Empty Netters Podcast - 100. Conference Finals Predictions

Episode Date: May 21, 2024

The eastern conference is set and we’ve got the dream match up. Rats vs Roaches. Out west, the Stars await the winner of an electric game 7 between the Canucks and the Oilers. Hear who the boys pick to play for the cup. PRESENTED TO YOU BY LABATT BLUE LIGHT SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuf52MHW1O7guPMzsMvv2kA FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/empty.netters/?hl=en FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@empty.netters (0:00) – Intro (3:21) – No Buckie Warm Up (3:39) - Rod Extension (10:49) - Berube Hired (19:25) – Bruins/Panthers (28:45) – Stars/Avs (38:54) – Rags/Canes (48:11) – Hot Ice (48:29) – Oilers/Canucks (55:41) - Conference Finals Predictions (1:11:18) – Saucy Predictions  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the Empty Netters podcast is brought to you by the crisp, refreshing taste of Labat Blue Light. Guys, the playoffs are stressful. I got double O T games. I got one goal games. I got breakaways. I need to take the edge off. What do we turn? Labat Blue Light because it's brewed with Canadian kindness in every single sip.

So when you're watching hockey, when you're hanging out with your friends, summertime's almost here. I'm telling you, the only place to turn to is Labat Blue Light. Open that cooler. Grab a bottle, grab a can, crack it open, and cheers with us today. On this episode of the Empty Netters podcast, we've got new coaches in the NHL. Some are surprises. Some are not.

Chris Kreider natural hat tricked himself into becoming a living New York legend. The Dallas stars are heartbreakers and they are headed straight to the Western Conference Final. And we have a scorching game seven tonight. Ice is ready and we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast. We've got a lot of stuff going on right now. A lot of milestones. Dude, it's a big day. ladies and gentlemen. It's a big day. This is our 100th episode of the Empty Netters podcast. I can't

believe it. Here on the eve of the conference finals in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. And we're here in New York City. Yes. MCM stages hosting us being heroes for the 100th. Shout out MCM. Snuck up on me too, eh? I was looking at the Spotify tracking and it was like last week was 99. I had to tell you, you didn't even know. You didn't even know. I'm going to be perfectly honest. hand up I had no idea. I had no idea it was our 100th episode, but you know, they say time flies when you're having fun and 100 episodes creeps up when you're having a blast.

And this has been a grind. So, yeah, I, it's, time has been slogging along like a true slow churned butter that just tastes rancid and awful. Our 100 than last episode. I was just trying to get to 100 and now we're done. Thank you all for listening and following along.

What a ride. But this is amazing. Doing episode 100 with all of you and then also, you know that we've been in New York. York. I was heading the Instagram asking you guys, what's the best chicken parm in New York? I got a bunch of great answers. I'm going to be doing all of that. But we are in New York because, along with our dear, dear friend, Anna Doa, CP and I will be hosting Stanley Cup Central on the NHL YouTube and YouTube TV channel every single night for the conference finals. Pretty exciting stuff. Yeah. So if you are like, God, these guys do two pods a week, they play all these games on their

page. If only I could hear them ramble a little bit more. Then you are in luck, my friend. If you just wanted to hear us a yap, a couple more times, you're going to get to do it every single night. So head over to that NHL YouTube TV and YouTube channel, and you will see us on TV every single night, watching the games, breaking stuff down. We're going to have amazing guests from NHL stars to celebrities to other professional athletes. We're going to be doing games with Anna. We're going to be shooting the shit, having a blast. Hanging out with our boy Pierre Maguire, who's going to be a host with us as well.

Storytime with Pierre will be electric. It's going to be so fun. Make sure you tune in every night because when you're watching the games, you want a little aside. You want to hear what we're talking about. You want to hear how the game's getting broke down. You want to have some fun during the commercial breaks. We got your back. Yeah, that's my job.

There you go. For now, let's get into our no-bucky warm-up and get into what's going on right now with the NHL. Our No-Bucky warm-up is the top five stories in the NHL right now. Number five, talking about five years. Yeah, oh, nice, nice, nice. Rod the Bod gets extended five years in Carolina after losing to the New York Rangers in six games and a cataclysmic collapse in the third period that would have sent it to Game 7. Rod the Bod is back in Carolina for five more years.

Are you surprised, and what do you think? I'm not surprised. Not surprised at all. Yeah, but I stand by, and you said it many times. I stand by if they had been swept, it's a different story. And if they had, they were like, no chance they fire Rod. And I'm like, dude, if they get not swept again, how do you just run it back over and over? And I have some quotes I'm going to say later.

But once they got past the sweep, honestly, I know you kind of felt that way, even five. Once they avoided the sweep, I was like, he's five. Once they avoided the gentleman sweep, I was like, or once they avoided the sweep, I was like, he probably won't get fired. Yeah. But once they avoided the gentleman sweep, I was like, he was like, he's five. He's definitely not getting fired, and I was proud of him. I was a good job. Like those were two good wins.

Let me give you some stats, man. I mean, let's be honest. Game five was a shit kicking. Yes, it was. So, well done. 278, 1.30, and 44 in the regular season. Maybe he's time in Carolina. Tremendous.

I mean, that's tremendous. I won the Jack Adams Award in 2021. Well deserved. Three consecutive seasons of 50-plus wins. Unbelievable. won their first division title since 05. Yep. You know, 36 and 32 in the playoffs.

I mean, it's not bad. That's the thing that's frustrating is here's what I have to say. I have had the pleasure of briefly speaking to Rod a couple of times. I think he is, I thought he was an unbelievable play. He's my type of player. Yeah. A grindy, Selky winner who's going to get you some points. He's a locker room leader.

that is translated so brilliantly to being a coach. Clearly he gets the boys up to play for him. He's got an eclectic bunch of guys there. Think about that. You've got real serious professionals like Jacob Slavin and Jordan Stahl. You've got incredibly young, fond talents like Seth Jarvis and Andre Svetchnikov. And then you've got the filler guys, and by filler, I mean, who are a little bit of a blend of both. Like guys like Brady Shea, guys like Dmitri Orlov.

And you have put this team together and somehow every season, you get them up to a level that's playing playoff style hockey all regular season long, and he's done it for three straight years. That's very impressive. When Jarvie was on, he's telling the F1 story, and I'll read a couple quotes, but I just think the guys like him so much. I think he's a guy's guy's a locker room guy. This is Bernsey.

I think he has a special relationship with a lot of guys. I think it's definitely a great thing to get to play for a guy like that. Every day, you never know what you're going to hear. For him, he's been through a lot. He's won. He's been through that grind for a long time. But it's more than that. It's his personality.

It's his energy that you can't make up. It oozes out of him. That's a special thing for a team. And then Jordan Stahl, the guys know what Roddy's all about and what he means to the organization and really the person that he is. They clearly love him. They clearly love him.

And you hear shit all the time of Tree Living just said it with Keith. Whereas like sometimes the messaging isn't just hitting home. You've got to change the voice in the room, whatever. This, as much as I want to dog the canes, and we'll get into that more when we talk about the game. But this isn't a situation where I feel, in any way that the boys aren't enjoying what Rod is cooking, if you know what I'm saying. I completely agree with them.

They are so happy to be like, dude, that's our guy, bring it back in, bring him back, bring us back, and let's make another bit at this. And good for him. I'm pumped, I'm pumped. I'm glad he's still a coach in this league. The league would be a much sad or emptier place if he wasn't there. No doubt. I will say this.

I think that the hurricanes are, we have a Marvin Lewis situation now. Yeah. Where Marvin Lewis with the Cincinnati Bengals, they would have, you know, playoff loss after playoff loss, after playoff loss, after playoff loss, after playoff loss, after playoff loss, and wouldn't get fired. And I don't think Rod should have been fired. But I think getting a five-year extension heading into what I believe is going to be the

hardest summer of Rob's life is a pretty wild move because we have a situation here where you've got RFAs in Natchez, Jarvis, and Jack Drury, amongst others. You have UFAs in Jake Gensel, Martinuk, Nason, and Tara Vinen, and that's complicated. So you're not going to be able to bring everyone back. When that Gensel trade was made, I think a lot of people were like, damn, Gensel and Carolina it for the next eight years and it's like well he didn't sign so we'll see so you have to bring him back oh my gosh you have to bring him back but i mean dude the the thought of what is it they have 27 in 27 mil in cap space okay it's a good haul yeah but you've also got i i'm pretty sure

she is is he not signed either yeah you've got uh de angelo pesci and she yeah also you're UFA. So my point is 27 million cap space. Natchez, Jarvie, and Gensel alone could take that up, in my opinion. So what are you going to do with all those other guys? Dude, would you, if Rod, prediction time, if Rod doesn't win a cup, does he see out that full contract? Yes. So even if they just lose in the playoffs, second round, every second round, year every year every year if he makes it to the playoffs if he makes it to the cup one of those

years like that's a success still like I got I I I I we we don't talk about enough how hard it is to win playoff series let alone the cup if if he gets to the eastern conference finals again loses in seven loses in six I'm like that's a successful season dude it's you know it's it's interesting so I was just surprised to see him get a five year extension heading into this summer yeah because like there is a lot of work for that team to do but they want him to do it. They're like, you do it. And I think that that is the right call. He is the guy to do it. But my point is five years is a lot for, because let's say he does what he does, maybe he doesn't bring Gensel back. Maybe he's like, we're sticking with our homegrown guys.

We're going to get out of here. We're going to give Javier. Or no, not so much that. It's like, we're going to give Javier and Nate just eight years. We're not going to give Gensel eight years. Gensel's amazing. But like, these are the guys who have been here from the beginning. We're going to stick with them. Yeah. We're going to let Gensel go. And then next year, they get swept in the first round. And you go, that five-year deal you're fired. Looks pretty tough. You know what I mean? I don't think that's going to happen, but it could happen.

And that's when you're like, Jesus Christ. But the guy's clearly made of Teflon in Carolina. And like, he can just do whatever he wants. It's unbelievable. So, congrats to Rod. Story number four. Stick in with the coach thing. I'm pretty sure someone

called this on Twitter. Yeah. I think I did see a tweet. And also shout out to, actually, maybe he doesn't want to be named. Yeah, don't shout out. But shout out to our anonymous buddy. Yeah, our insider. Our insider who gave me the info. Has a source.

Your boy broke the news that Barubei is the new coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. And then fucking Frank Saravelli comes Walton in a day later. Yep. And breaks it and doesn't give me credit. Yeah. Honestly, dude, I think. All these guys talking about give credit. First of all, dude.

Keep in mind. I'm kidding. I don't give a shit. And I got a bone to pick with you, actually. Yeah. Because the source came through me. I know. And then we were talking about it and we're talking to the source and we're like, hey, should we launch this?

Like, how sure are you? And he's like pretty sure. And then I'm thinking, you know, we're going to post this on netters and it's going to be sick. And I'm going to be like, oh, I participated in that. And then you, like a little fucking snake goes personal. goes personal tweet and cuts me out of it. I've been cut out of this equation. Permission to defend myself.

Granted. We didn't know for sure. Correct. I took a risk. I was pretty certain because we heard it from our boy. I then heard it from a couple other sources. And I was like, okay, this is happening. I didn't want to put empty netter's credibility on the line.

I was willing to die. Yeah. But, dude, I think. Okay. I was willing to die. Yep. Because I was like, if my. personal if I get this wrong then I go like this

I heard something thought I'd take a shot I didn't want to do that from Nettors yep okay well first of all now I wish we had because I think there's a chance I did quote tweet it I know I saw I saw it and I was like insider DP like day you know that for that day too

so I was like we were on it I think there's a chance we get maybe some love from Frank if it's from Nettors instead of your personal yeah maybe also I've got a bone to pick with Frank also you I think in the next time we have a great source. The rumblings.

It's a safe word. I know, but that was too safe. No. Yeah, it was too safe. I'm hearing rumblings. If you said, I'm being told Berube's the coach, then I think Frank goes, okay. I think my size in the world,

if I was like, Craig Barubei is the new coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I think people are like, this is like some Twitter egg, a clown. But the fact that I was like, which is what you are. I'm hearing this. Which is what I am.

Crack me open and make an omelet with me. Oh, dude, I actually wanted to say this too. I do, I can't wait for the Savard thing to happen, though. I know. That's the second part that people will be like, oh, shit. Dude. So shout out our source. Yeah.

You're the best. What I am surprised by is, remember the other day on TNT? Buruby said something that was like. Dude, Biz. They were talking about the Leafs, and like, they need you in Toronto. It would be the new head coach chief. And he was like. Well, and Biz, like, even chirped him or something.

like Ruby said something to Biz and Biz was like careful or I'll tell everyone you're the next Toronto head coach. And I was like, did he know then? Well, I think Barubei knew because that's an unhinged turp because Baroube's face was not. He was like, yo, chill. So either Biz knew, but Barubei definitely knew. Which is an unhinged chirp on live television. Busy. You're out of control.

All right. So what do you think, Dan? 32nd head coach in Leaves history. It was six seasons of head coach on the last. the Blues where he had a 206, 132, and 44 record, 597 win percentage. He also was the Flyers head coach for two seasons, and his career win percentage is 584. Do you like the hiring? I really love Craig Barubei. He obviously won a Stanley Cup in 2019 with the Blues, the biggest Mickey Mouse Cup of all time. But that's not taking you away from him. His name is on the cup.

I think Brubay is, everyone keeps showing that clip of Brubay giving a pump-up speech and then it overlapped with Keith's pump-up speech and how impossibly different they are. Keith is a guy. First of all, I kind of hate that because I'm like, that's a random clip of Keith. That's not to say Keith never gets fired up. That's the most fired up he ever was in his whole career.

Like, give me a break, dude. But Keith is a, I think he's the type of guy who's going to put his arm around you and be like, hey, like I'm going to, you know, take care of you, not coddle you, but I'm going to take care of you. And I think he's a great coach for that reason. Barube is going to motherfuck you. And I think this Toronto Maple Leafs team

could use, a little bit of that. I think Brubay will be really good with the media. I think he'll handle how annoying they are pretty well. But by tortsing him? Is he going to motherfuck the media too? Yeah. I don't think he's going to fold towards them,

but I don't think he'll be pushed around. I think if the media starts being cunty with him, he'll be like, get out of my face. Whatever. That said, I'm just not sure, man. I think the issues are the issues with this Leafs team are well beyond the coach. So to me, it's a band-aid for a bullet wound in a way in that I'm like, well, dude, if you don't address the personnel issues,

if you don't get a better goalie, no offense, wall, no offense, Sammy, you're not going to change anything here. I think Barube is a great locker room guy. I think he's really good for the boys in the locker room and on the bench. I don't know that I think his in-game adjustments are perfect for this team. I'm not sure his tactics are perfect for this team. I think it'll be interesting who they get for his AC. It'll be interesting who they get for their power play. If it's Savard, that'd be sweet. But I think that there are missing pieces still, like significant missing pieces. This is not a, the personnel was there. They just needed a different voice. This is a good voice, but more things need to happen. Dude, wouldn't you say that, and Shandy made those quotes a while ago that was like,

I forget exactly what he said, but it sounded as though Narner's maybe gone or someone's, it sounded as though he was accepting that this group can't just run it back again. However, nothing has happened yet. And for the guy, for the dude firmly in the camp that's like, maybe they could run it back. Yeah. The Barubi is a higher to me, which you could do that. Or it's one step in a direction of they just needed a tougher, a tougher guy. You know, and Quenville would have been the same. If they had brought in some young players, a Montgomery type, a young players coach from college ranks who's like, yeah, dude, I love the guys.

We're good. It's all good here. If they had done that, I would be thinking 100% someone's gone because they have to change something. But this is a hire to me where I'm like, maybe they are just going, hey, they just need someone to be tougher on them. And I'm not saying it's going to happen. I'm just saying if they're going to keep that core four together, this is a hire in which you could argue, you could start.

rationalizing why you would do that. I feel you. I feel you. It's a situation where I heard a lot of people being like, who would want that job? Yeah. And part of me is like, true. Like, that's insane. Yeah. Then the other side of me is like, who wouldn't want that job? You get to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs in the mecca of hockey. That's pretty sweet. But it does come with a, if you're not winning, you're probably getting flamed all the time. That kind of sucks. But I don't know. I think Baroubae is the type of guy who can deal with it. I don't know. I hate to pull this card, but I just don't know what to say about them.

I don't think anything changes until they make significant changes. They need to bite the bullet. They do. They need to just fucking deal with it and be like, sorry, dude, Marner for Saro, straight up, do it now. And then I'm like, then I'm like, now we're talking. Yeah, now we're cooking. Like, something's going to change. here, baby, let's go. So, yeah, I'm not, I'm not flinching really.

Dude, you want to talk about accountability? That actually would send more reverbs for the locker room than a tough coach, I think. Like, does Matthews really need to be yelled at more? If for Aston Matthews got yelled at more, we'd win. I completely agree. I kind of think if you're like, yo, Martyr, you are out. I think then you're like, yo, boy. Yeah, and I'm like, this, oh, Austin, you sad? You sad that your buddy's gone. I'd rather that than, like, yeah, being like, you guys need to toughen up. Because I think they're straight up like this. We're fine, dude. We're not not tough. What are you talking about?

All right. Are you prepared for number three? No. Number three, Bruins Panthers series. Bees fall in six games to the Florida Panthers. Second year in a row getting eliminated in the playoffs by the Florida Panthers. Those little rats, those little cats. Damn.

How do you feel? Damn. I'm bummed, dude. But I think the Panthers are better. I picked them to win. In six, right? In six, yeah. So that's what happened.

But you just, like you said, like you called, before the series started, I was like, whatever, dude. It's house money. We beat the Leafs and we're going to lose in six. And then you just, I didn't get suckered into game one like a lot of people I know. We're like, we tagged them in game one. Everyone's like, oh, my God. We're going to sweep the breath. Revenge tour, baby, we're going to sweep them.

But you do just, you start to believe a little bit in the same way. I'm sure Keynes fans are starting to believe we weren't as an as dire situation. but just you get that game five win in Florida, Swamen's out of his mind, and I'm doing the, well, you win in Boston, and then, and then, and then. So I'm bummed, but they're the better team, and they went on.

I got a couple things to say. First of all, pumped for Pavel Zaka, first career playoff goal, which is what's long overdue. And a nice one, though, buddy. Sick. Sick pass from DeBrusk. And then Zaka, in a breakway,

a little forehand back end, how's your father? I heard he's been sick, dude, under the bar. And just like an unbelievable, unbelievable way to get the monkey off your back. That was a cheese job for sure. Yeah, listen, I didn't get sucked in. I didn't feel as sad as you. I was obviously sad. Watching the Bruins lose bothers me. Never fun. I hate that. I was quick, though, and I got on Twitter to say it, I think this Bruins team should be incredibly proud. Yeah. And it's so rare when your team loses in the playoffs to feel that way.

What was it? Three years ago, we got bounced by the canes in, I think, how many games? It's heaven, I think. And I remember being like, damn. Like, they were better than us. And I was just like, we don't look good. Like, this is just an awkward. And I didn't feel any way, any sort of positivity from that one.

This one, I'm like, the Panthers are so good. I said, and this has nothing to do with the mentality of this Bruins team, it has to do with the roster. And the uncomfortable situation of losing Bergeron and Creachy. And you lost Bert, you lost Orlov. You lost Hathaway. Like, there was a ton of change from last season to this season. And I was like, I think maybe second round is probably realistic for this team. And then they borderline went wire to wire first in the Atlantic, had an unbelievable season.

and they lost in the second round to the former Eastern Conference champions. Like, that's a great year. So it's a lot to be proud of. I think the fight to get it to six games was awesome. More than anything, I am just, like, so blown away and proud of Jeremy Swain. That was the, in a situation where you were, you know,

1A, 1B all season long, you come into the playoffs, the questions were asked, what do we do? They decided to go tandem. Sway wins, Omer, Loo. Sway goes back in net and it was like, what are we doing here? It was Sway's net from then on. And by God, was it Sway's net?

He's played insane every single game. He's just proven to every person on earth that he is a certified blue chip goal tender in the NHL. And it's just awesome to see. Dude, I was so frustrated. That game was so frustrating because like, it sucked. Like, Pasta had a breakway. There was so many chances to score, which is in the story of the season, certainly the series.

Not enough goals on that B's team. That's the biggest issue going into the offseason. And then, like, we can't clear a puck. Oh, dude. The high-ing goal, like DeBrusk takes one off the – Debrusk's 50th block of the game, play a great game. It's just sitting there, just sitting there for 20 minutes, and then it shot in. And then the goal, you know, like, if we were going to lose, I wanted it to be a sick pass

backdoor on the power plate, tap in, break away. Or one, honestly, that, even though this would hurt in the moment, one that hits one of our own defensemen and goes in, where just kind of sway has no chance. And it was a weird one. Watherspoon, it's, like, between his legs, pucks on it. edge, you know, but I just hated that it was one of those stupid seeing eye, like, through the seven hole shots, you know, and I'm like, God damn it, dude. So that was a killer. But again, I said in the vid, I'm happy for Florida. And I think you tweeted maybe, I don't get why

everyone clowns on them. Like, I know the Bennett stuff, but they're, they're a pretty fun team. And Paul Maurice is a hoot. I love him. And, and, uh, they're, they're exciting to watch. So if you like hockey, you can continue to root for the Panthers. I will say this, Dan, Matthew Kachuk, who I love, was kind of selling, like, he wasn't literally throwing his gloves, but he was, like, doing, like, the jump in the air thing with, like, six seconds left. Like, they, we had the goalie bowl, and they got it into the neutral zone, and he started, like, going ballistic, and then we, like, took it back into the zone. And I was like, hey, dude, this game is likely over, but I need you to stop jumping up and down with six seconds left.

Keep an eye on that in the future, dude. If they win the cup, he's going to be celebrating in the start of the third period. Whether it's with your besties or date night, get to all the hottest concerts with GoTransit. Go connects to all the biggest entertainment venues and makes it affordable with special e-ticket fares. A weekend pass offers unlimited travel across the network on any weekend day or holiday for just $10.

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Are you prepared to talk like Bruins situation next steps right now for a second? Yes, but don't go too in the weeds. Yeah, I'm not going to get too into the weeds. But we, this has been obviously a huge topic of discussion all season long. Bruins are set to have roughly $22 to $25 million in cap space this summer. You have to extend Swayman, which I imagine will be announced literally any moment. We've heard whispers of it already being wrapped up. I would guess that's going to be in the 7 to 8 million a year situation,

and it better, better be 8 years. But you now are staring down the barrel of, you brought up Pavlzaka. Pavlzaka in 25 playoff games has one goal. Yeah, not it. That's not it. After he had a brilliant regular season. Pavlzaka is on, I think, something like 4.5 mil a year.

the questions going into this year were you're replacing Patrice Berzion and David Creachie as your one and two centers with Charlie Coil and Pavel Zaka. Is that enough? Those two played incredibly well, but like you said, there's not enough goals on this team. And I think you see that in a situation where we come into these playoffs. And Charlie Coil and Pavelzaka combined for what? Two? Three? Yeah.

I wanted a better. I wanted a better run from. Coil, dude. Two or three goals in 13 games? Yeah. Like, guys, that ain't it. So everyone knows they need a center. And you also...

Yeah, go. Well, I was just going to say, you also have the situation of, like, do you bring Jake DeBrusk back? Jake DeBrusk has been a great playoff player. Yeah. I think he led the team in points and goals. And how much is he going to ask for? Is probably going to be $5 million or more? Oh, more.

I think that's too much money. Yep. And if he wants that and someone's going to give it to... to him, absolutely go get it. Yep. People were talking about bringing Pat Maroon back for a million dollars, like the Loochich deal. And, like, obviously that didn't work out for terrible reasons,

but I just like, what's that? Alleged. Yeah. It's just like, I think this team, which has been, I'm not sure there's, you could name more than two teams in the NHL, if that, with a better culture than the Boston Bruins. And that is not Homer shit. ask anyone who has been in that locker room

who has since left, by the way. And I'm like, what do you think about the Bruins culture? And they'd be like, it's the best of the league. Liles just said it. Exactly. So they are fine in that regard. But I do think that the Jacobs family and Sweeney and Neely need to take a long look in the mirror on this whole like,

yeah, we bring in like tough like salt of the earth guys. Yeah. Well, how is that gone for you since 2011? I think they need to take a real hard look in the mirror and go, if we want to become a contender again, a real contender, and when you have guys like Jeremy Swainman and Nett and Charlie McAvoy on defense and David Posternak playing for you, if you don't go, we should go get a Jake Gensel.

We should go get a Sam Riner. We should go get a Steve Stamcoast. We should maybe make a trade for someone who, you know, we've heard that Nikolai Eilers is on the trade block. There's rumors of some other big players that might be on the trade block. If you aren't seriously considering, like, we need to make a big move for the first time since not being an asshole, but like, what's the last big free agent? Splash we got, Chara and Savard. Yeah.

Like, you need to consider that if you're the Boston Rooms. If you really want to be a contender again, they've made great trades. Huge summer. Taylor Hall was a big trade. But you need this summer to be as big as possible. You talk about a big summer for Carolina. This is a gargantuan summer. Gargantuan for the Boston Bruins.

Number two. Number two. Stars aves. Great hockey game. Great hockey game. I kind of wanted a game seven just because of game sevens are sick. This game and Matt Dushan scoring in double overtime. Oh, yeah.

was we we we we said in round one when they got past the nights and we said as they were up in this series three one yep we were like the star we might be witnessing the Dallas stars growing up they like they they they they they're grown men now and that it's all these games could go either way right It's like last year, the hurricane, I mean, even this year, the hurricanes. It's like, you know, Rod last year, and he's like, that didn't feel like a sweep to me. And this year, it's like, we played great. We were with them every single game. And I'm like, yeah, but you lost.

You keep losing games. This was a like, dude, that was a big boy win. Especially because they did what you've got to do in that game six on the road. They weathered the first period, right? You know, you know Colorado's going to come out flying. They had the better first period. And then completely settled into their game. Dude, the ass got three shots in the second period.

And then one of them was a power play that Moose finally capitalized on. And you go down one nothing. And then to start the third, immediately, Jamie Ben, captain, captain move. Nice goals after a sick pass again by to Donoff. That was disgusting. It was like that's a taken chip and you just one touch backhand. So you tie it right away in the third. Then that felt like it was going to be one of those 10 OT games.

Oh, my God. Here we go. Here we go. I was at a barber myself. I was in it for the long haul, dude. And then, man, so pumped for Dutchie, because he makes that whole play. It's like him and Pat playing catch in the corner.

He gets it up front, it sneaks out back, bang. A couple things. One, I feel bad for Nate because he was on the ice. He's like the center on the ice in that shift. Dude, I, like that clip of him sitting on his ass just like staring into space. I'm like, damn. But don't you think? Actually, not necessarily don't you think.

Which do you think? because I've experienced both, unfortunately. When you lose an OT, would you rather... I think I'd rather be that, though, where I'm sitting there being like, damn it. I'd rather be on the ice. Than on the bench.

I'd rather be on the bench. The dash hurts so much. But I think it hurts worse than being on the bench and going, I could have done something about it. Yeah, exactly. At least now I know. What I would have done is loose. Still, I'm not good enough to stop that,

but at least you know. So I felt horrible for him, but I felt so good for Dutchy though. because only a second playoff goal. But dude, think about, we've said this before, his journey, like getting bought out by Nashville, ends up in, which he loves. He loves that place, that city, you know.

Ends up in a similar city, cool city, on a super exciting team. And he gets that moment, dude, as they're on the way to the Western finals. Obviously, Dutchie, our boy, the inaugural empty netters guest, that said, I kind of,

I thought it was a little savage, how he heart-breakered them, because I would have loved that moment against Nashville. I would have loved that moment against Nashville because they motherfucked him. They bought him out. They sent his ass packing. And then he has since had an unbelievable 30 goalie. Yeah, yeah.

Against Colorado, the team that he kind of was like, fuck you, I'm out. Yeah. Colorado didn't bail on him. Joe Sackick's his hero, dude. Yeah. His literal hero. Joe Sackick watching on the ninth floor, dude. And Dutchey comes through and punches him in the face.

It felt a little savage. I was a little bit like Dutch, chill. Dude, and also, like, I love it. It was, it was a sick man moment. He's a sick man. But I was like, dude, chill. Like, what did they do to you? So I couldn't tell, because we joke all time in the Premier League.

I love how dudes that don't, when they score against their old club, they don't celebrate. And obviously, you're going to sell you that double O T goal. Have to. But it was kind of crazy. I agree that I was like, where, this isn't even, uh, ignore his ties to Colorado. Yeah. I'm just talking team rivalry. Yeah.

This isn't even feel like, uh, uh, a team. rivalry thing. You know, like, who did, who did Caner do that against? Was it the Canucks? Oh, he's heartbreaker, everyone. But, like, the first time he ever did it. Oh, yeah, I forget. I think it was, I think it was the Canucks.

I can't remember, but it was just like a team that they, like, couldn't, you know, because then when the Canucks eventually beat them, it's like to slay the dragon game because, like, we could never get past the Hawks. I think that's why it was them. But, yeah, like, he's, to me, it's more a team thing. Like, I am breaking the hearts of every fan here because you can't beat us. And I was like, does this animosity exist between Dallas and Colorado? I think truly, I think Dutchie did it just because he was like, you lost in

O WOTT, that's heartbreaker. Yeah, yeah. I don't think there was, I think maybe afterwards he was probably like, ooh, people are going to read into the Colorado. Yeah, yeah. But that's like, and I did. I read that book cover to cover. And I was like, shit, dude. That was a little intense.

But it was sick. But is that, is that Kane's thing? Like, he did that. Yeah. That's, I mean, he's called the Heartbreak Kids. Yeah. Like, I didn't, I was a bit like, oh, interesting. But like, whatever, sick.

It's a sick, right? Yeah. I guess to ask my question, is that selly public domain? Like, it's Kane's thing that anyone can do it? It's Sean Michael's thing, right? Yeah, okay. That's really what it is. It's not.

Right, so Kane stole it. Yeah, well, he borrowed it. Everyone's borrowing it. You can borrow it. Just return it. Just make sure you return it. Something that rattles me about this Colorado team, and I'm curious to your thoughts on this,

because these guys are so young. Actually, I do want to say this, man. That game, was insane. Watching that game and those two teams, I was live tweeting it, I was like, these two teams are the best teams in the playoffs. Like Dallas and Colorado,

and we've said, we were like, whoever wins this is going to the cup from the West. Dude, the speed, and you know I'm the biggest roaches guy in the world, and I'm also banging the Florida drum. Those two teams are great. They are not moving like stars in Colorado in that game. that was insane watching those two teams and watching the way Nate was skating around,

bobbing and weaving in the zone, getting pucks on net. Like he must have been so frustrated by Otter because he was buzzing out there. And I'm telling you that was the third period and then the first overtime, second overtime, they were definitely a little worn down. Those two periods was the most electrifying hockey of these playoffs. I couldn't believe how fast the game was. And I'm telling you, no one on the East was touching that so far. So I was like, holy shit.

What do you think about this? Colorado gets close-ish in 2020. They win in 2021. Then Landy gets hurt. And they lose in round one last year. Then this year, Landy's still out. It lost Val last year, too. No landy, no Val last year.

No Landy, no Val. Then this year they have no Landy. Taves goes down for a couple of games and then they lose Val again. I'm starting to worry that these devastating situations where the cap fucks them too is possibly stealing prime years from this Colorado Corps. Yeah, like they actually did build it correctly and they just got unlucky. Like, dude, this Dallas team. is insane. But add a healthy Gabriel Landerscog captain to that team and a clear-minded,

mind-right, Valerie Nishushchevon to that roster, you're telling me that they don't have a shot at winning that series? A shot, dude? They're the heavy favorites. And like, I feel, I look at Nate sitting on his ass at the end of that overtime, just staring at the boards so devastated, clearly. And I feel like he is like, what is happening, dude? Like, we are the best team. Yeah. And we're just decimated. We are the oldest boy. I am the oldest boy.

How old is Nate? I feel, I think Nate's 28, maybe. But I do worry. I mean, that team has really crafted itself on a business mindset. Nate obviously has all of his quirks, and that's great. But I do think that they're a very serious team. I think regular season and playoffs, that locker room is no bullshit. And players know that.

Like when players are going to sign there, it's an unbelievable city, it's an unbelievable team with great culture, one of the best GMs in the game, one of the great captains in the game. I'm going to call Nate the captain for purposes of being on the ice. But you sign with that team knowing, like, we're not the stars,

we're not Vegas, we're not Florida, we're not having fun. Like, I think Florida, Dallas, Vegas, those are teams that are like, we're having a fucking ball. Yeah, like we're going out together after. Yeah, like, we're having a blast.

Playing VGs. We're playing Smash Bros. together. And I think, I think Colorado, Boston, I think the Rangers to an extent are teams that are like, we're, we have fun. But like, we're going to stand on business here. Pick up your brown bag lunch. Go to work, dude.

And it's like that kind of the Patriots mindset. It's like we're here because we're trying to win. Winning's fun. And I just feel bad that this, they built the team right. And they've, they've found them. himself incredibly unlucky with guys like Landy and guys like Val. Yeah, it's extremely tough break, but they are fine question mark. Fine question mark, dude.

You go into next season and you have Val and Landy's cap hit. Yeah. Like, you can't sign people. Right. Well, maybe they're back. Maybe they're both back. Maybe Landy's hips right, Val's mind's right. Knee.

Knee. Two. And knee. Yeah, he's got a lot of issues. Crazy. Exciting series, though. that was everything I wanted it to be. Phenomenal.

Number one, story, this week. Hit me. Chris Kreider scores a natural hat trick. I mean, come on. Come on. It's the most cockroach game of all time, dude. It was the most cockroachy game of all time. And I'll tell you what, Rangers fans, you're welcome.

Because, again, I was the only one who believed. And I got on that post, and I gave it to you because they quit. And I get it. I understand being the nervous fan. You have a lot of heartbreak. Me too. And then here it, you know, you're up 3-0. You lose one.

You lose two. Now you're down 3-1 in the third period of the third game in a row. And just enough with the, we're cooked. This team's dead. This team's finished. If you want to be like this, I feel horrible right. Yeah. I want to die.

Fine. Don't say this team's cooked. Enough of that bullshit. She's never cooked. And I will say, credit to them, a lot of those fans came to us in the DMs, and they're like, you're right. I'm sorry. Yeah.

But at 3-1 in the third period, I said this feels like a classic cockroach game. They are going to fight back and Carolina is going to squirm and fall apart. And Cridey got that first goal in the third with, what, like 14 minutes left? Plenty of time. Plenty of time left. And it was over from then. The second it was 3-2, I looked at Nikki, our buddy, and I was like, New York's winning this game.

Dude. It was. To win that game in regulation? with significant time. Is appalling. I obviously being hyperbolic and playing around, I was like, that is one of the worst chokes I've ever seen. It's obviously not one of the worst chokes I've ever seen.

But I do want to say that was a bad choke. It was horrible, dude. Bad choke. You have this team with a tough history of heartbreak and you have them on the ropes in game six up 3-1 in the third period. If you win that game, they are miserable. going back to New York and game seven. To give up a natural hat trick to Chris Kreider,

and I'm not saying, like, you can't do that because Kreider's not, Criter's one of the great playoff performers in New York Rangers history. The great. Straight Jare the Rafters. It's just that mentality where, like, we're talking about Rod where I'm like,

how do you let that team fucking lose that game? Like, you guys have to be kidding me. And the real devastating part of that game, you had Aho, you had Stahl, you had Svetich. save for Jarvis, I think those are three of the best guys you could possibly want with a puck on their stick, nude in front of the net with a chance to just end it. Kill them and you couldn't do it. You couldn't finish.

Svecys was to tie it, right? They were down four-three and then Svecchi-e. But the other boys, they were up. They were up on A-Ho was a breakaway. Stahl, I think, was three, two, or three-one, just nude in the slot. Puck was bouncing. I'll give them that. But that was brutal.

dude, that was brutal. And on the flip side of it, Chris Kreider, greatest New York Ranger playoff player of all time to just absolutely drop his ball bag on the ice and drag it around and score three unanswered goals and win that game four three. That was one of the coolest things these eyes have ever seen. Dude, sometimes players will be like, they'll do a post game and they're doing the, and not the cup. The cup is that big, but they'll do in the like, I don't know what to say, you know, and like, there are no words type thing. Cried's after he didn't know what to say. And I was like, I believe this. I believe this is the most authentic reaction. And he also, when he scored, I think it was the go-ahead one, he's just like screaming. Oh, it's his move.

And, dude, the, that is just something you can't get from anything other than sports. And, and you having an iconic moment that you know is iconic already. Yeah. I was like screaming at the TV too, because it was just so fucking sick to watch him become immortal in real time. I mean, it was just such a great moment for him, for the Rangers, and for us. Yeah. Like, obviously

as a personal friend and a truly wonderful person, I couldn't have been happier for him, but watching that team be down 3-1 in the third period of a game that's like, oh God, don't lose this game. After we have deemed them the cockroaches. Yep.

They cannot be killed. They are invincible. To watch Crider go, goal. Goal. Regulation. Goal. Natural hat trick on away ice to just finish the canes. And then to see the NHL tweet out is Chris Kreider's number going straight to the rafters. After we said that preseason.

As we told you. And got laughed at by some of you Rangers fans. And now everyone is like this. Oh, nope. He is one of the greatest Rangers of all time. No question. Yep. And I think he is the best Rangers player performer of all time.

To then see the photo of his neighbor throwing hats on his front lawn. Thank you for bringing that out. I almost forgot. Seeing that photo and just like that moment, we talk about cup moments when you look back, when you win the cup, when you're lifting the cup and you look back at the road that got you there, that was a cup moment.

Dude, I actually had a dream the other night that we were flying to South Africa and on a like the plane had all that space like up front and crieder was with us and i was like oh cries what's up dude because like i couldn't believe he was coming to south africa in the middle of the and he's like oh how you doing i'm good i was like how many hats were in the yard and he was like um it was uh 20 it was 20 hats because and i was like oh that's so cool and then i'm just realizing now that was a dream like when you brought that up i was like yeah there were 20 hats on the yard but then i was like wait that was a made-up story that crieder told me on a dream in a dream on a plane South Africa.

Dude, couldn't agree more. He is the fucking man that was so sick. I wish that had been Game 7 at MSG, just because of how fucking pandemonium it would have been. You already touched on the Kane's summer.

I don't want to get into that again. I will say this about the Canes. And yeah, you said we posted that. You posted that grid reaction. Emotions are high. Yeah. Ha,

ha, whatever. And all the Keynes fans freaking out because their emotions were high too. Of course. I will say this, though, to you Kane's fans. And I've talked to a few of them,

my good buddy Scotty, who's an ass fan, but he lives in Raleigh because we went to Duke together. He was like, the Keynes just don't have the edge. Like everything we said, Freddie Anderson, probably not going to be good enough. Cains don't have that extra gear in the playoffs. Like, I just don't get the, here's the thing.

The Cains are officially this to me. I don't want to hear a word from you ever again until you win the cup. I literally will not consider the Carolina Hurricanes a contender until they are hoisting the cup in the air. And then I'll go, actually, you were right. You are a contender. Because I've enough, dude. I've had enough. I completely agree with you, man.

And there's like, I don't even want to get into the bad stuff because my follow-ups to that, I do mean. It's like, guys, like we're a comedy sports podcast. Like, we like having fun. We like joking around and being ridiculous and hyperbolic. I think the Keynes are a phenomenal team. Obviously, like, could we love Seth Jarvis more? No. You know, it's like, those guys are amazing.

So we're not being serious. And we're like, you guys are assholes. We're just messing around. that said the fan base and like the Twitter admin, chill out. Chill out with some of the jokes that you do. And no fan base is as bad as their worst parts. Every fan base on earth has terrible parts. But like it's funny when they lose and we post that and there's just like droves of racist homophobic tweets coming our way.

And I'm like, guys, we're just joking around about hockey right now. It's not that deep. Let's calm down. But I agree with you. It's like. Enough, dude. You guys got to recalibrate here. It's like, enough's enough.

You are that good that you need to perform. And I was on them. I picked the rags because I think the rags are very good, but I was the one being like, the canes are sick. People are sleeping on the canes. But you no longer have my vote. You no longer have my sword, my axe, or my bow until you at least win two Eastern Conference Finals games,

and then someday the fellowship will return. And I'll finish it up by saying King Cockroach over here. There's an argument to me made that the hurricanes outplayed the Rangers literally every game of that series. Absolutely. I was saying that. Every game.

But again, you lose. That goes into what we said earlier. You lost four of those games. You idiots. It can't happen. Let's get over that home. Taking a quick break from the pod to talk to you guys about Bauer hockey,

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I don't need to do because I have the best towie I've ever seen in my life. But if you need help with that, that's what you do. And because Bauer loves you and because we love you, you can use promo code empty. That's E-M-P-T-Y to get free shipping on your order. All right. Let's strap on the buckets and get into our Bauer hockey hot ice. Quick, clean segments here. We're going over the conference finals of both, but we got a game seven tonight. We got a game seven. And you're going to be listening to this Tuesday. You'll have already, we already know the one. We don't know yet. We're going to be watching tonight. I love me at game seven. Yeah. I mean, come on. Everything on the line.

Yep. A lot on the line, by the way. I think so too. I think so too. Vancouver, Edmonton, game seven tonight in Vancouver. This is, this went just like I said last step, by the way, where I said, I love a, I love a split, split home team, home team game seven. Yes. And we got exactly that. I mean, has this series not just been a game of ping pong? Back and forth, back and forth. I was surprised. I wasn't surprised that Edmonton won. Edmonton's great. You knew Connton. You knew. was going to bounce back after that kind of quiet game five I was surprised with how significantly they won yeah for one that's the first that's the first blowout of the series

right everything's been pretty close yeah um she loves been great uh-huh did they crack him i don't think so did they solve the spider you know it's like sway had one bad game against florida and then came back and and pitched an insane performance like yeah i think she loves can come back in this game seven especially at home with everyone behind him and be like also So, dude, the fans in this series have been awesome. Well, dude, it's... These games are loud. Oh, man, I took a picture of this.

These games are really loud. People are just singing at the top of their lungs in both of these barns. So much credit and love to both the Vancouver and Edmonton fans. Like this, I can't imagine how fun this has been for all the players, for all the fans. I mean, this has been a wild one. It's been 20 years since two Canada-based NHL teams played each other in a game seven in front of a full arena. Get out of town. The only asterisk there is...

The lockout year. Yes. Toronto, Montreal. Toronto Montreal played Game 7 in the first round because they were doing the Canadian bubble, 2021, but there was, attendance was extremely limited because of COVID. 20 years since the flames, or sorry, prior to that, the Canucks played the Flames and the Maple was played Ottawa in Game 7, 2004. The place is going to be rocking. Bonkers. So great call on that.

Thanks for reminding. You obviously won't hear this until after, but this is a must watch game. Can't wait for it. Truly can't wait for it. But yeah, I was surprised. It was not a blowout, but just like a very clear win. Game seven, no idea. I've got no idea.

I've got no idea. What I really love here is I think Edmonton has to win. I know. I think Edmonton has to win, regardless of everything that's gone on, I think Edmonton has to win with this McDavid dry sidel. with Heimann playing the way that he is. Also, my God, Zach Hyman, give the man every flower that exists in Alberta.

Because can you imagine, Chris, scoring 50 goals in an NHL season and have people from pundits to fans going like this. Fucking bullshit 50 goals, dude. Like, he's just tapping pucks in from McDavid. He's not that. I mean, I would be so annoyed. I'd be like, I know.

I just scored you 50 goals, you fucking assholes. What are you ponds? possibly complaining. He knows where to be. He knows where to be. And he's coming to these playoffs and just buries goals. Like 10 already, right? He's just unreal.

I said it before. He's the best contract in the NHL. With this group, those guys, Nuge, I just think you have to win this game. I don't, even if it's against the number one-seeded Vancouver Canucks, you just, you can't be who you are and lose, keep, losing like this. They're going Skinner again, which scares me, to be honest. I love the move

by Knoblock putting him in in game six, though. That was wild, and to have the, you know, one goal, again, Vancouver's just not shooting the five. Fifteen shots, but that's how, I swear to God, that's how the Oilers have to win with Skinner and Nett. I think if, if they give up 35 shots, the Canucks, I think you're probably in trouble, but if they play the defensive

game, they play. Throw bodies in front of those posts. Then, maybe. Yeah. I, I, I, man, I think I'm going Oilers, too. because of what you just said. They have to win. They have to win.

It's hard to, I don't think that, it's winner going home for everybody. So the desperation levels are the same. But I'm just saying, I don't think the Canucks in their fabric know the torture that's going to go on in Edmonton if those guys lose again. So I think that's going to be hard. Yeah, it's interesting because Connor needs to win this.

And keep in mind, guys, when we're saying needs to win, like Connor's 27 years old. We obviously know that. We're just saying, because of all, all the chatter about it, the pressure on a guy, you know, this good. He's the best player in the world. He's 27. He's come close to you.

It's like, you got to keep going. You got to get there. And I say that in a motivating way. And I know that's exactly how he feels. He's like, I want to win a fucking cup right now. But it's like he needs it. Skinner needs it. Like if Skinner loses this game, we've got two years in a row now of like he is not

the guy. There he is. There's second round skinner. And then on the other side, of it, I said to you and Laz and Johnny was not, he wasn't like, what? He was just like, oh wow, like, I like that take, interesting take.

I was like, this Vancouver team is Western Conference Finals are bust. Do you remember when I said that? I was like, that is what they're thinking. They're not thinking, oh, we're all young, only a few of us have ever been in the playoffs. Whatever happens, happens, ha, ha, ha. I'm like, no, wire-to-wire, best team in the West, you got to get to the Western Conference Finals.

And I think they're thinking that. And I think with She-Lov's getting a net and being this good, they're going, we don't have a goalie excuse anymore. We can't be like this. Oh, Demko's out. So like whatever, you know, what, what do you expect from us? Yeah. She loves has played enough games. He's taken Connor McDavid and Leon Drysettle and Zach Hyman to game of the second round. They're like, that's not an excuse. So we got to win too. They're the higher seed. They're on home ice. Both these teams are, we've got to win this game. So I think this is going to be a barn burner. I like your Edmonton call. It feels, that's what I want to do too. And I think I am. I think

I am saying I think Edmonton takes it. But I will say, kind of unexpectedly for me, Vancouver's been the bullies in this series. I look at how fast, young, and skilled they are. And I was like, I don't really think they're going to be that, but they totally have bullies. You're right. Great call. You know, like Zedorov and Susi have been huge in that PD throwing that reverse check, which was the weirdest call I've ever seen in my life. What was that? Well, it's just he left his feet. So I'm actually not that mad at it, but like calling it a was weird to me. But, dude, also, he, like, he doesn't move forward at all. At all. Like, if I saw someone coming and jumped, which is, like, you shouldn't jump, but if I saw

someone coming and, like, jumped in the air away from them and got hit, do I get a charging call? I thought it was a bad call, more so a weird call, but, uh, whatever, but, like, that was a weird call. Yeah. But, like, he was throwing the, he had a great game five, um, and seeing these guys, you know, being pretty feisty, going into a home bar. game seven, I'm like, they could bully their way to win here. So I just can't. You got to get up. They got to get up early if they're going to do it. Let's get into our predictions of the two. Let's start with the Eastern Conference. Because that one we know. Yeah, that one we know. Florida Panthers. Rags. At New York Rangers. Hold on. I got to think about what I'm going to say,

because I just don't know. I've, I know, I know what I know what I want. Take your time. I know what I'm phrasing. I know what I said previously. So I feel I feel beholden to that, but also something feels like something's happening. Something's going to happen. Something's going to happen. And I got to do it. Shit. Okay. I'm ready. I'm going to regret this. I'm ready. Wow. Okay. One, two, three, Rangers and seven. Panthers and six. Six? Just because of the whole minds. Just because of the whole minds. Dude, I, let me just say something before we even dive in. I sit, my pre-season, or excuse me, my pre-playoffs, start of playoffs pick was Panthers stars, which I'm not saying like credit to me.

Like those were two of the problem of the best team. So like, it's not like I'm a fucking genius. But that was my pick. And I just, as a man of integrity, I felt the need to stick to that pick. You brought something up earlier though. And if I think if the Rangers had just kind of had a, well, let me just. I'll say it this way. You brought something up earlier.

The, sometimes in a playoff run, things are just happening that are part of the DVD. We always call it. You know, you get the championship DVD as the fan. Cup moments. The DVD moment, the Cup moment. And the Rangers are having a lot of those. And the natural hat trick is where you brought it up. Just an iconic moment.

The Trocheque picture. Just like, there are too many things happening that for this to not be. It's like the year the B, and I know we lost the cup that year, the Bergeron comeback against the Leafs. I'm like, you have to go to the Cup now because, like, what are we talking about here? So I, I know I have just made a grave error by not picking the Rangers because they're having too many cup moments. And there's time for the Panthers to have cut moments. And the Panthers are a great team, by the way. And I think, but the fact that you even said seven, Mr. Crocroach over here, shows that this is going to be a very tough series.

But I'm sticking with Panthers and Six just because I said it previously, but I know, I know I'm a fool. I'm a royal fool already. Yeah, I, well, you know, we'll see. Yeah, I'm riding my boys. I'm riding on the bat. I'm the roach king. I'm riding on a river of cockroaches. They, they...

How many cockroaches think it would take to carry you? I think you'd be disgusted with it not being that. Four? Yeah, they're like ants. Yeah, exactly. That's what I was thinking. They, the Rangers team has just, they have answered every question for me. They've answered every question.

The hurricane series is interesting because you wanted them to battle through some adversity. They did. They did technically. Yeah. But being a Rangers fan here right now, I do think the Carolina Hurricanes lost that series more than the Rangers won it. Yeah. And the Florida Panthers aren't a team that's going to do that. You faced a Charlie Lindgren, who was a very surprising goal.

You faced a Freddie Anderson who's a very good goalie, but he is. He is who he thought he was. You are now facing one of the best goalies in the league. Yep. It's going to be a very tough matchup. But like I said, this Rangers team has just answered every question. I think 5V5 is going to determine this series. Rangers lost 5V5 to the Hurricanes.

So I need them to clean that up. Yeah. Because I will say the rags, we keep saying we're 3 and 3, Power Play PK, Cains were 1 and 2. Yeah. And that was a gargantuan swing in that series. That was the worst powerplay performance in any of the film history I've ever seen from the Canes. Like that was just insane.

And then the Panthers are like, I wrote it down, but they're like sixth and eighth on the powerplay. And they're a little bit worse than the Rangers in both, but are dangerous at times. They slowed down a little bit during the Bs. But that has to be kept in control if you're the Panthers. Totally. Yep. What's the one of the big knocks on this Rangers team the last four years? They're not tough enough.

They can't get in the gritty battles. I think they've answered that question. I think that awesome mayhem at MSG against the Devils was a great moment. That scares me against this Florida team. I said no one in the league will win a mud fight against the Florida Panthers. You simply will not. Yep. So I don't want a mud fight in this series.

I want good clean hockey and I want the Rangers to come out on top. It's cool because the rags like you, we keep saying, are the cockroaches. And the Panthers, though, are the buss and ten boys. You know, like they are king clutch. King cockroach versus king clutch. Well, it's rats versus roaches, dude. Rats versus roaches.

Living in the sewers. Yes, dude. Wow, the Easter Conference finals takes place in the sewers. Yes, with the Ninja Turtles, dude. It's in New York, too. Oh, my God. There's just a lot going on. The thing that scares me if I'm a rags fan is Matthew Kichuk gave a post-game

after game six against the Boston Bruins, which I was still watching because I was, I was, um, mourning. I was going through my process. Yeah. You know how I do that. I'd just like to absorb all the destruction.

Sure. So I'm talking about, uh, or they asked him a question that was something like, um, it was some question about like beating Boston again or whatever and, um, getting back to these conference finals. And he's made a comment where he was like,

we touched the cup last year and then got to hurt and couldn't win. And not saying Vegas, He didn't say that. This is what happened. They got so close to the cup last year, got too hurt, couldn't win it. And then what his comments were was he said, we showed up day one of training camp this year, literally talking about one thing.

We will remedy that. I will never feel that way again. We were winning the cup this year. And some teams across all pro sports, you lose in the final and you have this horrible relapse. You're terrible for a few years. You can't overcome that. And some teams are like, I'm winning next year

because of what just happened. and that was how I thought the Panthers were going to be all year. I picked them preseason to be like, yo, they are going right back. And hearing him, and not that, like, that's not news to anybody that they feel that way, but just hearing him talk about it publicly, being like, that is all this locker room thinks about

is getting back to the cup and finishing the job this year. That is what's scary about this Panthers team. Yeah. I think they're nasty, but I think the Rangers are nasty too. It's just that is a, that's an emotion. And the Rangers have been close, for sure. Yeah. that's an emotion that's like, fuck, dude, they want it maybe more than you can fathom.

Yeah, they're a good matchup. Panthers won, two of the three games they played. Rangers won in a shootout, I think. Pretty late in the air, so that was a good game. Yep. But yeah, two or three. They both have good power play, good PK. Like, this is, well, honestly, Carolina's great. To me, four months ago, you looked at the Eastern Conference and you were like, this is the

Eastern Conference. These two teams. Yep. So it's pretty exciting. We got it. It's pretty exciting to see it happen. It's really electric stuff. So I think this is, I know it ended in six.

Actually, I was about to say, no, I'm going to stand by it. I know it ended in six. Colorado Dallas has been the best series so far for me of these playoffs. It feels crazy to say that because I think this Vancouver, Edmonton one, has been unreal. But just like I said earlier, the speed of which those two teams were playing, I thought that was really the Western Conference finals, even after I was like Dallas Vegas is.

I was like, oh no, it's down. Yeah, yeah, right. So I think this series coming up is going to be fireworks. I can't wait. Let's do, we're going to do both Western Commerce Final's options. Back to back. Let's do Dallas, Vancouver first because both of us don't even believe that's going to be the case. Okay.

And then do you want to explain or do you want to give my answer? No, I'm going to talk about it just in case. Oh, yeah, okay. All right. So do you know what your decision is. Okay. Three, two, one. Stars and six.

Yep, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I think the cup participants from the West has come from this side the whole time. It was going to be Dallas or Vegas. It was going to be Dallas or Colorado. It's going to be Dallas or Colorado. It's going to be Dallas this time. I don't know what more I need to say. The depth of this team is astounding. It has shown up every single step of the way. You had guys who were quiet like Stank getting on the board. guys like Ben and Sagan getting on the board. Pavelsky finally got on the board. The biggest thing, Dutche on the board. The biggest thing is Otter. Otter is playing like the otter we always wanted him to be. And I think safe for Swamen, Otter has been the best goalie in these playoffs.

Yep. Dallas won two or three, regular season. Yeah. Dallas has a reasonably strong power play, reasonably strong PK. Vancouver didn't have a great either. Yep. We've watched Vancouver struggle to even get shots on net

Against a Nashville team that was actively trying to take that away And then against an Edmondian team that when they feel like it tries to take that away Chris Tanev eats Pucks for fucking breakfast lunch What is he for dinner? Pucks Is it Pucks? It is Pucks. And then when he wakes up in the middle of the night hungry, he has more Pucks. That's all he eats.

The Vancouver Canucks might get eight shots a game against the Dallas Stars. I mean, you got that, you got Miro too, who just does it on both ends. Demco could be back, though. I think you ride she loves. If he has a great game seven win, I think you kind of have to. I mean, if he wins. With a quick trigger, though. Quick hook.

Yeah, it's ready. Yeah, I think he gets a quick hook if Demko's like, I'm back. He already might be hooked. I'm back now. I'm going to start real. I think of how hard it is to play with that hook. I'm going to start reeling if you mess up here. If Demko's 100%, which we don't know.

But if he is, he could be back. That's a huge factor. Yeah. That's why I'm going six. And I actually think the depth of Vancouver is valuable versus the depth. Because Dallas is just rolling lines, you know, but Vancouver can kind of do that with them. Vancouver has good depth. Absolutely.

But, yeah, I just think Dallas, I think this is a, you know, this team, this, the leadership of this team in Quinn, in Bessor, in PD, JT. The first time they're in playoffs together. And they're showing some fight, dude. And they're showing some great fight. It's awesome. Getting past Nashville was huge, getting to games. game seven against Edmonton's Eugene if they win that game and then end up playing Dallas, I just think it's going to be like a, we may be here.

Yeah. And Dallas is going to go, and you'll die with honor. Yeah. I'll send you back on your shield. Yes, that's what I think. Do it. Dallas, Edmonton. You ready?

Yep. Three, two, one. Dallas and five. Wow. I didn't think you were going to say that, dude. I'm sorry, Edmonton. I know you. If and when, like we both think, Edmonton wins this game seven.

and you get here, your Edmonton fans are going to hear this and go, you fucking hate the Oilers. And I just, these guys hate the Oilers. To me, you know what I said. Someone said to us in the DMs the other day, talking about the Rangers' cat series. And they were like, Igor can steal games. And I was like, Bob can steal games.

And then I was like, wait, you know what? The three goalies that are currently already in the conference finals can all steal games. I do not believe Skinner can steal a game. Dude, of course not. No offense. Yeah, I just, and it's not to say he, can't eventually, but currently I have not seen anything that makes me think he can steal a game. And when you get to the Western Conference final, you need a goalie who is a weapon, or at least

playing like a weapon. And Skinner's not doing that right now. So I just think that team is going to, that team who also to your point is having games where they're getting shots in the teens against Vancouver. And I'm like, what do you think is going to happen against Dallas? Insane, dude. So So I just, I don't think Edmonton, I don't think they can hang with Dallas at all. And I think that depth matchup is incredibly lopsided. That's my biggest thing. The Oilers are so top-heavy. Dallas is just going to bombard that over and over.

The Oilers win that series if Skinner plays great, but if Leon and McDavid go absolutely nuclear, or there is a massive special team's discrepancy. Isn't it crazy that they, the Oilers, to win in the, the playoffs rely so often on Leon and Connor going God mode. And that is their norm. Yeah. Like they win so often because I'm like these two guys are just inhuman. Leon, what did he just do?

He just got to 100 points. Oh, yeah, I saw that. It's insane. He's a hundred points in the playoffs. But yeah, that's the, there's just such a major goalie advantage, I think, in the stars direction. The stars are with a top C. I think they won two of three, right?

Let me see. I wrote that down too. Stars, they won 4-3 at Edmonton. They lost 4-3 in Dallas, and then they won 5-0-0 in Dallas. They just, they are the stronger team everywhere except for two dudes. Yeah. Sorry, just real quick. Leon Drysettel has 39 goals, 61 assists, and a plus minus of plus 12 and 60 games in his playoff career.

Yeah. So. Tremendous playoff performer. And that's what they need. That's what they need. And I just don't think if they even get by Vancouver. I don't think they can get that enough out of them. And maybe, actually, no, I think five was right.

Maybe five is harsh, I was going to say, and those boys can get you too, but I just think the start, too much. Too much, too much. It's just a lot. I just think this star's team is clicking, clearly clicking, and I think they're too much. I said before the play I've started, this is a cup team. Yeah.

And Dallas knows they have a cup team. Yeah. And you hate wasting years when you have a cup team. So, and especially, dude, to quote the great, the late great Herb Brooks. after the U.S. beat the Russians in 1980 and then they played Finland in the pseudo-gold medal game because it was weird back then.

But they said, if you lose this game, you will take it to your fucking grave. If you get through Vegas and Colorado and then lose to fucking Edmonton or Vancouver, you will take it to your fucking grave. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely agree. Yep.

All right, that is it for our Bauer Hockey Hot Ice. All right, guys, it's conference finals time, and you know what that means. You've got to dial into the Bet-MGM situation. going on right now. You know that we've teamed up with BetMGM all season long and they have the best possible situation for any hockey fan or any sports fan in general. You're going to get $1,500 to play around with. $1,500 to make your picks, make your bets. And here's the deal. If you lose that, you get it all back from BetMGM. So you're going to go on and you're going to put in promo code

netters right now and get yourself set up on BetmGM and make sure you get in on all the action across the board, but especially the Western Conference and Eastern Conference finals we got coming up for the NHL. It is a no-brainer. Join the team with BetMGM with us right now. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-800-Gambler, available in the U.S. Call 877-N.Y or text Hope N.Y-4-669-N. New York. Call 1-800-3-2-2-0-N-N-XXXX9-0-N-Mash-9-1-1-8-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-B $1-1-BOLENCE-Business-Busquivness. Call-Bus off in Iowa. Call-800-Bus off in Iowa. 1-800-9810-023 in Puerto Rico or visit www.

www.1-800 gambler.net in West Virginia. First bet offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. CBNGM.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. So let's wrap up this episode with our saucy predictions. And I just would like to say this.

You are a son of a bitch, dude. Scumbag, dude. So we're not going to... We're at this amazing studio. We're guests here, so we're not going to... bring in our nuclear hot sauce and eat it in here. We're going to hop on the story later, and that's when we'll do our saucy predictions. We're going to say them here, but we're going to eat for our saucy predictions on the story.

I correctly, last week, after Val went out, I got to pick a new saucy prediction. I picked that one of the four series would go to game seven. And then you, like an asshole, forced me to change it to all. four. Yep. And what happened, Chris? One went to game seven. So I'm going to eat,

but this is horseshit. Dude, can I say something that is the truth and you can choose to acknowledge that I'm telling the truth or you can lie to everybody on camera?

I don't want to lie. But this is true. When you said, my prediction is one, we get one game seven. Yeah. you were talking about the three series that were all in game six deep down that's a fact you weren't even talking about Vancouver Edmonton because that was two to somewhere else we

had three series going game six and you said one will go to game seven and that's what you were talking about wrong no that is a fucking fact dude wrong that's a fucking fact I said and then none of them did so you would have lost anyway what are you talking about I said one of the remaining series. You were talking about those three, and then you said, what I said, what about all of them? You said three, I was like, or four, dude, because there's another series. No, I didn't say three, you didn't say, or four, reminding me there were still four series going on.

You were talking about those three. I'm going to pull up the tape, dude. I said, I don't want to lie, and I'm not lying. I'll pull up the tape. You were talking about those three. You would have lost anyway. None of them did. And then I would have won because I said one.

And one happened. Okay. Well, that's a lie. You're lying. And also... This is bullshit, dude. Like, the fact that, first of all, you cheated. Cheetah!

You cheated and got me to lose. So, like, just accept your... Except your slimy victory. Don't also try to... You also lost with Val. Like, that was a prediction you made, and you lose. And, dude... You ever heard of a no contest?

Dude, and yet again with mine... I have never seen anything, like my run of saucy predictions, where it's like, oh, boo-hoo. Oh, bad beat CP. Oh, this happened, this happened. Shut up. Dude, you're the poorest winner of all time. Yeah, I lost.

I said the canes would force a game seven. You never actually win. You just lose, you're like this. Well, I should have won and I did this and I did that. Shut up. It's a poor loser. Guy lose. But, dude, can you imagine saying the canes are going to force game seven is my

prediction, and then they're up three one in the third period and blow it? And I'm like the most typical thing I've ever seen in my life. Yeah, it's brutal. So we're both eating. Yep. Do you have your saucy prediction? I do. Matthew Kachuk, scoreless, beltless in the Bruins series.

Oh my gosh. Did not do it. Did not get on the board. A bunch of assists, five, I think, four or five. Beltless against the Bruins. They don't even wear a belt. He doesn't even wear a belt. Didn't even wear a belt against the Bruins.

Against the Rangers. I'm pretty sure we were going to have seen three games by the time this next Monday comes around. Probably. He will have three goals. Four goals. No, a three is okay. A goal per game.

A goal per game in the Eastern Conference Finals? That's fantastic. Three goals. That's saucy. And he can have a Hattie in Game 1 and nothing, nothing, but like three goals. That's certified saucy. Three goals after three games. Okay, my saucy prediction.

Regardless of who wins tonight in game seven against the Canucks and Oilers, Jake Ottinger in game one of the Western Conference finals will give up one or less. Ooh. Okay. I love that for him. One or less. One or less. That's saucy enough for me.

That's saucy. Yeah, that's saucy enough for me. All right, those are saucy predictions. That is it for us at the Empty Narrators podcast today here in this wonderful New York studio. We will be on NHL's YouTube TV and YouTube live every single night, starting on Wednesday for both conference finals games. Tune in, watch with those.

Have a blast with us. You will see us in our regular. scheduled programming episodes on Friday and Tuesday for the rest of playoffs. Unbelievable stuff coming. We're going to be in New York City. We're going to do some hangs, some chills. Come join us. And until then, skate hard.