Halford & Brough in the Morning - Scoring More Goals Than Your Opponent Is Vital To Winning The Game

Episode Date: May 27, 2025

In hour two, Mike & Jason chat with DLLS_Sports Dallas Stars analyst Owen Newkirk (1:24) ahead of tonight's matchup versus the Oilers, plus we get the Edmonton side of things from Sportsnet's Gene Principe (23:18).  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.

Music 704 on a Tuesday. Happy Tuesday everybody. Halbert Brough, Sportsnet 650. Halbert and Brough of the morning is brought to you by Sands & Associates, VCs First and Trusted Choice for that help with over 3,000 five star reviews. Visit them online at Sands-Trustee.com. We are now in hour two of the program. Elwin Newkirk is going to join us out of Dallas in just a moment here. Our first half of a preview of tonight's game, stars, spoilers, game four of the Western Conference final. You can hear it right here on Sportsnet 650 after Conox Central. Hour two of this program,

it's brought to you by Jason Hominock at Jason Dot Mortgage. If you love giving the banks more of your money, then don't let Jason shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you. Visit him online at Jason Dot Mortgage. I thought we were about to introduce Johnny Carson there. Hey. We are coming to you live from the Kintec studio. Kintec footwear and orthotics working together

with you and Step. Our next guest comes courtesy of the Power West Industries hotline. We've had him on the show before. We're happy to have him back now from DLLS Sports. Owen Newkirk here on the Halford and Bref show on Sportsnet 650. Morning Owen, how are you?

Good morning fellas. How are you on this Tuesday? We're well eagerly anticipating game four of the Western Conference final tonight. It's been an interesting series to put it mildly curious to get your thoughts from the Dallas stars side of things because we've talked about this a little bit. Um, although they're only down to one in the series,

hasn't really been a terrific performance from the Stars through three games. What's ailing these Dallas Stars right now, Owen? Well, I don't think it's one little thing, although certainly having the puck go in would help. And of course, that's pretty much generic to anybody. Good analysis, yeah. Really what it is is, thank you.

You know, I think if they score more goals than the Oilers in the next game, they have a good chance at winning. In all seriousness, in all seriousness, look, game three, they played a heck of a hockey game. They just didn't get the bounces and visa vi, they didn't finish and or the puck didn't go in. Edmondson had a couple of bounces that went their way. And look in a playoff series and then in puck didn't go in. Edmondson had a couple of bounces that went their way and look in a, in a

playoff series and then in a standalone game that happens. And I said on our show after Sunday's game three, that in the regular season, you guys have heard this a million times, a coach or player goes to the media and says, boy, if we play like that consistently, we're going to win a lot of hockey games, right? The problem is, is that that's one out of 82. When you're playing a best of seven Western Conference final, you don't get the leeway and the luxury of, of taking that pass card very often because it's going to catch you really quickly. And as you mentioned, they're only down two to one, but if they don't win tonight, now they're down

three one going back home and then the pressure is really on. So this feels like an exceedingly crucial game, not only because they want to go back to two, but because it'll give them the whole nice advantage back and everybody will feel great. You know, I even, we always talk about the recency bias that happens in the playoffs. If you win a game, you feel like you're unstoppable. If you lose, it's all about to crash into pieces. And Connor and David said that after the Oilers won game two was, boy, you know, if we lost game one, like we did, and won game two, we felt pretty good about ourselves. He said, if it was the other way around, if we had won game one and lost game two we go home feeling a little Wonky even though we got the split we wanted well the stars are now in the situation where they get the split they wanted

They're gonna feel pretty good about themselves, but boy you should I mean it's every fan base right stars fans are sitting They're gripping the desk going. Oh my goodness. We're we're it's all over It's curtains for us, and it's just a matter of perspective and a few hours. Uh, do you think Rupert Hintz is going to play? Boy, I thought he was going to play in game three. So I was wrong about that. As soon as he came out for the warmup, I went, Oh yeah, he did. That's good.

And then he didn't play. So based on what we saw from yesterday, optional skate, he looked like he could skate, but it's hard to say, you know, how someone's feeling and what exactly his injury is. But he looked like he was putting himself through the paces yesterday. So my gut feeling says yes, he'll play, especially with how important I just mentioned that today's game is. I guess there's always a chance that he won't, but I'm going to go with yes, but we'll have to wait and see. Honestly, we won't probably know.

We'll probably get the old game time decision line until not even if he goes out for warmup, because I'd imagine he would, but until that lineup goes clear on the NHL media site. I'm sure you've speculated, but have you got any idea? Like, did he break his foot or is it just a bad bruise? It was a pretty good shot from Darnell Narisen. I'm sure Starz fans just love to see that. Yeah. I mean, it's hard to know for sure.

It looked like he was in pretty significant pain, obviously being helped off the ice, not putting any weight on it. The big thing is, is that I had an argument with my co-host Craig Ludwig about this you guys know Luddy pretty well I'm sure. He and I didn't even agree on where the contact was. Luddy thought he got hit in the shin pad. I had to show him we literally had this rather not heated but animated discussion let's say because we were mad at each other.

I think he probably told me I was an idiot a couple of times. But that's Luddys. And I said, you're blind. And we looked at the reverse angle. You can see the heel of the, or the bottom of the blade coming right down on the top of the laces. It does look weird though, because I don't know if there's some sort of parallax with the TV cameras

the way they were, but the other ones ones you just can't see it very well. It's just the nature of things. But it did look like he was at a significant amount of pain. And guys, that's the thing that's always difficult to get to into one of these arguments or these occurrences. Each player, each human being has a different threshold for what they can tolerate. So, whether that pain for somebody else might be like, oh, I've been chopped on the top

of the foot a million times, I'm fine. And others say, wow, that's one of the most painful things. I can't walk. And it's hard to say what somebody should or shouldn't react to. Well, it's funny because if he had been wearing Craig Ludwig's shin pads, I think it would have been fine. He would have been okay. I think he would have been okay. Nurse's stick would have been broken.

Uh, we are speaking to Owen Newkirk out of Dallas here on the Hellford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. So yeah, the physicality in this series has certainly taken its toll and the guys that have exited the series, we talked about hints and the slash and then Alex Petrovic on Connor Brown and that's not Connor Brown out as well. Has the physicality in your mind sort of evened itself out? Is it leaning in favor of one team or another? Is it sort of been one of those things where it negates either ways and the series isn't really even about the physicality, it's more about the goal scoring? Um, that's always a tricky one because in, in some senses, you want to say it's

about the goal scoring because of this, you know, incredible offense that both teams boast, uh, we haven't seen it from Dallas except for that extremely exciting for a third period in game one. But to me, hits are an interesting statistic, partly because I don't think it gets tracked as consistently from building to building as I would like. So that's, but that's more of a regular season complaint of some nights you'll say, wow, that seems weird, or I don't know if that number's totally accurate. You know, what's the giveaway versus what the takeaway those, those sometimes I

don't think get tracked as consistently as well. But besides that, there's also that argument that hits as an anti-possession stat is, you know, yeah, you're going to have a lot of hits when you don't have the puck very much, which is true. But there are teams that are more consistently physical than others. And Dallas is generally not one of them. Right. During the regular season, them being out hit in a game was very common

not surprising at all partly because they had the puck a lot but partly because that's just not the way they played. Now once we got to the playoffs they did flip a switch we weren't sure if that was something would happen or not and they did and they have been much more physical but I think obviously Zach Hyman has been getting highlights for leading their team in hits and what he's done, not only being a goal scorer, but also being a physical presence.

And I've always been a fan of a player that has that mentality. I remember, this is going back a long way guys, but when I first started in hockey, I was working in the United Hockey League, which was a double A league. It was equivalent to the ECHL and we had a player who said he was a winger and he was a pretty good goal scorer he said well I'm gonna get on the score sheet somehow so if I don't score if I'm not

feeling like I'm going I'm probably gonna either get a penalty or I'm gonna fight a guy or both yeah and I always like that I mean again I'm probably going to either get a penalty or I'm going to fight a guy or both. And I always liked that. I mean, again, I'm not saying you go out and just two-hand a guy from behind or something like that. I'm on the score sheet. That's right. I'm on the score sheet. You got me there.

I love the idea that I'm going to make an impact, right? I'm going to try to set a tone. And so you, especially at the NHL level with the skill and the speed that it is, it's hard to just get running around too much because if you aren't timing your physicality properly, you can get humiliated pretty fast by some of these incredible players. Connor McDavid is a prime example of that. But yeah, I mean, we all know that these guys want it so badly and they're both, you know, both teams are really digging in for this. It's hard to ignore minus 17 and I know plus minus

isn't used as much as it normally is, but, or used to be, but Wyatt Johnston is minus 17, Matt Duchenne is minus 13, Jamie Benn is minus eight, all in these playoffs. It's actually hard to get to minus 17 in just 16 games, especially when you're advancing through the playoffs. Let's talk about Wyatt Johnston to start. Where is his game right now?

Yeah, I've been pondering that myself because, and I have nothing to back this up, but we've, the kid's only 22 years old. So in some senses you say, well, give him a pass because he's still developing his game. But then when you go back and look at his body of work, you see that he's been extremely effective both in the regular season and in the playoffs.

And in game seven, he's got a history of scoring big goals already in his young career. So I think he set the bar very high. So the expectations for that stay that point. I have a hunch and listen, I have nothing to back this up other than just a feeling of watching him play is I wonder if he's not a hundred percent. And I don't, again, I don't have anything to point at and say, well, there was this play or this hit, but based on how effective he's been in the playoffs before, it's surprising that he hasn't always done that.

Then we say this, he had a shorthanded breakaway in game two and you know, that puck goes in and maybe it's a completely different story and they have a rally and off they go. And the serves generally feel that way. They feel that their offense is potent enough that if they can get a spark and build off of it, then they can do that thing. You know, I wanted to say about your plus minus comment. We always say that, right? You know, with, I feel like plus minus gets really trashed by people that like advanced analytics and say, oh, it's an antiquated stat and it doesn't, I mean,

but we always say this. And so we always qualify this with, well, let's talk about plus minus, man. Oh, I know that it's not a very good stat for you. It's just so glaring. We all do it. And I'm not saying it to try to make you guys feel inconsequential because I say the exact same thing. I think there is a time and a place for plus minus.

And if you're in a minus 17 over 16 game period, that's notable because if a guy gets a minus one in a game and you say, well, he, he was on for a power play goal for, but he, his line got scored on. He was literally stepping over the bench when the puck went in. That's not his fault. The guy made a bad change and blah, blah, blah. Yeah. Okay.

There's qualifiers in any of those, but I do still think it's relevant. And if you look at a score sheet and you see, oh, minus four, had a good night, didn't you? Like that's, I think those, there's still moments where that matters. Now, of course, everything has context and advanced steps. And I'll, I promise I won't keep ranting about this. There's all sorts of analytics that you can not fudge, but finagle to make things look better in your perspective. You have to be able to look at numbers and then take a step back and say, okay, what does this mean?

Right? Because if you just simply say, well, Edmund 10 has a random stat that's seven and Dallas has one. No, the advanced analytics people got to him they cut him off breaking his point We're speaking to Owen Newkirk analytics. We're like cut him off. He's tired on us again It's bad enough when Helford does it we can't have a guy from Dallas doing it Dallas stars and also a new Kirk We will try and get him back on the program here got a couple more questions to ask him a reminder Tonight's game game for Edmonton Dallas You can hear it right here on sports net 650 after satin down or done with Canucks Central this evening.

And there are a number of guys on that Dallas Stars roster that need to give them something more offensively. I know we've talked at length about the amount of scoring that Miko Rantan has done compared to the rest of the team. But there are guys that they're relied upon in the regular season with regularity that aren't getting a job done.

If you look at the Dallas Stars statistically this post-season, it hasn't been super impressive. The results have been, without question, defeating the Colorado Avalanche in seven and then doing the business that they did in round two. They've won games and they've come up big when they've needed to, then you know doing the business that they did in round two like they've won games And they've they've come up big when they've needed to but you could make the argument That in terms of a lot of different metrics

They were outplayed by Winnipeg in that second round series And it was Autinger best in Connor Hellebuck by a considerable margin that got them there We do have Owen back show four times in these playoffs Yeah, it's kind of it's it's a few wild statistics and we've got Owen Newkirk back here Oh, and we joked that the big analytics people overheard our call and decided to drop you in the middle of it I was gonna go ahead. I was gonna make the same joke. Yeah, say that you know boys It's a conspiracy there out to get me for for trying to champion plus There's one more question we're now running up against over time but I did want to ask you about a couple of these forwards that have really struggled offensively in these playoffs.

You're looking at one goal for Jamie Bann, and that's fine. He's a little bit longer in the tooth and he's older and he didn't produce as much as he did during the regular season. But I got to ask you about Matthew Shane. This is a guy that was a point per game player in the regular season. 82 points in 82 games. He had 30 goals. He's got one in 16 games. He's got six points in 16 games.

He's minus 13. He's only playing 16 and a half minutes a night. And both those guys are pending U.F.A.s with Dushain in particular. Is there any way that Dallas is going to get out of this series with him playing the way that he is currently playing or does He need to step it up in a significant way Duchenne has when he scored his first goal the other night. He actually had the comment afterward because he hit Rope hints in the back. That was of course game one

Yeah, and and then scored on the rebound and he, I couldn't believe that the space was still there and we all couldn't cause it took, I don't know what Stuart Skinner thought on that play or he thought the puck already went in on the rancid and shot from the other side, but even for a guy making a slow recovery from post to post, that seemed like it took an hour. Uh, but, but that's sort of how Duchenain sort of explained this playoff run is that he's just had horrible luck and the chances are there and it backs up. I don't know if Matt Dushain has had 16 performances that he's happy with, but he definitely has been creating offense more than not. I do think that you have to, you know, it's really bad timing to have one

of your top scorers get into a slump to start the playoffs. Now some of that would say, some people would say, well, you've got to raise your level in the playoffs and that's understandable. The also thing is that sometimes they do just have to go in and when you see the way that he plays he is generating plenty of quality scoring chances. I do think at times because things start you know not going in it might lead you to trying to make an extra pass or four something rather than getting the puck on the net but you know as you guys were talking about with Winnipeg, the special teams and goaltenders are a huge part of it.

So, you know, you may not have a great five on five numbers because the team you're playing against is a really great hockey team and really especially with Winnipeg, just a fantastic defensive structure. So sometimes it's, you got to find a way to win, right? The fact that Dallas has been shut out a few times does not matter In the grand scheme of things you could have lost eight to two and you'd say wow you gave up eight You scored a couple but you know What it's it's like match play in golf. You can lose a hole by nine shot. That doesn't matter

It counts as one what matters is you turn around and you win the next game or the next hole and on you go. You know, I would hope if you lost the hole by nine strokes you'd just pick up and just go on to the next one. That should theoretically end your round, but I get what you're saying. I'm just gonna be like, I'm gonna give you this one here. Hey, Owen, real quick before we let you go. Oh, fair point.

I know the Dallas Stars have a bunch of unrestricted free agents and I know we're running out of time But but real quick two guys in particular of that pending ufa class the captain Jamie Ben and the team's leading scorer this year Matt Deshaen, have you had to guess right now? Would you expect either both or neither to be back? Boy, Jim no told I think here LeBrun It was I think who reported this the other day that he expects both of them to be back next year. I think that they both want to be here. I think they've both made more than enough money in their

career that that's not the driving factor and they want to win and they think they can win here. Now, because of the Miko Ranzenen deal, Dallas is going to be playing with a much shorter deck of cards probably than they otherwise would. Nobody's going to feel sorry for them because of that. But they'll have to get a little creative whether it's the over 35 deal with some incentive laden parts of the deal so that you can make the AAV a little bit lower. But I would be, I think Jamie Ben has more hockey in him.

I think he wants to keep playing. I think Matthew Shane still wants, you know, he's not as old as Jamie is, but I just, yeah, I think both are. Now it's probably gonna cost somebody a job somewhere. Someone's not gonna fit, but for now, this is the old let's worry about it tomorrow problem. Oh, and this was great, man.

Thanks for taking the time to do it. We really appreciate it. Enjoy the game tonight. It should be a good one. Fellas, thanks for having me. And I guess I will speak kinder of advanced stats the next time I'm on plus minus. Remember, they're always listening. Take care. Thanks, buddy. Owen Newkirk out of Dallas here on the Haliford and Brush show on sports net 650. It's time now for one to watch brought to you by Delaney's OK tire.

I may have set this one up with our previous guest, Owen Newkirk, because tonight's one to watch Matt Dushane. As we mentioned with Owen, you could pick a number of key offensive players that need to step up for the stars tonight. The stars, of course, have scored just one goal in their last two games combined. But we're going to focus here on Dushane, who, as we mentioned, just one goal and six points in 16 games this postseason. Pretty major concern for Dallas,

who had a lot of regular season success on the strength of Dushain's season. 82 points in 82 games. He was a pointy game guy. He scored 30 goals. They only had three 30 goal scores on the team this year and he was one of them. The stars now have to win three of the next four games and they have only managed three five on five goals in this series. So some much needed goal scoring from Duchenne. Hopefully it even strength would go a long way in getting Dallas back into this series. It's time to put on your Toyo tires, whether you drive a car,

light truck or van, Toyo tires are designed to perform in all kinds of conditions. Visit Delaney's OK Tire in Langley and Aldergrove. OK Tire, service, repair and tires. You're listening to the Halford and Brough 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 three to four on Sportsnet 650 or wherever you get your podcasts. 731 on a Tuesday! Happy Tuesday everybody, Halford Brough, Sports 9650. Was that the Big Ben version of a drop? Wait for it, wait for it. Yeah, there it is. This is what they were playing in the clubs back in the day.

Halford and Brough in the morning. We're at the midway point of the show, everybody. This show, all of it, the music, the idiots hosting, the dogs producing. Brought to you by Campbell and Pound real estate appraisers. Trust the expertise of Campbell and Pound. Visit them on the internet at Campbell-pound.com today. We're also brought to you by Sands and Associates.

Learn how a consumer proposal reduces your debt by up to 80% with no more interest. Visit them online at Sands-Trustee.com. I mentioned we're at the midway point of the show. Smack in the middle of Hour 2. Hour 2 of this program is brought to you by Jason Homonuck 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. I am joking. Let him do exactly that.

Visit them on the internet at Jason dot mortgage to the phone lines. We go around here. It's called the power West industries hotline sports nets. Gene Principe here on the health and in breath show on sports net six 50. Good morning, Gene. How are you? Hey Mike and Jason. Good morning. I'm always amazed. Uh, when I, uh, in the playoffs, I do, you know, a lot of traveling. I'm a, I'm an early traveler. Okay. So I've been taking a lot of 6 AM flights and I'm thinking you guys are up at, so I'm up around three 30, three 45 somewhere in there.

I'm guessing that is a rock. Is that around what time you guys wake up on a daily basis during the week? No, I'm not even calling it not for me. I live close to the studio. Is that around what time you guys wake up on a daily basis during the week? No. I'm not even going, not for me, I live close to the studio. I'm a four, between four and four thirty wake up guy because we start, the show starts at six. Jason is a five fifty seven wake up guy. That's that early, huh?

Yeah, yeah. He loves leaving it to the last minute. But yeah, anyway, it's how I get my energy up, You know, if I don't feel like I'm gonna be late for the show, then I'm just kind of sluggish when I get in there. It's an adrenaline kick. Well, I always find for me, if the wake up time is like, well, if it starts with a five, that's awesome.

Even the morning after a game. A four, I can live with. When it's a three, it's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, you know, you barely get any sleep, but when you can sleep on planes, it's no problem. And the other thing, this time of the year, I mean, I think all of us would make any kind of sacrifices to be involved in a, well, you know, you hope a Stanley Cup finishing run, but at least a Stanley Cup playoffs. I remember how much fun it was last year, that seven game series Edmonton in Vancouver. Well, Gene, I'm extremely jealous of what's going on in Edmonton right now. I wish it was

in Vancouver, but it's not. I know they send you out to talk to the fans a lot and you go out into the moss pit and that's always fun to see. As much as it pains me to say this, the Oilers fans have been great in the playoffs. I love the enthusiasm. What's the vibe of the city? It just looks like, I know the other day that it was an afternoon game, the weather was great and I was just like, man, it would be fun to be in Edmonton right now.

You know what? It really is. The first, the Orlers started on the road against LA and then when they were back for game three of the opening round, I drove to the rink and I was like, oh yeah, right, this is what it's like. I couldn't believe just literally that thousands of people that were lined up to get into various fan parks, moss pit, viewing areas.

Honestly, I'm not sure how I could forget, but I felt like I did. And they have been, so just to give your listeners an idea and I'm sure they see it on TV but basically you're talking about approximately 30,000 people down there on a game night 18 and a half almost inside the building and I would say you know 10 to 12 outside, it is phenomenal. And I guess, I mean, being in Vancouver last year was great as well. I mean, the people were wonderful and supporting their team. It just, I guess, basically the setup in Edmonton is so that many thousands of people can come downtown

and not watch the game in the building. They can be somewhat comfortable, especially if you're 16 to 18 and like to stand shoulder to shoulder with people for three plus hours. You can do it. And it's amazing when I've been in that moth pit, I literally do have shoes older

than some of the kids in there. They are young. I mean, it is a young crowd, which that's not surprising. Then they have fan parks where it's, you know, you can sit and it's a little bit of an older crowd and I mean, you know, taking you into the twenties. I know my oldest son has been down there. He's 26. He really likes it. So in the end, you know, um, sports brings us together and in some cases separates us,

but it is about community minded spirit and Edmonton like Vancouver is a community and everybody at this time of the year with the way things are going, rallies around their franchise. I remember being in Vancouver in 2011 and, and, uh, what that was like, you know, getting to game seven. So it's wonderful time of the year and it's a extra wonderful time of the year when your team is still in the NHL playoffs.

Um, you know, I knew I was getting old because when I saw that, uh, the, the, the moss pit outside, uh, on, on the afternoon game, I was know, I knew I was getting old because when I saw that, uh, the, the, the moss pit outside, uh, on, on the afternoon game, I was thinking, I hope they're wearing sunscreen because it looked hot out there. Um, so let's talk about, uh, let's talk about the Oilers. Uh, when's Mathias Ekholm going to be back?

Oh my gosh. This is a long awaited return. Um, I mean, I don't think he can look any better than he does at practice. He looks fantastic, but he, you know, even yesterday he did not practice with a defender that would put him in the top six. He was in the fourth pairing. So I don't know. I'm not sure if because he, he was injured, came back, was hurt and left again, whether that has, you know, made everybody a little more cautious. I don't know if a two one series lead has given everybody just a

little more time to breathe. But when you're, you know, your, your best all around defenseman is available. Um, I don't think you're saying, Hey, take another game off. I mean, they're not up three, nothing. It's two one. And, uh, it was one one. Uh, I didn't think he would play the day game. I just, because they traveled this Saturday, it was really no skate Sunday,

but he skated hard like he has throughout the last couple of weeks. We all knew round one, round two were out, but round three was the round, if Edmonton made it, that he would return or is expected to. So I don't know, I'm headed to the rink right now. I'm kind of, I'm like on a 50-50. I feel like if he was going to be in the top six, he would have paired up with his partner yesterday at practice. I don't think, I don't know, I know

it's class. I'm not sure you would hide the return of Matthias. I call him to the Dallas Stars. I don't think so. I know that some coaches, you know, any information is too much information. Uh, but we wait to see, uh, what happens this morning and whether he's back in or it's another trip to Dallas to see, uh, if he plays in game five. I know we all seem to be talking about the rematch between the Panthers and the Oilers, even though

the Panthers have yet to eliminate Carolina and Dallas has yet to be eliminated by Edmonton. In the back of your mind, or maybe the front of your mind, where are the Oilers vulnerable to Dallas? Because, you know, I'm just watching them and I know there are games where the oilers look off and Skinner looks off, but more often than not,

especially lately, it's just seemed like a real collision course between the oilers and the Panthers. Yeah. I mean, it's hard not to look that way. I know Carolina held off being eliminated in the sweep. And Edmenton was an example of a team that was able to claw back from three down in the cup final, at least to push it to seven. I think vulnerable is something that the orders would become if Dallas is top players

start to score. I think that's that's it. I mean, you take away the three power play goals and they're just they're not scoring. And I mean, they've had chances. A couple of things that I've noticed is that the Oilers have really, you know, packed it in in front of Stuart Skinner. So a lot of those bouncing pucks saves that Skinner makes, rebounds seem to be either going to the Oilers or the Oilers are getting to the puck, whether it's winning a battle, getting a quicker first step. But honestly, you know, the other day power play early in the third and Ranton and rings went off the post and suddenly it's 3-2 instead of 3-1. Dallas played, I thought, quite well and had much of the play in

the second period but McDavid's late goal in the second period really, I'm not sure it solidified the win, but it really gave a sense of confidence to the Oilers. And I think it took away what Edmonton gained. They gained it by taking it away from Dallas. So Dallas, you know, it's weird because Pete DeVore said, I like game two better than game one. And I like that game three better than game two for his team. And that they lost game three, six, one. So you're going, wait a minute, does this, does this add up? But they did play better. And you know, in the third things just started to go sideways. The other thing is it was the same storyline last year, you know, Jake

Otter better than Stuart Skinner or appears to be better than Stuart Skinner. To this point, Jay Cotton sure hasn't been better than Stuart Skinner. That's kind of a big deal here. I think that it's goal scoring and it's goal tending, which I know it is a rocket science, but that really has been kind of area one and two that, um, you know, either your goal scorer has got to get seven when Edmonton gets six or five when they get four, or if your team's only scoring two, uh, your goalie has got to allow one or less. So we'll see tonight.

Tonight's, uh, I think the night that we see what Dallas has. We wait to see if Roe Bay Hints will be available. They're a good team. I mean, they're a really good team, in fact. And so, Edmonton certainly isn't sliding or taking them lightly, even though they did win 6-1. I think the score was a little bit deceiving, but, you know, McDavid scored a couple, Zach Hyman scored a couple, Nugent Hopkins had three points in score. Like there's, the big guys are, are scoring. And I think in the Vegas series where they weren't doing it as much, it was a depth scoring that kind

of pushed the orders through getting by Vegas and five. Does Ryan Nugent Hopkins get enough attention, enough praise for his versatility? You know, he plays everywhere. Um, you know, center wing, he plays on the PK and he's also been producing. Um, you know, I, I get why the focus would be on

McDavid and, and, and dry sidle and, you know, Skinner, but Nugent's just kind of always been there. Yeah. And, uh, I agree. You know what I mean? Like. A good boy, right? Yeah.

Uh, people there know him well. Um, he'll, he'll never get the attention he deserves except inside the room. There he gets it. Uh, the coach jokes that, you know, are an H's his favorite player because of everything you just said. Um, he, he does everything and he does everything you know pretty well sometimes extremely well but he doesn't have many games where every part of his game is not right yeah he's not scoring all

the time he's you know he's leading the series in points. He's been phenomenal against Dallas, but he just, he's there all the time and he's needed all the time in so many situations, especially during the playoffs. And Ryan's a pretty greedy guy. He's had a wonderful career. He's been here from the beginning. He was the second guy after Taylor Hall that was part of the, you know, those first overall picks that we're going to turn things around. And it, you know, it took some time and it took a first overall pick in 2015 and you know, a third pick and a fourth pick to get dry saddle, a nurse and seven for nurse. I mean, it's taken a while, but here they are as one of the best teams in the league,

wondering if they can take that final step. Um, I know it's hard not to look ahead. I saw, you know, as you know, the teams have their own ways of whether it's 16 pucks or different ways to, um to show that they're another puck, another win closer to getting to 16. The Euler's now at 10, so they've hit double digits, which I think is a big point. It shows you that you're getting there. But But, you know, Ryan is, he might be the most popular player in the sense of his longevity, never asked for a trade, never heard a bad word out of his mouth about Edmonton through all those dark times.

And here he is. And, you know, we always think that, you know, when McDavid gets that cup, if McDavid gets that cup, you know, who's the gets that cup, if McDavid gets that cup, you know, who's the first guy he's going to go to? I don't know what the, you know, the odds would be, but I would think that it would have to be Ryan that would get it first after the captain. Do you think that if it is a rematch between the Oilers and the Panthers, all the Oilers dads and Oilers fans' dads and grandparents will sit their kids down and tell

them about the 83, 84, how in 83 they went to the final and they lost to the Islanders and then they learned some lessons about what it took and then they won it in 1984. Yeah, that is the old story, which is now, wow, that story is 40 plus years old, right, you know, that, that is the old story, which is now, wow, that story is 40 plus years old, right? From Gretzky and Coffee and, and Führer and all those players that said, you know, they

walked by the Islanders dressing room and saw the ice bags and the commitment that it takes. Well, I can tell you this, uh, the way Florida's arena is set up, the Oilers wouldn't have walked by the Panthers dressing room, uh, after gamethers dressing room after game seven or after game one or two. Oh, they're not going to know. No, they're yeah, that's right. How will they know? I better tell them.

I'll tell them when I get to the ring. But for sure there is the understanding of that commitment. Listen, Florida, if they get there, which, you know, the odds are they, they will. Unbelievable in, in this era there, which, you know, the odds are they, they will, um, unbelievable in, in this era to have that, that determination. And I think when you get players like Brad Marchand, who I, you know, I know he won the cup, sorry. Um, but hasn't won it in 14 years

and Seth Jones, who's never won it and really not even been close. You get those players plus the new players that are there and it just gives if needed that extra motivation or that return motivation that it takes to win a Stanley Cup and make all those sacrifices. You know, I've been watching the Panthers series with less series going on and the off nights and I tell you they are one like, you know, the off nights and, uh, I tell you, they are one, like, you know, Matthew Kachuck the other night, not this game, but the game before they're up like five one and he's trying to ragdoll Sebastian Ajo in the final few minutes. Like, why is he doing that? Because that's what he does. And that's what they do. You know, I'm not

going to say good versus evil if Edmonton makes it, but cause you know, the others have some, some, uh, you know the others have some some you know potential evil tendencies of their own if necessary including of Andrew Kane who he can put up with with anyone and can be unpredictable and is a wonderful guy to have on your team for many reasons. But yeah the story of the losing and then winning started in a dynasty. So I think if the orders can... That's the other thing people ask, what's different between this team and last team last year?

Certainly they figured it out along the way to get there, but I think they know now really what it takes because of what they've been through and the ultimate disappointment of losing in game seven by a goal. I mean, I guess over time would still have been a goal, but would have been more dramatic, but that's as close as you can get without, without winning. So they, they get it. They get it. And, uh, they seem, you know, on a mission to get this done this year, uh, LA had them on the ropes a little bit,

you know, down two nothing, uh, game four down two one in the series and overtime dry settle scores on the power play, LA scores. You never know, but Florida was on the ropes to Toronto and they fought their way off the ropes and now they're one away from a cup final. I just want you to know, Gene, that this entire segment has been an attempted jinx by Vancouver

to talk about the Oilers getting over the hump and winning the game. And you know, we were talking about who's McDavid going to pass the puck, pass the cup to. The whole thing has been a jinx because they are still only up 2 to one on the Dallas Stars. Yeah, no, it feels like, you know, it's funny because for some reason it feels more, maybe

because of just that third period, the others actually played quite well in periods one and two of game one, it feels like they're up three one and they're not. And they're not for sure they're not. And Dallas is a fantastic sports town Great hockey city, especially inside the American Airlines Center. I mean it is there's rocket in there. So Edmonton Like we know this series has to go at least five Maybe six somebody's gonna have a shot At winning the cup if it's not or winning the series if it's not done in five in game six back here.

So yeah, there's a lot of work to be done and Dallas' best will be on display, I'm certain tonight to see if they can get this at even. That's the one thing I've never understood and I'll never, as close as I am to teams just the momentum the highs and lows are just unbelievable and I give athletes credit for managing those because the despair seems like it's never going to end and the enjoyment appears everlasting when you win so but you have to manage that because you're not going 16 and 0, but Edmonton would like to get up 3-1 if they can tonight.

Gene, this was great, man. Thanks for taking the time to do it. We appreciate it. Enjoy the game tonight. It should be a good one. Yeah, if it doesn't go well, I'm coming back to see you. Okay. It's a date.

See you, Gene. Thanks buddy. All right, boys. Take care. Gene Principay at Edmonton here on the Haliford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Part of the reason that we're having this conversation, even with the risk of the Edmonton Oilers taking a step closer to the Stanley Cup and winning it, is that you have to be willing to take that risk for the entertainment value and the storylines

that a rematch would have in the Stanley Cup final. We don't get rematches very often. You get the same team going back two or three times. The Lightning did it three times in a row not too long ago. But it was three different opponents for the Lightning in those three. Having the rematch and especially that rematch where I don't remember the last Stanley Cup final that had that much drama.

I don't, I mean, I know that Boston and St. Louis went to game seven back in 2019, but that didn't have those kind of stakes. Like when you go up three nothing and then you blow three consecutive games or vice versa. There's a nerve wracking game seven. We experienced that in the first round. Yes. Back in 2011. I mean what that's like. Imagine that in the Stanley Cup final,

go back and look at some of these Stanley Cup finals. Like the Vegas Florida one was awful. Yeah, it was, it had no buzz going into it because of the two teams, right? Like Florida was hurt and Florida limped in managed to win a game But that was it the one Florida was both hurt and rusty The one because they swept Carolina, but they had injuries and the one prior to that was Colorado Tampa Bay Like it nothing really jumps off the page about that one as being a classic for me No, it wasn't a it wasn't a class, but for me that was just how good Colorado was. Yep and Tampa Bay fought hard

Yeah, yeah prior to that the Lightning won the back-to-back Stanley Cups but those were the ones that were in the bubble and then The COVID season where you had the Canadian division You know the one like Montreal and Dallas like there was nothing to be taken from those ones We mentioned the Blues and Bruins. It was good went to game seven That's as much as you can expect and then you go through the other ones and It was just kind of like they didn't really resonate as being like great Stanley Cup finals the stories Were you know Vegas winning a Stanley Cup, but the final was a good story, but yeah when you're actively watching it

It's kind of like Yeah, the series last year Five six and seven turned into like must watch TV. Of course. Yeah. Yeah. And that's what you want in the Stanley Cup final. Anyway, we're being yelled at again for having to go to break. So we'll go to break. We got one final hour to go in the hell for the breath show on Sportsnet.

Six fifty reminder to get your what we learned in hashtag W.W.L. It's your chance to be on the radio. We're going to do that at 830 at 8 o'clock coming up on the other side of the break. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is going to join us about last week's announcement of a new 10,000 seat arena in Surrey. That's going to be built. It's going to be started construction in the next couple of years. We'll talk to her about the latest endeavor and the newest facility sports facility in the lower mainland.

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