Whitney]

He's at. He was at Skate this morning. Pasha just. Just mentioned that he's at Morning Skate this morning.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't think Kachekov's going to get it done, boys.

[Whitney]

No. And I wonder even if. I wonder even if Anderson can I. I like Washington in this series. I just feel like Carolina is. They're a great team. They're an awesome team, but I've kind of flipped on the Capitals and. And you. You look at like. Like Leonard hasn't scored, but he's been really good. Like Mangiapani. Like, they have depth. I mean, Protoss comes back, he's kind of playing on the fourth line because Bolivia's been so good with OVI and Strom. Right. And then it's just like, I think it's the physicality of Washington. What they could do. They can wear you down. Now let's say this. Carolina's faster. Carolina plays with more speed. Like, not just, you know, without the puck. Like, with the puck, they're moving it quicker. I just don't know if they have the goal scoring and the offense that can beat Washington. Logan Thompson, I mean, maybe. Maybe a couple awkward moments throughout the. The series against Washington. Obviously, he gets injured. He's able to come right back the next game, but he looked really good. And this is another guy on a mission who lost his job. We mentioned that in one of the shows last week. It's like this guy is. He wants to prove that he can win a Stanley Cup. He can be the goalie that gets a job done. It's going to have to be a monster series by Ajo. Like, for me, if Carolina wins the series, at the end of it, when the handshake line's being cut away from we're going to say like Ajo was the best player in that series and I think he could do it. But I, I, I just kind of believe in Washington a little bit more and I also, I also really am interested to see if Wilson is doing the same thing where it's a straight up bully. It's playoff hockey. Like this guy, you need a guy like that that puts fear into the opponents and there aren't many guys.

[Biz]

And let's, let's not forget the 6 foot 6, 247 pound Protoss is coming back. I know he played one game, but he's coming back. If he is gonna. He's a mutant feeding off of Tom Wilson.

[Ryan Whitney]

Let me ask you guys this. Who do you sick Jordan stall on Pierre, Luke Dubois or Dylan Strom?

[Merles]

Strong's been on fire.

[Ryan Whitney]

Rome's been on fire. But like the, the, the, the fact that they got pld with that size and that big body. Like, like one thing we forget about Washington is how big they are. They are just built like a playoff team. Like they're built with the size of like a team like Florida. Right. So let's see how much the, the, the Carolina Hurricanes can put up with the physicality and the big bodies that they have. Because although a little bit undersized, Carolina, I understand they skate well. I understand that they do a really good job of balancing out the ice time and they come at you in these waves. But I just don't know if these flu, flu shots from the outside and then, and then trying to penetrate the middle with bodies is going to work the same way it did against New Jersey. Like we know, like New Jersey's not a very strong defensive team. At least, at least they weren't in the sense where they weren't that healthy. Right. A little easier to get in inside the middle and get to their goaltender than it will be against the Washington capital. So there's a lot of things that are going in the, in Washington's favor right now and, and size is definitely one of them.

[Merles]

Yeah, when Whit and Biz you guys were talking, I, for a second I thought you were talking about Florida. And that's why my, my picks the Capitals, I'll go Capitals in, in six games just because of that. When you remember Florida played them, it was a sweep. But according to Brenda Moore it wasn't a sweep. But it was. It's the same type of team. They can't play good against a physical team like that. So I'm gonna, I'll go Washington in six And I, I've flipped on them too.

[Whitney]

I mean, I just can't believe how good John Carlson is still. Like, and you remember like when he was out, it was like the team's kind of lost, right? That guy. And he's been there for so long. He's one of, he's one of Cup. It's. He still has so much game now. Maybe overall Carolina's defense might be a little bit better.

[Will Arnett]

Right?

[Whitney]

You look at the bottom pair, Van Reemstike and is it Alexiev? I don't. The Russian's name. I don't know. Like, I just think of slaving. I think how good Sean Walker skates. Chatfield's an animal. Probably pretty close, but maybe give the edge to Carolina. But then up front, I, I just think that Washington, they're bigger, they're stronger and, and they're overall deeper than Carolina. I think it could go seven games, but I, I do have Washington getting it done. Biz, do you have your prediction you already gave him, Keith?

[Ryan Whitney]

I already gave Washington in six.

[Biz]

Yeah, I think it all depends. I'd like to know if Freddie's playing. I think it all depends on whether he's playing. If he's, if he's not playing, I think they do it in five. I think Washington beats him in five. If, if Freddy's playing and he's playing well, I think Washington beats him in six. But yeah, I think in going back to John Carlson, like, he was never the fastest skater, right? Whit. Like you wouldn't, you know, he was never really buzzing around. So that's why I think he's like, his game doesn't really fall off too much because he, he's just so good. Positionally, he's a big boy. He's bigger than you think. Like on the ice, he's a big man, but he's just always in the right spot, makes the simple pass every single time coming out of the zone, gets it out and just knows how to defend. Not being the fastest guy in the league. He's just really good at making guys go to where he wants and, you know, I think he can do it for another five, six years. That's because, you know, he doesn't have to rely on his skating like that. But I think, I think, I honestly think Washington's going to bully these guys out of the, out of the arena. And I think either five or six, depending on Freddie.

[Ryan Whitney]

So you guys want to keep going and doing the rest of the predictions or, or yeah, we. Is Florida, Toronto going To start on Sunday.

[Whitney]

I was going to actually ask Chuck if he didn't know yet. I would assume they get.

[Ryan Whitney]

I would have asked them.

[Merles]

But yeah, Chris Johnson just. Chris Johnson just reported that it will start Monday I believe.

[Ryan Whitney]

Why don't we wait. Why don't we wait for Monday's show, do it live and do those predictions and we can go through what we think think. I don't think we should do them now. I think that, that, that Washington Carolina series is actually starting on Sunday. I believe that we will have the game on TNT Sunday if Winnipeg closes out in St. Louis because we have that game Sunday at 8:00pm Eastern Time. And if that game obviously is not happening, I believe we're going to switch to Washington Carolina. So as far as Edmonton and Vegas, I believe that's not starting till at least Monday. Nor will the Florida, Toronto and then.

[Whitney]

Dallas the winner of those series and Winnipeg. So yeah, so Monday we'll have the other predictions for you. That's a good idea. And then maybe some news. You know, who knows what happens, right? Who knows what happens tonight with Winnipeg? Who knows what happens? Game seven. There's just so much.

[Ryan Whitney]

I mean there might be another fucking coach hired by the time we hop.

[Whitney]

On next time and, and that kind of leads us into the quick hits and Mike Sullivan gets named the 38th head coach in New York Rangers history. Welcome back to Broadway. He was the assistant coach under John Tortorella there. It just seems like Drury got his man. I think from the time and it was announced that he was no longer with Pittsburgh. Everyone in hockey is like oh, he's going to the Rangers. I think one, I think probably the number one job out there. Right. That people would have wanted based on who they have and, and, and money. I'm. I want to see that contract. I don't know if it'll be released but did I see a tweet saying it might be the highest coach AVV but not the.

[Biz]

Because Babcock's was like 60 million but it was over a certain.

[Ryan Whitney]

His will be the 7 year deal.

[Biz]

I think his will be the highest AVV but only for like a 3 year deal or whatever.

[Whitney]

Wow.

[Ryan Whitney]

Right.

[Biz]

That's how long I think he's gonna bring torts in as an assistant.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's how long they last there anyway boys. Fucking. Why, why would you sign longer than that? I think that I feel like there's a lot of similarities to Laviolette with Sullivan like very similar style of coach. I think from a respectability standpoint if you're the New York Rangers, you can't just kind of maybe wheel out a new guy and throw a guy into the fire of that media circus. You need a guy who's got like a winning pedigree that Sully has, you know, two Stanley Cups, he's been around as long as he has. He does carry himself extremely like, like proper. Like he's not the guy to be like slinging jokes at the press conference like, like Monty does. So I feel like he fits the bill. I think it's an absolute joke that a coach makes $7 million. Like I don't think in hockey that they deserve to be making $7 million. Like you're. There's only so many forechecks right there. Only so many forwards you can roll over the boards. Like, I don't know. That's just my opinion on it. But New York's in desperation mode. Drury, this is probably his last head coach. If things don't go that successfully. Right. Would you guys agree on that?

[Whitney]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

So he had to pull the trigger and they got the budget, so they got their guy. But yeah, once again, 7 million for a head coach in the NHL. And on that note, I'm going to take a.

[Biz]

The coach in as an assistant.

[Ryan Whitney]

If they bring towards in as an assistant, that's a three ring circus. For the sake of the podcast, I would love it. Can't remember the last time an assistant coach was getting in Donny Brooks with players, but we know it's going to happen.

[Whitney]

Hold on. We got, we got like five minutes. Can you hold it or. No.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm going to shit my pants.

[Whitney]

Okay. All right, we'll see you later.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'll be quick.

[Whitney]

All right.

[Ryan Whitney]

You're going to do in that second round matchup. Yance. Huge deuce.

[Whitney]

Yeah. It went really well for the Leafs last time against Toronto.

[Merles]

Marshall to be psychologists and like buddies and, and friends nowadays it's not just the, the systems with these young kids. You gotta properly handle them all. You gotta handle 20 different personalities. So it, it is an important job. I, I don't mind them getting the money. They are.

[Biz]

You think the head's doing that like you think Sully's doing that?

[Merles]

They're all doing it now. That's all part of it. It's all part of the show now. Dealing with the media, dealing with guys like Biz that are lunatic Leaf fans. You got to deal with all this stuff.

[Whitney]

Can. Can they. Can. Can Mike Sullivan kind of figure out the Bennett Chad?

[Merles]

Yeah.

[Whitney]

Adam Fox. Who else this year up front that. That just like what's going to happen with Crider.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Whitney]

It's just. Yeah. What happened to him after he signed. So it's.

[Will Arnett]

It.

[Whitney]

There's a lot more that goes in. They got their coach now you got to look at the roster and see what ends up getting done this summer. I would imagine there's going to be some trades there. There's going to be some signings like you can't go back in with with the same lineup unless you believe it was just the coaching that. That didn't get things done. But Shusturkin can be a lot better. That contract madness is over now he's signed.

[Will Arnett]

It's.

[Whitney]

It's an interesting question. And the other news in the. In the coaching for actually quickly Selkie trophy finalists announced Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhardt and Anthony Sorelli. So all Florida kind of crazy. I I quickly maybe g look up AI like two players from the same team ever been named Selke finalists.

[Merles]

Like I. Iowa was going to be in on that maybe this year. He played such a good game like 200ft everywhere. A ton of points so.

[Whitney]

First time 2007. Could you guys.

[Will Arnett]

Draper.

[Whitney]

No. Nope. You got the team. You got the team.

[Biz]

Datsuk and Zetterberg.

[Whitney]

Yes. Yes. That makes sense. That's when you know you're a great defensive team. Look at Florida. You got two guys up for the top defensive forward league award like that. That's. That's wild to see. Rick Talkett is officially done in Vancouver. That's kind of why I hope Biz would. Would hang around. But there was. He is close personal friends with him.

[Biz]

He hates every other coach except for.

[Whitney]

Tom I think beside. Yeah. Besides the money which obviously like he's probably going to make more although the reports were Vancouver offered him a pretty big deal. I think it's the madness of Vancouver and that's no offense to the Canucks or their fan base but it. It's crazy there. It's. They. They. It's very similar to Toronto. The up and down roller coaster and what he just went through this year. I mean the Miller Patterson thing. The team going from game seven in the second round last year to missing the playoffs. It's just so much noise there that I. I just picture a guy being like I got. I got 10 teams that want to hire me. Like I don't. I don't really need this. And it sounds like a slap in the face to Vancouver the way I'm saying it. But I just. I just think he's kind of over it. Like it's. It's a heart. It's a hard thing to coach in Canada. There are expectations, there is ridiculous amounts of media and there's all these things that go into maybe looking into another job somewhere else in the league and just trying and testing yourself in a different city. What do you got?

[Merles]

Travel. So I think everyone keeps saying Philly, Philly, Philly. But it sounds like Philly is pretty far along with Pat First. Wiler, who was the Western Michigan coach this year, played with Jonesy at Western Michigan a few years back in the day. So where do you guys think talk it ends up if Philly's not the team?

[Biz]

I think he ends up right next to Biz on tnt.

[Merles]

Really?

[Whitney]

So that's. That's you saying you've. You've kind of been mentioning he might just be over the coaching and want the. You know, makes good money and maybe a little. But you have to sit next to Biz.

[Biz]

Yeah, I know. No, I don't know. I know. It just seems like, like you just said about the whole. The media circus and the like all the that happened around that team this year. And even, even now, like, you see, is Besser gonna be back? Is Quinn Hughes, like, now there's talks of Quinn Hughes gonna go to Jersey. Like just the whole mental mind games of that. Like, it's gotta eat away at you and as a coach too, like you're hearing it all. You have to answer all the questions. In my opinion, it would just be like, oh my God, what did I get myself into? And then his first year obviously went great. He's an unbelievable coach. He could coach anywhere he wants and be great at it. But I feel like it would just be like such a. It's every day you're dealing with putting out fires and dealing with the outside noise because as much as you say the players try to, you know, not listen to the outside noise, the coaches kind of have to. Right?

[Whitney]

Yeah.

[Biz]

You're hearing it, having to deal with that. It's got to get old and it's gotta. It's gotta wear on you throughout a 82 game season.

[Merles]

That's why you gotta pay him the 7 million bucks now.

[Whitney]

You got to pay him the big dog. I. I think Boston would have crazy amounts of interest. Biz Keith was saying maybe talks just done with coaching and he's like, I'm going back to tnt.

[Ryan Whitney]

No. The reason I say no is I just think the bag would be too, too heavy. Like he. He won a Jack Adams last season, right? You know, there's, there's seven coaching vacancies. Like he, there's four. Yeah, seven or eight. Sully just made 7 million. Well, he made seven talks, making five minimum. Right. So I just think that like at his age and he still got, he's still got a lot of passion left for the game. I don't know what's happening with the rest of the coaching staff. Like, I genuinely don't know. But like with New York off the board, I could see him going to Philly, I could see him going to Boston, I could see him going to, to Anaheim. I thought maybe there was a possibility that he would end up back in Vancouver. But he, they, he must. And they must know something about signing somewhere else at the fact that they've already said like, hey, see you later to Vancouver.

[Whitney]

But they offer him a big deal.

[Ryan Whitney]

Apparently they offered him a deal. I don't know what the number was, but I would assume it was like probably in the four, four and a half range. Like just assuming. I think he was already making like two and a half, three. So he's obviously getting a raise. And with the market being set at what Sully's making, like I would be shocked if it was below 4 that they offered him. So. But the fact that if like that's no longer a thing, it's either he wants to go to a place because you guys are just talking about that there's a little bit less noise and outside like that's the thing like for the job like the Rangers and, and I think you alluded to it jokingly, Merles. It's like you're getting paid 2, 3 of that million to put up with the, like you're pulling up with the, putting up with the Larry Brooks's and getting grilled every day, same questions like ah, you're in the, you're in the mix. So if you go somewhere like let's say Anaheim or you coach in Columbus or you coach in one of these like maybe non traditional markets where the, it's not a media circus. Like it's almost like fun, you know, like why, why wouldn't you want to go to a place like anaheim and make 3 million and fly under the radar like how many media members they even have in the room after games. So don't know what it is, but I would be shocked if he came back to TNT at this point. Unless he's just completely fed up, stressed out and is like, no, I want to work 50 days a year. I want to make, you know, whatever he's making with TNT and ride off into the sunset. Pretty cushy job.

[Biz]

What if, what if Tampa and Coop kind of part ways and he goes back to Tampa?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, he's already, he's already been there. Yeah.

[Biz]

I don't know with the roster like they have. I mean realistically, they still have a good roster, right?

[Whitney]

Yeah, everyone signed. I mean, did you guys already talk.

[Ryan Whitney]

About the rumors about Coop going on to Utah?

[Whitney]

No, he was kind of just that that was the first brought up by Keith there and that's kind of wild. I mean I guess like 12 years and, and what he's done there. Maybe you just look at with what's happened in the playoffs lately, like I'm, I'm ready for a new challenge now. Are those rumors, rumors that he would be the coach or the gm?

[Ryan Whitney]

I think, I think that it would be we coach. I just think that maybe have a little bit more like say and apparently with Carl pulling his, his resume out of Chicago that I guess maybe had part to do with it and the fact that he wanted a little bit more say in personnel and, and things that were happening where that's not necessarily a common thing. But maybe in Utah they're a little bit more receptive to that. But I would imagine considering the success they've had that Breezeball and Coop have a pretty good relationship. And if Coop is saying hey, I could really use a guy like this to fill in this hole and I think that I would trust them. That Breeze boss probably helped getting that deal made. So I, I, I don't want to put too much stock into it. I know people like to, to maybe throw a little bit more gas on it because of the connection at Gauser where Cooper is in Gazer in the summertime and so is the coach or the owner, Ryan Smith. Sorry guys, my brain is legit fried. I've been going so hard here. I didn't get the bed till four in the morning after celebrating the parade. But like, yeah, and I, I also think that Ryan Smith probably wants to make a big splash and when you bring in either a big free agent or a big name coach like that that's making a splash. So who knows? Who knows. A lot of rumors. Kind of weird that it came out though when Coop was still in the midst of his series. Like just a bizarre thing to come.

[Whitney]

Out and it like I have no idea where it came from. Like that could, this could be something where Coop's reading it. He's just laughing like right.

[Ryan Whitney]

And like he's got One year left on his deal currently correct.

[Whitney]

I'm not sure about that.

[Ryan Whitney]

He just signed an extension. But what is that?

[Whitney]

Larry Brooks started it. Jesus.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, there you go. And, and, and how many years did Sully have left on his deal? Where Apparently Pittsburgh called him in and I also heard rumblings that Sullivan kind of wanted to stay his coach in Pittsburgh and he didn't want to leave and he kind of got pushed out. Pushed out.

[Whitney]

Wow.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't know.

[Biz]

I mean, it makes sense. Dubas wants to bring in his own guy, guy that he can kind of have a relationship with.

[Ryan Whitney]

And you see a world where Keith gets canned in, in New Jersey.

[Whitney]

No. Based on the injuries and. No. It just signed longer deal. No, I don't, I don't.

[Ryan Whitney]

You know Boobis is foaming at the mouth to bring Keith into fucking Pittsburgh.

[Whitney]

I know. Well, I got criticized that Amazon prime like, with it, it's turned into full blown NFL like craziness with the coaches. If Amazon Prime's falling around players like, I hope there's an episode about this fucking madness and what these guys are dealing with and all the changes.

[Biz]

Hey, that idea.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, I got criticized. Well, they came at me a little bit harder because I said the book's still out on, on Kyle Dubas on the Pat McAfee Show.

[Whitney]

They were like, oh, they're pick guys though.

[Ryan Whitney]

But boys, this guy traded Jake Gensel for bunting. Jake Gensel could have signed in Pittsburgh for probably eight and a half million dollars a year. Maybe nine million for an eight year deal. Like you're telling me that Jake Gensel is not a $9 million player.

[Biz]

We're talking most goals in playoffs history.

[Ryan Whitney]

If something, he's top six for goals per game in NHL playoff history. The highest among active players. Where Leon's around the same, he could pass him. Obviously now the fact he gets to play more games.

[Biz]

But like, like what's bunting at though?

[Ryan Whitney]

Boys, boys.

[Whitney]

I wouldn't want the pit job if I'm a coach. No offense, it's Sidney Crosby, but like.

[Biz]

Just to hang with Hazy and Sid, I'd take it.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's true. That's true. And learn a lot about birds.

[Biz]

Go bird watching with Sid.

[Ryan Whitney]

Go bird watching with Sid. I was doing a different shout out.

[Whitney]

Kevin Hayes too for I think not realizing that any of us played in the NHL. An all time line by Keith, like when he's asking us, hey, have you ever been to a game in St. Louis? Yeah, dude.

[Ryan Whitney]

And pounding about 60,000 milligrams of melatonin before he came on the Pod where I don't even know if he said six words.

[Whitney]

He's got those nerves of the baby coming. We'll give him that one. We'll give him that pass.

[Biz]

I thought he was great.

[Ryan Whitney]

All right. He's going to join the Pod when he retires. He's gonna have to be a little bit more electric than that.

[Whitney]

What a first round and we're still not done. It's going to be an incredible ride tonight. I think in St. Louis they look to force a game seven Saturday night. We got. We got one guaranteed. I'm always hoping for four. I'm always hoping for. I know that's a lot to ask, but four is the dream. You need one. No minimum Game seven first round. So hopefully we get to two.

[Ryan Whitney]

A surprise for our fans. We will be doing a Game 7 live stream on Saturday of the Dallas Colorado game. So join us on here, the Merly Chicklets channel and we're going to be having a great live. Of course it was Merle's idea as well to do that Game seven stream. It'll be brought to you by Pink Whitney. All of our body armor draft kings, all of our big sponsors, the big old bottle as Keith is showing you right now, but that's going to be huge. We're going to be coming to you on Saturday so we've been giving you guys tons of action. We've given you the Monday and Friday Chicklet shows, the game notes on Wednesdays. We're going to be coming at you with a Saturday stream show game notes.

[Biz]

Thanks for letting us come in on.

[Ryan Whitney]

Friday, Merles, the flagship show that started it all. And we're going to be doing next week two pods again along with the one game notes on Wednesday and then one more the following week which we've just added because the playoffs have been insane. We're going to be going to all the way till the end of the second round with two per week and then one with game notes. So keep joining us. Subscribe. We love you guys. Keep joining in the chat and I don't really have much else to say guys other than go leaves go.

[Whitney]

We'll see you Monday morning. Loyal to the oil. We are all happy men right now but it's about to get ugly between us. So thank you so much for tuning in. Thank you to Will Arnett, thank you to Matthew Tkachuk, thank you to all our sponsors. We'll see you guys Monday. Peace.

[Biz]

Love you boys.

[Merles]

Sa.