OverDrive - OverDrive - April 22, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: April 22, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' matchup for Game 2 against the Senators, how Toronto can carry the momentum in the series, the Oilers' defeat to the Kings and the Capitals starting off the playoffs with a win. They go around the sports world in the latest edition of Confirm or Deny and the Blue Jays' declined offensive power on the team.

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Join today and be part of something amazing. This Hour of Overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go, Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker. And up on TSN for Brian Hazy O'Dough Jeff O'Neill Jamie noodles McClennan what's going on beautiful day game two tonight

can't wait i'm looking forward to game two but before we get to that i created a figure today figure. Want to know what his name is? Yes. Nico Ferguson Jr. Like, it can neither confirm or deny that. We gotta do that one day. We gotta create, like, we should do that. Just some figure. And Nico Ferguson Jr. I was off the show for 30 minutes yesterday. Did it all hell break loose? There was a lot going on, but he's referencing's referencing of course the GM down in Dallas with the math So he goes Ferguson jr. Which was ridiculous did you see him come out comments yesterday? when he if I was the owner and I heard that guy come out and he goes I Knew that Luca was popular, but I didn't have a clue. He was that but I would have absolutely

was popular, but I didn't have a clue he was at. I would have absolutely got him in Uber and said, you're going overseas. I meant to bring that up yesterday, but we just were into too many things. I thought that was one of the most ridiculous insane thing. It was insane. Oh world. Yeah. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him.

That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. That's when I started calling him. nico ferguson junior yeah he is nico ferguson junior because you have had two months to prepare for that press conference as well that trade went down two months ago

alright and he has been hiding in the shadows and he finally gets up to the mic and that's what he said the answer is i was completely oblivious to how popular this guy was. He knew he was good and the fans liked him but not to that degree. That was just a bizarre old world. That was a wild wild comment. That's a crazy quote. There were crazy commentary all over sports yesterday. So, Nico Ferguson Jr. You had Jim Rutherford saying, hey Luke and Jack Hughes were coming for you whenever you want to come out here. He didn't say that. I know that but he wasn't far off saying we need to bring the brothers here. He had Dubas

Kyle Dubas saying a little hope in one hand and yeah, you know what the other then he talks about Carlson like his Ambition though his actions need to meet his ambitions. Yeah, the guy's been in the league. Yeah for 15 years I got news for its. It's crazy. If his actions aren't meeting what you want right now, they're not going to get any better. I don't think Eric Carlson is going to be listening to Kyle Dubas and thinking, I need to completely revitalize myself and my career and adjust on the fly. He may have a great season next year, but I don't think Eric is in a position where he's too concerned with what Kyle Dubas thinks. I hate to break it to Kyle, but I don't think Eric is in a position where he's too concerned with what Kyle Dubas thinks

Yeah, I hate to break it to Kyle, but here's a crazy thought though He might have a great season next year at what point are they gonna retool where Gino Malgin is now 39 40 Latang is right there Sid is a year older like at some point you got to go, we are breaking the band up here. That's why I've thought he signed a seven year deal. Guys, I've said it a hundred times and I'll say it again. The only way it could have worked in Pitt is you look at what's happened in Dallas and Washington.

There's younger players that have taken over the team. Yeah, push you out. And the old regime is like secondary pieces, Tyler Sagan's, Jamie Benz, those type of guys, they're not the main guys. When those old goats are your main guys, you were completely screwed. Completely screwed. And listen, we'll see what happens next year with Pittsburgh and Vancouver and the Dallas Mavericks

who are out, didn't make it into the playoffs. We'll get to the least, but in the future, we just gotta come up with characters. Like, one is Nico Ferguson Jr. That was outrageous. That is gonna be a reference for the rest of time, is that Luka trade. And what immediately transpired,

and listen, they were dealt a tough hand, like Kyrie Irving blew his ACL out, and that was the end of the season. With or without Luka, I think when Kyrie went down they were probably finished right but I don't see how Nico Harrison possibly survives long term in Dallas and then how do it because of the players they have all have no trust they're not exactly and furthermore you know I don't know the guy but how do you hire him somewhere else and say here's the guy who traded Luca away?

Yeah, can you pass me your resume, please? Your eyeballs would fall on the desk would read the guy's resume the introductory press conference somewhere else Like let's say, you know, Bobby Webster moves on and Messiah goes we're looking for somebody and Nico Harrison comes in Immediately, it's can you just explain one more time how you traded Luca Donchich? That's the opening question on the job interview. Absolutely. Not what you're going to do with your new team, what your plans are. Well, the best part was when he brought it to the owner, he goes, when I brought it first

to the owner, he kind of chuckled. Yeah, I know. And it's like, oh, so he went from chuckling to nodding where he said, yeah, go ahead and do that. That is just crazy I mean that the flip side of it is what a power move for this guy had that much authority to sell the owner on trading the franchise player that everybody loves prime but he basically one ownership then to Luca will not be able to walk normally as early as next year yeah like he had it all laid out do it he had it all laid out.

He had it all laid out. Unless something crazy happens and Luca falls off of a cliff well next year. Listen you know what they need for the Lakers need those harmonica players tonight. What the hell was that last night? To set them up for the game tonight. So I was watching just like you guys we're all over the mat. Last last night was amazing last night was just an Awesome Stanley Cup playoff night. You that's one you're gonna remember for a long time Oh, he wins it in overtime the Stars score late push it to overtime your boy Blackwell Colin Blackwell snipes the OT winner my Dallas your boy And then McDavid has a night in a third period that should go right into the

Hall of Fame. That was ridiculous. Right into the Hall of Fame. Yet, they lose in the end and we'll talk about it momentarily. But the Kings, the Canadian anthem was horrendous. It was butchered so badly. There were some, I'm watching the game and I'm watching the anthems and I'm thinking, all right, there's well feral

It's LA yeah, King's Oilers McDavid dry subtle dowdy copetar. What a night Canadian anthem was awful And then they have harmonica players whoever does game ops there should probably be not not employed yet They won well you they why don't we do we have a little taste of the harmonicas you guys want to hear some of the harmonicas? That this is what I was going down on Twitter because I was doing the Winnipeg st Why don't we do we have a little taste of the harmonicas you guys want to hear some of the harmonicas that? This is what I was going down on Twitter because I was doing the Winnipeg st. Louis game right which is one of the best games Unbelievable game long to one Shifely is on fire Connors on fire Halliburke was great. They're up to nothing They can breathe a little bit easier in Winnipeg. Yeah, so you go right in from that game the harmonica right in to this Tone-setter last night in LA that doesn't get your juices flowing i don't know what you're doing it on the david's gonna

score 12 tonight i thought um all right that i can't okay well, before we go on our first break, I want Joe from the bridge to find something. It might be the King Daddy topper on that. Nashville has had the most miserable season of life. Okay. And one of their last games of the year, they wheeled out a dude in a Preds jersey and he did the anthem with bongos. Oh yeah. Do you remember that? I remember that there's good. It was in that's like for the Leafs. The Leafs might have been it was bongo guy for the I think it was for the Leafs. It was on a

Saturday night in Nashville. It's just like Game Ops people. You guys are getting crushed every night. You get a guy out there with a guitar with the best voice you've ever heard You don't bring bongo guy. I know get a country singer out there And this is I guarantee your Sports Center is gonna run with all of this because that's what they do They find amazing top tens You remember was it flea with the base? Yes, that was Kobe's last home game. I believe yeah I think he had done it multiple times, but that one was a tough. That was a weird one

There's been like there's been some not the Perky had an outrageous one at the NBA All-Star game. Yes all laughing They could not stop laughing. She did there was one. I remember Burton Cummings did Board to kick off great cuff 100. I think it was that was that was a bit of a I love Burton I love listen He's great Canadian at the one in Vegas. No that one. I believe was at the Sky Dome I think it was like though. It was recent and it was quite something There's gonna be by the other harmonicas last night man because like you're Jeff Skinner you haven't played in the playoffs in 15 years yes, and your your introduction to get jacked for the game is the Harmonicas. I hope it's not an awful story behind that where it's like they allowed this group.

No, no, no. I think they had, my understanding was that they had done it in the past and it worked for them. And the reason I bring it up is I'm getting a lot of, hey, where's the fanny pack stuff, the Lees are playing tonight. And I think in LA, you got to think you're bringing back the harmonicas if you have won the game and you're superstitious whatsoever I think that's the move you bring them back and you let the crowd sing the anthem which is always really cool it put them to sleep it put the Oilers to sleep for two periods for nothing

and I got to be honest I shut it off because like dry settle scores with four seconds left and it's four one and I'm like all right they're not coming back scores with four seconds left, and it's 4-1, and I'm like, all right, they're not coming back. It's going to be a 6-10 game. Maybe. It's over. Oh, no. The game was over.

Oh, if you watched that from the start, for the first two periods, you were like, Edmonton is third in this game. Yes. They had eight shots or something. They had eight shots. LA was all over them. LA was perfect to a tee. There was just no time and space. They were just and then McDavid and Dry Settle found one little inkling with seven seconds left in the second

period. It's like, OK, there's a goal. That McDavid, he was like, he was like, Gavocroft and Kopitar. He was tossing them aside like they were small kids. Mike Anderson, like they. Yeah, he was insane. The game tying goal. He was on another like it was like a video game Yeah, yes the assists like even the the the for one goal to dry sidle is he's up at the blue line and he cuts through traffic and he hits them right and like he had four points last night and they were

four of the most incredible plays you'll ever see in the Stanley Cup playoffs and It was just remarkable and they scored, you know two goals late to tie it and then a knuckle puck beat Skinner. Well this is this is where you're sitting there going just he's six foot four and hit the middle of the net. It went through him in the middle. He pushed over like I was I watched it it's 1 30 in the morning and I'm watching it on my computer and rewinding going what the hell now. Bouchard was horrendous. He put a he should have put an LA jersey on. I couldn't believe how bad he was the third fourth goal. But it was awful. I'm sorry he all and nurse wasn't much better that pairing was a mess. No but like this this goal it's a rolling pocket and you know listen. The

mighty duck snuckle puck. Fogel does a good job he jumps four feet in the air. That's our boy Warren Fogel. We love Warren. But what I don't understand you mentioned the slide the guy was dead not center so it's like where are you sliding to? He's pushing and he's choosing a side side is pushing to the left it goes dead center in the net with forty seconds left after mcdavid had just dragged that team to talk about this in a way of performance man that's that's what i mean but i thought about it though

you remember was a dry settle had four goals against vegas they lost that game six five or something yeah i remember I remember that. Something ridiculous where we're like, Dry Settle literally dominated and destroyed Vegas and they lost. It's just a completely wasted effort from the best player in the world where he put them, literally put them on his back and drags them back into the game. And yet he was on the ice at the end. Yeah. You know, and they, you know, Bouchard's waving at the puck and...

You could just pull out of the zone. All you gotta do is get out. And it's overtime. You've tied the end. Yeah, you know, and they, you know, Bouchard's waving at the puck and you could just pull out of the zone. All you got to do is get out and get to overtime. You've tied the game. You've tied the game. Get to overtime. It was outrageous. Like that game, I don't know. And I would love like true serum to the guys on the bus afterwards saying, would you rather just have that six do exactly. Are you happy you battled back or was it even more demoralizing? Because you battle back and you threw it away There's glass half empty glass, you know half full because hey We we got we exposed something here Darcy Kemper was like that fifth gold check can't go in you gotta stop that man Like there's you know, Edmonton might have got some spark that way going

Okay We this is a Vezna candidate that doesn't give up more than two goals on home ice and we put up a five spot, but you still lost and the guy in your net. I am terrified for him, man. And like the Skinner was awful and the top, and the top pairing was bad. And that is a recipe for disaster and the Stanley Cup playoffs. Especially when there's no at home around. Well, that's it.

And, and nurse and Bouchard, his giveaways on the third and fourth goal were unbelievable to watch live. Like, unbelievable to watch live. Well, the fourth one was more egregious than the third one. The third one, he's fumbling around. The fourth one was like, who's he passing it to? Yeah, here you go. Take that.

Four-nothing. It was a wild-out scene. I don't know. It was, i will say you if you stayed up you got your money so i was a great night of hockey from from start to finish i'll tell you you want to talk about big boy hockey that saint louis winnipeg's like that hits in the first period

i thought guys weren't getting up there and about a twelve minutes stretch i don't know when it was it might have been the end the second period but i was watching and i'm like this might be the best hockey I've ever watched in my life yes like just you had to fight for every single inch guys were crushing each it was just incredible hockey and I will say this every game has been ref different that one I think the refs were like you guys decide we're gonna call panel these but ones that are egregious or you know maybe a breakaway or something like that but outside of that like there were hits that were that Stanley hit on Kairou

last night unbelievable. It was like Buffland, remember the Buffland stone hit? Yeah. That's one of the biggest hits you'll ever see in your life. He just got up and played like Sluggeroo got crushed. Adam Lowry, the Shen brothers were chasing each other around. Like it was, it was an awesome game. And it, listen, it just rolls over right tonight. You get game two, Leafs sends and we're going to Mark to your Danowin studio for a couple hours.

Geo's coming up at five. We got Johnny coming up today. We've got, um, Mike Kamelari coming up, Bonesy and Ralphie. We're we're going to be teeing up this game all afternoon. And I think the officiating is something you can't predict but I am curious how it applies tonight because it's gonna be some kind of factor because all we talked about after game one was the Leafs power play and The Sens didn't like which they had a right on a couple of them They didn't like some of the calls

So it's like shame on you if you're to be the first guy to take a dumb penalty tonight. And I don't know what the expectation and I'm sure the coaches and the players would like to know what the expectation is or the standard because shame on you if you're the team that ends up in the box tonight. If you're Toronto you knew it was common if you're Ottawa you continue to take dumb penalties whatever but it's going to be a factor. It's got to be competing penalties but to me it's like stupid ones in the offense, like Ottawa took four in the offensive zone, 200 feet away from their net. How does the referees work in the playoff, is it the same two guys? No, no, no.

It's two different guys. They rotate through, and I guarantee the other night, again, regardless of what you think of them, they would have been reviewed, and you know, you get written up. I found out a lot about referees throughout the regular season and stuff there's reports that go in oh yeah their bosses and stuff like that other than the Stoots the play I didn't I thought that I wasn't like the rest were awful no listen it's not the Leafs fault either it depends on what side you look at it because you're like oh okay that the point being is the players dictate now

if the refs set the standard, then you have to go by what the refs are setting, the standard. So in the end, I would love to see what the standard is tonight. And both teams, I don't think it's going to be a highly penalized game. I think it's going to be the other way. I would- I'd prefer that. Play hockey. Yeah, I would much prefer that and at the same time you will find out you know and listen it got carried away because the game was

was a blowout. You know Ottawa started to try to push back and do things and they got off their off the rocker a little bit and you know you see I get why Sens fans are bent out of shape but that's like it's not the the Maple Leafs problem or their faults they got called and furthermore they scored on them and that's what made it a bigger storyline if Ottawa kills all six power plays it's such a momentum builder and it's a completely different game. We're doing hits on what's wrong with the Leafs power. Exactly so you know you take the penalties guess what Almar can make a stop or you can try to avoid William Nylander who scored 45 on what's wrong with the least power exactly so story you know you take the penalties guess what

all mark can make a stop or you can try to avoid william neil andrew scored forty five goals this year standing alone between the hash marks yeah like that's on that he's in the back door for a one-timer yes in you know so sanderson goes to him and goes okay all mark that's your guy i'm gonna take this that's what i like about the least power play it was That's your guy. I'm gonna take this. That's what I liked about the Leafs power play. It was Let's get after it and what's available. Yeah, it wasn't like

Like William Nylander, it seems like during the regular season a bunch of times He would have been like I'm gonna just toss this one out to Matthews and we're gonna work it around That shot was right there right off the draw then you take it and you execute Well was it was perfect and the play with Mitch Marner a lot of times they don't like to just chuck it down to the net and let John DeVar's hack and whack but that's what they did and ended up on the back of the net you like just get to business yeah there's no sense of pissing around and throwing around the outside get it to the net and get bodies there and hack and whack that's how you score goals in the playoffs on the power play if you look at Nylander's goal I don't know if we

can run it but he but he does just a subtle little thing. He sells it. Oh, for sure. He sells that because he rolls his wrist at the last second. But he sells. Well, Matthews isn't a bad decoy. No, but that's what I'm saying.

Like he sells it because he walks right in off a draw. So here's the formula that they did. They scored all three of their power play goals, I think, within the first nine seconds or 10 seconds of dropping the puck. Off the draw. Yeah. Win the draw. That's one thing. That's huge. Here it is. Watch the little hesitation. That gets, you know, Sanderson's got to spin out. I think Ohlmark hesitated on that play because he's like, okay, what's coming at me? What's a viable option? And by the time he gets set,

it's by him already because Neandert does a great job, which I call deception, is selling like, hey, I might roll my wrist over to a one-timer here and no, I'm going to fire it back perfectly above the right pad. Like it's just, it's a great play. And to me, you know, if you're Ottawa, your kill has to be, be you got to win a draw or tie that draw you've got to take away Middles ice and try and force things outs outside but the Leafs did a great job because they took what was afforded to them like Neal I know it's like hey Middles here exactly and same thing with the Tavares goal Marner's like I've got a path to get this puck to the net we got bodies

and I'm gonna nobody there for it yeah exactly ours has a tip and a rebound before anybody gets to him yeah like that that's on that's on Ottawa's kill but it's also a tribute to you know the Leafs taking what's there for them that's you know that's that's one secret they've done a good job especially last game is like hey that hole's there take it well and I think they've they've done a good job of saying the right things Yesterday and today in terms of game ones past you and Berube you know indicated that that it was a business like Practice yesterday and Jake McCabe saying game one great effort in game one doesn't mean much if you don't carry it over to tonight But we talked about it yesterday. I do think tonight will say more

carried over to tonight. But we talked about it yesterday. I do think tonight will say more about the Leafs and their approach to this and how businesslike they are and how because you know game one was on a platter for them. They came out flying building was rocking Ottawa. Travis Green has indicated this. I don't think it surprises anyone. They were nervous. There were a lot of nerves and a lot of the young guys were nervous and the Leafs took advantage of that. They won't be as nervous tonight and they're going to be much more desperate tonight. Ottawa, you're going to get a way better effort tonight. Regardless of the situation, Hayes, if you go down to Cobb, you're putting yourself in

a bad spot. Exactly. And take a page out of what Winnipeg did last night. Completely different game. Game one was a barn burner back and forth. Lead changes five-three. Last night it's a 2-1 game. They're two best players, best forwards anyway, like Scheifle does it again and what how does he score? Goes right to the net like that was a beauty

last night. Connor gets on the board again. That's more likely what's gonna happen tonight. It's more likely 2-1 3-2 and a checking battle game and see if you can find a way to win that. It's amazing how you can describe a goal where a guy just drives the net, it goes off the goalie, off the St. Louis players leg, and into the net. Yet I love the attitude. It's in the playoffs. It's a beauty. Put your shoulder down and go. Because there's no other way around it. If you just want to turn up and look to the outside and keep it around the outside, it might never get to the net. Right. And the only way to do business man, the only way. And guess who's in net is the hothead.

He's been run into three or four times in the first two games. Like run into. Shryfley's had a couple net crashes. Adam Lowry had one. But Bennington's actually been in pretty good control. Like he might lose it on home-wise. Now they're chasing it at two nothing. And I don't know what you heard,

your boy Monte had a couple comments last night where he said, hey, you know, these are just lost battles. Yep. And we've got to find a way to be better, but there's been lots of collisions and. No, it's. The one word I used last night on the panel,

like courageous hockey. Yeah. Like courageous. Middle ice drive, might have to pay a price might take a stick might take a punch whatever it is they got there well when a peg did it all Scheffler had another play it was in the first third period I think it was he just put his head down and went to the net and said I'm gonna I'm gonna pay for this one but he did it anyway yeah and that's significant man because when a peg is in a situation where they have all the expectation yeah they've earned home ice, they've earned a good matchup, you know

St. Louis been a great story down the stretch but Winnipeg's clearly the better team and they took care of business. Exactly, that's what the Leafs have to do tonight. No matter how talented the Vegas Golden Knights are or the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Winnipeg Jets or what your regular season record was or how skilled your best players are, there's only one way to do business at this time of year. Because we've seen with Toronto how they tried to do business in the past. It was like, let's see if we can skill our way.

It doesn't work, man. It doesn't work. If your best guys aren't committed to doing that, you will not win. Well, absolutely. That's why I'm fascinated with,, I always joke about the analytics and that stuff does not mean absolutely squat this time of year. Well, in the full, the whole five on five conversation has, has, you know, I think been something Ottawa's trying to lean on, like we liked our game five on five.

Generally, if that's the case, that would indicate the other team didn't like their game five on five. And I don't think the Leafs would have seen it that way. And I don't think that's the way Craig Barubei operates. Like, oh, I didn't like our game five on five. He'd say we battled, we won, now let's reset and go do it again in game two. I don't think they got their ass handed. I didn't see it that way either.

And especially, you know, in the third period, the game's out of hand, it's over. And Ottawa was pushing and Ottawa's got pride, and all that, and the numbers can be very misleading, but I didn't sense that either. I didn't sense the ice was tilted one way or the other. Yeah, I think what you try and sell in Ottawa is take the three power play goals, well this is a three-two game.

Right, exactly. And that looks a lot different, but to me, you go, if you're Travis Green going, smarten up, stay out of the box. You can't give a team like the Leafs or any other team that has high-end skill six opportunities in the power playoffs. Yeah, you're toast. You're toast at that point.

You're not going to, like, you can't do that. So I think what you're trying to say is play it straight up and see what happens and how the chips fall. I think one thing for this- But special teams were the difference the other night as far as the scoreboard because what did Ottawa have two or three? Yeah they I think they were all for three on their power plays. So they were outscored three nothing yeah and special teams. I think the sense if there's one thing they could take away from game one yes there's not a lot of experience yes they look nervous but the one thing is like you can't outwork everything come playoff time

You do have to prepare for a war but it's you got to play better Like Tim Stootslis got to find a level you saw a couple years ago when McDavid found out what the playoff level was And he's an exception because he is unstoppable and he's a freak and he's he's the goat right now But guys have to elevate to a different level where they play better. I'm sure the LA Kings are hoping Byfield is going to do that this year. But Tim Stootsla, Batherson, their younger guys, they got to find a level that's way better than what they've ever done before. Well, it's not about out hitting issues or it's like working hard or caring.

You have to play way better than you ever have. Well, here's something crazy too. If the goalie you talked about what five six real quality chances and pretty much all of them on both sides right but but on against Ottawa pretty much all of them went in you get two or three more saves now the score doesn't isn't as yeah it's mandatory like your goalie I think starts it all it all starts there. Like if Walmart does not play well tonight No one's got more pressure on them than all marks. So like it's not even play He's got to play a lot better and whether that's fair or unfair

You know the team in front of them has to protect Middle Ice do everything that we talked about But if he doesn't match the guy at the other end big save for big save or however you wanna unfold it to unfold that's not that's not the rest of the recipe because if you're looking at it all marks a big part of them having success and the way it's lined up jimmy when you're a wild card team playing the team that won the division the way the auto us senators are set up for them to have a chance in the series you would have to say the gold teners can have to deal with at least two

we've got his great by i don't think i was in a rush we said it about hellebuck last night to calm everything down because there was questions around the goals he led in game one i said yesterday what he's got to do is have a lockdown to one hockey game to just shut everyone up and comments team down and it's just moving forward and that's what we know so mark has to do for the Sens. Very matter-of-fact and yeah I mean that's

listen the I don't think there's any questioning that that Allmark is gonna have to do that especially now you're down one yeah like you're gonna have he's gonna have to have a performance or two in this building and the guy the guy the guy at the other end too this is his first kick of the can playing two days later and two days later like he's he's got to follow it up. Always pressure on the goalies. You get goal support you get other things that factors that come in but ultimately you know you start there and then you build out and go okay where's the pressure line? There. Yep and you push that aside and you look at the

whiteboards and the battles and you know again it's the Lees, Matthews, Tavares, their one-two punch up the middle of the ice they do not have Stanley Cup runs they do not have Stanley Cup final experience but they've played a lot of games and Stutzla and Cousins have played two combined and that's one area that you know we've talked about it but not extensively up the middle of the ice with those two and even throw Pinto in there Pinto that's his first game yeah they played three combined playoff games and they were all the other night So if you've got Matthews in Tavares, and you're looking at students in cousins

That's a battle. I think Craig Barube should feel comfortable. I know it's an unforgiving league though It's not like you can say just take this series and take something out. You got to be better tonight Well, absolutely. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I think that's what goes you got to be better tonight well absolutely yeah that's what I'm saying you got a taste of it you saw what goes on out there be better tonight absolutely they have to yeah and that's in well you know we'll get into it later this afternoon where Brady Kachuk comes into play and yesterday it was referenced well look what he did at the Four Nations he was playing with Eichel and Matthews now he needs Stootsley you need your your centerman like you need your centerman to step up and Brady's gonna do his thing and crash and bang and open up ice and still you saw it 50 times

I didn't think I didn't think Brady had a bad night the other night like if it looks different if he scores on that Breakaway, yeah that he was physical. I didn't think he was being stupid He wasn't the guy, you know punching people in the face and true But he has to be somebody that has to be contended with. Like that's what you're talking about. Like be a force where they can't stop him in front of the net or whatever. Create ice.

Whatever he's able to do for his line mates. And then if and when he does that, again, his line mates, they've got to pounce. Yeah. And Drew, I didn't like Drew's night the other night at all, but he's the veteran. That's the thing. He wasn't think very noticeable that's the way they're building that line i think you get two guys with no play of experience and

encode your room right that's you know we'll see what what green does tonight there's some indication he may change up the lines may change up the lineup nick cousins may step in i think there's going to be changes on defense as well possibly but uh... more on that later this afternoon march here dan will be in studio from five to seven today we got my camillary coming up today mike johnson bonesy and ralphie the game on tsn 1050 tonight confirmed and i coming up as well overdrive continues tsn 1050 and on tsn for i can either confirm or

deny that that this is in fact a. Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuca Arras. It's been my honor and a privilege to serve as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leaves Hockey Club. It's time for Confirm or Deny. Do you regret giving all those gentlemen the no trades or no movement clauses? I can neither confirm or deny that clauses they can either confirm or deny that i can't confirm or deny all right there is the original

nico ferguson junior what a character he would be in a horror movie i can't go for a key junior yeah i cannot confirm deny that i ever considered how popular lucid don chich was to the dallas market perky on elm street he does

there are there they go perky wean who like a can either confirm or deny that that is one of the most outrageous still like thinking about that comment when i had no idea no idea how popular as a real like i know I get a little bit crazy with some of my comments. As soon as that comes out of his mouth, it's a fireball offense.

It really... I think it kind of has to be when you consider you had a long time to prepare for it and you have to say something different than that. Dude, Charles Barby is one of his good friends and he went on the panel yesterday and he goes, look man, I like you, you're my friend. You gotta stop talking. You just have to stop talking speaking of that panel did you see Shaq last night? Shaq had himself a problem. Shaq mid panel yeah mid segment said I have to leave but that guy cannot be inconspicuous he's seven feet tall. Charles throws him under the bus and goes,

you gotta go dump or something? Yeah, and I think Kenny's like, hey big fella, he calls him big fella too, which I know you hate that. And I'm sure Shaq doesn't love it either. And as Shaq gets up, Kenny's like, where you going big fella? And Shaq just took off. And then, but how did you go go how do you know that that's what

he well why else would you leave mid segment? He goes we're live on TV that's what Kenny said we're live on TV and Shaq's like keep going yeah going and he walks out the door and then Charles goes Charles goes bring a match yeah make sure you bring a match. I don't see why not I don't know if we have it or not. It was brilliant. I watched it 20 times. The way he walks too, you could tell he was having a problem. He was you in Kitchener. Dude, if you had seen me waddle out to that volleyball court like a penguin, you would have passed out. Anyway, confirm or deny. Confirm or deny. All right, uh... but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but three denied and former denies tell this guy that's a ridiculous well always what if he's awful tonight I think you do he makes eight million dollars a year you're going back to him okay it is yeah I don't think it's I think the leash is

longer mm-hmm I think the leash is longer with all mark better be on a Stewart Skinner that's I will get to him in a minute but the the right now if he struggles tonight I still think he starts game three hmm unless something crazy happens a force Forsberg comes in and stands on his head and they come back and win or something right you have that debate but if you're asking me right now I say he starts game three there is no way in hell you're seeing okay there's no way I'll deny it as well but look we're looking at his stats. His playoff history is, Oh Mark, it's just not that good, man.

He has more pressure on him than anyone on the ice tonight, that goes without saying. I would maybe argue any player going into game two league wide because of what you just said. They have paid him to be the man. Eight million bucks a year. Well, and he is their man. Yeah, like if they end up losing I Don't think in the end. I mean we'll do a post-mortem regardless after this series, but if they end up losing it's probably a

Combination of yes him but also other things absolutely We've broken that all down the defense of breakdown all of that type of stuff are just in the end I I I would say I'll deny it I'm denying it and that's my reasoning why okay and that is reasonable and you got to trust your guy and you can't you know Travis Green just two days ago with the elephant in the room and all you can't one more game later say actually there was an elephant in the room and this guy's coming out yeah all right how about this one confirmed deny Calvin Pickard of the Edmonton Oilers will start at least one game against the Kings I'm gonna deny it you could do some mop up work but to the night I'm confirming this one I don't I

would maybe think of putting him in game two i would be i would be so angry last night that i was very smart and last year he will make did it but that was an awful this year like let's call it a very inconsistent is not played well you battle back and you give up that cool that is yeah i don't know man you guys tell me you've been in the room before but i think that would be a good thing and it's also wasting away the wasting away the McJesus that's my point it's like when you have

that night you got to lock that down for a victory man you say let's roll boys so your previous question I thought like we were bullish on that this one I'm less bullish on I'll be honest because of Stuart Skinner inconsistency this year hurt down the stretch Pickard wasn't a guy who went like eight and five like he had 21 wins played a lot of two wins for them like played very well they trusted him he was aggressive they knew exactly how he was going to play Ike but I still think it's Skinner's net with just a shorter leash I say it's one more start and allow him to see if they can bounce back. Keep in mind, the Edmonton Oilers stunk for two periods. Yes, that was him. That wasn't Jesus from the drop of the puck and they just couldn't control him. Eight

shots on goal, bad chances against, Bouchard muffins up the middle. There was a lot of things, but I do believe the leash is a lot shorter for Stewart Skinner than it is for all mark and other Goaltenders through the absolutely and it was not just him right like including McDavid through 40 minutes Like he didn't do anything the first like 30 minutes of the game They really dry saddle had some shots on goal after 30 minutes, right? Exactly, their ninth shot went in I believe it was dry subtle I believe yeah was seven seconds to go, but it is concerning that that's how it starts didn't didn't play well but that's again game one and they struggle game ones as well and they thing is so you

got to win games like yes last night I was joking because they like thought it was gonna see an old tweet but he wasn't awake but like oh they got a point or you know like Montreal comes back not a point out of it you know like Montreal comes back, not a point out of it, you know, like Montreal, they storm back in my mind, I'm like they're winning that game. I love their third period. I thought they played great in the third. I thought that they were going to like, lift the switch and Washington would have been like, oh boy, what have we got our hands, because the first half of that hockey game. They beat the hell out of Montreal. They were just standing around watching and they were like you want to talk about like deer in the headlights they were like oh this is what the but then they figured it out and Marty St. Louis said it best he goes there's no like there's nothing to write here like they figured it out and they learned that

they were in a different environment and they figured it out on their own in game yeah which is a credit to them well you just couldn't close I had some bozo stuff go on at the end of the game with that icing. And Patrick Lyonay. Patrick Lyonay drives me nuts watching him play five on five because he's another player just like Elias Pedersen where I think he could be so good. Patrick Lyonay guys, if he was dialed in, if you put Tom Wilson's intensity on Patrick Lyonay, you're going to have one of the best players that ever played the game. But he just is, he's just, he's gotten himself to a point where he only wants to do work on the power play and it Bothers the hell out of me

Well, and it's dangerous when you've got him with the kid too, right? Like dammit of is trying to figure it out and he sees this guy Yeah, exactly. And it's the playoffs it like yes, he got buried the ref they could have waved off the icing in overtime They could have waved it off icing in overtime they could have waved it off we've seen that a lot but then you look at the draw like Linus just waving at him like it just you know what it is and Ovi just goes all stand here and thank you I don't wave at anything and Hudson too but that's they weren't great on that play that's regular season intensity in a playoff absolutely well like you know we were just talking about that Winnipeg game.

Those guys were playing for keeps. That effort from line A and, you know, Hudson I thought was late on the play, like, that's regular season going, hey, the rotation missed it or whatever. There has to be a desire to go, this is not on my watch. This isn't going in. I'll chop that guy in half before he gets to the front of the net and yes there's a penalty involved or whatever there it wasn't that was still regular season intensity exactly out of a couple guys and i didn't like that yeah that's exactly what it was all right

let me skip the next one joe i'll get to this because we're talking about it confirm or deny alex ovechkin's game one will be more memorable than connor mcdavid's game one one will be more memorable than Connor McDavid's game one. Like two weeks from now? Yeah, I mean, I'll go first. I'm gonna confirm it because Ovi had two goals, an OT winner, he had a decisive three points. He threw that monster hit early in the game and McDavid's was unbelievable, but they lost.

So for me, you just, it's Ovi. I gotta deny it, I just thought what McDavid's was unbelievable but they lost. So for me, you just, it's over. I gotta deny it, I gotta deny it. I just thought what McDavid did like, dude when it's five, two, and four, one, it's usually Curtin's in the third period and that guy went absolutely nuts last night. Yeah, I hear you. Here's where I'll, I'm gonna agree with you

but I'm gonna say, here's where I'll deny it. If they follow it, if Fergie comment if if I've ever, please give me a second Fergie jr. Go ahead. Two days from now or tomorrow. When did they play again? Tomorrow. Yeah. If McDavid follows it up and Edmonton wins the game and he's lights out, you tie that game to tomorrow's game. Yes. And go see what he did in game one. He came alive. He came alive. Maybe they've awoken or he's awakened a monster type of thing.

That's the only way you remember that McDavid effort over Ovi is if it continues on in a progression. So you're going game two, he was a nightmare for LA. Well, it started in game one, that third period. And I think that is very valid. And if he has a big night in game two, he's going to be leading the league in points. Right, you're going like this guy. Here he is, he's alive, what are you going to do with this guy?

It was what, four points, right? Yeah, he had a goal and three assists last night and they were beauties. But OV, like he scores the first goal of the game from his office, then he scores the OT winner, again he threw hits. He went after Damidov a couple times last night to be like. 40 years old and he's playing like that. Yeah, like for me it's Ovechkin. I got a risker from the slot,

like with momentum going towards the net, just like his record breaking goal. It's just, that is such a missile man. Yeah, it's crazy. Now it clicked something, right? Did you see it change directions a little bit? Because Montembaulle kinda was playing it and then it went over on the blocker side

craig and i looked at it five times because i was like that i touch something cuz it looked like it waffled a bit like a turned he throws it so quickly gets it off with gets it off and all quickly yes unbelievable and there's there is serious action or memorable for sure because they won the game and he delivered it He's never scored an OT winner in the back a crazy thing never that was it was a great great celebration Everything it was heartbreaking for the Habs clearly, but Ovechkin. He's had such a magical year

he's the captain of the one seed they were almost threw it away and You know he ends up winning it for them. It was I thought Magical yeah, it was a them it was I thought magical yeah it was a really it was a great night for a veggan that is for sure all right more confirmed than eyes throughout the afternoon Mark Giordano coming up to you'll be in studio at 5 o'clock MJ still to come Mike Kamelari coming up charging towards game two Leafs and sends tonight also the Battle of Florida kicking off tonight it's about time and there's a Matthew Kachuk out there he looks good man Kachuk looks good. Game time decision.

We'll see I have a feeling he's gonna play. Paul Murray said they got to clear some things with the medicals. Yeah well there was that report I guess that the league wasn't ecstatic with the long-term IR maybe that's why Vander Kane didn't play last night you know maybe the league is like I don't love that Matthew Kachuk is gonna be flying tonight yeah we'll see I mean that that'll be oh what they just decided to not like that well exactly like why now you've had all these guys do it forever I think it's ridiculous that they're because you're right it's not by all accounts of Andrew Kane could have played last night

yes we play tomorrow exactly so what is a one-game suspension if you're on long time, anyway, we'll get into it with Gio, we'll get into it with other guys later this afternoon. But it's a big night of hockey again. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN four. All right, game two tonight, Leaves and Sens.

Mark Giordano in studio coming up in about 10 minutes. You're seeing that looks like the Jays have sent Easton Lucas back down to AAA. And as soon as they get traction and you're like I'm all in on these guys they're gonna turn it around. Well they got seven Cobb. Yeah they've lost three in a row now their bats are asleep they still don't hit for power. They faced some very difficult pitching the last week or week and a half. What it's the big leagues what the hell do you think? You're You go to Eastern Lucas, the wheel out there on the mound.

I understand that. And like Bo Bichette has still not hit a home run. Well, I think that guy's got one. I think they got 12 total, don't they on the season? Yeah, exactly. I think they're 29th or 30th in all of major league baseball and team home runs. Fontan Dair's got two, Vladdy's got one,

Bo has not hit a home run. Yeah. Um, Sonton Daris got two, Vladdy's got one, Bo has not hit a home run. It's staggering. Bo's gone like 230, 240 at bats without a home run. But when we talked to Ross he said just wait until it happens because they're, they're, they're just a matter of time. Whatever it was. Wait until this thing starts happening, you're gonna go nuts. They've been saying the same thing for two years. It's right there. It's right there they're gonna break out. Once they do, watch out, buckle up. Yeah. But yeah, I mean they had won three in a row prior to this and now they lose three in a row and still a game over 500. But you know the American League it doesn't look loaded yet the Yankees are there and the Yankees you know what have they got 14-15 wins and

Yankees are gonna get to 90 something wins. That's just the way it goes. That's just what they do. Yeah, it doesn't matter. Garret Cole's out for the year. It doesn't matter. Like they're gonna get to 90 wins. So you're done for the whole year. Like, yeah, he's out. Tommy John, he's done. You'll miss I think maybe parts of next year, too. But 14 and nine, the Yankees, the answer red sox uh... again over five eleven yeah and the jays are twelve and eleven so listen you're it's a decent start you're in the hunter is gonna be ups and downs but it's very likely the yankees are going to do what they always do

and if they end up winning the division then you're talking wild card and that's probably eighty six wins eighty seven on the numbers be. Yeah. But if you don't hit for power, you can't sustain success. You have to hit for power in baseball. You have to. They just gave a guy $500 million to hit for power. And it is long overdue, Vladdy, to go on a heater here. Like we're, it's time to get cooking here. You're more than 20 games into the season. Get rocking here. Same thing with Bichette, Santander, all the boys. Are we saying, this is, somebody said this to me the other day, do we save 500 million, because that's US, or do we say 720?

That's true, you wanna go Canadian, it's a lot more than 500 million. Exactly, that exchange rate, you're looking at north of 700 sheets. $700 million Canadian. Let's get going here. Come on. Big expectations, come on, Vladdy.

Yeah. All right, game two tonight, Battle of Ontario. Mark Giordano will be in studio. We'll get his take on the games we saw last night as well. There's a lot going on in the hockey world. We'll continue with that. Hour two coming up, Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app.

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