Empty Netters Podcast - The Canes Are One Win Away From Vanquishing Their Conference Final Ghosts w/ Alec Martinez

Episode Date: May 28, 2026

Yikes the Habs cannot win a home game! They lose 4 in a row at home in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and now their Cinderella season is on life support. The Canes keep on buzzing and can taste the Stanley Cup. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 13:20 - Vegas Sweeps Avs 28:42 - Canes Take Game 4 VS Canadiens 51:46 - Conference Final Observations 1:08:25 - Malkin's New Penguin Contract PRESENTED by BetMGM. Download the BETMGM app and use code “NETTERS” and enjoy up to $1500 in bonus bets if you lose your first wager! Thanks to our Sponsors! BetMGM: Use bonus code NETTERS when signing up to receive up to $1500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Find LUCY near you at lucy.co/stores, or save 20% on your first online order at lucy.co/NETTERS with promo code NETTERS. Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to https://liquid-iv.com and get 20% off your first order with code NETTERS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast. Can you believe what this has become? There was a full 48 hours where I felt like I was like literally Superman. Jumbo loves playing Fortnite, so he gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the sauna cycle or was that all year? No, no, I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't taken a body check. That's kind of nice.

So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep. Finish tonight with some chicken fingers and a few guineasasers, ran into you guys. That's where this pod came to life. is ready and we're back with another episode of the empty netters podcast brought to you by bet m gm Vegas is through now the canes are on the precipice of a gentleman sweep we got dr walkins behind the sticks CP alec Martinez joining in the studio before we get into anything

congratulations this is this is our first topic like come on come on yeah I I am in I am in a state of shock before we get into it I did want to bring something because it was it got my wheels turning. We're doing dinner tomorrow and the menu steak or chicken parr. One of the great Sophie's choices of them. But on that topic, have you ever been to Craigs in West Hollywood? Oh, yeah. You have.

Is it one-legged duck swim in circle? Dude. Boys. Cue up the next 10 minutes talking about this restaurant. It's unreal. Chicken parham as long as your arm? I had never been there. That might be the best restaurant I've ever been to.

Really? I genuinely, I think it is, I mean, I got to go one or two more times to solidify it, but it is immediately top two restaurant in L.A. for me. That place is everything I could ever want in a restaurant. Where is Craig's? It's on Melrose, right? Yes. So isn't, didn't Craig get his start at Dan Tanas?

Like forever? That's true. that's the story. I don't know. Don't quote me on that. That would make sense. So much sense because I fucking love Dananas. That's the best Italian in Los Angeles. That's my favorite. That's my favorite spot in town. Unbelievable. Number one restaurant. And it has it has a old school Italian joint vibe and but it's an American restaurant. Yeah. And that makes sense why they have fucking chicken parma on the menu. Right. The waiters are wearing tuxes like the bartenders are in those like red jacket. Yeah. Yeah. It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. Quintessential L.A. Doesn't get better

there. Dude, you know, we used to go to Dananas. Yeah. Oh yeah. I mean, that's that's for sure. It's classic, yeah. But everything about like the, the decor inside, the vibe inside, how it looks, the menu, everything was perfect. And the number one thing for me, dude, was the volume of music was the most perfect thing that's ever happened. Like, it was, I go on rants about this all the time.

If I'm sitting in a restaurant and we are sitting across from each other and I am erasing my voice so you can hear me, it drives me fucking. insane. It's miserable. Thank you. You lose your voice. You lose your voice and you're like straining and tired and I'm like, was I supposed to be having like a nice meal here and now I'm fucking exhausted and my voice is raspy? This is insane. Yeah, like I'm having dinner. I'm not at a sporting event. Correct. Yeah. And it was like we sat down right as it was like Rod Stewart showed up. That was pretty sick. It was incredible. Have you lost your mind? Rod Stewart? Yeah. Do you think I'm sexy? Yeah. Unreal too. Craig's? It was in the flesh. The fact that is it was in the flesh. The fact that is. It was in the flesh. The fact that. It was. It was. The fact that. It was. It was. It was. It was. The fact. It was. The fact. It was. The fact. It was. It was. It was. The fact. It was. It was. It was Rod is still. Wait, hold on. They were, they played that while he was in there. No. No. That was an amazing. I was going to say that's unreal. That's unreal. Like, imagine that's his walk-in song like anywhere. He calls. Yeah. He calls. Hey, guys, I'm walking in in 90 seconds. I'm right outside. Get my table. Get my table ready and my song. All right. Hit it. That would fucking. But, but dude, it takes him so long to get in. He barely moved out.

And they're like, God, hold on, run it. Hit it. Loop it. He was looking good. He also He was really bright. Yeah, he was. I appreciate how he still does his hair the exact same way, too, which is fantastic. Yeah. But man, I was like, it was right as it was getting bustling, people were running in, and it never, as many people as got in there. It never raised over that volume.

And I was like, this fucking place is perfect. It's a great spot. It's a great spot, dude. Like, I can't get over the menu, too. I was looking at the menu and I was like, everything on here I want to eat. Like, I'm thinking like an open table review, and you're talking, like, everyone's talking about the food, you're talking about the music. I'm like, you know what I mean? Literally did.

Or like a yell preview? It's like, hey, food was average, but the music was dialed. And Marty, I'm like, not even the music they played. Just the, I'm talking the volume. Yeah, yeah. Just the volume. It comes out of the decimal meter. Like, if I can nerd, just like, yep, perfect. Dude, it was, I'm so glad that you've been there because like, you know. I have that start on my places I want to go, so I'm going to go.

You have to go. And it's like, you know, it's hard to get out of the South actually like kind of along those lines but it was the song that played this was christmas eve i was playing in l.a this must have been over 10 years ago my parents and my family were out i was hosting christmas i took him to mb post shout out mb post great spot i love that place but we're just sitting around and then all of a sudden like having christmas eve dinner my ears perk up and i'm like what's that and they played dick in a box and i was like this place is fucking Awesome. And I'm like on Christmas Eve.

But it is a Christmas song. It is technically a Christmas song. And I'm like, you put that together. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is.

This is unreal. Like, I have respect for them for obviously this long. Oh, yeah. I am a repeat customer. My wife and I go there a lot,

but I've never heard that same playlist played again, but I'd say like Christmas Eve. Hey, bring it back. Yeah. Bring it back. Dude, you know, it's funny you say that.

Have you ever heard, do you ever watch that show The League? Oh, yeah. You know, Taco and like, Taco, Years ago. You know any tricks yet? Yeah.

What are you talking about? It's like, that's my daughter. Isn't that what it is? Yeah. You know any tricks yet? Years ago. It's a human. He made, what the fuck's that actor's name?

John, something, doesn't matter. He made a Christmas song called like Merry Christmas Exclamation Point. And it's about the text you send your friends on Christmas. And it's just like, Merry Christmas. And I was actually. in a restaurant once and they played that and it's like no way that sounds good it's good it's a really good good and it sounds like a christmas song it's like a nice piano and i was like oh this a nice song and i was like wait a minute is this christmas does this fucking yeah i kind of respect that you you throw

you know you throw a couple of those in the standard like christmas playlist dude and i promise you you are creating repeat customers that way like anyone that hears it is like oh i love this place yeah like how do you like that's good business right like that brings people back 100 wives. There's something they say in the restaurant biz. I think it's like a, who's the bar rescue guy? John Taffer. Yeah.

I think it's a Taffer thing. Vegas legend. But it's like if you go, if you can get them to come three times, they're a customer forever. Right. Like that's his, that's like his strategy with bars. So he'll off, like, what he pitches a lot is like if you come, it's like, hey, thanks so much for coming. You get 15% off your next visit or like a free dessert.

Your next visit. So people are like, oh, come. You know, so he's like, I give away free stuff for two more visit. because then you've been three times and now you're like, oh, I actually like this place. I'm coming a lot. And that, that, I think you can bypass the three times. Just play dick in a box. I'm like, oh, dude, I'm in.

Play digging a box in it. Like, I'll come there once a week. Hey, Tapper. I'm a fucking trash it for you. Yeah. Put a placard on this bar stool. I'll be here every day. All right.

You're also sure shit. You're not forgetting that place. Like, if you go somewhere dick in a box place, you're like, I'll remember this restaurant. Yeah, here I am. It's like legit. With 2026, that must have been. At least, yeah, it was over 10 years ago and I'm still talking about it. My family still talks about it. And we're still, dude, you're back in LA because of M.B. Post. Yeah. That's pretty much why I move back. Yeah. Like, I do. I need, I need that. It is way too hard to fly in and go to M.B. Post for the song. I'm so obsessed with being becoming a regular somewhere where like the entire staff knows me. And they're like, what's up, Dan? Like, same booth, same order, shit like that. Being a regular at Craigs would be so badass. Yeah. Dude, especially because, you guys, it's like the spot.

Hard to get a rest. There's probably like a few A-listers that are regulars, right? Guys, you gotta do, I'm already a regular at the galley. Oh, I've never been there. You know the galley? Yeah, I'm gonna go there.

Are you actually? Yeah, absolutely. I was just there tonight. You're fucking kidding. That's where you watch the game. Yeah. Do you know this place? Did you watch the game, though?

It was, I mean, it was on my phone. And I ended up talking to a bunch of Australian tourists for most of it, but I had an eye on the game. Yeah. They didn't. They didn't. I got to see, you said you didn't look up much. Yeah, like, I watched the first period here,

and then I was like, I'm going to go watch the rest of the galley, and then the house didn't score. That was a perfect decision, yeah. And I met these weird Australians who were like, yeah, we just creamed, they were in Mexico. I don't know, it doesn't matter. Anyway, galley's great. Do that again and do your best Australian accent.

You touch my penis or the succulent Chinese meal. Good night, shrimp on the bobby. That was very good. Now, anyway, Galley's cool. Have you been there? No. It's right up the road.

It's like... Actually, I think I have. Dude, it's like a... It looks like an old ship. Like, their vibe is like, you feel like you're in an old wooden ship. Yeah. And it's a steakhouse.

Like, their whole thing. Diversity? Diversity is an old wooden ship. I believe diversity is an old wooden ship. That was the only thing you could think of when he said that. I was like, I'm not even listen to the story anymore. Yeah. I'm just, I mean, it's...

Here's the thing. I like it because it was, it's from 1934, and I like old fucking places like Muso and Frank, smoke house. Like, I like weird old, trippy places. Yeah, yeah. Even if... I heard they have a great burger. Good.

At the galley. I had, they have, they have, uh, filet mignon tacos at happy hour for 14 bucks. Holy shit. And they were really good. Well, the fun, like, they are a steakhouse and they're famous for their salad dressing. And there's this whole story about the salad dressing and how, like, the guy who started it, it's just fucking rushing. Yeah.

It's like, no, it's crazy. Yeah, it's fine. But it's like, you go in there, and it's actually, like, kind of an expensive steak, and you're like, I'm sitting in diversity right now. Yeah. And I'm spending, like, $80 on a steak. What the fuck's happening? Yeah, no, it's crazy.

But, dude, we got to do, we go to Mousseau and Frankslaught and do boy dinner. And we all order just a steak and martinis. That's awesome. It's fantastic. Do you go prime rib? At Mousseau? Yeah. I have, but not usually.

Yeah, it's a lot. It's so big. And it's kind of. And it's kind of like... It's giant and it's also pretty fucking rare. You're like, it's... Yeah, it's rare and fatty. Yeah.

Yeah. It's pretty gnarly. Maybe unpopular opinion. I'm not a big prime rib guy. Oh, okay. I'd much rather have a steak. Me too. But you don't like prime rib or you do also like it.

If I have the option. Yeah. I'd rather the steak too, but I'm like... I don't think I'm ever ordering prime rib. No. If someone's doing like we're making a roast, like a big prime... I'm like, yeah. I'm like Christmas dinner.

I eat a dick in the box. Explain. Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, give me some horse radish. You know, like, yeah, I'm all in, me. Yeah. Dude, I will do a prime rib sandwich. I'm, oh, yeah. With, like, horse radish and shit, like, I'm, now I'm happy. When we, or when I played in Chicago last year, like, that was my go-to. Was it? Every, oh, and then it was, actually, my wife was pregnant at the time. So that was, I'm pretty sure my daughter just grew on prime rib dip. She's pretty much. She's just, like, 90% prime rib dish. and crushing primative sandwiches while she was pregnant? Yeah. That's fucking awesome. Yeah, you need that blood. My mom was a vegetarian

until she had me as a kid. I was like, she was pregnant with me. And she went to a fucking steak house and was like, give me a steak as rare as possible. She was a vegetarian for like three years before that. That's fucking... Is that like frowned upon being pregnant? No, no, no, no, no.

No, not at all. Because it was like cooked, right? No, that's not why I asked it. I ask it because I feel like sometimes when people are pregnant they don't want steak or like are red meat. So that fires me up.

Give me a fucking French dip, bitch. If I'm lucky enough to have kids, I hope that Sandra's cravings are awesome, not weird as fuck. Because sometimes they're so shitty. And you're like, oh, okay. I hope to God. Alice is such like a health, not clean eater.

I hope she gets pregnant and she's like, let's get Taco Bell tonight. And I'm going to be like, fuck. Just like, let's just live a little bit. Live moss. Way to think outside the bun on it. Our kid will come out an absolute piece of shit.

Yeah, my wife, it was prime rib dip, Kiwi, and like Kiwi is awesome. That's so funny, I need to know what at what moment she realized she was craving Kiwi. Like,

how is that something you're like, you know what I want right now? I was fucking Kiwi. That's sick. And then we lived on top of like a whole food so like the apartment building. That was a cool part. And so the amount of times

that I had to go down there to get the fresh squeezed OJ, like my wife just crushed that stuff. I mean, These are all good cravings. Yeah, this is what I'm saying. Like, this would, I would enjoy this. Yeah, that's fantastic.

All right, let's talk about Vegas. Shock and awe, dude. And I asked, you weren't even in here. I asked Marty, I know you picked, you have to pick Vegas. You even said that when we were being. You were like, I'm obviously picking Vegas. But I was like, were you just taking Vegas because you had to take Vegas? Oh, no, he knew.

Did you actually all to leave? And he was like, I actually knew this was going to happen. What I want to know is. Oh, I didn't know it was going to happen, but I believe that they could get it done. Yeah. At what point were you like, oh, it's over? like game after game two were you like yep they got it um which one not really not not that wasn't the three nothing no i think that was game three okay yeah i think two was maybe the abs when yeah yeah

game three was the three oh combat yeah yeah yeah i mean that was actually i game two um was the one the abs were up one nothing going into the third and then jack scored off the post and then hurdle scored off the bar down i think like late but it was like the abs were 45 and oh with the two period lead. Yeah. And then lost the night. Well, I think they won like the mental grind and the way that they won. Like for them, obviously to come out in game one and beat him pretty handedly. And then game two, the way that they won, like that's depressing on the other end of it. Yep. And then game three, like I kind of thought after game three that they were going to finish it off just because I don't know, the bench just looked down and looked rattled. And then you obviously

have the addition of McKinnon, whatever happened with him. Yep. Got hurt. And then McCarr. is obviously nursing, whatever he's nursing. I just was like, but not even just that. It was also like Vegas was just firing on all cylinders. And they were like, I don't know what the metrics were, but it looked like they outplayed them in most like facets of the game. 100% dude. We talked about this morning.

We were like they, they won every game. Like even, I mean, say what you will about the first period lead in game three, but like after that it was all Vegas. And I know they came back in game two, but it was like Vegas was all over them all game. The Jack goal felt like the dam was about to break. And then it, like, they just, they beat them every game. It was unbelievable.

It was, it is, I have a lot of buddies in Denver, a lot of ass fan friends. And they are like, besides. Yeah, yeah, like everybody, I have, that is, I said this in one of our shows. That is one of the most staggering playoff exits I've seen in a long time from a team as talented as we all thought they were. Just the way that went, I was like, holy shit. I think I saw something today. It was like a president's trophy team has been swept in the playoffs like three times.

Yeah. And two are torts. Yeah. It's like a kiss of death. I know. It's so crazy. Well, shout out my buddy. I've got a couple buddies in Denver too.

And Garrett, shout out if he's listening. Yeah. But he was asking me after game one, he's like, I don't really like the way this is going. He's like, do I have anything to worry about? And I was like, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you do, buddy.

You better believe you. Yeah. He came you for assurance and you ruined it. I have not gotten a text from Garrett's Sets. I don't let Garrett Sitt for a bit. I have like a little bit, like the president's trophy thing, like is it, like, do you have too much success during the year? Like, do you not face enough adversity where then if you face any in the playoffs,

well, then all of a sudden this is like uncharted territory? Like you think of all this, all the shit that Vegas has gone through the past season? Like, did that just prepare them for that? I don't know. That's not like a monumental take, but I think there's something to it. Listen, it's enough of a thing where we got to talk about it. Like what, and I don't mean like right now, but the, I don't know what it is. Because it's, it's like with Colorado, I could definitely hear the like, yeah, maybe they just were coast.

They're not coasting, but they were cruising all year. And they're kind of like, dude, we're a fucking wagon. Yeah, they sweep L.A. And they have that crazy game one against Minnesota, but then they're up to O, lose one, and then banged. And they're like, yeah, whatever, we're fine. So that could be it for sure. But then it's like, fuck me, man. How many times do we see like Boston loses in round one against Florida?

And, you know, the caps have lost multiple times with it. And it's, I don't know what it is because, like, I don't think it's just a lack of adversity. And I'm also not entirely sure it's, you know, you emptied the clip too much in the regular. season because it's like how many times do we say postseason is a totally different game. So I don't think it's that, but it's something. I mean, it's weird. Monty came on this past summer or whatever, but we were asking him that be easier. And not everyone has exactly what I'm about to say he said, but I do think it's a thing about

the president's trophy. Monty said the expectations when you are that good within the whole organization are essentially like you're going to the cup. and it bleeds into like PR and stuff. Like we have people coming up to us being like, hey, so for travel for the cup, like we need to figure out what interview, you know, like, and he's like, it's the first round,

dude, and all the chatter is like blah, blah, blah. And obviously the bees broke the record regular season that year. So it was, you know, intensified. That was a year we won, wasn't it? That wasn't 23? It was. Oh, sorry. Yes, I was thinking, yeah, yeah.

That was the year you was. So, but I hear that kind of happening if you're the president's trophy team, because you're like, we're nasty, where we're expected to go. You know, like, it's just kind of in the room. It's like, we're going. Maybe less so in the conference finals. Like, at that point, you're like, all right, we're, you know,

like, the pressure's- You know what's crazy about that too. That Bruins team breaks that record, has that loss to Florida. And there's that everyone plays, like, you ask that question, what are some of the greatest what-ifs in hockey? And people show that freeze frame of the Marchand breakaway. Because it was like, well, that was game seven.

No, it was game five, bro. It was going to be a five game dick. Was that game five? Yeah. Good day. It was. And he missed that shot. They're up three one.

He was heading into O.T. That's right. And he missed that breakaway. And the Bruins since then. I know it's only been a few years, but like they, they were the best team in the history of the league. And they haven't sniffed a cup run since. Yeah.

Like it's crazy how much that changed after that. It was like after that. It was like, and we're done. done here. You stick. I'm not saying that. No, it was crazy. What changes is fucking nuts. I have a point that might make sense. Maybe.

The last team that was a President's trophy winner that won the Cup was the Blackhawks in 2013. Is that right? Yeah, and that was a lockout shortened season. Yeah, we only played 48 games in here, wasn't? Right. So it's like And that was Boston losing? Yeah, we lost to them in the conference final. So is

that, is there something about the amount of games you're playing where you maintain the winning and then you get to the the fucking playoffs and you're like that's interesting you know i don't know maybe there's something to like like maybe that like and this is not anything about colorado but it's like the way to have success in the regular season isn't always the same as yeah success in playoffs because you you hit you know you said like oh this is an entirely different animal yeah definitely so like yeah you can you can win the president's trophy and still win the cup because if you do the things the right way and that but again like if i looked at

colorado i'd be like oh well they they do things really well the right way they're not like a i don't know no it's true they earned it for a reason who won the president's trophy in 22 when colorado won i'll tell you i'm gonna look at it because i i didn't or i thought it might have been colorado but it was not but who did they beat oh yeah the panthers oh that's That's right. Oh, yeah. It was the Panthers that year. That's hilarious with Huberto.

Like they were nasty. They were disgusting. And they lost round one to Tampa, right? Like didn't they get rinsed by Tampa? And they're like, see you later. And then right after that, everything changed. They became the best team of all time. Huberto weeks.

Dude, in 99, the stars won the president's trophy and the cup. I don't know who won in 2000, but 01, then the Aves won the President's trophy and the cup. And then 02, the wings won the president's trophy and the cup. So there was like a four-year stretch. Yeah. Oh, yeah. There you go. Yeah.

Yeah, just skip on it. What about matchups? Like, if the ducks win, do the abs beat the ducks and go to the cup final? Yeah, I meant to ask someone out on the live. I'll ask you guys here, do you think Minnesota would have played Vegas better? Or do you think they also would have been swept? No. I don't think so.

And God knows if Eric's neck comes back. True. I don't. I feel like I look at the way. Merle said it really well the other day. He was like, that's this series of Vegas, Colorado. And it was so surprising because Colorado is very much not a team that you would expect to do this. It did feel like men versus boys.

Yeah. And no disrespect to Minnesota. But I look at the way Colorado beat Minnesota. And I'm like, if Vegas just did this to Colorado, I feel like they would have done the same thing to Minnesota. Talk about. I think you wouldn't be giving Vegas enough credit if you said that, too, for being as good as they are. Okay. Does that make sense?

Yeah, it does? For sure, it makes sense. And I mean, it's like, I know Kail was out a couple games and banged up, and then you have like the Quinn Hughes element, which is definitely an element. But talk about a group that's like not really that familiar with this type of hockey yet versus Vegas, who is the most familiar with it. So, yeah, I don't think they would have put up a better fight, frankly. I think that's probably right.

I mean, Vegas is vibing right now. It's fucking insane. They're truly firing. on every cylinder that exists. It's fucking insane. Well, that's what someone asked me just the other day, and it's like the power of that belief. Like, that's what you could.

And that was part of the reason why I thought, like, after game three, it's like this team, I might have text you guys. Maybe after game two, it's like when you take two in their building, it's like all of a sudden that feeling creeps in, and you're like, we can do this thing. Yeah. You know, especially when everything, you know, the public or whatever was stacked, including you three.

Yeah, yeah, correct. Act against them. No, but it's like all of a sudden, and what torts has done to help that team believe, it's like, it's, I don't know, it's just something that can't be underestimated.

Like, you just have this group and the way that they, they won when everyone said that they couldn't, and then they, then they sweep. I mean, it's insane. It's insane.

So like, yeah, that, you can't underestimate the, the power of the belief in that room. Yeah. And I think that's part of the reason why they're firing. I agree.

I, I, I got pretty fired up seeing how fired up Mitch was too. When he was like, did you see that after when they were celebrating on this? Did you see this? No. Oh, yes.

They're like getting the trophy and like he kind of just like looked out at the stands and like threw a fist bump and he was like, he was just fucking pumped. He was like, let's fucking go. And I was like, oh, yeah, dude. Like this, I genuinely feel like that was the first moment for him where he was like, oh, I'm about to play in the Stanley Cup final. And I was like, that is fucking sick.

It looked like Will Farrell and stepbrothers after he like, He's got the toilet paper under his arm at Costco and he gives like the fist bump. That's exactly what it looked like. That is so good. But that's a thing like that's a big Will Ferrell episode. Yeah, no, it is. Sorry, that's my fault. No, no.

Because now I'm thinking about Frank the tank in old school at the end. He's like, yes. I'm fucking back. That's like that's genuinely everything that's going on right now. It's unbelievable. But yeah, man, they're just, I mean, shit. They are. It's awesome.

Everything's going right for them. It's wild. I'm pumped from Mitch. This game, 4-0 canes. Oh, well, let's take an ad break if we're going to Oh, yeah, let's take an ad break. Am I reading this one?

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are you open to input? I just took a glance down. at your legs. Yeah. I think you gotta moisturize on your legs a little bit more. I don't have time. What do you mean, dude? I barely have time to moisturize my face.

Yeah, I can't also do my legs. You're looking a little ashy down there. Yeah. Well, you know? Actually, not that bad. A little bit. Do you, here's a question for you. No.

Come on. You don't moisturized? No. My face, not the rest of my body. I didn't actually my wife gives me a hard time. Are you the guy in the shower that you wash up here and you're like the drip down? Wash you. No, that's disgusting.

There are people who do that. Yes. That was like a poll on the internet a little while ago and people were like, no, I do that. And I was like, so close down. Yeah, we said somebody called the FBI. We'll call them on that. Correct. Correct.

No, no. My question is, because this happened to both of us, I have literally no hair on my legs where my skates are and down. Oh, yeah. by skate rubs right here. So it's just like, oh yeah, yeah, gone.

Yeah, yeah. Well, I wore bunga pads, so I had to. So maybe that's why. Yeah, you saved it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And my last name is Martinez. Yeah. Which helps. Yep. Actually, yeah, I got hair there. Yeah. No,

my wife gives me a hard time because she's like, will you please moisturize? Because I'm always, I'm like, hey, my back kind of itches. Yeah. And she's like,

and she's like, you need lotion. I'm like, why would I use lotion when I can just ask you to scratch my back? two. She's the one who's going to have to put the lotion on. That's the thing. That is true. Yeah. I can't

either way, it's work for her. Yeah. Yeah. I can't reach that anyway. I don't have the elbow or shoulder mobility to get my back. Yeah, right. Like, this is most I can bend my elbow. You're, there's no chance you're... I'm hooped. Yeah, you're fucking like... Dude, I'm going to need three more surgeries.

You want me to lotion my back, dude? Who's paying for the surgery? I squirted it all over the shower wall and just... Just bear it. That's good. That's really good. She needs to take you a lotion while. Yeah, yeah. She's like a scratching post for a cat. It's great.

Go roll around. All right, let's get into this game for the love of God. It was a riveting combo. This game was, we actually had this morning. This series, I never know what to expect. Every game to game. This, I did not expect this game. This was such a fucking snooze fest.

Thrilling for the canes. But we were talking about it. Those three goals went in and the game was over. Like, they could have called. They could have been. like this. Yeah, right. Yeah. You guys are done playing and that's that. It's unbelievable. Yeah, I saw those three and

it's like, all right, I'm going to hop in the car. Yeah, right. See you later. The Marty St. Louis said they will continue, so I'm not ruling them out. This is not over. No, no, of course. By any means, I want to establish that. There's fight left in those haps. Yeah. But if Carolina

rolls is it almost like, I guess what I'm trying to figure out is Montreal to me doesn't look like they're out of gas. Like, oh, we were, we were firing. We were playing better earlier and now we're playing badly. I think they've run into an opponent who is making them look like. I think it's a combo, but I'm going to kick it to you because I think what you said was incredibly accurate.

I think it's just the difference between playing eight games versus 14 in the first two rounds. So yeah, so then it is, it is. They don't look actively tired, but it's just, I mean, you play those hard, especially those game sevens. And it's like, grueling. Grueling. Yep. And that's the difference I see. But it's like, all right, well, Doebusch has stood on his head.

But then, you know, tonight, like eventually, that's going to catch up with you. You would think, right? Yeah. I don't know. Yep. No, I mean, dude, the, the, this has been a, I would actually love to get this data for the whole league. But the Bruins were horrible at home. Buffalo was not good at home.

Montreal has been horrible at home. Tampa was horrible at home. A lot of teams were, not been protecting home ice at all. And I think that'll be the one, if they go out, that'll be the one big regret the habs have from this joyous run, by the way. They're like, wow, this was awesome. We're in the Eastern Conference finals, all good for every very bright future.

I think they will look back on this and be like, damn, dude, we got killed in Montreal. Yeah, well, I have an interesting take on that. So, I mean, when you said that to me, I was like, I completely agree. And I agree with you, too. they don't look like they're just wrecked, but I mean, you're looking at the simple puck battles. And like when we talked about

they haven't passed 20 shots in three straight games, I didn't even know how many shots they had in game one, but I assume it was more than 20. It was, it's a big part of it is what Carolina is doing to them to frustrate them, and it's like they're just winning so many 50-50 battles. And you have to assume that part of that is like this team went to war for two back-to-back seven-game series and Carolina fucking

square danced through two series and they're like, we got a little more gas than you. Yeah. And it is nuts that Dobesh gives up three goals in this game and he finishes with like a 9-2-9, say, percentage. Like he stood on his head. He saved 40 fucking shots. And then I'm like, there were so many breakaways, there were so many two-on-ones.

There were so many almost breakways or near breakaways for Carolina in this game. The puck dropped and it looked like Montreal was like, oh, like I think they thought the game was starting at 630. And it served, sorry for us, West Coasters, like, but it, they were just not ready to go in this game. And I think I said to both of you a while ago, if Montreal goes down 3-1, I still think that they can make it interesting because they're so scrappy. If they get gentlemen swept,

it will be for the fans, definitely a letdown, especially after game one. You got to assume that they were like, we can do this. I personally think, If you go down in a gentleman sweep, even if you go down in six, there would be no shame in that. But if you go down in a gentleman sweep, I actually think the narrative will switch back to, oh, no, this Carolina team is different. That's where I was headed with the question. And it's like, dude, they were the number of what we said it this morning. Like, they didn't have that many points less than Colorado. Like, this team was a fucking wagon all year.

They were the best team in the east. They swept their round one and round two opponents. And now here you go. They figured it out two OT games in a row and then beat the shit out of you in this game. It's like, you're kind of like, oh, fuck, man. They might, they're good. So, I mean, I don't know how many times we have to say it, this, even with this, again, they're not out of it. But Montreal's so ahead of schedule.

Yep. They're going to be good for so long, especially with Dovesh. So it's like, I think they're fun. You're okay? I think more than okay. Yeah, I hear that. You're like, fuck. Carolina is sick.

I hear that. Yeah. I guess to, it's, the playoffs are tricky because especially between five and six, I feel like it's such a swing of reactions. Yeah, losing in five, losing in six. It's like one game. It's like, oh my God. And I do feel as though the, if the, the Habs fans, put it that way, the Habs fans got very cocky and loud coming into this round.

And then after that game one. Yeah. They were like, we're fucking beat Colorado. You know, like they were ready to go. They got horny for sure. Yeah, they were extremely horny. Like, I don't know, I'm not sure I'm ready to call them cocky. Because at least the ones I've been interacting with online, they've been actually quite, they're like, oh man, we're getting our teeth kicked in.

Yeah. But they got horny. But they were very horny. But good on them too, though. I agree completely. Right. Ride the wave. Fucking right.

Yeah. What's the roller coaster? Yeah. It's been so long since they've been, I mean, the fucking 21, uh, COVID year, whatever. But like, it's been a long time since they've been this. competitive and I'm like fucking get horned up dude. Hell yeah. Why not? It's amazing.

Yeah. No, and that is important. You're right. Ride the wave. Ride the wave. But this was, this was a very, this has been a big come down, crash down to earth. I'm like, holy fuck. I heard on the, I don't know if you guys heard. They said the habs, because they lost game four against Buffalo at home. They were up two one. Lost game four and then lost game six at home to Buffalo and then lost these two. That is the first time Montreal Canadians lost. four straight home playoff games in their franchise history. Wow.

Oof. I was like tough. Someone asked me this. Crazy. Someone asked me this the other day on Twitter actually. And it's like the difference between like a home game and a road game. Yeah. Like there might be something to like you're on a business trip.

You don't have distractions. You're with the boys the entire time. Like you have a conference room like your meal room and that's where everyone hangs out. You got your meetings the night before. Like you're really not. not doing much. Yeah. And it's like when you're at home, there's like some distraction.

Like in 12 and 14 and all of our playoff times, we didn't end up doing this in Vegas, but in L.A., we stayed downtown. They got us a hotel room the night before home games. So it was like, is there something to do with that where it's like, I don't know, they just wanted us to have our, like, get a good night's sleep. They didn't want kids to be keeping them up and like things like that. And that sucks from a family standpoint. But like, is there something to be said about that?

Where it's like you go on the road, it's like, all right, it's business. But then at home, you just naturally have different distractions, right? Just life. Yeah, right. Yeah. We talked about it with the Kings this year. They saved Jimmy's job four or five times this year on road trips. They would be at home, lose three in a row, and it'd be like, oh, and people started talking

about Jim, and then they'd go on a four-game road trip and go four and O because they're just like dialed on the road. And they were like, this is fucking crazy. I think it's totally a thing. Summer camp, dude. We're talking about it all the time. when you're on the road with the boys, there's so much camaraderie.

And I agree, you're almost more dialed on the road because it's like you don't have your usual comforts that you do have at home and your normal spots. You're always talking to everyone being like, where are you going to get food? Like, when are you nap in? And it's like everyone's synced up, dude. You're cycling.

You're on the same period. Yeah, it's fucking great. That's so true. It's just like, you know, like you just get in a rhythm. I think the road rhythm is so real. And I do wonder sometimes in a city like Montreal with how intense it is. And I mean that in a good way

and how fucking raucous the fans are. And when they play cold play in that barn, it's so electric. There is, as the home team, there's, I think there's probably a little bit of pressure. There's so many distractions there. Like, I could see that being a thing for sure. Yeah.

There's also this, like, weird thing that you get, and this might be a little bit more in like regular season. But like if you're on that, like, I played out west the entire time. Even in Chicago, we had, I mean, that travel was a little bit easier. But in Vegas and L.A.,

like we would do those. those big Eastern swings where you're like, you're gone like 12 days, 13 days, sometimes two weeks, and you play like seven or eight games. Yeah. You know. And it's like that first game when you come back home is such a trap game. Because you're just naturally like, you're like, ah, I'm home. Yeah.

And then so many times. And that was one thing like Darrell Sutter was always all over us about because you, you, you have a good road trip. And then you come back and it's like, yeah, you're in your, you're sleeping in your own bed. You're like on the couch, you're doing all this stuff. And so you just naturally just relax. And then you just get pumped. You just get pumped the first game back. All of our fucking gambling fans listening right now are taking out the notebook.

And they're like, oh my God, I'm fucking now. But maybe there's something to do with that too. Definitely, I mean, maybe not as much in the playoffs. But it is a real thing to the point where like coaches acknowledge it and they're all over you about it. Yeah, yeah. Fuck. Well, I mean, dude, it makes sense because the team you're playing is on their business. Like they're on there.

like, oh, I'm the Rangers and I'm on my big West Coast swing. And they're like, okay, here we go. Yeah, yeah. It's like, I know Buffalo tried it and it didn't work, but like there's part of me with Caroline. Because I loved what Stoney said after they took care of business in that game four. He was like after the game talking about how, you know, yeah, this is a good team. They could get one and we could, if let's say Colorado had won, we could be like, oh,

yeah, we're fine. But we were kind of like, no, fuck that. Take care of business and just put them away. You've got to be feeling that way if you're Carolina. Uh, yes. I think right now for the first time in years in the Eastern Conference final, you are elated with where you are, but you don't want to breathe any life into the ghosts and you don't want to breathe any life into the possibility. And there's, I'm genuinely wondering if like, if I'm raw, I'm almost like, you're, you're all staying in a hotel. Where's your jacket, by the way? You mean my fucking Ghostbusters suit? It's right there. It's right over there.

Oh, okay. And I didn't want to get, I didn't want to prematurely put on the suit here for them. Dude, well, you bring up an interesting point that I hadn't considered. The canes, obviously they have all their Eastern Conference shit. But if the Keynes were going to lose the series in seven and it was like, they lose game one, they win game two. They lose game three, they win game four. They lose game five. They win game six.

That's just a good series, you know, and we lost. And honestly, there's a spin zone of like, there's a fucking fight at least. You know, we didn't go down 03, whatever, boys. Like, we're right on the fucking doorstep. I know it's a nightmare, but you're still like, there's a narrative. If they lose now,

it's all of a sudden sucks horribly again, you know? Like, you mean if Carolina loses this series? Yeah. Buddy. You know what I mean? Because like, before. I've gotten this for you. If they lose this series now,

it's worse than anything that's ever happened. Which sucks, which is kind of unfair because I go, dude, you're playing a really good team and you had a seven gamer. It just, you know, But dude, life is not fair. So, I mean, that is the funny double-edged sort of this. It's like, there is no, there will be no comfort or resting for the Carolina Hurricanes unless they win this series. Yeah, imagine losing to a team that shoots three shots a game.

Yeah. That would be tough. That would be hard. But, yeah, I mean, it sounds weird to say, I think the only thing worse than losing, I mean, if they had gone up 3-0 and then lost, that would be worse than this. But I think being up 3-1 and then losing is worse than getting swept. I swear to God, I would argue that it's actually worse because the way they lost game one. Yeah. It's like, all right, well, we ended up losing this, but we didn't come out.

Yeah, we weren't even playing. Actually great point. So I think it would be worse to lose. To do it this way. This is the worst case scenario. That's what I mean. They're in the game game. We've determined things are terrible for the canes right now.

Is that what we're saying? For both. No, truly. No, but both teams are in pessimistic. telling you, it's like it is genuine hell because if they go home, think about how fired up those lunatic Keynes fans are going to be. If Montreal scores first, definitely they're going to be like, oh my God. Like that. So I'm like, this is a fucking nightmare. Then you have to go back to Montreal. Yeah. But at least maybe they suck at the best. Montreal stinks at all.

I think like a team like this though, like with their history in this playoffs, like you cannot give the Habs life. Exactly. You cannot. No, not a shred of life. Because they're so scratch. They can win a game with getting 12 shots. Yeah. And it's like, I can't give any of these guys. No. And I will say huge, huge for this game was Aho scoring, Stang scoring again. We talked about this morning.

I mean, I called out Aho. I was like, I mean, we talked about it earlier. It was like, you got to get going, buddy. Like you got. And beautiful goal. And that was, I look at that. If I'm Montreal and it's like, Ajo scores, stank scores, you're kind of like, fuck. Freddy has another shutter.

Just an insane dish from Eilers on that first goal. That Stahl goal was beautiful. I don't know how Miller found him. Yeah. Like, that was just, that was such a great example of Jordan Stahl is so strong. Dude, I don't even know how he got his stick on it. But again, key too. I mean, like, he was like, I think he's going to have his, he's going to stay there and just like feathered one right on it.

He's hard to play against. Yeah, I really. He's a big. Stahl. Like there's certain guys in the league that as a defenseman you know like listen if this guy parks in front like I'm not moving him. Yeah. Like I have to work around this guy. Yes.

Like hurdles kind of the same way. Ooh, cool. You know, like barbership. Yeah. And it's like I'm going to try to get on this guy's hip. And if a shot comes this way, maybe I can give him like a little bit of a shot and use my. But it's like what am I going to do? Try to push this guy out from the front.

Like it's just not happening. It's like Holmstrom back the day. Like you just got to deal with it. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. No, and he's a, that was a little, uh, the only time I actually thought Montreal was going to make a push was after that

heroic, a minute 45, five on three kill. And, uh, that was a little wire cross from Phil. I was like, well, do you go, dude, what he's doing? Crazy. Wait, who took the penalty on that five on three? Phil to know. I was like, yeah, dude. He was on stall.

Ross check stall's head. I was going to ask you, Marty, like, there was a shot where he, it was like a close-up shot where he was hitting. Saul in the head and Saul's kind of saying he wasn't even angry he was like almost like he was like come on man like what do you say when somebody's like ramming their stick but he's not angry he's almost like what are you doing yeah it's like you disappointed your grandpa yeah like i'm not mad i'm just disappointed which is so much worse yeah yeah yeah from a guy like that you're like phil's probably did that and he's probably like sorry yeah honestly yeah like yeah that's sorry man

he wasn't even mad he was just like it's like that old clip you remember that clip where uh back in the day, Habs, B's, P.K., like, fucking cross-checks Berge in the back. And they're down, Bergey was miced in the game, and they're down on the ice and Bergey, literally just turns around and goes, come on, man, don't do that. And then P.K. turns back and he goes, oh, dude, I thought you were marshy. It's like, so funny. That happened to me in the conference final against Montreal when Ty was there. Oh, no way.

He cross-checked me so hard in the back. And I'm like, come on, man, I was in your wedding. I'm your pal. Hey, I thought we were friends. I mean, I know there's no friends out there, but it's like, man, come on. I'll never forget that. And then he didn't, he didn't, I can't remember. We're going to have to get him on here and talk.

Like, I can't remember maybe, I think he might have said, sorry, like in the handshake line. Yeah, yeah. Because that was like game, was that like game two? I can't remember which one, but it was like significantly later. Yeah. And like the first thing he said, hey. I don't know about that. Todd.

Like, hey, sorry, sorry about that cross check. I'm like this point. I'm just like, I'm so pissed. Yeah. Right. Do his kidneys. Thank you. Yeah, seriously.

Like actually, my L5 is not happy. Yeah. God damn. I do think this game went about as good and comfortable for Carolina as it possibly. Dude, they did the thing that I've been bitching about where they went up 3-0. And then I'm like, well, everybody plays differently now. And here comes the other team. And they were just like, they weren't, they didn't even keep scoring.

they just suffocated you. Yeah. And I was like, oh, my God. And like we keep saying, like, if we're, if we're doing the spin zone for Montreal, I mean, Dobesh, this game could have been 9-0. Yeah. Like, they had a lot of chances after 3-0. Like, they had-jave.

Jarvie had six chances. Yeah, yeah. This guy's a stud. He's a stud, man. He's so good. This isn't a flash in the pan. This is not a, like, oh, maybe we got something. Like, this is a give this guy a seven-year deal immediately.

Like, this is your goal. for the fucking next 10 years. In Montreal on the stop signs, they have stickers to say Dobe Shown. Yeah, yeah. They're coming up to those. That is awesome. That is awesome. It's amazing.

It's good. So, I mean, that's great. He gave up three, but he's playing great still. But Carolina, you get a shutter from Freddie. Aho scores, Stank scores. I mean, this was just great. And I know it's an empty net, but you said, like, Svech finally gets one.

I guess one. I know it's an empty net, but keep them coming. Svech gets another one. Guys start feeling good about that stuff. Obviously, they feel good because they've been winning. But when you're having personal success, too, and it starts going in, that makes a big difference. That matters. If Carolina Friday night, Friday night?

Yeah. Was today Wednesday? Yeah. It would be Friday. If Carolina takes care of business, do you think it, because it felt like, frankly, after game three, everyone was like, I don't even care. It comes out of the East Vegas is just too good. do you think if Carolina takes care of Montreal in five that will change a little bit of the like

fucking A I don't know this these are now two very good teams I mean I think what I said this morning was Carolina Dan made a comment comparing the Knights run to the Knicks run and I was like well the difference is the Knicks presumably have like the thunder waiting for them who are the heavy favorite and we're like the one seed all year and I was like Vegas doesn't really have that they're going to be the favorite But then I was like, actually, Carolina is the one, and maybe not against Carolina.

Carolina is the 113.1 seed who is like, fuck you, I'm not the favorite. That's what I'm saying. So I was like, I think there's, as much as we all dog, not me, but the world dogs Carolina. Oh, you can't get past, if you get past the Eastern Conference Final against a very fucking good team in five, I think that is going to make everyone take a bit of medicine and be like, that might have been there. It might have been the monkey off the back. Or it might have been their cup, though. Like, they might have been, like, everything.

We just have to win this round. And then they get home. Like, this is their road trip, and then they come home and the cup. We're going to see them over the weekend running down the streets with the Prince of Wales. Like, yeah, yeah, exactly. Like Vegas is like, dov, like, oh my God. Okay, that's a good question. Let's take an ad break.

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I have some conference finals observations for you guys. And again, it's not over. It's not over. But I was... To be clear, it's not over. It's not over. But I was enjoying the Marner thing too. I was like, man, that's so sick that this is happening for this guy.

I think if you're a hockey fan, unless you're a very disgruntled Leafs fan, I got to believe you're happy about this because it's cool. He's one of the best players in our game, and I'm glad he's getting to shine. But it's been cool to see some guys on this Carolina team like Keondre and Eilers, where I'm like, man, this must feel sick. You're like, you know, because it's awesome. You guys had some, how far did you guys go that first year you got to Vegas? Conn's finals? That was the bubble year. So, yeah, we lost Dallas in the California.

So you got like a tape, you know, you're like, holy shit. And then it was like, blah, blah, blah. And then you get through. But it must be cool when you first get to a new team where you go, oh, man, okay, new team. I haven't really dealt with this in my career or whatever. And then you're just like, bang. Like we're nasty. We might win at all.

Well, it's also like when you go to a team like that, then oftentimes a team had to pay you or they gave up something. And you want, like as a player. You want to win. You want to win, but you also want to validate. Like they put that trust in you, like their management and all that. Like you want to validate their decision. their decision. So you're like, I mean, obviously you want to win, you want to play for your teammates, you want to play for the fans, you want to do right by the city, like all that stuff.

But I meant like, you're in the trade. Like I was like, you want to be the guy to hear like, we got the guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like when I was traded for two second round picks and it's like, you might suck. You're motherfuckers. Like if, if those two picks turn into Connor McDavid, I'm like, fuck. Damn it. Yeah. Do you know what those picks are? Huh? It's a great question. Do you know who those Pixar? Yeah, Leas Anderson and then Jordan Spence. Spenny! Yeah. That's awesome. I think,

don't quote me on that, but I think someone told me that, like when I was at the King's game, a couple, whatever, I don't know, a month ago. That's awesome. Was that a month ago? I don't know. Yeah, I had no idea. Time is irrelevant. But yeah. I was actually just looking at a tweet that we had after, it was

about a little over two weeks ago that Minnesota lost, and I was like, fuck, that's such a brutal way for Minnesota to go out. There's just no stop in the Savs team. They're going straight to the cup. Whoops. Yeah, right. Whoops. Fucking A. Wow, that's funny. Oh, that. Yeah, yeah.

So, but no, I totally hear that, dude. And also, specifically, look at those two I just named. I mean, holy fuck, the jets and the Rangers are horrible. And they're like, we're Mac, we're going to the top. You know what, man, I feel the ricochet shot, this is going to be at Rangers. I have a longstanding beef with the Rangers. They don't like me either. Oh, really?

Oh, yeah. More justified. I say really. I still get death threats. Yeah, yeah. It's actually the amount of, um... Dude, this is like over 10 years ago. The amount of comments that we've been seeing on all of the episodes that are like,

stop making me like Alec Martinez. And we're like, yeah, I get it. Dude, hold on. Hold on. I, because I, uh, was about to bring up when that trade happened, I was like, this, I was like, he is going to be so good with Carolina and so many bitter Rangers fans. were like he's going to fucking suck after this many times and blah, blah, blah, blah. And he's just like so good for this team.

And I'm like, yeah, you were wrong about that one. Okay, so yeah, that is correct, Dan. And the Eilers one, obviously I did not see the Jets thing coming. And they got hot late, but just like the Jets season went to hell in a way that a lot of people predicted. I did see that coming if you remember. Well, we all picked them to make playoffs. Yes, but if you remember, I picked them to be, I think I might have picked them a wildcard team. Interesting.

Because I, dude, I just, I was like, I think the things that they lost are way worse than people think. Yeah. But I could have never predicted the hellie injury as long as it was. Didn't they win the presidents drove two years ago? Yeah. Yeah. And then there was like the whole like Ken Hellebuck win thing and they just barely eked by the blues. And then they got clapped in the second round.

And then, hell they won a gold medal. Yeah. So suck it, everybody. Good Michigan boy. Yes, damn right. And now he's getting traded to Buffalo. God, that is unbelievable. For Owen Power?

God, perfect, dude. Perfect. I was thinking the same thing. Oh, yeah. It's a fucking great, turn. You just pissed off the entire upstate New York. Everyone in Buffalo is asleep, dude. And they just, like, their antennas just went up there.

Like, are they fucking talking about Owen Power again? Some guys crush into Ted's hot dog for breakfast and he just spikes the thing on the ground. And then here's the other thing I wanted to say, I saw. I saw, and there's a part of this tweet that's unfair, but I saw a tweet that said something like, uh, oof, more, another two shitty conference finals for the NHL.

They get all these great rounds and then the conference finals are bloodbaths. And the point of the tweet was this. And the reason the tweet slightly unfair is the Western Conference final was a snooze fest, but in reverse. Like everyone, like if the abs had swept, you'd be like, yeah, of course. Yeah, see, like, we get less hockey, but there's a part of me. that's like that Western Conference Final was electric because we were like, holy shit, what is happening? Exactly, which is why it's kind of unfair. But this, the point of the tweet that was trying to make,

which I think is cool, because every time people get mad about the lack of 1-8 format, they're mad about the early rounds. They're mad about, oh, it's Colorado Dallas in the first round. This sucks. But the reason it actually sucks is because it forces you into like, whoever comes out of the Pacific side, whoever comes out of the Central Side plays in the conference finals, where it would be cooler if it was just like it shouldn't and again it happened in reverse but when the pacific's so weak if the abs would just crush them you'd be like yeah this you did this to yourself NHL you know what I mean like I think that's why people want one eight back but what do you guys think about that like conference finals lately because I do kind of feel like we get more sweeps there than maybe the other rounds

and I don't know why that is unless it's this format yeah I mean it's a good observation by you but I go back to what you just said this sweep how happened in the exact opposite that we thought. So I'm kind of like, I mean, I don't know, man. I think it's just how teams play each other. It's, it's, I, I have come around to if I were setting up the, the playoff structure, I wouldn't do it this way. But I, I don't think it's a I don't mind it. I don't mind it. I think it's like, I would switch it, but I don't mind it. I trust Gary with my life. And it's like the, you know, it's sometimes we're getting matchups that I wouldn't have expected to get. And that's kind of fun. What's the last, like,

fucking tilt conference final we've had if you can think of it off the top of it I've got one okay it was us in Chicago yeah but

but though that's a while that's what I mean like the ones I can think of are because there are there are hammer ones like just like that but I'm like Bruins Tampa the year the bees one

like seven game or one in game seven I'm like all those are amazing in 23 when they lost to you played who in the conference final Carolina and swept them

yeah they swept Carolina. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Ours with Dallas that year was pretty good. What are we, did we win in game six? Six. But the first two went into O.T.

Yeah, okay. That was a good one. Howden scored one in O.T. I think game two. I can't remember who scored. Jack made a sick pass to, was it Barbashev? Yep. It's like from behind the net, this backhand play.

Maybe that was a game tire. Last year, Edmonton clapped Dallas. All right, here we go, dude. Right. conference finals last year 4-1-4-1 the year before 4-2-4-2 those are both good yeah but six is good yeah six is good it's one game away from perfect like well no i'm looking for perfect 4-240 4-0 4-240 okay here you go tampa tampa tampa islanders 2021 4-3 that one's

holy fuck that i remember that islanders team crazy that is right i totally forgot about that and 4-2-4-1 4-2-0 oh here you go good one one, Caps, the Caps won, Caps beat Tampa in seven. Yeah, that was a fucking battle. But that was Vegas 4-1 over Jets. Yeah. So, yeah, I'd see, you know, it's, I'm asking a lot, but it's like, you'd love some, some seven gamers in the conference five, for sure.

The other thing, too, and I thought I saw something, and I just looked it up, but they said that there was 2.1 million viewers at game one in the Western Conference final. Wow. And that's, like, the most ever for a Western guy, since, since 2018. Yeah, yeah. Like I thought, well, I don't know. I'm a Vegas guy, so it's like, my buddy's on it.

Game one of the Eastern was crazy viewership too. I thought it was great series, though. Yeah, I agree. I know abs fans aren't thinking of that. But in terms of quality of hockey. Yeah. I thought it was great, dude.

Totally great. And like that game three was fucking electric. Game four was electric. And it's like, I stand by a sweep is, you know, we got robbed of three more games of hockey, sure. But I think a surprise. surprising sweep, it's an upset. Yeah.

Like that was fun to watch. Yeah. I think like everyone tuned into those games because they were like, holy shit, is Vegas going to do this? Yeah. That was in itself a cool. Yeah. I mean, sorry.

We are murdering Colorado fans right now because they were like, those were the four worst moments of my life. And I'm like, yep, sorry. Dude, 2015, Tampa over the Rangers, four in seven and Hawks over the ducks in seven. Two, seven games. That was the perfect year. Yeah, yeah. God, that's awesome.

Um, okay. Like, will people only be happy if all four rounds go seven games? Dude, I want every series to go seven the whole, every, every game, every series, automatic seven.

I, we always joke when we, especially in the final, when we start traveling, and it's like, we're just flying commercial, like peasants and just dying. I'm always like,

I hope they sweep. I hope every cup final is a sweep, so I can just go. And people are like, are you fucking kidding me? I think I told that story when I was on the first time. Yeah,

yeah, you're like, yeah we obviously want to win the Stanley Cup but God we just don't want to hop on another airplane yeah because we were talking about keep me off this trap like I don't want to my parents are texting me that will you just finish it off already like we don't want to do this like all the families are going back and forth yeah yeah dude in 23 we're only that would that easy right yeah in 23 when we got back for what fucking game was that five you guys wanted five and 23 when we got back to Vegas for game five we were being like if you fucking sons of bitches don't win this I'm going to

I'm going on the ice and kill all you guys because we were like, well, that's the story Jack tells too. Like Phil was all pissed. Dude, that was, we talked about this, but that was so sick. I talked about it in the context of you being like,

how do you manage your emotions when you're up that big in the game, right? And you told that awesome story with the coach. But the, uh, for us, it was awesome because I was like, please just win today. And then it was like,

goal, cold, we were like, yeah. It's just like an absolute party in the second period. I mean, you guys couldn't have known this, but like this isn't breaking news.

out, but it's like about an hour or two before the game, we just like caught wind through various people that Maddie was like, his denim was shattered and like couldn't get out of bed. And we were like, yeah, we had heard that too. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I don't believe it. That was that was Colissar, right? Oh, dude, you fucking ran through him like a train. That was such a hard hit. Coley hits hard. Yeah. Dude, but remember, I think it was Matthew hit Jack. A jack on a toe back, but like, remember that? Yeah. Dude, I had to jump in on that one. Really? Yeah, yeah. Bro, I was, this is going to make me sound like such a bitch, but I was so tired at that game. Like, we'd just been running around and I was literally like exhausted, dude. So we were, and dude, we don't get seats. Like I have a media pass, right? But I'm not, I don't have a seat. So a lot of the game were just wandering around, you know, I'm like finding vantage points, whatever. Standing. Yeah, exactly. It's exhausted. I'm just on my feet. We've been running around Vegas. I can't remember which game that was, but I was so, so legitimately exhausted. I walked in, I was up on the suite level, but I walked in. I was up on the suite level, but I walked. out just I was like doing laps up there and I found it just a little table and there

were some TVs or whatever and I literally was just like I was like I might take a nap but I obviously I'm not going to do that but I was sitting there like this and I was watching the game on the TV and those TVs like every rink are like five seconds behind and dude I just heard the loudest um crowd reaction but the puck was so far from being a goal that I was like what like something's about to happen and then I kind of saw Jack like wheeling around and I just knew I was like oh something horrible it's about to happen. I was like in the second period right yeah yeah I remember it was right inside the blue line yeah yeah yeah and I was like oh my fucking god dude that was crazy we talked about it when he came

on where he was like I kind of was he was like I just was up the wind dock I was scared because of that you know and he saw him coming at like the very last second which it almost looked like he he didn't correct yeah yeah that was crazy dude yeah yeah I forgot about that seriously yeah fucking right have you guys just because you brought up coley have you seen that's the absurd amount of players from the 2015 draft that are on this Vegas team? No. It's in the 2015 draft, this Vegas team has the number two pick, Jack Eichael, the number four pick, Mitch Marner, the number five pick Noah Hanifan. Whoa, that's already crazy.

Crazy. And then they have the number 52 pick, Jeremy Lozahn, number 53 pick, Rasmus Anderson. And I'm pretty sure Coley's in that second, or no, the number 69 pick Keegan Colossar, the number 76 pick Aden Hill. It's crazy amount of out of the team. Yeah. Having two, having two, four, five is bono. It's going to be insane when they trade for McDavid this.

Yeah. Come on. Holy shit. Oh, it's unbelievable. Well, listen, Cab's dead or what? What do you think? I don't know. I think the canes are rolling pretty good now.

I think it's a tough one to come back against that. I've been trying to give them the benefit of doubt. Every time this comes up, I'm like, the abs are going to get one. There's too much. But they're scrappy. I know. They're scrappy.

They hang around. It's like another sub-20 shot performance. I think I just saw a step before I close my laptop. This is the, it's the least amount of shots over a three-game span. In NHL Stanley Cup play out, that's wild. They look, I don't want to say beaten down. They just look gassed.

And Carolina feels like they are coming into their own. They played twice as many games. Yeah. Yeah. That's a real thing. It's a very real thing. That's a factor. I think it feels like Carolina's got it.

It feels like they have, they are close to busting the ghost. They are close to completing the stream cross and taking care of the State Puff Marchamel a man. And I am, I think that they can do it. But I do believe Montreal Scrappy. I don't think they're going to go down without a fight. Dude, the, man, I can't remember where, but we met these two guys at a meet and greet, and Neptune's meet and greet, father's son from Alabama.

And they love Hawkins. Was it Nick Dout? Yes. And his dad. Yeah, it was Nick and his dad. I was like, dude, you've got to get out there. And they love hockey, and they were on a, they're all currently on a mission to see a game at every bar.

And it's awesome. That's awesome. Dude, it's amazing. And we've like run into them a few times. Yeah. Yeah. And they're like, they're, how far are they?

I think half. Oh, over now. Yeah, but like they're hawking, dude. And they pick sick games or whatever. They have game six bell center tickets. Mm. So I got to take. the Havs in five to get the Bama boys a playoff game at the bell set. That's fucking,

because that would be Nelbies. Yeah. That would be sick. That's just people helping people. Yeah. Rood for, yeah. Rood for good thing. Yeah, room for good things. Get that message to the Habs right now. Yeah. Maybe they'll give them some motivation to score a little more. Just shoot a little more. Right. Yeah. All right, boys, hear me out. There's two guys from Alabama. Yeah. We know you wanted to win before, but now. Marty Kreeing goes like this. All right, boys, I got, I got CP on the phone. Yeah. They're like, what the fuck? Yeah, exactly. You think I'm going to do Wolf of Wall Street. Actually, there's two guys from Bama.

Yeah. Two guys from Bama who are desperate to see a game. I'll tell you what, if they fucking come back and win this series, the Bama boys are going to every fucking game and the stay on the come final. Now they know. For the price of on the house. They're lighting the torch in the final.

You got to get a second torch. Absolutely correct. That is awesome. I don't think they know any French. I'm willing to bet. Yeah. Hey, before we wrap up, Ev, congrats to you as well. Yep.

Ofgeny Malkin. Oh, I am score. He is a score. It was really funny. You know. He says he's like, I come back one new more year. Yeah. No, it's cool.

And apparently he's got like a crazy bonus situation where if they make the. I think you can make up to nine million. Yeah, he makes like a million dollars if they make the playoffs and for every round of like, you know, half a mil. Does that not hit the cap? Is that how that way? It does the following year. Oh, interesting. Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, yeah. I mean, dude, that's how they should have done it. I actually thought five point five was a little. more than I thought of either. But you can only get those if you're after or if you're older than 35.

Oh, cool. It's, the weird thing about being a Penguins fan right now is it's kind of like, it's like, you know when you like go to the sphere and you're like, hey, we're going to watch the Eagles do like all their greatest hits. Yeah. I think that's what like going to a Penguins game is going to be like now where it's like, remember the good old days. They're still here.

They're still playing. Guys, let's just be appreciative that they're still going. Absolutely. Because they're not seriously, I don't think, going to be a contender with this. they will have a good team, but I think they're just trying to sell tickets and God bless them, because once those guys are gone,

it's going to be the dark ages. I know, but it was weird that they made it this year. Like they were better. Yeah, they were unexpectedly. Yeah. But still got fucked over by the flyers. Yeah, that did.

That was unpleasant. Which is, you have to ask yourself, wasn't worth it. No. I'm telling you, Pittsburgh media people were like, I would rather not make the playoffs

then get swept by the, or not swept, but beat by the fucking flyers. So, but yeah, but of course, I fucking love Gino. He's a legend. And if those guys want to play until they're fucking 50 years old, whatever, it's great. That's great. Bring yager back, too. Bring yager, dude, yeah. How deep can we go with it?

Yeah. Can we get Mario back together? If they offered him a contract, he'd be like this, oh, yeah. A little power play. Yeah. It would be great. I bet he would score 30, too. I don't.

He probably would. Yeah. 30 goals. two assists it'd be great uh all right that's it for this episode marty thanks for coming coming on and driving down here it's great yeah after door uh enjoy your first night off of playoff hockey since the beginning of playoffs yeah kind of oh really yeah no game tomorrow or tonight as you're listening to this uh so rest up get ready for friday we'll see you then skate hard