Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best of Halford and Brough 11/24/25

Episode Date: November 24, 2025

Mike & Jason look back at a busy weekend in sports, including a huge Whitecaps win that sees them moving on to the Western Conference final, as well as a successful debut for the Vancouver Goldeneyes, plus they chat with NHL.com Canucks reporter & In Goal Magazine's Kevin Woodley about last night's home loss to the Calgary Flames. 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.

You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to Halford and Brough. The Calgary Flames come into Vancouver and win their third in a row. They edge the Canox five to two. Obviously, we wish it didn't happen at that point. It's a shit film. Delays a pass. It's poor.

It scores. Mateas Laborda against Oogalurice to send Vancouver to the conference final. It's got! Vancouver to throw! Vancouver won it!

Let's go, caps. Good morning, Vancouver 601 on a Monday. Happy Monday, everybody. It is Halford. It is, Brough. It is SportsNet 650. We are coming to you live

from the Kintech Studios and beautiful Fairview Slopes in Vancouver. Jason, good morning. Good morning. Addo, good morning to you. Good morning to you as well. Hello, hello. Halford, inbrough in the morning, is brought to you by Sands and Associates.

Learn how a consumer proposal could get you on the road to being debt-free in just two weeks. Visit them online at Sands-Trustee.com. We are in hour one of the program. Hour one is brought to by North Star Metal Recycling. Vancouver's premier metal recycler pays the highest prices on scrap metal. North Star Metal Recycling, they recycle. You get paid. Visit them at 1170 Powell Street in Vancouver.

We are coming to live from the Kintex Studio. Kintech, footwear, and orthotics working together with you in step. What a weekend it was in the world of sports, specifically in the lower mainland. What a weekend, everybody. We got so much to get to on the program today, including a lengthy rundown of the guest and show programming. Guestless today begins at 7 a.m. Yes, that means an entire hour off the hop of uninterrupted Halbro. Guest at 7 a.m.?

Mike Tanier, our NFL insider from the two deep zone. Another crazy Sunday in the NFL, wild comeback. from the Cowboys and the Lions. And of course, we'll recap Seattle's win in Tennessee. Wasn't an oil painting, but Seahawks get the win. We'll talk to Mike about all that. At 7.7.30, Asa Raymond is going to join the program. Radio Play-by-Play Voice of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

What a night on Saturday night at BC Place. We'll unpack all that with Asa at 7.30. 8 o'clock, Kevin Woodley, NHL.com, and Ingoal magazine. Tough night. As you heard in the intro for the Vancouver Canucks last night, They fall 5 to Calgary on Home Ice. We'll talk to Kev about all that at 8. Now, we have a couple of announcements.

First, the big one, right off the hop. Guns and Roses are coming to town. August 29th, 2026, assuming they're still around, they'll be at BC Place. We're giving away tickets every day this week here on the Halifred & Brough Show on SportsNet 650. Caller number 5 at 8 a.m. 604-280650, that number again.

604-280-0-650. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 5th. You can beat the box office with Halford and Brough. Every day this week, tickets are being given away at 8 a.m. caller number 5, 604-280-0-650. That is not all. We are also giving away a $250 gift card

to Golf Town today and every day this week. This is for the Golf Town Black Friday sale. It's on now until December 3rd. Perfect time to beat the holiday rush. Call in again, this time at 7.30. Caller number, 65604-280-0-650. That number again, 604-280-0-6-50.

Not even doing the guest list in reverse today. We got so much to get into. Without further ado, Laddie, let's tell everybody what happened. Hey, did you guys see the game last night? No. No. What happened? I missed all the action because I was.

We know how busy your life can be. What happened? Missed it? You missed that? What happened? What happened is brought to you by the BC Construction Safety Alliance. It's making safety simpler by giving construction companies invest in tools, resources, and safety training. Visit them online at BCCSA.ca.ca.

Man, what a wild weekend in sports. A lot of good. And then the Canucks. Sold out Pacific Coliseum for the Vancouver Golden Eyes debut on Friday, which was a great win for the home team. sold out BC Place for the White Caps, incredible, incredible win over LAFC and the Canucks played on Sunday. They sure did. We got to start with the White Caps. Yeah, we do.

Because that was, I'm not exaggerating here. Not exaggerating. If you didn't watch, or if you weren't there, maybe you won't get it. That was one of the greatest games in Vancouver sports history. I concur. I think about the games that I've been alive to watch in Vancouver. Not necessarily there, but on TV. There was game six of the Stanley Cup final in 1994,

the Pacific Colise team where the Golden Ice played on Friday. The Golden Goal in 2010, that was in Vancouver. It wasn't a Vancouver team per se, but it was in Vancouver. The Slay the Dragon game in 2011. I don't know how I'd rank them, and we're not going to do a ranking. It's not worth it. Maybe I'm missing a few great games in there as well. I'm sure I am.

But Saturday and night at BC Place was in that conversation. It was in the conversation for, you know, top 10 games ever played in Vancouver sports history. This was the night the Vancouver Whitecaps have been waiting for since, what, 2011 when they came into MLS? That's right. The actual game was incredible. with the caps taking a 2-0 lead in the first half before surrendering two goals in the second half, the latter an absolute beauty-free kick

by one of the biggest soccer stars in the world. Son. Then you had extra time where the caps went down two players and somehow didn't concede, somehow. A lot of guts, some luck. Then you had penalties where, remember that huge star who tied the game, Son? Yeah, he missed his penalty.

He missed it by an inch. and it gave the caps the opportunity. They needed to win a game. They could have, and maybe should have, lost, but they didn't. So that was the game. That was the game. But before we revisit everything that happened on the field, I want to talk about the crowd.

Yep. That crowd was a spectacle with almost 54,000 in there. everyone waving towels and it was so loud in there I was blown away by the noise in that stadium it was way louder

in my opinion feel free to disagree it was way louder and way more intense than the win over Miami no that's right Miami was a great win and the crowd was amazing but it was more just like

hey that's crazy Messi's playing here and we happen to win I kept looking around and I almost couldn't believe that this was a white caps game that I was at a white caps game I honestly think the players felt the same way too I know they had big expectations for the game

but just watching how the players reacted both during and after the game when they were looking around to the crowd and yes presorinson the manager came around after the game and he was you know applauding the crowd and he, it was just genuine. Yeah, can I, I want to jump in here, actually,

because I want to play audio that I think is very instructive to this. So on the Apple postgame show, they had Sebastian Barhalter on, and he hadn't seen his penalty yet that he scored in the decisive shootout. So the Apple TV guys ran it back for him. Listen to his reaction

when he sees the penalty goes in and hears the pop from the BC place crowd. It's a great bit of live television. We'll play a now. Now, here's Sebastian Burrhalter on the postgame show after an epic win for the white caps over L-AFC in the Western Conference semifinal. What a relief to see that one hit the back of the net, I'm sure. Yeah, I just, you know, I knew I could count on my teammates after that. You know, just try to do my job and tuck it away and then let the O'Hae and the, wow, that's loud as anything.

Holy crap. That's loud. But, yeah, just so happy for this group. And, you know, we're not done yet. You know, this is still just putting us in this mid-final. getting started. So he was, I watched it about four or five times just to get us. He's genuinely shocked at how loud it was. And I think, and you, I was too. I was shocked. I was, I was, I was very excited for the game and I thought, man, this is going to be cool with a sold-out BC place. But

right from the start, I'm like, there's something different about this tonight. The crowd is taking it to another level. Now, I tweeted out after the game, you know, that was one of the greatest wins in Vancouver sports history and most people agree but there were some people who were like that's a low bar I'm like yeah it kind of is I suppose and some people that you know didn't watch or don't care that were like

it's a quarter final win I think that I think focusing on it being a quarter final completely misses the point the MLS version of the white caps have been in the city since 2011 and they've had a few good moments

sure Saturday night dwarfed those moments. Like, it was like, remember that Canadian, all those Canadian championships we won? Yeah, those were nice. Like, there wasn't even, it dwarfed those moments. Those moments for sure still good, but in hindsight, those were two out of ten moments,

and this was ten out of ten. It dwarfed Messi coming to town and beating Messi. And it dwarfed pretty significantly, I would say. It was like the White Caps made up for all the times they'd underdelivered and they did it in one night and I have to say there's a couple texts that I sent

Halford I was like I can't believe I'm so nervous for a white caps game and he was like and you know I was I was happy for you because you've been invested in the white caps

since they came back here and I was happy for all the hardcore whitecaps fans that have been supporting this team through a lot of just mediocrity, a lot of just like, meh. Yep. You know? Yep. And I was happy for Vancouver as a sports city because there were two events that

happened this weekend, Friday the Pacific Coliseum, and then Saturday at BC Place that brought the city together. And it was just like a genuine feel good. I'm happy to be there game. Mm-hmm. That's exactly what it was. and I want to throw it to Yesper Sorensen now because he talked about

this specifically. I don't want to get too schmaltzy. I don't want to get too you know syrupy with the narratives and everything but there is something to be said about what the sport and this also applies to what the Golden Knights did on Friday night that it can do to the crowd and it can do to the community

it can do to the market when it's obviously there's a high level of success on the playing field whatever surface you're on but there's something more when the crowd really appreciates what's going on. And the players and the coaches appreciate what the market is doing and want to be a part of it.

So I want to play Esper Sorensen. I think the audio is a little twitchy at the start, but it'll clear itself up. This is Yesper talking about the fans at BC Place, the spectacle that it was, what it meant and how much of a difference that environment made on Saturday. Here's Whitecaps manager, Yesper Sorensen,

after the big win on Saturday night against L.A.F.C. And I forgot about also the crowd, you know, just coming into the pitch before the games, see in all the towers, see everybody cheering for an amazing atmosphere. And I'm so happy for everybody in Vancouver because I think that creating these moments together with 54,000 people and, you know, getting this kind of game. And I just think that the joy you can have with sports. when you're together, I just think that it's amazing feeling for everybody there, and I'm just happy for everybody.

And, yeah, I think it was unbelievable. Like, here's the thing about Saturday is the way that the White Caps won it. Now, this is, I was thinking about this last time. I'm like, how am I going to phrase this? The way the White Caps won it is might end up being damaging long term to their title aspirations because of what happened in the second half and what happened in extra. time. They lost Tristan Blackman to a red card.

They lost Bilal Halbuni to what appears to be a torn ACL. No confirmation on that, by the way. That's just me speculating. And Mueller might have tweaked a hamstring. Like, it was a battle. I don't like throwing around war, but it was a very, very trying situation. If they had taken their two-nil lead at the half and salted it away and finish that match at 90 minutes, it probably would have been, not probably, definitely would have been better for their long-term hopes.

I still wouldn't have traded it for what happened. No, I wouldn't have traded it for what happened. To watch them go, two men down. So they're 11 v9 for, and I think I, some was saying 25 minutes. I think it was closer to 15, but whatever. If you were to watch it in the building and understand that when Yesper's talking about what sport can do when everyone there is experiencing it together, you saw and you felt like 54,000 people dying with every opportunity. the L.A.F.C. had because they should have scored.

Yeah. There's no question they should have scored. And the way that... The three posts in two seconds or whatever? And the way... So you Esper also talked to what he's like, at that point of the match, you're relying on things that you haven't done all year, which is just defend like your life, like matter is on the line.

Like, you have to just basically boot the ball as far as you can and then anticipate another wave of attack coming. There were people in the crowd yelling, ice it. Yeah, I was... Ice the puck. Ice the puck. Get a day, right? And God bless them.

They were doing it. with as much effort and this is after a hundred and fifteen minutes of running 120 minutes of just tracking like bear halter and kubas and laborta and preso running their tails off and they're exhausted

and they're two men down and they're doing everything they can just to get it to penalties and somehow and I've never seen this I've seen matches that have gone 11 v9 before and it almost always ends

with at least one goal being conceded by the nine of course always and yesper said in the aftermath I don't think He said, I've never been a part of a game like that in my entire life. So to have that kind of theater for in front of this sold-out crowd, you couldn't have asked for a better set of circumstances,

even though this might be such a taxing victory that it could end up hurting their chances long term. I still would not trade it in for what happened on Saturday. Preet from Ladner texted into the Dunbar-Lumber text line, and he says, I was in the stadium and my soul left its body when the caps got that red card and then Sun scored that free kick. I thought it was over. I'm still in disbelief. So happy for this club, go cap.

So when Sun scored that free kick, I knew he was going to score. I actually knew like, like there's a lot of texts that went back and forth and I can't even keep track of them. But like when they gave up the 2-1 goal, I was like LASC is tying this. Like, because I know,

and I was actually thinking of my mind, I was like, okay, it's going to be the serial winning of Thomas Mueller versus the serial losing of Vancouver Sports. Who's going to win in the end? And it looked like the serial losing of Vancouver Sports was going to win in the end. I put my head in my lap

like the same way I did when Russ threw the pick in the Super Bowl. And it was like, I did the same thing. I was like, I, it took, because like at that point, I mean, sound silly if you if you weren't there there's some people texting in as like i couldn't even watch the game so it's hard for me to understand all this it was it was so emotional the and when they

and when they tied it was like how we're going to come back and win this now you ever how are we going to how are we going to do this because the game had turned to the point of man like I guess they're just going to have to grind, grind and grind and grind and grind and get to penalties. And then you don't even know if they're going to win it if they get to penalties. Like getting to penalties was a win. The crowd went crazy. It's like you guys hung on. You got a little bit of luck.

But you hung on and you defended that was so gutsy. But then you still got a, like, and Mueller's out of the game. Yep. Right? So he can't take a kick. And like son steps up. you're like well he's going to score but when he missed man it was like oh the door's open and yet this doesn't get mentioned much they nearly blew it in kicks yeah because they had

four chances in the end the way it went where they needed either a goal or a save and they would have won yeah Ocampo was saved and then they had a chance they won with their final kick and we won with their final kick. We played the Laborta penalty at the end. That was the one that won it. But yeah, they had an opportunity prior to that to Salterway. And when Lurice made that save, and we'll talk about Lurice in a minute, I did

wonder if there was one more cruel twist of fate to come, right? Because they still had a cushion after Ocampo was saved. But I did wonder, I'm like, is this going to be another chapter in what's been an unbelievable drama already? Thankfully it wasn't, because I'm not sure

everyone in attendance could have taken anymore. Like everyone there had been like wrung out and left to dry. Like there was nothing left. My voice was gone too. And you can tell my voice is not 100% right now. But yeah, go ahead. We're going to talk later. We'll talk more about the white caps as a show.

But I do want to, we're going to, by the way, we've got a full hour of Halfford and Brough just me and you talking for the first hour of the show. first half hour is going to be that was great second half hour Mount Brough was rumbling last night watching the Canucks but I do want to end on

this segment this good vibe segment on the Vancouver Golden Eyes because they very much delivered in their franchise debut the stakes weren't as high as the Vancouver Whitekeps game but I loved seeing

the Pacific Coliseum full and fun again. I didn't go to the game, but I talked to a lot of people that did. I know the traffic was crazy. I know parking was confusing and the lines were long, which can be expected. I mean, the merchandise lines were going to be long for a team making its franchise debut. But by all accounts, the vibes were great on Friday night. And, you know, I was thinking about. this, I've got a couple

nieces that play hockey and there are so many more girls playing hockey now and I have seen firsthand how important it is for them to have female role models

and for them to see women playing hockey in front of an NHL-sized crowd and getting treated like NHL stars that's obviously going to make a big impact. Now, the Vancouver Goldenines,

if they're going to be successful, can't just be like, you know, hey, it's great that women are playing professional hockey, right? And they're great role models. You know, they are going to develop their own narrative. And the league,

the PWHL, the expansion rules, have set up the Vancouver Golden Knights very well. And they were able... And Seattle. Yeah. And they were they were able to get a lot of stars on this team. And it was very fitting, I think, that Sarah Nurse,

the scoring for the Vancouver Golden Eyes. And they've got a very good chance to be a successful franchise. I don't know. I don't know. I'm optimistic about it. I'm bullish on the Vancouver Golden Eyes in this market. And I think they've done a really good job so far. But, you know, we'll see.

We'll see how they do. But I think it's a great. addition to the market and Friday, great times in the stadium. Saturday, great times in the stadium. And, you know, I was like, I got to be honest with you. Like, on Saturday, I'm at this game. I'm at the White Caps game. And I'm thinking, I really needed this.

Like, I needed this as a sports fan. Yeah. to be at a game where it was a spectacle and the game was incredible and I think you made a great point about just like how we all felt there like we were all in this together and we were like when I left the game

and I think there was a couple of people that maybe recognize me and I was like giving fist pounds to guys and like pumper knuckles you know just like I was I was I was pumped Yeah You know And like

You know The people that listen to this show Are kind of like Hoffer and broth are getting pretty old And they're pretty jaded So cynical They're pretty cynical Like there was no cynicism there

No I was I was like I was like booing at the ref Like blow your whistle You know Like with all the stoppage time And some of the calls And like I felt like

You know Like a kid again I wasn't a media member You know I was just a fan And it was nice And it was nice. And it was awesome, man.

It was awesome, man. And, you know, like, I don't want to, I don't want to act like it doesn't, you know, it doesn't matter to me if the white caps go on and win or lose in the rest of these games. Like, but for me, like, that's, that was it. That was, that was the white caps moment for me. Yeah. And it was an awesome moment. And before we go to break, I did want to ask you, Lattie, speaking of people having moments,

is Lattie was there on Friday night at the Coliseum for the Golden Ice, PWHU, PWHL inaugural game. It's also your birthday, so you got your name on the Jumbotron, which is pretty cool. I did. What did you think? Basically, Brough summed it up. It was an amazing experience. My daughter had a wonderful time.

The vibes were just so high. You can't really describe it other than if you were there, you understood that this is a long time coming. Everyone was so excited. And, yeah, the opening goal by Sarah Nurse, it was super loud. And just amazing to see the Pacific Coliseum like that again. It's just another Hamiltonian making a huge impact here in Vancouver. So you got to love it. You got to love it.

You know, if there's a lesson from this weekend to be learned, it's that sometimes connecting and sports can be really simple. Win some games, care about the market that you're in, and connect with your fans. It can be that simple sometimes. You don't need advanced marketing degrees to figure it out. The stuff that matters can be really simple, and we saw it on display on Friday and Saturday.

You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. You're listening to the best. of Halford and Brough. So Mount Brough is rumbling right now. By the way, where was the resilience last night? I asked this question with all due respect. Oh, maybe not. Is this where the bar is set for the Canucks right now?

We're going to practice hard and get better and the centers aren't very good, so what did everyone expect? and, you know, we don't quit in games. Is that the bar? Let me know, because the bar seems to be going all over the place right now. I mean, for me, that's a very low bar. And I know management says, we're now a team in transition, right?

But like, you can't tell me this is what they planned going into this season, this season that they're trying to keep Quinn Hughes and now all of a sudden the head coach is talking about them like they're a team that is going through a rebuild like that they don't have players that are being that have massive contracts on the books and I'll be honest with you I'll be perfectly honest with you I don't really have a lot of time for the injury excuse

and it's not because other teams are going through it this is why I don't have much time for the injury excuse the Canucks gambled on Demko and Heidel staying healthy and they lost those gambols spectacularly they gambled on a Van der Kaine being a difference maker and they lost that spectacularly are we supposed to pretend that whoa that's just crazy bad luck that they've had

are we supposed to pretend that those weren't huge gambols not to mention taking a head coach that couldn't even last a season in the dub a goalie that can't stay healthy a center with a serious concussion history and an old winger with questionable character and hockey IQ the latter of which actually both of them

were on display last night unsportsman-like penalty and you know he got shots on goal but I've never seen a guy hit more goalie logos in my life like this guy is aiming at belly buttons out there

it seems and the fans look I know my you can attest I stayed quiet since my reaction to the Canucks acquiring Evander Kane because you know what I knew I wouldn't have to say every time, like, he's not doing much, is he?

Mm-hmm. The fans can't stand that guy. They can't. Because not only does he not carry himself in a way that a lot of people like, he's not even good. He's not good anymore. He's, his career is nearly done. And everyone said, whoa, it's a contract here.

He loves money. He's going to play better. what what like he's old his body is breaking down he can't get to pox anymore you know and and and like what do you think about this whole you know like the injury stuff

like it kind of it really does bother me when Adam Foote is sitting there going like well our centers are young and inexperienced what did you expect I was like well your management group said they were going to try their hardest to fix the center position and they couldn't do it and they either completely misread the market in terms of how easy it would be to fix that, or they just failed.

They just failed. And I just want a message for, you know, there's some people that are going to be like, oh, typical negative media, always ripping on the Canucks. They're going through a hard time. Why don't you show them some support? Why don't you ask for more from the Canucks? why don't you as a fan expect more

from a team that you put your time, money, and emotional investment into. This team that said, our vibes are great now, we're going to bounce back after last season

because all that noise is in the rearview mirror. This is a team last year that the two best players had a big fight and they couldn't get along so they had to trade one of them two of their best players, two of their so-called leaders and then they come back this season and yeah they had some bad injury luck

talked about the gambols who could have seen Thatcher Dempco getting hurt who could have seen Philippeal getting another concussion and this is the result they're one of the worst teams in the NHL. And you know what? They might play a better game Wednesday in Anaheim

because they'll be embarrassed about what happened. They might go down there and have a good performance. Yeah, they'll have a couple bounce back performances. And it'll be like, oh, you know, like maybe they can do it. They won't. Maybe they're back. They're not. And you as a fan that, again, you put a lot of time and effort

and emotional investment into this team, you're allowed to expect more. you're allowed to you're allowed to want more from from your favorite team to the phone lines we go as mentioned our next guest comes from Ingoll magazine and NHL.com it's Kevin Woodley here on the Halford and Brough show on Sports Night 650 what up Kev how are we doing this morning yeah I mean personally personally yeah better than the local hockey team right yeah I mean we had a great weekend And Bruff and I were both at the White Caps game on Saturday.

Our voices are less shot than they were yesterday, so that's a positive. But, yeah, the local hockey squadron. That's a bit of the problem. Do you want to start in net? I feel like we should. Laddie was giving me grief during the break because I've kind of made this meme about four-goal Lankinen in which Kevin Lankening gives up four more goals with far too much regularity. I believe it's eight times in his 14 appearances this year that he's given up four goals or more.

Am I being unfair to Lankin? in hanging this on him? It's certainly not all on him. I mean, you know, I've talked for the past couple of weeks. We've seen their defensive zone you know, erode and honestly, the numbers are, the numbers

on slot line plays. So east-west plays across the middle of the ice are worst in the NHL, right? Like, and you just can't survive that way. Low slot line, east-west, below the hash marks is one of the most dangerous scoring chances the team can can give up. And nobody gives up

more of them than the Vancouver Canucks. And, oh, by the way, they also happen to play against Kevin Lankin's strengths. And I would argue probably to his relative weaknesses. Every goal he has them. That said, it hasn't been good. It hasn't been as good as it was last year. Out of, you know, just purely by the numbers. So objectivity, 65 goalies have seen 100 chances in the National Hockey League this year.

Kevin Lankin ranks 53rd. And obviously, you're paying for better than that when you give them that contract. I thought he delivered a lot better than that on that road trip. You know, I thought coming off the back-to-back here on the weekend, I like those games. I thought the Winnipeg game was maybe his best game, coming in relief to second and third periods. Took that on the road.

It was excellent in Carolina. Gets the win in Tampa Bay, made some big saves there. And then, I don't know, like, it made perfect sense not to play him in Florida. It would have been six games in 10 nights with two back-to-backs. and yet the time off seems to have not been kind, almost like he looked like he got in a rhythm and it doesn't seem to have it right now. Now, listen, I was talking about this in the press box last night

and on the intermission show with Bick, doing pro-reeds with NHL goalies at Ingle, like where we sit down and we break down video, I went into that expecting it, you know, years ago expecting it to be all about the opponents or largely about the opponents, you know, right shot, left shot, this is why I make this, take this position, and this is why I use this save execution.

You know, he tends to do this. His hands are showing me that. But like 65 to 70% of it is, yeah, they break that all down. But other than odd man rushes, a lot of it is actually even on odd man rushes, what my defense are doing. I know that I can focus on this because this guy's got that. I'm going to play this in this manner because that pass lane is taken away and I trust that guy to be there.

and I would doubt that anyone could trust what is going on in front of them the way the Canucks are getting pulled apart in the defensive zone right now and so I think that might be a part of it but at the end of the day you know last night as bad as it looked as bad as it felt after the first period Calgary Flames had expected goals of less than two and three high danger chances and they scored five yeah okay that good analysis there and I was trying to do some self-reflection with this whole thing and I was like part of it was like if you're a goalie

It's very old school, but anytime you give up four, let's say. You're like, I didn't have a great night, regardless of what happens, I think. You never want to give up that many goals. I think the other part of this is what you talk about, the play in front of them. Part of this is unfair to Lankton him because he needs to perform at this really high elite level all the time in order for the team to get the desired results. Like he needs to have- Yeah, they need Vezno-level goaltending. Right, that's kind of the thing, right?

It's like they need Peak Demko goaltending every single night. which is unrealistic because no one's going to give you that, not even Thatcher Dempco. And unfortunately, it's fallen to a guy that he just can't do it right now, for whatever reason, whether it's the players in front of them or he's not in a rhythm. It's just not happening. And that's a big reason why the Canucks have one regulation win

in their last six, and they are on a three-game regulation losing streak as well. Yeah, I mean, and listen, like last night, it's funny because, like, when we all saw it, right? Like, they had six high danger chances in the first period. Like, they got a little goalie than the first. I thought Dustin Wolf was really good in the first period. The Canucks did not create a high danger chance the rest of the night. And so sort of underlying all this, you have the injuries, you have a lot of young forwards playing.

But this is a team that's identity was defending for the past couple of years. And right now, I give them credit. Like, last night is the exception. And I don't, you know, in fairness, I don't know, as bad as it's been, overall, and as bad as the underlying numbers are, they have been, like there haven't been many complete duds or lack of effort or where it looks like everything

falls like last night did. And it's been more entertaining. Like that first period, they traded chances. But then it just all went away. And I think that's uncharacteristic. And to me, the overall question is, as they sort of seem to be shifting philosophies,

and they are creating more, not as much as they seem to think at times when I hear the coach talk about, about where they rank in terms of chance creation, even over the last seven games. Like, that's not what I'm seeing in the underlying numbers, but they are creating more. It's at the expense of the defensive zone, or at least it has been to this point. And I think it's fair to ask, given where they are, whether that's, you know, some of it is just young mistakes, you can't do anything about it, but given the roster and given the injuries,

but it's fair to ask if that's a tradeoff, a change that actually works for this group, because right now they're leaning way too heavily on goal-tending, even if they are getting more chances at the other end. Kev, what is your understanding of where Thatcher Demko is in his attempted return to play? I have very little understanding, Jason. I'll be honest with you there. You know, they say week to week.

Everything I've heard is that that two to three weeks, as much as it might be possible, was probably a little premature, you know, given that they hadn't finished the diagnosis and it's a groin injury for a goaltender with a long history of lower body injuries. So, I mean, to me, groin injuries typically start at three. I think it's, you know, my guess,

and this is purely that, you know, based on some of the things you hear, is this is probably going to be closer to 4 plus. But we'll see, we'll see. And I guess the bigger question is, if he comes back and doesn't have a blip the rest of the year, maybe by the end of it, we've forgotten it. but the bigger question is can he come back and and stay back for the rest of the year

and that's that's the that was the focus coming into the year can you get through a season healthy hasn't done it now the next question is like is this a blip just a groin injury that's going to happen to goalies he's certainly not the only one out right now in the goaltending world in the national hockey league or is this the start of another season where it's one after another after another so kev I said earlier in the show I said you know I'll be honest with you. I don't have a lot of time for the injury excuse. And it wasn't because everyone is having injuries right now,

suffering injuries right now. And it wasn't because, well, there's a team in Vancouver, the Whitecaps that have suffered a lot of injuries this season. And they've managed okay. It was the bets they made. It was betting on Demko and betting on Heedle and then being like, oh, you know,

like we got some injuries. Like, am I being unfair? I know there have been other injuries. You know, even Hughes has been banged up from time to time. Bluger's been out. Forberts been out. That's hurt the PK. Like, I understand it.

Yeah, but the for, the for, the four bird bet is the same as the first two in terms of injuries. Yeah. Right. Like, you know, you can make the same argument. No disrespect. But the reality is that, you know, like health has been, was it even when they signed them the first time, coming out of Boston, like the ability to stay healthy was a question.

So, listen, I'm with you. I think both things can be true. I look down the I-5 at the Seattle Cracken, who are seven points clear with two games in hand. They missed that number one goalie for two weeks. They have missed at various points, especially early in the year, Montour and Dunn, I believe at the same time. Jared McCann hasn't played a game for them when we talk about

center depth, Chandler-Stevenson missed an extended period of time. They've infused a whole bunch of young players who were in the American Hockey League last year into more prominent roles this season, and they're not sexy, they're not fun to watch, but they've based their play on defending under a new coach in Lane Lambert and new systems, and they don't score a ton, and it can be like watching paint dry, but they are where they are in the standings because that's the way they've gone. So it's funny because a lot of fans in this market, the way the Connects used to play.

And again, it's more entertaining now. They're finding ways to create more offensive chances. But the expense in the defensive zone just typically doesn't work unless you're getting superhero goaltending and they're not right now. Would Spencer Knight be on the radar for USA hockey

to add like a, I don't know, like sometimes you add a young goalie, a third goalie, and you bring that goalie over for the experience, which really worked out for Sam Montenboe at the Four Nations. He's taken that experience and run with it. It's cold-blooded. I just, I mean, Spencer Knight.

Spencer Knight has been, let's be honest, it's been a good story for him. Yeah, he's been great. And for those of us that watch goalies, it's kind of been, it's like sort of like a, because every, every, I mean, watch him play, like, he's just, there's a technical element that she's just so dialed. And when you talk to him, like the way he thinks the game, the way he approaches the game, like everything about Spencer Knight says elite goaltender. And the numbers just hadn't been there.

Like even in Florida, a lot of it was sort of based on the team in front of him. Like a lot of it was the defending, right? When you looked at his overall results, you know, he was barely above expected, sometimes below. But right now he's full of value. He's fifth in the league in adjusted, say, percentage. You can make that argument for sure that he's played his way into the conversation. I heard a little bit of buzz that they might go a different way with the three-spot. And ironically, one of the guys who's played a lot less,

but up until getting hurt the other day, actually leads the league and adjusted save percentage, has won a Stanley Cup in a supporting role, and this is part of the thought process. I've heard Jonathan Quicksnape for the Americans. Wow. If you're not, if he's going to be a... I love his smile.

His smile is... You know, he's a lot like Mark Andre Fleury, isn't he? John, I think he. Two peas and a pod, those two. Well, hey, listen, you know what it reminded me of, though. It reminded me of 2010 and going to watch the Americans practice

and going, it was into the game, it was heading into the game against Canada, the first game, the round Robin game. And I'm watching practice, and there's Tim Thomas, who's there in a supporting role. And he is not in the crease to be Tim Thomas. He's in the crease in practice imitating, very specifically and very well,

Martin Broder, in the way he plays in the unique style with which he played, as players tried to score. And there was value in that. We saw what they did. I mean, part of it was the fact that it was Devils' teammates in that game. Obviously, a lot of our audience wasn't, you know, probably watching hockey in 2010. But the reality was the way the Americans attacked Martin Bruder in that game, which ultimately led to him losing the the job in Roberto Longo taking over and winning gold was very specific to his style, you know, open looks and shooting along the ice rather than trying to go up high, like just really trying to pick apart his more, you know, stand-upish nature. And watching Thomas in practice that day,

you know, I think there was real value there. I look at Canada and for all to talk about Canada's crease. Well, guess what? You know, who's top 10 and adjusted save percentage right now and has also one of Stanley Cup in a supporting role? And during their Stanley Cup, run heading into the final, did the same thing on video with the St. Louis Blues video coach who, oh, by the way, happens to be Canada's video coach, imitating two harass and help the Blues win a cup, Jake Allen. So, you know, both guys can play if you need them. They may be past their prime as elite number one workhorses, but they've been there,

done that in a supporting role on a winning team before. And, you know, I've heard some buzz that the Americans are at least talking or considering about it, and I would be curious to see whether Canada would go that way as well. I got to ask, and this is mostly for Bill and Buffalo, who takes every opportunity that he can to text into the show

to rub it in my face about what RDC Loves is doing in Pittsburgh. I know his last outing was tough, so remember on Friday's show. You made him the one to watch? Yeah, and he got... Did he get yanked? Four goals on ten shots. He got yanked right after that. Minnesota's playing some good hockey right now. They are, but let's focus on C-loves

for the purposes of this hit. What do you you seeing or not seeing what's going on with RDC Loves in Pittsburgh? Because aside from Friday, the numbers have been pretty good. Yeah, no, he's top 15 and Justice, ironically, like his numbers are sort of just right on the edge of top 15, his adjusted say percentage. It's interesting. Not only is it right around 15, but I look at the guys around him, it's like Demko just below, Casey DeSmith just above, another guy that, you know, backup role for a million a season,

three years. Yeah, he's played really well. I've talked to some people about it. I've watched a little bit of film really odd. Like he can't seem to make a shootout save to save his life. I think he lost his first three and gave up six on seven or seven on eight. But other than that, it kind of looks like RDC laws that we saw here. They seem to have made a little bit of adjustment in his setup and his tracking on some of the outside stuff.

He's managing traffic better there than he did here, and that may be experienced. But also, that a couple people say, like the condescending. dense nature of the schedule conference not being as hyper aware as a Western conference was of him because of the playoff run against Edmonton like teams aren't attacking him with traffic and that may be just because it's

it's Pittsburgh low expectations you go to Pittsburgh on a Tuesday night you're not focused on Archer she loves and like hey let's stop trying to create high danger down low let's let's get it back to the point and get bodies in front of them and that very much did happen to him his last season here like I know Calgary came in with that game plan based on what happened at Edmonton.

And so really went after, you know, a relative weakness for him, but also something that he just hadn't had time to sort of figure out, like traffic and the purposeful nature of it and the NHL has never been harder. And so maybe this is a little experience, a chance to sort of adjust and get better behind it, but also I don't feel like teams. And I've had this conversation, like I said, I've had a couple goalie coaches back there, sort of back this up, that teams aren't going after him in that same way at this point in the season.

So I don't think anybody expected playoffs to be a consideration in Pittsburgh. maybe they still won't be, but if they are, that's when it would get interesting. Because as good as Seawas has been, Tristan Jari is actually sixth in the National Hockey League right now in adjusted say a percentage. So both goalies have been good. Again, new coach, defensive system. I think the goalies have a more predictable environment in front of them in Pittsburgh that maybe we expect it as well.

Pref alluded to Montembow's struggles this year, and it has been a struggle for him for sure. Biddington hasn't been great either. I think he's been a little bit better lately, but collectively the season's been a problem. them for them. If you had to pick three guys right now, I guess there's a difference between who you would pick and who you think Canada would pick. How many times is Kev going to get asked this question in the next

few months? A lot. A lot. But you want to give a stab at it now? We've got about five five minutes left before break. Bennington and Montembourg are basically dead last in the national hockey. We can adjust it. That feels like a problem. That feels like a problem. Yeah, last, what we said going into the year, see, this is the

thing. When Bennington got picked for the four nations, I had no problem with it. Because in the previous five seasons, he was the only Canadian goaltender whose adjusted numbers were in the top 10. Like a lot of what happened in St. Louis after they won a cup, the defense eroded and Biddington would go on these stretches behind a bad defense. And the narrative was that they were good defensively in Biddington was struggling and that wasn't what was happening at all. Like, he was legit good. The numbers started to fall off last year, but you could point back to what he'd done in the previous five and then he gets to the four nations and he gives you big

saves and big moments and that's what Canada needed. And I think coming into this season, I was sort of aware of that trend and the line I was using was he would have to fall off a cliff not to be the guy. Well this is a cliff. He's not all the way over but if it's Brian Burke's 18 wheelers, a couple of them are tipping as it tries to make that turn. Montevil is all the way over

right now. There is time for sure to get this back. I don't see any way that Jordan Biddington's not on the team. Doug Armstrong's involved. The goaltending coach, Dave Alexander is his goaltending coach in St. Louis. He was there at the Four Nations. He's back with Canada. He's

really good at what he does. And the last couple of starts have shown some signs. Like Bennington, when you watch his game, like, just like strangely aggressive in moments, like coming out charging and then like just giving up all kinds of net behind him, guys just basically passing or skating around him.

Just really odd. Almost looks like a focus thing early this season. So time for him to turn it around still think he's going to be there. Honestly, there should be an investigation at this point if Logan Thompson doesn't make the team. numbers have dipped the last a while but Washington leans really heavily

on its goaltenders in terms of the environment they're not great defensively they ask a lot of the guys between the pipes and he continues to deliver so it's got to be him and then like I said Jake Allen I know I know your answer is all over Jetgreaves and you won't find a bigger Jetgreaves fan

than me but there's not as much experience there and so if I'm picking based on results right now like the next guy on the list amongst Canadian goaltenders from a performance standpoint is well it's tris and jari i talked about earlier but for some reason i don't i don't see that happening and then it's mackenzie blackwood or jake allen so um if you're bringing biddington and thompson then maybe you need to bring blackwood and leave jake allen at home but there's lists there's guys up there there's canadians near the top like there's two canadians

in the top 10 there's three in the top 15 it's just that none of them are who was there at the four nations keb this was great buddy thanks for taking the time to do this is always We appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of the week. We'll do this again next week. Thanks, guys. Kevin Willey from NHL.com and Ingole magazine here on the Halford & Brough show on Sportsnet, 650. You're listening to the best of Halford & Brough.