Spittin' Chiclets Episode 639: Featuring Derek Stepan & Tripp Tracy

Summary

Spittin' Chiclets Episode 639 Featuring Derek Stepan & Tripp Tracy

Date: April 20, 2026
Hosts: Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette (Biz), Rear Admiral (RA), Mike Grinnell
Guests: Derek Stepan, Tripp Tracy

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Episode Overview

Episode 639 brings Spittin’ Chiclets live to Netflix for the first time—prime playoff energy. Whitney, Biz, RA, Grinnell, and guests Derek Stepan and Tripp Tracy dive headlong into the opening games of the NHL playoffs, breaking down headline-grabbing moments, team dynamics, and individual performances. Their characteristic blend of deep hockey knowledge and irreverent banter keeps the energy high, with in-depth dissection of Buffalo’s raucous return, Montreal’s power play dominance, the state of Minnesota, Vegas vs. Utah physicality, Carolina’s system, and much more.

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Main Themes

• Opening Weekend of NHL Playoffs: Detailed break down of the first round games, with a focus on Buffalo’s epic comeback, Montreal’s youthful surge, and the atmosphere in hockey cities.
• Insider Analysis: Guests Derek Stepan and Tripp Tracy provide technical and emotional insight, especially on Minnesota, Carolina, and the player’s mindset.
• Memorable Off-Ice Culture: The buffalo rollerblade riot, fan antics, and legendary playoff rituals.
• Player and Coach Spotlights: Praise and critique for key players (Swayman, Anderson, Thompson, Pastrnak, Suzuki), new goaltenders, and pivotal coaching decisions.
• Spittin’ Chiclets-Style Banter: Satirical takes, bets involving dog-painting and table-slamming, and discussions around superstitions and behind-the-scenes stories.

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Key Segments & Conversations

1. Playoff Opening Recap & Buffalo’s Wild Return

Timestamps: 02:16–15:53

• Playoff Atmosphere: Biz and the panel marvel at Buffalo’s energy after 14 years without a postseason: “I don’t know if there’s ever been a better pregame video than what we witnessed.” (Biz, 06:04)
• Drunken Mayhem: Viral video breakdown of Buffalo fans fighting a Bruins dummy in the street and the legendary rollerblade squad's role.
  • “They've created this giant circle of drunks in Buffalo.” (Biz, 06:41)
  • “My favorite part of that whole video is the guy who comes in doing the splits…” (Yan, 08:43)
• Game Analysis: Buffalo's persistence and physicality against Boston, with special credit to Swayman despite the loss.
  • “Swayman looked as dialed in as I've seen a goalie in a long time.” (Biz, 09:59)
• Notable Stat: First time in NHL history a team down 2-0 with 8 minutes left won in regulation (Biz & Tripp, 17:13)

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2. Montreal’s Youthful Power Play Masterclass

Timestamps: 25:06–35:19

• Top Unit Dominance: Montreal’s power play finishes 2nd best behind Edmonton, led by Lane Hudson—“superstar defenseman”—and Suzuki, Slavkovski, “demigod”, Caulfield (Biz, 25:35)
• Slafkovski’s Hat Trick: Third-youngest Canadian to get a playoff hatty.
• Vasilevsky Struggles: “It was one of the worst angles I've seen him ever have.” (Biz, 26:33)
• Discipline Issues: Tampa plagued by “four offensive zone penalties, including the...most clutch player Jake Guentzel” (Yance, 27:30)

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3. Minnesota Wild: Playoff Energy & Stepping Up (Derek Stepan Interview)

Timestamps: 38:19–53:24

• Turning the Switch: Wild transitioned from cruise control to playoff intensity.
  • “They were just Jonesin’ to get to Game One.” (Stepan, 40:46)
• Key Players: Praise for Eriksson Ek (“drags people into the fight”), Hartman (“a rat, pain in the ass”), and defensive pairings. Faber's development alongside Quinn Hughes highlighted.
• Locker Room Insight: Stories about Mats Zuccarello’s humor and leadership.
  • “He is one of one. He will give it to you if you need to hear it.” (Stepan, 47:10)
• Underrated Contributors: Yourafee and Faber’s on-ice impact and character.

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4. Flyers vs. Penguins: The Battle of Pennsylvania

Timestamps: 54:23–63:21

• Surprise in Game One: Philly’s physicality, Sanheim’s dominance, and Captain Couturier’s throwback toughness.
  • “Career high in playoffs. Guy fucking took a time machine back to his prime.” (Yance, 56:44)
• Pittsburgh Struggles: “Eric Carlson said after, like, they outplayed us in every way, we did not deserve to win that game.” (Biz, 54:47)
• Young Guns: Martone’s college call-up impact and how youthful energy injects life in the room (Stepan, 60:27)

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5. Vegas-Utah: Unexpected Nastiness & Torts’ Impact

Timestamps: 66:07–74:01

• Physical Escalation: High-intensity, bruising Game One that left even the hosts surprised.
  • “What a physical series or what a physical game one...I did not expect that.” (Stepan, 67:09)
• Barbashev’s Return to Form: Speculation that John Tortorella motivated his playoff style.
• Cooley’s Emergence: Highlighted as Utah’s standout, nearly scoring the goal of the playoffs.

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6. Carolina Hurricanes: System, Depth, and Tripp Tracy Wisdom

Timestamps: 84:23–107:58

• Carolina Identity: Relentless, team-first approach, led by Jordan Staal: “He loves it...he gets into people's faces. He scores goals like hard goals.” (Stepan, 42:38)
• Goaltending Decisions: Tripp lays out why Anderson started and highlights his glove mechanics (93:17).
• Stan Coven Line Spark: Young line creates matchup issues; Taylor Hall’s fit discussed with Wayne Gretzky’s approval (Tripp, 95:13, 97:04).
• Depth & Balance: “It’s a well-balanced blue line...you can win with Gossesbehere defensively.” (Tripp, 97:57–101:59)
• Ottawa’s Challenge: What the Senators need to do to get back in the series (Tripp, 103:40)

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7. Oilers Rant & Playoff Manifesto

Timestamps: 108:18–112:33

• Whitney Delivers: Bombastic plea for faith in the Oilers and McDavid; sets the stage for Edmonton’s run.
  • “If the Ducks win this series, I'll never root for the Oilers again... that's how confident I am.” (Biz, 111:10)
• Banter, Bets, and Rituals: Commitment to sacrificial fan behavior and deep playoff rituals; ongoing rivalry with Pasha.

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8. Listener Q&A and Series Predictions

Timestamps: 113:19–126:46

• Rear Admiral’s Bruins Reaction: “They were playing not to lose, you know, and that's not the way you win in the playoffs. It was a rope, a dope effort that didn't work.” (Whitney, 115:58)
• Coaching Decisions & Timeout Use: Debate on in-game strategy (timeout usage after goals, lineup adjustments).
• Guarantees: Panel debates which teams are most likely to bounce back after opening defeats. Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Tampa are consensus picks.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “There’s no greater thing than the NHL playoffs. These guys put their heart and souls into it. We got death threats, comebacks, we got it all here in the NHL.”
  – Yance, 126:56

• “If the Ducks win this series, I'll never root for the Oilers again... I'll wear Ducks jerseys all summer.”
  – Biz, 111:10

• On Buffalo’s crowd:
  “He looked like Jeremy Roenick when he scored that goal against Toronto... How much wolf do you think those guys were on?” (Yance, 08:15)

• On Taylor Hall in Carolina:
  “He doesn’t have to sit back and trap. He can go after it... it embodies bringing out his best.”
  (Tripp Tracy quoting Wayne Gretzky, 96:13)

• On Montreal’s youth:
  “Slafkovsky, who in typical wit fashion, I called him a bust. He's incredible. Third-youngest Canadian to ever get a hat trick in the playoffs.”
  – Biz, 25:35

• On Zuccarello:
  “[He’ll] give it to you if you need to hear it and doesn't care who you are—even the coach!”
  – Stepan, 47:10

• On Flyers’ Sanheim:
  “He, he, he learned it all from me. No, Sandy's unbelievable. Like, he was a wet blanket, as Biz like to say on Sid.”
  – Yan, 55:40

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Notable Analysis & Insights

• Game-Changing Coaching Moments: Criticism of Boston's Marco Sturm for not using a timeout during the Buffalo comeback, contrasting with Montreal’s Martin St. Louis smartly taking his in OT (115:07, 29:57).
• Goaltender Spotlight: Swayman’s spectacular effort (“sway and pray”), Anderson’s steady hands, and five new playoff netminders in the West.
• Team Identities:
  • Carolina: Structure, defensive depth, hunger (“relentlessness personified”)
  • Buffalo: Emotional renaissance, pent-up fan energy, youth unleashed
  • Montreal: Electrifying power play, skilled youth, aggressive system

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Fun & Side Stories

• Buffalo’s Pre-Game Rollerblade Fight (06:04–09:11)
• Barstool Bets & Dog Painting Wagers with Tripp Tracy (84:31+)
• Oilers and Ducks Banter—Biz pledges fealty to Ducks if Edmonton loses (111:10)
• Personal Playoff Viewing Rituals: “Dad’s taking a pregame nap…” (Biz, 108:19)
• Locker Room Tales: Zuccarello’s playful arrogance, Taylor Hall’s texts to Tripp Tracy, Faber’s personality in Minnesota (47:04–51:56)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 2:16–15:53: Buffalo’s comeback & fan culture
• 25:06–35:19: Montreal’s power play & Tampa’s penalty trouble
• 38:19–53:24: Minnesota’s playoff identity (Stepan)
• 54:23–63:21: Flyers-Pens analysis
• 66:07–74:01: Vegas-Utah first game fireworks
• 84:23–107:58: Carolina Hurricanes deep dive (Tripp Tracy)
• 108:18–112:33: Oilers playoff hype rant
• 113:19–126:46: RA’s Bruins reaction, overtime debates, bounce-back picks

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Tone & Style

The episode is energetic, comedic, and borderline chaotic—exactly as Chiclets fans expect. Hockey analysis is punctuated with anecdotes, bar bets, inside jokes, and personal challenges, making the expert insight accessible but never dull. Whitney’s rants, Biz’s self-deprecating gaffes, and the guest’s calm credibility balance out the punchy, irreverent tone.

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For New Listeners

This episode is as much playoff pep rally as it is hockey roundtable. You’ll leave with:

• A thorough picture of the 2026 NHL playoff landscape — teams, tactics, superstars, and storylines.
• A front-row seat to locker room culture and fan traditions.
• Puck-nerd insight without a trace of stuffiness.

If you missed the episode, this summary covers all the jaw-dropping moments, quotes, and key strategies — minus the ads and intros.

Transcript

[Whitney]

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

[Biz]

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[Whitney]

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

[Yance]

I brought it towards the Coyotes and I asked him if it was okay if I joined the Spit Chickens podcast full time.

[Biz]

Ryan Whitney's got a pink Whitney out there now. The song man is a full time member. My religious galaxy got an assist from Chris.

[Yan]

Whoa. We're buzzing right now.

[Biz]

Playoffs are here and welcome to the first ever live show on Netflix of spitting Chiclets. Episode Stream 639 Guys, it has arrived and it's Pinkies up time. If there's ever been a sign that pinkies are up everywhere, it's the city of Buffalo and and the rest of the NHL playoffs the city's hosting Pinkies Up Pink Whitney. We know it was in Buffalo. We know. We know it was in Dallas. Dallas didn't drink enough of it. We know it was in Carolina they're shoving my face right into a locker. But pinkies up everywhere. Pink Whitney representing all over the Stanley cup playoffs. So shout out Pink Whitney. New Amsterdam zone. Go get a bottle of Pink Whitney. Pinkies up, boys. Holy.

[Yance]

They took a while.

[Biz]

It took a while. Listen. Saturday afternoon, Ottawa, Carolina. Carolina. Suffocating. Ah, it was okay.

[Yan]

Brady tried to do his best early.

[Biz]

Brady tried. Brady tried, right? But it's like. I don't know. I don't know.

[Whitney]

I don't know.

[Biz]

And then Minnesota just. We'll get into all these. Minnesota, just a thumb.

[Yan]

Whoa.

[Biz]

Not a great game. I need some action. Pittsburgh, Philly, we saw a little hatred there. We saw a pretty good tilt there. But then Sunday came and Sunday started. Slow biz. You were there. You were there. The LA Kings. Get the LA Kings out of my face.

[Yance]

I'd rather go watch like a four hour harmonica concert with some Korean ladies than watch them fucking play through the neutral zone.

[Biz]

Okay, okay, Right, but then, then it, it, it's. I. I'll tell you. Montreal, Tampa.

[Derek Stepan]

I think.

[Biz]

I think we're in for a special one there. Montreal. Keith is now a Montreal Canadiens guy. He's got his jersey, he's got his hats. They sent him everything. And then we went to the drunkest city in North America. Buffalo. And. And then we really had ratcheted up and playoffs was here and Utah in Vegas. That got nasty. So.

[Yance]

Oh, yeah, death threats. It was seeing death threats.

[Biz]

Who's getting them?

[Yan]

Do is giving it to everyone.

[Biz]

Oh, yeah, Cooley.

[Yance]

Cooley got a death threat.

[Biz]

And I don't even think Cooley did much. We'll get into that. But it just. It was like a slow burn. And now, Now Monday's here. Spitting Chicklet is live. We're talking all things playoffs so far. It's. It's. It's happening. It's now happening. There's no worry that. Oh, my God. What's going on with the first round? I don't know. This start hasn't been great. No, no, no, no, no, no. Buffalo brought us back. Oh, yeah. If we can talk Buffalo and we could talk. This city also should mention Derek Stepan coming on today. He's all dialed in with the Wild. He knows what's going on in the West. And my guy, Tripp Tracy, the Electric Factory, the man who basically runs the show for the Carolina Hurricanes. I could be in one. I could be in one with my. Bet we'll get into that.

[Yance]

But is this dog coming on?

[Biz]

Who?

[Yance]

Is his dog coming on?

[Biz]

His dog is not coming. Who Knows actually, Frank, dogs in the

[Yance]

middle of this one.

[Biz]

Frank could be on. We'll get into that.

[Yance]

PETA. PETA might be coming after you just like the. The Buffalo Sabers have been.

[Biz]

No, no. So. So here's the thing. Buffalo and I. Buffalo and I are lockstep. Buffalo. Buffalo and I are lockstep. Okay, okay. I'll tell you right now. They. They had a laugh. They had a laugh at my expense. Great for them. But they've known. They've known 14 years. Spitting Chiclets was four years away from even being created the last time they're in the playoffs. And throughout those 14 years, while making fun of them and calling them joke and a comedy show, I've said, the fans don't deserve this. So they know. They know I got them. But Biz, the fans are back. And I'll tell you right now, I don't know if there's ever been a better pregame video than what we witnessed.

[Yance]

I was just going to say, I think that that beat out the whole Carolina Ottawa game. I think that was more entertaining than the Minnesota Dallas game. And we have to thank our boy Matt Murley. He sent a video to our group chat in which was taken by a Bill scout. So I don't know if he was scouting for. For maybe getting a couple cheap options for safety.

[Biz]

No D line. Yeah, that's a D line. That tackle.

[Yance]

Oh, that was a D line.

[Biz]

Yeah.

[Yance]

But that video that ended up circulating on the Internet before puck drop. I mean, that. That anytime I'm in a bad mood

[Yan]

moving forward, this is in a Resto jersey.

[Biz]

So. So listen, I. The video starts and we can just. Just quickly go over this. The video starts and I'm like, oh, my God. Like, these guys, they've created this giant circle of drunks in Buffalo.

[Yance]

I think they've still been drinking since Chiclet's cup. Those guys were members of the. One of the rollerblade teams that was there.

[Biz]

And. And when you see the Bruins. The Bruins, dummy. Cam Neely. And then all of a sudden, this. This wrist align and he's squaring off, he's backing up. But then the glove, the poor guy's glove.

[Yan]

I don't know why you need a linesman. A line kicks those away.

[Biz]

You're right, you're right, you're right. But they. Linesman above all, just, well, look, he's already. He's behind him, but he's gonna fight a man. But there's the glove.

[Yan]

Neely would have jumped them if that was real life. If he fallen, Neely would have jumped them.

[Yance]

That's true.

[Biz]

And, and I think, I think, and then I don't know if that was planned because the guy comes from behind on Rollerblade. The Rollerblade crew, we've even mentioned them. I saw clips of those guys. They're bombing around downtown Buffalo hours leading up to this.

[Yance]

They're waiting for the call, they're spearing

[Biz]

each other, they're cross checking each other, they squaring off. And then all of a sudden like somebody brought the Bruins dummy there and it was Wristallian's turn. But once wrist the line falls, you know his teammate, he's like, oh, I got him. I'll crush him from behind, take a 20 game suspension. I'll then punch his head in completely, just, just crushing his temple. That's a broken orbital bone. And Buffalo. And the kid in the back with the green pants, he's like, it's like they just won the cup. He's like killing.

[Yance]

He looked like Jeremy Ronick when he scored that goal against Toronto in the second round. The one year. Yeah, Flyers high stepping. He had the knees up to his goddamn chin for it. How much wolf do you think those guys were on?

[Biz]

I, I, I can't even, I can't even. It might have just been pink Whitney though, honestly. You know those, those, that vodka upper. You don't think so?

[Yance]

I think you need a little wolf to go full Todd Bertuzzi on a fucking UFC dummy. I don't know about, I don't know about you, Yance. What do you think?

[Yan]

Yeah, no, I think that's just a lot of pent up emotions. They haven't been in playoffs for so long. That guy, there's probably been snow on the ground for the last six months. He hasn't been able to roll yesterday. I know, but at least like the, the snow gods kept the snow away early so the boys could roll blades. Because you can't roll blade on snow. My favorite part of that whole video is the, the guy who comes in doing the splits, getting the video in between. If we can pull that up, that guy's got unbelievable hip and groin action.

[Biz]

And earlier there was a Sabres fan who, he crawled at that Cam Neely UFC dummy and you're like, oh, what's he doing? Is he going low? No, he pretended to pee on him. Yeah, so, so it's just the whole city is so alive. And then in classic Sabers fashion, they had nothing to cheer for boys. And I'm sitting there and I'm like, oh my God. Like these people. I, I actually thought they might get a goal like early on in the game and then it's just the roof blows off the, the key B Key Bump arena we'll call it. And, and, but no, the Bruins, man, they played 52 minutes. I'm not going to say perfect hockey because Buffalo controlled the game, but Swayman looked as dialed in as I've seen a goalie in a long time. He looked like hella buck in the gold medal game. Yeah, I'm like, I don't know if they're getting one by him. They were frustrating. The D were playing great for Boston.

[Yance]

I thought physical, physical. Oh my God. Zadorov, who did he kill was a

[Biz]

donor that was done. That could have been bad on his left knee too. Luckily he kind of got that out of the way. That was a, that was a monstrous hit. Yeah, but like I, I, I, when Morgan Geeky, who scored the first one, Beautiful, Nice. They get a one nothing lead, they're on the road. When he didn't shoot that puck, I think that was the first period still

[Yance]

end of the first.

[Yan]

Yeah.

[Yance]

10 seconds.

[Biz]

By the way, this is a sniper. This is a guy who's turned into a, you know, 35, 40 goal guy. At least McKinnon in the Olympics shot the puck and missed the net. I, I don't know. I said, I think his controller, the battery died on the controller. I don't know what he was thinking. I was like, that might come back to haunt him. But they get the second piss. Maybe not. Maybe they're okay. And then I don't know what happened to the Bruins defense. I put the, I put the loss on the defense and, and like I

[Yance]

know what happened, okay, The Sabres fans started booing.

[Yan]

Yeah, I didn't like that biz.

[Biz]

You're right.

[Yance]

I mean, hey, maybe you didn't, Yan, maybe you didn't. But it got them going. The booze got them going, man. They got booed early in the season. They got fucking bitched at when they didn't score in the opening game. They had a tough start to the year. And sometimes, hey, when you're not playing well and you're not getting to the blue paint enough, you got to hear it from the fans. Hey, highest price tickets in these playoffs going into game one and they paid all that money. They emptied out their 401ks. They emptied out, they don't even have

[Biz]

them, I don't think usually.

[Yance]

No, they don't, they don't got 401ks

[Yan]

in Buffalo no, you don't need it.

[Biz]

No, you don't need them because it just goes all to the Bills and all to the Savers. But there is something that we haven't mentioned in this series. And I was. I was shocked. I was shocked. Marco Sturm press conference before the series started and he decided to say. And I don't think he. I don't think he maybe meant it

[Yance]

or didn't think he was too fired up.

[Biz]

I don't think he.

[Yance]

Coach. He was fired up.

[Biz]

Fired up. And. And it's, you know, it's his first game as a head coach in the NHL. The guy should be up for coach here. It's been a phenomenal season, I believe. And I'm kind of paraphrasing. He said we're bigger, we're stronger, and we're more physical. And right away I texted Grinelli or the group chat, I said, that is. That's a bulletin board material right there. That is like, I don't know, like Buffalo. They're like 44 and four in the last 48. Seems like they can't lose. Yes, they're running Gun, but I don't know if you want to be just mentioning that we're bigger, stronger and more physical than them. And what happened? The Buffalo Sabers threw 53 hits in the hockey game, the most hits the Sabers have had since 2010. And I will say they kind of ran them out of the building, particularly in the third period.

[Yan]

Yeah, they just wore them down. Right. When you have those big D, you have to hit them. And 53 hits to 38 hits for the Bruins. And the Bruins are a physical team as well, but they just wore them down. And I like. And I'm sure Lindy Ruff loved it, too. They didn't change their game even when they were down, too. They didn't try to cheat it and score goals. They stuck with their system. All their goals came from stuff behind the net, working their delo, getting it into the middle. And then at the end of the day, it was the TNT Tage Thompson show. He, he, he put. He said. I said it on the show. I am most excited to watch him. I think you said Darlene Wit like those type of guys, but to see him in that element with the crowd behind him. He kind of got hosed out of the first goal because there was a scrum like the.

[Biz]

Yeah, he had to turn around.

[Yan]

Yeah, I was kind of. Because he has great cellies, but just typical Buffalo, right? You get into. You get a goal and let's start a little, little wiffle ball head. Benson's in there. The guy's unbelievable to watch. He is. He's got to be the. He must sell the most jerseys there. People must love him in Buffalo.

[Yance]

He sells them themselves.

[Biz]

Yeah. No back of his trunk at the carnival too. They have deals in the summer with this family and I couldn't believe the stat though. I'm, I'm watching the game and you know, third period starts and all of a sudden Twitter. The Sabres had not been shut out through two periods since the end of November. I'm like, this is unbelievable. These people wait all these years and for what, four or five months they've been just seeing goal after goal celebration, wind song, city on fire and they're. And are they really going to get shut out at home? And they didn't. And I just couldn't believe the some of the plays behind the net, man. Like the defense now granted on the winning goal. I thought that Lindholm just turned it over, but his stick broke. Okay, so it's like, all right, what are you going to do there? Your stick breaks. I get Zaka trying to give him the stick. You want to get the defense in the stick. But it was just horrible timing. As Quinn comes out of the corner, dances Zaka. It was like once you had no stick, you might as well change.

[Yance]

Pasha was cranking his cock off to that video. Yeah.

[Biz]

Oh yeah. Pasha. First thing he says, Zaka, no, no show non existent. I told you guys, just a, just a Pasha. But he gets it over to Samuelson and that, that it was that screen by Zucker. It was perfect.

[Yance]

Yeah. So that the eventual game winner was Tuck. The empty netter because they got one late with and, and I know what you mean. But Tage Thompson, I mean, obviously gets a lot of the credit. I thought Alex Tuck throwing that big hit behind the net. I thought he was a fan force in that third period. You know, he, he's not, he's not going to get the hero label. But I thought that he brought it and obviously icing it and making sure he buries that empty netter as we we've seen before, that can come back to haunt you if you don't just to get that insurance like he his celebration after he scored that anti netter looking up to the crowd and oh my God, that I don't think, I don't think I, I can remember a bigger pop than when Samuelson scored that third goal to take the lead. I, I, I. That building roof was going to pop off.

[Biz]

I know. I, I do think Blutman's on to something where he's saying that the broadcast is kind of muting the crowd noise to be able to hear the announcers. It's like, because you, if you did watch the msg, the local broadcast, it was way louder. You got to just let that play out. You got to let that play out. I think if you're espn, I don't know if that's something they just don't do because they got to get the announcers in there. But when I saw one feed compared to espn, it was, it was noticeably louder. Yeah, I just think Buffalo, like Keith said, they just didn't really waver. And one thing now is like, all right, the Bruins, you blow that game, you kind of have that game. You're getting this insane goalie performance. You can't really put anything on Swayman. He'd been unbelievable the entire time. But now, if, if they are leading going into a third period, like Buffalo, they're not going to be rattled. They're going to, oh, no problem. Like, we, we, we already did it once. We could do it again. And I would say, gee, you could. Come on here, Buffalo, if they win game two, I did, there's zero chance. Boston's winning four out of five games against them. Yeah, no, I, I, I wouldn't be too confident in all of that.

[Whitney]

You got to steal one here.

[Biz]

You have to win the next game.

[Tripp Tracy]

And I'm worried right now.

[Biz]

I think, like, that's like a momentum swinging game. Like, you hope they don't come out

[Tripp Tracy]

here and get absolutely blown out this

[Biz]

next game, because that would just be an absolute disaster.

[Tripp Tracy]

Then it's, then, then we're talk.

[Biz]

So I think you need to, it's got to at least go to overtime this next game if you're going to lose. The other thing I was amazed at is that was the first time in NHL history a team has been down two nothing with eight minutes to go in a playoff game and one in regulation like that. That's shocking to me. I mean, I guess, yeah, to get two in the final eight just to get to overtime is hard enough, but they got four, and the building was rocking, the place was on fire. And it's just, it was a dream start for the Sabers fans. Like, obviously, the first two periods, they're booing, they're frustrated, but, like, when you look back now, they probably wouldn't want it any other way just to get out of there with a W in the final eight minutes. With just celebration Leaving, by the way, before the game started, they got the ushers out there, the ushers are raising the roof as thousands are waiting to get into the arena. It was just. I never seen anything like that. And those people deserve it. It's been a long, long road.

[Yance]

Some of the videos too from outside where they, they watched the game like they were. The gate is falling over. They were ready to bull rush the fucking big Jumbotron out there after they scored that, that go ahead goal. Pretty, pretty remarkable scene. And I would say the one thing for Boston is, is like, you know, I'm sure they were happy to be up to nothing through most of that game, but far too many passengers. Not, not, not, not like some of these guys that had big impacts throughout the regular season. They were a little bit non existent throughout that game. So I don't know what else you saw, Yan's, but you can't hold on to these leads, man. Especially with a team like Buffalo who, who's built the way they are, where they can, they can ramp it up, especially at home.

[Yan]

Yeah, I think the biggest thing the Bruins can take obviously is Swayman the, the way that he played. They're going to find they're gonna, they're, they're gonna win some games if he plays like that. He looked like Bob. I think the hel comparison was great. Like every puck just hit him and stuck to him, hit him and stuck to him. He was getting peppered. There was some time in the, in the offensive zone, but he just held it down. So I think if you're a Bruins fan, you can be like, okay, we just got to clean up the last, you know, five, 10 minutes of a game. And you know, we're, we're, we're singing a different tune this morning. But I don't think it's full on panic time. I think it's, if you're a Buffalo fan, just like the morale in the locker room coming back with a huge win like that is so big. Like the confidence in the meeting today or if they're skating is going to be so high in that locker room. So I'd be a little scared if I was a Bruins fan, but I think when your goalie plays like Swayman did, you're going to have a chance to win and you know, you just get looking forward to next game.

[Biz]

I was very, very kind of surprised. Like pasta misses two breakaways, right? Yeah, that's something where, and, and the, I don't know if you guys remember a couple weeks ago, I Asked Ra I'm like, what's up with Bruins fans, like, questioning Pastronach? Like all the guy does every year is dominate. He doesn't really have like another star to play with. And he still had three points. But I think the playoffs is when they kind of question him. Now, mind you, he's got 90 points in 91 career playoff games, so it's like another. But they questioned some of the turnovers and stuff. And last thing for me is when I mentioned the defense and the ability to not break it out. Just the final 10 minutes, it all started. I don't know if you guys remember. Zadorov got the puck behind the net. He shot at 100 miles an hour off the glass. Icing almost took Posternach's ear off. There was nobody near him. And they scored like a minute later. It was the first. Thompson's first. It was kind of like, I don't know, like they just lost their cool like you guys said. They didn't. He was kind of 60 minutes.

[Yan]

He was kind of cabin too, where. Where he was like, hey, you got to tip that.

[Yance]

No, no, no, no, he didn't say that.

[Yan]

Yes, he did.

[Yance]

That's like when. When Jovo used to fucking send like 100 mile bullet passes from 10ft away and they used to ricochet off your blade. And he'd be going up the ice doing the wrist curls thing.

[Biz]

That's Pronger. Pronger says the NHL buddy is. I was four feet away from you. There was nobody near us.

[Yance]

Like, physics, Physics, bro. I. I couldn't have caught that with a fucking lacrosse cross stick there, Sidorov. Jesus Christ. I believe Peak had a tough one too, right? That was that on the second one.

[Biz]

Yeah. I don't. He tried eating it. He kind of could have kept moving it up the wall and then he fell over and then it's in front. Thompson gets another one. Peak. I noticed this is Twitter talk. Bruins fans were not. Were not thrilled with Peaks game. Yeah, I think you'll see Yoki Hari

[Tripp Tracy]

in next game for him. I wouldn't be surprised.

[Yance]

All right, right to the press box.

[Biz]

That's the Jeff Skinner treatment. That's what they call Jeff Skinner treatment.

[Yance]

Hell of a run.

[Tripp Tracy]

But Guy too, I think you got

[Biz]

to put him upstairs. You have to.

[Yance]

Yeah. Going back to Thompson's first too, though, like, for him to like, get his. Like to stick around the post and sneak that in before Swayman ended up closing that off. Like, that was a pretty remarkable move. Like, I mean, he's got that short Stick too. Like he's a big long guy but he doesn't use a very long stick. So the fact that he was able to like reach around and tuck that in pretty, pretty clutch goal to get things going for the Buffalo Sabers. But oh my God, like a lot of these, a lot of the entertainment like you said, was coming from outside the building and celebration after that one too.

[Biz]

And I will say I think I thought Byron was outstanding. I thought he was the best player on the ice for Buffalo most of that game. He looked on. At one point Castelluk had him lined up, he was going to send him to next week and he just kind of danced him in the defensive zone. He was all over the ice. So we'll see what happens. Game two. I'll tell you one thing that will happen though is it'll be the exact same madness outside the arena. And according to Merles, every road game when the Sabers are in the playoffs is the same thing. So the city, they love drinking, they love sports, they love the Sabres and they love drinking. So I also, I'll mention this. I have been invited as a guest of the Buffalo Sabres to be there for game five. That's a true honor. They told me they have a content idea for me. I'm down to do anything. Laugh at me, make fun of me. That is something that I would love to experience based on what I witnessed last night. I need to see a game there. The only thing I'm worried about is this Family Feud thing. That's a different storyline. Barstool, sending Family Feud teams. I don't know when the tournament is to try to get into Family Feud. I really hope I don't have to miss the Buffalo game for Family Feud.

[Yance]

At what point like how deep of a run do they have to go on for you to get slammed through a table and. Or the ketchup and mustard thing in your face.

[Biz]

I'm not dying for either one of those, man.

[Yance]

I know, but wait, you gotta a table.

[Yan]

You got golf season coming up here.

[Biz]

Why can't I just go like hang with them all, let them make fun of me and chug beers. Why do I have to get ketchup mustard in my face?

[Yance]

You're going to do that Game five, but if they go on a run, you gotta it. There's got to be some sort of buildup here. Yans, you gotta. What do you think?

[Yan]

What if they make him watch the game from the billboard? Just sit up there and he has to watch it on his phone. It's like, hey, yeah, we got something planned for you. Bigear.

[Biz]

Yeah, we, we. Where's my seat? It's. I climb that 400 step ladder to the top of that billboard, and then in the second period, you got to go over the other billboard on the other side of town.

[Yance]

What about. What. What about this? You have to join the Blade gang, round two.

[Biz]

Oh, that would be awesome. I feel like I could catch. I. I feel like that might end up worse than the slam to the table.

[Yance]

I think. I think if there's one person who get beat up by a UFC dummy, it might be wet.

[Biz]

Yeah, true. True that. If that UFC dummy hits me with like a maybe. Oh, a Sean Dersey headbutt, we'll get a chat. Was. That was a little interesting, but. All right. Buffalo takes. Buffalo takes.

[Yance]

Kind of funny because that he did it to Rasmus Anderson, and Rasmus Anderson has a history of headbutting a guy, too. I think he got Yamamoto back.

[Yan]

He's got a big old Bison head, too. I wouldn't want to get hit with Anderson's. Great.

[Yance]

Wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

[Biz]

All right, we go down to Florida now. We're kind of hopping all over the map here. The Montreal Canadiens power play guys, it finished 10th in the regular season. This is Keith's. This is Keith's team. It might be his team because of the power play he loves.

[Yance]

Can I hop in here?

[Biz]

Yes.

[Yance]

That. That top unit was the second best power play unit in the league other than Edmonton's. So when those top five guys are on the ice, they're the second best power play. Yes.

[Biz]

Okay. And those top five guys are. Lane Hudson, just a superstar defenseman. It's. It's come so easy to him. Can't believe how good he is. But. But I totally can, I guess. Nick Suzuki, 100 point player. Slavkovski, who in typical wit fashion, it called him a bust. He's incredible. I think third youngest Canadian to ever get a hat trick in the playoffs. They got some decent guys and players in that franchise. Then you got demigod who's just a wizard, the next Kucherov. And then who am I forgetting? Cole Caufield, 50 goal score, second in the league in goals. They scored three goals. Slavkovski gets a hat trick on the power play, including the game winner. I take away from this game, though, what we said last week at Secaucus. Vasilevsky playoff. Vasilevsky. Something's going on. That was a 790 save percentage last night. And the winning goal. I. It was One of the worst angles I've seen him ever have.

[Yance]

I think he was cheating blocker side. He looked like he didn't even get tipped. I don't know if he lost it through the stick on puck, where Slav did a good job of getting around it when Chernock came out and tried to try to at least tip it and make it go wide. But my goodness, buddy, even that Anderson goal, the first one, like he was cheating back door. I mean, it's not.

[Biz]

That was a little two on. Oh, so I get it a little.

[Yance]

I know. But as Hank broke it down, he's like, man, he's like his stick was going to block the pass. There's no way his sticks end up going to get in that lane that far out. And he said, like, it's good to be ahead in your mind. But he's reacting as if though that plays already being made. So he kind of put that on Vasilevsky as well. And I mean that. I would say that that's probably the easy scapegoat, but the fucking stupidity of the Tampa Bay Light crazy. Four offensive zone penalties, including the, I mean, one of the most clutch players of our time in playoff time, Jake Gensel.

[Biz]

What was he thinking there? It would have been a high stick

[Derek Stepan]

if he hit it.

[Yance]

Not only that, but it's like you're thinking, oh, okay, maybe he didn't think anybody was around him, but he got back pressure like he got shoved from behind and, and then all of a sudden, he busts out the lightsaber and hits Goulet right in the yap. Man, I, I, I couldn't believe it. And then on top of that, you're going into the third period, so you're like, oh, my God, Florida's going to be coming out here with the fresh ice. So, Yans, you're, you're the, the le. The Habit insider. What, what do you got for us? What do you got for us most? Yeah, Yeah.

[Yan]

I think especially going into an overtime, you get fresh ice coming out. I think the, the way that Slafkovski beat, I don't think Vasileski thought he was gonna shoot it because there's no one in front of the net. I think he's just like, all right, he's gonna pull up, look for somebody late, and he kind of just surprised them. Great shot. Non the lease, he, you know, the goalies nowadays, they just go down. They're not like, I mean, Vassi is a good catcher and all that stuff, but they kind of just go down and hope it hits him. And I think he got a little lazy with his glove and it just went a little bit over it. But their power play, man, like you, you look at, you look at Colorado and you look at Montreal like Colorado's holding on to pox, waiting for lanes to open, you know, not moving it around quick, not getting shots. Where the Montreal guys, they have it on their stick for a second, then it's to somebody else, then it's a shot, then the seams open up and guys retreat pucks, retrieve pucks really well. Demigod. You don't know if he's passing or shooting. He's so deceptive with the puck. Hudson up top, walking, opening lanes up for everybody. I just love where all their guys stand. And Caulfield's obviously always ready to cock and load, but he. He didn't have to today, but, you know, he's another guy. Once you give him a couple reps, give him some good looks, he's going to get hot. But when a power plays humming like that, you can't take penalties. A. But you cannot take penalties in 200ft from your own net. And I saw a press conference with Coop after he was disgusted with it. You know, I'm sure in his mind, he's like, listen, a lot of my guys have been there, done that. They're gonna, you know, they'll figure it out for game two. This is a brain fart of a game, but if you're gonna win series and put teams away, you can't do that in the first game and give teams life. Because, you know, with a power play like that, it's all confidence, right? Like when you're on a power play and, you know, you see that ref's arm go up and you're licking your chops to get out there, it's. It's. It's a huge momentum boost for your

[Yance]

team and Suzuki, who. Who's probably gonna win the selkie. That's what everybody keeps saying. Like, I'm not as dialed in as maybe some of these other guys who get votes, but that zone entry in that overtime and shut out to Martin St. Louis to call the timeout.

[Biz]

Yeah.

[Yance]

Keep his guys fresh. Like, that's one thing that, I mean, you could talk about that play in particular, or the fact that, like, you just mentioned those five guys on the powerplay wit, outside of Suzuki, who's. Who's a little bit older now, all those guys are young guys. All those guys.

[Biz]

He's not that old. What is he, 26?

[Yance]

No, I know, but I'm saying is like, you can, you can like directly correlate like he was. He was starting to come up even before Martin St. Louis took over as head coach. And obviously he's probably had just as big of an impact on Suzuki as those other guys. But to take those young guys. And you mentioned, like, you know, talking about Slav being a bus, like in this short period of time, what he's done with Caulfield in the acceleration, in the goal department, the Mike Kelly came on before the game and year over year, the distance of his goals and how much closer he's getting to the net. So obviously he's working hand in hand with Martin St. Louis to like get closer, get to those harder areas. There's a reason he got over 50 tucks this year, demigod to step in and doing what he's doing. Like, a lot of this has to do with coaches and how you're communicating and talking to these young guys, which, as we know, isn't always the easiest thing, especially in today's day and age. So a lot of credit to St. Louis. And also there was a few times in that game where, I don't know what you guys thought of that call where they called the interference and then they called the four minute high stick. So it's kind of like chicken before the egg. Like, does he interfere with or does he get the high stick up if he's not interfered with? And as frustrated and angry as Martin St. Louis probably was, he kept the cool. He called the ref over. He's not yelling, he's not fucking throwing the ref under the bus and making him look like a fool publicly. He just having a conversation. And as frustrated he is, he kept his cool. And I think that those things matter, especially in over the course of a long series when you're going against a coach who's got two Stanley Cups, who coaches Team Canada and who has as much as respect as Coop has. So pretty remarkable stuff from the Canadiens in Game 1. Yance. Yeah.

[Yan]

When you, when you have a coach, especially with a young group, when, if you have a coach behind the bench losing his mind, game one, it's going to, it's going to affect the younger players. They're going to be like, okay, he's losing his mind. Maybe we should lose our mind. But the way he, he handles that bench and his players is remarkable. And you know, I played with him, I. You could tell he could have been a coach. Even when he was playing, he was always helping guys, Helping guys. In the power play, five on five, just so smart and so willing to help out. So you can just tell his fingerprints are all over this team. And it's cool to watch.

[Biz]

And in the past hundred years in the NHL and in the next hundred years, there will always be players that they're just waiting for the playoffs. They, they, they have a certain role throughout the regular season. 82 games. There's moments. You see it and then moments. You're asking for more. Josh Anderson was just chomping at the bit to get into the playoffs.

[Yan]

I thought that was Tom Wilson.

[Biz]

He was running around like Tom Wilson. He reminded me of Tom Wilson. I think he completely. I, I don't know if that Stu. That, that's too. However you say his name is. Okay. He crushed him behind that ended up getting a penalty on that one in which Montreal scored. I think that was the Radish goal. But I think St. Louis like, don't care. Don't care. Because for Montreal, a super skilled, fast, maybe a little bit smaller team. No, no, no. We'll take this. We need this. This is another aspect that we have now with a raging lunatic running around killing people. Anderson's willing to fight, but he is just the definition of one of those guys. Kind of like Barbershev. And you saw it in the Utah Vegas game. Just get me to the playoffs. And then my game translates so much better to the game that we're playing.

[Yance]

I played against that Anderson in the AHL when, when Lake Erie won a championship. He was on Warrensky's team and he had that fucking. You tell when the wires can cross. What, what an interesting game for Anderson. He scores the first one, then he gets the one disallowed, then he murders that guy behind the net. Just a, just a wild game. I actually thought he was going to get the OT winner, but definitely a gamer. And I mean, I think it was his first playoff goal. Going back all the way to the bubble when they ended up playing Tampa in the finals. It was one of the OT goals. I think it was the force that. To game five where they ended up getting beat. But he was, Was he the one who fought Tom Wilson on the bench last year too?

[Biz]

I believe so, yeah.

[Whitney]

Yeah, yeah.

[Yan]

Because they had beef going back to like Junior, right?

[Yance]

Oh, they have a history.

[Yan]

Yeah.

[Yance]

Oh, okay. Interesting. Okay. Well, yeah, he's. He's Minnie Wilson out there for sure. So pretty, pretty frustrating game if you're a Tampa Bay Lightning. The positive takeaways, obviously Radish still has that fucking bomb. Cooch was making some plays. But to me it's, it's all about haggle, man. That guy's a fucking mutant.

[Biz]

I looked up last night cause I, I, I, I was like, when was he drafted? Six round, Six round I. And you know, I almost don't want to include Russians. You know how like you get like Datsuk or guys like that that were six round. Like he might be one of the greatest six round picks in the history

[Yance]

of the NHL and, and Chicago gave him away.

[Biz]

Chicago, Chicago. Don't know what they're thinking there. All right, before we bring in Derek, step on our guy. We got a couple ads here. Let's talk about body armor. This episode is brought to you by Body Armor Flash iv. The playoffs are here, thank God. And there's no better rapid rehydration than Body Armor Flash iv, an official partner of the NHL. I'm sitting on the couch like I'm playing in the games, hammering down body arm. Look at biz. Right now he's got his body armor ready to go. Flash IV is packed with electrolytes delivering faster, longer lasting hydration without any artificial dyes, flavors, or sweeteners. Whether you're training, traveling, or just feeling the heat, work hard and hydrate hard. With body armor flash IV. Grab it at a 711 today. You will not be disappointed. And DraftKings, no sport flips faster than hockey. You saw it in Buffalo last night, guys. Everyone who bet Boston. Oh, I'm good. This is a win. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. There was probably some Buffalo people who made some live bets 10 minutes into the third that are laughing right now. And the reason that you get involved with DraftKings is the early exit protection. If you place a pregame player prop bet and your player starts the game but leaves in the first period due to injury and doesn't return, you get your bet back in cash. No bonus bets, no opt in. Just real protection when injuries happen early. New sportsbook customers bet $5. If your bet wins, you get $300 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use code Chiclets so you're ready for the moment. That's Code Chicklets. Five bucks turn into 300 bucks with a win. In partnership with DraftKings, the crown is yours.

[Tripp Tracy]

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[Biz]

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[Yan]

Illinois, 21 and over in most states. Void in Ontario.

[Biz]

Restrictions apply.

[Yan]

Bet must win to receive bonus bets

[Biz]

which expire in seven days. Minimum odds required. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng co audio limited time offer. Copyright 2026 NHL.

[Yance]

All rights reserved. Wait. I got one question before we move forward here and bring on a legend, a Minnesota legend. What would be more likely? If you go to Buffalo, though, getting slammed through a table, the ketchup and mustard routine, and. Or joining Blade gang and going toe to toe with a UFC dummy. Just get. Just give me one. What would be more likely?

[Biz]

It's not going to be the ketchup and mustard, because if I smell mustard, I'll puke. Like, mustard is not a thing in my life.

[Yance]

What if it's Dijon?

[Biz]

No. No. Even I like honey mustard, but I'm not even dealing mustard. It makes me puke. So then we go to the slam to the table or the Blade Gang. I have some sick rollerblades. I don't know if I'm dying to be, like, dripping sweat and spearing UFC dummies before the game. So I might go table slam. But table slam would have to be cup finals. If they're in the cup finals, which, by the way, if they play Edmonton, then I'm going into the belly of the beast with my Oilers jersey on, and I'll still let them slam me through a table. So we'll see how that goes.

[Derek Stepan]

All right.

[Biz]

Maybe we can get Step's opinion. Let's bring them in. Derek Stepan. This guy's been watching a lot of hockey, boys. He's been watching a lot. He's ready to go. What's up, Step?

[Derek Stepan]

What's going on, fellas?

[Biz]

How we doing? We're doing great, man.

[Yance]

We're.

[Biz]

We're as excited as anyone because, you know, 82 games, you played a long time, it's a grind. And as a player, you just can't wait. You get into the playoffs, you're. The excitement level in your. In your soul is just different. No.

[Derek Stepan]

Oh, I, like. I'm trying my best not to sound like you. And it's like if you're watching some other sport right now and you're not tuning into the NHL, you're nuts. Because it's been two days of, like, non stop action. It's been. It's been so much fun to watch. Holy cow.

[Yance]

I think the. The. Maybe the drama leading into the Minnesota Dallas series was the fact that Quinn Hughes was a little under the weather. Now I saw Billy G. Walking him into the building. Is it true that he made him chicken noodle soup ahead of game one? Like, handmade chicken noodle soup with. With some of his. Some of his woods wood stuff he made.

[Derek Stepan]

I was just gonna say that you took it from me. Yeah, you. You broug wooden bolt. I don't actually have any intel for you there, so I'm not sure what happened, but it didn't look like he slowed down at all. He was. They. They looked so good. I mean, it's a. It's a good start. Long ways to go, but, yeah, they look. They looked good. And they were firing all cylinders, which is great.

[Yan]

Step Minnesota kind of, you know, I think it was. Merle said they were the fraud squad. Coming in the last, like, month or so, they just kind of looked like they were on cruise control going into this. I. They were locked up for a while. Knowing you're going to play Dallas, do you sense that? It was just kind of like, all right, let's just get the playoffs, then we can turn it on. Because you saw a different level from them than what you've seen probably the last, you know, month and a half.

[Derek Stepan]

Oh, we've been there, you know, like when you're locked in and maybe not as early. I don't remember ever being that early locked into who you're playing, but it's hard to play. And I think, you know, even if you. You. You want to say all the right things and you want to do all the right things, but it's. It doesn't always translate. And you saw spurts of it. Like, I think the Detroit game was. Is like, towards the end there, you kind of saw him turn it on a little bit. But, yeah, I think it's. It's just a tough time to play when you're already locked in and it's like, let's just get to it. Yeah, I kind of heard you guys talking about, like, they were just Jones. And to get to game one and

[Biz]

step like, I couldn't believe this stat, that the Wild have never led a series two nothing in franchise history. This game, this game coming home, if they can get up to nothing, like, it's enormous. And we talk about Buffalo and that city starving for playoff hockey, like Minnesota. Same thing, man. They got to that conference final years ago. They haven't been able to get out of the first round. And all of a sudden, Game one, I picked Dallas, kind of regretted it because I think without hints, and I don't know when he's Back, they're not the same team. But looking at the first game like, there's no way you could have expected that, right?

[Derek Stepan]

No, no, I, you know, I, it, it's funny, you look at the brackets and like, when I look at the East, I could look at it and pick one team and, and predict it one way and then walk away from it and come back and completely look at it a different way. But in the west, you look at it and I looked at the series and I was like, this is going to be a war. These two teams are going to go at each other and they got high end skill. So, yeah, real good start. You know, take care of business tonight. And, and you know, you just try to control what's in your, your ballpark. All right, game one's done. Don't worry about that. We're going to game two and, and try to take advantage.

[Yance]

I think I would say the one. Not, not criticism, but the one thing that Dallas for sure had coming this series was more strength up the middle. But no Rupe hints is, is a big factor here. I don't think a lot of people realize how good Eric Sinek is.

[Biz]

Yeah, I underestimated him.

[Yance]

He is, he is such a gamer. And like, you know, Mike Kelly, once again, he came on before our game with TNT and talked. He's one of the league leaders in puck battles one and just talk about what like he brings to the table and maybe like what goes unnoticed from a guy who's such a dog and doesn't get the credit he deserves.

[Derek Stepan]

Yeah, and I know you guys are talking about Anderson. This is a similar player that loves to play playoff hockey. Like he loves it like he gets into people's faces. He scores goals like hard goals like this. He is such a big piece of this team and, and he's a leader. He plays, he, he drags people into the fight, which, you know, that's hard to find. And he's just a huge piece. And when he was out of the lineup throughout the year, it's, it's a very noticeable hole. So he's a ginormous piece, especially at this time of the year.

[Yan]

Step a lot of, I mean, you guys did the. Pretty much the two goalie system going in and you went with Walstead last game. Were you surprised by it or was it kind of one of those things if you're around, you knew he was going to get the net first game.

[Derek Stepan]

I, you know, I wasn't really around much of those conversations or anything like that. So I don't have like intel but from my view and what I saw is two goalie system both played well all year. Towards the end it looked like Wally kind of just had the better edge, just had had better matches down the mat down the. Down the stretch. So I'm sure they just went with the hand that was. Was playing well and obviously he looked real solid. When you talk about, you know, poise and control, you know he did his job and that's, that's what you need at this time of the year.

[Yance]

Depp, if before the series had began, like what would have been your key factors in order to come out and win this thing despite going against a. A very difficult Dallas team like ahead of time and are you in. Involved in some of these conversations via like pre scout in maybe helping with. With pointers going in?

[Derek Stepan]

Nope, not involved in any of those. Just I'm actually not really around the big club a lot at all throughout the year. Just do a lot of college stuff, run into G all the time. But I would say the big factor for me and it's always the same thing when it comes to playoffs is power play. Like I think, you know, you talk about the Montreal Canadiens, you need to score early and often and get that power play rolling because they can change a game. And the two teams, Dallas and Minnesota are very similar and similarly matched. And it's going to come down to special teams for me.

[Biz]

I think we should mention too though, last year Dallas lost 61 to Colorado in game one. So they've, they, you know, they've been through this. They're not good in game ones. I think they're worse.

[Yance]

Horrendous.

[Biz]

Yeah, horrendous. It's weird. And then you are putting yourself like it's, you know, you're. They're. They always have a tough matchup. Like you said, this matchup, we knew these two were playing before Buffalo started winning. Like that's how long ago it was kind of set in stone these two. So Dallas I think will come back. I just do wonder about Ottinger a little bit like last year, you know, his last game he's pulled the Boars fired. It's a totally different staff. Everything's changed. But I don't know if there's confidence issues in the, in the playoffs. He just, he didn't look great. But like we said, they, they did get crushed in Game 1 last year. For many though, I think Hartman's important and I know it's a, it's a goal. He scores. He doesn't really you know, he scores it, he doesn't do anything. It's just a favor shot that goes in off him. But that's another guy, kind of Erickson X style rat, pain in the ass

[Yance]

and probably piece of shit.

[Biz]

Probably is. Almost told from John Hines, like, like to. To. To keep it like within himself a little bit because he can get. He can get a little insane out there at times.

[Yance]

Well, Denny headbutt somebody or like choice somebody off the face.

[Biz]

People in the face.

[Yance]

Yeah, I didn't even. I mean, some guys like that, but I don't know about you, Step.

[Derek Stepan]

Yeah, I listen. He. Again, you talk about the middle of the ice and E and how important he is and hearts. He's moved in the middle with thrill and zook and his game has been excellent. And I think he always has to play, you know, that weed line a little bit. Like he has to have some of that edge. But also now you're playing with the big boys, so you gotta play some hockey too. And he's done a great job of balancing it. And yeah, middle of the ice is important.

[Yance]

He.

[Derek Stepan]

He is kind of really stepped up in a big way down the stretch.

[Yan]

Step Zuke, like we played with them. We know what he's like in the locker room. How good was he like? Just like his patience coming in over the blue line, making plays, holding on to pucks. And if he's dumping it, he's making a good dump. So Hartman can go and get it and then they get it to Correll. But how good is he? And like, what does he bring to that line?

[Yance]

Before you answer that, what was he like in the locker room?

[Yan]

The best.

[Yance]

Dan just said that. Was he a silly bastard?

[Derek Stepan]

He's unbelievable. He. He is one of one. Like, he will give it to you if you need to hear it and he doesn't care who you are, he'll give it back to coach. Like, he is. He is unbelievable. He's funny too. So he's. He's a. It's a good. It's a good thing to have because when it's not going great, he's a guy that can, you know, maybe say something to kind of loosen up the group and when, when you need a kick in the balls. Personally, he's not afraid to be like, hey, you're taking too long shifts. What are you doing? Yeah, you know, like, I got a story quick. I think it was Torch. He torts is like, zuk, why are you taking such long shifts? Like you're. You're out there for a Minute and a half, like. And he looks at him right on the bench, he goes, sorry, I'm in great shape. I don't know what to tell you. So, like, that's the stuff that Zook is just like. And then hockey wise, like, his hockey IQ is stupid. It's unbelievable. Like, his hockey IQ is what makes Zuke so special. He's got talent, but he's just so smart. Like he's two, three plays ahead and, and he executes. He's pretty much executing everything he's thinking about, which is. Is, you know, that's what makes him special.

[Yance]

So he like, he likes taking the piss. There was a clip when he threw that charity game overseas. Somebody, like, dressed as him.

[Biz]

It was Thornson, I think. Okay, it's an all time clip.

[Yance]

It's an all timer. I don't know if we're able to pull it up while we're still talking to him to run it. G. But does he. So he uses a very long stick too, right?

[Derek Stepan]

I think he shortened it too. Like, he. When he first came in, it was like. I think he shortened it up a little bit and then he got it really short and then he like went back the long one. Like, it's crazy how long a stick is, but it like he'll come in and he just like flicks pucks and he just. The puck just goes, man. Like, he shoots the puck extremely hard. Like really hard for a guy that doesn't pull the trigger very often.

[Yance]

Yan's, do you have a funny Zook story?

[Yan]

When I left New York, signed in Florida, I was talking to the guys before the game, whatever. Just had a stick in my hand and he was like, hey, can you sign me a stick? So I signed him a stick. And in the middle of the game, I look over, he's using the stick. He's like, he's like Gino. Where he could just like grab a stick and use it. He didn't give a. And. And he's like, ah. He's like, ah. It looked good when I was walking back to the locker room, so I used it.

[Biz]

No.

[Yance]

Or you. You must have been howling.

[Yan]

Oh, I was crying.

[Yance]

How many, how many, how many guys on the bench did you nudge and say, hey, look at this stick?

[Yan]

I called the time out and told

[Biz]

everyone, well, it is nuts because he's not big, he's not fast. So it is. It is just a hockey IQ type guy where, like, he's just always making the right play with the puck. But step before we go on. I Want to talk Pittsburgh, Philly being in Minnesota and. And mentioning like, the lack of success they've had. Like, those fans are starving. Huh? Like, I imagine game three is going to be incredible atmosphere, but like, talk about the passion in Minnesota for the Wild, even without a cup and without really any runs lately at all.

[Derek Stepan]

Yeah, it's. I, It's. You know, I, I don't think we have the Buffalo atmosphere quite there because that is.

[Biz]

Alcoholics is. Yeah, it's.

[Yan]

It's.

[Derek Stepan]

But it is something that, you know, this state is ready for. They, you know, it.

[Biz]

It is.

[Derek Stepan]

It is needed and Billy has put in a lot of work for it. To. To. The time has come and, and yeah, I'm looking. I'm. I'm. I don't want to say too much. I don't want to get too jack. Jacked up here. No, like, this is. This is something that this state, this. This Minnesota Wild fans have been waiting for and they've. They've got the pieces in place now, so now it just. It needs to happen.

[Biz]

All right, well, we'll be. Be tuning into that one tonight.

[Yance]

Can I ask him one last one?

[Biz]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Yance]

Biz most underrated, underappreciated Minnesota Wild player right now that you just love and, and who doesn't get talked enough about.

[Derek Stepan]

Well, I think. I think your office had a good, good first full season. Like, he's. He, you know, he's. He's get. He's a really good hockey player and he's playing a role that maybe is. Is new to him. And so he's. I thought he. I thought he's had a really good season and yeah, he's a big piece with that Russian line.

[Yance]

Love it.

[Yan]

I actually. I got one more for him too. Faber. We saw a little. I mean, you see him in usa, you know, he's obviously after being hilarious, had his glasses on, you see that he has a personality, a. How good is he on the ice for you guys? And what does he bring to that team in the locker room too? Because he seems like a young guy that can kind of bring everybody together, whether you're old or young. Like, he seems like the guy that is bringing everybody together.

[Derek Stepan]

Yeah, absolutely. And I think, you know, since Quinn has come over, Babes game is like went way higher. Like, he is learning so much from Quinn just playing alongside of him and you know, offensively, you know, doing some things that Quinn is doing. You see Brock start to do it now, so it's, It's. He's just like, I think he's just such a good defenseman as it is, like, defending wise and Quinn is just making them even better offensively and just keep pushing that. And those two guys on the ice together, it's. It's fun to watch, man. Like, they. They're out there for 30 minutes a night, and they just. They just go and they play. They play all scenarios, and they're able to do it at a high level.

[Yance]

So they split them up at one point, right? Like, for. For, like, a hot minute.

[Derek Stepan]

Yeah, I think it was, like, kind of in that, you know, we were talking about that little, like, stretch down where they just. I. I don't know. I'm not sure why they did, but they did. And I. I think they. They've seen enough of that and they're like, let's just get them back together.

[Yance]

Back together. Okay. Sometimes, like, they're both, like, good enough with the puck, and offensively, I just figured maybe that they would break them up to, like, spread it out. But you think that they'll remain together for the rest of playoffs?

[Derek Stepan]

I. I mean, I would. I. I think maybe it was. I. I don't know. Maybe it was for, you know, down the stretch, going into playoffs, maybe to kind of limit ice time to split them up so that they're not playing half the game. But I. I'm not sure why they did it, but I like it when they're together.

[Biz]

I mean, I. I think the ability to then have Brodine with Spurgeon like, that top four is crazy. And then Middleton and Boghossian are kind of the perfect five, six. I mean, I love Harley, I love Heskinen. But then you see Quinn Hughes. I personally, he's at a different level than Miro Heskinen. The ability to just. He has the puck on his stick when he's out on the ice the whole time, it's. It's crazy. And the quick turns and just. He never throws it away. So I think it's. I think we're in for a long series. You're right. Step. Can't get ahead of ourselves. But that Game one, we gotta pump the Wild a little bit. And going to the Battle of Pennsylvania, boys, I was. I was adamant. I liked Pittsburgh a lot. That was one of those game ones where it's like, oh, shit, I'm kind of. I'm not switching my pick. I'm not regretting it, but it went completely different than I thought it would go. And Philly pissed them off. They were in their face. Skinner, who was. I saw catching Heat from Penguins fans. Skinner was the only reason they were in the game.

[Yan]

He was unreal. Yeah, he was unbelievable. He, he bailed them out big time. They had, Philly had 13 chances and Pittsburgh gave them 10 of them. So it's like they were giving pucks away. They were making it easy, and Skinner was bailing them out. He, I thought he was tremendous. I didn't see that he was getting any heat. But if he was, that's bullshit. Because if it wasn't for him, that game could have been six, two.

[Biz]

And it seemed like Pittsburgh, just like Eric Carlson said after, like, they outplayed us in every way, we did not deserve to win that game. It was just shocking for, for a Pittsburgh team who's surprised a lot of people, but they've been solid all year. Besides a little tough stretch, you know, like 10, 15 games in. They gave up four breakaways. Darth Vadar is back. Pittsburgh gave up four breakaways through two periods. But it was the physicality. Like that Tippet hit on Connor Dewar. He, I mean, talk about just standing up a guy and then staring him down. Along with Travis Sanheim was the best maybe player on the ice.

[Yance]

You mean McCarr?

[Biz]

He did biz. He looked like McCarr.

[Yance]

Are you kidding me? Did you teach him that, Yance?

[Yan]

Oh, yeah, yeah. He, he, he learned it all from me. No, Sandy's unbelievable. Like, he was a wet blanket, as Biz like to say on Sid. And to do that, you could tell like at that last when they had that exchange when they were going back at each other and Sid ended up slashing him. Like, Sandy's such a respectful guy. Like, you could tell he really didn't even want to do it. He's like, dude, this is one of my idols. I don't want to take advantage of him. But he's like, hey, fuck it, it's playoffs. I absolutely loved Sanheim's game. Obviously, when he's scoring goals and being offensive like that, that's just the added bonus because I think what he makes his money at is being a really good defender. Breaking pucks out, getting pucks up to his forwards quick. But the way that he can skate and defend, he's going to get some opportunities on the offensive side. And he did. And he, and he made it count. And he, he was unbelievable. If he can play like that, then this series, I, I, we're all going to wish we can go back and switch our pick.

[Yance]

Please tell me. While I was putting on my mask, you guys mentioned Captain Couturier we have

[Biz]

not mentioned him yet, but that was.

[Yance]

Dude, are you kidding me?

[Biz]

Rush.

[Yance]

Early in that game, who didn't he crush? He had fucking seven or eight hits. Career high and playoffs. Guy fucking took a time machine back to his prime. That was to me the most valuable line. You know why Boys, they started the game with them. It calmed all the young guys down. He went out there, he started laying the body and all the younger guys said, fuck, we can. We can play with these guys. We can keep up with this Penguins team. And listen, I think army said it best in the group chat. I think there was a lot of guys who, you know, I don't think Doer played the last four games of the regular season. I think they had maybe had some injuries coming in. That was one of the best fourth lines in all of the NHL. All regular season they were completely neutralized by Captain Couturier and the other mutants, Glenn Denning. And then who's the other one that missed the empty netter in Utah this year?

[Biz]

I'm forgetting Hathaway.

[Yance]

Hathaway. So just a. An incredible game by the fourth line for the Flyers to calm things down. And buddy, it was. They. They were. They defended so well in unison, where it wasn't one guy going, it was all guys. Perfect timing where they were given no time and space to the Pittsburgh Penguins, they dominated that game and deserve deserved to win it. And the fact that I feel bad for that Soder Blom, he had the fucking. He had the fucking walker stick out going out to the blue line. I don't think anybody in the world thought that Sanheim was going to pull that move off to his backhand and then walk to the middle and zip that thing. I don't think anybody thought that the,

[Biz]

the guys in the room, like Zegrus was mentioning after getting back to Couturier, like what he was saying in the room pregame, kind of what to expect. I think there's 10 guys on Philly who've never played a playoff game and just like explaining how different the pace is. And we've all been through that first game. I've talked a lot about mine. Ottawa outshot us 20 to nothing in the first period. You're like, this is a different sport right now. But step, you're talking about all the college scouting you've done. We got to see Porter Martone in Penn State right away. It was like, holy shit, this kid in Riker Lee looked different out there. What did you see from him? And, and I think that was his 10th game, he's got five goals, 11 points already. Did you see it happen in this quick forum?

[Derek Stepan]

So I watched him all year. We had Charlie scramble there, first rounder for the Wild, and they were on a line together and they were, their line was solid all year long and he was a big part of it, of bringing like that physicality in college hockey and bringing it to the net and having skill and on the power play, like not passing up on shots. Now I probably would tell you I didn't think that it would start like this for him. I mean, I guess, you know, you could tell that he was different, like you said, than the rest of the guys. You just never know when you take the next step. Sometimes it does work, sometimes it doesn't. And he's been excellent. And I'm sure, I'm sure, you know, if you, if you wanted to, if you were, if you think about it too, like, if Michigan State goes to the final, you know, goes to the finals. Yeah, he, he's not in the lineup maybe for Philly at all. Like, it, it's a crazy, crazy way to think about, like, I don't even know if he would get a regular season game. So then is he just playing game one. So for him, unfortunately for Michigan State, they lose, but he gets to go start his NHL career and he starts it with his hair on fire and he's, he's, he's a key piece of the series now as a, as a first year guy, that's a great point.

[Yan]

You, you dealt with it with when you saw Kreider do it in New York, right? Like when a guy comes in, does that, how much help does that give the locker room when a young guy can come in and bring you that juice?

[Derek Stepan]

I think it's, it's, it's cool. Just like the, the, the amount of energy they have, just like coming to the rink and just seeing the facilities. Let, let's not even talk about hockey. Like, just bringing that energy back. Like, oh, look how cool. Look how much fun he's having just being here. It kind of just gets everybody on the same page. Like, this is awesome. We, this, we get to do something awesome. And then on the ice, they're younger, they got the fresh legs and you know, they're, they're jacked up to play their game. So they just kind of drag you into the, the excitement of the game.

[Yance]

Again, I don't think, I don't think Sid's best game. I think he looked a little bit frustrated. People questioning whether he's fully healthy or not. I think that that's been kind of shot down. He is healthy. Just, you know, maybe just not his best performance. Wit dog.

[Biz]

Yeah, I, I, I thought that was for, for Sidney Crosby. It was like, I just. Which makes me think he's going to be flying tonight. Just figuring like him bouncing back from a very, very rare off night for him. You got to think he's ready to go. But you said frustrated. Malkin was pissed off from the start. Latang looked pissed off. It was like Philly did exactly what they wanted to do. They just wanted to be in their face. They were way more physical and shout out, Vladar business boy. He's got the mask on. I mean, Russ makes it 3, 2. And there's still time left, dude. Manta all alone in front. Like he tries going five hole. That was a big save. They, I mean, they, they were this close to tying it up. And then that's one of the things. You go into overtime with the momentum. Who knows how that game goes with Vadar. What's crazy is that Pittsburgh only had 17 shots. Like a great offensive team this year was just smothered. And this could be an example of these teams that are fighting and fighting. And we've said this a million times. Like when you're playing playoff hockey with 12, 15 games to go in the regular season, a lot of times the series starts and yes, it ramps up, but like you've already been in these do or die games and, and Pittsburgh's, they've been pretty good to go. Like, they've known their, they, they've been in a little longer, obviously. And all of a sudden Philly's not changing a thing. Like that game they wanted to get into the playoffs against Carolina. They're down two nothing in that game. They get that win and it's just kind of like you could tell their confidence there is crazy. And Mechkov didn't do anything. He played 11 minutes. But, and Flyers fans probably wouldn't have believed this, but he doesn't need to like, be your star player for you to win games right now because Martone's come in and he's kind of the young guy all these other older players are looking at. Like, this guy's our horse. If we're talking about young guys. And then even that Denver Barkey kid, he's screening the goalie on Drysdale's first one. He's in front of the net. He only played around 11 minutes too. But the ice time's pretty even all throughout The Flyers forward group. And I think Pittsburgh ends up getting the win tonight. But if they don't, it's going to be shocking to me.

[Yance]

Pretty. Pretty cool things. You guys see the T shirts? The Bernie Perront T shirts?

[Biz]

No.

[Yance]

With the old school goal. That's kind of their motto. Going in belief. With the Bernie Perant mask and then the 3.8%, which is what they had as far as a chance to make playoffs step. Why are you laughing?

[Derek Stepan]

I. Cause I can't take you seriously at the helmet.

[Yance]

Nobody can take me seriously.

[Biz]

Nobody does without the helmet on.

[Yance]

I've came to the dock side.

[Yan]

I think this is a huge game for Dan Muse because he's going to have to make some changes, Right? Like they've been playing the same type of way and they just got beat at a different type of game. Like, he's going to have to show if he's a coach of the year caliber here by making some changes here, you know, getting the guys to buy in for this next game. And another guy, I need a little more out of his manta. He's got to play more like Anderson. He's huge out there.

[Biz]

He.

[Yan]

I don't know if he even. I saw him hit the glass a couple times, but he's got to be a guy that's making it uncomfortable for the demon on Philly.

[Biz]

I would think that Brazo would come back in. He didn't play. I don't think it's an injury.

[Yance]

Get soder. Blonde out of line.

[Biz]

Soda bomb. Is a guy too big.

[Yan]

He's too big.

[Yance]

Get him.

[Biz]

Oh, I mean, he's 6 foot 10. It doesn't really hit. I. It's like. I don't know. That's just. And this is coming from a 6, 4 guy who didn't hit. So I feel like I could talk about this, but that should be a good one tonight. Pittsburgh, they gotta bounce back.

[Yance]

Doing the fucking chopstick dance on the sign. Sanheim goal. So get him in the press box eating sushi.

[Biz]

Yeah, for sure. All right, we're gonna go back out West. A series. I was very excited for Vegas. Utah, very different styles. Utah's fast. I never really think of Vegas as a super fast team. And Utah, man, that turned into a physical, like, kind of nasty game pretty quick, which I think Vegas would like. I don't necessarily think Utah, like, was looking at it that way, but they seem to have no problem getting involved with that. They get out to a lead. I got to admit, guys, I got to admit this is when I I said this on Wake Up Barstow. This is when we make our money playoffs. I passed out halfway through the third period. Actually I passed out about four minutes into the third period and woke up to a, you know, it was 2:1 Utah. All of a sudden it's 4:2. That, that's on me. I can admit that I, I then rewatched Vegas just came alive. I couldn't believe though Barbashev and Blutman, our Vegas correspondent, he said since the cup run, Barbershev has not been the cigarette machine killer that he was. No, I think Torts talked to him. I tweeted that Torts might have made a highlight film from made him sit in the dark and watch it from the Stanley cup run. Barbershop was murdering everyone. And Vegas, they look like a real threat, boys.

[Yance]

Yes, they do. Yes they do. That power place, Mark Stone, my God, that guy just knows where the to be all the time, eh? Just a piece of in front of the net. Just mocking a physical, just a slippery any step.

[Derek Stepan]

He, I, it's, it's. I, I have so much respect for him because at times he looks just horrible, ugly ugly. And this guy just gets it done and it's, it's, you know, it's funny because Torts is I, I know Torts and I, he's not much of an X's and O's guy. He doesn't do a whole lot of that with the, with their group. It's just motivation and it's just, it's just how can I squeeze that little bit extra toothpaste out? And I'm sure he had that conversation with Barbie Chev and said, hey, this is the new highway that you're going to be going on. So it's, they came alive and. Yeah, what, I mean what a physical series or what a physical game one though I, I didn't, I did not expect that. I did not expect that from those two teams.

[Yance]

I don't think a few of the Utah guys who are new to playoffs expected it either. They looked a little bit shy. One guy who didn't though, Cooley. Cooley was easily the best player on the ice for Utah. If he would have scored that one goal. Oh my God, he fucking dangled. I forget who it was. The defender where he went inside outside and he was on his backhand and thankfully Eichel kept back checking and broke it up because if he didn't, he might have had the nicest goal in Stanley cup playoffs, bar none. Maybe it would have lasted the whole. Fuck this Whole year, this whole playoff year. But just a little. The inexperience in that third period definitely paid off for the Vegas Gold Knights capitalizing on that pp. And then a guy I played with want to call their cup with doubt what a trade that was. I don't know why they let him go in Washington, but a great fourth line player, great on face off. He competes his dick off. They go and win that battle in the offensive zone on the turnover, and then they go for the high tip in front of the night. I think it was Hannifin.

[Yan]

Yeah.

[Yance]

Who saw him. Yeah.

[Yan]

Unbelievable.

[Yance]

Beautiful play. Instead of sending it to the net, he finds that stick. And then that made a 3, 2 in a game over.

[Yan]

And I think with Vegas too, we talked about it with Buffalo not getting away from their game because Utah was trying or they were a physical coming after them. But Vegas is like, all right, keep trying to hit us. We're bigger and stronger. We're going to hit you. It's going to wear down. And then you see it in the third period. It's just taking their tolls on it. Taking their tolls on it. And biz, you remember Tip used to or it was a king or that used to say loose pucks and ice bags, like that's what you wanted after game. The amount of ice bags going around that Utah locker room must be insane. They all must be like, holy shit, this is a different level. So I think they're just going to continue to wear them down, you know, just they're not going to win the game in the first period.

[Whitney]

Right.

[Yan]

Veg going to just lean on you. Lean on you and then, boom. Score some goals when they need to. But I thought Noah Hannifin was their best D. The play that he made on the Dowd goal was unreal. A lot of guys would have just grabbed that and shot it. He held onto it for that extra maybe two seconds to let Dowd turn and puts it right on his tape and, you know, gets them that huge win.

[Biz]

So I, I, I was curious, as I mentioned, ownership fell asleep. I was like, what did Cooley do to doubt? I'm like, what happened here? And finally I figured out it was just off a face off Cooley. You know, Daud's in sicko mode right now. He scores an enormous goal, ends up being the game winner. He's running around their line, fourth line. They get the first season, scores the first call, he gets the winner. I mean, talk about an incredible game for the fourth line. Cole Smith, who came over from Nashville Was great. And he's screaming at Cooley, next game, I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you. All Cooley did was just push him. It was like. I think that's when you. It's like Jordan trying to think of things to like, make him even, like, more upset. Doubt is on tilt right now, but I think that's exactly what Torts wants.

[Yance]

That's what Torch does to you, man. He makes you crazy. He makes you salivate. I didn't, I didn't have death threats. Game one on my bingo card. But obviously, you know, playoffs things ramp up, but my goodness, what did you make of that? Step, you ever give anybody a death threat?

[Derek Stepan]

No, No, I, I did not. I barely. Yeah, no, I was, I was on the whip program. I wasn't. I wasn't. I wasn't touching anybody.

[Yance]

Non confrontational.

[Derek Stepan]

Yeah, no.

[Yan]

Maybe a linesman or two when. When they weren't dropping the pot.

[Yance]

Well, I was gonna ask Step if he'd ever had any teammates that were that crazy. Were they? Who was the craziest guy who was throwing death threats out that you played with?

[Derek Stepan]

Boy, that's.

[Biz]

I don't know.

[Derek Stepan]

No death threats. I think I was with Cars when we scored in Philly. When you gave the fan the bird right on the glass. That's okay. There is a. Yeah, there's. I played with some guys that were. They got a little. Little spooky. The wires touched and it was like. Like they couldn't see anything else. They just saw red and they were. They're going out to kill somebody. Trying to think. I've heard lots of guys, I think

[Biz]

Yarko Rutu was telling people like, you'll never walk again when I get you. Like, stuff like that. Yeah. Yarko Rutu was. He was a menace to society, that guy. Talk about a playoff type player.

[Yance]

Was it. Did he mean it? Was he. Was he a savage? Like, would he do dirty all the time?

[Yan]

He was running everybody from.

[Biz]

Not like anything like Matt Cook style, you know what I mean? Like a little bit more in between the lines. Step, I'm wondering, you. You've had Torts and it's. It's been known and, and kind of talked about a lot that he came into Vegas and. And he keeps saying, I'm a guidance counselor. I'm just getting these guys confident again. And they are. They. They haven't lost in since he got there. But something's gone on with Carter Hart. His numbers under tort 7010935. Save percentage, 171 goals against. He's been out of this world. Would you be able to guess anything maybe Tort said to him or talk to him about to like, get this impact like this early?

[Derek Stepan]

No, but I, I do think like, he, he has a presence about him that makes everyone around him like the guys work harder. And I think that the quality of chances, guys are coming back, helping out. Like it, I think that it's a, they go hand in hand, everyone's playing better, goaltender is going to have easier nights. And maybe he said something to him. I, I, he did. He usually kind of leaves the goalies alone. Like, I mean, Hank, he had Hank when I was with him. So, I mean, no one really said anything to Hank, but I think it's, I think it goes hand in hand. I think he, you know, you play to your coach's personality towards as an intense guy. I think guys, the intensity in Vegas got ramped up along with their confidence. I think he came in and just turned the volume up big time. Like, hey, we got to go. We got to get to another level.

[Biz]

Well, I, I'm, I'm looking forward to the, to this series. I think based like that's kind of similar to Boston where they're on the road. Seems like they might have had one. I know. I think there was 14 minutes left when they tied it up.

[Derek Stepan]

They, they got.

[Biz]

Dowd got the winner, you know, shortly after, a minute later. But I think Utah is going to be, it's, it's tough. It's going to be tough for them.

[Yance]

I'm regretting the banana hammock at this point.

[Biz]

You are, you are. I'm, I'm still, I'm still kind of scarred from seeing you wear that banana hammock.

[Yance]

You want to see it? Step?

[Biz]

No, please. Please? No, I'm good.

[Yance]

I'll send you a picture after.

[Biz]

Yeah, that's fine. I'm guessing o' Brien comes back in the lineup, right? You need a little meet in Utah, man.

[Yance]

I don't know. You think so?

[Biz]

Yeah, I don't know. Like, McBain is tough. McBain will get in there. But in terms of like Vegas and their size and how physical they could be, that's, that's a, that's a big time advantage for them going, going against Utah. And I think Clayton Keller, you'll probably see more from him. Gentle, I mean, not gentle.

[Derek Stepan]

Geez.

[Biz]

Gun flying. At the beginning, he slowed down a little bit. But Coop, I mean, Step. Jesus, I'm all over the place. Before we let you Go Biz. I want to start with you, but I want to hear Step talk Colorado. La, my take. Get this series over with. Yeah, Biz, you watch that game? LA was kind of hanging in there. It's poor. It's very boring. Hockey with la. Very boring.

[Yance]

I'll say this, I think it's the perfect series for Colorado to get their first feet wet where if they would have met a harder matchup it with the power play not clicking and maybe deal. I just, I like the matchup for them to gain their confidence and get things buzzing and things figured out. Like, once again, like, I think the power play is the main like, issue with Colorado Step. You talked about it early and often take. Alleviate pressure from 5 on 5 scoring. And it's not like that's something that they had an issue with in the regular season, but we all know you're facing better goaltenders, better defensive teams, better teams five on five, and just teams who have things way more buttoned up. And I don't know from watching if what you see, like to me they're. Yan said they're hanging on to a little bit too long, but take what you're given. They got to do the low play more and, and fucking bring it to the net and then things will open up more up top. As things did the later the game went, they had a power play where that happened. But what are you seeing that needs to be fixed with the power play with Colorado?

[Derek Stepan]

You know, it's tough like it sometimes when the snowball gets rolling and your power play just. It gets out of funk. That's why I say early and often in the playoffs, you want to get that ball rolling and hitting on all cylinders. It's. It's always. It's not one fix on the power play. There's always multiple things that are going on. You know, you have. You need to shoot the puck more, you need to hit the net. You need. You know, it doesn't. There's not one answer for you. It needs to be fixed. And that's. It's a big piece for them and they need to find a way to get it rolling. I don't. I don't know if they're. I don't understand it. With the talent they have. I don't really get it.

[Yance]

I'm.

[Derek Stepan]

I'm baffled by it. But yeah, it's a big. It's a big part of them moving forward is. Is you can't. Can't win unless you're scoring power play goals.

[Yance]

Nikisha, not being on our Natushkin. I keep saying the Keyshan when I think of Natushkin.

[Biz]

Well, that's. Carolina's on your mind.

[Yance]

Yeah, well, that's. Cause Tripp just signed in. I could see him in the background here. Yance, why isn't. Why isn't Natushkin on the power play?

[Yan]

Yeah, good question. I mean, such a big body. I would have him out there just taking up space in front of the net, even getting pucks off the wall. But I don't know how do you. The five guys that they have out there are all willing guys that could, could be on the power play. But my biggest thing is, is the shots. They're not taking the shots that they need and then nothing's opening up. But, but when, when you're not scoring on the power play and you're not getting momentum like that next few shifts, it's. It's a buzzkill for everybody else because everyone's like, oh, Jesus, we're not going to score on this power play. And you see it in their group where it's like it takes them two or three shifts to get it going again to where they're back to their normal, normal ways of playing fast. So they'll, they'll get through this series, I think, pretty easily. Not scoring on the power player, having troubles. But you're thinking, Stanley cup, you have to figure this thing out. And you can't be, you know, hoping to get power play goals and stuff like that. Like, those guys got to go out there and get it. And you know Nate, like, he's a complete animal. Like he's going to be doing whatever he can. And I think they can turn it around. Obviously, if you're la, you got to stay out of the box and hopefully they don't get hot. But I think it's something. If they're going to go on and win the Stanley cup, they really, really need to figure this thing out quickly.

[Biz]

And that team, and you mentioned Nate, like, there's just no way that now I'm not. I don't want to say awkward, but there's definitely tension there. Right? Like every game that goes on that they don't score, like it's just five unreal players. So then you're starting to just feel the heat a little bit more. And I do wonder if they try switching up. I think Landiscog was in front and then Kadri's on one of the flanks. Maybe Nichushkin goes in front. Kadri could stay on a flank. Even he could go in front at one point. But it is so bizarre to have those guys and, and. And not. Or was it. Was it. Is Nelson not even on the first unit? I don't know.

[Yance]

He's not. No.

[Biz]

They have so many weapons that may you. Maybe you just look at switching it all up and just having Makar and Nate be the guys that are out there the entire two minutes. But I did love from Colorado Kempe, who is just a playoff gamer. That's one guy I don't mind watching on la. He's fun to watch. He's fast, he's skilled. He was going after McCarr and then who comes out and just like Landiscog, he just. He goes right at Kempe. You kind of reminded it like how close this group is, what Landiscog means to them and they've won it before and they just stick together. But you see Kepi's trying to get something going for la. Panarin scores a goal. He probably didn't look his best. Pasha's all over. I'm saying he's a perimeter player. Can't do anything in the playoffs. Once again, Pasha just. Just a complete muppet. But I don't see la. Maybe they get a game. Maybe I, I think that series is over in five. And you're right, Biz, that probably could help Colorado get, get a little bit

[Yance]

of rest, a little time to figure things out. I don't, I don't think they got a chicken. Chicken dicks chance to, to. To win the series. Just shocking. Colorado 27th on the power play this year. The only good thing about playing against LA, as I believe LA was like, like 3rd worst PK in the league. But now saying that they looked a lot better on the penalty kill. Pressuring. We talked about how defensively Philadelphia was pressuring. I mentioned actually I'm not just saying this because Trip's on here. Carolina, when they pressure they. They all go right. It's all, all one. There's not like a delay there. So LA was doing a good job of that and that's why it was a tight game. But I don't think this one's going longer than five.

[Yan]

And it's nothing to do with la. Like they're working hard, they're playing hard for each other. They're just outclassed in this series.

[Yance]

It's got. Yes.

[Biz]

Yeah. And. And I couldn't believe I didn't. I had no idea. 41 now 42 and oh, Colorado this year leading going into the third period. Wow, that's Wild. That's just a team that just knows exactly what it takes to finish off games. And quickly, the no goal. Okay, I tweeted out originally, I said, oh, Doughty just buries into Jack Droy. And then I watched it again. I listened to Edzo. Nope, Drury escapes into Doughty. Right, that's on him. He ends up falling down. Goalie interference. I thought that that goal should have, you know, been a goal or the no goal should have been a goal, but I took it back right away. I think they got that call correct. So the league is one for one on goaltender interference calls in the playoffs. No disaster yet. We're kind of like baited breath here waiting for something and something ridiculous to happen around the crease to really affect the game. But Colorado's a wagon. We'll see what happens in that series. Step.

[Yance]

Step. Thanks, buddy.

[Biz]

Thanks, dude.

[Derek Stepan]

Hey, thanks for having me. And make sure you tell Tripper I'd say hi, okay?

[Biz]

We will. Trip's the best. He's about to give it. Give it to me. I think, because Tripp put his dog on the line. Put his freaking dog on the line.

[Yance]

Steph, Peter's coming out.

[Biz]

Put his freaking dog online. So thank you very much. Derek, step on. Before we get over to Trip Tracy, our guy, we got to talk about Noble. You see business T shirt. This episode is brought to you by Noble, Barstool's favorite footwear brand. Noble is a brand known for their best in class footwear. And they're everywhere right now. Walking around city to city, at the airport, grabbing coffee wherever I go. So comfortable. It's all about the journey too. They got so many great styles, colors and the new runner. The journey to the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. It is now my new treadmill. Walk speed 3.2 incline, 1235 minutes. That is the Journey 2 for me. Now software you want structured where you need take it outside. You can run or walk the journey Twos are made to move your way and exclusively for spit and Chiclets listeners. Nobles offering 35 off your first order, visit www.nobleproject.com use code Chiclets for 35 off your first order. N O B U L-L-P-R-O J-E-C-T.com use code C H I C L E T S 35 off. The official training shoe of the NHL and an all time ad read to get to do that.

[Yance]

Unreal. These are the journey twos. They're unbelievable.

[Biz]

They're unreal. They're unreal. And and biz. You know what else is unreal? Reese's. Who doesn't love a Reese's? Some fans believe in teams of destiny, but I believe everything happens for a Reese's. Just think about it. What is the one thing every team or athlete wants? A championship. Look at the people of Buffalo. You don't think they're crushing Reese's? Getting ready for games. Why? Because half of them are called cups. Stanley Cup, World Cup, Ryder Cup. Just like the Reese's Cup. Luckily, scoring a Reese's cup is way easier than winning a championship. It's almost like you were destined to get one right now. Because everything happens for a Reese's. Pick up one today. I saw an ad the other day. They got the the Oreo flavored Reese's cups now. So shout out Reese's. The fact we're doing Reese's ads on Netflix, guys, I think we've kind of made it. It's not so everything happens for Reese's. Get yours [e-mail] Reese's Guys, let's take a quick minute and talk about Lucy. The obvious choice for the true nicotine pouch connoisseurs. That's why they're the official nicotine pouch partner of Barstool sports and spitting Chiclets. Every other pouch is the same. Lucy breakers are the only ones doing it differently. To give you the longest lasting flavor in pouches, Lucy poachers go up to 12 milligram at strength. While many, many of the gas station poaches go up to 6. Nope. Lucy pouches go up to 12 milligram and have a unique shape that feels great. Lucy is in stores nationwide now. Or get Lucy delivered to you asap. On apps like Doordash and Gopuff. Lucy is the only pouch that delivers long lasting on demand flavor. Find a store near you at Lucy Co stores or get it shipped with 20% off your first order at Lucy Co Chiclets using code Chiclets. Lucy's Incredible Lucy products are only for adults of legal age and every consumer and customer is age verified. Warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Bring in my guy. Bring in my guy. Does he have Frank?

[Yance]

What a reed wit.

[Biz]

Does he have Frank?

[Yance]

Yes, he does.

[Biz]

Oh my God.

[Yan]

Frank has Tripp.

[Tripp Tracy]

He does. I just wanted with this creative wager, witness Frank. I want you to look right into his eyes because you believe in the hurricane so much.

[Yance]

Yes, we do.

[Tripp Tracy]

You accepted the wager that you'd have to paint yourself as an Ottawa senator and I just wanted you to look right into his eyes.

[Yance]

Tripp, listen, they're the same colors.

[Biz]

It's the same. Yeah, that Trip is Frank. Frank is Tripp. It's the same thing.

[Yance]

And no, I meant the teams, you idiot.

[Biz]

Oh, hey, buddy. Buddy. You don't think people are going to understand it's the Ottawa Senators, The Carolina Hurricanes are going to be done. If they lose, everyone will know. Why would he be painted like a Carolina hurricane? He's painted like a senator. And Tripp, I know you love. You love the canes. You always have, always will. But I thought that bet, I was like, man, we'll see how much he believes in this team because that's his dog, man. That's Frank. He's always with you on all your walks. You send us videos. You didn't blink an eye at making that bet. And then in game one, man, I. I kind of realized why. Suffocating Jordan Stahl, who I believe Tkachuk kind of called him out. I think Tkachuk was asking for that fight. Correct me if I'm wrong, they looked exactly like I was afraid they'd look. You just can't get anything against them.

[Tripp Tracy]

Well, just a little of land the plane quickly background. Whit, you legend, you know, we were leaving from Long island on Tuesday night, last game of the regular season. And before we took off, I saw your prediction. And I've always been afforded all these years, decades in Carolina. I can move freely about the plane. So I saw it. I said, wow, this is the ammunition. Jordan Stahl was sitting about five rows in front of me once we get airborne to go up and make, because he's not on social media to make sure that he's aware that you picked Ottawa. And as soon as we got to our cruising altitude, I sat next to him and he said, trip, I love wit, I love biz, I love playing with them both. But thank you for telling me that.

[Biz]

And Tripp, you're a nice guy for not. You're a nice guy because you really. You kind of buried the lead here. The lead being that when I went over this series, I mentioned. I mentioned a lack of center depth and I talked about Coxami being the third line center for the Carolina Hurricanes. He's not the third line center. He hasn't done that in quite a while. And it's Jordan Stahl who I actually played with. Hurricanes fans lit me up like a Christmas tree. Deservingly so. Completely forgot a guy who's won a Stanley Cup. Captain, unreal defensive center. That's on me, another ownership. That's what I do on the show. I take ownership. Unlike some other guys. Unlike some other guys.

[Yance]

So what do you mean, other guy?

[Biz]

Who say, well, I believe that you, you didn't know that the LA Kings goalie was Forsberg, but, well, Darcy Kemper

[Yance]

played 50 games this year.

[Biz]

I understand. But as George Stalls won a fucking

[Yance]

Stanley cup and he's been their fucking third line center.

[Biz]

See lack of ownership, Trip. See lack of ownership.

[Tripp Tracy]

Hey, acceptance is the key to all things. And I can tell you, Whitney, you legend, even though we're adversaries right now, I love you to the ends of the earth. What happened was I talked to both Jordan and Henry Stahl this morning. And just a little background before Jordan even made the Penguins at the igloo. Henry Stahl, immediate chemistry and love for Whit Stad. And he's listening to the show on a Ford pickup truck driving to Connecticut. Henry and Linda's stall. And he's blown away that you picked against his son. But he said, you know, going into that opening face off, that jordo son of a sog farmer said, hey, Brady and I are going to go at some point in this series. We might as well go now.

[Biz]

Okay.

[Yance]

Okay. Holy shit.

[Biz]

All right.

[Yance]

Breaking news. Breaking news.

[Biz]

Breaking news. And Carolina, I, I, you know, we've talked a lot about them not having a superstar. That's my words. That's my words. And the Canes fans out there say we don't need one. We got a ho. We got Svetchnikov, we got Slaving. We have enough here. But Stankhoven in the first game, that's a guy who. Holy shit. He came ready to play. They looked unreal. I just don't understand why. And I think Ottawa's got way more. I don't think this series is over by a long shot, but.

[Tripp Tracy]

No.

[Biz]

Why is it so hard for teams to, like, play against Carolina? Like, what? How were they so suffocating? And it's funny because Islanders fans and Devils fans, they're. They're telling Senators fans online, get used to this. This is exactly what we dealt with. It's the same exact script over and over again. Wick.

[Tripp Tracy]

Can I just start by saying Ottawa is an extremely good team? Like, it's, it's probably in, in all my time in Carolina, in a lot of ways it reminds me of the supreme respect I had for Montreal in the first round when Carolina ended up win and they went down two nothing to Montreal. And if not Montreal, 2002, they played New Jersey Who I thought was the best team in the Eastern Conference and they rotated between Arthur Zerbe and Kevin Weeks to beat that devil's team in six. This Ottawa team is legit and they played a heck of a road game in game one. The best line for Carolina up front, bar none since the end of the Olympics has been Stan Coven, Jackson, Blake and Taylor hall, period. And for me, if they keep going tonight in game two, I think it creates a decision for Travis Green. Now he's got last. He doesn't have last change on the road, so he doesn't control the matchups the way he will up in Ottawa starting Thursday night. But if that Stan Coven line is going again tonight, I think Travis Green with regards to his matchups, you know, his top defensive pairings. Zub did not skate this morning. We'll see where that goes. That's a big loss in my opinion. I have a lot of respect for Artem Zoo, but if Sankoen's line keeps going, do you pivot or do you continue to have your top priority being the Ajo line and the Ajo line if Carolina is going to extend this thing to two nothing tonight? I thought Svetchnikov was great in game one, discipline, physical, eight hits. But I think there's more there for Sebastian Ajo. And Jarvis was great defensively towards the end. But if Carolina extends this thing to 2 nothing, I have to think the Ajo line is on the score sheet. But you're creating a decision for Travis Green if the Stan Colvin line keeps going like they are with regards to what's your top priority with your matchups?

[Yance]

Yep, Anderson, especially on the, the. The penalty kill, had a couple huge, huge 10 bell saves. When did you realize that he was going to be the starter?

[Tripp Tracy]

I wanted to see him make the argument biz because there's no substitute for experience. I mean, his numbers, wins, say percentage in first rounds as a hurricane has been off the charts. You know, Bussey has been a phenomenal story. He beat Ottawa twice and was the better goalie in two wins against Ottawa during the regular season. But I wanted to see Anderson make the argument that you start with him because it's favorable to start with the experienced guy for me with conviction on a variety of different fronts. Going back to the Stanley cup year, you started with Martin Gerber and then that puts Cam Ward coming in second in a great spot, you know. But the last road trip of the season. I needed to see Freddie make the argument biz. I needed him to say this is my crease you're going to have to drag me away from it. And his starts in Chicago and then Utah, he made the argument, you know, and I look at that huge save with his glove, you know, it's, it's, it's ever so close to was it in or was it not in? But the mechanics of it biz, what I liked is his glove number one. I love the fact that it's a white glove that made you be able to identify where the puck is better than say a black glove. But in desperation, his glove was up against the post. And what that does is that creates strength. So the puck, the velocity of the puck can't push that glove back. You can combat the momentum of the puck. And that could have been the difference on that goal is puck handling for me is a difference making facet against a great four checking team like Ottawa. And now he's just got to validate it again tonight. But I wanted to see him make the argument that it was his crease to start because I think that's favorable for the entire position. When you think about hopefully, hopefully excellent Ottawa team but having a significant playoff

[Yan]

run trip, how big of a, you know, psyche is it for Carolina, even fans and the players to not have Florida in this playoffs this year? Just like going in, not knowing you're gonna have to play them at some point. Kind of been their kryptonite the last few years, but just like as a morale boost for that group, like it must feel good.

[Tripp Tracy]

Yeah, yeah, it's the great Florida Panther. You were, you know, they played Carolina. No, I, as a matter of fact, I was talking to Barky about you this morning because Barkey, I actually, he is one of my most real friends in life and he has been a real friend when it's mattered most. And you know, I, I spoke to him about the Selkie trophy and what he thinks the criteria should be last week, because I think Jordan Stalls made a heck of an argument depending on how you define the trophy. And Barkey had some unbelievable things to say about Jordan Stall. Why he's the toughest centerman for him to play against. But Carolina played Florida for the last time in a season series in January. Florida didn't have their lineup, we all get that. But the open of our broadcast, my partner Mike Maniscalco said what's on the line tonight? And I just said, hey, Hurricanes fans, you huge caniacs, do you want to see Florida in the playoffs? Do you? And if your answer is no, this is your last time to impact that conversation. Your last time, that was the end of the season series and Carolina had a cathartic win and you know, beat Florida 9 1. I know Florida didn't have their lineup. They didn't have their lineup and they didn't have big barky all year. But in terms of being tougher to play against something they've lacked in the two conference finals against Florida, they impacted their last ability to control Florida being in the playoffs with I thought a significantly big win in January.

[Yance]

Whit didn't mention that Taylor hall also reached out to him.

[Biz]

I said last episode, I said, I

[Yance]

know, but I'm saying to Trip

[Tripp Tracy]

Halsey, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed him as a Hurricane. He's an old schooler. You know, I think of Jordan Martinook, you know, these guys that, you know, they're throwbacks, they give you everything they've got and you know, you know, busy, you know, you know how much I love my dog walks and I know, you know, what a great friend, you know, 99 is of yours and he's a doodle lover and so he'd be pulling for the great Frank in this series. But you know, the hot stoves, the hot stoves never get old with Wayne, you know, it's Wayne Gretzky and he called me last week when I was walking Frank and one of the things that I said to him is I said, wayne o, how good has Taylor hall been for Carolina? And Wayne said, you know, he's a great one for a reason. He said, you know, tripping Carolina's system is perfect for Taylor Hall. He doesn't have to sit back and trap. He can go after it and you know, it embodies bringing out his best. And Halsey texted me maybe a month ago on a Saturday morning and he said, you know, Tripp, this is with no disrespect to any other great teams that I played for, but I feel like I should have been a Hurricane several years ago. He had a full season under his belt that he didn't have after that trade last year. He has been terrific. And what I loved most about Stan Coven's goal, the all important first goal of the game on Saturday, if you look at it, Nikishan was great and holds that puck in at the Ottawa blue line. But if you look at the telestrator, look Stan Coven who scores it and Taylor hall, there was no cheats. If Nikishin got caught, they were ready to reload with speed through the neutral zone and that just get honestly that Gets my juices flowing when I see no cheat to create offense. And, and Taylor hall has epitomized that in my opinion.

[Biz]

So this, yeah, this is a series where, you know, you have some regrets after you see game one. I'm like, oh, E L didn't score. Jarvis didn't score. Svetch to golf didn't score. Ajo didn't score. It's like, ah. And then I look at the D because you mentioned Zube, he only played seven minutes. The five, six there, they barely played. So then Ottawa's got four guys, they're playing. Then you look at Carolina, it's even. It's six guys all within like two minutes of each other almost. And the one guy that talk about playoffs like you're waiting for that in terms of being a player that just kind of lives for the, when the games get harder that Chat field, I mean we saw him almost kill a guy last year. He's a, he, he's a pain in the ass to play against. He's a mean bastard. He could skate. And then you add that with everything else they got. Nikishin's a year older. It's just, just, it's a well rounded group on the back end.

[Tripp Tracy]

Yeah, there's a couple things there with, you know, I, I've been looking at ice time in game one and you know Travis, he really leaned on his bill. I mean you, you lost sue. But look at the minutes of Sanderson, look at the minutes of Shabbat, even up front, look at the minutes of Stutzla. Now Ottawa does get two days off after this game, you know, which is the only I think two day break in the series. But my hope is the fact that Carolina balances their ice time even in the first round when players are fresh will pay dividends, you know, if the series were to go deep and Chatfield, you know, you just look no further. I mean Florida, for all the right reasons and then some, are the two time defending Stanley cup champions. But when you lose two, two righties on your back end in the conference final against the Panthers and Chatfield and Walker, you got no chance. And so they're both healthy for now. And I thought Nikishan, who I think is going to be an absolute stud, but you need him to take major steps right now. I thought he was terrific in game one. He holds the blue line, really makes the play on the first goal. I like it better at this stage of his career. I'd love to get Yance's thoughts on this when he plays his natural side put Ghost on his offside. Lefty playing the right side. I think he plays it well. Makes that a play at the offensive blue line in the first goal and then the second goal for me. You legends, when I look at tonight, all mark very good in game one. Shoot at his elbow on the glove side. Don't shoot at the glove. Look at where Nikishan shot on the second goal. He has a tendency to reach a little bit. And if you reach, you can't recover. If you shoot right at that elbow and gossip spare. Phenomenal save on the five on three in the second period. It was right at the glove. Keith's firing away like Nikisha did on that elbow. It's a well balanced blue line. And I do have a message from Nikisha because the last time I was on with you greats, it was in Vegas. And Whit, you said it right. Tripp, get out of here. Let's get Nikisha to stick around. And he said to tell you guys a big hello from him, but he couldn't stop by today because they lost that game in Vegas, you know, after Superstitious. He's superstitious. I just think this Nikishan wants the moment. I think he does.

[Yance]

I fucking can't believe that, like, Philly got rid of gossip spare. He went to Arizona. Was unbelievable. They let him go. I think he was off to Detroit. They let him go.

[Biz]

Detroit too.

[Yance]

He was. And then. And I think he's. This is second stint in Carolina. Like, he is so dynamic the way that he skates. Like, I think his defending is very underrated. I think, like, man on man's probably perfect for him because he's the way he's able to skate and maneuver out there. Like he's a special player.

[Tripp Tracy]

Just going to spew facts. We were in Vegas at the trade deadline and we went to Arizona to play a game in Tempe, and that's where he came to Carolina against the Coyotes for his first game as a Hurricane. He was my bad interview. And at that point I. I said to myself, just speaking truth, can you win a Stanley cup with Shane Gossas? Bear aside from his offensive gifts defensively on your third pair. And he played really well. But then he goes to Detroit and he comes back. And I thought it really started in game five of the second round. Nikitian was playing his first ever NHL game in a game five of the second round of the playoffs. And Ghost played his offside. And he maybe played the best defensive game I've ever seen him play in the NHL. His numbers were about a point a game this year. Had a couple of injuries at different points of the season. But I have truly earnestly and honestly never seen him impactfully impact the game defensively like he has this year. And so that initial question, my first bench interview with him in Tempe, I have less than zero doubt that you can win with him. Not only can you win with him defensively, you can excel with him defensively and he's earned every bit of that.

[Biz]

Just get this. I want to talk about rollback real quick. Last question with Roback. Use code chicklets on rollback.com for generous 20 off your first purchase at the end of the week. C-I C L E T S on R H O-B-A-K.com 20 off. Polos, hoodies, joggers, everything. Trip, will we see Bussy play in this series? How are they going to approach having a year full of back and forth and Bussy being so good? And then Anderson gets the shutout. I think it was his seventh career playoff shutout too. What do you think they do moving forward with the goalie rotation?

[Tripp Tracy]

You know, I.

[Yance]

What?

[Tripp Tracy]

I'll admit I was thinking about this this morning because I try to be total in every moment. I used to hate the phrase one day at a time, but now I try to live it. But I'm looking at the schedule and after tonight, you know, you get two days off but then you play Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. So in my opinion, you know, thinking about just how on earth do you extend this thing to two nothing tonight against an outstanding Ottawa team. But that's a pretty tight turnaround. Games three and four Thursday night, Saturday afternoon. Bussey beat Ottawa twice in this regular season and he was a difference making goaltender to the positive in both games. So for me, not knowing how it's going to go between now and later this week, I would be looking to get Bussey in one of those two games, three or four.

[Yan]

Tripp, I know, I know you're a big homer. But what can the people of Ottawa, what can they do? What can the Senators do to, you know, make it a better game to win a couple games in this series? Because like you said during the regular season they're a great team. They play a little bit like the Hurricane. So what could they do to come out and get a win out here?

[Tripp Tracy]

Yes, I liked their game in game one. I did. I mean, especially the first period. I mean it was incredibly physical. You know, the Hurricanes are a shot, volume team they barely gave up any shots. I personally think against Linus Ulmark, I don't want him to be a shot volume team because I've looked at his numbers. When he gives up less than or when he sees less than 25 shots, he isn't very. That's not when he's at his best. So in this particular series I wouldn't mind seeing him see less work. I thought. I mean Ottawa has as good of a 4 check as there is in the NHL. Keith and I just didn't think they did a good enough job in game one holding onto pucks to really let that forecheck go to work. I thought they played a good road game but that's one area I heard Tim Stuart's let talk about it yesterday that you know, they didn't. Whether it was execution or they didn't value ozone time enough. I have a supreme respect for this team. I thought Bathurst was quite good in game one. Their power play was junk early but you know it was really good in the third period. I think also too because Ottawa is a premier elite face off team. Yes. Carolina seemed to win on the Ottawa power plays the first penalty killing face off all afternoon Saturday and I think that sets the stage for whether the power play is going to be really good for Ottawa or if Carolina is going to win that first draw sequentially. That just sets everything up to deny entry. You know Carolina can do a better job killing our clearing puck shorthanded but it would be being able to get to their floor check value, offensive zone time and winning that initial power play face off to see improvement in their power play. That was very good in the regular season.

[Yance]

I'll answer that too. Yan. That that Pinto line was brutal last game.

[Yan]

Yeah.

[Yance]

If they want to win any games they got to be a lot better. Amadio Pinto and I forget who was on the other side.

[Biz]

Was it Greg?

[Yance]

It might have been Greg, but might have been Greg.

[Biz]

They that Clevin is good. I don't know if he comes back in. And then Jensen had knee surgery. I think it was six weeks like four weeks ago. That's two big losses. Especially if. If Zub is out. So it's like it's the lack of depth on D right now which they've been battling. The Anderson injury, the Shabbat injury. They're. I mean Anderson Sanderson injury, Shabbat injury. They're back but you know they're banged up. That's the tough part with couple a quick Carolina team of just not having a lot of D Like that's what they need. But Trip, I. I think it's going to be a series. If they lose tonight, they're in one. I know they were down three. Oh, last year to Toronto and lost in one two games.

[Yance]

Sweep these fucks. Because then, then Toronto, we remain the Kings of Ontario. Whit hates the fact that I say that. But if you get fucking swept in the first round and in a year, Leaf, then make the first round and make playoffs, it doesn't mean shit. We're still the Kings of Ontario.

[Tripp Tracy]

Boys, I love you Legends. And by the way, a quick mention. Derek Stepan, you know, one of the first round wins for Carolina, Game six on Long Island. He kept a puck in. And then Paul Stassny from a sharp end angle ended that series. By the way, Paul Stassny told me back in October. In October, the day that I stopped by with Nikisha and joined your show. He told me in October, having played with Ealers in Winnipeg, that the best fit for him would be Jordan Stall and Jordan Martineau. That's the intellect of Paul Stassney. And then finally is. Thanks for having me on, boys. Thanks for the Reese's promotion. Because I don't know, I had a big Reese's flub a few years ago. I didn't say Peanut Butter Cups.

[Biz]

Oh, God. Everything happens for a Reese's. But not if you're not mentioning Peanut Butter Cups. So triple. Yep.

[Yance]

What's your dog's name again?

[Tripp Tracy]

The great Frank. Named after Sinatra.

[Yance]

We get one more cameo on the way out.

[Tripp Tracy]

Frank, where are you, you legend? Come here, big guy.

[Biz]

He's hiding from. He's gonna try to take him another nine mile hike through the woods.

[Tripp Tracy]

There he is, you Legends.

[Yance]

He's a cute dog.

[Biz]

I have a feeling that Frank will. Will. Will not be getting painted, guys. And I might be ringing that bell in Carolina. And that there'll be booze ripping down on me. I'm just getting tortured by every fan base but. Tripp, is that a Labradoodle?

[Tripp Tracy]

It's a Labradoodle biz.

[Yance]

Thank you, boys.

[Tripp Tracy]

I love you.

[Yan]

The long face.

[Biz]

See you later, Trip. Boys, that about wraps up what's happened so far. But there's one series that hasn't started, guys. And I feel so alive. There's a spring tradition in my house of when the Edmonton Oilers play.

[Yance]

Really?

[Biz]

Yeah. You know what it is, Kids, Be quiet. Dad's taking a pregame nap.

[Yance]

No. Hey, you get pregame.

[Biz]

All right, buddy? Let me tell you, the NHL puts 10:00 Eastern for all these Oilers games, sometimes 10:30, and they never start, they always start at 10:25 or 10:50. So for me to be on my game with intermission spaces, on Twitter, with post game breakdowns, three in the morning overtime games, I need to be ready and that that for me to be ready. It's a pregame meal where I don't cook. I don't cook. I'm not ruining the lasagna. I'm getting my pasta, I'm getting my chicken, I'm getting my nap. And if anyone in this house makes any goddamn noise, there's going to be a lot of problems. Let me tell you that because the Oilers are back in the playoffs in the city of Edmonton. They saw Dickinson skating, looking great. Apparently Draisaitl is flying around. Now, I haven't seen the lineup yet, but we could have a fully healthy Edmonton Oilers team ready to go. And heartbreak after heartbreak and runs to the finals. An incredible performance. Greatest player I've ever seen. This is it, boys. This is our year. You know what else I love? Not one fan out there, no one besides Oilers fans has said it's our year. You got no goaltending, you got no depth. You got rid of McLeod and Broberg and Holloway, all great players. But we have Connor McDavid, the greatest player I've ever seen. And we have Leon Dreisaitl, who's also top five players I've ever seen. They do it in the playoffs like no one else. Everyone has superstars who don't show up in the playoffs. Our guys get better. Our guys are better in the playoffs than we are in the regular season. We got Matthias Ekholm and Bouchard playing together. Maybe the best pair in the league. You want to talk Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, awesome players. You talk about Evan Bouchard. What do people say about Evan Bouchard? Sometimes he looks drunk out there, but Granali calls him Bacardi Bush. You know what else he does? He lights it up in the playoffs. A point per game pace, just behind Bobby Orbiz. You ever heard of Bobby? Or Bobby? Or a couple Stanley Cups? So will Evan Bouchard and then the McLeod trade. Yeah, he looks great in Buffalo. He flies well. There's this kid, Matthew Savoy. I don't know if you guys have heard of him. Biz. I don't know if you've ever seen the Oilers play this year. Well, he's playing with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman and he looks phenomenal. He's a sniper. He can skate in the city of Edmonton, guys, you could talk about Buffalo, you could talk about all these different cities. Nothing is like the city of Edmonton in another run to the Cup Finals. And I don't care about Anaheim. I played for Anaheim for three minutes. I'll tell you right now, Ducks fan, you might as well not even watch. You might as well not even watch the fucking games. I'm telling you. Like against la, I was like, all right, yeah, maybe one of these years they'll get us this series. If, if, if the Ducks win this series, I'll never root for the Oilers again. I'll. I'll wear Ducks jerseys. I'll have a Ducks hat on the rest of the summer. I, I'm that confident that they have no chance against the Oilers. Maybe it goes well.

[Whitney]

You only.

[Yance]

Will. You only speak quack for a month.

[Biz]

I have to get 10 different quacks into every episode at random times. And when you call me, I can then have to, like, just start quacking at my family, like, well, have to think of something. I like Anaheim's future, man. I made a bet against Idiot Pasha. They'll win a cup before the Devils do. That's how confident I am in their future. But we are not in the future. We are in today. As Tripp said, live for the moments, man. Don't worry about tomorrow. Live for today. And I'm living for Game 1 at Edmonton, where the Oilers will show that the entire league has underestimated them. And of course, we will win a Stanley Cup. On a year when everyone's like, this team sucks. They're in the worst division in hockey. They could miss the playoffs. Don't worry, because everything's coming together at the perfect time. And we have a wagon and everyone knows it. And Dwayne Rolison, the last Cup Final.

[Yance]

Liquid Dwayno.

[Biz]

Hey, there weren't expectations. Crazy expectations. Liquid Dwayno, This Ingram, boys, he's battled. He finally got his face mask painted. I think it's still white. He's got some oiler stuff on there. We needed that to happen. I can't wait to get going. I am so.

[Yan]

What a rant.

[Biz]

What?

[Yan]

What a rant. That was incredible.

[Biz]

Playoff hockey. All you losers out there busy. I'm looking at you. I'm looking at Grinelli, Keith. Yeah. Panthers have run our show and they've beaten everyone. All you losers talking about your playoff runs. Try being an Oilers fan. Staying up till 2:30 every other night for four months and watching your team just dominate through the west only to get their souls ripped out in the cup finals. Not this year. It's all different. And it starts tonight. I think our RA's here. Why don't you bring this guy in? He's got to have some thoughts on his Bruins collapsing. Talk about a franchise who can't get anything done. You should try being an Oilers fan. All right. Where is he? Bring our ra.

[Derek Stepan]

Hello, everybody.

[Whitney]

Welcome to ra's World here on the live spit. And Chick. That's a little shaky today. A tough loss for your boy last night. Bruins just, they had it. It was like Bueller ball Bricker and Porky's Keith. Like I had it right there in my hand and it slipped away. I don't know how Bocco Sturm doesn't call a timeout when they tie the game.

[Biz]

2 2.

[Whitney]

I got flashbacks.

[Biz]

Good point, RA.

[Whitney]

Game 6, 2013 cup. I got mad flashbacks when KLO didn't do the same thing. And I don't know, it happens a lot. Coaches and hockey leave these on the board all the time. Like you, you can't save it for overtime, which didn't even get to. I don't know if it would have made a difference. Might have just calmed them down, maybe taking a smidge of the momentum away. But. But yeah, it was a tough one. You know, I don't know if it's one of those. All this did done from here. Obviously Buffalo's stacked, but I think regroup and if they come home tied one one, you know, it's a new day. I mean, it's obviously the sway and pray.

[Biz]

All right.

[Whitney]

Sway and pray, brother. And perfect example of that model last night. I mean, he was outstanding. I mean, I don't know how many huge game saving saves he made it. And shout out to upl down the other one too. He was great. I mean, he made big saves when he had the two pasta knock breakaways. And in the, you know, Buffalo team as well coming back. I'm not saying the Bruins, you know, all choke Buffalo, you know, they got the momentum, four goals in what, eight minutes. And the Tage Thompson, what can you say about him? First playoff game, absolute superstar performance. But you know, go back to the drawing board. I think ultimately the scoreboard, the way it happened, you just got to wash it away. You know, the Bruins don't have a ton of experience as well. I don't know if there's any lineup changes they need to make. I know Peak's been getting dumped on, but I was looking. I mean, the other Jokey, Haru and Harris, neither one of those guys have Had a playoff game. So it's not. You bring in any experience. I don't think any forwards really need to maybe come out of the lineup. Essamon has like, I think eight career playoff games. Reichel Steve's none. So, you know, it's not like you're bringing in a veteran, whatever. So I don't see what happens. Any questions from the.

[Yance]

Pretty good fucking ran. All right. That's good too. Good follow up from Whit there.

[Yan]

I think a lot of coaches keep their time out, so for the challenge reason. But in overtime, every goal is looked at right. That's why Marty St. Louis used his timeout, because he knew if they did, if something was going to be challenged, it's automatically reviewed by the league. So I agree with you. 100. Sturm should have taking that time out just to settle, even though the crowd would have been into it. You're on the road. The crowd would have been humming the whole time. But you still. You got to get your group and settle them down because they, at that point, their D had completely lost their minds. They didn't know what the hell was going on. So, yeah, would have been the right time to call that time out. And you look at a coach like Marty who. Who made the call to get a timeout and they won that game.

[Biz]

Did. Did Sturm get asked about it after?

[Whitney]

I don't. I'm not sure. I saw a little bit of the press.

[Yance]

We're bigger, we're stronger, we're gonna dominate them.

[Whitney]

Yeah.

[Yance]

Tougher.

[Whitney]

Yeah. You know, it was like they. They were playing not to lose, you know, and that's not the way you win in the playoffs. It was a rope, a dope effort that didn't work.

[Biz]

Sturm was asked about it. He said, I thought we were in the perfect spot, exactly where we wanted to play. Being in that position with five or six minutes left in the game until

[Whitney]

we got a little bit frustrated and

[Biz]

we made pretty much two mistakes to let them tie up the game.

[Tripp Tracy]

So very unfortunate that my guys played so well.

[Biz]

The perfect spot, it was right where we were on the decibel.

[Whitney]

Two mistakes. It was like. It was like two mistakes per shift for like the last freaking half of the third period. The mental errors, that's what killed him. And that was sort of one of my fears going into the series because, you know, they had a shitload of them in the last, you know, month and a half of the season. I attributed that to the condensed schedule, but. But it was ugly. You know, icings. They don't need to take. I know Zadorv had a bad one. You mentioned earlier with they scored off that it was just preventable stuff and hopefully they can clean it up. And you know, you know, also too, I mean, Sturm first game as a coach on the playoffs and you know, I looked at what's his name. Rough's got 24 more years coaching him, so that's a huge imbalance right there. But I don't. I don't think it's something that they can't overcome. Also, you know, Ivinson middle stat, Zaka combined -9 with one assistant. They got dummied like big time last night. So, I mean, again, I don't think you got me deep to make wholesale changes, but they got to maybe a little tinkering in real time, but I don't, I don't have a ton of confidence right now. But again, they come home one. One as ugly as it was, they can still be tied coming home.

[Yan]

So ra, you got to have a little confidence with just the way that Swayman played. Right? I know the way that the game ended. The Bruins fans are probably up in arms. But if you really look at that game and look at the way Swayman played, you got to just think, okay, if he can play like that the next game, we have another chance to win and just hope he does.

[Whitney]

Ye, yeah, Legit sway and pray. But I mean. And all right, positive spin. This could be maybe a good thing because it's such an awful way to lose, like in such quick fashion that maybe like the, the sour taste them out. Like, we can't let this happen again. You know, again, being a fan here that, you know they did it could be a lesson in it. You know, bad losses give you some sort of lessons. But yes, I mean, Swayman's gonna be the reason to continue to go on. What do you got there?

[Yan]

Swayman's not playing next game. Sturm just tweeted out they're going with Corby.

[Yance]

No,

[Biz]

that's Stocks Corpus solo. Let's see if you can handle the heat in there. Give me another thing from the first seven games that maybe caught your eye.

[Whitney]

Oh, dude. Locked in all weekend. I think the Battle of Pennsylvania. Well, if it wasn't the best game so far, it was the second best, obviously. The overtime with Tampa Bay and, and the Hazard. That game was fantastic. I know there wasn't a ton of shots, but I, I was down the table. Watch. I think I scared the out of some rods next to me with stat Sanheim goal I yelled, shoot it. And like, they all. I, like, startled them on the one he scored the event before he made

[Biz]

the move or after he made the move.

[Whitney]

He was like, in the middle of it, I just scream, shoot it. On the power play. It was. That was an unreal goal. And then Maton. I mean, that thing was. It was like the biggest Slow Motion 360 you've ever seen your life. Scored that bar down, and I was like, my tone, Myron, whatever. That was a good. What else? Oh, the halves, man. They were getting nine shots they had after two periods, still tied three for five on the power play. You know, Tampa was the most penalized team during the regular season, But Vassi, man, 15 saves on 19 shots. He's got to be better there. I said, I don't know if this is just a career thing or if he just had a bad game, but, I mean, I think I'm the only one that bought who picked Montreal. Is that correct?

[Yance]

And I did as well. Oh, you did, Biz, I picked Montreal in seven games.

[Biz]

Okay. I'm sorry about that. We didn't mention, actually, the Martone goal. It was. It was tough because it was achary defending him. And then you're like, oh, if that's Eric Carlson, like, a little more fleet of foot, who knows? But, yeah, it was a big, like, reverse, and he gets the crossovers going, but the release was crazy. Yeah, that was. And what else did you just mention? Oh, yeah, Montreal, dude, we didn't even really bring up Doish do. Yeah, I mean, who could. I mean, the fact he's a rookie, it's crazy. They got two rookie goalies, and he's the one they go with. He was excellent.

[Derek Stepan]

Excellent.

[Biz]

I mean, he didn't get a ton. A ton of shots, but yeah, that Montreal team scares the out of me.

[Whitney]

How about that Slafkovsky, huh? Oh, it.

[Biz]

Yeah, I already.

[Yance]

Yeah, he already ate that.

[Biz]

I already ate that one. I'm eating. Ls left and right standard.

[Whitney]

I haven't seen many put beating on something like that since I was up there for the Winter Classic this Saturday game. I couldn't believe. I was shocked. I mean, ottenjay, you know, obviously after last year, he's got to sit down to have a little bit of a comeback, but. What, do you have numbers somewhere? Yeah, basically 23 saves on 28 shots. That's just not good. A couple bad goals there. So, I mean, we'll see what. Dallas has made it, man, because teams that go down 202, they got a third 1213 chance of winning the series. So.

[Biz]

And it's probably less if you lose the two home games.

[Whitney]

Yeah, of course. I think yeah, the Bruins did that. They lost the first two in Vancouver. That's back in 2011.

[Yance]

I, I know we were just talking about the east with Dobers. I think that like, like five of the eight goalies in the west are, are all starting their first playoff games. Like Wedgwood was crazy playoff game. Forsberg started his first playoff game. Wallstead do stalls going to be for Anaheim.

[Biz]

Ingram will.

[Yance]

Ingram will. That's 4.

[Whitney]

Wallstead for Minnesota.

[Yance]

Wallstadt for Minnesota 5.

[Biz]

Did you see that? Bednar didn't even know like when the media told him after he's like that was his first play game.

[Yance]

Yeah. Which is kind of shocking though because he's been around a while. Like he start. He actually started in New Jersey with Blackwood. Like they were the tandem there and then obviously he was in. I thought maybe they made the bubble when he was in Arizona like when he was there. But he's bounced around quite a bit. He was in, in, in Dallas as well. So Wedgwood was. I, I wasn't that shocked that he was named starter given his regular season. Like people seem to be more shocked that it was him than Blackwood. But his numbers were better.

[Biz]

Yeah, like noticeably better too.

[Yance]

Did you, did you listen to his post game?

[Biz]

No.

[Yance]

He's an interesting guy. He's got like a book that he, he, he carries around. It's got all these guys tendencies and like just like basically the way that they set up their release and how they shoot and. Oh yeah, he's studying. He's in the lab cooking.

[Biz]

Okay.

[Yance]

At Wedgwood. He's an interesting cat wedgie couple I think.

[Whitney]

I think, I mean the sensing kings both lost, but I thought they both hung in each game respectively. They certain weren't. Neither team was dominated. I know nobody's given either a chance but I wouldn't be surprised to see either one of those teams bounce back with a W next game. Fantastic opening. Kachuk and stall beefing right from the outset. That's always good shit. But yeah. I don't know. I thought, I mean Freddie was outstanding. A shout out, 22 saves. But I mean Ottawa, I don't know if they were in that game the whole time. LA was in that game the whole time. So I don't think, I think people are giving them no chance but, but I would be surprised to see those things go the distance if, if not six games.

[Yance]

What would you guys Peg as an absolute guarantee that a team responds with a win after first game loss.

[Biz]

Oh, I like that question.

[Yan]

It's gotta be Dallas. For me. It has to be Dallas especially.

[Yance]

I would pay. I would put Pittsburgh more than Dallas.

[Yan]

Oh yeah, good point.

[Biz]

I agree the no hints thing is terrifying. I. I'm kind of with you biz. Although I think I'm leaning based on Coop's comments. I think Tampa, I think Tampa evens that thing up. I mean that'd be. That'd be surprising if they lose the first two at home. But like we said Vasilevsky, can he mix in a save here or there? They gotta stay out of the box obviously. I didn't know they were the most penalized team already. That's a good little nugget.

[Yance]

I thought Boston was.

[Whitney]

Boston was number two. Yeah, they were right up there. I know we got a big one tonight. Edmonton, Anaheim, it's another team. I feel like nobody's given Anaheim a shot here. I don't know why but, but I got. I said the other day I think Anaheim in six. I think there's a disparity in goaltender there. Yeah. I just don't see why Evans is such a big favorite. I think it's much closer to a pick them but see what happens.

[Biz]

How. How the. Do you think it's a pick them?

[Whitney]

No, I said closer to a pick them than 911 which. Minus 220. That's the old fashioned line. I mean minus 220. That's. I would think.

[Biz]

No, that's. That's too much but minus 175. I'm. I'm more with. I just. Just the experience. McDavid.

[Whitney]

Yeah.

[Biz]

Connor McDavid.

[Whitney]

Yeah, I know, I know. Yeah, but. And I don't. Anaheim just all had a great regular season, some great young forwards. I, I just. I think it's going to be a much better series. I don't think anyone's going to win that in five or six.

[Biz]

On my rant I did forget and I think I mentioned this already but I'll bring it up again. Dow. Very scary cut a got score. There's some scary aspects to that team. None. None more than the Butcher. And if Goudis takes out one of those guys knees, he won't make it out of Edmonton. I'm telling you. You think that the Sabres fans, Bertuzzi and UFC dummies are bad. If Gudis takes a knee out in this series, there's going to be hell to pay. I'm telling you that right now. Biz you could shake your head all you want.

[Yance]

No, no, I'm saying fucking send stoth down to the tunnel, down to the stuff stuff.

[Biz]

Could get arrested if Brutus takes a

[Whitney]

Neo Steve Buscemi, like, check.

[Yance]

Yeah, no, I, I wasn't. I was agreeing with you. With, like, I would not want to see that. I, I. Hey, the guys. I, I would. I would give my. Pinky. I said this in the group text. Pinky's off to see Edmonton, Buffalo in the final. But my heart lies with Conor McDavid. I need to see Conor win the big one. I do.

[Yan]

All right, so you're on the man here.

[Yance]

I'm going to take off the crown when I'm going to give it to you.

[Biz]

Well, I printed out the NHL bracket challenge for the family. Wyatt picked the Flyers to win the Stanley cup because he loves the Devils. Cause he loves the Devils because Jack Hughes. And late in the year when Jersey had nothing to play for, Philly won 4 to 1. So in his mind, Flyers, Cup.

[Yance]

Okay, good.

[Biz]

Ryder has Montreal winning the Stanley cup because Billy Ryan's son, Teddy, him and Teddy are very close. So that's the Canadiens aspect fact. Bri has the Hurricanes over the Oilers, and when she filled out the bracket, she wrote, sorry, McDavid loses again. Like, Caroline, Stanley cup over the papers. And I. And I picked Edmonton. So that's the Whitney family bracket. Buffalo, Edmonton. Oh, my God. Yeah. I'm just very excited that we're back. And, and, and like Steppen said, like, if you're not watching the playoffs, I know everyone listening to this is already, but tell a buddy, tell a friend, tell a work, a work acquaintance, Just throw on one of these games. Just give it a shot. Because it started slow. It built up to last night, and then now Pennsylvania, that battle happens again. You see, if Ottawa could tie it up, you get to watch McJesus do his thing in the playoffs once again. It's like, we're here, and it makes me so happy. We're back in the playoffs. Another four games. Four games every night. It's incredible.

[Yance]

So, boys, Charles Barkley's being paid $15 million a year to break down basketball, and he's not even watching it.

[Biz]

He's fucking broadcast for NBA. Thank God for hockey.

[Whitney]

Exactly.

[Yance]

Watching. He's watching the NHL. There's no greater thing than the NHL playoffs. These guys put their heart and souls into it. We got death threats, we got comebacks. We got it all here in the NHL.

[Whitney]

Cool. With the piggyback, we said, like, I'm sure you watch it with. With the kids. I mean, you know, I go to Cross Street. My. My brother come over, we got some takeout. Watch the game with the old man last night. You know, it's like, like, oh, good stuff. It's because I don't like watching Bruins games in bars. You know, you gotta like. I gotta pay attention. I can't be distracted or too much of a crowd. So I like to be either home or with the old man. So it was good stuff. And biz. I gotta. I gotta put a request out to the fellas out there. Like, you know, sometimes if, you know, disco comes on, the DJ I got might get a little happy feet. Like, just let a brother get his groove on, man. I don't need to be posted on the Internet because I'm trying to get a little. Little, Little dance wiggle going. It's like put a video in you. Oh, it has to happen once or twice. And I'm not like other. The Tony manero that comes

[Tripp Tracy]

100.

[Whitney]

And I love. And I was. No, I was talking dude before that. So I was like. But yeah, it's like you, You. You're not natural. Now you're aware that, you know, it's one thing if you know you're on, but it's like, I don't trying to like, mack on, you know, even just boogie and whatever. I don't know. All of a sudden you have your

[Yance]

dating show and you're dancing with the girls on that and. And you're being videoed.

[Whitney]

Yeah, I mean, I know 100. I understand. You know, the cameras are always on, whatever. But. Yeah, but it's like dude to dude. It's like, come on on, man. You know, you don't really.

[Yance]

You should do what does.

[Whitney]

What's that?

[Yance]

Slaps the phone right out of their hand. There was a video that just went out.

[Whitney]

Yeah. Better make sure my boys are behind me having to start a brawl biz. I. I can't take seven of them on like you can, buddy.

[Yance]

Oh, I didn't either. I got boot in the head.

[Biz]

All right, Marathon Monday. Well, what do you got planned? The rest day, I imagine you're getting in one. You're getting in one. Tell you get that look in your eye.

[Whitney]

No, no, I know those days are long gone. I mean, I had a lot of. Of fun over there. South detached. The Charleston kids would go to Copy cop and public drink all afternoon. But no, I haven't gone. I haven't gone in years. I don't even. I'm sure it's over by now. It's all. Yeah, always a good time. I was trying to find the old picture I had. Like, it was right before I started shaving my head. I was like, man, more people should have been telling me how friggin bald I was when I was 28 years old. You can see right through it. But yeah, it's, it's a great day in Boston, though. It's one. It's a Red Sox start in the morning. It's a, it's a typically, like, unique Massachusetts, Boston thing. It's a state holiday. So. So, yeah, it's a great day. But no, I got no plans to tie one on today. First for sure.

[Biz]

Hell of a show, guys. We'll be back to you Thursday, once again, 11:00am Eastern live. Thank you everyone who tuned in on Netflix. Thank you, anyone who's listening. Playoffs are here. Round of applause for every guy giving it their all, every single night. Have a great day.

[Yan]

Go Ducks.

[Biz]

It won't happen, Won't happen, won't happen again it won't happen won't happen, won't happen again A bad habit worth breaking but it's taking time I don't know it don't matter it's gonna happen it's gonna happen again Sa.