Empty Netters Podcast - 99. The Avalanche Are Out Of Control w/ John Michael Liles

Episode Date: May 17, 2024

If Nate and Cale want to take over a series they can take over a series. We’ve got game 6 drama as the Stars, the Rangers, and the Panthers all desperately try to avoid game 7. And John Michael Liles tells incredible stories like watching American Idol with Joe Sakic, working out with Phil Kessel, and getting paid to drink wine  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 (1:02) – Power Ranking (9:04) – Hot Ice (11:32) – Boston vs Florida (20:56) – Rangers vs Canes (26:24) - Oilers vs Canucks (34:00) – Stars vs Avs (39:50) – John-Michael Liles Interview (1:46:34) – Armchair GM (1:56:15) – God I Wish I Was (1:58:02) – Temper Tantrum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the Empty Netters podcast is brought to you by my favorite light beer on earth, Labat Blue Light. You guys know that there is Canadian kindness in every sip. You know it's a crisp Canadian Pilsner. And I've told you over and over, but you're not listening that it is my favorite light beer to consume. When we're watching playoff hockey, boom, Labat Blue Light. When I'm doing a live show on TikTok, boom, Labat Blue Light.

When I'm hanging with the boys at the beach because it's L.A. and it's getting nice again, boom, Labat Blue Light. I'm telling you, give it a shot. You will never look back. They're sponsoring our pod. They should be sponsoring your life. So go get some right now. On this episode of the Empty Netters podcast,

bad news for the stars because Nate Dog and Kale woke up. We've got more goalie interference drama. The Oilers aren't going home that easy. Evan Bouchard is a buzzer beating hero. And we've got a game six bonanza this week. Ice is ready and we are back. with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast. Shit is extending.

It's extending. A lot of. It's extending. It's like taffy. It's like silly putty. I was thinking more like. It's like Slinky the dog from Toy Story. The playoffs took a Viagra.

Do you think Slink is one of the greatest? Nice. The playoffs. I want to take a second and acknowledge that. The playoffs took a Viagra. Playoffs. It took a Viagra. That's it.

That's it. Do you think Slink is? the dog's one of the best side characters in animated movie history or a movie history? Movie history for sure, but we should do a dog ranking. Right now? No, no, no. I'm just saying we should do a movie. Let's just, some of the ones that come to the top of the head.

Shadow. Doug. From Up. Oh, I was like, that's not his dog. But he has, doesn't Doug funny have a dog? Yeah. Pork chop. Pork chop.

Fuck it's. But that's a TV show. It doesn't count. Oh. You said movie. Okay, slinky. Okay, Milo, the mask. Marley.

And me. Yeah, that's a good one. Okay, that's enough. Sam, I am legend. Oh, damn. Yeah, we gotta stop. A lot of good dogs out. Great dogs. Good boy.

Here's the crazy paradox. All dogs are good dogs. Yeah, so we could have named every one of them. We could have named literally every movie dog ever. And we would have been fine. Yeah, you're right. A lot of elimination games. no one wanted to take care of business.

No, it's not taking care of business season. It's summertime. Rangers let those pesky canes hang around. Panthers, let those scrappy bees hang around. And then the stars made a huge mistake. Yeah, that's actually not good. They have done, we talked so much about the coaching and the adjustments. Yep.

And the stars just get so many stick taps. And they've done one thing very, very well, It's that they've really stifled Nate, Kale, and Moose. And Nate and Kail woke up in a big way. Yeah. In a big way. Yeah. And Nate was on to something.

Nate was on to something. He's just so good. It's... The Val News clearly shell shocked them in game four. Yep. And then they came back in game five here and they were like this, okay, we got to... It's truly like Kale and Nate went like this. It's up to us, dude.

Yeah. And they both just had multi-point nights. Yep. Got a huge one. They just look scary. We'll get into that series. We'll get into that series. We will.

We will. First thing we got to do for the Friday app is we got to do our power ranking. Yeah. Top five. Friday episode, power ranking, top five teams in the playoffs. And this is the first one that's actually very hard in my opinion. I completely agree. I feel like these teams are all kind of bundled up.

The teams, who, it's almost easier to try to figure out the three that aren't in it. It is. And I think for me, Dan. I feel like this fan base is starting to hate us. Yep. It's Oilers for me. Oilers. Oilers are eight for me.

Oh, okay. Oilers eight. I'm not even going to fight you on that, really. I just... But I think it's... It's either B's... Oilers, Canucks, and the Bruins are the three that are out from me. Yeah, okay.

I don't hate... I feel like that's tough on the Canucks. It is, but they... They're two and two with the team that you think is eight. You know, like they... I know, I know, I know. I just are... you're putting the canes in like the canes got two

they've won they've won two no dude they're not lucky wins they're not lucky wins that's ridiculous that's the money talking they don't even belong in the same city as my rangers they've been they've been they were the better team in some of their losses they were great in game five great they were they were fantastic and that was a good win in game four really fantastic yeah so I'm like and we all we had the rags an easy one so I'm like the canes are in for sure okay

it's conucks And Avs, like it's me, Oilers 8, Bruin's 7. And Avs. How much hate for the B's. Avs. Well, no, it's just respect for the other teams. And like we said, all eight of these teams are so. Very jumbled. Very jumbled. This is a knot extent. This is a jumble.

I want to go out, regardless of that last game, I think I'm going to go out and say, I'm putting Dallas at one. I think Dallas is my one. Okay. I wish that had been. Actually, they pulled it back to four three. Yeah. Okay. Okay. They got a three-two lead. Okay. Dallas won.

Like they've got to, they're scoring goals in every game. Yep. Tip drills on the board. Yeah, that was great. You know, that was a huge statement win from Colorado. But I do just think Dallas is, they look the scariest right now. I think I like Dallas at one. Okay.

Dallas won. Then I'm thinking, dude, it's tough because it's a similar situation with the Panthers where they just lost. but they looked dominant. Like they lost that game one to the B's and then slapped us in game two, slapped us in game three, and then game four, you know, that comeback with the goliant and whatever,

whatever. It's Florida, New York for me next. One of the two. Okay. Yeah, then I think Florida, because that was a good game too,

that they lost, just Sway God went Sway God on. Exactly. So, yeah, okay, I actually might even go them one now that I'm saying it. I don't hate that. I just think Dallas has looked scary. Dallas won Florida two.

Yeah. Okay, so Dallas won Florida. to New York three. No question. Still over the Keynes. Still with this shit. Still with this shit, dude. Cains had a great game five.

But I still think, no question about my Rangers. Dallas, Panthers, Rangers. Cains? And then. And then what about we're talking avs, Canucks? I cannot in...

Yeah, yeah, you're right. I cannot put the abs above Vancouver, I don't think. Me neither. Which is crazy. Dallas, Florida. rags, Cains, abs.

Knucks, bees, Oilers. The Knucks are out? I don't think they have to be. I think they have to. The Cains have played really well. Just winning two in a row against the Rangers is something.

It's something. That matters to me. I like that. Dallas, Florida, Rags, Cains, afts. Done. Done deal.

All right rankings done. Okay. I like it. And that's going to all change tonight. We're recording on Thursday. Yeah. Chaos will happen. You guys are going to listen to this Friday morning and that all might be mixed up.

Yep. And if the canes have won again, give me a break. Bye bye. Bye, bye, Carolina. Bye bye bye. See ya. Enjoy golfing. Yep.

Let's move on and get into our Bauer Hockey Hot Ice. Squad, I want to take a second to talk to you about Bauer Hockey. You all know. that name because it's been the best name in hockey for almost 100 years now. Bauer is always taking care of us from head to toe with the best gear in the game and making sure they're elevating your training levels to the highest possible quality. So you're going to go to Bauer.com slash training and make sure that you let Bauer take care of your needs. Whether you're just getting started right now, a beer leaguer, in college, in junior, whatever it is, Bauer's

going to take your game to the next level. They got the digital reaction. Dangler and the reactor slideboard. These things are going to make sure you're skating and your puck handling go to the stratosphere. Bauer is a huge name in hockey for a reason, folks. It is the top of the line across the board. You're going to use promo code empty, EMP, TY at checkout when you get all this training gear and you're going to save on all of your shipping. Bauer Hockey is the best in the game for a reason. Make sure you join in. Great news. Great stuff.

Talk to me. The first thing I want to say is that I think has been so interesting and long-time sports fans. Good evening, sports fans. I went into a real announcer shit there. But sports fans, long-time sports fans, especially in the States, who are of our generation, will remember Bill Simmons the writer. not Bill Simmons, the HBO TV personality or the podcast guy, Bill Simmons early days sports guy ESPN.

And he had, he developed a theory called the Ewing theory, named after Pat Ewing. And it was the Knicks. Pat Ewing was the best player on the Knicks by a mile. But then when he would get hurt and not play, the Knicks would do better because everybody on the team was like, dude, we got to, we need to step up. This has to be our A game from everybody.

the other team's sleeping on us, we're going to fucking show them, they think we're out without Pat, let's rise up. We don't have to just play our, do our job and rely on Pat, we've got to rise up. I have never seen a Ewing theory playoff in hockey like the one we're experiencing. The Leafs lose Matthews

and win every fucking, Neeland, win fucking three of the four games. B's lose Brad Marchand, played their two best games of the series, I guess game one, but whatever, but like the last two games without Brad. Yeah. brutal like last minute loss and then a beat beat down in Florida. Avs, Val goes out.

Boom, pommel Dallas. I don't know what is happening. Vancouver loses Demko. We are in a full Ewing theory universe so far in these playoffs. We are. There's been an astounding amount of star players missing from games these playoffs. And you're right. Teams are elevating because of it.

Just something to think about. Maybe teams should start sitting down guys. I think the B sit down pasta game six. I just think Edmonton. Sit down Connor. You want to get through these series. Sit them down. Like that.

Shut Connor down, dude. Shut him down. Help the team. There's only one puck dude and that guy's a fucking puck hog. Sit him down. Do you care about the team or not? Do you imagine if Edmonton was like this? We're going to shut Connor down.

We think we just need to buckle down, focus on the rest of our game. Skinner's back. Conner's out. Get the other guys going. Connor, you're out. All right. Let's start in Boston, Dan. The Bruins' Sports at Game 6.

Let's start with the goalie interference call that wasn't. Bruins get one back, if you will. In game five, there is a play where Charlie McAvoy scores what would be the game-winning goal. Of a beautiful play and a great pass from Qua-oh-oh-oh. Oh, my gosh, just gorgeous. Paul Maurice and the Panthers challenge it. and it is a pet or the call in the ice stands it's a good goal the

the take I listen I had a take after the game and I think this is the mature let's move on take yeah panthers you got one Bruins you got one now everyone shut the fuck up about the goalie interference calls the series is three two panthers let's go into Boston and handle game six what I will take a second and talk about is these these plays are not

close at all. Oh, oh. Not even Yeah. Not even in the same stratosphere. In terms of level of goalie int. The Florida goal goalie interference was like talked about around the league and I'm not going to name names here but I'm just letting you listeners know

massive people in the NHL had talked to us and been like yeah that was an atrocious. They were like that was the miscarriage of justice. They were just like that was the craziest not reversal I've ever seen. Yeah. Like that was ridiculous. My take on the McAvoy goal was, if they overturned it, I would not have lost my mind. I would have gone, I disagree with that.

Yeah. See, I disagree with it, but like, okay. Whereas I think it was the right call. Like, Heinen makes contact with Bob. Bob has plenty of time to reset, which he does. The overhead angle, you see him clearly reset. front the shot. Then him losing his stick, I don't want to go more into the Panthers flopping around on the ice, but Bob loses his stick a lot. Yeah. I think he didn't necessarily

need to lose that stick. I think he felt contact from Hayden and I was like, I might embellish this a little bit. The stick goes, but OEL is just as at fault for that stick. I think I think Ekman Larson hits the stick. I agree. But I will say, I don't know that Bob knows that. I think there are guys there someone hits a stick. I don't even think he dropped it to drop it. I think he, his stick got hit out of his hand straight up. That's what I believe. But I believe it was Ekman Larson and Bob just didn't know that,

which is why he's flailing. And also, unfortunately for him, because I'm slightly on the other side than you, that I think I'm calling that, if I'm Toronto, I overturn it. That's my ruling. And unfortunately for Bob, he's screaming about the stick

because I think he didn't know. But for me, Hinen's stick is against Bob's skate in the crease. If he starts at top of the crease, Hyman kind of gets pushed into him so that you get a little gray area there. But in my opinion, Hyman's stick is on Bob's right skate in the crease. And he resets, but for me, dude, and again, I don't know the rule.

You're talking about before the shot. Because when the shot comes, he's not touching him. Agree, but for me, this was about to say, if it's like this, ooh, my skate gets pushed, then I reset, and then the shot goes in. I am still like, you can't be touching the goalie right before a shot either. And that's just my ruling. I'm not saying I'm right. I'm not saying I even know the correct interpretation.

I'm just saying, don't, you can't touch the goal. You can't touch the goalie. If he's distracted at all within like a one Mississippi and then the shot. Protect our goalies. Protect our goalies. I've been saying it for a year. You've been saying it for a long time. Protect our goalies.

So I overturned that one, but I couldn't agree more. And I've even had a text from a few Panthers fans. Shout out Dan, shout out, Ness. We're even. We're good. Yeah, but that's easy to say because they're like this. We got away with one and that one was kind of 50-50. Okay, but I think it was.

I've got a lot of messages from Panthers fans. They were like, that was a good goal. Which I really appreciate. They're saying like, Oh, okay. They're like, we didn't,

we're not even like that, that should have stood. Yeah. I hear what you're saying with the protector goalies thing. I think where I disagree is, I think if you're like, you can't touch the goalie ever

and there's that one to two second buffer, we would have a lot of goals called back. A lot of. I agree, but I'm okay with that. And I don't want like more whistles and more bullshit. That's what you're asking for. But then learn,

like this is what we always say, though. You need to establish a rule. rule so people stop doing shit and it's kind of happening with going in early on the offside with now that people can challenge it players do that less because I'm like don't go offside dude this is I'm like don't and I know you got to get to the dirty ears don't hit the goal in the crease dude I think you'd be shocked how much that would change the game in a good way for me don't hit the goal in the crease like but it's not like you're not hitting the goalie you're

just touching them like Heinen touched Bob yeah like you're acting like he pushed with his stick his stick is literally barely touching him that's not barely touching it's not barely touching Yeah. Like, it's the blade of his stick. He's not sitting there javelin, javelin him. Yeah. He's just like, it's, he's trying to get a tip on the bottom. Yeah, he's trying to turn.

Yeah. Trying to get position. I just think it's a dangerous game to be like, yeah, like that contact is really making. And dude. Yeah, maybe you're right. He resets. Like, I don't know what the fuck we're talking about here. He resets.

And the shot goes in the other side. Yeah. It goes in the side that, that Dainen would technically be pushed. Heine is helping them. Yeah. No, maybe you're right Because I don't want it to be every fucking goal is overturned Because someone touched a goalie here and there

And the goalies are so far out of the creak Well, actually, you can't be protected out of the crease Then do whatever you want I can fucking trip you if I want That's my only fear. My only fear is you just There's just would be too much going on. Yeah, I got to think about that more

But I do think it's I do not like the take of the reset Like I'm like, dude, if the goalie gets bumped in the crease And then the shot goes, I am like 100% no goal. And I will die on that hill. I don't want to take any more time on this, but why not? The resetting, which he clearly does, to me, is the most obvious physical evidence of like, okay, I'm back.

Yeah. We can't spend air time and to go into what I'm explaining here. But it's like there's the timer on it. And for me, the Bob one was so clearly under. Like he is impacted by that still. Whereas if I get bumped, like if someone get knocked the goalie over, he stands up, it goes D to D. He turns this way. I'm like, yeah, of course.

You've gotten up. You need them to have time to, like, someone read them a story. Yes, like, for real, I need him to go like this. Sing the national anthem. Yeah. Now you may shoot. And then have a therapist come out and be like, is, are you good? Yeah.

Yes. That is actually what I want. Actually, we should have the goal light guy. I get that. And then we should have a stopwatch guy for every time Bob gets bumped. A shot clock appears. Yeah, and you can't shoot. It is like, oh, oh, yeah.

The goalies touched and a blue light goes on. And the goal is to turn around and go like this. Okay, I'm fine now. Yep, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a spotter. Let's have a concussion spotter, a goalie, protect our goalie spotter, and a shot clock. And now I'm happy. Dude, your protect our goalie takes are getting out of control. I love them.

I love a goalie. And I love that about you, but this is crazy. Are you scared if you're the Panthers or you like this, whatever? We're going to go pummel you and Boston. No, I don't think I'm thinking that. I also don't think I'm scared. I think they go, this is a great series. This is always going to be a great series.

I think if you lose tonight, tonight? Tonight? Do they play tonight? No, tomorrow. They lose tomorrow. I think people start the chit-chat of, oof, like you got the, they blew a 3-1 lead last year, are we going to blow a 3-1 lead this year?

And then maybe some nerves going. But right now you go. You don't think it's bigger than that? I think if they lose tomorrow, they're like, fuck. I think they win in game six. But I think if they lose, they are like, oh, fuck. Oh, yeah. I agree.

I was trying to get more to it's tomorrow night. Like, I think right now they're like, it's a great team, dude. Like, it's, oh my God, it went to game six. They want it. Holy shit. I don't think they're freaking out yet. If they lose tomorrow, I think that chit-chat of they blew it, now you're about

to blow it. Yeah. Definitely gets in their head. And I think what's added to it is like this Panthers fan narrative of like Boston fans are always crying because of that goalie interference call, which we can all agree was absurd. Yep. I think that now gets flipped. And it's like you guys have been talking so much shit and now you might fucking collapse.

And yeah, I think it's going to get. it very ugly. Yeah, they don't want that at all. I expect a massive, massive game. If that goes game seven, that's going to be a diabolical game seven, not to mention with the Brad Marchand comments that came out today. I know.

Of him being like, we're trying to hurt each other. Yeah. I was surprised he said that. Me too, but I actually don't think he's wrong. And I don't think, I feel like if people interpreted it like I'm trying to cheap shot anybody, any chance I get, break their ankle, do whatever. I think he more meant I'm trying to drill someone,

open ice cleanly and I hope I fucking break like uh well I don't mean this again because Matthew Kucuck's got a sternum broken and that was hard but I think he more meant like I hope I break Matt sternum because I drill him open ice exactly yeah and then yeah there was a there was a comment we should put we should pull that comment from that video but someone's like Brad Marchand tries to hurt someone and then gets hurt and I'm like Brad Marchand tried to hit someone and then Sam Bunnett sucker punched him in the face yeah there's a big difference Okay. Any more on that? No, let's talk about the Rangers.

Of another potentially diabolical game seven. What's on the line tonight, Dan? Are the Rangers feeling the heat? And the games tonight for everybody. We're recording, you're going to hear this tomorrow. We're recording before the Rags game six. When I did hockey talk Sunday, there was a few messages that were like,

is it all falling apart for New York? And I laughed. I laughed at people's face. I was like, guys, it's one game, calm down. Now it's two games and the best game the Canes have played. I think this is a situation where it's easy to clown on Rod last year. He's like, I don't think that was a sweep when they got swept. But multiple games went to overtime.

It was a crazy close series. We are now seeing evidence of here with this going to game six of these games have been very close. And now the tide is starting to turn towards Carolina. where they're going, these games have been close, and now we're getting the bounces and we're winning. And games five, Carolina won the most emphatic game of the series so far. After giving up another shorty.

I think the Rangers aren't feeling the heat, but I think the Rangers fans are feeling the heat. And we all know that the Rangers fans are a very emotional bunch, and they're already losing their minds. Like, it's game six. Like, our Johnny Laz's shout out was like, game six is going to be painful the whole time. Unless they win fucking six nothing.

Yeah. So I think that the fan base is absolutely losing their shit right now. And it's because they care. Of course, as they should. Because the Rangers believe, as they should, that they can win in Carolina. And they certainly believe that if it goes game seven, they can win game seven at MSG.

But I would love to know how everyone on that roster really feels right now. Because publicly, of course, and I'm sure talking to themselves in the mirror when they get out of the shower, they're going, we got this. We're fine. Two chances to beat them with one at home,

we fine. But I would love to know how they really feel. Because Carolina, to their own fault, has been Jekyll and Hyde on the road and at home in the playoffs. The last two years. So now you're walking into Carolina where they are a much stronger team.

And if they get this one, that is just nightmare fuel. I absolutely hate going home. And again, they believe they can win in Game 7, MSG, but I would not want to come back at all. No, me neither. And you think about the Mo Mo,

it's three wins for New York, and I was like, you're dead, Carolina. And then they got that one in game four, and if they win this one, that's three wins for Carolina. Yeah. And New York fans, you know how it felt going into game four.

Oh, dude. That's going to be how, Carolina feels going into game seven, because they're like, listen, if we lose, we kind of did our job. Like, you're the higher seed. We're the better team all season long, and you won three straight, and now we've battled back. Like, if they lose game seven, people go, amazing job, Carolina, fighting back and making this go game seven.

If the Rangers lose game seven, you are now in the history books. Because you, I think you said, oh, you might have said rags in five, do you remember? I did say rags in seven. So I'm, and I said in our saucy prediction last step, I think the canes are going to force game seven and then lose that game. So I'm still on the rags in seven exactly like I said. It's just, what is it, four teams ever? And it happened to the Bs once.

But like it's, it sucks in a big way. And Dan, it blows because if you, playoffs are so fucking crazy, dude, because if the rags had lost game four to the caps, it's like, whatever, dude, we are going to win in five or six or seven. and it doesn't matter at all. But when you're playing a team, and I know Rangers fans don't want to hear this, but I've been saying,

I think the canes are good. That's a really tough matchup. I think the reins are a little, rags are a little bit better, but that's a really hard matchup. Great teams. So it's, it's, when you're playing great teams in the playoffs,

it is so insane how hard you just have to step on throats. You, like, you're in that game four, and it's three three, it's three in the third period. It's like, the only thing you have to do. I'm like, dude, if you lose this game, and I remember Laz was like, in his pod after the game four, he was like,

just please win game five and like the urgency in his voice you kind of want to be like what are you talking about last but I felt him I was like you're right

you better win fucking game five because then you're back in Carolina game six if you lose that game you're gonna fucking shoot yourself no question about it dude it's you know

happened to Boston last year it was it's brutal and by the way the abs or excuse me the rags or the stars too but the rags and the Panthers because we've been talking about them they could just so easily win

game six they're both game six is on the road and be like Yeah. Doesn't matter at all. Yeah. You know, but right now, you're sweating. Yeah.

You're sweating. All I'll say is my cockroach has got this tonight. Yep. This is a situation where you've stomped on the cockroach and you think it's dead and then then the legs are moving and it scurries on skitters under the oven. Yeah. That's what's going on. Rangers are fine.

They're going to win this game. This is a good scare for them. Yep. They're going to have to. Need it. Recover emotion. Neat some adversity. How many times have been saying that?

Hurricanes. Good job, buddy. Good job, Bob. Yeah. A little bob. Yeah. Give a little head tap. You got a couple wins.

I'm proud of you, but Rangers are winning in game six. No question about it. What do you think is going on in the Oilers heads right now? Oilers, I think probably, talk about stepping on throats, Dan. The Canucks, and maybe I am still disrespecting the Canucks, as I feel like everybody has been doing. The Canucks pull off that game. Well, here's my journey with Vancouver. The Canucks go down 4-1 in game one.

And I was like, you are exactly what I thought you were. The Oilers are going to, we both said Oilers in six. I should have said Oilers in five, maybe four, this is over. And then the Oilers, in my opinion, fall asleep at the Switch. Canucks come back and win that game. And I was like, what a clown show. Now it's Oilers in five because you've angered them and whatever. Game two, Oilers win on the road.

And it's easy to forget that the Canucks are the high seed there. Yeah, yeah, totally. So the Oilers could have lost both and been like, whatever, we haven't lost at home yet. But anyway, they steal one on the road. But I've rant about this a million times. But I thought the Oilers were going to win that game by 20. They win it in overtime. And that actually made me, even though the Canucks lost at home and I should have been, if you're a Canucks fan, you should have been freaking.

I was like, dude, you actually are very in this series. Like you are, and they, wasn't that a regular season sweep? Do you remember in the preview? Yes, I believe so. I think the Canucks dusted them off. Yeah. So I was like, hell, dude, this actually might be okay. and then they fucking win game three in Edmonton

and then tie game four late and I was like dude if they steal this game in overtime they're gonna fucking do it they're gonna do it but then because playoffs are fucking insane Evan Bouchard with 20 fucking seconds left or whatever and I literally was like you're now dead Vancouver 29 seconds because you didn't step on a fucking throat

when it was your fucking boot was on it and that's a little harsh because it was only tied they weren't winning that game but my god dude And they got best of three with two at home. But I just still feel like this Oilers team has too much firepower for you that you needed that 3-1 lead. I love all that. I am starting to feel confident about Vancouver because, one,

we have a four-game sample size, and they've either won or been very in every single game. Yep. And so is Edmonton. So is that. Yeah, yeah. That said, Without Edmonton's powerplay, and obviously they're going to get powerplays, but without

Edmonton's power play, they are so fucked in this series, in my opinion. The Oilers are. Yes. Yeah, yeah. They just, they are so reliant on scoring on that power play. And if Vancouver, if talk can whip these boys into shape and be like, stop fucking taking stupid penalties, idiots, I really think they have the upper hand. Connor and Leon are always going to do what they do.

Bouchard has become a part of that Three-Hed Dragon and he's going to help and do what they do. So you cannot look at this team and be like, oh, we got, this is easy. I think the goalie situation is crazy. Like, Pickard wins. You have to start him again.

And I think if you're talk and you're looking at the team, you're like, guys, we had a good goalie situation. Like she loves as, in my opinion, whether this is going to lead over into next season or not. Yep. She loves is clearly playing well. And was that, are we able to say that that was one so far of what we were talking about last step? I do.

We needed, we needed Sheelop to have two more good ones to be like, this is my net now. Yes. I count that one. He's got the fucking poke check at the blue line against Kane. I was like, this is guys, this is his net, dude. This is his net. Like he's dialed. And I think you look at the situation, if you're talking at those boys, you go, we have the upper hand in that.

We didn't think we did, but we clearly do. So take care of business. One thing that I hated, and I don't, I hate to call someone out here because I, love him. I hated that Elias Pedersen interview where he got asked about his gameplay. And he just like looks so defeated. He was like, yeah, good question.

Like they were like, what do you think is going on in your game? What do you need to do to get back to the level you were playing at all season long? And he just kind of shrugging was like, yeah, good question. He's not that type of guy that's going to motherfucker someone. Yep. He's not the type of guy that's going to be very outspoken and vocal and oppressor or anything like that. So I'm not asking him to do that.

And I bet internally he's going. I just want to get out of here. Yeah. But I didn't like it. What if he'd gone like this? What if you'd gone? You know, I got to get more pucks than that. Put myself in the right areas and it'll work out.

Like, what if he'd said a kind of bunch of cocky cliches? I would have liked that more. Really? Because it would have been more of a like, fuck you. I'm not giving you the time of it. Yeah. Well, in my opinion, that cliche says, I know what I have to fucking do. Yeah.

And I think that's what he's trying to. That's kind of how I took his thing. Yeah. I wish he hadn't been so Eeyore, but I think if he had gone like this, good question. I would have been like, great. I would love that. Yeah. It was the E.R thing that I'm like, Pedy, come on, dude.

One of the best players in this league, if he gets going, it is curtains for the Oilers. Curtains. And that's a big difference from Joey Tipterill in Dallas gets a goal. Pavelsky getting going isn't going to dead Colorado, but that's going to be. It might help. It's got a big help. Elias Petterson, arguably, your best. best player. If he gets going, that's like a, the series is two, two, and Vancouver's

best player, their best point score isn't going? Yeah. Give me a break. Yep. So I want some fire from him. And I, I am giving him the grace to say, I bet in the locker room, there's, there's fire. You know what? The only thing I'll say, okay, good point. Because I would say the, maybe he's Nate dogging, because I thought that was crazy that Nate Dogg interview where they said, what's the confidence level going into game five? And he was like, not very, high. And I was like, what? Dude, like, of all players in the league, I thought he was going to be like, we can beat anybody any night.

And he was like, it's a misdirect. He was like, not good. We are in big trouble. He's lulling the oilers to sleep. That's what I'm saying. So they go, Pedy is mentally broken. Don't even cover him. Yeah. And now he's going to have a hat trick. He goes for a cat trick in game five, nine tucks. I feel like that's just a little unrealistic. Well, why don't you revisit this when he's sitting at eight goals in the third period? I want you to look me in the eye and say,

I apologize that we're on cat trick watch. I will get cat trick tattooed across my cheeks if Elias Pedersen scores five goals. Cat on one side. TRICK. And sure enough. Sure enough. TRICK right on the other. Okay, that's a deal.

If he gets five goals. That's a deal. I'll get catrick. No, we got to get. I would even say three. Oh, okay. Fantae. This is fantastic.

I won't do the tattoo, but if PD gets a hat trick in game five, I'll do something. Why don't we write Cat Trick in Sharpie on your cheeks And then you have to wear assless chaps And walk down the Venice Boulevard Okay If he gets a hat trick Come on, dude Can I get arrested for that?

No, you're not your unit The wrench isn't out, dude Just the butt. It's ashless chaps As long as I can wear a Thong A pair of thong underwear. Yeah. So technically,

Yeah, you're in thong. My booty hole's not out. Yeah. Yeah. You're, you're, uh, yeah, never much. You're in thong underwear and assless chaps. Okay. It's a kid show.

I'm gonna reel it in. Elias Pedersen gets a hat shit. Done. Done and done. Um, okay. Stars abs. Stars abs, baby. The,

I've got a lot of Stars fans in the, comments, yawning at me, stars in six. They obviously can win in Colorado. That game obviously felt completely against the run of play in terms of Dallas was just all over. All over them. You know, like crushed them in the first couple games, blue leads, but crushed them early, crushed them in Denver. You know, I was like, oh my God, this is chaos. Didn't crush them in game three, but two empty netters for one. it's the same script in Av's power play did Jack in games two, three, and four

Asper play got on the board in game five, got the boys going Kale and Nate did Jack Kale and Nate got going Kale got two Otter let in that one against Kale was second one against Kale was a softie. Kail's first one was in fact the hardest ice cream I've ever seen The hardest, Kail's first one was freezer burn

ice cream hard and kale's second one was fucking soft serve for Amher but we'll meet in the middle there but you didn't get like the complete all the saves you expect from Otter that script seen that movie wait let me just read it one more time yep that's a loss so they aren't I don't think they should be worried

because they're like we didn't play the best game we played but the yawn rattles me because for me the abs are a fucking runaway 18 wheeler on a fucking Aspen Mountain Road. But unfortunately for the stars, there's no

fucking pile of stones pull off for you to crash when the brakes go. Right? They're just fucking careening down the mountain. And you might have accidentally... Someone called them an avalanche. You might have accidentally just cut the brakes on the Aves 18 wheeler right as they hit the steep incline sign.

Yeah. I will completely agree with you in that. I do think the stars have been the better team. I think that they look really good. There were a couple of bad bounces. that said, did we not do this, did we not make this same mistake in Winnipeg? You cannot, we say this about everything. Don't let someone get hot. You cannot let this avalanche team get hot.

You absolutely cannot. So, DeBoer, squad, you got to get back in the room and figure out what went wrong in that game and make sure it doesn't happen in game six because that team is too, dangerous to let them get momentum. So whatever you got to do, however you handle this, you've got to do it because if you, I think Dallas is the better team. If Colorado wins game six, I think Colorado wins the series. Whoa. Because of the Avalanche. I think it is, I think they are that team. I think they do, I think that team, this Colorado Avalanche team builds on momentum better than any team in the playoffs that are left. Yep. And if you

let them, they win this one, if you let them get four or five goals and get a win in game six, I think they're like this, we're back. And dude, maybe this is a hot take, but I'm, I'm, I'm a, what do you call it if you're like a member of a church? A disciple. Is that what you're called? I'm a disciple of Jehovah's Witness. I don't think so.

I'm a member. You're like a member of a congregation? I just like a member is not hard enough, but I'm a, I'm a, I'm a, uh, the least, you of the church of Ross Colton in this case in that I don't think anybody in the league including 97 in Edmonton can win a playoff game by themselves more than Nathan McKinnon. I agree. And that...

Actually, dude, I might... I might put K.O. in there, too. Yeah, I hear that. But I just mean, dude, Nate can pick up pucks in his own end and just, like... It's like when you got a stall. in Mario and you're just like running through shit and everything's just like bouncing like Nate can just pick up Pucks in his own and bomb down the ice and fire a puck through the fucking stomach of Otter and it just goes in and Otter's like has to go to the hospital because he's

like that was my spleen and Nate's like I don't go I don't give a shit and if you don't want to be in a game seven against Nathan McKinnon they put it that way you don't want to be in a game seven against Nathan McKinnon even more than you don't want to be in a game seven against Connor McDavid in my opinion because just you could be like we're the better team we're at home we're going to win. As long as he doesn't get us a power star. And then he's like, whoops, I actually found one in warm-ups. You're fucked.

So I was going to ask you, rank the teams that want to see game seven of the Panthers, the stars, and the rags. Panther, stars, Rangers. Who wants to see game seven the least and who? Rangers are the least. They want to see it the least. So they're the most scared of it. Because I just feel like you just said the stars are the most good.

I think least to Not least because no one wants to see it I think it's Rangers Panthers Stars. I think the Stars are last Oh okay even though you think the abs would win that game Yes because like the Stars don't think that They're not yeah oh oh fair yeah And the Stars sure they were up 3-1

But like if that goes game 7 no one's like oh stars You blew it you let it get to you're like no it's the fucking avalanche dude Whatever yeah whereas the Rangers are like oh my god The Rangers is my first too And the cats are like this no no no Yeah, the 3-1 thing is the only thing about the cats. I would put the cats. I think I would go rags, stars, cats, but the 3-1 is a nightmare.

But yeah, man, that's been a great series, and I'm glad it's going six at least, because it felt unfair to the hockey community that we weren't getting. We were going to get a gentleman's sweep of the aves. Okay, speaking of the abs, we're going to kick it to our interview with John Michael Liles. What an awesome storyteller. Johnny is the man and Johnny has the, I want to be Johnny. Yeah, he was a, he played pro, was a stud in the league and now lives in Vail and is a wine and bourbon connoisseur and gets to talk hockey out of his wine cave. Yeah, works for the abs on altitude.

He's just such a good person. Great storyteller, like I said, amazing player. We're going to kick it to the interview. Have a blast with this just like we did. Enjoy. Okay, we are joined by a Zionsville, Indiana Native. A member of the CCHA first team two years in a row at Michigan State, a Hobie Baker finalist, the 159th overall pick for the Colorado Avalanche, member of the all-rooky team who also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Boston Bruins. A member of the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame, John Michael Liles,

welcome to the Empty Netters podcast. Hell of a run. Thanks a lot, guys. Thanks for having me. A pleasure. I always say it was a good run for a short kid from Indiana. Well, a hell of a run. Yeah, my God, my God.

You were a weapon. I think what I also wanted to put on that hit list that you have there is I think, Johnny, you might be the greatest NHL video game player of all time. like in 2010 NHL 10 2010 you were the biggest weapon in the history of video games it's

it's funny you say that get people tweeting you about how what your character you know what your player is on these video games and I'm like oh sweet that's awesome I just remember like when I first made the NHL the first game

that I bought was NHL so that I could like play myself on the game. It was like the most surreal thing. I'm like I'm actually like I grew up playing these games and now I'm on the game. Like it was just it blew my mind at the time. It was so cool. Absolutely dream dude. And it's it was the speed, right? It was his speed. Dude it was a 99 plus. It was unbelievable. And Johnny I got my roommate, my college roommate, one of my best friends on earth. He we would start, he's from New York. He was a ranger's guy. We're from Boston area. We're Bruins guys. So we would always start NHL dynasties in our years. We get to college and start a dynasty that we'd play all year on NHL.

And we would only play as original six teams, but we agreed to never be the Bruins or the Rangers because it would be unfair to one of us. So we were just rolled through the other four original six teams. And every year we would trade for you first so we could have you on the back end. And dude, I shit you not one year. NHL glitched. And I don't know what happened. But the NHL game glitched.

And every player on our team, the announcer, would call Liles. So we would be playing and he'd be like Liles, to Liles, slides it across to Liles. And it became our biggest running joke of all time that you were every player on our team. And I have not told him we're interviewing you yet. And he is going to shit when I'm like, dude, guess who I was just talking to? So thank you for that year of my life. It was amazing.

Oh, that's amazing. Yeah, of course. Of course. Yeah, happy to contribute. Oh, my gosh. What's also great is when you, like I obviously heard about that story. And then when you came to the Bruins, who was our childhood team, I was like, oh my, oh my God. We did it.

Like, yeah. The video game has become reality. Yep. All right, Johnny, let's, I want to throw it back to. Speed was a little different at that time. Yeah. That's how it happens. It happens to all of us.

God. All right. To throw it back to some, some of the early days. Of course, as you said, growing up, not a lot of kids are playing hockey where you're from, but you love the game. You end up at Culver Academy, which we were talking about earlier, and then the dev program, which I know had a big impact you being in Michigan for you ending up at Michigan State, right? You get to Michigan State as a, your leading defense score as a defenseman as a freshman, get drafted by the abs. And I have a Michigan State question

for you, but before we even do that, I was curious what the combo was, because you ended up playing all four years at Michigan State. So I was curious what the combo was in terms of when you would go, did you want to stay? Did they want you to stay? How did that all work? Well, you know, at Michigan State, I mean, I was extremely fortunate. I came in with a great class. Like, Ryan Miller was in my class. Brad Fast was my D-partner, same class. And we had a really, really good class. A lot of great older classman. Sean Horcough was the captain in my freshman year. Just, you know, guys like that, guys that I looked up to. And after my junior year, I had a good junior year and Colorado called and asked, you know, what I thought about turning pro. And I,

I mean, at that time, like, I was never tall by any means, you know, 510, but I think I still weighed like 160 some odd pounds. And that was really before smaller defense were in the NHL. You had like Brian Rolfsky and, you know, maybe one or two other, you know, smaller D that were really good in the NHL. So I kind of knew that I needed a fourth year at Michigan's. state and so I stayed for my senior turn pro right after and I was able to kind of get a little bit of weight on up to like 170, 172 and then signed with Colorado, went to her, she played 10 games in Hershey and then was fortunate I made the team in Colorado out of training camp the following year, but I knew I needed that extra year. Like if I had left, I think I would have got killed.

And that senior year for me, I was able to really focus on, you know, just being a more well-rounded a defenseman like the offense and and you know the skating always was some it was always something that kind of came natural to me but um we had uh duncan keith on the team uh michigan state he left halfway through the year to go to colonna and we lost another defense and so brad fast and i played a ton of minutes and played penalty kill power play like we were averaging over 30 minutes a night um our second half of our senior year and yeah it was it was a lot i mean i think i had 50 points in 39 games And it was like we were just, we were out there. It was every other shift for us every night.

And for me, like that, that really kind of propelled me into being ready for that next step. Yeah. That's so great. Yeah. Because I feel like you debt's so rare these days for a legit prospect to be just staying in school, right? You know, they do a year. They do maybe two. And then it's like, all right, time to move on.

So I love to, as huge fans of college hockey growing up, I love to hear the success story of I needed it. You know, it wasn't like I was, I didn't want to go. I wanted to go, but I really felt like it was a helpful time. Also, dude, 30 minutes a night is absolutely preposterous. Like, just averaging a 30 burger every time you hit the sheet is truly absurd. We had one game. I remember the, I don't know who it was, if it was the radio guy or somebody. And he went back and like, because that was, they weren't calculating time on ice at that point, especially clocked it. And he said fast and I read I think we had 41 one night that went into overtime and we we they they got the most out of us but it was I mean it was you know I needed it like you just you had to you had to pick your

spots because it's not like you were leaving the rush every time when you're playing over 30 minutes a night so fasty and I think like I led the team scoring fast he was second um as D men and we were D partners um so it was it was like a really cool thing he's one of my best friends to this day and just, yeah, like experiences that, you know, looking back 20 years later, it's just, it's really cool. Well, that's exactly what I was going to ask about the Michigan State experience. Just you guys had a ton of success. Frozen 4 once, right, made the dance three times, I think. And so tell us just a little bit about some of your favorite memories, especially the Cold War game, right?

Which was like at Spartan Stadium. At the time, the biggest attendance for a hockey game ever, over 74, 3,000, 3, 3 times. against Michigan absolute tilt so yeah hit us with some of your favorite michigan state memories well the cold war was was really really cool i mean that was like one of the first real outdoor games and it kind of you know it kind of gave like the temp he does it pretty regularly as well but at the time it wasn't a regular current so for that to happen we did it a month after 9-11 it was like october 3rd of 2001 like there was a ton of emotion and and um i just remember like um like the day's days leading up it was like 60 degrees outside and they hadn't perfected how to like really get the

ice dialed even if the weather was warm and so you know we weren't sure if we were even going to be able to play but that night like it dropped down perfect the ice was fast um super super cool like we tied it with like a minute left jim slater who played a long time in the nchl he was a freshman scored a goal with like a minute left and the place went bananas had an overtime with a bunch of chances um i mean you know that that that was for sure one of my favorite memories um Frozen 4 was super cool. Millsy had like one of the best years ever as a goaltender, won the Hobie Bakery,

had like a one three goals against and like a 950 save percentage. Like he was insane in college. Like I always tell him like, thank goodness I was playing D and you were getting breakaways on you all the time. That's what made you so good. You know, like he's just a he's a tremendous guy.

He's working for San Jose now and living in California. And just one of my best buddies still to this day. And just the guys that I played with, you know, I was, I was, when I was choosing schools, it came down to Notre Dame and Michigan State. Dave Poulin was at Notre Dame. And, you know, I'm from Indiana. So I think Poulin thought it was like 100% I was going to Notre Dame. And in the end, it was like, I just, Michigan State, there was just something that's fit.

The guys there, what they were doing, they had a tremendous team. And so, you know, choosing Michigan State, I think, you know, Poulin was not, not too happy with me. For me, it was like it was close, but not too close. So my parents still came to quite a few games. My grandfather, you know, who was, was around at the time, came to a bunch of games. And so it was, you know, it was an amazing fit. I don't know how I got a degree, but I somehow did. It took me like seven years.

And, you know, it's how it goes sometimes. But it was an amazing experience, the guys that I played with. And yeah, just like, you know, some of those memories looking back. Just, you know, CCHA, like now I look at the Big Ten and I, like, can barely wrap my mind around the college hockey conferences anymore. Big Ten makes sense, but like I'm in the CCH. And, you know, now I see it. And I'm like, what is happening? There's so much going on in college hockey.

But I guess that's college sports these days. But, yeah, I owe a lot to Michigan State. Ron Mason was there, you know, my first three, excuse me, three years. Rick Comley, my senior year. And then, you know, I can't say enough good things about the development program in Ann Arbor. Like for a kid from Indiana playing at Culver, you know, I just wanted to play hockey. I never thought I was going to play, you know, in the NHL or anything, right? Like I, you know, ended up at Culver.

All of a sudden, you get invited to the national program. It's the first two years that it ever existed. So, like, it was, I mean, they were working out the kinks all over the place. And so, but like the guys that I played with there, like Rick DPA, was one of my best buddies there, ends up being the first overall pick. And then to go from there to Michigan State and then somehow make a career out of it, like it's just, you know, I still look back and I'm like how, you know, growing up, I mean, there's, there's like, you know, whatever.

I don't know, there's maybe five, six ranks in Indiana total, I think growing up. And, you know, we played in every one of them. And we were traveling every weekend. And my parents, you know, driving to Chicago and Detroit and to Toronto. And, you know, we were fortunate. Like our group at our age, all the parents were super committed to like having us play the best teams. And I just remember going to Detroit, we were like 10 years old and getting stomped for like four months in a row. And then by the end of the season, we were actually like losing four to one instead of 10 to one.

And then, you know, the next year we were actually like fourth place in the Michigan National League. And so it just, I mean, kind of a cool journey for a kid from Indiana who, you know, most of my buddies played basketball or football or, you know, you know, things like that. Like, you know, nobody in Zionsville played hockey. That was just kind of how it was. So awesome. Dude, you had a pretty insane run of tendies now that I think about going from DPA to Milsie, then to Waugh.

Like, that's not a bad run of goaltenders that you're saying in front. So I missed Patty. Oh, did you okay? I was like, did you catch him that first year? So my first game, my first game in the NHL was his jersey retirement. Okay. I was like, there was a bit then that would have. it was. There was a bit of overlap. Damn.

But still, I mean, D.P.H. to Miller is a pretty good run. I'm curious, man. What made you play defense? Like, you, you, the speed, the handles, it just feels like you're a winger. And then did you always just love D? Or what was the situation there? No, I, um, it's funny. Like, I was like a third.

I played D like when I was young. And then, um, kind of middle school, I, They moved me to forward. And I was like a third or fourth line forward on our team in Indiana. And I remember I got cut from our AAA team, my eighth grade year. And I played double A that whole year. And it was like one of those like kind of moments where everything clicked. And I was never a great skater. I was the average skater.

And then that eighth grade year first was a coach. His name's Rob Kirsch. He lives in Vancouver now. But he came in to coach our team. and he was out of Detroit, amazing guy, like very cerebral and dealing with a bunch of, you know, 13-year-olds, a double-a hockey in Indiana. Like, he just, he got the most out of us. It was really cool experience.

And so I was playing forward. My skating click, so all of a sudden I was a better skater, but then he moved me back to D on the power play. And so I was running our power play from the back end. And when I went to Culver as a freshman, I came in as a forward. And I, you know, I said, well, I played forward on the, or D on the power play last year. And the coach there was like, you're too good a skater to play forward. You're playing D.

And that was it. He moved me to D my freshman year of Beck Culver. And from then on, I played D ever since. And that was just, it just clicked. Like I said, my skating, that was the biggest thing. I did hockey treadmill stuff in Indianapolis at Acceleration, Indiana, was like a huge thing for me where it was like plyometrics and that. And all of a sudden, my skating was just like, that completely changed me as a player

and allowed me to really become one of the better players on our team is kind of how I looked at it and not just like a third line, fourth line guy. Yeah, that makes sense. All right. So, dude, you have this great run at Michigan State and then you get to the show. You get to Colorado. I want to talk about Sackick. You get to this team and it's just like the most stacked team I've ever seen.

Like you're on this team with like Sackick, Korea, Solani, Tange, Hey, Duke. Foot, Blake, Forsburg. Like, it's the most absurd team ever. And then your first year in the league, you're rooming with Joe on the road, right? So I'm just curious, what was it like having that be your first experience in the NHL, playing with so many of these legends and then rooming with Sackic? What was going on in your head? And what are some of the stories that come to mind of that first experience?

Oh, man, it was, first, it was just, it was amazing to be able to make the team that year. You know, like they had the ESPN season following us around. And the only reason I made the team, DJ Smith, who was the coach of the Ottawa Senators, he got an eye injury in camp. And so I was the sixth defenseman because he got an eye injury. And so that's the only reason I think I made the team. And thankfully, I mean, like, I, you know, I love DJ. he was awesome to me but um like it's weird how those things work out right where like just one little

thing it's opportunity and it's a little bit of luck and i it kind of opened the door for me and i was able to take advantage of it you know in training camp and in you know the first whatever 10 20 games the season um but playing with those guys i mean i was in ireland on a golf trip in august for joe and tymu's 50th birthdays um like like it's funny how like 20 years later you know joe's still a really good buddy of mine and, you know, he was my roommate. Like, I wasn't his roommate right away, but he, you know, it was back when older guys had roommates on the road. Now everybody has their own rooms. And so, like, it was, I don't know how it worked out. I don't know if Korea was sick one time, but they put me with Joe and he scored two goals that night. And so, um, Jacques Clute, who is,

who was the assistant coach, he went up to, like, our PR guy. And he's like, hey, Johnny's Joe's roommate from now on. And so, like, two months into the season, I'm on this team with, like, our decor it was like you know i was partner with rob blake it was um scrastins and foot it was derrick morris and martin scula and um and then at forward our top two lines were sack at korea salani forsburg tangay hey duke and so like my dad just kept telling me just soak it all in because this isn't going to happen again yeah right like there's never going to be a team like this again and so yeah it was um it was just one of those things like it was just so cool looking back on it And like Rob Blake took such good care of me, Adam Foote.

Like, I mean, that guy, he helped me a lot. Like I live with Dan Hino, who was an absolute legend. I always say Danny, he's an assistant coach at Nashville now. I always say, like living with him, added five years to my career, but it took 10 years off my life. Like it was a really, really fun team is what I would say. And like we just, I mean, it was it was old school. It was just it was old school hockey like nowadays like the league is so young now. And at that time like our average age was like 31 and I was this 22 year old kid who happened to make the team out of training camp and I was just trying to soak it all in.

And like when I got trained in Toronto in 2011, I think I was the oldest guy at 30. And just like in that seven year, eight year window, how quick the league went to this like younger model was was really crazy. But just looking back, there was so much fun we had, like, such good guys. I mean, you still see, I still see Joe all the time around the rink. And, you know, we do a bunch of abs alumni stuff together, footies around Denver in the summers. And, yeah, I mean, it's, like, looking back, I, like, it's hard to win in the playoffs. And we lost in the second round, San Jose, you know, had our number. But you look back and you just think about, like, what could have been with that team, you know, like, Korea got a high ankle sprain in the last game of the

regular season. Timu had like a knee injury that really hurt him like most of the most of that regular season as well and it was just one of those things like we we we didn't click and and couldn't you know we just couldn't get past that second round San Jose just they had our number. You must have been so nervous that those first couple of years playing Kedikad roulette at dinners with guys like that. Yeah. It's like all these like 31 year old legends who have made all their money. Yeah. J.M.'s just sitting there like fuck. me. This is crazy. Yeah,

league minimum was a lot lower than I mean, those guys, that was before, that was before escrow. So, you know, like, Forsberg is making 11 million, no escrow. Yeah. You know, we had like Blakey making, I think, nine. I think Joe was making 10, you know.

And like, this is, I'm making 300, I think, my first year. It was, it was, it was interesting. Oh, yeah. Was it surreal, though? Like, you just kind of touched on it. Was it, did you ever have moments where you guys were just, like, hanging out,

goofing around on the road, being at dinners and stuff like that, and looking around and being like, there's like six Hall of Famers here sitting at this table? Oh, yeah. It was, yeah, absolutely. I mean, you look around and, yeah, like, you'd be at dinner with these guys. I mean, the poker game at the back of the plane, you know, like it was impressive what was happening back there. I did not dive into that one because I wanted to keep some of my league minimum. them. And so yeah, it was like you'd be sitting on the plane and like at the time they didn't

have, you know, the handheld like video games. So like me, Forsberg and Highnote would bring our laptops on the plane and play Tiger Woods Golf with the mouses. And like just that that was like looking, I'm like looking around and I'm like, you know, I'm playing like Tiger Woods Golf with Peter Forsberg with our laptops all hooked up with wires at the time. And you know, you like go to the hotel room and like one of the guys from Michigan State, you know, that's still there would call me and be like, what do you do it? I'm like, uh, I'm watching, uh, American Idol with, uh, Joe. Yeah. They're like, no way. I'm like, yeah, that's, uh, that's what's happening. Like it's, um, yeah, just it was surreal at the time. And even like thinking back to it now, it's still a little

bit surreal. Um, you know, just the, the friendships you make, like, you go to battle with those guys and, um, you know, like, their Hall of Famers, like, it's amazing to, to see, you know, to know, to know, what they were before I played with them and then to see them in action. Like there's times you'd be sitting on the bench and like Forzberg would have the puck. And like mind you, this is like when his ankle was really messed up. Like he practiced like five times that year. Yeah. But still like just dominate the game.

And like you'd be sitting on the bench and you'd watch like what he was doing with the puck. And like a D man would be coming to change for you and you would just be like focused on heat. And like the coach would be like Johnny. Like what are you doing? And you're like, ah, I'm supposed to be on the ice. Right. and you just dive over the boards, but like Pete had that ability and like he just,

I mean, man, I can't even tell you how many times you're like just going back door. There's four guys between you and he would put it through guys' legs that like there wasn't, there wasn't even a lane there. And it would just hit your tape and you'd miss the net because you wouldn't expect it to hate your tape. Yeah, like,

I'm not going to pass you anymore. Yes, exactly. Yeah. I'm not going to pass to you anymore. If you don't bury those. And I'm like, dude,

I never even saw the fuck. Yeah. Right. But that's, I mean, like that, that like Pete was just, man,

he, He was so good. And it's funny, like we had, in November, we have an alumni skate in Denver that I, I try and go down to, you know, once, I don't know, every, every few months or whatever, once a month, if I can. It's like every other week. And Pete was in town in Denver. And we play over 40 versus under 40.

And so the under 40s just stomp the over 40s. So Pete was in town and I text him, like, hey, any chance you want to skate tomorrow? And he's like, oh, he's like, I'm playing in the Legends game in Toronto next week. again. Yeah, I'd love to. He's like, I just need a stick. And I was like, okay. So I texted John Mitchell. And I was like, hey, can Forsberg use your stick for this? And he's like for alumni skates. He's like, yeah, sure. So I texted Joe. I was like, hey, Pete's skate tomorrow. You want to skate. Joe's like, yep, I'm in. So then I text Haydook. I was like, hey, Joe and Peter in for tomorrow. And Hey, Duke's like, yep, I'm in. And so all of a sudden,

like, our starting lineup on the over 40 side was like, Hey Duke, Sackick, Forsberg. and then you had like, you know, some of the younger guys like Kyle Quincy on the other side, John Mitchell, like good players, great players, but like Pete still on one leg, like his hands are ridiculous. And so the abs were practicing at the same time. So it's side by side rinks there in Denver. And so all of a sudden, Kyle Keith tweeted,

abs alumni skate happening right now, Forrests for exactly, hey Duke start. And like all these fans start trickling over. And like we had, I think we had more fans of the abs practice because of those guys. Like it was, it was just surreal. like doing that in you know today 20 years later after playing with those guys um you know that the 0304 season dude i mean intimidation alone oh my god i feel like the over 40s out the edge there

that's awesome when did uh hey when did um sackick make you give up the z bubble when did that happen officially oh you saw that tweet yeah he uh my rookie year so i had the z bubble Nike wood blade combo i love that thing it was awesome and uh i used it my whole college career and like partway through the year it was like a month into the season and um joe was like hey your shot is awful he's like you have to switch to a synergy otherwise i'm not passing you the puck anymore and so i switched to a synergy because of that so that was like the day the z bubble nike blade combo died i still have a few in the in the garage that uh i don't know if i'll break them out but but those are that's like my my college career summed up is the z bubble with a nike blade

was the best. Joe was just trying to push for more sack at curve sales. Yeah, he's like, we need everybody to get the sack at curve. He was one of the biggest synergy guys in the game. Yeah. It was, it was better. It was better. The shot was at least a little harder. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We needed that. Johnny, I think next time the abs win the cup, we need to deliver Joe a Z bubble wood blade combo right to his desk as a gift. Yeah. I don't know if if he will uh if he'll if he'll touch that thing he's still he's still got quite a few synergies um like hanging around and um he he skates he admits is what i would say i love that he still looks pretty good out there he like him and like pete's hands um like he was just he was putting it

through guys legs all over the place in that alumni skate like it was it was fun to watch and then hey duke hey dude can still play like he can flat like if you put him on the right side with mckinan and Lanton, he'd score 25 goals. Like, he still posting in every time, like, can still move. Like, it is unbelievable. And we have these alumni events all over the mountains. So we do one in Vail. We do one in Aspen.

We do one in Brackton. And we do one in Telluride. And, like, when Hedgy's on the other team, it is the most frustrating thing ever because the guy still has the puck, like, on a string and can just, like, he scores, I don't know what. They scores like eight goals a game every time. It's against other alumni. It's just,

it's so frustrating, but it's fun to watch because he's, he stays in really good shape. And, yeah, him and like Pierre Turter genre in unbelievable shape still. I love that.

Johnny, I got a Leafs question for you, but before I even ask it, I know you've told this story a bunch times, but some of our listeners haven't heard the Kessel Carlisle story. Can you just tell that? Can you just do that impression really quickly

so they can hear it? Oh, oh, man. Phil Kessel. Yeah, so Randy came in and he said, wanted to do way-ins. And so we were doing way-ins. And it wasn't like one of the first ones, but it was one of those days, Bill came in. You know, Bill's like 50-50, grumpy or like grumpy,

but then like kind of grumpy. Like he's never like over-the-top happy, I feel like. He comes in and he smiles and you're like, oh, all right, that's like good day for Phil. And, you know, some days he comes in like grumpy and, man, I'm just so tired today. Like, it's so it was one of those days, I think, and Randy, you know, everybody weighed in that day. And Randy had like the, what he thought everybody should be, like, playing at. Like, here's your window that he thinks you should be playing at. And so Phil didn't weigh in. And Belza, the strength coach took it into Randy.

And Randy's like, where's Phil? And he's like, he won't weigh in. And Randy's like, you tell him he needs to weigh in right now. And so Belza comes back and he's like, Phil, you got to weigh in. Randy's telling me you got to weigh in. And then Phil just, just like, lost that he, like, pokes his head. head out down the hall and he just you tell that fat fuck if he wants me to weigh in he come wave me in himself and like all of us are standing there we're like yo you know like you just

putting your head down right like because it's Phil like he's dude I love the guy like he's one of my favorite like favorite guys I ever played he's so funny and like he's like kind of a freak athlete too like doesn't never ate well like he you know doesn't like the taste of water he would drink Coke in between periods and like he just you know like but then the guy is like ping pong he would beat anybody like him and finuff would have these like knock down drag out matches before practice he was a really good golfer um like in the weight room you could make a bet with him like he'd be like oh i can't lift this and you'd be like okay you see that 140 pound dumbbell i'll give you a thousand bucks if you can clean it over your head and he'd just walk over and just be like boom and just

rip it over his head and he'd be like pay up right he was just he was he was just so explosive and he just played it off like he wasn't and like everything was just this chore and challenge but man i i it's it's amazing what he was a like the player that he was and and um just the things that he could do like he was an awesome guy and man he was an endless endless source of comedy in that room it was it was awesome to play with him what a dream i ikel said the same thing he was like he is like the best guy in the world to be around and if he took care of his body even a little bit, he'd play until he was 60. It's one, and like you think about Iron Man streak and, you know, I mean,

two-time Stanley Cup winner, right? Like, he's just a, he's, he's, like, it's awesome to see because, you know, and I think he dialed in like everything a little better by that time, right? When he was in Pittsburgh, you know, you had him and Tocut were good buddies. And I think Toc was in his year about like nutrition and things like that. I mean, he, like, he did it, right? Like, he just did it. He went out and did it every night.

Like, he would come in after every warm-up, and he would be like, Doc, I can't go tonight. My wrist is, I think it's broken. And the doctor would be like, well, Phil, you know, like, let's give it a shot. Like, the doctor in Toronto was, like, amazing. He, like, he basically got Phil to play every game from some sort of ailment that was, that was hurting Phil after warm-ups. and Phil would have like a goal and two assists in the first period. He'd be like, I feel all right. I feel a little better, you know.

It's so funny to me that Phil gets the Iron Man streak when it turns out he was trying to not play every single night. Against all odds, he got the Iron Man streak. It's unbelievable. Yeah. Oh, Christ. It's unbelievable. He like somehow, and we're watching it. And it's like, I'm like, he's going to get this streak.

And every like he. I mean, he very rarely got hit hard, right? Like, he just, he saw the game, you know, in, like, slow motion. Like, he could see these plays coming. And there's a reason why he was such a good player. And, yeah, he very rarely, like, he got hit hard in Tampa, like, one of his first years, I think, with Toronto. But other than that, like, I don't remember him getting really hard. Like, and I remember playing against him when he was in Pitt.

And I think I was in, like, Carolina. And I was coming down the boards and I could hear him behind me. He's like, Johnny, I'm right here. You better watch it. I'm going to take the puck from you. And that was like the constant playing against Phil. It was amazing. Oh, God, he's such a beauty.

It's incredible. I love it so much. He is. Oh, gosh. All right. Do you want to talk about Toronto, Boston? Well, I was going to ask quick, Johnny, because we're bees guys. So I wanted to ask quick about that game seven, and I hate to do it to you.

But just, I've always been so curious, what was the vibe before OT? Like, what was the energy? in the room after it gets tired. Are you guys like, we are fucked? Or are you like, it's all right, boys. Like, come on. You know, what was that energy? Well, I mean, the vibe, like, the whole thing was crazy.

So, like, I played game one. I was healthy, like, game, I think, two, three, four. And then came back for game five in Boston. Mark Fraser broke his face. Then we played in Toronto game six, won that game. So all of a sudden, it's three, three. And I remember we played game. Game six and game seven back to back.

Oh, yeah. I flew to Boston. I forgot about that. And I remember, yeah. And I think Boston's plane broke down. I think they didn't even fly out after the game six. I think they flew in the morning of game seven. Yes.

And so, I mean, like you know that somebody in Toronto, one of the airline guys was in that thing, like banging away with a wrench, whatever, right? Just pouring coffee on the main frame. Oh,

yeah. I remember waking up game seven in Boston, and I got out of bed and my knee gave out. And I was like, what just happened? And so I called the doctor and he's like, hey, he's like, you got to come down here. And so I went and saw him and he's like, you have a grade two MCL, borderline grade three. So, but it was like, I didn't even feel it from game six. Yeah.

Until I woke up the next morning. They're like, all right, you got to come into the ring, whatever, three hours early because we, you know, we got to know if you're going to play or if somebody else has to go in. And so I remember, I don't know what it was, but it was something. and I remember going out for warmups after the they gave me like this pain killer and I did not feel anything for like four days like it was like I was I just remember like flying around at warmups and I was like yep good to go yeah this thing is great dude it was like yeah it was unbelievable I was like and then like four days later I was like oh my god I'm like my knee hurts so bad and it took like the majority of the summer sorry I like went off on a little

tangent there about game seven but it was like it was like it was hilarious but it was It was, I just, it's like one of the things that you like, like, replaced in your head. And I just remember like after third period going into overtime, no, I mean, the vibe was still good. Like, yeah, you don't want to give up three goals. But like, we were down three to one and nobody gave us a chance in the series. And we go into Boston and play really well in game five.

Then we play really well in game six. And then we had a chance to win in game seven. And like everybody, you know, I don't know, like we just after game one, like, man, they, they pumped us in game one, I'm pretty sure. And so it was like nobody was giving us a chance. So to even be in that situation, like, we knew, like, all it takes is one, right? And so you're just, you're trying to, you know, trying to muster up more energy for that. Like, it was a, it was a tough, hard fought series.

I mean, that, that team that Boston had was, they were tough. They were like the gold standard for, for, you know, like the NHL, right? Like, and we, you know, we kind of went toe to toe with them. And unfortunately, like, I had then. going there and playing with those guys four years later, right? Like, Bergey is unbelievable, scores the overtime winner, of course. Marshy, like, I hated playing against Marci, but, like, you love them to death when you play with them.

And, like, I always say, you know, you see, like, you know why they had success or they've had success for so long. Like, they genuinely care about each other in that room. Like, Berge and Marci, like, you go in and they care about you. Like, they care about your family. You feel like your love. And, like, I only speak. spent a year and a half in Boston, but I love every second. You know, I had a bad concussion

my last year and missed a bunch of games, but like playing with those guys in that group and that organization, like it just meant so much to me. Like I, I've said this multiple times. I couldn't have picked a better place to finish my career. Like Tori Krug, he's a Michigan State kid. Like, you know, one of my best buddies to this day, you know, like Bergey, like unbelievable guy, the guys that I played with in that room and like just being in the city. And I just, I loved every second of it. Like my wife and I still, if we weren't in Colorado, my wife's from here, and we weren't like building a house, like we probably would have stayed in Boston.

Sweenes actually tried to hire me twice when I retired. And I just, you know, I said, I'm like, I'm in Colorado doing TV, but I appreciate it. Like, he was great to me. And yeah, just it was a really, really awesome experience. That's amazing, dude. I knew you became really good buddies with Kruger, but that's, it's awesome to hear because obviously that's our childhood rooting for that team and that core and you want to you want to believe that it's just a great group so I love that it truly is

and yeah like I said I couldn't ask for a better place to finish I mean like I could name off all you know so many more guys Z and Carlo came in as a rookie my last year and he's a Colorado kid like it's yeah it's funny like just you know he's back in Colorado in the summers and like we still go and get dinner and, you know, our wives are still really close. And I mean, just a fantastic kid. It's funny. Like that training camp, when Carlo came in, he was 18, 65, just a freak athlete, like crushing all these testings that they, like the testing that they do.

And normally like at that age, they were saying like not only that age, but like that, you know, you're that big and you're normally not really, like you don't excel at a lot of the tests that they do. And he crushed everything. And so it was like, man, this kid is. is legit. And I remember Sweene's pulling me aside. And he's like, hey, he's like, you're, you're going to, like, you're going to, like, I want you to sit next to him on the bench. You're going to be his partner. I want you to sit next to him on the plane. And so for the whole

training camp, I was like, all right, Brandon, what did you see there? Like, what did you think of this? What do you think of that? And I just remember, like, game one, they put him with Z. And it was like him and Z for the rest of the year. I never played like another ship with him. Like, what the fuck? Yeah, but it was, yeah, you know, like the Crash Davis. of, you know, of Boulderum, right? Like, you know, taking Evie Calvin Lelush and, like, you know,

you have fungus on your shower shoes, right? You win 20 in the show. You win 20 in the show. You can have fungus on your shower shoes. Exactly. But, yeah, Brandon is a great kid. We might have just become best friends with that Bull Durham reference.

That was fantastic. Dude, I don't, I don't want to talk about maybe a negative story, but it's such an interesting thing. and I need you to just share it a little bit. I want to talk about the Winter Classic game in Toronto because I don't think everyone knows that story. So tell the people how, what went down,

you're about to play in a Winter Classic, and then you get the call from the Cains. Yeah, so that year in training camp with Toronto, I got sent down to the minors and played with the Marleys to start the season. You know, it was, I mean, I don't know, it was kind of one of those things. The writing was a little bit on the wall, you know, with Toronto in terms of like,

I'd sign this extension. Ron Wilson got fired. Randy came in. You know, Randy was looking more bigger, stronger kind of D-Men. You know, Jake Gardner came in and was playing really well as a rookie Morgan Riley. You know, like we had these young puck movers and so all of a sudden it kind of made me a little bit expendable, I would say. And so I got put on waivers, played for the Marley's, got called up and then was kind of playing here and there. And the, we were in, we were in Detroit staying. And the night before my agent called me, he goes, hey, there might be a trade happening. They're still working out the details. I'm like, okay, cool. I think I was in the lineup the next day, but I'm not 100% sure. But, you know, Randy never posted the lineups until after warmups, basically. So you never

knew, like you were just on your, you know, you were just ready. And so go out for, well, I'm about to go out for warmups. And I think it was Dave Nones, came up to me. He's like, hey, we have a trade in place. And I go, perfect. I go, I'm still going out for warm up. Yeah. And he's like, he's like all right sounds good and uh and so like it wasn't i don't think everything was completely finalized so i went out for warm-ups like no bucket knew i was getting traded go to stretch on the red line and like Kyle quincy's on Detroit Drew Miller Ryan's brother and so like I'm really good buddies with those guys played with Kyle in Colorado and Drew was a Michigan state kid and and um yeah just like you know really close with our family and um and they were like hey what's up and

and I was like I just got traded they're like no no way right like across the red line yeah And I'm like, yeah, I just got traded. I go, I don't know where yet. And they're just laughing. And so then I just wheeled around for warmups. And it's funny, like walking off the ice, like you walk in the big house there at Michigan Stadium, you walk like we walk next to Detroit off the ice. Yeah.

And Drew Miller, there's a picture of him with his arm around me going into the tunnel because I had just gotten traded and it was Carolina. So I watched the game from the tunnel standing there. And I got on the equestrian. equipment truck to the airport to fly to Washington, D.C. to meet Carolina. So I literally rode in the equipment truck with the equipment guys and then Jim Hughes, Jack and Quinn's dad. Sure. He was one of the scouts for Toronto and he was flying to like Finland to scout. And so we rode in the equipment truck together. Like it's like so funny. And he like pulled me aside at the

draft a couple years ago. And he's like, do you remember riding the equipment truck with me? Like right after you got traded. I'm like, holy cow, like I didn't remember that, but now I do. Yeah. It's just, you know, like, just crazy. And now you see like Jack Quinn, like they're like dominating and they were like small. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I'm like, God, it's crazy. It's crazy to think about. That is hilarious. What a journey. All right. And then Johnny, tell us a little bit about what you're up to now. You're doing the altitude stuff, but then also the real estate gig, which I think is fascinating. Yeah. I heard you say on on chicklets that you were like, my brain was going to fall out of my ears if I didn't find something to do.

So yeah, tell us about how the real estate helped keep that baby in there. Well, you know, for me, it's like, it's been a new challenge. And I've been fortunate. I have a great mentor here. He was a Middlebury guy, played baseball at Middlebury. Our kids are the same age. They play hockey together. Yeah, he just kind of, you know, I was like going crazy, you know,

2019 or whatever right before COVID. And I'm like, I just, my brain feels like it's, leaking out my ears because i i'm not doing anything right like i'm doing tv which was great but i wasn't doing tv full time and so it was like okay i just needed something to like really dive into and he brought me um on with him with sotheby's and um and then since then we were on like a new development here like a 200 million dollar condo town home development called front gate avon um which has been like an amazing experience learned so much um and and yeah like um it's one of those things like i just you know tv was way that I kind of I got into it because I just wasn't sure what I was going to do when I retired.

I was like, oh, I'll just ski and golf and, you know, hang out and enjoy time with the family. And like, partway through that first summer, I was like, oh, no, I'm not going to do anything. Like, I'm terrible at not doing anything. And so I, like, you know, I was in touch with the TV guys in Denver and they were, they were awesome. They're like, yeah, come down whenever you want. It's been a cool thing because that, to me, like, it's, I've been doing it for seven years. years and you know kind of you know ebbs and flows with how many games i actually do the playoffs are awesome i try and do as many of those games i can and the wine case been like a thing that's you know

materialized from covid um but yeah the real estate has been a you know great thing for me to learn and like really um just like dive into and it's funny billy jaffy who's one of the tv guys for the bruin uh he was uh he did ccHA stuff when i was at michigan state so i i've known him forever and when i you know when we lost to ottawa that year and we were going through like the exit stuff and he kind of pulled me aside and he's like hey he's like don't be afraid to fail he goes you you like you like NHL guys like you you're so used to succeeding making you know whatever college hockey junior like like NHL and you've had this success for so long that you don't realize that like failure is a part of life and it's something that is you know everybody goes through it and so he's like

don't be afraid to fail and you're going to fail. And I like to me, that really stuck like to this day. I still sit there and I'm like, okay, like real estate has been a great thing for me. It was something that I was, you know, like you get into it and you're like, oh my God.

Like I don't even know what's going on half the time. You know, it's just, yeah, it's terrifying. And you're like, but you have to be willing to put yourself out there and try new things. And so it's been a really cool thing for me to be able to do and, you know, just feel like I'm, I'm challenging myself. Yeah.

And, you know, not to say that, you know, it's, I'm going to be a real estate agent until I'm 60 years old. But, you know, for these last, you know, four years or so, oh, it's been a really great thing for me to be able to have that focus. And then still, you know, flexibility to do TV and be, you know, be there for my, you know, kids and be on the ice. And, you know, with my eight year old and my five year old's figure skating and, like, be at those things. So it is. It's been an interesting journey, I would say, and challenging at times. But it's been something that I don't know. If I hadn't gone into real estate, I don't know.

I don't know where I'd be here. Johnny, Johnny playing NHL 2010 still in the basement. And he's like, I got to get a fucking job. Six bombs all in deep. Guys just completely lost. You probably would have taken that job from Sweenes is what would happen. Yeah, exactly. Oh, man.

No way. No way. Somebody asked me if I wanted to coach and I was like, nope, nope, don't want to coach. That's crazy. Like travel as much as the team does and like that is, that's a lot of work. I'm good. I'll do TV. I can just judge people and not have any, not have to commit that as much time.

It's a no-brainer. All right. Last bit of hockey stuff before we're getting to some fun stuff. Just quickly want to talk about the abs right now going on in the series. and specifically if you're down to give just your opinion on it, the Val situation. Because it's like this is the second year in a row just getting a crushing blow with that talented of a player being out of the lineup all of a sudden. Like what do you think's going through the heads in that locker room and then how do you feel about their chances? Well, it's going to be tough first and foremost.

You know, down 3-1 going back to Dallas. Dallas has played an amazing series. like very few mistakes, very, very few, especially since game one. They just, they don't give up a whole lot. Onger is really, really good. They're deep. The abs haven't had a lead in this series. They score the overtime winner in game one, but they haven't had a lead.

And, you know, the power play is definitely gone quiet the last three games. And so, you know, that's a tough recipe. And, you know, I look at game three. The abs were 0 for three in the first period on the power play. And, you know, end up losing four to one with two empty netters, but it was two to one. And Dallas capitalized on really two mistakes that the abs made. And the abs played a solid game. But when the power play doesn't score and then now you go into game four and between morning skate and the game, guys are coming into the rink, whatever, three hours early.

And you find out vows out for six months. Like, it was, you know, that was a big blow. Oh, yeah. You know, Val, Val, I don't, like, I was talking about this. I was on chicklets the other day. and I like vow in a year without scoring a goal. Yeah. And getting a penalty,

which I have no idea how that guy doesn't score a goal. Like standing in front of the net, he's six foot five, right? And he's like jacked. And so like he's, he can skate. He's got an unbelievable shot. And now like Val has been so good for the abs and he got that confidence and playing, you know,

they move him where they need like a spark. They move him with McKinnon because they want McKinnon to get going. Or they move him with, you know, now it's middle. that because they want middle stat to get going like he was kind of jared bednar's like security blanket a little bit in the in the sense like you could put him on a penalty kill he's going to be on the power player net front and like you can put him anywhere and he's going to just skate and hound puck so it was a huge loss and you could see like the abs came out really flat in the first period

jared bednar said like it's not an excuse to you like you can't use that as an excuse but like listen everybody in the building knew it we heard about it um like five minutes before we went on the air for pre-game. Oh, damn. And so, yeah, like it was, I mean, all of a sudden, like, I'm getting texts from, from guys that I know that, you know, that are working in TV on the East Coast and they're like, hey, are you hearing anything about Val? And all of a sudden, I'm like, oh, no, what's going on? So that I send out, you know, blanket text like, hey, what's going on? And then all of a sudden you get this trickle in. And it's like, statement will be coming in five minutes or whatever, 10 minutes. And all of a sudden, there's the statement. And you're like,

oh, no. So first and foremost, like, you feel for Val. because he's definitely going through something, right? Like, I think you'd be hard pressed to find somebody that doesn't know someone that's dealing with addiction in one way, shape, or form, right? And I don't know what addiction he's dealing with or what, you know, what transpired in terms like for the suspension. But you hope that he finds peace. And, you know, Jared Bednar talked about it in his post game impressor.

Like, we play a game for a living and it's not life and death, death, even though we make it seem like life and death, during, like, during these games. And, like, you have to respect the human element. And so for me, you hope that that he gets the help he needs, that, you know, his family, like, everything. And I don't know what the future holds for about in terms of, you know, a six-month suspension.

And, I mean, now it's three times in a year, right? Like, when you look at last year's playoffs, you know, he entered the program in January again. And then, you know, now. He's suspended for six months. I think there's a lot of questions. I think there's a lot more questions than answers at this point. But it was a huge blow to the abs.

You could tell mentally. And like that mental fatigue, you know, you're battling against Dallas, but now all of a sudden you're battling against where your lineup is, right? And like it's a lot. It's hard enough to win against a really good team. But winning without when you factor in the Val thing, but then Devon Taves gets sick after morning skis. and can't play, right?

Like, I mean, there's, there's a lot of things that, um, didn't line up for game four and it showed. Uh, you know, they had two shots in the first period. They didn't look dangerous. Um, you know, Georgie have played out of his mind. It could have been five nothing in the first period. It was only one. Yeah.

Right. And so to me, it was, it was like a huge combination of factors. Um, it's going to be tough for them to come back. Um, but you have Nathan McKinnon and you have K. Macar. Yeah, Dallas has had a good game plan on those guys. Like, they don't, like, they haven't, I don't, I don't remember more than two odd man rushes thus far this series after game one. It's been a guy high. They've always had back pressure. Their D aren't making mistakes. It's, it's, I mean, I counted two passes, legit passes out of their zone in the first period last

game. It was all flips. It was all up the boards. I mean, those are passes, but just up the boards. Everything was very, very conservative. And that game plan, is working because it doesn't give the abs a chance to counter to capitalize on turnovers. And I mean, like you tip your cap because that team, not only are they deep, but they've got great goal-tending, great defense. They're deep at forward. And they've got a game plan like Steve Spott.

I had him with the Marley's and he's a tremendous coach. He's the assistant coach. And obviously, DeBore has had a ton of success in the NHL. And like they're buying in and they're executing it to near perfection at this point. Yeah, we said last episode, Steve. DeBoer are both just, I mean, like, they are making in-game and between-game adjustments, maybe like they weren't last year. And it's showing. Like, the success is clearly showing. So you're spot on there. It's unbelievable. Yeah, 100%. 100%. It's, it's, it's like, frustrating to watch,

but it's impressive to watch too. Because Colorado, like, like, Winnipeg didn't have the answers for it. Yeah. But Dallas has. And, you know, you can factor in a few other things in terms of like, you know, the Val situation or like whatever. I mean, like they, they've, they've figured out a way. But yeah, Colorado just hasn't had the answer. And there's frustration. Like I did a radio interview earlier this morning and there's frustration. Like Nathan McKinnon wears his heart on his sleeve and like you can see he's visibly

frustrated. And, you know, like you hope that you get angry Nate because when angry Nate comes out, that's like the, that's like the freak. Like he'll run you over and have no issues with it. And so like I kind of, you know, you're looking for angry Nate to come out like that frustration like channel it and that's you know it's not an easy thing to do like channeling frustration into like constructive anger that makes you better but if anybody can do it it it'd be a guy like Nathan McKeown. That's so true. So true. All right Johnny we're going to take

you into a game we play with all our guests. It's called pass shoot score. So basically this game is we're going to give you three things that we know are either special to you or important to you and you got to rank them. Pass shoot score. Pass is going to be your third favorite because passing's nice, but we're trying to get on the score sheet here. Shooting is second and then obviously score is number one. All right. All right. You ready to go? Ready. Here's your first one. Category is going to be outdoor activities. So pass shoot score, skiing at Vale, golfing at Cordillera, or off-roading your mom's Jeep Wrangler that you used to steal all the time.

Oh, man. Let's see. I'm going to go off-roading pass. Because you feel bad for Grand Deft Auto. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I used to beat it up pretty good. Off-roading pass, skiing at Vale, shoot, golfing at Cordiera score. That's golf is golf my number one.

Is Cordyera like your, that's your home goal? That's your favorite. club or the favorite course of all time no i mean not my favorite of all time but that's the course we belong here in veil it's got three courses so it's kind of cool there's one up on top of the mountain there's one halfway up but there's one down in the valley so it's like three different styles and so it's a it's a it's like for me like you have three different courses you're you know you're never fighting for a tea time you're you're all you can always kind of change it up um like for me like i love i've been to ireland twice now um and like uh you know like royal county down

or like Royal Port Rush. Those are like my, my dream courses. They're, they're unbelievable, right? And like the guys I went over there with, like the first time, it was,

we had 16 guys and it was all NHL guys. It was like Zetterberg, Korkoff, Cleary, Whitney. Like it was, it was a, like 16's a lot. And, you know, it's a lot of logistics. But then last year, or, yeah, last year, August,

we did eight guys and we did Ireland. And it was, it was super cool. Definitely a lot more. chill, but like Joe and Timu and those guys, it was, it was like Ireland, Irish golf is kind of my thing. I love that. Love that. Yeah, that's very cool.

Okay. Your next category is movies and TV, okay? Okay. Pass shoot score. Wedding Crashers, the office, Bull Durham. Oh, my God. That's not, I mean, you got to, I would score all three. I know.

But if I had to, I mean, I've watched the office probably 15 times, like, cover to cover. Yeah, same. Like, it's up there. Like, always sunny in Philadelphia is probably like my, like, those two are like my two favorites. Wow, dude, great picks. Johnny, yes. That show. Best show, yeah.

It's awesome. And it gets, it's like still just as funny in season 16. It doesn't make any sense. It's so good. It's so good. I'm going to go. I'm going to go wedding crashers pass, even though it's unbelievable. I love it.

Yeah, I know. I'm going to go office shoot and Bull Durham score. Bull Durham to me is like classic. Dude, right? Like it is classic. It's unbelievable. It's my top five movies of all time. And like when we travel, I have like six movies on my phone at all time and

Bull Durham never leaves my phone. Correct. Possibly the best sports movie ever made. Johnny, I think the cock sucker scene with the up is maybe the hardest I've ever laughed in my entire life. It's so good. And like just the lines, like the one-liners throughout that movie. Like it's just you like they're so good. They're classic.

They never get old. Yeah, ever. We and the boys, every time one of our team sucks, you know the scene when they're in the shower and he's like, he's like, Larry, get in here. And he's screaming out and he's like, what's our record? And he's like eight and 16. And he's like, eight and 16. How did we ever win eight? How did we ever win eight?

I'll try and throw in like a lollygaggers every time on our broadcast. I'll be like, you know what that makes them? Lolligggars. You know, and like our group, like because the guys are so just like funny and like they like it's, that's how we operate as we just kind of, you know, it's like these like tongue and cheeks all the time. Oh, God. It's just so good. We're dealing with a lot of shit.

Yeah. Yeah. It's so good. Okay, your next one, Johnny, is athletes annoying you. So we're going to do this in reverse. It's going to be, pass is going to be the one that least annoys you. Score will be the one that most annoys you. All right, so the three are, when Aaron Rogers stole your wine cave vibe,

when Peyton Manning would lose to Tom Brady, or when Joe Sackick would say it was you who was forcing him to watch American Idol, when in reality we all know it was him that wanted to watch American Idol. It was 100% him. That was like the one non-negotiable. He let me have the remote except when American Idol was on. So that's it was. All right.

So what's the least annoying? Pass. Pass. All right, Sackick passed. Okay. Because it was a cool story for the boys back home. Yeah, it's a cool story. Shoot Aaron Rogers, the wine cave, and then score.

Manning, losing. to Tom Brady so much. But he got you on, dude. He got the Colts one eventually. He did. And you beat Tom on the way. He did. That 06, the game in Indianapolis,

I had broke my foot that year, and it was All-Star Braille. Oh, my God. I flew back to Indianapolis for that, and I was like 10 rows up when they ran that touchdown in to take the lead. No way. And that was still one of the loudest buildings

I've ever heard. The only other one I could probably even compare it to was game two of the final against Tampa when he has won seven nothing. We were doing broadcast in the main entrance of Ball Arena and the Grand Atrium. And I, like, we have our IFBs in and Reikroft and Keefer standing next to me. Yeah. And I could not hear them in my ears. It was so loud people going out.

And I had to read their lips for questions and what we were talking. Like it was, I've never, ever. heard a place that. Like it was insane how loud it was. That is so sick. Yeah. Seriously. All right. Last one, Johnny, this category is called the finer things. Okay. Pass shoot score. Your favorite bottle of Screaming Eagle. The bottles of Pappy Van Winkle, the Bruins gave you when you retired, or the 69 Chevy Camara with yellow with black stripes that you got when you signed your first big ticket. Oh, yeah. All right.

Pass on the 69 Camaro. Oh, John. Come on. Yeah, I know. The only, so I sold it. I know. The only reason I say that is I built it because Rob Blake had the 69 Camaro when I first came to the league.

And I was like, if I ever signed like a big deal or like a whatever four year deal, I'm going to build one of those. And so I built it. And it was an absolute money pit. It was like every month that was like something going wrong. And I was just like, you know what? Like when I retired, I sold that. and just it was it you know whatever I loved it it

was amazing it was great for for what it was a beautiful time yeah exactly it was a beautiful time I had a young I had a one year old kid that I wasn't going to put in that you know the the the lap belt in the backseat of the Camaro so we did sell it so pass on that but strictly because it was a little bit of a money pit at the end yeah screaming eagle versus pappy So, I mean, you can see this one that's still full here, right there. That one is, so the Bruins got me two bottles. That one is a 15 and then I got another 15.

I open the other 15. The Bruins one I'll never open. Okay. For a long, long time. Like, yeah, maybe my oldest turns 21 or something and she'll hate bourbon. Yeah, yeah, I'm going to say you're going to throw up immediately. Yeah. I would say I'm going to go shoot on the screen.

I love it. Okay. The bourbon to me, like it's, um, I don't know. Like, it's just like the, the, like I love, love good bourbon. And like my people always ask, you know, like, if the wine cave's not very big, I can't put my arms out straight. Yeah. Don't, don't say that. Yeah. I want to live, I want to live in the world. I assume it goes 30 yards, both directions. Yeah. You're going to fit a rink in. Yeah. I know, I know. That's what both, everybody's like, we want to come hang out in the wine cave. So there's been, there's been two guests in the wine. cave or three guests my two daughters have have come on in the wine cave um and they've been on with me and then i had ryan miller over christmas he was here skiing with his family and they stayed with us and he

was a guest in the wine cave and was doing um the broadcast with me which was really really cool um but the the the bourbon to me is like is like the the stuff i love good bourbon and that happy like is it worth that amount of money it probably isn't because there's a ton of good bourbon there but for me it's like just like it's like a good bourbon signifies so much and when the abs win if i'm in the wine cave i drink bourbon so there's like that kind of tie in but what i will say is it's not very big but the entire floor here is all bourbon bottles oh really see here is only a fraction of what's actually in the wine cave like i've got this the wine here there's wine behind me on the floor but this entire thing like i've got probably 50 other

bottles and I just rotate. So like depending on what I feel like drinking, I rotate bottles and then like I have it there for me in the in the post game. Incredible. There you go. It's incredible. All right, Johnny, we've taken up enough of your time. This has been a fucking blast.

Can't thank you enough for coming on. Thank you guys. Before we let you go, is there anything you want to shout out, anything you want to plug? Man, you know, not really. I mean, it's if you, if you, if you can see. altitude um watch us because we've got a great broadcast kyle keith is the host he's been with the abs organization for like 27 28 years he's amazing like he makes my job so easy he makes riker's job so easy he makes michy's job like like he's the he's the engine and like it so our broadcast like we have

fun with it and um like that's that's the main thing for us is we we love um what people tell us that they have so much fun watching us. And unfortunately, like the comms, like we haven't been on Comcast for like four years or whatever, five years now. So half our viewership isn't there, unfortunately. You know,

hopefully that gets resolved. And, but yeah, watch us on altitude. You know, we'll try and make you laugh, uh, pretty hard.

And you do every time. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Brother. Well, this has been a blast and,

uh, we'll have to have you on again soon. Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. It was, it was a really, really fun time.

Awesome. Oh yeah, man. We got to talk about BetMGM. I love money. Do you love money? You must if you're on BetMGM, so I got a great deal for you right now, okay? If you make a bet, that's $5 up to $1,500.

It doesn't matter if you win or lose. What does that mean, C.P? I'll tell you what it means. If you win, take your money, take it on down the road, put it into a new investment, and then there'll be a new investment and a new investment. but if you lose, they take the money that you lost and they put it back into your account. How sick is that deal?

All you have to do is use promo code netters. That's N-E-T-T-E-R-S. And go love some money with me. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-8-Hop-N-Y or text HOPEN-Y for New York. Call 1-800-3-50-5-0-Massachusetts. 21 plus only please gamble responsibly call 100 100 100 next step for Arizona call 1 800 bets off for Iowa 1 800 9 81002 3 for Puerto Rico or visit www. www.1-8000 gambler.net for West Virginia offer for new customers only subject to eligibility

requirements bonus bets are non-drable in partnership with kansas crossing casino and hotel see bet mGM.com for terms U.S. promotional offers not available in New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ontario or Puerto Rico. Massive thanks to j.m. Friend for life, dude. Dude, truly, we were texting him, we were joking because we recorded with him. You'll be a listen to Friday. We recorded with him Wednesday and the abs were going to play that night.

and we were joking like, man, dude, I hope that. I hope we didn't get you right before the ass go out. And then after the game, we were all texting each other. Like, let's go, baby, we're still playing. But the wine cave, he's got to stay in the wine cave. He's got to stay in the wine cave. He's got to stay in the wine cave. That's where they get wins.

No choice. No choice. So massive thanks to Johnny. You're the fucking best dude. Okay, let's get into some armchair G. Yep. And we've got the same one this week. We do.

We've got the same one this week. And it's sound it a bit earlier. Yep. The Edmonton Oilers power play is, and a machine. And it was last year. And I remember joking with the king, about the kings and who did the, who did he always get knocked out by last year? Vegas. Vegas. And I remember saying, just don't take penalties. Be disciplined. Biz, when the Keynes won game five, he was like, Biz did his video where he's like, it's happening. It's happening. And he was like, if Rod keeps the boys disciplined, five on five,

the canes are better than the wrecks. And you just said at the top of this step, same thing about in Vancouver. If Hawk can keep the boys disciplined, five on five, you're better than the oilers. So it's easy to be like, stop taking penalties. But those guys are fast. They're dangerous. Sticks get loose. Sticks get in skates. But once you go on the PK,

I don't know how many times we have to watch. Yes, dude. I don't want to interrupt you. So finish. If this is the net, Leon Drysaddle, the left shot, stands right here. And Connor McDavid gets a puck from the same corner

and starts wheeling to the front of the net, using his speed, using his speed. and he pulls all the defenders over here, and he gets so far that they go, there's no way he's possibly passing it back to Leon. If he was at the top, maybe, but he's all the way over here. And then literally every time,

Connor McDavid on his forehand, wraps that puck almost all the way around his body, no look, because he knows where Leon is, like this, and then Leon stands there and fires a tough angle, one-timer, into the net. Leon has an office now. We talk about Ovi's office,

we talk about Pasta's office, stammer's office. Leon has an office. We needed one on the other side. That office on that side is getting crowded. We need someone over here. Leon is set up over on that right hash wall and he is just mashing pucks in the net. Or sometimes he's getting it and throwing it back across the crease.

But yeah, I think that our armchair GM is talk, conucks, you got to take that away. When Connor wheels, I would almost tell she loves like, you've got the shot dude. If he wheels, because the fear is his speed gets that separation. he's got a free look coming down Main Street but he's not coming down Main Street he's coming across it and Connor's shot is great but it's not a

Backdoor one timer And I'm also not Yeah I'm also not looking at like a fucking pasta rip here Like I would trust Sheloves on that slot shot on the peeper Rather than having both your players panic

And pull cover Leave Leon nude For a backdoor shot Everybody always says like Why don't they just put someone on Ovi? Like I'm not pitching Because four on three is better than five on four and it's just stupid. I'm not pitching

put someone on Leon. I'm pitching fucking stop over committing. I literally let Connor shoot that. Let him wheel because he goes so far around. Let him wheel get some bodies in front of him but wouldn't you so much rather die on Connor nipping you from there over and over than giving up

that pass? Another backdoor Leon. It's so insane dude. Make a fucking adjustment and it's like I don't know. They're not idiots. Rick Tock it is much smarter hockey mind to me. The Canucks are watching a film like they know it's happening. I'm not breaking news to them right now. And to be clear, again,

let's just reiterate, the oilers power play is amazing. We're not saying this is going to solve everything, but that is clearly a problem for the Canucks, and it's clearly something that's working for the Oilers, so let's... Get beat a different way.

Yeah, yeah. Get beat a different way by that power play than giving up that pass, because it's every time. And he gets so far around that they go, well, he's not passing it, and then it's like this. It's like all the way hooked around.

Yeah. Cap the wrists, tuck it back. Need an adjustment from my P.C. boy's there. Watch out for it. You can't let it go anymore. And it's that when you do go on the PK, you've got to know that that is there and figure out a way, figure out a discussion, whether it's the boys talking on the ice, maybe a different setup. But I don't even think you need that to just be aware of it. But then also to what you said earlier, find a way to stay out of the box. Yep. Stupid penalties in games one and two. And then game three, game three was like,

oh, not a lot of stupid penalties and a big win. Yeah. Stay out of the box. And you're are going to have success against this team. Absolutely. No, no question about it. You want to go into God. Yeah, I think I do. God, I wish I was Wyatt Johnston. Yeah. I love this kid. I say that so much. I love everyone in the league. It's the best league in the world. How old is he? I think he just turned 21. I think he's just turned 21 or 22. I'll check. I think he's just turned 21, dude. I think he's 21, dude, which is moronic. So this guy, I'm going to pull up his stats while you do that. Wyatt Johnston is just making a name for himself in such a big way.

And you love to see it because this team we've talked about a lot is going through a torch passing. They did it last year. Sagan, Ben, Souter. path they've kind of passed the torch to very very like emphatically to mirror robo hints and Wyatt has joined in this bunch of the next wave and he's now like the youngest like stank is in there too yeah yeah but like Wyatt is just a machine and in 11 games these playoffs he has seven goals and four six yeah 12 games right uh is it 12 yeah 11 and 12 yeah so he is just just so, so dominant out there.

And what I love about it is he's scoring major goals. He's getting on the score sheet all the time. But he's also a focal point. If you watch their power play, yeah, I did. Great, great point. They're feeding him the puck. When they were down four three last night against Colorado, bless you. Fucking seizure.

When they're down four three against Colorado, they were like, get Wyatt the puck. Yep. So he has established himself as a dominant player in these playoffs, a dominant player on that team, and a centrifugal key factor on that lineup. And you love to see it. And now he's 21.

Yeah. And he's gas and beers at the bus. Wow. He's never been to a bar before. This is his first beer. He's never drank before. His first beer. And he's just...

When's his birthday? I think he just turned. I think it was like three days ago. Yeah. He is playing so well. He is turning heads. Obviously, people in Dallas know all about him. But now people in the league are, Dallas has put the entire league and all these fan bases on notice going, hey, we're a fucking big team too.

We're a contender. And Wyatt is going also pay attention to me. And now he's also drinking beers in the bar. Dude. He's drinking Labat blue lights in the bar. The pretty female bartenders in Dallas are going to have a field day with our boys. Wyatt coming in there. Go on. He, dude, he's going to walk in there, slap his ID down. They're going to say, sir, this is a 21 plus establishment. He's going to slap his ID down. They're

going to find out he just had his birthday two days ago. And then he's going to tell him he's a PPG guy in the playoffs. Oh, yeah. On the way to a cup run. Oh, yeah. And they're going to go drinks on the house. And then he's going to get drunk legally and responsibly. Legally. Legally. And then he's going to go, ah, man, I drove here. But I'm certainly not going to drive home because I'm legally and responsibly drunk. And then the bartender's going to go, I'll drive you home. I get off in 10 minutes if you want to ride.

God, I wish I was Wyatt Johnson. He's got a great life, right? All right, my turn. God, I wish I was Jeremy Swayman. And I'll tell you why, Dan, two days ago. Because you get to be friends with us. Yeah. Actually, dude, I'm just realizing this.

May 14th is Wyatt Johnson's birthday. Do you know who else has that birthday? This is sick that we just did this. This wasn't even on purpose. Papa Ken Swayman. Yes, sir. And his son flew to Florida and went full sway God on the Panthers and got to win for his dad

so he could bring the series back home to Boston so his dad can watch game six in person. And he's the best goalie in the playoffs and he's about to get the fattest eight-year deal these eyes have ever seen and he deserves every penny. In fact, whatever they give him, they should double it. Triple it.

And he's established him. Dude, walking into these playoffs, it was all the tandem talk, and he wants the job, and he wants the net. And I love Linus Olmark, and Linus Olmark will get traded this summer, and he has a fan in me for the rest of his career and life. I love him, and I hope he wins a cup wherever he goes. I mean that to the most mark. Jeremy Swamen came into these playoffs and not only won the job

against his buddy and a very good goalie in Linus Elmark, but he walked into a playoffs filled with Jake. Gottinger and Igor Serskirken and Sergey Bobrovsky and is outplaying Sorokin and is outplaying all of them and and Chesty has been awesome Otter actually Otter's right there with him I would say but those guys have been really good but Jeremy Swayman is putting a team on his back the bees would be long out long out they would have lost to the lease if not for this kid oh yeah and to do that in a year when you're about to get you want that job you want the a job you want the big

ticket you want to prove you're the starter in Boston of the future of the club to do that in this playoffs. I still, I'd like your take on this. I still think the B's probably would have gone with him no matter what. But let's say this playoffs go like this. Swayman starts game one, L to the Leaves. Olmark, game two, win to the Leafs. Swainman, game three, L to the Leafs, O'Mark, rest of the way, bees beat the Leafs, Bs give the Panthers a good run. Omark, Omark, O Mark, Omark, I still think management looking towards the future gives sway the job. Definitely. But just what to like, fuck, man, like that was kind of my, that was going to be my moment. To come out and do this in the playoffs and do that on your dad's birthday.

Happy birthday, Ken Bone, first of all. Yep. Yeah, man, he's just, I can't, I can't say enough good things about him. I cannot. And the way he has taken that job with such grace and maturity and the way he's done it to leave zero questions that it is his net and he's earned it is just, it's inspiring, honestly. So to see him just buzzing, saying all the right things, doing all the right things.

What a fucking sick puppy, dude. Can we on three look at the wide shot and say happy birthday, Ken? Yes. Ready? Yeah. One, two, three. Happy birthday, Ken. We love you, buddy.

You're the best. Yeah, that's a great one. God, I wish I was doing. Oh, my gosh. Seriously, tell me about it. Dan, take us into our tempered dantrum for the week. And if you want, I'll tee up because I know this is bothering me more than it's bothering you. This one's more, this one's less of a temper tantrum and more of a, like, what's going on?

What's going on? Yeah, let's change the segment this week to what's going on. Yeah, it's temper tantrum. What's going on? Why can't teams win at home? Let me read you these stats, dude, because this makes no sense to me. The B's Panther series, the road team has won four of the five games. The Avs Stars series, the road team has won four of the five games. Oilers Nucks, two of the four, Keynes, two of the five. The road team is 12 and 7 in the second round. What's going on? What's going on? I love, truly, I love,

that the home ice isn't as impactful as home court in the NBA, home field in football. I would say home field and baseball, too, because all the parks are different. I think, you know, you just know your park or whatever. I love that, especially come playoff time, because it's cool. It's like, you could,

it's not like, oh, it's just, how often you see in the NBA, like two wins, two wins, one win, you know, it's like, This is kind of stupid. I like that it's really any game, anything can happen. But dude, I'm not even kidding with this. Do it for the fans. Like if the bees lose game six, and I'm like, the Boston fans went to three home games in this route

and fucking got dusted at a half three. Some of your friends and family are there. Dude, you got to protect home ice. Get up for the fans, guys. It's blowing my mind. And we say all the time, some guys like the road, because there's no distractions. You know what I have the wife, the kids,

whatever. But some guys like home because it's routine. It's your bed. It's home cooking. You do the same shit. You know the drive-in. You're not on a bus. So to each their own. But I'm like, boys, win a fucking home game. This is unacceptable. Dude, it's like, we need more home game win. Yeah, we do. It's crazy. I love a good road steal. That's fun. It makes a series exciting. And honestly, Nux, um, uh, oilers is going. It's fun right now. It's a split. It's a split. Yeah. And I'm like, if Canucks win game five at home, always win game six at home. I'm really happy. And We go to game seven and we see what happens. Good job.

Hey, thank you so much. But, dude, Bruins Panthers, rags, avs stars. What's going on? Figure it the fuck out, dude. Win a whole game. All right, we've got an emergency. Sassy prediction. Oh, yes.

Great memory. Shout out our boy Nick. Last episode, I did my saucy prediction and it included a Val goal. But hour before the game, Val not playing. Yep. So Nick gave me the opportunity to get a new saucy prediction.

Do you accept? Oh, absolutely, dude. Because otherwise you were going to pull some bullshit that you were like, I don't have to eat a wing because you didn't play. I know you were going to do that. What have I ever done that?

I know you were going to do that. This is horseshit. Erroneous! My new saucy prediction is that we will only get one game seven. So either. way you're wrong if it's zero or if it's two or three yeah so you get you yeah okay i accept

feel like i want to do i need to make it pretty saucy yep i accept i think yeah yeah no that's fair that's fair i accept you will only get one game seven done actually i don't like that prediction i don't want that to happen oh okay then say that's what i'm doing say we'll get three make it will get three and will it into existence well no because i don't want to be right Well, but you'll probably be wrong, so you'll have to eat, and it will be more fun. But also, if we get it, then I get to eat two, so fuck me, and that will be sick for hockey. We'll get three game sevens. Damn it, do it.

All right, sausage prediction, we will get three. Actually, make it four. Saucy prediction, every single series is going. We've seen the gentleman? Four. Four. Okay, four game sevens. That's it.

With that, that is it for us on this episode of the empty netters podcast. We've got electricity going on. Apparently we've got four game sevens coming up. Unbelievable stuff. Until we see you next time. Have a great weekend and skate hard.