Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 560: Featuring Bob Stauffer & Gary Lawless

Summary

Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 560 Summary: Featuring Bob Stauffer & Gary Lawless

Released: May 5, 2025

Hosts: Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, Gord Miller, Rear Admiral (R.A.) Mike Grinnell

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1. Introduction and Celebrations

The episode kicks off with the hosts warmly welcoming listeners and celebrating various personal milestones. Ryan Whitney extends birthday wishes to Calen Whitney, highlighting the camaraderie and supportive culture among the hosts. A significant shout-out is given to Pink Whitney, the favorite drink of the show, with gratitude expressed towards Pink Whitney for its contributions to the podcast's lively atmosphere.

Notable Quote:

Ryan Whitney [01:21]: "Shout out Pink Whitney. Oh, yes, Keith. Just drink it."

2. NHL Playoffs: Historic Game Seven Performances

The hosts delve into the intense and memorable performances witnessed during the NHL playoffs, particularly focusing on Game Seven scenarios. Gord Miller remarks on the rarity and significance of teams overcoming a two-goal deficit in the third period of Game Sevens, stating:

Notable Quote:

Gord Miller [02:19]: "In the history of the NHL, there had been three times a team was down two goals in the third period in game seven and came back to tie it up."

Paul Bissonnette echoes the chaos and unpredictability of the playoffs, emphasizing the high-octane nature of each game and the remarkable comebacks that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

3. Team Analysis: Avalanche, Stars, and Jets

3.1. Colorado Avalanche's Rollercoaster Playoff Run

Paul Bissonnette highlights Nico Ratnan's exceptional performance after being traded to Dallas, arguing against critiques that his success was solely due to playing alongside Nathan McKinnon. He asserts Ratnan's playoff prowess, stating:

Notable Quote:

Paul Bissonnette [03:24]: "He fucking showed everybody as to why he's a playoff beast, why he deserved 12 million a year, if not 14 after that performance."

Gord Miller critiques the Avalanche's management decisions, particularly the handling of Ratnan, suggesting that the Colorado brass were blindsided by Ratnan's playoff surge.

3.2. Dallas Stars: Depth and Determination

The Dallas Stars emerge as formidable contenders with their deep roster and tactical play. The hosts discuss the Stars' ability to adapt and overcome challenges, especially with key players like Nathan McKinnon and Cale Makar performing under pressure.

Notable Quote:

Paul Bissonnette [04:55]: "If they could part ways with them, like, you know what? We're going to find the next best thing."

3.3. Winnipeg Jets: Resilience Amid Adversity

Gary Lawless joins the discussion, bringing insights into the Winnipeg Jets' playoff journey. The Jets' ability to rebound from setbacks, such as Connor Hellebuck's intermittent performance issues, is a focal point. The hosts commend Hellebuck's resilience, especially his dominant performance in crucial moments.

Notable Quote:

Keith Yandle [06:14]: "I honestly like, when you see him after the game, like I all, I want to be in that locker room so bad going into the third period."

Lawless praises the Jets' strong community support and the strategic moves made by the organization to bolster team performance.

4. Guest Segment: Insights from Gary Lawless

Gary Lawless, an expert on the Vegas Golden Knights with ties to Winnipeg, provides an in-depth analysis of the Jets' performance against the St. Louis Blues. He discusses the psychological and physical toll of the series on players like Connor Hellebuck and emphasizes the importance of team cohesion and support.

Notable Quote:

Gary Lawless [23:26]: "I lived there 18 years, worked there and my wife is born in Winnipeg and my daughter is born in Winnipeg. So we watched the game here tonight and like they jumped off the couch, they're screaming. I'm like a little more muted."

Lawless forecasts the Jets' prospects in the second round, balancing optimism with the challenges posed by hardened opponents.

5. Playoff Series Predictions

The hosts engage in lively discussions, predicting the outcomes of critical playoff matchups.

5.1. Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars

Paul Bissonnette and Gary Lawless lean towards the Dallas Stars due to their depth and strategic advantage, predicting a swift series conclusion.

Notable Quote:

Gary Lawless [45:29]: "I got Dallas. I think that we don't know when Shife is going to be back. We don't know what's going on with Morrissey. Robertson and Haskin are reportedly very close. I think Dallas wins that series."

5.2. Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights

The Oilers-Vegas series garners intense analysis, focusing on the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The hosts discuss Vegas's superior depth, coaching strategies, and goaltending prowess, contrasting it with Edmonton's reliance on their star players.

Notable Quote:

Paul Bissonnette [96:40]: "I've had a lot of delusion throughout my past, but this will be the most difficult series this group has ever seen."

5.3. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers

The Toronto-Florida series is portrayed as a battle of resilience and strategic execution. The hosts advocate for the Maple Leafs' potential to overcome adversities through disciplined play and key player performances.

Notable Quote:

Paul Bissonnette [112:14]: "We are going against Goliath. ... I believe that my Leafs, along with all these omens that hockey Illuminati's brought. It's our year."

6. Player Highlights and Performances

6.1. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)

The hosts laud McDavid and Draisaitl as transformative forces in the Oilers' lineup, comparing their impact to legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Their combined scoring and playmaking abilities are seen as pivotal to Edmonton's playoff aspirations.

Notable Quote:

Ryan Whitney [82:43]: "They are the goaltending that scares the living daylights out of me because they're the only team in the world that has the two, arguably the two best players."

6.2. Connor Hellebuck (Winnipeg Jets)

Hellebuck's fluctuating performance is scrutinized, with discussions on whether his intermittent struggles are mental or physical. His ability to rise in critical moments remains a central theme.

6.3. Mitch Marner and Pavel Buchnevich (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Marner's offensive contributions and Buchnevich's defensive prowess are highlighted as key elements for the Leafs' success. The hosts emphasize the importance of their performances in high-stakes playoff environments.

7. Coaching Strategies and Decisions

7.1. Pete DeBoer (Colorado Avalanche)

DeBoer's calm demeanor and tactical acumen are praised, with the hosts speculating on his potential to secure a Stanley Cup based on his extensive experience and strategic mindset.

Notable Quote:

Paul Bissonnette [12:31]: "He is extremely calm demeanored coach where if the game's high or low, you're never really seeing him on the bench, elevated or reacting to it."

7.2. Bruce Cassidy (Vegas Golden Knights)

Cassidy's coaching prowess and ability to adapt strategies mid-series are lauded. His decision-making, particularly in line adjustments and power play executions, is seen as a critical advantage for Vegas.

Notable Quote:

Biz Nasty [60:19]: "He's done it based on his pedigree, how long he's been involved in the game."

8. Conclusion and Future Outlook

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reiterate their excitement for the upcoming second-round matchups, expressing optimism and anticipation for the intense playoff battles ahead. They emphasize the unpredictability of the playoffs, the critical role of depth and strategy, and the potential for historic performances from key players.

Notable Quote:

Gord Miller [114:44]: "We are going to get into that game right now, game six and seven and, and kind of break down our different thoughts on that."

The episode concludes with heartfelt acknowledgments to guests, listeners, and the production team, cementing the show's community-driven and passionate approach to NHL commentary.

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Key Takeaways:

• Depth and Strategy: Teams with deeper rosters and strategic coaching (e.g., Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights) are favored in key playoff matchups.

• Star Performances: Elite players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are pivotal to their teams' success, potentially altering the course of the playoffs.

• Resilience: Teams overcoming significant deficits in Game Sevens (e.g., Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche) demonstrate remarkable resilience, adding to the playoff drama.

• Coaching Impact: Coaches like Pete DeBoer and Bruce Cassidy play a crucial role in navigating their teams through high-pressure playoff scenarios.

Final Prediction: The hosts predict a closely contested series between the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights, with a high likelihood of the series extending to seven games due to the exceptional talents and strategic approaches of both teams.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Gord Miller [02:19]: "In the history of the NHL, there had been three times a team was down two goals in the third period in game seven and came back to tie it up."

• Paul Bissonnette [03:24]: "He fucking showed everybody as to why he's a playoff beast, why he deserved 12 million a year, if not 14 after that performance."

• Keith Yandle [06:14]: "I honestly like, when you see him after the game, like I want to be in that locker room so bad going into the third period."

• Gary Lawless [23:26]: "I lived there 18 years, worked there and my wife is born in Winnipeg and my daughter is born in Winnipeg."

• Biz Nasty [45:29]: "I think Dallas wins that series."

• Paul Bissonnette [96:40]: "I've had a lot of delusion throughout my past, but this will be the most difficult series this group has ever seen."

• Paul Bissonnette [112:14]: "We are going against Goliath. ... I believe that my Leafs, along with all these omens that hockey Illuminati's brought. It's our year."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the dynamic and analytical discussions of Episode 560, providing listeners and interested parties with an in-depth overview of the key moments and insights shared by the hosts and their guest.

Transcript

[Ryan 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.

[Paul Bissonnette]

This episode is brought to you by. Hey dude, hey dude.

[Ryan Whitney]

Have you tried?

[Biz Nasty]

Hey dude.

[Paul Bissonnette]

If you haven't experienced them yet, hey dude.

[Biz Nasty]

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[Gord Miller]

With so many options to choose from.

[Biz Nasty]

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[Paul Bissonnette]

No more sacrificing comfort for style. Hey dude. Shoes are unlike anything.

[Biz Nasty]

Head to heydude.com barstool to shop our favorites.

[Paul Bissonnette]

This episode is brought to you by.

[Biz Nasty]

Hey dude, hey dude. Have you tried? Hey dude.

[Paul Bissonnette]

If you haven't experienced them yet, hey dude. Shoes are insanely comfortable, lightweight and easy to slip on. With so many options to choose from.

[Biz Nasty]

You'Ll find the perfect shoe for every.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Occasion, including extra cushion platforms for added height.

[Biz Nasty]

No more sacrificing comfort for style. Hey dude. Shoes are unlike anything.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Head to heydude.com barstool to shop our favorites.

[Ryan Whitney]

Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed.

[Keith Yandle]

To the jungle that is Barstool sports.

[Gord Miller]

Our white whale, Sidney Crosby. Shave his head.

[Biz Nasty]

Shave his head.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Shave his head.

[Gord Miller]

Ryan Whitney.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Paul Vicinet.

[Gord Miller]

R.A. mike Grinelli. Spittin Chick L. Hockey is the greatest.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Sport in the world.

[Gord Miller]

And try to argue me and I will freaking go you right there. And I can't even fight. Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 560 of the Spit and Chicklets podcast. Holy. I don't know what else to say. We just witnessed some of the most memorable game sevens I'll ever see in my life. And we are here because of Pink Whitney. Shout out pink Whitney. Oh, yes, Keith. Just. Just drink it. All Right now, it's 1225 Eastern on Monday, May 5th. Happy birthday, Calen Whitney. And let's get into it, boys. Shout out Pink Whitney. Shout out the big bottles, the little bottles, the medium bottles, and everyone who's ever had a drink of Pink Whitney, we love you and we thank you and thank you to what Pink Whitney does for this show.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Guys, I don't even know what to say.

[Gord Miller]

Guys, I don't. Let's lead off with this. In the history of the NHL, there had been three times a team was down two goals in the third period in game seven and came back to tie it up. It just happened on back to back nights. What the fuck? And, and, and there were a couple people when I tweeted, that's the craziest first round I've ever seen. What do you mean, dude? It's like. And then I had defenders like, no, man, give me another year that you can talk about the storylines, comebacks.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Every game was nuts. What are you talking about? It'd be one game on crack, and then the next game would start. There'd be a goal 9 seconds in this game going a double overtime, this game having lead changes like, it's been insane. If we could guarantee that we get the second round the same as the first, I'd fight 12 Irish travelers. I'd fight 20. I'd fight a gorilla one on one. The other 99 guys, I'd fight a gorilla one on one.

[Gord Miller]

You kind of are one with your long arms and your big hands. Like, it's a fair fight, boys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I mean, I guess we're going to have to start with Colorado, Dallas, and I mean, Nico fucking Ratnan and what he went through the last two months getting traded against his will, just blindsided by that. Not fitting well in Carolina, going to Dallas and then doing what he did in those last two games. I mean, really, games five through seven, 11 points, biz.

[Gord Miller]

11 points in those 11 points.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And the argument that his point production was, was mainly because of playing with a guy like Nathan McKinnon, which we realized that playing with him, the game is a little bit easier.

[Keith Yandle]

It helps.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He. He fucking. He fucking showed everybody as to why he's a playoff beast, why he deserved 12 million a year, if not 14 after that performance. And the Colorado Avalanche and their brass must be sitting there on the plane home ride home being like, I was taking Chris McFarland. Wow, what just happened? What the fuck just happened to us?

[Gord Miller]

Well, the funny part is that they get him out of the West. All right, Go to Carolina, buddy. When they saw that news break that he went to, not only back to the west, to Dallas, they were already locked into play him. It's like, oh, fuck. And then what happened? The absolute worst case possible, the worst case, Ontario, as you say, biz went down in the final 20 minutes of Game 7 in Dallas. It's just Keith, can you imagine the guys on the plane and Chris McFarland sitting there like, wait, he wanted to stay.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He would have. Hey, mind you, he was never offered 12. Take it or leave it. The fact that a conversation with what I consider the big three, him, McKinnon, Makar, like, those are three foundational pieces that if I would have. If they would have stayed together, I would have said for sure. Multiple cups because rotten and especially when the hockey gets hard, especially when it gets physical. And the one the games are one and loss around the blue paint and below the goal line on the boards, those are the guys that end up coming through. And the fact that they could part ways with them, like, you know what? We're going to find the next best thing. We're, we're, we're going to get ahead of this thing. Ah, he doesn't look that fast this year. I think he's maybe LA lost half a step if. Oh, yeah. Who the fuck was lugging the mail through the neutral zone in game seven? Looked like, Looked like he was the fittest guy on the ice on that zone rush. And that sound when he scored that first goal, that sweeping and that ping going bar down. That is. That is hockey porn in its finest. Yance. Remarkable game seven. Remarkable game six. Only player in NHL history to have back to back four point games.

[Gord Miller]

Oh, both. Both of them in one period.

[Keith Yandle]

One. Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Sheer dominance. Sheer fucking dominance.

[Keith Yandle]

I honestly like, when you see him after the game, like you, I all, I want to be in that locker room so bad going into the third period and like, I remember a video of Ray Bork the year that they won it. He was like, hey, give me the puck. I got one tonight. Like, you know, a lot of guys say that, but I wonder if like Mikko was just like, hey guys, it's my time now. Like, this is my old team. They fucking gave up on me. It's my time to shine right now. Jump on the big. The big boys back and we're going to take these boys down.

[Paul Bissonnette]

People are going to try to take away from the one that went off Gerard. But did you see when he went to the pile to give the guys the head and knuckles, when he celebrated that first goal that he scored, he had that look in his eyes where when he left that pile, I was like, oh, Jesus. Like, this guy's going to go. This guy's going to go full playoff mode right now and beast mode. And he did just that.

[Keith Yandle]

Like Hints was in his face too. Hints was like him and they were like in each other's face. You could tell they were going to pop off and they sure did lose.

[Gord Miller]

We're going to drink. We have a couple days off. We're finished. Also the second goal, the Gerard one, he didn't even go that nuts. It was almost like, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's only tied. Like biz. You texted the group right after the first one. You go, you see his face there? He looks like possessed. Then the second one, it wasn't a crazy celebration. He just stood up.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He was Locked in.

[Gord Miller]

Let's go. Let's go. He was regulation. And you got a feel for Nathan McKinnon, who. A very raw, honest interview after the game. He said they didn't have their best defense turn or their best forward, and we didn't beat him.

[Ryan Whitney]

What.

[Gord Miller]

What. What do we do now? Or something similar to that, where it's like, he has to be like, fuck me, man. This was my guy. This was my. This was my. My ace. My guy on the right. Or the. We went. We went together. We raised Lord Stanley together. And he didn't even really have an option of sticking it out here once. The true story.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Didn't even get consulted. Didn't even get consulted about it. I think that that's absolutely fucking banana lands. He said his quote was, this is the most devastating loss of my career. And if you guys look right now, I believe that Nate's played five game sevens. He's never won a game seven. I think Cale McCarr has been a part of four of those. I don't think he has a point and is minus three or four in those games.

[Gord Miller]

So I'm waiting to hear about a Makar injury solely because, like, when you. When you see somebody that's that dominant and that amazing at what they do and then they're just off in the playoffs, you got. I just. It was. It wasn't the same Cale Makar. And there were moments of what we've come to know, like him be out in the ice, but it wasn't the overall dominance that. That we've saw when he won the Con Smythe this season, throughout the regular season. It was just. I'm wondering if he was battling something. Maybe he wasn't. But I also. I can't get over that Pete DeBoer is nine and oh, in game seven.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's fucking nuts.

[Gord Miller]

That's like the odds of that happening to, I mean, game Sevens, they're. They're tight games. It's the inches here and there. It's the Al Pacino quote in any given Sunday. And this guy's nine and all. And at the same time, Bedner's never won either. I believe he's 04 now. But the part. The hardest part for the AVs and McKinnon is that was a. That was a Western Conference final in the first round. And they. It's the. It's the way that this playoff format goes. I've now come over to the side where I don't dislike it and I don't see a need for change. Not including 1 verse 16 ever being an option. But you get these first round matchups and a team gets screwed and goes home. That could have, could have won it all. But you, you, you have memorable, like, series that you'll never forget. I will never Forget that. Game 7 and tonight's Winnipeg St. Louis. I'll never forget either one of them.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, no. It was remarkable. But then again, like, it just goes to show you how important home ice adv, like you saw it with Dallas. By the way, that crowd, that crowd has to be top three to five loudest crowds in the National Hockey League. Like when they get fucking barking. That is a very, very intimidating, intimidating place to, to play. And they don't even have glass banger in the lineup. They did have Tits McGee for game seven, which we knew that was going to be a victory.

[Gord Miller]

You announced that, like, what was the. How did you hear? I'm guessing maybe a couple dms between the wonderful woman and yourself. Or was it just news flying around your world?

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, we actually know this hockey player. I'll keep the name off the podcast, but his brother is dating her and I caught wind early on and I believe that she does some work on the Internet as far as maybe only fans. And I mean, I think that that's pretty obvious. Not trying to, to, to like insult anyone here like, you know, make your money how you can. Right.

[Gord Miller]

I make a profile on Twitter, might show that. Or give that away.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Exactly. I'm pretty sure she's sending out pictures of her beaver, but she had the guns out, blazing in, in, in game seven. It took a while for them to get going. It took till that third period to get it done. But hey, they, they came alive and they were busting out in the, in the third period. But yeah, I mean, going back to Pete DeBoer, boys, like there's a stat here. Became the first player or coach in NHL history to be part of nine game seven victories. He is nine and oh, in game sevens, a record accumulated with four different teams since 2012. So I, I mean, he, I just feel that he's an extremely calm demeanored coach where if the game's high or low, you're never really seeing him on the bench, elevated or reacting to it. So it seems like he's always prepared, he always knows what to do in every situation. And probably one of those coaches that most people would agree, like, just like Paul Maurice, I would be shocked if he doesn't eventually win a Stanley cup just based on his pedigree, how long he's been involved in the game. How many times he's been to the finals and come up short as well. So just a phenomenal coach. He's got Elaine Nazardine there, spotter and the rest of that incredible coaching staff. Another guy as far as the clutch genes considered for such a young player. Wyatt Johnston was his. It was his third game seven of his career. He scored in every single one of those game sevens and none bigger than that one on that he's bouncing.

[Gord Miller]

That was a snipe. That was way. He made that look way easier than that shot was. Now what did you guys think of the discussion? Blackwood having to have his stick in that lane because it was so close to him. Now I was kind of arguing that if you turn your stick over as a goalie to block it, like the chance of it hitting it and going in your five hole is I guess relatively high. But when it's that close to your pads and your crease or is. Is that not on him? A little bit of getting the stick down.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think that.

[Keith Yandle]

I think when it's left to right it's easier for the goalies. But when it's coming, you know, from his left to his right. So right to left, I get a little harder.

[Gord Miller]

You can. You could put it down flat a little easier than.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And it doesn't open up with a five hole as much. Which, which was your original point. And I think that most goalie coaches would agree, like, hey, in that situation, don't stick it out. It felt like it was a few inches away. And I feel like the really good goaltenders who are able to read plays would have poked at and disrupted that pass. Talking to other coaches via text and. Or on the panel. No offense or not to throw bones under the bus. But I think that he said that that was more of a defensive error like that that backside winger has to take the back door guy and that net front defenseman has to prevent that pass from going across. So more on this. People were also bitching about the penalty call. Like boys, he. He tackled them.

[Gord Miller]

I w. I was at the start and then. And if it was in the neutral zone, I would be still. Dude, Sagan's going to get that puck. It's. You're in the offensive zone. That. That's a penalty. And I felt really bad for Jack Jury. We were on the. We were on the stream and I, we. We did a live stream. It was great. Thank you for anyone who watched for game seven. And it kind of took away from how like I didn't realize what happened because we're talking and we're interviewing. Bob does was on for that. I don't even think he was watching the game. And I, I went downstairs, watched the highlights. I was like, oh, my God. Like, that just. That just happened. But we were kind of doing the content thing in the middle of it. But that was a penalty, man. That was a penalty. I think he got. I think they got that one right. And, and biz, quickly, you brought up Wyatt Johnson. Most goals before the age of 22 in Stanley cup playoffs history. Sidney Crosby at 24. Yarmor Jagger at 19. Patrick Kane at 19, Wyatt Johnson's at 17. And this thing could just beginning could just be getting going for them. I was just on, Pardon my take before we started, and Big Cat had me list my teams, my, my one through eight on who's left. Right away I said Dallas. I switched it to Florida just because of them being the champs. Dallas right now, guys, the fact that those two are coming back and Robertson and Heskinen and they beat the avs, it's like this might be their year. And, And I know it's. We're just seeing them win this, this legendary Game seven. But that team is so deep. They're built to win in the playoffs. And Ottinger is cool, dude. He's calm and net. He's the same guy. I don't think he gets too rattled. I don't think he gets too fired up on a big save. He's just. He's ready to get the job done.

[Keith Yandle]

Possibly I think even remember the end of the year, Biz, even you were talking about it like they were giving up a ton of shots. They weren't. They didn't play great towards the end of the year going into playoffs. But he never. You never heard him bitch and complain about it. He wasn't, you know, pissed off at his team, you know, giving up too many shots because, you know, some goalies can get, you know, poopy pants about that, where they're, hey, what are you guys doing to me? We've all played with a goalie or two like that. So I, I love his demeanor, especially that. That series, like the ebbs and flows of any series, are huge. But they didn't. It didn't seem to affect him in any way. He was. Whether they lost the game, he was the same guy where they won a game, same guy. So him and. Yeah, I think him and Bob right now, the two guys I would trust the most. And, you know, I wouldn't want to be facing him if I'm the Winnipeg.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Jets shut out to the stars. Players like elevating their play in front of him after he let in that second one, I would say that he wanted that McKinnon one back. It was a bit of a squeaker on the blocker side, but after that, shutting the door and giving his team an opportunity to come back full marks to Ottinger, I think there was obviously some question marks coming into the playoffs. You know, he's. He's the type of goalie that, you know, he's. He's always talked about in the top five, top 10 in the league and, you know, when the chips are on the table, you know, he. He has proven it in the past, maybe not in the later rounds, but this could be. This could be his year. Just like this team. And we're talking about and credit to like. I mean, I'm going to go through the list here. Like Tyler Segun coming back from injury. I didn't know what to expect and what he would bring. I thought he was tremendous in the fact that, you know, he didn't have many reps coming into the postseason. I think he played maybe one or two games before the end of the season to try to get his feet wet. Really. The whole team was leaking oil. Like, this is a team they backed in the playoffs. They might have last. Lost their last seven, eight games and we didn't even. They were unrecognizable. Matt Duchene, we talk about rotten and revenge. Like he gets revenge on his old club where he was there quiet.

[Gord Miller]

He'd been quiet.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He'd been quiet. But I thought the last couple games he looked a lot better. We mentioned Wyatt Johnson, but just that whole decor to a man, especially Harley, and the fact that they lose Haskin and where you're leaning on him come playoff time to play that 28, 30 minutes like he's the. He's the pianc, right? He's that guy for. He's the Morrissey. He's that guy for that team where they rely on him in every situation, including power play and in those crunch moments to execute on the power play and get the job done and beat a wagon of the Colorado Avalanche. Like that team from top to bottom deserves full marks for the way they played and competed. And every time you thought that. That Colorado was going to run away with it, whether it was after game four when they throttled them, all of a sudden Laniskog comes back, they get that lift, it's like, oh, man, this has Got to be the ABS year, right? They got the mojo going, they got their captain back, they got that, that, that feel good feeling. And fuck, even after game six, boys like just the way they gave that up in the third period. But to go back home, get the W and now give your guys a little bit more time in order to get Haskin and Robertson back. I agree with you. It, it feels like they're the team to beat right now in the Western Conference. And yeah, they deserve it. They deserve all the credit in the world.

[Gord Miller]

No one happier than the Dallas Stars to see this be a Wednesday start. And I know it's already Sunday and it makes total sense they have to travel to Winnipeg. But yeah, it's just an extra day or two possibly where maybe we don't see those guys game one, but it sounds like we will see them in, in the second round. Back to the avs quick. The Avalanche have now lost seven game Sevens in a row and I believe the last one must be Ray Bork's cup win. That might be their last win in a game seven. Kind of incredible that maybe since then they haven't won one. But they are the only NHL, NBA or Major League Baseball team to lose seven consecutive game Sevens according to Opta stats. So I trust Opta stats. No clue what the hell Opta stats is, but bring it to me. Opta. I, I feel, I feel bad for those guys. I do. Like they, they had cup aspirations. They, they overhauled their entire team. They had Charlie Coyle as a third line center, Jack Drury is a fourth.

[Keith Yandle]

Line Gabe coming back.

[Gord Miller]

They had Gabe coming back. They had neches at 2/3 the price of Rontin and that, that front, front office thought that he could do the same thing at way less money. And it all came, it all came apart in one period.

[Paul Bissonnette]

On the road some people, including Avalanche fans would argue like hey, we didn't have the depth in order to compete. If we kept rotten and we would have been too top heavy and then we wouldn't have stood a chance against Dallas anyway. You know, possibly true. You know, people are going to debate that. You know, I, I think that overall the organization and the overhaul from the start of the year, like two new goalies, a couple D men, I mean up front, I mean their second, third and fourth line center compared to the start of the year, we're all different. You got Natushkin back Landy, you guys mentioned it. And nature like that is such an overhaul on the fly and they do deserve credit for that. I just look back to to thinking you're getting ahead of things with moving rotten. And, and the story is that he came back to bite you in the ass and, and he, he did. He, he went no spit, no lube, sandpaper finish. And you're on the plane with your, your head in your hands being like, what the just happened to us? So that's pretty much all I got on Colorado. An iconic comeback, an unbelievable game. And, and very excited to see this Dallas Stars and Winnipeg matchup where both teams two goal comebacks in, in game seven.

[Gord Miller]

Yeah, and, and we're going to, we're going to get into that game right now, game six and seven and, and kind of break down our different thoughts on that. But before we do, we have two guests tonight. We have Gary Lawless who covers the Vegas Golden Knights and has a. Some Winnipeg ties in his life, I believe. And then we're going to have stoff on later. So a big breakdown of Vegas and Oilers from those two guys covering both those teams. But Gary's very, very invested in watching these Winnipeg games closely. So why don't we bring him in right now and we can break down Winnipeg St. Louis. There he is.

[Paul Bissonnette]

There he is. Couple clicks, couple clicks for Gary I've never met.

[Keith Yandle]

How we doing, Gary?

[Gord Miller]

How you doing?

[Biz Nasty]

Keith?

[Keith Yandle]

Great to meet you.

[Gord Miller]

Great to have you on. Gary, what's going on? I think I'm just going to kind of take it. We'll get to all of us and our thoughts. But breaking it down, they go back to St. Louis. Winnipeg has a chance to get it done and oh my God, the playoff ghost that Connor, Connor Hellebuck is seeing, they reappeared and he gets, he gets pulled for the third straight game. Not even on the bench. After he gets pulled, everyone's kind of like, what, what is happening to this guy? Like, this is the yips in golf. This is like something that's unexplainable. Is it mental? Is it, is it, is it positioning? Like nobody knows and everyone has different opinions and somehow some way, man, he pulls through in game seven and it happens with him sitting on the bench. The last two minutes. They're down two goals and Keith sends the text. Is Winnipeg better without a goalie? Like, what's going on here? Just shocking. 1.6 seconds left. Oh my God, it was just incredible to see that go down. But I'll say this before any of you guys take this over. Hellebuck looked awesome in the, in the two overtimes and there weren't a ton of chances. And Winnipeg took over after the second period. At one point, since the second period began, they were up, they were out shooting St. Louis 37 to 16. But is this now what Hellebuck needed to just put everything aside and dude, we got through the first round and I wasn't even good. And thank God. And now we go. That's the question. Biz Gary, Keith, I don't know who. I'm going to Speaker 3.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm going to throw it over to Gary and also congratulate you. Not only your Gold Knights winning, but your. Your former team, the Winnipeg Jets. So 2 for 2 going off to the second round. At least they don't have to meet each other quite yet. But I mean, talk about the Hellebuck performance and everything else Winnipeg related.

[Biz Nasty]

I lived there 18 years, worked there and my wife is born in Winnipeg and my daughter is born in Winnipeg. So we watched the game here tonight and like they jumped off the couch, they're screaming. I'm like a little more muted. Like it's, you know, I'm happy for my friends that live in Winnipeg. Not really happy for the jets, per se. Well, I work. That's where the paycheck comes from.

[Gord Miller]

He's part of the most cutthroat organization in pro sports. You think he's rooting for anyone else?

[Keith Yandle]

He wasn't even watching the game.

[Biz Nasty]

No, I was watching. It was. And I actually. Paul Edmonds, the radio guy there, I don't know if you. He's a good buddy of mine. We covered minor league baseball together and drove all the way up I 29 for eight years together. His call tonight is fantastic. It's on Twitter. You gotta find it and listen to it. I watched Game 6 and I texted, you know, you used the word unexplainable when I texted someone inexplicable. Like, it's just, how does this guy be? He's gonna win his third Vesna. How do you win three vesnas and then not be able to stop it in the playoffs? And I actually, you know, I, I kind of felt bad for him. I'm glad that. I'm glad he was able to kind of resurrect it in overtime. Let me ask you this though, Whit, if you're Bill Guerin, is he your guy next year? Like, if you watch this unfold, I think Otter.

[Keith Yandle]

Otter's got his name in the hat in the.

[Biz Nasty]

I think you have to like, to me, if he had lost this series, it would have been career defining. Is a little strong because he's still young. He's Gonna. He still is gonna play for. Who knows what happens after this, but it would have been an awful moment for him. So they get through and maybe he has found his moment. Scott or Neil. It's fascinating. You know, he played for the Jets. They. The Jets. John Ferguson senior traded him to Buffalo. And they didn't speak for the longest time. And the night they tore down Winnipeg arena, they picked the last night. They had a big affair there. And Randy Carlisle, who was like a son to Fergie and was the head coach in Winnipeg for the Moose when Scott Arniel got his start, they're like, you know, he brought them together and they had this moment where, you know, they. Fergie said, sorry, Scotty said, sorry. They had this moment. He gets that job in Columbus, gets Seward there and then like, I don't know if he was ever. If he didn't get a chance in Winnipeg, he might not have ever gotten another chance. And he was with the Rangers, he was with Washington. You know, he paid his dues and then gets this moment. So pretty good for him. I thought he did a. I thought. I thought he handled the post game after games.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, he did really well. That's a hard situation.

[Biz Nasty]

But he was spinning right away. Like, took the heat off. Off Hellebuck right away said this. We imploded.

[Keith Yandle]

We.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We.

[Biz Nasty]

And they did like the. The slot.

[Gord Miller]

They were horrible in game six. I was shocked. And they were horrible at the beginning of game seven.

[Ryan Whitney]

Man.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Like. Like Bones said, he's like, hey, J. Especially like in the neutral zone. It's like force them to line, force him to dip, dump, smother them. You know, easier breakouts, obviously. They were like, they were melting down. They weren't even keeping their F3 above their centerman who was entering the zone and. And the boardside guy who was supposed to close them off at the red line. In both situations, in the first 70 seconds, they slipped. He slipped by Connor on that wing and then he got by Velardi on the other. And then Connor's that F3 who's supposed to be in support. He gets drifting over, gets outside, another breakdown, and then he doesn't even back. Check to pick up Cairo.

[Biz Nasty]

You broke it down pretty well on tv, which I'm surprised, you know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. Once in a while, days in a.

[Biz Nasty]

Row, he just texted me, I've worked 15 days in a row, you know, I do. I broadcast 82 regular season games I love. Plus I went to four nations. And now 15 days in a row.

[Gord Miller]

We'Re going to get Off. Right now, Keith just. Who works harder Off.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, we're. We're having a dick measuring contest here.

[Keith Yandle]

While you guys sit in your four Seasons hotel.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey guys, let's go back to hockey.

[Gord Miller]

Yeah, yeah. And. And back to the game though. Something clicked and, and I would love. That's. That's a moment you just wish you could see. What happened in the locker room after the first intermission. Who knows if it was a player. Who knows if it was Scott Arneel. Just like there had to be somewhat of a snapping in there. What the boys. Game six. We give that effort the first period at home with this white out. That's what we give. And they came out. And from the second period on. Game changer. An enormous loss. I think Morrissey played two minutes. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know where that leaves him for the second round. But Neil Peon. Oh, what a fucking player. He gets the assist on the game winner. Through the first overtime. He played 40 of 80 minutes. And that guy, that trade with the Rangers for Jacob Truba, they get him resigned right before playoffs. What incredible player. No, Shifely. They end up turning around, gutted for the blues. I mean you talk about Colorado being up two nothing in the third period. They're up two nothing with two minutes left. I mean they're up three one with two minutes left.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Like boys.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh my God, has Neil Kon worked 15 days in a row? That's all I want to know.

[Biz Nasty]

The leaf Florida action is already going.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, this. Yeah, this guy criticizes the way I breathe. He's all over me. So. So keep your head up here. Hey, he'll.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm born in 1968 on just on the outskirts of Toronto.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Never, never saw the Leafs win the Stanley Cup.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, we don't need to. Hey, we're not diving in the Leafs just yet.

[Biz Nasty]

I hate the Leafs so much. I'm a Canadiens fan. I grew up a Canadiens fan because they were. They disgusted me so much throughout the.

[Paul Bissonnette]

70S and the 80s going back to the. The true betray though and Pok. And pumping this team's tires though. Like not only the trades they've made the drafting like a guy like Cole Perfetti stepping up tonight in the absence of Scheifele on that power play like that tip. That is as surgical as it gets. I thought that that was Sidney Crosby in Perfetti's jersey. You've got one.

[Gord Miller]

I thought it beat him six hole. Sorry, Gary. I thought it. And then they See the replay like, oh, my God, he went barbed out with that tip. And a great play by Connor to pass it that hard. I mean, that is a complete, complete set play. And, and, and they connected again. They connected again on the, on the tying goal. It was just. Yeah, go ahead, Gary. I'm sorry.

[Biz Nasty]

Like, they can't blow it on their draft picks, right? When they draft that, like that, that, that, that they have to develop that guy. He's got a hit. Because you know, they're not. When Jack Eichel becomes available and every team in the NHL could have traded for Jack Eichel, you know, they're not getting that guy. You know, Vegas is Florida, New York, Chicago, they're winning. Well, maybe not Chicago right now, but they're, but those, those big franchises are winning. Those guys shovel day off has the toughest job in the NHL. It's the smallest market, the smallest drink. And there's no other way to say it, American guys don't want to play in Canada. They don't want to play in Winnipeg. So they got to. They've got a hit on guys like Perfetti. And I give them credit for developing the way they did. And a huge night for him was Scheifele on the. Like, I thought after they lost in St. Louis, I'm like, they got to go back home.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And I thought they were done.

[Biz Nasty]

When I heard Scheifele had skated in a tracksuit, I'm. I'm like, well, maybe there's a glimmer of hope for them because I didn't think they could win without Shively. And if you hadn't told me they were going to lose Morrissey, like, that's their, that's their. That's their best forward and their. And their best defenseman.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Just what Dallas did.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, well, but Dallas is deeper, right? Like they, like, no doubt. You know, they added, ran and at the trade deadline, like, think about that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That.

[Biz Nasty]

That's. It's. It's kind of amazing.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Still remarkable that those two teams lose. Their, Their best forward and their best defenseman were able to pull it out, especially in Game 7. A few other tire pumps too, like Nikolai Ehlers was hurt. Came back in Game 6. He's had a tough playoff career. Like, not gonna lie, he's only got four goals and now 39 playoff games. Had 14 points coming into tonight in those 38 that he'd played. Tonight was the 39th. He needed to make a big play on that tying goal. He ends up like double clutching the first one. He gets.

[Gord Miller]

No, he whiffed, bro.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, well, double clutching, whiff, whatever you want to call it, they thought, I think St. Louis thought that he broke his stick and maybe that's why they got so aggressive coming out to him on the next time and he makes that beautiful pass over to Lowry who ends up connecting with Perfetti. So.

[Gord Miller]

Sorry, was it Connor?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I thought Connor Connor or Kyle Connor? Excuse me.

[Gord Miller]

I think Connor. I think Connor was shooting that and Whiff too. Watch the replay. It's crazy though, because they know how.

[Keith Yandle]

Much time's left, right? They're coming down the clock in their head. Most guys would have shot that puck, that either shot. He made an unbelievable play over to Conor and I think it's, you know, a little bit of puck luck. But, you know, they got it and they got it a lot at home. But Biz, me and you, you called me the other night and we were talking about Perfetti and I was like, I remember this kid in world juniors. I always thought he was going to pop off and be a stud. And you, you were like, he's young, he's a smaller guy. He's going to have to kind of, you know, grow into his game a little bit. And this game right here could be the thing that really elevates his game and brings him to the next level. Do you agree with that laws?

[Biz Nasty]

I think he's made huge strides for them and that he was a guy that just like Scheifele. Like they brought him slow, they say sent Schiffle back to Junior twice. Perfetti, same situation. They did not. Didn't rush him. They don't want to, they don't want to burn years either. Like they, they need to have control of a player as long as. As they can. That's just the reality there. He started to go inside a little bit. He would had a little bit of perimeteritis, I think earlier on that, but that his hands are obviously like completely legit. You saw that on both of those. So just to your point, went on who was like, adam Lowry's one of the best captains in the NHL. He is tough as nails. You know, he, he's. He fought Reeves in Vegas one night and you know, like they're not this. Lowry's a heavyweight, but he doesn't fight. Not the same, not the same kind of experience as Reeves. And you know, the jets went that bench, he lifted their bench up with that. He does stuff like that all the time. Big community guy. I'm pretty happy for him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's did you guys see the post game? Like, him and Bones had an awesome interaction. And they. They rolled a video from when Bones was co chair when. When he finally got back to getting behind the bench after his wife had recovered from her illness. And just. It just seems like they've established such an amazing culture there. And I know Bones retired and handed it off to our Neil, but it's obviously continued and his impact still is. Is paying dividends in that locker room. And G just hit us with a stat here too. Adam Lowry. Some people were questioning on whether he got a piece of it. I think that it ended up hitting his pant leg.

[Gord Miller]

I didn't see any part of it hitting him, but it changed direction when it hit St. Louis player, didn't it?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I know it would have changed it again when it got to Lowry. That's why I said it might have hit his pant. Like, I don't think he's the type of guy to. To go for Ryan Smith and. And. And give her the. The pumpernickel if. If he didn't touch it. Adam R. Adam Lowry joined Steve Iserman. This was in 1996 in the conference or. I don't know, CSF, whatever. The.

[Gord Miller]

That conference semi final.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Can't.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Geez. Confuse me more. G. As the second captain in NHL history to score an overtime goal in Game 7. So pretty cool stat there from G. Other than the fact that you put me in a mental pretzel. Just an awesome game. Connor. We kind of discussed him too. He was tremendous in the second half of that game. He was kind of nowhere to be found in the first part, but what else can you.

[Gord Miller]

He wasn't even nowhere to be found. He lost the puck there right inside the offensive blue line. And Joseph goes down and that was the goal. And I'm wondering your opinion. Biz. I'll start with you.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I thought I was.

[Gord Miller]

I was like, I think they have to pull him. I thought. And credit to our Neil, man. I was like, it's seven minutes into the game. It's two nothing.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Agreed. I would have pulled him. I mean, I'm the. I'm the worst guy to ask about the goalie situation. I would have had fucking Kamrion in game five.

[Biz Nasty]

He's your hurt trophy candidate.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Gord Miller]

So you can't pull them. You're saying you got to live by the sword.

[Biz Nasty]

I couldn't believe they pulled him in game six. Like in game six, I would have. After the second and third, I would have said to him, you're going back out and you're gonna work through this, figure out what's going on, because we need you. You're. You're our guy. You're winning. You're a heart candidate. You gotta. We're not winning without you.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, that's why I'm sitting in a podcast chair and I'm not the head coach of a National Hockey League team because, like, like I said, I would have had Comrian. And also, I love post game interviews and stuff. That's probably more of the reason why I would have picked him. But you gotta have some jam at that point not to yank them and stick with your guy. There was rumblings that came out of the two times he was pulled in St. Louis where he went down the tunnel and like, he went and showered and got his, like, street clothes on and didn't sit out by the bench. I thought that that was a little bit weird. Like, I would personally want, like, regardless of how he feels about the. How him getting lit up and, and getting pulled, like, come and support your teammates and be there to support them by the bench. Maybe he wanted to avoid getting heckled because sometimes that hallway in St. Louis where you sit as a goalie, the fans do have access to bark at you and maybe get inside your head. Maybe that's the reason. But did you guys hear that? And did you guys find that to be weird that he didn't come back out and sit with his teammates on the bench?

[Gord Miller]

Yes. And what if Comri gets injured?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I think there's no way he got undressed. Like, there's Someone would have been like, hey, you can't. Because if com gets hurt.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think that there was like, like, like, I got texts about the fact that he went and got showered up and changed like that. Like, this might be a rumor that I've gotten from a few. I got it from a few reputable sources. I'm also like, I'm not trying to kick. I just thought it was different. And he's had the same approach, apparently, where he didn't even come back to the bench. Maybe he was still in his gear in the locker room, but I just felt that coming back out to the bench to support your teammates was a little bit of a. A weird thing not to do in that moment.

[Gord Miller]

But she was like, get the guy from Shea Perry. You can have him come in for that. Montreal used. Cause he looked awesome. He was. He was a great. He was a great E Bug. Yeah. Biz. It's. I. I also think so. They. They make it 2. 1. And I'm like, oh, the jets got life. Here we go. The fat. The faxa goal. He was like way over the right and it was a great shot. But it wasn't bar down where the, where the crossbar meets the post either. It was, it was beneath that which NHL standards. There's a big difference between putting it bar down there and just getting it in the top shelf. But he's over to the right and it beats him. I'm like, oh my God. Like I thought that was it. I said that's it. I said the way St. Louis can shut things down and Binnington in big games, I think that's it. And, and St. Louis, they didn't play bad. It's like they ran out of gas like Kyru and overtime. Even Bush, Bush on the broadcast is like, he's, he's lost a couple one on one battles here. They just look tired.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They could win their 50, 50 battles. And like I felt that they definitely ran out of gas because they were sitting way back more than normal in this series. Even though they were rolling four lines great like that fourth line for St. Louis was a difference maker in the series. At the point they scored that fax a goal, they'd outscored him six to one. The fourth line. So like as far as an offensive impact, as far as like flesh wounds, like Faxa was the one who basically took out chiefly and just the way that Torpchenko and Walker, they were relentless and just getting in on the forecheck of the bodies. But you talked about the way that they close out games like they had a hard time six on five the whole year. That was one of their Achilles heels. And you saw them allow two goals. The first one that made it three, two. Like I was shocked because Shenner gets it like by the goal line in the defensive zone. And we're taught especially when you're on your backhand and you don't know because you got your back to the play and you're scrambling and most of your guys are tired. You can't just throw that up the wall on your backhand. You just eat the puck along the wall. You grind away clock. You allow your guys to also get into a better position considering you were scrambling right before that. And then it happened right before their third goal as well up.

[Biz Nasty]

Why did Buchanavich ice that?

[Gord Miller]

Gary? I said, oh my God, skate, skate like move your feet time and space and then they clip. They. The camera goes over to Monty and he's kind of like, oh, I think he said skate. He's like skate, you know, just like, oh dude, you didn't have to ice that. He could have buried the game there.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But not even that. There was Already A, an F1 in the neutral zone. If he would have just punted it to the other side of the ice. You create the 5050 battle. If you, if you got guys who need to change, you can do so. So it, it wasn't even an issue of skating. He had the, he had 75% of the rink to just put it into an area. Let your go guy Guy, go be the F1 and then create a neutral zone 4. Check where they're going to have to regroup, dump it in and then hopefully get a retrieval. And there was just so many things in the last three and a half minutes that went wrong for the St. Louis Blues. Whether it was running out of gas and steam. And it sucks man, because it takes away from such a gutsy effort they had throughout the series, throughout the end of the season. The 12 game winning streak. Robert Thomas being the highest scorer from four nations on, even though he had to miss that. Like there were so many positives for this St. Louis Blues team. Fowler setting the point record by a defenseman for a series in playoffs with 10. Like it's, it must suck. And just like the, the Colorado Avalanche, they're sitting there on the plane ride home being like, we had this game in the.

[Gord Miller]

Even more so, I think.

[Paul Bissonnette]

More so, More so. More so.

[Biz Nasty]

The Fowler, the Fowler pickup, the guy he was been at AM in Anaheim. I thought he was washed. He. It reminds me of the deal that Vegas made for Alec Martinez. His numbers in LA had. Had become so bad. Like you just looked at him and you're like, what's going on? And then what one of our pro scouts said to me, don't judge a defenseman on a bad team because you know, there's lots of things going there. This is a guy. Martinez and Fowler in their situations, playing a ton of minutes, playing the hard minutes, not getting any help. Martinez comes to Vegas reborn, was fantastic. The whole time he was there, wins a cup. And I thought Fowler was arguably the most impactful player in the lineup for, for the Blues. He was tremendous.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And before we move on and Gary, you mentioned how much time you spent in Winnipeg. Like those Winnipeg fans and that city, like they needed a win like this. Like that would have been so devastating to not only them, but the organization for all the big moves they've made, trusting in their players and really guys that like, you could tell that they love Being there. And, you know, you mentioned it earlier, Gary, it's not easy for them to get free agents and lure guys in, but the culture and the team that they've created with guys that actually want to be there and go to bat and fight for that city, it's pretty special. And, Gary, I'll throw it over to you if you have any more comments on that. And just a very, very big, gutsy effort to get themselves to the second round.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, you guys have all stayed at the Fairmont there, and you know what Portage you mean, as some of your listeners might not. It's the main intersection in Winnipeg, and some loser politician 40 years ago decided to close it off so that you can't walk the sidewalks, you can't walk through Portage of Maine. But whenever something big happens, they shut it down. So, like the night that the story broke that the jets were coming back, all these people went to Portage of Maine, parked their cars there, got out of their cars. They're doing that there tonight.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's amazing.

[Biz Nasty]

Is Portage of Maine is shut down. There's a video of the premier that's like, you know, it's like the governor of. Of the. Of the province of Manitoba and the mayor of Winnipeg. They came out of the game tonight and they did a video after, and they told everybody in Winnipeg, you can all be late for work tomorrow. We are. We're officially making it. So. Yeah, for those people. Hey, it's a cool fan base, even.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Though it's my jizz towel. Let's go. White out, baby. One more round. Put one in my belly button for the city of Winnipeg. Let's go, baby. Whiteout time.

[Keith Yandle]

That's what you want to hear before bed. Hey, Gary.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm unassociated with this.

[Gord Miller]

Yes, neither are we.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, you're disassociating. After I just pump Winnipeg's tires like that. Now we got to get your prediction. You're going to be the first one to go before we move on to the Oilers Vegas series, which you're here to really cover. Boys, who do you got? Winnipeg? Dallas. I'm going to start with you, Gary.

[Biz Nasty]

I got Dallas. I think that we don't know when Shife is going to be back. We don't know what's going on with Morrissey. Robertson and Haskin are reportedly very close. I think Dallas wins that series.

[Paul Bissonnette]

How many games?

[Biz Nasty]

Six.

[Keith Yandle]

I. I agree with Gary. Probably not the smartest bet for him, seeing he's going to be sleeping in the guest room because his wife's from there. But I agree with that. And a lot of it to do with. A lot of it to do with. I think, I think Winnipeg, you know, that series was so hard on them. They the most hits in the playoffs so far. They were beating each other up. I don't think Dallas was, is physical with the Avalanche. So I think that they're going to come in a little more wounded and I'm going to say Dallas in six as well.

[Gord Miller]

I, I, I, I don't mean to disrespect Winnipeg. I really, really don't because it's an amazing story. I think Dallas could sweep them. I think it's going to be five. But I, I, without Shifely and maybe he's back and Morrissey, I mean for him not to come back that game, you got to think he's out at least game one. Maybe I'm, maybe he gets shot up and he's good to go. But what Dallas just did to Colorado and, and, and now ranting and God, he's got, his confidence has got to be through the roof. I just, Unless Hellabuk, unless Hellabuck had the demons fly out of the Winnipeg, the city of Winnipeg and he turns into Hellebuck at the regular season, I think Dallas makes quick work of him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I kind of go with Yanza's theory. I feel like they took out like there was a lot of flesh wounds there from that series with St. Louis. Like they ran the shit out of him, obviously took out Scheifely. I think it's gonna be a big task if he's not back ready to go for game one for Nemestikov to hop out and play that first line role. It also bumps up Adam Lowry, who did an excellent job tonight, but then he has to be second line center and it really fucks up the feng shui of that lineup and what makes them truly special and Winnipeg jets hockey. I do think Connor Hellebuck is gonna come alive in the series. I think we're going to see a completely different guy. He's going against his American counterpart in that four nations. For that four nations team. I think this is going to go seven.

[Ryan Whitney]

Wow.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And I, and I think that Dallas is going to take it and just simply because they're so fucking deep, they're getting those guys back. It seems like Ottinger is going to raise his play to a different level because he wants to shut up the haters just as much as Hellebuck. And I just really think that that back end for Winnipeg is not only beat up right now, but it's a little bit thin and they tend. They got exposed that series from St. Louis, so. I love Winnipeg. I'm so happy for you guys. Incredible, gutsy effort, but I'm going to have to go with Dallas and seven.

[Biz Nasty]

I hope they, I hope they knock the crap out of one another. I hope it does go seven.

[Gord Miller]

Yeah, me too.

[Biz Nasty]

Leading into the next segment, you know.

[Ryan Whitney]

No.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Why don't you take it away for us, Gary? We got a big one.

[Gord Miller]

Tell me why you could beat me. Tell me why you could beat me. Explain why you will beat me.

[Biz Nasty]

Better goalie, better D. I won't say better coach, but a coach that's done it. More depth. Like, okay, it's the Connor and Leon show. It can, can win a game. I'm not sure it can win a series.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna question you on the depth. I mean I thought Howden had a good series, but I felt like I ain't talking about the regular season. I'm talking about how you guys got your ass chewed up by the bottom six from Minnesota. They're Minnesota's bottom six. Including that fourth line was better than Vegas's fourth line. Like they dominated you guys in that series. Trenin was running you guys through the fucking wall. Aiden Hill couldn't even make a fucking.

[Biz Nasty]

Scored three goals and had two game winners.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I just said outside of Howden, I thought that Howden had a great series toward the end of it, so. And then I'm going to go back to To Wit's team. I felt like the depth for Edmonton raised their level of play in the last three games of that series. Connor Brown look excellent. Yanmark. I thought that Arvidson stepped it up like so from the depth perspective, I'm going to push back on you a little bit. I agree with the, with the defense, I agree with the goaltending. And then you got the two headed monster up front. And for the first part of that series against Minnesota, we didn't see the Jack Eichel that we're used to seeing and the top guys weren't getting it done. Stone and Eichel came alive in the last few games. Do you agree or disagree?

[Biz Nasty]

100%. Jack missed some games at the end of the year. He was hurt, he was injured and whatever was bothering him, I think it carried over into the first couple of games. And then in the middle of the series like game, game four, he started to feel like Jack Eichel and you know, he brings a lot out of Stone that, that top line that Vegas has going right now, that's a Team Canada line. Two elite centers playing on the same line. Like when you, when Team Canada picks its team, they don't care if you play wing or center with your club team. They want the best players. So that means you know, you have McKinnon and Crosby on one line. You put two centers together and that's what they've done now with Eichel and Carlson. And I think there's going to be. It'll be interesting to see what Knobloch does if he says, okay, I'm going to, I'm going to run McDavid and dry Seidel together and if they match up power on power. Eichel and Carlson are two of the best two way centers in the NHL and Mark Stone is the smartest forward in the NHL. That'll be like, that's must see tv. And I think this series is going seven games. I think all those things that I said, I think it's like this and like it's, this is. We're talking about margins here. That's a little disrespectful to Aiden Hill. Aiden Hills won a Stanley cup and he has been selected to play for Team Canada in a best on best event. Calvin Pickard. I know Cal, great guy, great story. But you know, is he on the same level as a Neil? I don't think he can say that. But that's, that's why they're going to play it. It's going to be. That will be. There's a bunch of storylines that are going to be fun to watch. These two teams own the Pacific. Two years ago, Vegas won the West. Last year Edmonton won the West. And now one of them, these two teams is going back to the conference final. They are worthy opponents. They respect one another, but they will hate one another. Evander Kane is going to do something.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, him and Petro guaranteed.

[Biz Nasty]

Exactly what I mean. Like Alex Petranzelo. That slash Andrei Seidel two years ago changed the series and it was surgical. He got him like if he wanted to be had. I wanted, I wrote a book about, about that season and in the book he told me the head. I wanted to break his arm. I could have broke his arm.

[Gord Miller]

Well, yeah, anyone could say that. I want to break your neck. I'll hit you from behind. Like, I mean here's the thing. Like that. That was a one game. He got one game for that. One game. Yeah, one game. I'll still never get over. Didn't get two Games slashed him on the elbow pad.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, since we're talking about Petro, I feel like we also didn't see his best in that first round. I felt like him and Hanifin were on the ice for a lot of goals against partly due to some puck luck in certain situations, but also getting beat. Like I remember the Felino goal where he lost coverage. So like those guys, they took them.

[Biz Nasty]

They. They split them up in about halfway through game three. So their pairings were McNabb and Theodore and. And we should mention McNabb in game six. McNabb draws the, draws the double minor gets clubbed in the face, draws the double minor. Vegas scores on the power play. He breaks the puck out to Stone when Stone makes that area pass to Eichel to make it to one. And then McNab pinches, grabs the puck, throws into the slot. Stone bats it out of the year. And then when they held, they held Minnesota to one shot in the final 2 minutes and 28 seconds. And McNabb's on the ice for the whole thing. He's an underrated player. And the. The absence of Ekholm for Edmonton is a massive storyline in this series because Vegas will like I'm. I'm blown away. We're talking about the Oilers and we're not talking about the Kings. Like the, the Kings lost that series as much as Edmonton wanted. They like the challenge. Like Bruce Cassidy had two goal the interference challenges to look at in the last series and they came after Hiller's challenge. There's been a chill put on head coaches in the NHL after watching what that did to the Kings and then, you know, by field not getting that puck out in game five.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's colossal, colossal meltdown.

[Biz Nasty]

They. I. Jim Hiller is on my. I get to vote for coach of the year. I voted for Scott or Neil. He's number one on my ballot. Carberry was number two and Jim Hiller was number three. I was on your show in the preseason. I said LA was going to miss the playoffs. I'm not Merle's. I don't call the Kings a fraud.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Thank you.

[Biz Nasty]

They were going to make the playoffs and it blows me away. The Jim Hiller got them in and then there were a lot of questionable, questionable decisions in that series.

[Keith Yandle]

Would you take them off your list after what you saw in the playoffs the first round?

[Biz Nasty]

No, it's for the regular season.

[Keith Yandle]

No, I know, but if it. Yeah, yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

He did a. He did a great job in the regular season. Like, like ever. Marty St. Louis Give me a break.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Outside of the two headed monster, what scares you the most about the Edmonton Oilers playing the Vegas Golden Knights?

[Gord Miller]

Destiny?

[Biz Nasty]

Well, I, I'm, I write these essays that like these video essays. We, I write them throughout the playoffs and I'm, I'm writing my essay for, for, for round two that we're going to publish on Tuesday morning. And you know, it's the city of champions. Like I grew up in Canada. I'm, I'm a young guy in the 80s when Warren Moon is quarterback for the Eskimos and they win five great cups in a row and Gretzky and Coffey and Messier and Fur are like, they changed hockey. This was like we went from a game that was, all of a sudden there was speed and finesse, style. It was completely different than everything we like. Paul Coffey is so underrated. The fact that he doesn't like he's right up against the, the Mount Rushmore of the greatest players ever and, and we like, we don't talk about him like that. And I, I really, I don't understand that.

[Gord Miller]

Well, he's our D coach now, so that's, you know, that's a guy that's just, he's behind the bench for us and yes, bringing back the, the memories.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He should be in the lineup the way that they played in that last series.

[Gord Miller]

For sakes with game five and six. All I'm saying is we are the underdogs. No doubt. And everything you said, it's.

[Biz Nasty]

We are no team with Connor McDavid is an underdog.

[Gord Miller]

Look at the Vegas.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You just told us why they got better goaltending, better defense, better depth. Like what else?

[Gord Miller]

No, no, no.

[Ryan Whitney]

Powerful platform.

[Gord Miller]

If you asked 10,000 hockey fans out there, I think a significant amount of them are picking Vegas in this series. And I think your reasons are very valuable or not valuable, but legit. And why they're the favorites. But I just saw the way Evander Kane came on. I saw Hyman. All of a sudden he's running people over at the blue line. He's four checking like a madman. I saw Trent Frederick's game come on and I saw Edmonton in Game 5 and 6. I said it on the show already look like last year and last year no one had him against Dallas either. So I, I'm, I, I need to see the first two games like they, they need a split. It can't be the same situation leaving Vegas as it was leaving LA. But I just think the destiny aspect of Connor McDavid and maybe it's next year maybe it's three years, but at some point he's getting one. And if they beat Vegas this year, I think it might be the time that it, that it happens.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I need one little more tidbit as far as like what you think about this series, Gary. And also what was the reasoning to bring Carlson up to that top line? Like had that happened during the regular season because like you said, that made such a big impact in that round against Minnesota. You see them also doing that in this series.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, in the practices that we've seen since that series that that line is, has remained together. Cassidy is, Cassidy's a genius. He really is. He's not afraid to change things. It was interesting after game three, after they lost game three in Minnesota, I said to him have you thought about changing your lines? And he said well if you change your line sometimes the, the players think you're panicking and I can't have the guys perceive panic. So I'm going to talk to them today and I'm going to tell them that I'm not panicking. We're staying the way we are. But if we're not clicking in game four, I've got plans and I'm going to talk to them about the plans. So he gave them a little bit of a heads up. Carlson and Stone is something that he's wanted to try for a long time. They've played together a little bit but Carlson and Eichel, that was, that was off the board and he, he said to them I'm not going to overload you guys. Whoever is first back play center. Is the center down zone. He goes other than that play hockey like he's. I've got such respect for him. He, he, he has that knack to, to win. He really tries to. I'm not getting off. I can see the chat. The longer I can keep stoff up and, and make him grumpy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

This, I knew this is going to.

[Gord Miller]

Let me tell you something.

[Biz Nasty]

Off his game.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You're going head to head with Bob.

[Gord Miller]

Stoffer and me and me and he's, and it's Gary and Merles versus me and stuff. Just a bunch of alphas going nose to nose. Gary, there are some former players of Bruce Cassidy when you just called him a genius, flipping the fuck out right now. And I respect you work for the team and I respect he's a Stanley cup champion, but we're using the genius word. A little, little loose here really.

[Biz Nasty]

He's made the playoffs nine years in a row.

[Gord Miller]

He had, he's bringing the receipts. Hey, he's a great hockey coach. Genius.

[Biz Nasty]

Genius.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Let him finish. Let him finish.

[Biz Nasty]

I'll tell you this, Whit. I'll go one farther. He's the best coach in hockey today.

[Keith Yandle]

You didn't even vote for him.

[Biz Nasty]

He's the best coach in hockey today.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They are stroking this guy.

[Ryan Whitney]

Checks.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Mind you. They're stroking him. Checks.

[Biz Nasty]

I work for the team. That's fine. I'm good. Listen, Brian Engblom, a guy that I broke into broadcasting with from Winnipeg, played for the Canadiens. He said to me one time for 364 days of the year, I hated Scotty Bowman's guts. And on the 365th, he handed me my ring.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Nice.

[Gord Miller]

All right.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, my God. I don't know, man.

[Gord Miller]

I need stuff in my life right now. I need stuff in my life. Gary, thank you so much. I need stuff.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Any parting words for the fans out there? Gold Knights fans and potentially stoff. Any. Any. Any quote you want to throw at him.

[Gord Miller]

Bruce Cassidy is. Is legit.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Matt.

[Gord Miller]

Matt Damon in Goodwill hunting.

[Biz Nasty]

Is about. Everything is about South. Whit. Have you been to Sophie?

[Gord Miller]

I get be. I'd get beat up there. I'd get beat up there.

[Keith Yandle]

Whit can go anywhere in Boston.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Putting Whit and a pretzel was not on my bingo card tonight.

[Biz Nasty]

G puts me on your Instagram and your Twitter account. And you just said if you ask 10,000 fans, they're going to tell. Tell Save Vegas There are 10,000 spit and chicklet hockey fans right now calling me fat on social media. You should see I don't swear when I come on your show.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, you're thinner than Pat Maroon right now.

[Biz Nasty]

It's like this. So I've been called a thumb, and that one's pretty good. You know, it's.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You do kind of look like a thumb. I like that.

[Biz Nasty]

That one works. People have suggested that it's a. A wing eating contest between Stop and I. That it's. There should be a salad bar as part of the show tonight. Sumo wrestling has come up.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We're going to get you guys a Biz20 promo code for sweet greens.

[Gord Miller]

They might. They might eat you at the Moss Pit. You better stay away from there. Outside the arena, they might just grab you and just snack away till the finals.

[Biz Nasty]

Gary, get a friendly bet for all my CFL work.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Do you guys drink the same alcohol? Maybe could we get a friendly bet between you and stuff? Like maybe a bottle of scotch or something? Like, I don't think stuff drinks doesn't.

[Gord Miller]

Poison his body with that nonsense.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Okay. Oh, he's on the same regimen as McDavid. He's like doing the hyperbaric chamber and.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, and.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And all the.

[Gord Miller]

I. I need stuff, guys. I need stuff. I love Gary and he's a listener and he's a friend, but get him off my screen right now. G. Stop. Just goes, are you kidding? When don't I.

[Biz Nasty]

Don't I drink?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Okay, so we'll. We'll ask st what the. What the bet's gonna be, and then we'll get whatever you. Yeah, but Gary, thank you so much for the breakdown. We love you, dude. You're a fan favorite. We'll get you back on if they advance. And Vegas, man, they got a wagon. But they're going against the two headed monster of Leon.

[Keith Yandle]

Gary.

[Biz Nasty]

Yes. See you in the final, baby.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, baby. I'll see you out there.

[Gord Miller]

Hey, see you, Gary. Okay, see you, Whit. Guys, before we continue, I need to talk to you about DraftKings. After the long grind of the regular season and now the first round, the playoff beards are coming in. The quest to hoist the Stanley cup is heating up. And the action is even hotter at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NHL. The postseason for the fastest game on ice is here. If this is your first time experiencing and betting on playoff hockey, strap in for an epic playoff run. It's super easy to get started at DraftKings Sportsbook. Try betting on something simple like picking a team to win. Go to the app, select your team, and place your first bet. It's that easy. And if you are new to DraftKings. Listen up. New customers bet 5 bucks to get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now and use code Chiclets. That's Code Chiclets for new customers to get 200 in bonus bets. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours.

[Ryan Whitney]

Gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler in New York. Call 877-8-HOPE and wire text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas, 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario.

[Keith Yandle]

New customers only.

[Ryan Whitney]

Bonus pets expire 168 hours after issuance. Four additional terms and response. Responsible gaming Resources.

[Keith Yandle]

See DKNG Co Audio.

[Gord Miller]

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[Paul Bissonnette]

Did he give us production?

[Gord Miller]

Yeah, he took Oilers, Vegas and seven. Vegas and seven. Vegas and seven.

[Ryan Whitney]

All right.

[Gord Miller]

Bring in stuff. Bring in stuff.

[Keith Yandle]

I hope staff shit faced first off.

[Gord Miller]

Stuff. We apologize. The double overtime. A lot of stuff going on. It's 11:30 right now in Edmonton. We appreciate you staying up for the boys, man. Pump me up right now. Get us fired up for the oil.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. How are the oil going to win this series? Stuff.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well. Well, first of all, what I want to know, Keith. Yeah. I know for a fact when you signed in Philly that Dave Tip had reached out to you at some point during that summer and there was a brief conversation and you ended up going. Is that true? You ended up choosing Philadelphia over.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Could have went to Edmonton. Keith.

[Keith Yandle]

No, if. I don't think Tip was still there, was he?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, he was for the start of the 2122 season. Right at the start, I thought there was a conversa. Him and Jim Playfair. We're looking at looking at a veteran. A veteran defenseman at that time. So you're saying that's not true. So my information source.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Stop.

[Keith Yandle]

That's probably true. But there was. I was gonna sign and play with Hazy. I wanted to play with Hazy so I wouldn't have gone out west. It was too far from my family.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, one One Oilers jock sniffer is enough on this podcast. These guys would be unbearable if they both paid for the oil and were repping.

[Gord Miller]

Oh yeah, because you're so reasonable with the Leafs dude, you've turned into a complete, complete lunatic. I want to talk to stuff.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey, just. Just for the record, the Kings were not a fraud. All right? They were not a fraud. You. Look, I. There's certain stats I use. Gold differential is one of those stats. They were a legit team. You know, sometimes things happen when you're talking a six or seven game series, which I. You know, I've had this conversation with Gary about what happened back two years ago against Vegas. You know, the orders outshot Vegas 40 to 22 in game series six. They lost that game. They were playing a hybrid defense. We've talked about my passion for zone defense and hockey. The owners got absolutely murdered by Eichel in Marsha show on some long cycles and got, you know, taken to the cleaners and lost game six at home. It was close. You lose a six or seven game series, usually it's a sign that was pretty close. And it's a bounce here and bounce there. You know, you could, yes, LA had tremendous opportunities to. It minimum have been three, one after two. They blew two chances to do it. Yoder's played one great game. That was game five in the series. And, and Edmonton's a team now that's got more experience come playoff time. Right. They're just a different team than they were. Remember when they lost to Winnipeg. Connor Hellebutt, the last great playoff goaltending performance he had was back in 2021.

[Gord Miller]

You see he had a nice, incredible that series.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, he had a.950 save percentage. You know, like Mike Smith was at 9:12. And the orders lost the series. You know, the orders last year beat Vancouver with an.866 save percentage. And this year they beat the Kings with an.866 percentage. Say percentage. There's no way they beat the Vegas Golden Knights at.866. So they're going to play some better team defense. They're going to need to have some stops and it would not surprise me if we end up seeing both goaltenders. Just, you know, I'm just being pragmatic like, you know, and Skinner got a lot of the work last year. Pickards obviously well liked by his teammates. You can see Connor's response after the dry side game winner in game four. So I. This is going to be a Tough series. Vegas got a hell of a team. They've got a great organization. I do think they want in the margins two years ago, and I think the orders have closed some of those margins, close the gap a bit.

[Gord Miller]

And part of those margins is, is Evander Kane. And you saw the impact he had in that series two years ago against Vegas. He's blowing kisses to people in the crowd. But we have all seen on the pod and the people watching the Oilers. So for you in that tight group with the team, how often you're around, talk about Frederick's health, talk about Kane's health, talk about these guys who looked way different than the beginning of the series by the end of it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, first of all, Ryan, we never knew what the orders had this year. We didn't because Kane missed the entire season. McDavid and Dry settle in the last 14 games and not one of those games did both of those guys play. Now the team went 8, 5 and 1. Leon, the orders were 7 and 2 in games that Leon played with McDavid out. But David missed 15, 15 games and Leon had 16 points in those nine games. So, you know, and then the final four games that Connor played without their dry, subtle. They won those four games, including beating the jets and Winnipeg in a game in which both teams had about five guys out. So lots of other guys got opportunities. And case in point, in round one, Edmonton had nine different players with two or more goals. Eleven of their 12 forwards scored the team. I think you can make a compelling argument they lost a little bit of speed. That's a given, you know, the off season, the McLeod trade. Savoy is going to be a good player next year, will be on the team, but they lost the third line center that could play 17 minutes a game that could kill penalties. Foval little bit inconsistent at times, but it's hard to score 20 even strength goals. And he's done it two years in a row and he went plus 36. He's a legit middle six forward. Holloway was coming. I love the guy, you know, that one, that one stuns. So they have a very different forward look now than they did during the year. And even in game one and game two because you saw Frederick and you saw Kane. Kane's an amazing athlete. He is. Say what you want. You can have whatever opinion you want of him. The guy's a great athlete and it speaks volumes that he can come back and play at the level. And he does give them something they don't have an abundance of. Like Connor and Leon are Treated with respect around the league. Almost a degree of reverence for being as, as good as they are. But the owners didn't have a lot of bite. And now when you have, you know, Kane coming in playing in the middle six role and Frederick playing, you know, third line just gives a different dimension. You guys mentioned Hyman a little bit earlier. He had 43 hits in round one. Like everyone has to hit and block shots come playoff time. Henrique had over 20 hits. Like that's the guy, you know, he's 35. You know, it's not his game in the regular season. So the owners had the fewest hits in the league in the regular season. They were the fourth most through the first round of playoffs. So they changed their dynamic a bit. And there's the impact of those two guys stuff.

[Gord Miller]

It's long been discussed like can they win with, with Leon and Connor playing together. What is your opinion on that? Do they start the series? I mean Perry on that wing looks so good and with Kane playing as with Kane playing that well, you don't mind Nuge and Hyman with Kane and, and them being together, but what's your opinion on that? And, and can they win the series with that top line staying intact?

[Ryan Whitney]

I think just like grind, you'll see the goalies maybe both get into a series. I think you're going to see times when Leon's centering his own line and times when he's high. I think it's just that, that's just the inevitability of the situation. Part of it depends on what Vegas does. Like, you know, they keep the, the Carlson line together with Eichelin Stone. You know, it's that, that to me could be an interesting is. And, and I do think, you know, Cassie, the record speaks for itself. The guy's a good coach. This is a different coaching matchup. Knobloch is a very humble coach. Okay.

[Gord Miller]

And really, oh, he's not a genius.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Is great.

[Ryan Whitney]

I, I, I've known the guy for, I did his games too. In fact, the night he scored five goals for the Golden Bears, I asked my wife to get married that night on the radio broadcasting the game. So I've had a long.

[Gord Miller]

I thought your wife asked you to marry her.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, no, no. She's been a glutton for punishment ever since. Trust me. So much. So she lives in West Vancouver now. She doesn't even live in Everton.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So are you still together?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yes. Yeah, you just love apart.

[Gord Miller]

She's like, I can't be around him during hockey season. He's coming home. Talking about goals against goals average.

[Ryan Whitney]

My mother worked for the orders for 25 years, so she's got more Stanley cup photos in the backyard than I do. I have none. But no, like, they're. Just to answer your question, those guys are so good. Like, I'm watching. I'm in year 17, Ryan, and, you know, when you're on the team, there was some tough miles, to say the least. You know, we were.

[Gord Miller]

We were walking, no shoes, no socks, through the wilderness.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And then, you know, and then you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Got hurt, you know, and. And I've. I've got a couple things that I've always applied because I wasn't a good enough player. You know, I like the speed, talent, ability, coordination, toughness, character and discipline to play in the Western Hockey League, let alone the NHL.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But.

[Ryan Whitney]

But as a broadcaster, my rules are simple. Never forget about a player when he's hurt. That's when he's most vulnerable. See how he's doing, but never ask him when he's coming back. That's right. And number two is when a guy leaves, never disrespect the player when he leaves. Like, still follow up and see how he's doing. You know, like, it was hard with Fogle, like he's. And with McLeod. Like, those guys were kind of a little bit part of their group and. But for the last 10 years, I've watched the most dynamic, advanced player that we've ever seen in the history of this game.

[Gord Miller]

It's a lot to watch him.

[Ryan Whitney]

I got 20 years on all you guys. So close to 20 years on all you guys. So I got, you know, he's, you know, I watched Way Gretzky and Yuri. You know, I was a teenager playing double A hockey with Gagadowski, the head coach at Penn State. You know, it was my center and we'd go to practice and watch Messi and low absolutely kick the crap out of each other. And one on one, two on two drills ago. Is this what it's going to take.

[Keith Yandle]

Because we don't have it to do it right.

[Ryan Whitney]

And. But what. What Connor can. Like, Connor's the most advanced player that's ever played. He's. He's generally regarded the best player in the league, but this year, the best player in the league was dry. So he's the best player. The hardest thing to do in hockey. Score. Sorry, it is. And he's the only guy that got 50, and he did it in 71 games. So those two do give the orders. A puncher's chance. But What Knobloch has done over the last year and a half is he's empowered more of the players. You know, he uses very specific guys to kill penalties. He only put McDavid and Hyman back on the PK in the last series because Kapanen killed all year and got bounced out of the lineup once Kane and Frederick came in and LA played five forwards on the power play so they wanted to throw a wrinkle for them to think about. And as this series wore on it negated a bit of the King's efficiency with the extra mag. Just having the option of McDavid and Hyman together.

[Gord Miller]

Yep.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You, you touched on Connor and just how dynamic he is. The most you've seen in the last like well, ever really. Have you ever seen more of a roller coaster ride of a player than Evan Bouchard? And also aside from him, I don't think Darnell looked too great in that first round series against la. That goal late in the, in the, in the series probably helped his confidence. But who has to step up from that back end outside of Evan Bouchard and then obviously touch on. On what he's brought to their team.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, Acombs a massive loss. He is, he's the best all around defenseman. You know, he's. He's Bouchard's partner. Five. Five. They've been a top three expected goals for Parry to the league since they got put together when he came over in the trade in 23. So. And then he's their number one penalty killing left shot defenseman and he plays with Emerson. So he, he. That's two different slots that he affects things. It's also in their second unit power play. And he's. You know what, he's got inherent leadership skills. And there's an old saying in the west, right. In Western Canada, you never go wrong with a guy that comes from the. Comes from a place that starts with the letter S. Sweden and Saskatchewan, they're usually really good guys. You know, Boston guys. What are they called? They're called massholes. Right. But conversely, nobody ever says anything bad about guys from Saskatchewan. Think of you three guys all played. How many bad guys did you actually ever meet?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Never met a bad guy from Sask or Sweden.

[Ryan Whitney]

There you go. So no legit. What's that?

[Gord Miller]

It's legit. Sorry. It's very true.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Even, Even Finland, like even throw Finland in there too. Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Look, they like, they like. I admire certain aspects of their off ice recreational habits. I care one of the, with some of the Fins as well. So. But no, it's. They're going to miss that comb Boo shirt. See, I like defensemen that can make plays and move the puck. And I don't always freak out about, like, the more you have it, it's probably a higher probability that you're going to occasionally turn it over. And I don't think you have to sit there like Ryan. You got, you went through some tough times and people forgot the severity of the injury that you had. You were never quite the same when you tried to play through it coming back. But the fact is you had a run early during your tenure where you were, you know, an exceptional puck moving defenseman for the team because you were smart enough to get the puck up to the ice, to the young, skilled guys that the owners had at that time.

[Gord Miller]

But Bob, the thing is, and correct me if I'm wrong, and this is what I dealt with a lot, and I'm not nearly the level player Evan Bouchard is, but it's, it's the, the way it looks when he turns it over because there's a, there's a fan, there's a group, a faction of the fan base that he doesn't care. And it's just the way he plays. He's, he's very relaxed. He has crazy poise with the puck. So when you turn it over, it's like, bear the fuck down. But that's how he scores big goals and that's how he creates passing lanes on the power play. So it's like living with the, the positive and the negative. It's just the way it looks. Do you know what I mean by that?

[Ryan Whitney]

100%. So, Keith, you played for Tip and for Playfair. Okay. And we had Bouchard here during the 2021 bubble, or, you know, that was the Scotiabank that was after the sort of bubble.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Must have hated that.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, we, we. So we would do these zoom calls and, and you know, Bouchard was represented by Jeff Jackson, who was Connor's agent. And I'd be like on the zoom calls with Tip saying, seriously, man, like, I like Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones as players, but Bouchard has a way higher ceiling. You have to live with the mistakes. Like in the current NHL, in a salary cap world, you have to have performance from entry level players. They're not finished products. And so I'd have these ongoing discussions and Brian Lock would jump in them as well once in a while. And you know, because he was buddies with Tip and played with him back in the Day. And I'm just like, you just got to ride it out, Ryan. You're. He's a bit like Larry Murphy who got booed right out of Toronto. Then what, two more Stanley Cups of Detroit. Like, he, he doesn't, he, it doesn't look like he's got a quick twitch with the puck, right. And it. Like last year when he got put in the headlock there by Ekblad in the playoffs, you know, I wanted him to stick him. Like George Laroque ran me over one time, invited me out skating with the boys, crushed me. Said it was the second hardest hit he ever threw. And I got up and speared him right in the junk, right. Like, I'm not taking that crap from him. Care that he's the heavyweight champ of the league. Like you wish boosh at times would show a little bit more fire, but.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That calmness, yeah, it's, it's what makes him great. You gotta take the good with the bad and, you know, I mean, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like Paulie was until two games ago, he was the second highest scoring defenseman in NHL playoff history.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Not easy to do when you're not playing in the live puck era.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think through two games this series, half the fan base were ready to trade them off.

[Keith Yandle]

You heard him, you guys were interviewing them. Biz, you were interviewing Leon and he was talking about Bouchard, just his IQ and what he brings to the team. And because he's a skilled guy, he wants the puck. He knows Evan Bouchard's gonna get him the puck more than, you know, some guy's gonna go up the glass and bang some guys in the corner and get the crowd into the. Into game a little bit. But I think a million percent what you guys are saying about his demeanor, the way that he looks on the ice, obviously might not look as good as it maybe should, but what he's bringing to that team and in that locker room and scoring big goals and having the poise he's run. I mean, at the end of the day, he's the quarterback of that power play. You got to win games, especially in playoffs, on the power play. He's facilitating it to these high end, high end guys. But, you know, I think he gets a little bit, you know, too much of the whipping boy stuff. It kind of goes back to a little bit of the Morgan Riley, he got that too when, you know, he was the main guy on the power play. But it's just, yeah, I always feel bad for those guys, probably because I was one of them. But I never really was in that market where, you know, you're getting it too much from the fans or. So I think for him is just playing the way that he can, bringing his calmness to that group. Because look at, like, look at the way the fans react. You lose a game, you. They want everyone gone. He brings a calmness to that group and especially the other D2. Like, it's like, hey, I can go back, make a nice little play to the middle, give it to these guys. So I think he shouldn't do anything differently, play the way that he does, bring the boosh bomb. And, you know, I enjoy watching him. A guy that can make a play like that, Whit is. Can play on my team any day.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Before Whit asked the last question, I was just going to go back to the fact that Ekom's out. You talked about how much they miss him in so many different aspects. Which Demon has to step up in this series in order to fill that void? Or maybe they do it collectively and second, what scares you the most about this vegan Vegas Golden Knights team facing off them in the second round?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I think, Paul, one of the things that happened was LA's way of playing work to John Klingberg's advantage coming back. Because, you know, Klingberg was better in the playoffs than he was in the regular season when he played.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He looked awesome.

[Keith Yandle]

He was great.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. And I mean, I can remember there was a time where I thought John Klingberg walked the line better than any defenseman.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Holy Shakira. Shakira.

[Ryan Whitney]

Right? Like, it was. It was unreal what he could do. Right. So the combination, like Walman. Walman did not finish the year healthy. He was banged up. And he's gotten through some challenges right now, playing about 20 minutes a game. And. And so is Klingberg. So they're kind of offsetting it a bit. Kulak's the one guy that's seen significantly accelerated minute he can skate, you know, and he plays. He can. Like he's playing 24 minutes a game. Nurse has, you know, the puck does the work. The best guys know that. Right? And Darnell's like, you know, Darnell is. Is awesome. A great athlete. You can skate. And I think that sometimes less is more when he's really at the top of his game. That's the one thing you notice with Darnell. So Bouchard's going to play his 25 minutes. Paul Coffey is probably going to have. I mean, I joked with Coffey after game two. I said, you might be our fourth or fifth best option right now. But you're 64. Like I don't know, you know, like it's just because he. But he wants to breed confidence in his players. Like he's not a bra. And first, I don't believe in any of that BS about breaking guys down and building them up. Coaches like that, they need to get out of coaching. Like just that that doesn't work for today's athlete. You know, the positive, the negative reinforcement should be about 4 positives for one negative. And that to me that's how you get the most. I mean Paul, you're, you're out in Victoria, right?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I spend my summers out in Vancouver.

[Ryan Whitney]

They got, yeah, they got two kids that won the Canadian the U18 for Canada. They got a kid named Cole Reschne from, from Macklin, just outside Lloyd. He's worked his way up in the middle of the first round this year and then they got a D coming next year. 16 year old, name is Keaton Verhoff. He's the best.

[Gord Miller]

Soft's been texting me about this kid.

[Ryan Whitney]

This guy is the best defenseman out of the west in the last 25 years.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's a. Oh, the kid who's going to go first overall.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's going to push. He's. No, that's McKenna. He's going to push McKenna. There's, there's WHL GMS that think he'll be a better NHL player than McKenna who's having an unreal.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I've been, I've been hearing about this kid.

[Ryan Whitney]

6 foot 4 righty. He was the first D man in 40 years to score 20 goals as a 16 year old at WHL.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did not play another Dion Fuff did.

[Ryan Whitney]

Not play on James Patrick's first unit power play. He was on the second unit. Played first unit PK played shutdown, went to the U18s. Canada bombed everybody. He set up the game winner in the one game that was close in overtime. Played 25 minutes a game as a stop.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We are getting a little bit off.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm just saying you're in Victoria. I wanted to put a shout out for those guys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. Oh, no problem. No problem. But, but, but, but you didn't answer the question. What scares you the most? That's about this Vegas Gold Knights team.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's like when you took the media course when you guys played and they'd say, well I have the media. Ask the question again. That's what I was doing. There is, I was there. It isn't just One thing that scares me but like I really respect Vegas's arc organization. Like when one of my friends bought a WHL team, he said any advice for me Stuff. I said no trades with Brandon Kelly McCrimmon is going to destroy it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, he's a savage.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's. He's a top, He's a top flight operator. Obviously everybody knows he was in the mix for the Edmonton job and Vegas promoted him from assistant gym. They're a well run team. I do think they won in the margins two years ago against the Oilers. It was that tight. They got arguably the best goalie coach in the NHL which all their guys seem to get better with. Sean Burke, you know, he's resuscitated multiple NHL careers.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Tons.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like Keith, I think you played with a couple guys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's a goalie whisperer. I seen him work his magic on Brisgol of Mike Smith, Devin Dubnick. There you go, the list goes on and on and on and on.

[Ryan Whitney]

And Aiden Hill, you know, I mean Laurent Beswas started the series two years ago as the number one goalie and then Hill came in there. Vegas is completely different than la. They're much more aggressive on the forecheck. That's why when you talk about Clingberg, you know, against LA where they're selling out of the forecheck, well, now they're going to face the team that does. So Vegas has got strength down the middle at center. They've got big, heavy, tough defense. They play zone D better than any team in the league. I think. Okay, they do have a head coach with championship pedigree. I think the orders have got a rising start. I think they got a guy at a couple years from now that might be seen, you know, as one of the.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And also help from cough which is like.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, yeah, and it's.

[Biz Nasty]

And it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Cause it's a different guy. Like a different type of guy too.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Right?

[Ryan Whitney]

It's so. And I got it, you know, so the. And the orders have a former NHL head coach on their staff with Gullison that runs their power play. So they got a good coaching staff. But I, you know, Gary alluded to the respect that the two teams have. Vegas won the series and then went on and won the cup. They got what Edmonton wanted. So there's nobody looking down their nose at Vegas and thinking, hey we could just show up here. And you know, it's just going to happen. The orders are going to have to play far more efficiently and effectively manage the puck better and hopefully at least get a saw from penalty calls like the orders had a 60% expected goals for against LA 5 on 5 in that series and the Kings had 50% more power plays. That was a strange combination you know because I do. And Vegas got a great power play. All your top three power play. DePaul. They're good. They got a real good team like this is going to. You know I think it's a six or seven game series and I think it's a toss up.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I love, I fucking love when it's only eight teams left because we get to get so much more in the weeds about the matchup and and dive into the intricacies of the game. Oh, what a word by me. It's 2am and I'm buzzing.

[Gord Miller]

You're not up. Last question presented by Roback. Use code chiclets on roback.com for a generous 20 off your first purchase through the end of that's C-H-I C L-E-T-S on R-H-O-B-A-C-K.com 20% off all hoodies, joggers and more with code Chiclets stuff. We have seen these two men, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid do things that only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux have done in the playoffs. They're literally mentioned with two of the greatest to ever do it. And you just said it's a six or game six or seven game series. I think it goes seven. If Edmonton could ever win in six, it'd be amazing. How many points do those two have combined at the end of this series if they win, I think it has to be a minimum of 20.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think he's frozen.

[Keith Yandle]

He's thinking about the 16 year old player in middle school.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm thinking they might need 12 each. I'm thinking they're going to need 24. I remember I saw Darryl Sutter about a year after the orders beat him in the playoffs. He'd said that Gretzky won the series or Gretzky he said, you know we got beat by one player. We got beat by McDavid. I'm like Bryce Hadl had 17 points against you in five games on a pro. Like there was Hyman scored at every game in the series. Like, like I know Connor's really good. He scored the game winner. But even Connor would be sitting there saying hey, 29 had every game. He had at least three points on.

[Gord Miller]

A sprained ankle too.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, he was hurt.

[Paul Bissonnette]

God, we had, we, we've had Two of the best representing their teams and you and Gary Lawless. Could we have a friendly wager between you two? He said that you don't drink. That was obviously a lie. Maybe a bottle of bourbon or like what do you guys drink?

[Ryan Whitney]

I'll get him some Will Hawk beef jerky. How's that?

[Gord Miller]

He'll kill the animal first too. This guy's a sickle.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's. You know, it is funny that you have Gary and myself because what Gary said. People said he looked like a thumb. Yeah, my hair is a little bit longer. I look like big pussy from the Sopranos. So, you know. You know, there we go. You know, I'm not. You can tell which three guys here are the ex players. That's all I'm.

[Gord Miller]

I played like them.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So what, what, what is your prediction for the series? Games six or seven?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I mean, obviously, you know, I'm hoping the orders win, but it's gonna be a six or seven game series. I'd be stunned if it was less.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I know, but you have to pick one.

[Gord Miller]

He's picking the oil business.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, pick the odors in seven. Paul.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, a number wit six or seven. You can't just say six or seven.

[Ryan Whitney]

Edmond, Edmonton in seven. All right, and I'll say this, the games in Vegas will be low event games and the games at Edmonton will be higher event games. So just file that one away. It's the way it worked. It has a bit to me as to what happens with the crowd in the barn. So I think that you'll see a little bit more frenetic pace at Roger's place and you know, they'll control things a little bit differently in their own barn stuff.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I want to say thanks for coming on and we love and respect your passion for the game. Man, I cannot wait to watch this series and it's going to be a hell of a rip. So. So thank you for joining us, especially with how late it is, but we got a lot of amazing hockey to still go here.

[Ryan Whitney]

Anytime you guys are stuck and can't get somebody better out of Edmonton, give me a call.

[Gord Miller]

No stuff. You're alpha. See you later, buddy. Guys, I want to talk about sport clips. Sport clips isn't just where you get a haircut. It's your playbook for looking fresh. And you walk in, you catch the game and you sit back while the pros in men's hair handle the rest. And when you're done walking out feeling like you're ready to take on anything, Job interview, first date. Doesn't matter. Sport Clips hooks it up and you'll be looking good. No hassle, no surprises. Just a solid cut every time. It's simple, it's easy, and it's made for guys who want to feel like they've got the home field advantage. And if you want to track your real time wait times, download the app and check in online. Sport Clips the Haircut Experience dialed in for guys, it's a game changer.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Wow, what a treat for us, man.

[Keith Yandle]

Gary Lawless and Staff Beef they got going too.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, yeah.

[Gord Miller]

Two guys that are just a blast to sit there and have a drink with, right? You can get those guys going on anything, all the stories.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Do any guys slurp their team harder than those guys?

[Gord Miller]

I think Lawless way more than st. By the way, only Stoff could be asked about just a. A dream matchup of McDavid versus the Vegas Golden Knights and go on a rant about two kids from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.

[Keith Yandle]

Who have just summers.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's bc, you idiot.

[Gord Miller]

Hey, he's been texting me about that, that defenseman, though, like since November.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He said, oh, yeah.

[Gord Miller]

He's like, you watch this. I thought.

[Keith Yandle]

I thought he was gonna say, that kid's gonna be playing game two. I didn't know why he's going.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, I think he thinks he's going to.

[Gord Miller]

You're getting off the rails here.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. Boys, I.

[Gord Miller]

What do you got? This final, final, final prediction for the series.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I am a mush and I don't want to blow it. Blow it for the oil. I think I got Vegas and seven here. I think it's going to go the distance. I think it's going to be an incredible series. We are so blessed that we have McDavid and of course Leon. But more so McDavid and Eichel going against each other. The one and two overall picks. I feel like McDavid is. He's itching for that cup, right?

[Gord Miller]

He.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's there, but EO's going to be there to try to prevent it. So I, I'm gonna have to go with Vegas because of the depth.

[Gord Miller]

All right.

[Paul Bissonnette]

For.

[Keith Yandle]

For me, it's. And I know it's been said a million times, it's going to be said a million more times. It's the goaltending wit. It scares the living out of me because it. They're. It's the only team in the world that has the two, arguably the two best players. And you still question them a little bit, right? And it's. You're not questioning them. You Question the goaltender and both you and stuff. Saying that you're going to see both goalies in this series scares me even more. I'm going, I'm going. Vegas and six. Sorry to do it, Woody.

[Gord Miller]

No, no, I don't, I don't take that as a disrespectful thing. I think that what I said to Gary is true. I think most people think Vegas gets it done. And that being the biggest reason I, I think, I think the Oilers win in seven. I, I know it's because it seems crazy to me, so maybe I truly don't believe it. But I, I, I think the payback aspects there, I think McDavid's on a mission. And I just think after what they did in game five in la, like something, something clicked. And when you got these two guys, this is the one team that could shut him down. I actually think that if they win this series, they're winning the Cup. I was like, more like, I don't know if they ended up matching up with Colorado in the conference final, if they somehow got there. They're so fast. But they beat Dallas last year. Different team, obviously, with Ronton, but I, I think, I think it's going to be an incredible series, and I think it's going seven. And I think the Oilers get the win on the road and pay him back for two years ago, so we'll see how it goes. I also believe that if Vegas somehow whooped him in five, it wouldn't be like the most shocking thing. I know I'm all over the map, but I think Vegas is that good. And the goaltending aspect is petrifying, so we'll leave it at that.

[Keith Yandle]

Hold on. I got one question for you. If it does go to a game seven like you, the goaltending, or you just think having Connor and Leon just put you way over the edge, I.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Would just play six on five.

[Keith Yandle]

I know, like, the goaltender doesn't scare you in that, in that situation, a game seven.

[Gord Miller]

I think game sevens are such coin flips. Like, you've seen Patrick wa Give up seven goals in a game seven to Detroit. I don't remember the year.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No.

[Gord Miller]

I almost think that if goaltending loses in the series, that's how Vegas will beat him in five. You know, I think you get to seven, it's just like anything can happen, right? Connor can go off. We'll see. But we got one more series to. To talk about. And this man just chugged a bottle of water, showed out body armor based on the fact that he knows he's going back into sicko mode and he's going back into the depths of hell and he's going back in against the biggest bunch of bullies the schoolyard's ever seen. Toronto, Florida. Another rematch of two years ago. The one other time Toronto got out of the first round in what seems like a lifetime. They were whooped up in the second round by the Cats. You two are going head to head. I can't wait to see it. Biz, how do you win this series?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Fuck. And they, they are going against Goliath. And I know I have had.

[Gord Miller]

We're in a similar spot.

[Ryan Whitney]

Dude.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I agree and I've had a lot of Leafs delusion throughout my past, but this will be the most difficult series this group has ever seen. I actually think that this Florida team is better than the last time they met them. I think they're deeper. The, the Marshawn pickup speaks for itself, especially the way that he's been playing. They are going to not have the ability to take any shifts off. I mean there can't be these five six minute stretches where they just fucking go brain dead like they did against the Ottawa Senators. We are going to have to get the best that we've ever seen from Stolars. Every defenseman to a man is going to have to not only chip in offensively but when all of their net front battles and, and, and, and play through punishment that they've never seen before. Because the forecheck of the Florida Panthers is lethal and they're hitting to hurt you. They're going to give you stinky mitts after every frozen puck from Stolars. They can't get invested in the bullshit that is not Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey. We can't, we can't pretend like we're the big bad Maple Leafs like the Florida Panthers. They have to keep cool, calm and collected and hopefully off of that stupidity and aggression that sometimes you see from Florida take power plays and execute on them. And we all know this is not the Ottawa Senators stagnant pk. This is a PK that comes at you relentlessly. And the minute that the one guy forces you, the next guy's going, you have no time to make plays and they're going to have to make them quick. They're going to have to execute at an unreal clip rate on the power play as well as penalty kill. Because we know Florida Panthers have a lethal power play. So special teams have to be through the roof and then five on five, not only the big guys but the depth. Bobby McMahon. No goals in the last 17 games. No, no, no. Throw that out the window. We're going to need him at least chipping in two or three. We're going to need patches going exactly the way that he was in Game 6. If Robertson gets thrown in, fucking we need offensive production from him. The Holmbergs, the list goes on. The the Max, Domies, Reeves, the core five. The shut the fuck up. The core five has to go complete sicko mode in this series. Nice net front presence every fucking game. Aggravating Bob getting in his eyes. Matthews has to be shooting the pill like we've never seen before. Even at at a. Even better than we saw in his 69 giggity giggity goal season. Marner, as much as he makes plays, he has to find the back of the net too. He has to score some big goals for us. I know he's the setup guy. He's got to start, he's got to get in mucking and grinding just as much as the next guy. Willie Styles, no shifts off. He can't go brain dead. He's got to be playing full 60s as well. And JT he, he just needs to play exactly like he has in the first round and in series before this. Like he is consistent. As consistent comes. We're going to need everybody. We're going to need everybody. We're going against Goliath. But I believe that my Leafs, along with all these omens that hockey Illuminati's brought. It's our year. It's our year. It's our year. I'm in a belief. And I got the Leafs taking them to seven and beating them at home and rectifying the demons.

[Gord Miller]

That was a hell of a rant. It was an ex. It was a very matter of fact. Stay on topic. Way to beat the Panthers and I respect the hell out of you.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Thank you.

[Gord Miller]

I think you're getting smoked. I don't. I'm not being a hater. I just look at this team like they, they added Mar Marshawn and he's playing with Lundell and loose to Ryan and it's like fuck me, dude. You look at the top two lines. He's not even on it. So you. So you're throwing out that third line against what Domi like that could be an enormous thing. I'll say this about the series and it sounds crazy saying it about the second round. It's not the cup final. It's a life changing series for Mitch Marner and if he goes on to light up this entire second round. No matter what happens in the conference final, Leafs fans will be saying give him whatever he wants. If they get through this round and Mitch Marner is the best player for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Blank check.

[Gord Miller]

It's a blank check. It changes his life. It's. It looks. You look back and remember him in that second round and, and maybe I'm totally off base if they got smoked in the third round, but they're not going to get smoked if they somehow get by because they can beat Washington or Carolina. So it's, it's a Mitch Marner legacy series.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think it's a, I think also for Matthews as well going against Barkov in that matchup. I mean this is a guy who. This is a guy who commands $13 million a year. Like this is his opportunity to show that he can go against another one of the best two way centers in the league. And they got. They should be fresher. Man. Florida's played a lot of hockey. Like they should be looking this, at this like a massive, massive opportunity. And the same thing goes for Nice. There's rumbling that he wants to try to get an offer sheet. We'll fucking earn it. You're. This is where you make your money. When the chips are on the table and you got Pablo, you got Marner and you got Knives and then Willie got paid too. This is the core four plus Nice. Massive opportunity to show that they deserve every penny they want and that they've gotten and they're going against the best. And in order to be the best, you got to beat the best. And they got the coach who can bring them there. So fucking time to get it done, boys.

[Gord Miller]

And. And it's a chance to shut up every person like me.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And agreed.

[Gord Miller]

I think that, I think that that's something like when I say more people are picking Vegas over Edmonton. I don't, I don't know if there's one non Leafs fan picking Toronto.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I love it.

[Gord Miller]

And then we go over to the man, Yance, why are you going to wax them? Yance, why?

[Keith Yandle]

So the reason why is. You hear Biz go on his rant is we need this guy to do this. Which he's never done. We need this guy to be this. We need this guy to do this biz. You need all these guys to do something they have never done. All I need from the Florida Panthers is do what they have been doing. They know how to win hockey games. More importantly, they know how to win playoff hockey games. They are built for this. Sasha Barkov up for late or Selchies. Selkie Selke, Sam Reinhardt up for Selke. There's two guys who can shut down the core four. Then you got the back end bringing in a guy like Seth Jones. Oh, why would you bring in a guy like Seth Jones when you have Ekblad?

[Paul Bissonnette]

There's one of our defense we got busted for steroid use.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, well, yeah. So it's just one of those things that Florida just needs to play their game, just play the way that they have the last three years. They are not worried about this series as much as you are. This is just another step in the direction that they want to get to. Thing that scares me for you, Biz Carter Verhagi, little sleepy the first three or four games. He woke up one of the most streaky players I've ever played with. He's going to come in hot. Every guy. A lot of guys in that team are from the Toronto area too. They're going to want to beat this team more than anybody else. They're going to bring the guys into the fight even more. Who's going to match up with Sam Bennett on your side?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Don't see Ryan Reeves, buddy.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, nice. Has to play a little bit like Bennett to kind of get that offer sheet that you're. You're talking about.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Have you seen the lefts that he throws? Did you watch the white cloud this year who was handled his own business? You don't think Max D would fight a guy like Sam Bennett?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I don't know if you guys remember this. There's. There's a little bad blood between Max dmi, Aaron Eckblad, Domi when he was in Montreal, suckered Ecky, broke his nose a couple of years ago. So there's a little more hatred than people kind of knowing this series. So that'll be a fun one to watch. You won't see E in the first game because in an unfair suspension that he got. But I think just for as a hockey fan going into this series, which starts tomorrow night or tonight, as you're listening, is going to be so much fun to watch. Just the storylines, the, the players where they're going to be signing next year. You hear rumblings Bennett might be going to Toronto next year, Marner might be going somewhere else. So there are so many different storylines but at the end of the day, as you like to call them, Biz Goliath is going to come out on top. They got Sergey Bobrovsky playing against the guy that used to back him up. That is not a position you want to be in. You want to have a clear cut number one guy that is going to bring you to the dance where you want to be. I don't think Stolars is the guy to beat Florida. Yeah, he might know some of their tricks. He might know, you know what guys like to shoot. You know, because he faced them all for two years.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They got Lorenz and Oliver, Ekman, Larsson. So there's probably a lot that they're helping provide the coaching staff with with little tidbits and things that they might do in certain situations. So a little bit of an advantage there for the Toronto Maple Leafs as, as well as having a, a, a bit of a winning pedigree around and those types of guys who can rub off on the Leafs to, to try to get this thing done and get over the hump and, and you know, you touched on it. They've been there and done that and credit to them. But like I said too, in order to be the best, you got to be.

[Keith Yandle]

You got to miss the best.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And this is an opportunity. If the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't looking like at this like an opportunity, then they're already broken and they're already dead. But they are because Chiefs got them in the right mindset and you're going to see a different Toronto Maple Leafs team and this is going to go a lot farther than you guys think. And I believe that the Leafs will prevail and I look forward to the opportunity with them and I'm happy that the way that I handled myself on the zoom call today.

[Gord Miller]

Buddy, you're very.

[Keith Yandle]

It's a different team started yet though.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's a different team. It's a different me. I still think that Ryan Reeves should play game one. I still think Craig Berube should challenge Paul Maurice to a scrap at center ice.

[Gord Miller]

I do love your. Your talk about the, the Core 5 as you call them now. This stat I didn't read out earlier. McDavid and Dry settle have 245 points in 160 playoff games. Marner, Nylander, Matthews and Tavares have 216 points in 252 games. Now saying that stats are for losers. No, no, no. Like you could say that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But I'm saying Wayne said it, I didn't say it.

[Gord Miller]

I'm saying they, they could take over a series as those two have done so many times. Like it has to happen. Right. And maybe this is they, maybe this is the series where they all get 8 to 12 points and it's like holy fuck. Like it's. At some point you would think based on the stats in the regular season that it'll happen. I don't think it'll be this year. But as Keith said, I the drama involved in this and part of the drama is it's starting in Toronto. They got the job done, they got the division. Take advantage of it and if you don't, this thing could be over in five again. So I can't wait. Biz. Great breakdown, Keith Breakdown.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And I will say all joking aside, Ekblad, I think he got hosed on the whatever the supplement that got put in his drink and he ended up getting the 20. Gamer. I was just busting balls with Kachuk. There are some people who are on Yan side about the Tachuk thing. They were on my side. Guys. I don't take it that seriously. If you're going to bring on a guy and surprise me like I'm not going to throw softballs. I don't give a fuck. If you want to judge me for it, judge me for it. At the end of the day, like literally suck my cock, I don't care. I'm going to ask those questions every day of the week. Twice on Sundays. We're here to fuck around and have a good time. I don't view it as this. Like I don't, I don't put these guys on the tnt. Well, I still fucking ask that on tnt. I fuck around, I don't care.

[Gord Miller]

I guess that's very true.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, like I don't can argue that. I don't put people who play a sport on this pedestal. I'm here to have a good time. I'm here to sling it around and that's why spit and that's why you're.

[Keith Yandle]

The best in the business biz.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And not even. I never said that. I'm just saying that I ain't throwing Maddie Chuck softballs. So I appreciate you getting them on. And this upcoming week we will have some very special guests coming on. So tonight in studio, getting away from the the Leafs Florida chatter before we give our predictions. Unless everybody said the game amounts.

[Gord Miller]

Did you guys already go, I'm, I'm going forward. And second.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yes.

[Keith Yandle]

Florida and five.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I got Leafs in seven. You don't do this when you're in studio. Charles Barkley said, I think this is going overtime. When it was 31 win blues over Winnipeg. I said, don't you God, don't you say that. What happens? Boom, boom, we're. We're there another three hours after he said it. So he owes me one. So we'll be getting Chuck on on the podcast at some point next week and I'll even send out a text to 99 to try to get him on for his predictions or at least some breakdowns of whatever's going on.

[Keith Yandle]

So I think Chuck had a Toronto Edmonton finals in his prediction.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think he's on the Leaf. So I would love to get his getting him on.

[Keith Yandle]

No, now we know. Now we know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But that's pretty much all I got. I don't think there's anything else to talk about. This has gone pretty long and.

[Gord Miller]

Yeah, just one quick thing. Couple quick things. Frederick Anderson signed a one year contract extension. I don't know, worth mentioning that see what goes on with his health. 2.75 the flame sign Matt Coronado. That's a nice deal. 6.5 million per season to a seven year daily look really good this year. Young player that they drafted. So that's a nice pickup there. And for the first time in its 30 year history, the NHL Draft Lottery will be drawn live in studio, allowing team personnel and viewers to learn of the results simultaneously. You know that in prior years it's been delayed and then there's all this discussion of what went on and it's just kind of better that I think they're doing it the way they are for the first time ever. And I think that is that Monday night. Is that tonight? G?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, the fifth. Yep.

[Gord Miller]

Yeah. So that's it.

[Ryan Whitney]

And.

[Gord Miller]

And Carberry arnel and Martin St. Louis, finalists for the Jack Adams Award. You never really want to win that. Now it seems like like this gas.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That like the last five Jack Adams winners are not on the team that they won it with.

[Gord Miller]

Sweet award.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, go ahead. I was.

[Gord Miller]

No, I was just going to say awesome show. Thank you to stuff. Thank you to Lawless. And for me it's right now 2:15am on Monday, May 5th. A year ago today, Cal Whitney was born.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's awesome.

[Gord Miller]

It's just like being a dad is the best thing in the world, man. And you know, he had a liver biopsy 12 days after he was born. It was just the scariest time of my life and all of a sudden, boom, it's a year later and he's got the best older brother. So just, just very thankful for everything. And playoff's been great. I love working with you guys. This was a great show and can't wait for the second round boys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And, and big thanks to G Fish, Pasha, Dale Morningstar, AKA Memes. Like all the people behind the scenes for us who. Who have put in all the work, especially the fact that we're going not only with game notes, but two pods a week, so three times a week, really. New guy, Nick, we got a new guy in the mix as well. I'm sure you guys will be hearing stories about him when we get on the road with him in the finals. Bring him in the mix. But. And of course, the fans, man, like you guys have responded so well, whether it's the live streams, the. The live podcast, which I'm sure we'll have a few more of those support and game notes in the chat. So we love you guys. An incredible first round. Agreed with wit. Probably the best that I have ever seen and the best the NHL has ever had. So it just ended and we're off to an incredible second round that has even better matchups. We got McJesus and Eichel. We got the Leafs in the. In the former champs. We got OV going against the Canes. Nobody believes in the Canes. And of course that juggernaut of a central division in Dallas and Winnipeg going at it. So it's going to be awesome. We love you guys. And yeah. Oh, last thing. You can now get the Greensboro Gargoyles hat on the merch website for spitting Chiclets. They'll be coming to the ECHL next season and I think I've pretty much covered it all. Yance.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I got no more tummy sticks.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. I just want. I just want to let all the Toronto Maple Leafs fans. This isn't about them. All the Maple Leafs players. I love a lot of those guys. Coach Barube, great guy. A lot of guys in the management I really respect there. This is about beating you biz. I am gonna fucking hate your guts for the next five games.

[Gord Miller]

And I gotta go against Merles. This is gonna turn disgusting.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm gonna make star maps of every Florida Panthers player to give out to the fans. And I'm gonna tweet it out, including your address. I'm gonna have them up to the wee hours of the morning answering fire alarms. You wait till you see the show that I put on for these Florida Panthers, including the rat king himself, Brad Marshawn from Dublin.

[Keith Yandle]

Come over to Houston and punch your eyes shut.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, you listening? Brad Marshawn, you cut it.

[Gord Miller]

Cut it.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't want to time.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I got my revenge on you.

[Keith Yandle]

Get him out of here.

[Gord Miller]

Have a great, great, great week, everyone. We'll see you Wednesday game Friday. Spitting Chiclets. Live peace.

[Biz Nasty]

When it's hard to know Even if I don't know the other way this feeling so hard to break.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I get to see hey, what's going on there, pal?

[Gord Miller]

We saw you at the hockey game on.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Do I know you guys?

[Gord Miller]

I'm Ryan Whitney. I got a drink named after me.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Not a big deal. Pink Whitney. That's what I thought.

[Gord Miller]

See you fellas, I invented the thing. You pigeon Pink Whitney. For legendary moments.