Empty Netters Podcast - 30. Scorched Earth

Episode Date: May 2, 2023

The first round comes to a close. The Bruins flame out in historic fashion, and the streaky Rangers hang Igor out to dry. The Oilers look like legitimate Cup contenders, and the Kraken are absolutely FILLED with spunk. (0:03:35) - Golden Knights vs Jets (0:12:23) - Stars vs Wild (0:18:50) - Hurricanes vs Islanders (0:22:45) - Oilers vs Kings (0:33:25) - Maple Leafs vs Lightning (0:40:53) - Avalanche vs Kraken (0:45:49) - Bruins vs Panthers (1:09:27) - Devils vs Rangers (1:18:04) - Revisiting Round 1 Predictions (1:19:47) - Round 2 Predictions GET 10% OFF YOUR FIRST ONLINE ORDER AT https://www.shifthockey.com/pages/netters  WITH PROMO CODE "NETTERS"NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Shift hockey is the way to go. We're back with another playoff edition of the Empty Netters podcast and we are absolutely dead inside. Dude, I'm also exhausted and I slept. I slept plenty last night. It's one of those when you're emotionally exhausted. And I just, I have been through, I feel as though I have been through so much that I just, I can't stay awake today. I have nothing. No.

I have nothing left to give. I have those like body aches, you know? it's like you know when you you wouldn't know this Brian but uh it's like when you get back from a weekend of drinking and you you feel like you just lifted you had like a crazy lifting day because you're just sore like your muscles are sore that's what i feel like and it's just from like the stress uh we'll get into what we're talking about obviously with the Bruins later when we get to that segment of the show but needless to say one of the most fucking insane collapses in the history of the game and it's just truly remarkable but we got the devils rangers game on right

now third period starting soon devils are up to nothing yeah actually we got all of these other series that are all wrapped up we're waiting on the last one here we're doing it live with you which is fun as hell so let's just jump right into you know how these series shook out and then also quick little teaser on what the next matchups are going to look like and what we think so hell yes take me away if anything could inject a little life into into my veins right now it is this devil's Rangers third period, goalie battle so far. Yeah. And I've felt myself.

Yeah. Felt myself come alive a little bit during this. I like that. I like to hear that. Yeah, playoff hockey will save you. Let's start with Vegas Jets. That is the quickest series of all so far in round one. No sweeps in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But we got a gentleman sweep here in Vegas, took care of business with a 4-1 win, an emphatic win. Going in 4-0 into the third period on Thursday night, right? And they took care of business. Your boy Jack Eichel with a point on the last goal. A nice little secondary assist. Classic Jack. Hey, they all count, baby.

Putting him one point shy of making me eat shrimp, which if I'm being honest, man, I think is a little soft by him. Like, you should have done it in the first round. We did want it to be cleaner. I have a couple of questions for you, Dan, but just to do the series justice, they were recording, or sorry, they were finishing this baby off when we were recording last time. So it feels distant compared to how much a lot of. happened since. But yeah, Brasois's been a great

solution for them in that. I think we both had said we wanted Quicky to have his fairy tale ending or moment here. Not that they were going to get the Kings anyway, but it would have been cool. And Brosua stepped in and got lit up in game one and then ripped off four straight and

looks like the solution. That's awesome. So let me just go out, can I just ask you my questions? Of course. Here are my questions. Starting off, you kind of teased it already. Jack had assists finishes first finishes round one with 71 points. Do you regret giving me two rounds? Yeah, of course I do. Like, I didn't want to. And then you and Emily were like, no, it's got to be two. It's got to be two. And I was like, no, dude, if I'm being nice, he should have to have an elite first round. And like, frankly, man, listen, if it went more than five games, he would have got it.

So like, it's not his fault that they did it in five games. That was even my only counter. But like, fuck off, dude. You needed six points. And he only had five. Like, that's a hot first playoff six points in five games yeah whatever okay so um i can't wait for that moment when it yeah i'm dead like i hope it's a goal i hope it's a goal actually dude i hope better i hope it's a secondary assist when he's changed like i hope he has it chips it in and then changes and then someone else gets the puck centers it they score and then jack from the bench ends your life yeah i hope it's like a a puck hits his skate and then like rattles around goes to someone's stick and then It's like a tip-in or something.

Yep. Okay. Second question. It's going to suck. Revenge Tour. Does Bruce Cassidy feel dope right now? Absolutely. Does Johnny Quick feel dope right now?

Or do either of them feel bad for their friends? They got friends back on those squads? I don't think Bruce Cassidy feels bad at all. I think he feels bad for Patrice Bergeron. I think he maybe feels bad for David Craich. But like more so. No, he fucking hates Creachie. Yeah.

Like I think they hate each other. I think Berg made it clear. He was like, I will not come back of Bruce is there. So he still. Yeah, fair. It isn't a huge, Berg's not a huge fan, but Bruce, if you don't respect Berg, you're inhuman. And he definitely does. He definitely does. I think he does feel better. I think Bruce Cassidy was smiling ear to ear last night. I mean, he was smiling ear to ear when they made it 3-2 and 3-3 and then last night.

Like he was like at full grinch. Suck my dick, dude. Full gridge smile. Have fun with your fucking tummy sticks coach who's going to get you booted out of the first round. I will get my team to the second round. And it just, it hurts, dude. It really sucks. But, you know, I'm sure he feels fucking great right now and good for. him. Johnny Quick, I don't really think feels great. I think Johnny Quick is sad for his boys. I think there's an element of fuck you for him with the Los Angeles Kings and Rod Blake for sure. But Rob Blake didn't want to do him dirty. He was trying to get his team a win and he thought trading quickie could do that. But that did not go well for the Kings. I think Quick is is happy

to be playing playoff hockey, but like he's not really playing playoff hockey. I'm sure there's a lot of shit going on there. So the, I'm, I think I'm, uh, on the same page as you. What I think is interesting is Bruce Cassidy is like, fuck you, or not fuck you, but you know, he's like good. And he would much rather be where he is right now going to the second round with the Vegas World of the Knights than going home with the Boston Bruins. And I, I'm sure everyone's going to say obviously, but my counter to to that is straight up, dude. I believe Johnny Quick would rather. be going home with the kings. Like be the king's goalie still and just be a king still and being like, yep, we like, if I said

you can just be on Vegas and be going to the second round or you can have just died with your boys in the first round, he would go, I wish I had just died with my boys and not be here. Yeah, retire a king or get like health bombed. Yeah. But since he is on Vegas and I do feel like he thinks they did him dirty. Yikes, 2-1-21-21, 2-1, 2-1, 2-1-1. Okay, and then... Let me just say, I completely agree, dude.

I think he would rather have retired a king and be out of the playoffs than be in the playoffs getting health bombs slash riding pine. He never wanted this. No, this is tough. Okay, and then here's my third thing. I'm going to pull some quotes for you. This is stuff from Rick Bonas, aka Bones, the Jets coach. This is what he said after they lost.

There has to be pride. You have to be able to push back when things aren't going your way. We had no pushback. They're better players. We're so much better than ours tonight. They deserve to win. After that, Blake Wheeler, my boy, took issue with it, saying, I thought Bones had an opportunity to address us as a team.

He could have been honest with us, handled it behind closed doors. I didn't like how he handled himself after the game. Kyle Connor, my boy, agreed. Obviously, a really emotional guy coming off a big loss. He let his emotion show. I don't know, but if you asked him to do it again, he'd probably do it a little bit differently. The issue I have is he kind of came out of nowhere.

Helibuck, also who I love. This is kind of a tangent to the future of the Jets, but I'm not interested in a rebuild. I just want to compete. I enjoyed myself more in five playoff games than I did all year. It's like a high you've got to chase. You can't replicate that anywhere else except in the playoffs. Kyle Klanar, again, I don't think anybody in this locker

wants to be part of a rebuild. I just want to play for a team that has a chance at the cup. We've had great success with the core you're talking about. We haven't won a cup, but we've shown we're pretty close to getting there. I would love another crack at it with those guys, but we'll see what happens. I bring all that up to say. Yeah, I have a couple of comments on that. At the start of this playoffs, you and I were discussing who would win,

and we both picked Vegas, which we'll get to in a second. But one of the things we both said, really, was, I like Hellebuck. That's the better goalie in this series. That type of team has a chance to upset Vegas. But everything we had heard was the Jets Lockeram is fucked up. Yep. And to hear this was the, I've never been more right. We've never been more confirmed right about anything.

All of that is fuckery. Everything that you heard from bonus, everything, even the responses from the players. There is clear, all of these guys are such professionals and they're so good at saying the right things, but there is stank in every one of those responses. And yeah, this locker room is fucked and it's interesting. I feel you never want guys on any team, even if it's the team that you like the least in the league, you never want guys to suffer, go through shitty spells. And you hear Kyle Conner say something like, I don't, I want no part of a rebuild. Yeah. I agree, nor should he. But this Jets team is interesting, man, because that locker room,

And the relationship with coaches, players, and management and players is just so fucked. And I look at that team and I look at a guy like PDL, you are gone for free. Yes, yes. I look at a guy like Blake Wheeler. In what world is that guy still on this team next season? What's his contract? I believe he's got a year or two left. I'm checking.

Keep going. But check right now. Keep going, baby. Because if he is UFA, that's insane for them. But I'm pretty sure he's got one or two left. But there's no way he can remain on this team. You cannot remain on this team with what the management did to you, with the way your relationship is with bonus. It's just, I don't understand how they aren't looking at that locker room and seeing a huge shake-up this summer.

Not huge, but some pretty big things are going to happen, I would imagine. I completely agree, and I love the take from athletes when they're like, I don't want to be a part of rebuild. I'm like, well, you are. So maybe they'll trade him, but I don't know. Okay, so Dan, this is the 20. Yeah, so he's under contract. for one more year, 23, 24 season, then UFA. Yeah. So you're kind of like,

if he's leaving, you've got to trade him now. You got to trade him now or trade him at the deadline, and I just think you do it now. And that's a crazy situation. Big shake-ups coming in Winnipeg. Congrats to Vegas. Interesting, Vegas gets through in five. Their big guys are going. Stevenson and Stone, eight points,

Eichel, Willie, and Petrangelo, five points. They've got the fifth worst power play of all the teams in the playoffs so far, which is interesting, because if that gets going, Yep. You never know. Right, you're going to have to splice in the clip from whatever that playoff preview

prod of us going like this. There are problems in that locker room. Okay. Go look for that. All right. Moving on to Stars Wild. Wilde took care of business. Was that Friday night?

That was also Friday night. Friday night. Friday night victory. Take care of the Wild in six games. Yeah. Since the Stars kind of righted the ship, it was pretty smooth sailing from there. And we talked about now three episodes ago, Otter got hot and it's been over since.

Yeah, what, 23, I wrote it down, 23 of 24 again. Not like a ton of shots, but still he is officially dialed. Yeah, I believe he has one of two shutouts in the playoffs or one. He's got one. Who else has one?

No, no, I think maybe did Akira get one? Oh, yeah, yeah, he did. I think it's Akira and Otter, the only shout-outs. Yeah, Otter's officially dialed. I would say, oh, Christ, I would say that that was the star's most complete

game. Oh, wait, no, yep. Keep going, sorry. I would say that was oh shit, Chesty. He's dead. Chesterty's dead. Get up, Chesterty. There's no way that counts. No, dude, what is going on? There's literally no way that counts. Oh, did Chessie shoot the puck at him? We have chaos in the streets, dude. Chestersteed just shot the puck at him. As he should. I mean, he shot the puck in a

I didn't hear a whistle. Okay. So going back to what I was getting to, I think that was the Star's most complete game. If I can say one nice thing about the Wild in this most recent L, they kept the Stars power play off the board finally. Yes.

But I think that's a testament to how well the Stars played. They were just complete. Water was everywhere. Wow. Would have been again. But they had 33 shots, remember we kept saying they weren't generating any offense against the Wild.

Oh my God. Jacob Truba, the fucking Trub-Trube Trane just fucking murdered. Murdered. That is that, Timo Meyer. That is fucking awful, dude. Holy shit. That was a colossal hit.

He might be out for the series, dude. Oh, dude, he is out for this game. We need to look right now if this is a Trubah fucking targeting or that is the cleanest hit of all time. I don't even care if we lose now. Oh, my God, dude. Oh, that's high. That's so high. He ducked, but he did take that right in the head.

That's so high. Oh, no. Oh, that's so high. Oh. Yeah, look, Jack's calling for it. I mean, you've got to call him here, right? You have to kick him out of his head. Immediately.

Truba's ejected, and Timomeyer's not going to play again for the rest of the playoffs. Oh, that's so high. Literally shoulder directly to his face, dude. Broken nose. Yeah. Yeah. That is a definition of a yard. sale too. And this is such a

savage incussion. Oh, that's, I mean, if you're not kicked out of this game, I don't know what's going on. Oh, fuck, dude. That's so tough, because, like, his elbow's pretty tucked, but you just can't hit a guy that high. That this is insane that Jacob Troob was in this game. Like, utterly insane. I mean, that is one of

the most direct, targeted head shot. This is, like, one of the craziest things I've ever seen. I don't even know. That man is still in this game. And, like, what's going to happen now? They're going to go, if the Rangers come back and win or even if they don't they're going to go hey player safety reviewed that

and Truba's been suspended and the Devils go thanks we should have had a five on three and ice the game and Truba's out too and yes and now all that's happened is the Devils have lost Timomeyer who obviously hasn't done shit

but still you'd like to have one of your best but your best scores on the ice dude wow all right we gotta get back into this but that was wild um we're out of control.

The stars played great. You kind of said it, Dan. I think they did something that the Bruins didn't do in that face some adversity early in the playoff series and then wake the fuck up. Just buckled up, dude. I think we said a couple episodes, the stars are putting people on notice. And it starts with Otter. It absolutely does. But we said a ton of times now, Sagan and Ben are going, Robo and Hints are going, you, you, you. You, oh, my God. Shesty, good Lord. You just feel really good, man. If you're a Stars fan right now, you feel really, really good.

I think their team is playing top-to-bottom hockey. And don't sleep on this wild team. They're a good, good team. So take care of them in six games is no easy thing. Much harder out than people give it credit for. Yeah. And the last thing that I've got to say is just, you know, you got a first round problem, Minnesota.

Yeah, yeah, you do. It's like, it's, you know, there is no if hands or butts about this. You guys have not been out of the first round. in like, what is it, seven or eight years now? Yep, and it's several in a row. It's not just like missing the playoffs. Yeah. It's like they missed it once, but every other time is several first round exits.

Wow, Lindgren just got away with the penalty too. The Rangers are getting very fortunate right now. Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh. Okay, but yeah, anyway, it's, you're right, it's a bunch of years in a row that they've now been bounced. So, uh, I don't know, man. I think I love Billy G. but at some point

something's got to change here for this wild franchise. Dude, I worry about them too. I'd have to check the math on this, but they've got big money on... I know they were able to re-sign Boldie. That was actually a great deal for everybody involved,

but they got big money, man, locked up on the suitor buyout and the Parisi buyout that is just eating cap. Yeah, it's swallowing. And they just... you need some big changes and I don't know where the money's coming from and what was a killer Dan was that um remember when they were like the the uh cap's gonna go up four mil and then it went up like

one mill yeah i was devastating devastating so yeah that was not also you gotta you've got to move on from flour like it no he's given one more year dude i i i'm sorry more year one more year one more year one more Yeah, I'm okay, I'm in. Let's go. No, but I mean, come on, dude, Gus is the starting goalie. Yep. And, dude, you just have to get that money off the books.

Like, I don't, I didn't, is he UFA this summer? I think he even might be. Oh, good question. But it's just like, it's just, you got to, we got to change Minnesota. Yeah. All right. Also on Friday night, Keynes in overtime, took care of the New York Islanders, by by aisle.

Cains move on. Winners of the Met, facing off against the winner between the Rangers and the Devils. I am proud of the Isles for getting one more game One more win But this I think this is Maybe exactly what I think I may be predicted Cains in 6

I just didn't I really did not think the Islanders could give them a good test I don't really think they did I think Sorokin got them one win Maybe two He played well on Friday And he actually played great Friday I thought he played really really well on Friday

But at the end of the day, dude, that Islander's team just doesn't have the teeth that I think you need to win in the playoffs. And it wasn't a test. I think that's our biggest thing for the Keynes. I am very curious to see the Keynes playing whoever is going to win this game because I want to see what they look like when they're playing like a real playoff team. Aho leads the team with seven points in six games right behind him is Brett Burns with five. the thing about this Kane's team we talked about their injuries they're not that you know they're they're bad like patches is brutal

sveti's brutal devastating and and Tara Vinen is is you know he's not having the best season but it's still bad that's a top six guy that's hurt so they're they're not devastating but they're pretty significant and I look at the lineup and I'm like who's game changer for you here other than Ahjo and Brent Burns and yeah it's pretty interesting I'm super curious. You know, you got Paul Stasney being the icer in overtime on Friday.

And I just don't think you can look at Paul Stassany and rely on him to take you to the Stanley Cup. So I wonder if eventually their depth is going to become an issue for them, a bigger issue than it currently is. And we might see that against one of these two teams. Totally agree. It's why I picked them to lose. I didn't really. I knew it was a bold pick, but I thought it was very possible they couldn't get past the eye. Islanders. And I think

they did show, which shouldn't have been a surprise because of their playoff history recently, they did show some toughness, some vet toughness. The Islanders, we had just, we had talked about it with the Bruins, dude, and the Leafs, you drop that scary game five at home. And now you're like, oh, oh, game six on the road. If we lose this one, we don't want the game seven. And they went into New York. they went into New York the Islanders scored first the crowd was going ballistic the Islanders had like

17 shots Jesus Christ this is a violent game two on one here oh good save chest see good save chest wow dude he's doing everything standing on his head bride

he's truly being an absolute hero the place was going nuts and Freddie Anderson dude you and I talked a lot of shit about yeah had a fucking phenomenal game He absolutely did. And then, dude, the canes come out in the third.

I wrote this down too. The canes come out in the third and out shoot the Islanders 19 to 5. 19 to fucking 5 in a game if you're the islanders protecting a one goal lead and you're like, we just need to win this and go to game 7. And you get the fucking breaks beaten off you, too.

Yeah, that's not good. But that shows me that Carolina knows what it takes to win the playoffs. They step up, your boy, Aho, the guy, the guy you needed it to be, ties the game. Yeah. Stastien wins an OT. You know, I just think you watch this series

and literally, everyone, including Sorokan's mom, is like this. The Islanders were the worst team. Yeah, like, agree. Not much you can do there. Credit to the Cains, a lot of adversity. I'm definitely not going to pick them to win in the second round. But, you know, you got to get one, dude.

They had some really bad breaks this year, quite literally, some bad breaks. And you got to, you just, you know, it's the playoffs, baby. Winner go home. All right, a series that I think we both desperately wanted to go seven, that unfortunately ended how we both predicted Oilers beating the Kings in six games. winning on Saturday night. We were there. Sure we're. The whole team here. Whole team there.

Us and producer Brian at the game. Absolutely electric environment. Oh my God. Damn it. Dono's glove. Is all over the place. Electric environment. Huge, huge shout out to the Kings and everyone over there for bringing us to the game.

That was so much fun. I love that team so much and that stadium and that environment and the organization. It's unbelievable. Dude, and we had put on Twitter talking about this series, pretty much everyone's favorite series that you never know. It was hard to predict those games. It was like fucking blowouts, three goal comebacks, OTs, everything. And I remember being like, Brian hadn't been to a hockey game in a while and we got there. And I was like, I really hope we get just like, you know, we get a good game, a lot of action. Yeah. Oh, buddy. Boy, did we get some action. Immediate,

immediate McDavid goal. Then Kings tie it and then like, oh, here come the oilers. Fucking three one. This game's over. And then like, power play, power play. Power play. Crypto going ballistic. oilers go up, Skinner, fucking Whip job, and passes one straight to fucking Philop Dono. The stick broke, dude, I actually, I don't know if either of you two have watched a replay of that because live, we obviously didn't know.

We were like, what a fucking clown. Then I heard his stick broke, but I was like, dude, like, it didn't break in half. So I was like, whoa, is it like cracked, you loser? If you watch the replay, dude, dude, Dan, it literally, he goes to shoot it. He's looking up, right? Just in half. He goes to shoot it, and it just literally, it just didn't

snap in half, but it literally just folds back. It's gone. He goes right over the puck, or like next it. And I was like, okay, that actually was his fault. But dude, how do you not know your stick is broken? Jesus Christ. But anyway, get that gift. And then the Oilers fucking robbed us of OT hockey like we fucking deserved. They truly did. Storing with three minutes left. What a game, though. Yeah, here's the thing. This ended how we both predicted Oilers and Six, but not how we thought it would go. No, fuck not. I mean, Fiala and Valardi came back. This series was crazy. The Kings had such an opportunity. Unfortunately, congratulations. but you asked me last episode if I think the Kings are going to feel like this was a step back from last season, and I said no, and I stand by that. I love this team. I thought you're going to be like, and I changed my line. Fuck them. I stand by that. I love this team. I think they love each other. I think they did such a good job of building something. At the end of the day, the unexpected speed bump for the Los Angeles Kings this year was goaltending, and that is what killed them. They tried to do something at the deadline, which I give Rob Blake a ton and Luke Robatai a ton of credit for. They went to,

out and got Corpusolo. Phoenix Copley was in there in the mix. For me, you blew it by riding with Corpey. I think that after game three, game four, you should have switched it up. Phoenix is the guy that got you there. Fuck the numbers. We talked about the numbers. Corpies numbers were a little bit better towards the end of the season. But I just think Phoenix deserved a shake. And Corpie just looked shaky, man. He looked leaky the last three games. And I don't think he did any favors, really, if you're the Kings in that game six he wasn't terrible but a couple of those goals we were watching and we were like that shouldn't be going in right now in a playoff game like come on what are we doing here so at the end of the day I think the Kings you go into this off season you figure out that

goaltending situation you might have a really really serious team on your hands here and unfortunately you got a fucking battle with with the Oilers and Vegas for the rest of your fucking life but you know it's uh it's exciting man it's exciting times being a king's fan and it's pretty interesting to say you just lost in the first round in six games but you're still excited about this tell you i think they should be um it felt it felt ahead of schedule last year for the kings for me yes no absolutely that they're even in a dog fight with the oilers so maybe last year should have been like miss the playoffs or get the doors blown out and this year you go dude we're gonna dog fight with the oilers that was this that was improvement you know so i'm kind

of like well you're back on schedule right so i i don't think there's any um get it all the way i look at it, man, is the Pacific is a powerhouse. They are. Let's call it what it is. All three of those teams over 100 points. And I think, is that right? What, the Pacific? All three of them had over 100 points. I think so. Yeah. Um, want me to check? Yeah, yeah, please do while I'm talking. But I'm pretty certain they did. Um, but, uh, oh, come on. And, um, I look at Toronto, Tampa last season. and Toronto's this amazing team, they've got home ice and they lose to Tampa last year. You lose that series and take away the first round failures for Toronto until this year. But take that away.

You don't look at last year as a failure. You lost to a team that went to the Stanley Cup that had just won the last two. That's not a failure. Yeah. Does the 3-1 bother you? Yes. Of course, of course. But I don't think, what I mean by that is you don't look at it as a failure that's going to carry into next season and be like,

this, oh, we're fucked. Yeah. So if you're the Kings, like, you just lost to Connor McDavid and Leon Drysettle when they both had 150 and 100 fucking 40 points. Like, come on. And that leads into my point with the Oilers. Drysidel leads this series with 11 points. Connor McDavid and Bouchard both with 10 in six games.

Like, their big dogs are doing exactly what they did all season and you lost. It is what it is. Like, you wanted to battle maybe more. You just couldn't slow him down. But like, there is no shame in losing to the greatest hockey player on planet earth right now. So that's how I look at it. I had a few bullet points for you. You touched on one, so I'll just start with that. The Corpusallo thing. The Kings go up to one in that series. Okay? Steel one in Edmonton, steal one. And then win game three at home. And then the next

and they would lose the next three games, giving up five, six and five goals. That ain't it, dude. That ain't it. No. I hope it's Phoenix, but something has to be done there. Spot on. first second thing whatever Brian you can wait on this too it is nuts watching McDavid in person holy shit it's great isn't it insane man

I texted all my friends I was like you're just faster than everyone like it looks like he's a video game or something and you know what I've never seen before we've had the pleasure of seeing so many insane players live everyone on the ice is afraid of him when he has the puck like dude the way you see all five players on the Kings

immediately pivot into skating backwards the second the puck is on his stick people are like fuck me dude like he is just he is such a next level game changer it's wild to witness in person and utterly wild he does that shit where he's like a king

an oiler's D guy will have it and Connor will skate back towards him and then curl just to be like any any like puts up like the hole he's like hold on because he's like let me just turn get ahead of scene and then give it to me like he he's playing like you know he's a dad out there playing pawn with a bunch of the kids and he's like let me just have the puck he's playing a different game yeah it's crazy it genuinely

dude he so we skate uh in at toyota and it's a in the in the gold league and it's a really good skate but every now and then we go play on some friends teams at a little bit level down and when you play those games you're literally like i should probably get a decent chance every time every shift and oh two on one three on one wow ericalla dude fucking Hola. Also embarrassing the Bruins. Also embarrassing the Bruins. Oh my God.

He was on Vegas when they went, right? Yes, he was. Dude. Just a great play by Palat on the boards. I have no idea how the back... I told you, Palat was going to be a problem in this case. I have no idea how the back check broke down like this. Palat gets that puck on the boards and is grinding it up, and then he just gets it

with his skate up enough to Jack here. Battling with Caco, gets it with a skate up to Jack, and then boom. Where is the third one coming from, though? Marino jumped up in the play but that's one I'm saying how is the

back check failing that wasn't that wasn't that crazy of a swing God damn well three oh devils with five minutes

and 33 seconds through the pen last week should I throw the remote now? I think so yeah good yes

nice that's the comeback we needed but so all I was going to say is it literally Dan to me when he goes out there he gets a

genuine almost scoring chance every time he steps on the ice It is literally like watching a guy playing a mensly game that's in the level. He's playing a level down in Menzeg. He's like, I should score every time I touch it. It is absolutely.

You can feel the arena like everyone's terrified. It's fucking insane, dude. Brian, like all of those diehard Kings fans we were around who are like this, they're just like, kill him. Fucking kill him. It's like the only option. But it is like he has the puck and everyone just starts going, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. And it's, and they are right to feel that way. And it's not, I don't mean actually off his stick.

It almost goes in. It's just the Oilers almost score because he's like, everyone's looking. at him or whatever's happening, but it is mind-blowing. Okay, next bullet point, the Oilers are a wagon. And with the abs out, they have to be the favorite in the West. And with the B's out, they have to be the favorite to win the whole fucking thing. Agree. What I will say here is, like, my last point, and Oilers fans, you're going to come for me again,

but I'm right. It's Stuart Skinner, dude. It is Stuart Skinner time. And by that, I mean, oh, my God. Chess-D. There you, Shestee. By that, I mean, the Oilers. in my opinion are my pick

as favorite to win the Stanley Cup which you just said and it all comes down to Stuart Skinner like are you going to play even pretty good hockey because if you do the Kings have a fucking real shot or the Oilers have a real

you put Skinner on the Kings though and the whole thing they have a real shot dude they have a real shot no but yeah if he plays even decently well the Oilers have a real real shot at a Stanley Cup here which is very exciting. Very exciting.

Okay, and my last bullet point on this game, not to get too sentimental on everybody, but I'm emotional today. Okay. To everyone that came up to us at Crypto to say what's up? Oh yeah. Thank you so much. Both for being a fan and for saying what's up, because that

was awesome, and we have a fucking blast doing this because you guys either have fun listening to us or have fun making fun of our idiotic fucking rants. But either way, we're down with both. Yeah, hell yeah. So yeah, I think this is us saying, like, you know, Netters fans, if you're listening,

and if you bump into us in the wild, come say hello. It's a blast. All right, next series. Toronto. Any news? Welcome to the second round. Unbelievable. First time in 19 years since 2004, the Toronto Maple Leafs make it past the first round of the Stanley Cup play.

Monkey off there. Get it off my back, down. Toss it. Get it off my back. monkey off the fucking back for the Leafs. I truly don't know if this means the Leafs are a freight train from hell now or if they're going to burn out immediately because they're just like, oh, we did it, dude, whatever. Either way, I'm fucking so pumped. I'm so, and I genuinely mean that, dude.

I have hated Toronto so many years in the past having crazy, crazy matchups against the Bruins. But I'm so happy for that city. I love the city Toronto. I love so many guys in that team. Mitchie, shoutouts buddy specifically to you. I'm just thrilled. Like I said last episode, dude, the big boys

are doing big boy things. Mitch Marner with 11 points. Austin with 10. Morgan, Riley. Holy moly, Morgan Riley with eight. And then Tavares, Willie and Ryan O'Reilly all with seven. Like, dude, that's how you needed. That's what you needed. Putting other people on notice, like, hey Rangers, hey Panarin.

Yeah. Hey, hey Bruins. Hey, fucking pasta. Yeah. Guys, you know, like, if you want to win, You have to show up if you're some of the big boys on the team. And good golly, look at this Toronto team. You fucking love to see it. They took care of business in six games. Yeah.

Did it on Saturday night, handled their fucking lunch and figured it out, dude. One in Tampa. Sick. I wish it had been in Toronto just for them. Like, I know that they didn't want that. But I wish it had happened in Toronto just for them. But so sick. Matthews is a killer.

He scored, obviously, you know. That boy, dude. And, dude, when Stammer tied in the third, I was like, because we talked about Stammer has not really showed up in this series. And it was like, Goal Matthews, and then Stammer was like, goal. And I was like, oh, God. Dude, like, if I were a Leafs fan in that moment, I would have been like, oh, no, dude. Like, he's awake and we are fucked.

Can't have it. But no, dude, they fucking held on and they fucking hammered at home. And God damn, did that feel good for, man, we put on the story on, I think it was Sunday morning. I was like, listen, Leafs fans, like, I want to hear what were the stories from last night, how are you guys feeling? And so many people replied with really cool stories, like emotional stories about like crying with their dad. Yeah, yeah. That was actually awesome. Crying with their wives, crying with their kids, being like, dude, we finally saw this. And it's funny, dude, you think about hockey fans, dude, like 19 fucking years, dude. That's a long time. Oh my God. And you just like,

you know that there are generations now watching this misery together. So to get past it is such a cool feeling and such a cool thing to see. So it's just, you know, every year, the NHL gods grace us with something amazing and they graced us with something amazing on Saturday night and that's just Fong. Engs, dude, they all count. They all count. That's an empty net goal. That's us. Yeah. That's us. That's empty netters. Um, wow. That'll do it. But, uh, we'll get to that. We'll get to that. Okay. Okay. Um, all right. On this Toronto, Tampa thing, Dan, I want to say the, the, I can't believe genuinely that the lightning, in my opinion, outplayed Toronto, all three games in Tampa and lost all three dude.

They outshot the Leafs like, I wrote this down too. They outshot the Leafs. I think it was 11 to 4 in the third period of that game. Obviously chasing a goal, but the Leafs were just, you said it whenever episode ago, like they just,

they're winning these games that they're being outplayed in. It feels like all of a sudden. And I actually think we made this joke last week too, but I actually think the Leafs went into this game. Like, we can. not go to game seven. Like they were under no circumstances where they prepared to lose game six in Tampa and do all this bullshit again and go to game seven.

So I think that's actually what was been driving them. So that was, uh, it was great to see. Um, I think it's so sick that it was Johnny Toadrags because, dude, how many times in his ODR back home or his fucking driveway playing roller was he out there alone being like, I'm a score the goal in O.T. that sends us. And I was probably winning the cup if he was daydreaming, but you know what I'm saying. And objectively

kind of a shitty stupid brag, but objectively, a pretty iconic goal in Leaf's history to get them out of this bullshit. And the hometown boy scores and I thought that was really awesome. Yeah, agree. I really loved Stammer talking to him and being like

keep it going, dude. Oh, I didn't see that. That's awesome. In the handshake line, he was like, keep going. Like go all the way. And they're their boys, they played together as like young, young kids played world juniors together, won Olympic goals together. They are really good friends and that was really fun to see. But for, yeah, man, what do you think about Tampa? Was it, um, I told you, I told you a few episodes ago.

I think that we might be seeing the beginning of the downfall of this dynasty. And I think it's true, dude. I think there's still a good team. They're still going to be in the playoffs every year for the next few years. But they've got a lot of miles on them. I think it's, dude, it's just. That's the thing with, you know, it's, it's the same in football. Like, it's a lot of games and shit like that.

But at the end of the day, man, like, fucking aim. If you go to the cup and you play multiple games in the cup, like, you're just playing so much hockey. Third of a season. And your offseason is so short. And these guys, like, you can only just do it so many times in a row. So. I was thinking, Dan, it was like, it was like, this Tampa is like the ending of Homeward

bound to me where it's like, he was too old. old. It was too far. It was too old. But unfortunately, this time Shadow doesn't crawl out of the hole and come running up to Peter. This time he was shot behind the shed and put out of his fucking misery. Oh my God. But yeah, that'll do it. Congrats Toronto.

Truly, Leif's fans, Leif's Nation. Like, we fucking love you. This is so exciting and I can't wait to see around you. Two personal things for Leafs Nation. One, I posted that you guys were all chanting We Want Florida. Yeah. I know people were chanting, we want Boston, too.

I was just busting your balls It was just funny to me That you couldn't quite grasp The concept of that chant But you got Florida baby So fucking bring it on bitch And they got it right dude Boston are fucking pussies

And then two dude And I I love me some lease fans And I just have some I want to tell them one piece of news Bro losing later Sucks even worse

Yeah That is what you Like you know A lot of lease fans Like we were celebrating and a bunch of people kind of came in the mentions and they're like, hey, like, thanks for like not giving a shit for celebrating like we won the cup. Like let us have this moment. And fuck yeah, dude, you've earned this moment. But I am telling you as a friend to prepare. Yes. Because the deeper you go, the worse it feels. Like it feels a thousand times worse. So if you guys lose in the next round, we are here for you. Because it's going to fucking kill. It sucks. It stings and it gets worse and worse each round. So enjoy this was the next. exception from the rule and I'm glad you celebrated but fucking batten down the hat win it all win it all are batten down the hatches because it don't feel good no all right before we get into a really sad topic for us let's get into a really happy topic for us anyone in this room got some spunk there's

spunk everywhere in here everywhere do we drop the seattle spunk shirts today yeah we do i don't care if you're not a cracking fan these shirts are fucking fire and also go on to the shop right now go on to our story right now, go get one of these Seattle Spunk shirts, they are fucking for everyone listening, for everyone that's on board, I'm looking for a tagline. I pitched a Dan like Spunk on, spread the Spunk. We got Spunk.

What did we, oh, that's pretty funny. We got Spunk. What did you, we put something on Twitter that you said that was fun? Oh, Fear, no. No, I said, we got Spunk. What did you think I just said? No, no, I know you just said that a couple days ago, we put something on Twitter.

It wasn't We Got Spunk? No, no, it was like, Fear of the Spunk or something like that. Too much Spunk. maybe. But I'm looking for a good tag. We got Spunk's the leader in the clubhouse. But we need something cool because the Spunk rolls on. There is so much Spunk, man. Yeah, listen, this weekend, right after the Bruins collapse, we saw the Stanley Cup champions of last season lose to the second year in the NHL Seattle Cracken. That Cracken win might literally have saved my life. Yeah, truly. It's given me hope to keep living and watching. But I got a question for the two of you.

Did we make this happen? Yes. I think so. I kind of do too. Because like, it's out there in the ether. Like, the hockey world knows about Spunk. Like, and it's pretty fucking electric. I think we did.

Like, this is the Blues Gloria. Yeah. Like, we have made Seattle Spunk a thing. And just like, Scraken fans love it. And, dude, they've got Spunk. And they rolled it right into a seven-game series. victory over the Colorado fucking Avalanche. In Denver, dude.

When they lost game six. So sick. When they lost game six, I was like, fuck, dude. That's it. What a fucking Cinderella ride, but that's all she wrote. Slipper don't fit. And then, dude. Yanni Gord, playing out of his mind for the Cracken. You've just got these guys who are rallying together.

Haxdoll's got them fucking ripping around. And they went toe to toe, dude. From the very beginning, they just went toe to toe with this Colorado team, scoring first in every single game. this series and they won, dude. The Seattle Cracken won. Their first playoff series ever in the history of the franchise, they had to play the former Stanley Cup champions of the year before, and they fucking won. Seattle Cracken undefeated in playoff series in their franchise. Whoops. And you want to talk about not playing... That's spunky. That's spunky as hell, dude.

You want to talk about not playing scared. First playoff series ever against the champs. Dude, just foot on the gas to start every game. First goal, first goal, first goal, first goal, first goal. Nothing fazed them. Losing at home didn't phase them. It was the performance that you dream up, dude. Like unbelievable experience for the franchise, for the fans, massive. And dude, we ain't done, by the way. But massive, massive series win.

Colorado, and I had a blast rooting for the abs last year. I love a lot of those players. I love a lot of my buddies. Love that team. They were hurt by injuries, for sure. What a weird year. Yeah. Because I had a weird on a personal level

Because like I just said I really like I like that Aves team And it goes all the way back to the Bork year Those early Sackic years You know I'm just like I like the abs So coming into the series Even though I was like Seattle has Spunk I was like yeah go Aves I like the Aves And it was weird feeling the emotions like

By game four being like go Crack it Like I fully was like never mind But this is what happens in the Stanley Cup playoffs Right this is why they're so fucking fun Because you just all of a sudden teams emerge that you're like I gotta get behind this and I

I'm with you I've always loved the abs but dude I was rooting passionately for the Seattle team after game one so this is what I this is what I started saying you nailed it what a weird year for the abs because we had both joked they were like lolly gagging the ball around the infield lollygagging through half the season

and then as soon as the all-star game hit here come the abs dude I guarantee they finished first in the division they did and I was like we You're all fucked now, dude. You're all fucked now. And then popped by the cracking in the first round. And they just slowed down. They looked tired.

They looked not themselves. I'm sure we're going to hear about some injuries with that team. But the big dogs played well. Macar. I don't know if he's got to check his stats. He didn't do that much. But Moose and Nate Dog played great. And Georgiev played pretty good.

Like, I don't put that on him. Gruberauer, phenomenal. Big, big, big win for Gruber. Big win. He played great in the losses, too. That feels good for him. Yeah. But it's fucking electric to see, dude.

It is Spunk season. Yeah, yeah, we are the biggest Seattle Cracking podcast ever. Yeah. I'm a big crackhead. Yeah, with a K with a K with a K with a K with K. Yeah, we're fucking crackheads and we are full of Spunk. It's really fun. Wow.

All right, now it's time for the moment I am sure you are all waiting for and all here for. On Sunday night, the Boston Bruins, the greatest regular season team in NHL history lost in seven games to the second. wild card team Florida Panthers in without question the greatest choke job in NHL Stanley Cup playoff history we actually didn't get to watch the game we saw the update on our phone we missed the whole thing heard they lost glad I didn't I don't really care that much yeah you know glad I didn't see it uh Chris you can you can start us here because I don't even really know what to say like I've I've said so many things and have so many things to

say but I don't really know where to be um okay Let me start with this one. I agree. I have a lot of bullet points and we'll try not to bore you guys, but I got a lot to say. No, they got the chapters. If you want to skip it,

you can skip it. Yeah, you're right. I'm sure a lot of you guys are Bruins fans here to commiserate with us, so let's do it. I'm starting with this one because I will fucking die on this hill. Breaking the record mattered.

Everyone said, it's not in our heads at all. It's not a thing at all. Dude, that team with the added pressure they had played the most preposterous version, real quick, devil's win. Congrats. Sorry, Brian.

Devils move on. Sorry, Brian. That team played the most preposterous version of 2020, 2022, 2023, Bruins hockey. It wasn't Bruins hockey at all. They changed everything. They were uninspired entering the zone. We're more willing to get pucks deep.

They were turning it over. It was just an abomination of hockey for pretty much six full games. Five and a half, maybe. and if you asked any of the players now, even no camera, no microphone, straight up, you're in a room, having a beer together off the record.

Did you breaking the record change? Did that pressure fuck you guys up? I guarantee they would still go, no, dude. But they're fucking wrong. Yeah. It did. I completely agree with you, man. And it's not just the record either.

It's the president's trophy. And I think it's... I'm a little softer on that, though, are you? Like, what if they just won the president's trophy? Here we go, dude. I know. I know. No, don't say fucking I know like that and when you try to disagree with me.

Since 2014, here are teams who have won the president's trophy. Lost in the second round, lost in the third round, lost in second round, lost in second round, lost in second round, lost in first round. That's 10 years straight. And the record added something to that. No question. But the reality is this, dude. there is something about these teams who are the best team in the league

who enter and play a wildcard team who goes like this, fuck it, dude. Yeah. We're playing the president's trophy winner. We just snuck into the playoffs. Who gives a shit? Anything can happen. And for whatever fucking reason,

all of these NHL teams, clearly all of them. They get in these situations where they go down. And here's the thing, dude, some of those second rounds. I was going to say only one other one was the first round, right?

There were two first rounds. Yes. So usually it's like what you're playing a time. But it's like all second round. Yep. And the second round, you're playing good teams, no doubt. But dude, you just, you get down and you're like, oh my God, not us too. And then it is you too.

It has been for years and years straight. So there's something to it. I frankly can't believe it. I can't believe that these guys let this happen. But 100% with this Bruins team, the record did matter. It was in their heads from the very beginning. And you saw it. You've seen all the articles.

They were playing so scared, dude. The turnovers, and this will now be two episodes in a row. I am not taking anything away from this Florida Panthers team. We talk all the time. When you get into the playoffs and you have a team that you love, you immediately hate the other team. Yeah, yeah. I do not hate the Florida Panthers. I don't hate a single player on that team.

None of them did anything fucking dirty. None of them were shitty. They were all very composed. They were very mature. I love Matthew Cuckechuk. I love Brandon Montor. I like so many guys on that team. I don't think that they, a ton of people have been like this.

They outplayed, they out gridded, they out this, they out that, they out hustled the Bruins. I don't think that that's necessarily true. I think the Bruins beat the shit out of them in games three and four. And I think game one, which we said was like ugly. It wasn't really like a like, oh, the Bruins stole that one. It was like, that was an ugly game for the Bruins. They won still, but it was kind of ugly. it didn't get awful until 5 through 7 and that is where the Panthers definitely outplayed but like the whole series it wasn't like oh from top to bottom the Bruins were outplayed dude the Bruins killed themselves oh my god yes they played so scared so often in this series all those turnovers they weren't all the time forced turnovers by crazy high press or neutral zone pressure de zone pressure it was like unforced errors just like

quickly ripping the puck off your stick, blind passes, these insane, insane turnovers that always led to goals. That's the shit where I'm like, what are you guys doing? And that's the panic. Yeah, it is the panic. And it's insane to watch. And when you say you collapse, when you choke, to do it in seven games, it means you're doing these things over and over and over again.

It's the definition of insanity to make these same mistakes when you have games. film tape and days and days in between to say, guys, this is what we're doing. This is why we're losing. And then you still go out and do it. It's mental. It's devastating. Brings me right into my... Well, I want to agree with one thing you said, because I think this is going to get talked about a lot, that the bees weren't tough enough. And I've actually hated that argument in hockey in general over the last four or five years because the game is changing. It's way quicker. Jack Hughes exists. Dude, end of discussion. Exhibit A, Jack Hughes exists. And now we can stop talking about teams have to be more violent. I know the

playoffs are a grind and all that bullshit. But I'm just saying when you watch that 2019 Blue series, it actually did feel like every time we went into the corner on either end of the ice, we were getting our brains beaten in. I agree. Literally getting hurt half the time. I did not feel that way at all watching this series. I wasn't like, oh, the Panthers are smashing us. They're chipping it behind us and crushing our D and our forwards are scared.

It's like we didn't get, they weren't beating us up. They just worked harder and played calmer. And that's what I wanted to get into because this is my next bullet point. players got to play right but coaching dude what is what is your job if you're not like hey calm down yeah this that series took you know what two weeks two full weeks to finish

you can't get your boys to calm down for five fucking seconds and since you brought it up Chris I think Jim Montgomery got drastically outcoached here same it's um it's a huge bummer because I loved the hire I love Monty too.

Yeah, me too. I think he's good for the boys. I think he got in his head in this series. With some of the injuries, I think he didn't have, I don't think he had the conviction to make a couple of decisions

that he certainly needed to make and that people were calling him to make. I think you fucked up a lot with jumbling up the lines. And at the end of the day, the, you know, our next transition here, hearing that Linus Olmark now, and part of me loves

and part of me hates the series ends and then you hear about all the Indians. It all comes out. I know it's not because I know what these guys go through. It feels like an excuse sometimes. And hearing that for the last four games, maybe all series,

Linus O'Mark was, quote, battling an injury that led to severe discomfort and was messing with his timing and his mechanics. In what fucking world are you playing that guy? Dude. And it goes back to what I said last episode. You fucking blew it when you,

didn't start him game five. Game five was the auto. You are up three one. You have a top five goaltender in Jeremy Swamen right here. O'Mark is hurt. You have a hurt goalie. Let Swamen take care of business. And dude, if I had known what, you know, if I were in that locker room and it was told that O'Mark is hurt, you start swimming in game five. And if you lose, you start him in game six. Yes, dude. And you go like this. It's, dude, you have three games to win one. Start Swamen all three. And dude, sure, Swamen lost. And he had such a devastating press conference. after the game. He was like, I owed my, I owed these boys one more save. He played great, dude. I thought he was, I haven't seen that. I want to, I almost just started crying when you said,

I don't ever want to see that. He was so emotional and, and, and he made monster saves. And dude, he made third period and overtime monster saves on these dog shit turnovers. Matthew Kachuk, clean breakaway in overtime. Making that save. And I'm like, dude, this kid is ready for the moment. And you just, you had an opportunity, in my opinion, Montgomery, to start him game five and you, dude, I'm telling you right now, they would have won that series if you started him. Dude, so, I'm not saying game five, would have been certainly the win, but if you started Swayman,

games five, six, and seven, the Bruins win that series. And I think that is, I think almost everyone would agree with that. And it's a fucking devastating that you didn't do it. So I want to talk about Sway, but I'm going to stay on coaching because we're just right here. The, the lines thing, Montgomery's always done that. I hated it even when it happened because to me, that is signaling panic a little bit.

Like, he's like, oh, we got to fix the same thing. And if I'm the team, I'm like, chill out. dude but obviously he muddle the lines and then we win games three and four and it's like okay well maybe he was right so I'm willing to look past that what I cannot look past as a diehard fan is some of the shit you were saying about um like forward and cliff like grizz like some of these guys in the lineup are just not doing it no but that

is like I feel that way but they're in the room they're on the ice at practice like maybe they know more um whatever the even dude R a tweeted this and he tweeted that allmark injury thing but he tweeted that Monty said after the game. Did you see that about the goalie coach? He was like, why'd you go with sway in game six? And he's like,

you're going to have to talk to Bob Ascent after, who's the B's goalie coach. And I'm just like, dude, I get super annoyed with Bill Belichick as a Pats fan, but one thing I respect about him until his dying day is every loss ever. He's like this, we didn't coach it up. I didn't coach enough.

We got to coach better next week. This was on our fault. When if you get asked in your Jim Montgomery, why is Swainman going in game seven, why wasn't any game five, whatever? You do not go, I don't know, speak to the goalie coach. I agree. Are you fucking kidding me with that answer?

I hate it. If I'm the goalie coach, I'm like, fuck you, you do. You're the starting coach. And maybe he just meant like, Bob knows what Allmark's injury is. So talk to, you know, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but I'm just like, dude, but I'm just like, dude, you just have to go. It was my call. Yeah.

I thought it was Swayman tonight, and I made the call. And it was the, it was too late, to your point. Too late. So to go on sway, just because you were on him. Yeah, yeah, please. Because I just want to give him stick taps, dude, because I fucking love him. And obviously picked him to be like a 30 game winner this year, because I think he's that fucking good, which he is. Yeah, yeah, clearly. I just didn't know

Allmark was going to go nuclear. God bless him, dude, and it sucked because the first team who scored won every fucking game in this series, and I said whoever scores first in game, Sam is going to fucking win, and it sucks that Sway is cold coming in. Like, you can't give up the first goal and you're this cold. You can't even settle into the game.

And his first one was kind of soft. But after that, dude, he was a machine. And he made those massive season overtime. Straight up, dude, we should have lost that game by two, three goals. Odd man rushes all over the place. It was crazy, dude. Like, I cannot believe that was it. So I'm so sad for everyone, but especially him because I thought he was fucking fantastic. The elephant in the room is Patrice Bergeron. Yep. We have defended the decision to play him in game 82. I just can't believe how unlucky it is that playing a game that quote unquote doesn't matter because he wanted to in front of his dad, which a hundred times out of a hundred, you do that. It's just so impossibly unlucky that he hernia to disc. Can you believe that's what it was? Break a rib, dude.

Like, it's just so insane that that injury happens. It was so clear that he was not himself. Craty gets injured as well. And you're just without your top two centers, man. And we knew, regardless of this record, we knew that going into this season and particularly into the playoffs, we talk all the time. In 2013, the Boston Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup. And it's because Seidenberg and Zadano Chara were too old to go.

up against Patrick Kane and Jonathan Taves. We were very aware that in a playing every other day playoff series, when your top two centers are 37 and 36 years old, that even if they're Patrice Berserun and David Creachie, that is, that's a question mark. Yeah. And you go in and they're both injured, severely injured. That is just devastating. Yes. And it's wild man. You look at this team. You look at how good they are. They won 65 regular season games. But you see them in the playoffs and there was something weird about it. And it's horrifying. And you now, you have the questions again here.

Like, what did, can you look this up? What did pasta finish this with, five goals and zero assists? His playoffs? Yeah. Because, you know, I thought he disappeared, dude. And it's funny because- I don't know if he did as bad as you think, though. I'm going to check.

Well, that's what I'm saying. I think he had five goals, maybe four. Or no, he scored. He scored the go-ahead goal last night That's right Two goals the night before Yeah so he had five goals And I'm curious if he had any

Little assist there in the last two games But I think he might have had five zero for five Playoffs Seven games five goals and no assist Yeah so five and zero in seven dude That's a disappearing act buddy Five goals though dude I don't give a fuck Chris

That's still good dude No it's not No it is not You're fucking stupid I'm serious If you score 60 goals 60 in the NHL season and then you come in and you score five goals

with zero assist dude. Like sure, you're five goals, but dude, if you were contributing nothing on the assist when you're on the power play, you're on the top line, you had 60 goals and 40 some odd assists this season and you go 5-0 for 5. That is a fucking bad playoff performance

and it's a number of bad playoff performances in a row. I agree with that. And that is just like not acceptable and there are other guys on this team that shat the bed. And it's brutal like you said when you have guys like Grizzlick who's making almost $4 million a year getting health bombed. That's not acceptable.

There's, it's just, it's absolutely devastating. And here's my hot take. Here's my hot take for this situation with this Boston Bruins. For me personally, and I think when I'm just thinking about this logically, I think this loss is definitely worse than the 18 and one New England Patriot season. because you have been, without question, the greatest regular season NHL team of all time. And then you come in and you play a wildcard team with home ice, you go up 3-1 and you fucking choke and you lose.

And I think it's worse. I think it's worse than the Patriot season because you had seven games to do it. And more specifically the 3-1. You had seven games to do it and you got, up 3-1 and you had two shots at home to finish it out. And you were up 3-2 with less than a minute left in the third period of game 7. And you fucking blew it. I think this is the worst loss in the history of Stanley Cup playoffs. I think it's the worst loss in Boston Bruins history. And I think it is the worst loss, playoff loss, team loss in Boston sports history.

question. If the bees this year went to the cup and were up three one with home ice twice against, you know, the oilers. Yep. Or whatever. And blew all three of those, including being up with a minute left in game seven. Yep. Is that worse than what happened? Or is what happened worse than that? What happened is worse. I still think that... Even though we just told Leafs fans, it's more painful the deeper you go. It's more painful, but it's not more embarrassing. Yeah, I agree with you. This is more embarrassing. And this is a bigger choke. If you did that to the Oilers, I would go, Jesus Christ, you fucking choke. And my heart, I'm dead.

Yes. But I would go, you were the best team, and you got to the cup, and then you lost to the best player on earth. And let's say it wasn't even the Oilers. You got to the cup, dude. Yep. This is worse because it's so fucking embarrassing. And I'm, listen, dude, I'm not talking shit.

No, dude. I fucking love, you have ripped my fucking heart out of my chest. Oh, my God. And I am furious. But at the end of the day, I love the Boston Bruins. I love that organization and I love literally every single member in that locker room, some of whom I consider friends at this point. And I fucking love those guys. I'm just saying it sucks so much and it's embarrassing for all of us, dude. And I know for them more than anyone. So like my heart goes out to them, but holy fuck, it's catastrophic. I would you call the season a failure? Oh my God, Brian. 100% dude. It couldn't be a bigger failure. Dude, Pete Blackburn, who is a unbelievable writer and Twitter, Instagram personality. He's from Bob.

and he's going to come on the pod. We've been talking to him today. He said, if he could do anything, it would be a race this season from his memory. And I completely agree. And I, dude, I love and respect the people who are going, dude, we still did something amazing this year. I'm not washing the season away.

Dude, like, good for you for feeling that way. But, dude, this is a massive, massive failure on so many levels. And it's catastrophic. You know, it's crazy for me, Brian, on that front. When I look back on the two-cup losses. Like that, you know, I know you're probably not a massive

hockeyman, but that epic Bruins Leafs come back down for one. That we lost in the cup that year. And every time I see that highlight, deep down I go, we lost though. But at least those two years gave me some like epic memories. And I'm like, you know, I know where I was. I was with my dad.

We were watching that game. This year, everyone's like, yeah, but what a ride? And I'm like, so what? I'm going to look back this year and being like, but dude, remember that regular season game against the wings? That was sick. got we got that dub in November. Remember that? Like, there's nothing here for me to be like, well, at least that was cool. You know, like, pasta got 60. I'm like sick. What really blows about the record is, to your point, Brian, like, is this a failure?

If you break the regular season record and then you don't win the cup, it always feels like shit. Yep. Like, even though the Red Wings team that lost in the fucking Western Conference finals against Colorado. Like, they're like this. Yeah, that was a failure. So it's like you already had to win or your fuckups. And now you lose in the fucking first round. it's so bad.

Do you have one more thing to say about this? Because I have one more thing that's utterly devastating. I do, yeah, but I think Brian's... I just brought it up because I saw a tweet talking about the Janus, like, quote. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So someone was saying, like, is this a failure too? So I just want to see what you do. Oh, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, if you're fucking in a higher plane like Janus, then no, this wasn't a failure. We've learned lessons and we'll win another time. But also, like, no, was there anything

particularly special about this Bucks team? Like, sure, they're the one seed, but like, whatever, do it. I'm with Janus on that one. It's like, whatever. The things that make it so much worse is the Bergeron and Creachie coming back out of retirement, breaking the wreck, like all that stuff is so different. So it's just catastrophic.

I have one big thing. Or just, it's just a bullet point, I guess, so you can do your big thing first. You sure I've been talking a lot? Okay, I got you. I heard this from Andrew Raycroft actually Razor. Devastating, Dan. I don't even know if you know this yet, because I haven't told you. I probably don't.

I love Razor, too. The B's leading in the third period this year, 47, 1, and 2. The B's tied in the third period this year, 13, 3 and O. The Bs were leading or tied in the third period of every game in this series. And lost four to three. Bro. Yeah. That's the type of shit I'm talking about with the composure.

Like this team lost their composure. So bad, dude. It's fucking nuts, dude. So bad. Okay, go. The last thing I have to say is the thing that really breaks my heart, this cold. of Bergeron Creachy and even throw in Marshan since

2011 has been the core of my my life, my fandom. Save for a unconscious Tim Thomas performance in 2011. Unfortunately, this group now has a lot of really, really

bad losses. Said this on the story, dude. Their resume is bad. It sucks, dude. Like, 2013 losing to the hospital. Hawks in six is like not that bad because that Hawks team is phenomenal. But losing in six with the 17 second nonsense is bad. The collapse to the blues is very bad. And dude, I read that stat.

Brian, I'm curious if you know this. I read that stat about the last 10 or so president's trophy winners collapsing. Three of them are the Boston Bros. That's what to say. two are in the second round and one is in the first round. Yep. So it's just like a really upsetting.

Did we have the President's Trophy and loss to the Capitals? Yes. I thought that was the first round too. No. Second. I believe it was the Capitals. But that's my closing thought, dude.

It's, you know, my heart goes out to myself and all of Bruins Nation because, man, like this one, it's like, it's really devastating, dude, when you hear the guy say, you know, like, this one stings. This one stings is going to sting for a long time. I'll leave it Mark. Like, Marshan says that.

And I'm like, this one better sting for the rest of your fucking life, dude, because like, this is awful. And I love you and I'm so sorry. Yeah. Like, it sucks. Rapid fire. Berg retires. Yes or no.

Can I defer? Because, because, dude, um, based on all the reactions, it looks like yes, but I just don't know how you play the way that you played. and you can go out like this and not be like this. Let me just do it one more time. I know. And I felt that way about Brady though. And I was like,

there's no way you can go out on this only losing season ever. And he was like, bye. Yeah. So maybe. I just think Berg's got one more. Me too. So no. Okay,

I'm saying retire. Um, uh, you kind of said this already, but just, you're not going to ask Craich. Oh, Krati retires.

Yes. Yes. And he should. And he should. Dude, he's just too hurt. Like he's just, you know,

he had a great season though. Yeah, but he like missed a lot of time this season and then gets the playoffs and immediately gets hurt. I just think he's like so banged up. Yep. I love him, dude. What a fucking player. Thanks for everything.

Maddie Kitchuk is the man. Love of Florida is so sick. Toronto's obviously going to be favored. But I'm interested to see Florida's got a little bit of this. No one believes in us juice in their in their cooler. Well, we're going to do a rapid fire at the end of this. Our picks are all the next round. Bob's breakaway save on Marchand.

Iconic. I said it. I said it two episodes ago. I said it was. I know, I'm just saying we said if the Panthers were ever to win this series, holy shit. No, I said if they win the cup, because I was like, they could win this series. Still, though. Still, it is iconic.

I think that's everything. I would say my biggest takeaway from this is I have to stop watching sports. Yeah, 100%. It's legitimately unhealthy. And I hate my time. All right, let's kick it to the final series, Rangers Devils. We just watched the game. Devils came out on home ice.

And unfortunately, at the end of the day, sorry, Brian, beat the break. wakes off the Rangers here for nothing. They looked way better. First time, Schisturkin gives up more than three goals in 23 playoff starts. Ooh, I don't know if that's on his head, though, with the empty netter. It counts as a goal against. Oh, it doesn't? Yes.

I don't know. Who would it be a goal against? Yeah. It has to be a goal against. I know. I think it says he has three GA. He has three GA's. Is that true?

I think so. I think that's bullshit. You should have. I kind of like your take. I just think you're, I think I have it. Look that. Look that up. Does an empty net goal count as a goal against for the goal?

Like if you... On it. That's one of those funny ones. I'm like, I should know that, but I don't know. But I think it should be. I love, I wish it was. There's no way it actually. There's no way it is.

So he keeps that stat. Good for him. Yeah. I, all I want to say about coming into this, which is irrelevant now, but was... I want to give you some credit. You called Devils in Seven. Yep. Well done.

All I want to say going into tonight was, Osokatano finally got got in game six and I don't know what you think about this I haven't really talked to you about this Lindy Ruff pulling him in the third was mind blowing to me because you've got this kid who saved like

83 of 85 shots he's literally the only reason you're alive did you find it yeah empty net goals do not count against the goaltenders goals against average or their save percentage good fair I mean I think it'd be sick

Yeah me too that's good So this kid saves your season right he's a brick wall and then the Rangers are getting to him in game six which I thought was actually going to swing this whole series because I was like once they get to him it's over but he gives up it's four one in the third

and I know there's been a bunch of three goal comes backs but I'm kind of like all right if you're if you're out on if you want to save this kid because I'm pretty sure he wasn't hurt then just take him out right now but then they score the fifth then they yank him and I'm like dude why are you this is a question now now next week everyone's or next to the next night everyone's going to go oh dude is it Vtec because he got lit up or what's the deal here

and I, going into this, having a Devils in Six, was terrified because I was like, way to fuck up the only thing that you had going for you in this series and getting in a Sokatano's head. Yeah. What does he do, dude? Pop a shut out in my eyeball. And everything is fucking fine. And I'm not just saying this because they just won so emphatically.

I can I tell you something? Yeah. You have whiplash. Like, pulling him was such a good coaching move. Like, you've got this kid. Like, not every goalie's Vassie, dude. Not every goalie's like this. Yeah, light me up like a pinball machine.

Like that was a like, dude, just come out. It was just so late though. You know, it was like four in the first. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. It's like eight minutes left. It's fine. Like get out. No, not finish the game. That was a great coaching decision. Like there's no need to let, like, if they score more.

Like, he's like, you're fine, dude. And I'm sure you do that because you're like this. You're obviously starting next game. And that's why I think you have whiplash. Like you're like this. Now there's a question. There was never a question who was starting this fucking game. Like you are, you have legitimately been traumatized by all the goalie nonsense of these playoffs.

That was never in question. The devil's, We're all over them tonight. It was fucking crazy. Things that we've talked about, they got, we posted that clip saying that the Rangers are frustrating the devils and they had been. And then the devils figured it out. And they really, we saw it in a big way in the first 4-0, Akira shut out.

And then, dude, right back to that. This first period, the devils were buzzing all over the ice. And yeah, it just felt like early in the first period. I mean, the game was tied zero-zero after the first period. Yep. And watching the game, I was like, this is over. You said if the Rangers score for you, like, if the Rangers score for us, though, they're going to win.

But I was like, the devils are winning this game. Like, they had all, the shots were even, but they just had all the dangerous chances, and they were just outstool. Dude, they won every 50-50 puck. They were beating the Rangers to every puck on the ice. Truly. And it just looked like they were all over the place. And then Pilat in the Cloud, the sexiest fucking goal I've ever seen.

Plot getting to that puck and then the fucking sauce over a sliding defender and then the patience, the patience from McLeod to stuff that puck in. It was just a really strong game by the devils. And Pilat's one of those few guys that they brought in with experience and he's been quiet all series. And I was like, I looked at Brian and Jack before this game and I was like, Palat could be dangerous tonight just because he's been in these game sevens and he was fucking dangerous. Something I'd like to say, we've seen the, um, we've seen the, uh, you know, last year's Eastern Championship, champions in Tampa, bounce in the first round.

Yep. Last year's Stanley Cup winners, bounce in the first round. Yep. This year's President's trophy winners, bounce in the first round. All of these teams are taken big time heat off of New York.

Yeah, yeah. And that is something I would love to talk about right now. This New York team has very good pedigree. They've got good playoff, deep playoff runs under their belt. They've got guys in that locker room who have been Stanley Cup finals. You have a top five, three goalie in the NHL who's made a good long run in the playoffs. And then you went out and you got Patrick Kane and Vladimir Teresenko.

And I know that the Devils had home ice here, but I always kind of found it funny that the devils were the top scene of the favorite in this series because this was New York series to win. and you go up 2O with two tallywackings and then you lose the series dude

New York needs to be taking some heat as well like all those three teams I just listed are distracting everyone from the fact that in my opinion this is a bit of a collapse by the Rangers so everyone said before this started we put up the fucking tears

and they were like I mean because dude New York you've said it a million times who has been really streaky this year, including post-deadline when they got all their toys. And we had both said, I don't think the Rangers are that good.

I thought they overachieved last year. I thought they've been less consistent this year because you knew you weren't getting 50 from Crider anymore. Chesty maybe isn't quite at his level anymore. And I'm not saying

that's for the future. I'm just saying he didn't quite play this year the way he played last year. So coming into the playoffs, I was like, the Rangers are pretty good, but they're not that good. I also said, and believe still, that was a fucking brutal matchup.

If they got to play the Islanders first round, they probably win, gets momentum, and they could have found themselves in the fucking cup. That was a really tough matchup. I'm sorry. But I would like a fucking apology from every New York Rangers fan who lost their shit when I said, the Rangers aren't quite as good as you think they are. And they're like, well, I'll be fucking rammed the cup down your fucking throat. Let's see how good they are.

Oh, oh, you mean the team that's won this money games in a row that has this roster? Yeah, you're not as good as you think you are, clearly, because you just lost to a bunch of little kids who just found themselves in the fucking playoffs after being one of the worst teams in the league last year. And dude, you can't go out and get Vladimir Teresanko and then also just dick slap the Chicago Blackhawks and steal Patrick Kane and then get bounced in the first round after going up 2-0 on the road and then coming home and getting shit pumped and then losing. Like, dude, you are, listen, the Bruins. are the embarrassment of the NHL. No doubt. But New York Rangers, you are not fucking far off, dude.

This is a bad fucking first round loss. What's funny, Dan, is I like the Rangers, and in the same way, you know, like we'll chirp the Rangers or the Leafs or the Oilers or whatever. The Rangers fans, and I guess I shouldn't be surprised to New York, never changed New York,

but the Rangers fans are the only ones who are super mean in the comments. You know, like, everyone else, like Toronto's like, in New Yorkers, dude. Come on, dude. Give us a fucking chance. the Rangers, like, you fucking loser.

And I'm like, all right, all right, all right. Gabba ghoul, motherfuckers. I'm not even happy. I've a ton of rages fan friends in this office. I'm not even happy they lost. I just like, there's a little piece of me that is happy for the fucking trolls. I'm like, all right, dude.

Again, I love the Rangers. We have, you know, my old buddy is on that fucking team. I love the Rangers. And I have great, dear, dear friends who are Rangers fans. But boy, man, you Rangers fans, I love you. Don't ever change, but fuck you're fucking...

Another one, Dan, that'll be interesting to see next year, right? Because, like, because Cain and the lad aren't... Are they under contract? Yeah, like, I'll... That'll be curious to see what shakes out over there. Yeah, it's wild stuff. All right, CP, take us through a revisit of our picks, and then after that, take us through the matchups for next round,

and we're going to do just rapid fire predictions. Here we go. We both had stars in six? Correct. Correct. We both had Oilers in six? Correct. You had Leafs in six? had them in seven. Leifes correct for both. You had the games.

We both had Vegas and six. Vegas, I think you had Vegas in six. I did. Vegas correct, but five games. We both had Panthers in seven, correct? Fuck me. God, I've such a bad life. Oh, man. You had Keynes in six. Did you say seven? I said... I said... You might have said seven. I can't remember.

No, I think I said six. You had Keynes in six, correct? I had I... 2006, big wrong on that one. You had abs in four, big wrong. Lose. Loser, dude. Fucking loser. That last episode, this idiot. Big wrong, loser.

I had abs in six, which is also wrong, but I do think I was the first to identify and label Spunk. Oh, you not think. You absolutely were. Yes. Yes. I believe I deserve some recognition from this board. You do. And I had Devils in Seven.

Correct. Yes, you did. pretty good run for the boys there Yeah, yeah, we did well. I feel like we're like Yeah, I think I we got So on the west we both had stars, we both had Oilers, we both had Vegas And so we went three or four on the west Because neither of us had the cracking

In the east We both had the leaves We did not have the Panthers You had the Cains, I had the devil So we hit two of four Yeah, okay Different two of four New picks, the new series

Vegas versus the Oilers Stars versus the Spunk Leafs versus the Panthers Devils versus the Canes Vegas Oilers Who you got? How many? I have got Oh my gosh

Oilers in seven Ooh Oilers in six Love that Leafs Nope Oh wait sorry Panthers

Uh Leaves in five Oh that's what I put too Yeah Leaves in five nice Which is going to If that happens And again

I need Panthers fans to know I genuinely love you Yeah Like I have I have nothing against this Panthers team I just don't think Bob Has all of a sudden woken up And I think this Leafs team is a juggernaut

And it's gonna make it When Toronto gentleman sweeps them It's going to make it It's gonna hurt even worse So don't think I'm happy about that pick Devils Cains Who you got? Devils and Six

Me too Devils and Six I think we are going to I think the Cains I don't want to say exposed I just think it's going to show how Devil's feeling good right now. Kane's tough at home, but I still think Devils in six. Okay, and lastly,

Stars at Cracken. I don't know what you're going to say. I want to do this one at the same time, so I'm going to count to three, and then we're going to say who we think wins. Okay. One, two, three. Spunk in seven. Spunk in seven. Let's go, B. Spunk in seven. Let's go. Come on, boys. We're fucking riding this train all the way there. Let's give me all the spunk.

Give me all of a spunk. Man, I'm excited. Second round, I'm going to be lit. I can't wait. All right, guys, that's it for us today at the Mdineers podcast. We'll see you later this week. Holy hell, we're into the second round, baby. Round two, baby, skate hard.