Halford & Brough in the Morning - Ray Ferraro On The Canada USA Rivalry

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

In hour two, Mike & Jason talk Saturday's Canada vs. USA barn burner with NHL analyst Ray Ferraro (1:20), and also look ahead to Thursday's rematch in the final round with commentator Craig Simpson (28:59).  This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Ferraro, Ferraro, let's chat with Ray Ferraro. It's time for Ferraro, let's talk to Ray Ferraro. Ferraro winds up with a shot. Score! Ray Ferraro takeaways on site! Score! Rebound score! Ray Ferraro! Ferraro, Ferraro, it's time for Ray Ferraro. Let's chat with Ferraro, it's time for Ray Ferraro. 7.02 on a Tuesday. Happy Tuesday everybody. Halford Brough, Sportsnet 650.

Halford and Brough of the morning is brought to you by Vancouver Honda, Vancouver's premier destination for Honda customers. They have a friendly, knowledgeable staff that can help with anything you're looking for, sales, financing, service, four parts. We are in hour two of the program. Ray Ferraro is gonna join us in just a second here

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To the phone lines we go, Ray Ferraro joins us now on the Haliford and Bref show on Sportsnet 650. Morning Ray, how are you? I'm good. How are you guys today? Good family day and all that? Good weekend. Yeah, it was a lot of fun. How much fun was it for you to be part of this tournament so far? Well, it's been awesome so far. I head to Boston tomorrow for the final. I would say it was unexpected Saturday night. I think most people that were following were really excited for it and had lots of anticipation. But I don't think the start was like I think caught most people, it caught Canada by surprise. It caught, not that it matters, it caught me by surprise, but it caught Canada by surprise.

Yeah, I mean, it was an explosion of noise and intensity. And of course, with all the talk around the anthems and things like that. I mean, there was a different tone to the game and it wasn't just talky. It was, you know, there was politics to it. And, and in any game like intensity and conflict makes the game better. And then I thought once the game started guys, I thought like the U S was, they played about a perfect game. They were fantastic on Saturday and they deserved to win.

Can you try and relay to the listeners, maybe even to Bruv, because Bruv was talking about how great the energy and emotion was from the Bell Centre crowd through the television, like the Ole Ole Ole and the anthems and the energy prior to the fights. What was that like? I can't imagine there's been a lot of experiences like that, maybe some, but with the added backdrop of everything that's going on in the world, it just felt like it was a real special moment in time before the fireworks with the three fights in nine seconds.

Yeah. I mean, only, like I can think of a couple events that I've been really, really fortunate to be part of, like from the broadcast side, like the 2015 World Junior in Toronto was against the Russians was just amazing. It was a wild game. It was super intense because they're kids. There was a little wildness to it, right? Like all over the place. The world championships I did in Prague, which was Jaga's last, kind of his last national team event, the building was literally moving. With the, they do this, they have this chant that basically translates to if you're,

if you're not jumping, you're not check. And so the, the whole of the crowd is jumping up and down and you can feel like we could feel the building moving under us. It was like, that was amazing. The Olympics in 2010 were, you know, I got to do all the way up to the semi-final and it was just, it was a dream. It was amazing. And then this the other night, like the preamble to the game was way better than the game really. Like after the start of the second period, Canada just got nothing going. But like, so like the Ole Ole's like, it made me smile. It was like, that's what sports is, right? That's what it's supposed to be. It's supposed to be fun and energy.

And it was awesome. Then right, right before the face off, Brady Kachak skates over kind of by the red line and he's yelling over at Sam Bennett and he's yelling, Benny, when this is finished, we're going to go. And I'm like, I'm still not putting it together. I'm like, when this is finished and then.

Where are they going to go? Like, what, what is it? Like I knew that part and like, I knew he was challenging him to a fight, but I'm like, after this is finished, like it didn't click in the moment, you know, like I'm looking at starting goalies and all this other stuff. And I'm like, what the hell is he talking about? And then they in the moment. I'm looking at starting goalies and all this other stuff and I'm like, what the hell is he talking about? And then they go line up

and I'm like, oh, I got it. I could see Matthew was talking to Hagel. And so one, two, those are done right away. I said on the US side on the broadcast, I said to Sean McDonough, I said, Sean, there's zero chance this puck's going to hit the ice and then Brady's not going to be in the box with his brother. And like, it was just being, just being there. I could hear it. You know, I could hear the conversation and as soon as the Matthew fight ended and it kind of

settled for half a second, Bennett jumped over the bench. I'm not even sure if he got told to go, but he was already out there. And so those two guys fight. And then I think it was McAvoy, it might've been Faber, just kind of lobs a wrist shot into Bennington. So now they can have the scrum to start the third one. And so it was clear to me, the intention was the US wanted to punch Canada in the mouth early to try and say, okay, we like they know what environment they're in.

Right? Like they know it. And they want to, they want to embrace this and they want to be the villain. They want to be on their front foot, all that stuff. And that's what those fights were about for me. Do you think, this is a theory that might be wrong because it's me putting it out there, but all the emotion that was spent at the beginning of the game or even before the game took a toll on the rest of the game? Well, I think if we were expecting it to be played

at that intensity, right? It was going to be a letdown from that. Oh, of course, of course. You can't go to 11 all the time, right? It's like you're kind of stuck there. And so I think what ended up happening, like it's almost like in a Super Bowl or I don't know if you guys are basketball fans in the 80s, like when the Pistons started coming along and they played like great defense, the games weren't as exciting until there was all the rough house stuff, right?

Like the conflict, like defense kills emotion. It's the way you win, but it kills emotion. I thought the US defense, like they didn't give Canada anything, nothing. And I know we'll probably talk about whether Tom Wilson should have been there in a second, but at some point the big boys on your roster produce offense or they don't. And you know, we can nitpick around the edges of the roster. And, and I do think Tom Wilson should have been there, but I don't think Canada, a expected this type of game. Uh, B when, um, when they picked the team, Wilson had a great start and

then he, he cooled and when he cooled was when they picked the team. And so I, maybe there was something in that there that was why he wasn't there. But McKinnon, McDavid, after his goal, Crosby, Point, Mourner, they didn't get anything accomplished on Saturday night. And we were watching the game yesterday morning and I, you know, we're just sitting around and I said, you know, to whoever was listening, might've only been the dog. I think Cami was listening. I'm not sure. But I said it like,

they put the new lines up and I'm like, well, that's great. You know, that those are the new lines. But if these five guys don't play, they don't have a choice or they don't have a chance. And then look what happened. You know, Kenny gets two, uh, McDavid gets one point, gets one, and then Sid gets the empty netter. It's the top of your roster. It is, we spend hours talking about the fringes of rosters and it is important, but the top of your roster has to be that if you're going to win. Yeah.

I mean, I want to talk about Kale McCarr and the fact that he wasn't playing in that game and he will play in the game on Thursday. But Jason, it wasn't just McCarr, right? So Canada was missing half of their defense. Right? So Patrangelo, Theodore and McCarr, dead transition game. That's what I'm talking about. And not even the transition game, but the ability

to get involved in the offensive end too, right? There's a big difference between putting the puck back to Kale McCarr than it is to, I think Thomas Harley played really well, but there's a big difference between giving it to Kale McCarr and Thomas Harley. And I, you know, this is, this is coming from a hopeful perspective as a fan of Canada that that's

going to make a big difference on Thursday in Boston, because you know, you look at that Canada lineup and it's still had all these amazing forwards, McDavid, McKinnon, Crosby, all these other guys, and they just could not generate scoring chances and credit to the Americans but I'm hoping something changes on Thursday. Well the Americans four-check is ferocious and if you can't escape a four-check your only place to shoot it around the boards and if you

shoot it around the boards then the D from the US pinches down and your best hope is you chip it out to center. And then you're on the punt coverage team. They just throw it back in and you chip it out to center, right? Like that's all you can get if you don't have that escape ability that Macar has. Of course, we watch it 82 times a year with Quinn. Like that's

what, aside from their offense, their superpower is they never stay in their zone. They get it and they make somebody fall down and then they get out of the zone. It's amazing. I don't know how closely you watch Zach Wierenski as well, but I don't see, you know, Columbus isn't high on my watch list, but I'm like, man, this kid is phenomenal. And those are the three Norris trophy finalists. Like if you're voting today, it's Wurenski, Hughes and, and McCarr.

So what Canada missed was greater in some than what the U S missed without Quinn. But now come Thursday, I'm sure everybody by now is seeing the reports that McEvoy went to the hospital, he's getting further testing done. I don't know what that's about. Jeez, I hope the guy's okay. Like I have no idea.

But the US team all of a sudden is all banged up. You know, Matthew's a question mark. Matthews did not play. Brady's a question mark now after last night. And McEvoy, I mean, like it could be a completely different lineup come Thursday. I'll let you know, Ray, that just a couple minutes ago, Frank Sarvelli tweeted out that according to his sources,

McEvoy was admitted to the hospital on Monday night with an infection that stemmed from a minor injury. No long-term concern, but his status for Thursday is up in the air. So as you mentioned, yeah, the lineup could be different going into Thursday's game. Well, okay. So this is kind of like, again, I've got grade 11 and a half here, so I'm going to caution people of taking this as. Point taken, yeah. Thank you.

So you get an injury becomes a cut. It could be anywhere. Your elbow pad could have moved, you could have hit your elbow on the board, you get a cut. You finish the rest of the game. This happened a lot before when equipment wasn't made the same way. It wasn't quite frankly, it wasn't as clean. And you'd get an infection. And if the infection didn't clean up, if you didn't get to it right away, maybe you don't notice it right away, you end up with a bigger problem. So hopefully Charlie's okay because while no longterm,

as Frank said, as you just read, it can be more than bothersome for a little bit of time. We're speaking to Ray Ferraro here on the Halford and Bruff show on Sportsnet 650. Ray, let's turn our attention to the guys between the pipes, specifically Jordan Bindington. What have you thought of Bennington's tournament thus far? I think this is a Jordan Bennington performance. It's really good and then you hold your breath. I thought on Saturday he played really well and know, you can't go by the, the, the first goal for sure

can't go in at this level. But again, so probably try, if you look at the puck coming off his stick, he's probably trying to elevate that puck and he doesn't get it right. And it slides on the ice. But the goalie still from the goalies I talked to tell me that he's got to seal the ice as well. Like while expecting the tell me that he's got to seal the ice as well. Like while expecting the top shot, you've got to seal the ice and that goes right underneath him. I didn't mind the Larkin goal because like in my eye line, like I've got that, I got that view on that shot from where I'm standing.

Like he's not off his angle, but it is just over the pad and under the blocker. It's a perfect shot. The concern I have is that's where Lindell beat him yesterday. Same shot. I mean, deeper in the zone, but same shot. And so Binnington had played great and then he gives up three goals like boom, boom, boom. And so it's like, you know, there's really good stuff and then you close your eyes and hope.

And I think there's a, you don't have to be a goalie guy, but pretty clearly an advantage to the US in the final here. The Gensel goal remind me of Sid's golden goal. I was like, it doesn't feel so good the other way around. No, it doesn't. It was a fabulous goal in 2010. Yeah, it was an amazing goal. And the other night You're like, oh, he's got to stop. Yeah. Um, let's talk about some of the other teams and specifically Sweden. Um, I tweeted out and now I totally regret it

because I tweeted out, oh my God, I tweeted out Sweden went undefeated in regulation, beat the Americans and they won't play in the final. And that everyone assumed that I thought that it meant that Sweden deserved to be in the final. I was like, no, they lost twice. I mean, that's fine lines in these tournaments. My whole point is that like, wow, like, you know, there was a couple for Sweden, it came down to a couple of overtimes and maybe the America USA game would have,

would have gone differently if it if it had mattered and you know The Americans wouldn't have been sitting guys and they probably but my whole point is that like I actually don't know What to think of Sweden's performance at this tournament because again, they didn't lose in regulation and they did beat the Americans but overall, I think that was a disappointing performance for Sweden. And for me, it really hinged on the fact that they

didn't beat the team that they should have beaten and that's Finland. Okay. So I'm going to, I'm going to talk about Sweden, but I'll, I'll also talk about Finland in the same breath. This is a snapshot guys of tournament hockey for the Swedes and the Finns since I've been doing it. It's coming up 15 years that I've been doing international hockey. It's the same story every bloody tournament and the story is the Finns look like a team that

you know like it's a ragtag team. they're, gee, they don't have high-end skill or enough of it and gee, they're overmatched and they're, you know, they're just a plucky little group. I always refer to them, they're a rock in your shoe. You can just never get rid of the Finns. Drives you crazy playing against them. And when you watch, you're like, well, they're going to lose this game. And then they don't. And you're like, well, how the hell did that happen? Right so that was the fins through the whole tournament they get it's two one the start of the third period they get blown you know they get blown off the ice in the third period they two quick goals against the Americans that game was

over then they like halfway through the Swedish game you're like oh my god it's 2-2 like they did it again and so the Finns that was the snapshot of them the Swedes always look better than they are they always do go back to again go back to the first tournament I did was 2012 in in Calgary and Sabana Jad scored a beautiful overtime goal it was a 1, nothing game against the Russians. That's the last time they won the gold medal. I think since then they, didn't they go through that streak of about 50 straight games of winning

in the, in the preliminary round. Yeah. And they never win. They're like this tournament, they, they should be in theory in a different spot, but they just, they don't have something or they don't get something. And it's not the same thing all the time, but something always does not connect. The tumblers don't connect for them in tournament play because look at those players like as

a collection and you tell me they're not better than the Finns? Of course they are. Of course they are. But it just, it doesn't happen for them. And it's, it's gotta be maddening, frustrating. I don't even know what else the word is, but like, yeah, there was two overtime games and you know, like if you're going to pick a team to win overtime, I'm not picking the Finns. I really am not. Except Lankinen makes that save and then he does, you know, he kind of like with his back heel chips the puck out and they break out like, what the?

Like it's just so Finnish to me. Like he doesn't know where it is for a minute and then he like keeps the play going and Grandland scores and you're like are you and there go the Fin or there go the Swedes again and it's it's confounding to watch it really is. I drew the short straw so I get to ask this one what'd you think of Elias Pedersen's tournament? I mean I again I, I think when I was on with you last time, I'm like, I don't know what to say. Like it, it doesn't, there's a get up and go

that's missing to his game. And I think it impacts everything else that he does. Like he's not going to skate of course, like McCabe, McDavid or McKinnon, right? Of course he's not going to skate, of course, like McDavid or McKinnon, right? Of course, he's not going to. But when he gets the puck in any space, with any space or to take one stride, to clear the crowd, he just doesn't seem to have it. And I don't know why.

And just prior to the tournament, there was a story, you know, about, you know, you need a summer of training and look, I've rehabbed over a summer and it sucks. When you're rehabbing, you're not training, you're not building, you're trying to tread water, you're trying to get yourself back to your low bar. Like that's, that's what rehab is basically. Rarely does a guy come off of rehab or an injury of some sort and springboard the next little while. It just doesn't happen. that get up and go is missing from his stride and his game. And if the game is gonna return to what we've seen before, that has to be there. And if that means harder work or different work

or more commitment off season, if it's all of that, then that's what has to be. But right now, under the traffic, like, you know, this is the difference fast and quick, like, you don't have to be fast to get out of traffic, you just have to read the play, like read that scene. Remember, this happens in a second, right? So you read the play, and you, you see what's going on, and you take one stride and you're out of the traffic. you, you see what's going on and you take one stride and you're out of the traffic. Almost anybody can do that, but it takes the read, the connection and the strength to get out of it.

And something in that firing system isn't working because he's, he is quicker than this. We've seen it. It's not like he's 37 and you go man He just got old right because that's what happens to everybody but like we've seen it not that long ago We're just over a year ago, right prior to the all-star break. It was there and then it's gone like there's It doesn't make any sense to me Yeah, and and you know, like that's I you know, I'm kind of rambling a bit now, but it just doesn't make it. It's like anything. It's like if we're trying to talk about politics in the States, we just start rambling around

because none of it makes any sense. And it's kind of this, this, that's what I guess that's what I'm saying here. Well there's one game left at the foreign nations face off and it is the one that everyone wanted. Now we're going to get It's on Thursday in Boston. It's Canada, it's the US. You're gonna be there. You're gonna be working it.

Ray, thank you for doing this today and have a lot of fun on Thursday. It should be great. Oh, I can't wait to be there, guys. Good to talk to you again, and we'll talk to you next week. Sounds good. Thanks, Ray. Have fun.

That's Ray Ferraro, en route from Montreal to Boston for the final of the Foreign Nations Face-Off. Foreign Nations, down to two facing off Thursday in Boston, Canada, US. Ray Ferraro on the show. I want to hear from the listeners. We haven't really gone into the Dunbar Lumber text line yet today.

650-650 Metro Vancouver's Trust Your Choice for contractors and rental warriors for over 50 years. Visit them at one of their three locations to serve you or online at dunbarlumber.com. Believe it or not, you are listening to the Alfred and Bruff show and that question of Ray Ferraro about Elias Pedersen was really the first time we've talked about Pedersen's tournament,

but we have to talk about it. We have to talk about it. This is the home of the Canucks and we got a lot of people texting in about it and if you don't want to talk about Pedersen, you don't want to hear any more talk about Pedersen, then turn off the radio. You know, we got lots of listeners. I'm not too worried about that.

But we have to, we have to talk about it. I'm sorry. I don't want to talk about it. I'm so sick of this, but you know, the, the narrative that going into this tournament, one of the notions that a lot of people had, and some people didn't, and you guys are so smart, but a lot of people were like, maybe this will be an opportunity for Pedersen to find his game.

He's going into this tournament feeling really good because he had that good game against the Leafs and maybe playing with some of his fellow countrymen, getting out of Vancouver, new environment, maybe playing with, uh, some of his fellow countrymen, getting out of Vancouver, new environment, maybe he'll find his game and he did not find his game. And we are going to talk about it coming up next, whether you like it or not. And believe me, I don't on the Halford

Umbrough show on Sportsnet 650. So Craig Simpson is going to join us on the other side. Eight o'clock hours totally open. We're doing the inverse of final hour. Eight o'clock hours open. Eight o'clock hour all Halbro. You can get in right now.

Dumbart Lumber Text Message in Basket is 650-650. Text in what you learned over the last 96 hours in sports. Hashtag it WWL. Again, final hour of the program, no guests all Halbrow will dive deep into the Dunbar Lumber text message in basket. We've got a bunch of what we learned as well. Finally before we go to break I need to tell you about Jan Pro from warehouses to washrooms and everywhere in between Jan Pro keeps workplaces tidy clean and disinfected for a free quote visit them at JanPro.ca Craig Simpson coming up next you're listening to the Halford Ruff Show on Sportsnet 650.

Hey, it's Mick Nazar. Have your say and join me on the People's Show with big takes and even bigger bets weekdays 3 to 4 on Sportsnet 650 or wherever you get your podcasts. The game is over! He's expecting him to cut in and how about that little adjustment? Made it look like he was going to make a move to the inside. Once he realized he had the separation, the fake groove, and then pulled it quickly to that short side, gets it up and over the growth of Hellevac. 7.34 on a Tuesday. Happy Tuesday everybody. Halford Brough, Sportsnet 650. Halford Brough of the morning is brought to you by Vancouver Honda.

Vancouver's premier destination for Honda customers. They have a friendly, knowledgeable staff that can help with anything you're looking for, sales, financing, service or parts. We are in hour two of the program. That voice you just heard, that of Craig Simpson, he's gonna join us in just a second here at the halfway point of hour two. Hour two of this program is brought to you by Jason Hominuk from Jason.mortgage. If you love paying too much for your mortgage, then don't let Jason shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you. Visit him online at Jason.mortgage. If you love paying too much for your mortgage, then don't let Jason shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you. Visit him online at Jason.mortgage.

Now, in that clip, you heard Craig Simpson talking about Charlie McEvoy. Folks, we have some breaking news regarding Charlie McEvoy. Sportsnet 650 breaking news. Roughly two minutes ago, the Boston Bruins released a statement and an update on Charlie McAvoy.

It reads Charlie was admitted to Massachusetts general hospital on Monday to undergo testing related to an upper body injury sustained during the foreign nations faceoff. He is currently being evaluated by our team head physician. He is currently being evaluated by our team head physician. McEvoy will not play for team USA in the four nations faceoff championship game on Thursday at TD garden. The Boston Bruins will provide further updates

on his condition and status as soon as they become available. So this is advantage Canada, but this is, I mean, my opinion, disappointing. It's a bummer. Yeah. I, you know, the, the Americans are already So this is Advantage Canada, but this is, in my opinion, disappointing. It's a bummer. Yeah. I, you know, the Americans are already without

Quinn Hughes and I know a lot of people wondered if Quinn Hughes and Charlie McEvoy would be their top pairing and it easily could have been a lefty with a righty. Um, and now, you know, they're going to be without their, their top pairing and Cal McCart didn't play against the Americans on Saturday in Montreal and he's expected

to play, I mean, he played against Finland, so he'll play Thursday against the Americans. So there's a real, there's a real turn. So look again, like it's good for Canada, I suppose on paper, but I just want to see the best players for each country play the best players in the other country. And McEvoy was incredibly noticeable during that 3-1 win over Canada on Saturday.

Finished the game with just under 20 minutes of ice time. Led all American blue liners with five hits, including a pair of big hits on Conor McDavid. So it's a significant loss for Team USA, no question. So here's a question. Yep. Could the Americans call someone up? I'm not sure. We'll have to dig into that. And we will not throw our next guest on the spot with that question. That's left for the tournament organizers, but we will introduce our next guest

now. Sportsnet's Craig Simpson joins us here on the Haliford and Bruff Show on Sportsnet 650. Good morning, Craig. How are you? I'm good, thanks. How are you? I'm good, thanks. How are you guys? We're good. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I'm not sure if you heard that preamble or not, but McEvoy officially ruled out by the Boston Bruins

and thereby for Team USA on Thursday for the finale of the Four Nations faceoff. So based on what you saw during Saturday's game where the US beat Canada 3-1 and McEvoy was a big part of that. How big a loss is this for the US going into the final on Thursday? Well it's always an enormous loss with a guy who A has a great competitive level play you know I think you saw that on Saturday but not only how aggressive he was the the big hits that he had but the big hits that he had, but the big minutes that

he plays and he plays in key situations and can be a part of your offense, jumping up and initiating plays, a big part of penalty killing and defending and setting the physical tone. So, you know, you hate seeing anybody getting injured when they're playing for their country. You know, they've taken the time during the regular season, you worry for the Boston Bruins losing one of their best defensemen. So there's a lot of trickle-down effects, but I agree with you. I think what's been front and foremost in this tournament is just how great it's

been to see the best, uh, uh, from each country go head to head and play each other. And it's a, it's a shame that that's not going to happen on Thursday. Craig, do you think this tournament should be played in August or September, like the old Canada Cups were? I, it depends, you know, I, I've heard a lot of rumblings of even going ahead to the next one coming up in what, 28. A lot of the league, the owners don't want A, to push the season back that much further without getting started and B, go up against football, which for us in Canada,

a lot like even high school, college, all that, it has an effect on a lot of the NHL cities in the US and most owners don't really even want the majority of their home games going in until November when things are dying down. So I think the spectacle that it has been right now and it's really been a home run in terms of how excited everybody's been about seeing the best on best comes at the perfect time. It's a lull in the season. You look at even the NBA's got you know their all-star game which quite frankly was a great contrast. I don't know if you watched this weekend. Well, I said, I, the last eight years, like

broadcasting an All-Star game is not a whole lot of fun. Because. Try covering one as a writer. It's a nightmare. Yeah. And, and so I think the contrast this past weekend, going from Saturday night to their

young guns game or whatever in the NBA is like, oh yeah, this is where people are at home, it's cold weather. I think the setting for the TV numbers and the interest it had fit well where this tournament is right now. And I think that's probably what you'll continue to see. And I'm not sure that part of the September games, it takes a little while to get the engine running you know every

year you go we just took a look at the Summit series of 72 and even the guys said hey they weren't in shape they weren't doing that playing at their highest level I think what really stood out from that very first game Canada Sweden was oh yeah these guys are in midseason form and man when they step on the gas it's been pretty impressive to watch. We are speaking to Sportsnet NHL color analyst Craig Simpson here on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Craig I do want to go back to Saturday and the atmosphere in Montreal and that game between Canada and the US. We just finished talking to Ray Ferraro about the

intensity in the building and the lead up to the three fights in nine seconds right off the hop and Ray said that he first caught wind of it when he saw Brady Kachuck sort of yelling over to Sam Bennett that they were going to go. At what point did you and Chris realize that this game was going to pop off the way that it did? Did you guys notice something maybe before the face off or did you see one of the Kachucks talking to someone else? Like the anticipation, the lead up, what was that like trying to figure out like,

oh, this is about to have fireworks? Well, I think we expected fireworks from a standpoint of a highly energized game, right? So I don't think anybody had the notion of the three fights that ended up happening in such short order. But I remember like you, he wasn't on air, but we were doing the warm up and Ron said, Oh, you see Matthew and Kichuck went to Hagel in the warm up and said,

center ice, you know, let's go. And so that was the first sort of inkling and during the warm up time, and obviously raised down between the benches. So he would hear a lot more of that from a warm up perspective. But yeah, I know Chris was probably not in that mindset when he was setting the table and then all of a sudden the puck drops and bang, here we go. So, you know, interesting. And again, that shows just the intensity of the rivalry. And the last couple of games, you know, it had been eight years, four months and 26 days since Canada, U.S. had played. The other day, it had been 11 years and one day since Finland and Canada played. And that kind of hit me again of, yeah, we have been

starved of these kinds of, you know, games and these kinds of rivalries. And, and it's hard to believe that it's been that long for those to take place. And I think that's why you've seen the level of intensity and the level of play be so high that the players have been, you know, pining for this and thirsting for this. And I thought Saturday was just a great example of that. So there's lots of talk here in Vancouver about

Elias Pedersen's tournament. I heard you mentioned his name on the broadcast yesterday. Um, you know, he's been such a big story here in Vancouver, but I think in some ways, the bad news for Vancouver and Vancouver management, if they're looking at the trade value for Pedersen is that the rest of the hockey world

really got a look at how badly he is struggling right now. Yeah, I just didn't see, you know, I looked at that as an opportunity as well. hockey world really got a look at how badly he is struggling right now? Yeah, I just didn't see, you know, I looked at that as an opportunity as well. And I know as a player, every player goes through some stretches where you can't quite seem to get your engine running or you have no confidence in your game.

And a lot of times, whether it's the end of the season and it's playoff time, like I always look at the playoffs as the great reset. You know, a playoff can save your season if you're having a bad one. It can also destroy your year if you were having a great year and have a poor playoff. So I looked at this and thought, hey, it's three games.

It's a new environment. It's your countrymen. It's the pride. And I thought it might be just the exact perfect thing for him to give him a little spark and maybe ignite something and change your mindset and just all the things that you would hope would be positive. And, you know, I just, in the games that I saw, all three of them, I really never felt that feel that he was turning the corner there. So you're right in the sense of, I think never felt that feel that he was turning the corner there.

So you're right in the sense of, I think everybody around that part of the hockey world, I'm sure from a Vancouver cadets perspective was hoping and looking that, you know, geez, yeah, maybe he'd come back rejuvenated and be spark and have a lot of confidence. Um, you know, you hope that he can regroup in the next couple of days and, and come back with a clear mind. But it was a disappointing tournament in that respect that I never really felt that he was

able to turn that corner and get much positive happening during the three games. So the big question in Vancouver is why is he struggling so badly? And there are some people that are absolutely convinced that he's hurt, that he's injured. The Canucks certainly have not suggested that. Instead, in fact, it's been quite the opposite. Pedersen has not missed any games for knee tendinitis, which he complained about last season. They've said he's healthy and they also let him go to this

tournament while leaning on Quinn Hughes to, to, to, to say no to this tournament. So I think that says a lot. Um, my theory is that it's might be a little bit physical and maybe he didn't have the best off season, but I think right now it is confidence. I think he is completely lost his confidence. I even suggested in a show last week that he's got like some form of the yips because he seems scared to shoot at all times. And I'm just wondering in your hockey history, either as a player or a broadcaster, I mean, you played in some high pressure games, you played in some big games. Were there ever guys that you just looked at and

said, this guy is not up for the pressure? Well, I think you go through stretches where you can tell a player isn't feeling confident in their abilities or themselves. And listen, when you're accustomed to playing, let's face it, an NHL game, every game, if you're accustomed to playing, let's face it, in an NHL game, every game if you're a relied upon star player, there's pressure to play well all the time.

You're a pro, you wanna put your best foot out forward, you wanna play your best whenever you can, you wanna be productive. So when that isn't going well, there's an inherent nervousness in your body. Confidence is such a powerful weapon. And when it's not there and it's the opposite that you've lost it all and you don't really, there are stretches where I remember at sometimes you go, man, I don't want that puck to come

anywhere close to me because now I got to deal with it and I'm not ready to. Like my, my, my ability to be the, the person that I am when I'm at my best, I just can't quite get there again. So I think it's real. I think it happens to players, the, even some of the very best for different times, the, the, the great thing about, you know, great players are you can eliminate that feeling very quickly and get yourself back. And so what do you have to do? It's such a mental game. I agree with you. There's probably some physical things that maybe aren't right for him. And maybe some of it is self-inflicted. Maybe, I don't know, maybe he's not in the

best of shape or maybe he's not in the best of shape or maybe he needs to work a little more. For me, it was always trying to do some self-analyzing and going, what is it? Am I, do I need to get into the gym more? Do I need to get my mind reset more? Do I need to work on my individual skills more? Do I have to do something to get myself out of it? And, you know, that's the beauty of when you watch players that are consistent, not only night in and night out, but year in and year out, you just marvel at it because we are human and the brain can take you to places that are not really great.

And I just watch a player that at times you've seen look powerful and aggressive and really confident. And I don't see that guy right now. And that's always troubling. I hope he can turn it around and salvage the season. Craig, if you can tell us a little bit more about the times that you were struggling and you were really not feeling the confidence in your abilities. I mean, you're a guy that the confidence in your abilities.

I mean, you're a guy that in one of your 1990 Stanley Cup Finals, you had 16 goals in 22 playoff games. You won the cup. It was your second cup. The year that you won your first cup, you had 13 goals in 19 games and 43 goals in 59 43 goals in, in, in 59 games. Like you were a goal scorer and I'm sure your

confidence was sky high then, but you know, I think a lot of people look at Pedersen and say, like, so you're telling me that a guy that, you know, did this stuff two years ago, just forgot how to play hockey. And my pushback with like the yips is like, well, yeah, I am telling you that because Steve Sachs was a major league baseball player who

forgot how to throw the ball to first. So it can happen. Right. I mean, I'm not suggesting that you had any, any issues that, that were that extreme, but just in the mind of a professional athlete, how hard is it when you're struggling? Well, it's lonely.

It's troublesome because what you just went through is you know, if you're a top guy in your team, that every night you're relied upon to be a difference maker. I mean, and you want to be that. Every player wants to be the guy who's being relied upon. So you grow up and you start your hockey career to prove that a belong in the league, then

you prove that I can be a star in this league and you want to prove that I can play in the most important time so I can be relied upon and when that starts to slip that's why I said it's it's the balance of understanding I think the great players too it's your mind that you have to be able to be in control of and nurture and help when you're not playing well typically you go well what's what's the disconnect? Well, I'm not doing the habits that I have that allow me to get into those places that I always score.

What am I doing? Well, I'm not going to the net. Well, I'm not being aggressive enough. For me, I was never a fast skater. And I would say, Patterson is, you know, he's a good skater, but he's not an explosive guy. So I could tell that for me me it was all in my legs. If my legs weren't moving, if I didn't have the strength I needed, I always laughed at Mess and Glenn Anderson because I go those guys could skate you know in their sleep and

so fast and I'd be looking at every practice and go my practices in Edmonton were harder than the games I played in Pittsburgh. We had a bad team in Pittsburgh and the pace of play wasn't there. But those guys every day in practice, me having to be at my top allowed me to be a much better player because I knew that if my legs weren't strong enough, if I didn't keep up with my physical part, I wouldn't be able to produce because of the level that you had to play to play with those guys. So it's a constant measuring of, you know, where are you falling back on? Can you be aware of it? Can you self talk that you're going to be okay? My worst end of the regular season came in that 1990 year. I had a frustrating end. I had 180 minutes

in penalties because I was getting cross-checked and no penalties called and I was getting frustrated and I got some 10-minute misconducts. And the reset, as they said for me, was I think I finished with 29 goals and was mad that I didn't have a great year offensively. And the playoffs to me were, okay, all that doesn't matter. Eliminate the negative at that. You know, you can produce in the playoffs. Let's start today. And the first day of the playoffs was like a new beginning.

So that's where my mind was going. Even with this four nations face off, you go, okay, eliminate the noise, eliminate the negative. Now you got to really heal yourself and get back to doing what you do the best. And, you know, I would say the start of the season, this Vancouver probably plays on Saturday, don't they? And, you know, there to me would be a reset again, a goal, embrace what you just went through with your countrymen.

Now let's get back to being the player that you can be. Craig, thanks for joining us today. Great insights and enjoy Thursday's game because it's going to be a fun one. Sounds good. Should be a lot of fun. I hope you guys all enjoy it. Thanks, Craig.

Craig Simpson from The Broadcast. So here's my, I didn't want to say to Craig because he makes a good point, but we are now what? Oh, for five in reset moments. It was, he'll reset when he gets a new contract. That didn't work. He'll reset when the playoffs start. Oh, oh for two there.

He'll reset at the beginning of the season, after an off season. Eesh, didn't really work there. He'll reset when JT Miller is traded. No, no, no, no. He'll reset at the Four Nations. No. And I can hear the people screaming, he can't

reset cause he has knee tendonitis. And we go around and around and around and around. And I ask you, would the Canucks send Elias Pedersen to the Four Nations if they knew that two weeks of rest would do them good? Would they have played him in the final regular season game last season, the meaningless game in Winnipeg, if they knew that a little bit of rest would do him so good. Would they earlier in the season say

Petey's just got to practice and even if he's tired during games because of all this extra work that he's doing that's part of our plan. Would they do that if they knew he was injured? Now people will say well the Canucks never do anything right with the medical group, right? Okay, fine. Then we can keep going around in circles and circles and you're married to your opinion and maybe I'm married to mine, but we need to talk about the consequences for the Canucks and we will do so on the other side of the Halford and Brock show on Sportsnet 650.