OverDrive - Johnston on the Maple Leafs' positive outlook, Stolarz's role in net and Tavares' response to Zub's hit

Episode Date: April 28, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Maple Leafs looking to clinch the series win, Anthony Stolarz's role in the crease, Artem Zub's hit on John Tavares, the fines in the warmup conduct, Mike Sullivan's coaching next steps and more.

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Join today and be part of something amazing. Here's Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. CJ, you were down at the skate. What would you, how would you describe the mood at the Maple Leafs now that they're up 3-1 and couldn't find a way to sweep on Saturday night? I didn't sense much change to be honest. I do feel as though we might come back and look upon this differently in the future,

but I think that there's a thought that they played well enough at times in that game and to get the head 3-1 that it's almost like I don't think the full pressure of it's hit yet or the possibility I, of the lead slipping through their fingers. So, you know, it's been pretty business like in the last week and a half or so around this team. And then it was, it was much the same today. And, you know, I practice specifically, I actually sense a lot of excitement

because, you know, they do have an opportunity to close out a series at home. There they could potentially be the first series to be done which would mean a little bit of rest before round two and all kinds of good things i mean really they're in a good spot if they can can find a way to get the job done tomorrow cj did anybody mention or like was there any kind of planting seed questions of the closeout record or anything connected to that

there was definitely a couple questions along the lines you know a few questions about that the montreal series specifically when they were up to rewind and and let it but it's wide from twenty twenty one but you know nothing that produced a spicy answer or anything that made it seem like it was an audience i mean

book in the record is what it is and it's been over a number of years. I think that they expect it at this point. I mean, the best way to put those questions to bed entirely is to win the series and to start having a better record in those types of games. And then I think you can credibly say, look, this is a different team and it is a vastly different team different team of course that a lot of the ones that uh... lost those games from twenty eighteen or what have you but you know because of the the main players are star also here i think the questions are fair and and to be honest

i didn't sense any any pushback or attitude or anything like that in the face of them i mean these guys they know their history and there are certain players that have been a part of it for a long time but the rest of them don't and Anthony Stolar certainly doesn't but this is new for him. Like his first three playoff starts, he had three wins, two in overtime. Now he's at a loss. He played okay the other night, wasn't great, probably would have liked a couple of goals

back. okay the other night wasn't great probably would have liked a couple of goals back uh... what do you sense of stole ours considering we've we've spoken about him so much this year though the workload that tandem opportunities uh... he's clearly start tomorrow night as he should but do you think it's a foregone clue conclusion he just he he's got the ball he's running with it or is joseph wall in the background in some capacity well i i think you very much in the background i mean

unfortunately and we don't know the extent of the joseph wall miss practice today and you know correct ruby said he was under the weather so you know i think that something else to monitor up to the side while this happens you know the large that the last game with his worst game this season just by save percentage numbers, which I realize is a limited measure of what his performance was. But I think it is fair to say it was one of, he wasn't on his game as much as he had been

other times. Credit to him. He said afterwards, he needs to be a save better in a game like that. But I guess if things go poorly tomorrow for them, then we're probably into that territory where that's at least a conversation about who might start the next game. Um, you know, I think he's someone in particular that can benefit from the extra day between games four and five, just because, you know,

he's not ever really been the kind of starter that's playing every second night at least not in the NHL level prior to this and that's what what it's been since the series started so you know he definitely he's got the net I don't think there's there's nothing like a controversy brewing but you know I if the Leafs play long enough to spring there could be a contest a point when we're doing one of these hits or you guys are on and you're we're having that discussion about whether they go to wall or not. A lot of teams use two goaltenders nowadays in the playoffs and the Leafs have two pretty good ones.

Stolar has been the best one this year and so it's his ball until further notice. CJ, I saw John Tavares spoke. Anything come out of that? I was happy to see him back. He did come back so they didn't really have to talk about it, but that was a big shot he took. It could have gone either way. Those hits, some guys get a concussion, some guys are able to bounce right back up.

We saw Barkov get knocked out there and he played the next game. Tavares, that's a big hit hit but he was able to come back and even after the game ruby said he came back so there's no issue there but you know you hope he i was glad that he didn't have any lingering effects on it the enemy that there's a lingering effect you could tell he was pretty that p dot by it uh... and i can't say i blame on you know it it's on a couple levels first of

all you know to Tavares noted that the puck wasn't anywhere near him. You know, it was unsuspecting when he took the hit. And so he wasn't happy about that. You know, you couple that with the fact that, you know, he had to miss 10 minutes of game time and overtime because the concussion spotter set him off, you know, which is a mandatory thing if, you know, certain criteria are met. And so he missed, you know, not only that four minute power play, but, you know, which is a mandatory thing if, if, if, you know, certain criteria are met. And so he missed, you know, not only that four minute power play, but, you know,

a few shifts in overtime at a time when the leaps were one shot away from ending the series. So, you know, it was pretty, pretty devastating in its own right, even though he comes out of it and it appears that everything's fine. You know, certainly no questions about his availability tomorrow. I think he's going to play. But you could tell John, he was diplomatic, but, but he was not too happy about it. tomorrow, I think he's going to play. But you could tell, John, he was diplomatic, but he was not too happy about it and Mitch Marner, Craig Brubay both sort of chimed in on a Brubay called the hit-ahead shot. Not much that can be done at this point in time now, but that's definitely one

that got the Leafs' attention for the wrong reason. That play wasn't called, a county on the ice and obviously the least missed of ours on that form in a power play that came afterwards with chris johnston what's the story with these goalie cj uh... freddie anderson montembo uh... they're gonna play again they're not gonna play what are we here

top to say i mean i i i don't have any reason to think they're done for the season that you know the biggest problem in in Montreal might be that they're down three, one in the series. So, you know, the Canadians might run out of games to play before Montembeau can be healthy. You know, Anderson, of course, is an interesting one just because he's got touch a long history of, of issues and, and, you know, leaves that game yesterday. The Hurricanes look like they're in a good spot in that series.

So, we'll just have to wait to get a bit more clarity on exactly what he's dealing with. But you know, don't believe he's knocked out for the season or anything like that. But it's crazy the way it's happened. I mean, even Logan Thompson leaving game three of the Montreal Washington series. I know he played in one yesterday, but you know it's, as I say, a lot of teams are using two goaltenders now, whether it's for injury or for performance reasons. And you know, I guess that's further point there that Joseph Lowell might be needed at some point in time here for Leafs. CJ, what are they going to do, put like cameras in and warm up? There's been a lot of finds over silly little stuff and warm up, like chirping, a little

tap on the way by. What is the mandate going forward to handle warmups? They tried to warn guys that don't even look at the opposition. Well, I guess the next step is going the junior way and having teams not on the ice at the same time or something like that because clearly the league's watching closely for anything that happens around the red line, whether it's shooting pucks across it where you're not supposed to or exchanging words, maybe crossing over a little bit. I understand the logic in a big picture.

I think it's truly just about not having some sort of slap shot style brawl or, or, you know, having anything that escalates too far. Um, I don't know why it's become such a big issue this year, like, unless I'm missing something, like I don't remember this from last playoffs, but you've now at three teams get fined 25,000 a piece and obviously a few individual players. So the league is coming down heavy in the sense I think they want to, they're trying to stop it right in the tracks and it's an emotional time of year. Every game you see played now, it's the fourth or fifth or

sixth time teams have played in a week or a week and a half. And then so naturally some of the tensions are starting to boil there. So you want that you want that during the game. I mean you don't want it before the game clearly. I understand why the league is hammering away at that. I think there is clearly a difference even though fan bases are not going to see it this way because you know you're emotional about things. But you know I've seen some people suggest well Why is it such a concern to do this in the pregame? But you're not you know suspending Matthew Kachuk or suspending Tom Wilson and right because those are hits during the game You know it's a different story like obviously you got to police the pregame

The Kachuk one on again, so I'm not surprised. He didn't get suspended And I don't think Wilson. I don't think Wilson I don't think they should even look at the Wilson carry I'm assuming they probably would just out of you know habit more than anything but yeah where are you at with the league in general kind of policing things on the ice actually during the games as opposed to before it well I think they're looking at the Wilson hit but mostly just to admire it to watch it again and again. It was a pretty textbook hockey hit and it had a devastating effect on the game too. Goal comes right after it and I don't think there's any talk at all about that one getting

any more discipline. The issue of course with Kichuk is that it wasn't a head shot. Gensel came through it okay in terms of his health. For interference type of suspensions anyway, normally it involves contact with the head and that wasn't present in that hit. And look, there's still allowed to be some animosity out there and I understand with all the emotions everywhere on both, you know Both teams both fan bases in any given moment, you know, you're not going to keep everybody happy But you know, I think it's it's been reasonably good so far

I don't have any don't take any great issue with you know any the suspension sort of thinking at this point and you know that battle of Florida is going to be interesting to see because you're getting more and more of these in that one series I mean and already have teams that have played each other so much that have a lot on the line I mean I think that one in particular is going to be a handful for the referees working that next game. I agree. Mike Sullivan gets the gate.

What do you make of that and you know Dubas's speech and even what he said? Having spoken five minutes with Sidney Crosby to let him know that the transaction was gonna go down Well, I think it's actually good news for Mike Sullivan. I mean in this case he didn't have to sort of mutually agree to leave obviously they could have fired him and he you know could have paychecks but he's a competitive coach and he's at a point in time right now, there could be no better time if you're him to become a coaching free agent. You've got three original six teams with the Rangers, Bruins and Blackhawks looking for a coach. You've got the Flyers looking for a coach.

There's a couple other teams. We'll see what happens in Vancouver. There's a possibility that one of the teams that are more that loses in the first round could make a change And you're in a point in time where I think he's going to be Probably the most desirable, you know person available to be hired so, you know Pittsburgh's clearly going through a rebuild that You know, it's no guarantee no matter who's coaching you could have prime Scotty Bowman behind the bench or anybody else. I'm not sure that that's a team that's going to be in the playoffs next year.

You know, they've already missed three years running. So I think it's a nice end and it makes sense for a team that's getting younger and trying to start the next phase of its growth to do so with a different coach. And I think just at the same time, I mean, this is a perfect time for Mike Sullivan to go and I expect he could become the highest paid coach in the game when his next contract is signed. And I think he's only going to be able to work as long as he wants to be. And wouldn't be surprised if we're talking about hours or a couple of days versus anything

longer than that. All right, CJ, we'll leave it there. Enjoy game five tomorrow night. in about hours or a couple days versus anything longer than that. All right, CJ, we'll leave it there. Enjoy game five tomorrow night. Yeah, it'll get interesting if there's a game six, but let's not get out of ourselves. Yeah, that is for sure. There's Chris Johnston. That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos, Canada Decides 2025. Stay informed with my exclusive iHeartRadio podcast, available

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