OverDrive - OverDrive - April 23, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: April 23, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! The Athletic Maple Leafs Writer Jonas Siegel on the Maple Leafs' playoff progression, Anthony Stolarz becoming a difference maker and the positives of the team in the series. They also previewed the schedule throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Oilers and Canadiens searching for their first wins, Gabriel Landeskog's impending return for the Avalanche and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeartRadio app and that i heart radio dot c it's out uh... powered by fando bringing everything from the opening line of the final score jonah seagull coming up here in about ten minutes so i don't know if last night for the game i walked in he was convening

was convening with a couple of other athletic uh... writers and just come up with their plan on how they thought everything would play out the pep talk for the athletic group on the gas city chris johnston and james myrtle myrtle was there cj was there josh cloak was there they were all it was like uh... athletic huddling before well pep talk for the boys so did he pretend like he was like Craig remember

when we walked in on Craig but it was very similar to that like I what are you doing here friends with Jonas for over 15 years dude you like way back in the jazz I have known Jonas longer than probably anyone else in the industry and good friends and I love Jonas and I walked in and he and Cloak were talking and he gave me the look like you're not, you shouldn't be here. Because I stopped, I was walking to my seat and I'm like, hey Jonas, what's up?

What are you guys doing? And he's like, nothing. Like, okay, enjoy the game, I'll see you later. Remember how horrified Craig Button was to see us in that scouts room or whatever that was? I will never forget that. I'll never forget it. We walked in there and we were rowdy and we're, hey, hey.

That look was, don't even think. I had just pulled some mascot's head off my body. And I had the bottom part on, I think. And this guy was just like, no way, man. Mortified. No way these guys. I don't know these guys. Greyhounds, Colts, and the three of us up there

And like Svechnikov was playing in that game Morgan. Yeah, I was playing in that game Like it was a big scouting out for Craig You know Craig's up there working and we walked in and we see him and hey Craigie and he looked at us like I don't Know you and you don't know me Keep walking please stop acting like you know yeah it's like he was in witness protection and he was old like people from his old life had spotted him in tempi arizona his scout name was darrell and no one's ever called him craig before that was jonas to me last night i think before the game uh so we'll have to ask jonas about

that we'll get to the bottom of that we'll catch up with jonas here in a few moments couple of news and notes for the games tonight. Harmonicas? I don't know. I don't know if it's going to happen. I don't think we're going to get harmonicas before the Kings-Oyler game. Well, Biz posted out that the ladies that did... That's what Biz has heard, yeah. Paul Misner had two weeks to rest. That they might have to take the night off. They passed on the invitation. That's what he's hearing anyway. That's what's buzzing around the league.

But he's also hopeful that they get, like, they change their mind. As he should be. Everyone wants to see the harmonicas again tonight. Jeff Skinner's a healthy scratch. Oh, no. That's what it sounds like. It sounds that way.

Now, the game's later tonight, so we'll find out I think he's a hundred percent a healthy scratch because Frederick and Kane are in Man this guy has waited to do it. He has played a thousand games and not played one playoff game He plays one and then he's pumped and he's out healthy. I get it I mean, I I just I think they're looking they're like, okay Kane's gonna go right into the top six and Frederick we got to get playing We're gonna put him on the third line left wing like where does I don't know you're right here You're fine. But I just it just do in the end. I think this is where you come down to it This isn't heartstring stuff. They're trying to win a game. You got it. You got to go

I understand leave it's your best it doesn't take much the hate on gets going quick like if there was one play it was blown coverage by him or the coach got any sniff that is intensity or battle level wasn't there it is just no time for hey how you doing how you feel it's just you're out man yeah that's it that's the beauty of the urgency of the playoffs the energy it's just you're out, man. That's it. That's the beauty of the urgency of the playoffs. The energy, it's just incredible. It's so much better. Everything matters. You're right.

But that's why I think going onto the road for the Leafs, for example, in Ottawa tomorrow, for some reason, you're right, I think Chief will probably just come back with the same group, but it wouldn't surprise me if he goes, hey, I need a different body in this line, like a patch already for Robertson or something like that. I don't know. I agree with you. Just a gut instinct, but what you're trying to do is not looking back. You're looking forward to go, what is this night potentially going to bring?

What do I feel like I need in my arsenal? That might be a little bit different like that's this is adjustments on the fly Like so it's not a hey we won last game and that's not that's not you know change it Well, you're not changing the core You're not changing what you're doing is bit PC or bigger body here faster skater here like that type of stuff I think that's what coaches are trying to do is tweak. Even when you're winning, I feel like you should be progressive instead of reactive. I think you're right. They did tweak between game one and two. They flipped Holmberg and

Domi. We established this a couple hours ago. The Matthews line isn't going to change. I think Holmberg is with Nylander and Tavares. And Holmberg is what he is offensively. He's just, you know, the puck's going to die on a stick sometimes in terms of big offensive moments and stuff. He's not going to create on his own. But he's a big body that battles. He gets under the skin of the sense. They don't like him. Like they do not like him. There's something about him. They don't like that guy. They don't like him. And I think that's a good thing. And I can understand why Barube

would like that. And the lot in line is gonna stay intact And as it should and he's trusting them they started the game last night But I think another big development through two games and again this can change But I think it's very unlikely that it will if you look at the deep pairings in the ice time They're very equal like across the board there there there are matchups They're trying to find and obviously where the puck is and where the puck is gonna be dropped and all that is gonna matter in Terms of how they utilize guys Okay, so you put that into perspective from years past like would it be like Morgan Riley and his partner a zillion minutes and then bleed down?

Absolutely like there would be times and that will happen I'm sure at some point but there there have been times where the third pairing is playing nine You know ten minutes eleven minutes, or the sixth defenseman is very defined. That guy's playing nine or 10 minutes and that's not happening. And I think that's credit to what, what they've built. You know, it's credit to Brad tree living. He's he brought in, he brought in tan of Carlo, Ekman, Larson. Those are three guys on all three different parents. They're all, they're all have equaled things out and he has a lot of faith in Ekman Larsen and Simone Benoit and I he should like Benoit took some

heat at times he has he's not a perfect defenseman but he's your he's your sixth defenseman and what do you want him to do? He's had some big hits and I thought he's played nicely to be honest with you. I think he's been very good like for him and what you can expect and look what he did in overtime he reads reads the play, he takes the pass, moves up ice, he drops the puck and goes to the net and he creates a screen. Yeah, he had a play in LA where he got beaten, his knees kind of buckled and I saw that and I was like, what the hell is that going to look like come playoff time? But it's like he, I think he's just elevated his play a little bit like this is like if the standards gone up and he's raised and he's got to stay

within his wheelhouse that's the that's it you just like play to your capabilities and don't try and you know do something that you're not capable and that's all I think he's doing right now yeah he's playing to it like a guy like that you ask him to play to his capabilities plus it's playoff time do it better than the Regular season a little bit more physical don't don't think you're Bobby or now just it's regular season plus for a guy like Simone Benoit well I think a lot of it too is again the the fact that he's playing with Ekman Larson Because like last year that might have been Lillagran and then then he's looking at Timothy Lillagran saying, I'm the man.

No you're not. Ekman Larson is you just fit in and play your role. Right? Or if it's Justin Hall or someone like that, it's a different scenario. And you know, these three defensemen they brought in and the goaltender, that's I think been the biggest change. I know someone who loves Lillagran. I know.

Yeah, the guy who snubbed you. I got yeah, I got a minor snub last night the presser I was surprised because Jonas and I go way back. I love Jonas. He's a dear friend of mine Here he is from the athletic Jonah Siegel Jonas I saw you in a Cloaky boy last night. You guys were convening a little pep talk before the game. I thought I got iced out a little bit I was Jonas what happened hazy said you blew him off last night to his ass that i would have to yeah that was the vibe i picked up on before the game was going on a little

athletic huddle before the game i did not think you were jeff on the i didn't think you required a stop and chat and i didn't talk about the world and we're just getting to the game of the two minutes four o'clock dot number two number two who is the little grand family's you do you know how many times i've heard you saying you know you are all over victor metis and hollow wells and then all these

cats and all of the kids cali rose and the uh... all and i don't know lander okay well it is tried it wait till what should i do next time you want to you are a pow wow will be right here a little pow wow how about this i had to take there you are

let's shake it out next time but it does feel different on a cv cover this team for a long time uh... i will start on defense. Like there is no, obviously they're up 2-0, which is the biggest difference. They've never, they haven't been up 2-0 in 23 years in a series. But there is no discussion about this defense core and even an odd man out or anything like that. It's been very balanced.

The three pairings, all three of them are playing about 20 minutes and they've all, I think, pulled their weight very well. Yeah, that's kind of been surprising to me how evenly they've been played because you didn't head into the playoffs maybe thinking that with that third pair with Beckham, Larson and Benoit. But I think all three have kind of found their roles. You look at that top pair with Cave and Tanav, you know what they're going to do. I think the Carlo Riley pair has been really effective. I think they've broken out cleanest. And then, you know, Benoit, I didn't think had the best regular season, but you mentioned

having Ekman Larson there beside him. I think it's a little cleaner. It's a little smoother. I go back a few years, I was thinking back to some of the playoff, the cores that they've had, and you think back to that one year I think they had Riley Labushkin maybe it was Muzzin Hall and maybe the third pair was like Girodano Lilligrin as kind of like in the ballpark but that's not as good as this. So yeah it's a development obviously they they rebuilt the blue line last summer they continued to rebuild it with the acquisition of Carlo. I really like that trade I think it's worked exactly as as they anticipate as they hoped He has tons of playoff experience and he's fit in really really well with Riley like that was one of our questions heading into the playoffs

Would the guy we've seen the playoffs with Morgan Riley come back out in the postseason? And I think we've we've kind of seen that I think it was happening late in the regular season But you know two goals and two games and if you look at his playoff numbers over the years I think he's got 13 goals in 58-59 playoff games like and you stack that up against some of the top defensemen in the NHL it's right up there. Jonas in your opinion how much does good fortune play in all of this? How much do vibes out there, like how kind of, I've been talking about the phrase, the leafiest thing ever, to find a way to lose that one in overtime. Like that just, obviously Ty going into overtime,

it wasn't that far off from happening. And then today we'd be posing the question, how about those leafs, they just couldn't go up to nothing? Like, how much is just a positive vibe needed in good fortune to kind of, to have some success in this playoffs? Well, this is what we've been arguing about all year, because it felt like there's been so many games like that during the regular season where you and I, the three of us would like argue about it because like, did they play that well? And it's like, no, but like they kind of found somehow to pull out the game, whether it was because of their goaltending, whether it was because of their power play, whether it was because like they have these four star players

that most teams don't have and they would just find a way to win that game. It just feels like last night was kind of a replica of what we saw so many times during the regular season where it's like halfway through the game, I'm looking up at the shot clock and they have 10 shots and yet they're up to one or two nothing at that point. it's like halfway through the game, I'm looking up at the shot clock and they have 10 shots and yet they're up to one or two, nothing at that point. It's like, how is this happening? And yet it didn't ever feel like the game was like totally out of their control. Even when it's two, two, you don't totally feel like they're, they've lost the plot. And so like,

I I'm kind of annoyed a little bit with a this feels different storyline with them. Oh, no, something is strong. I don't know. It's just like, it's like, what does that mean? Like this feels different storyline with them. Oh, annoying. Something is... That's a strong word. I don't know. It's just like, what does that mean? Like this feels... Like what does that mean? Something is different about the team and I don't know if that's just their goaltending

is better, their power play is better. You mentioned, like Hayes mentioned, the defense is better than it's been. I don't know. Like is it the fact that they have these star players who are like 27 and 28 now to their arses obviously had a good year like is it all these things kind of coming together I don't know but like luck is is a part of this for sure and like you go back to some of those series in the past where it's like a disc goes differently they win the game and then who the hell knows what happens yeah yeah I think the biggest difference a big part of the difference is who they're playing.

They're not playing Boston, they're not playing Tampa, you know, and there's demons with those teams. There is. This is a fresh start with Ottawa for this group that you're just, you're dealing with a different team. But I do think you look at, you know, I think the five figures that have been brought in here over the last 12 months that have had a tangible impact on what we've seen through two games and certainly down the stretch would be Barube behind the bench. He's got a different approach to how he sees the game, how he operates, I think the way he conducts himself, the way he goes about his business is very different.

The guy Annette Stollars who's been outstanding. I mean he's the guy all year his story is an incredible one He's 31 years old. He's basically under the spotlight for the first time in his career It's an amazing story and he's been great and Been so consistent and now look at him through two games his first two starts in the playoffs The guy's been outstanding and then it's it's tan of Carlo Ekman Larson like that's it But that's what's different Like you've got a coach, a goalie, and three big defensemen. That's what is different here. And that I think is

why you would have a feeling if you're going to get there as a Leaf fan that things might change. It's because of those are the different pieces. Those are pillars of the organization that are going to play a massive role in how this is going to play out. And I think we've witnessed that from all of them through two games. Yet it's only two games and you turn the page Jonas. I guess you'd have to go back to when the Lisa rubbed three one on the Habs in 2021. It was a different world, different era, different coach, different GM, different team, different goalies, but they haven't been in this position that they're going to find themselves in tomorrow night where

they've got a chance to really bury a team tomorrow. They haven't had that chance. They're never in this role when they play the Bostons and the Tampas and the Florida's. What would lead you to believe that they're going to be prepared for that tomorrow night? Well, can I just disagree with you a little bit? Sure. Would I like to do that? Please do. See, that feels like a little bit of like recency bias like you think back to their team in 23 that's a pretty good team like you can match up some of the pieces from that team with this team and be like is that better is that better is that better like I think Tanev I don't think they've had Tanev

before like Jake Muzzin is probably the closest thing to Tanev and I don't think he's quite in that class or was in that class But he's pretty close They did they had they had Ryan O'Reilly that year like March year Dano the first year if I'm remembering this right was Pretty effective including in the playoffs like it wore down as that one playoffs Rolled along but like he had effective moments TJ Brody obviously had some anyway What's different? What will be different this year I think the goaltending is like the biggest thing like if you if you look at these two games so far and you're like

what is what is the difference in the series to me it's power play and goaltending and so if those two things continue to carry over they're gonna win the series like I don't know how you guys felt about the series coming in like I thought they would win at five so it's kind of going as I expected. Um, but five on five, like the series has kind of like statistically been all Ottawa, but they've also been up to nothing before you flash in both games. For sure. Like in, and, and they've scored and their goaltending has been really good. And this is kind of what happened in the regular season where a lot of nights

It's like they don't really have a lot happening But they're up three nothing or they're up three one or that two to one or something like that a lot happening kind of like We talked about it because there was this big fuss of all they don't make plays when they cross the blue line The puck was just being advanced and you and Mike Johnston bitch and complain about the dump ins and you wanted more plays. But isn't that... We like gold.

Aren't we at the finish line of what that was in preparation for? Because we've seen in the past where silly plays in the neutral zone and costly turnovers and playing hacky sack Marner and Matthews with the hockey puck inside their blue line against the Panthers and goofy stuff like that, it doesn't work. It's not sustainable and you don't win with it. See, this is what I don't totally get is that the margins have been, again, like I don't want to rain on your parade, but like, actually I kind of do. But like, what Mike and I were saying is, what Mike and I were saying is it's better to be up 4-1 in a game than to be up 2-1.

And it felt like so many times this year, it was just 2-1. Every game, and like we hear all this talk, well, they're really good in close games. It's like, yeah, they're not blowing teams away. Let me just stop you there. Being up 4-1 as opposed to 3-2 or 2-1, that's what used to get them in trouble. And Frank Corrado detailed that in the first hour where it would be like, we're up 2-1, let's cheat for offense and let's try to stretch this thing out and really blow the doors off of them.

And then it would be 5-2 for the other team and they'd be just cross-eyed after the game saying, I just don't know what happened out there.î So you would rather be up 2-1 in the third period than 4-1. Well, youíd rather win though, Jonas. Thatís the whole point. Dude, the bottom line is winning and if it means being stupid or safe and smart, sometimes you got to take safe and smart in a tight playoff game because if youíre playing against a very effective physical team and you try to cheat, you saw what happened last night.

One guy made a stupid play and then he didn't defend the middle ice properly and ended up in the back of their net. That's how fine the margins are. So if anybody wants to cheat and do stupid things, it ends up in the back of your net every damn time in the playoffs. Every time. Counter, counter? Yes.

Go for it. They didn't struggle defensively in the playoffs in time counter counter go for it they didn't they didn't struggle defensively in the playoffs in previous years did they well I don't think they've ever been known as a defensive juggernaut I used to they got blown out at times I just didn't score and I think like that's the one thing like I don't know about this series like nine goals in two games yeah no like this series I don't think is a concern. It's it's more once you get second round you're facing Tampa or Florida a third round I don't know who you're facing at that point and then like look ahead to the cup final and you're facing like Vegas or Colorado One of these teams that's what we'll see but like honestly like all credit to them so far like they have done exactly what they

Did in the regular season where it's like what's going on in some of these games But they're finding a way to win like Jeff is like Jeff You're right like that game was very close to going where we are talking about this totally differently But max Domi makes a big play in overtime and they win the game and they're up to nothing and they did what they had to do and now Like Hayes was saying now you have to close it out plus there. I think one of the things that has been pointed out is They are comfortable in tighter games like that. You don't see the Hey, we need a home run play here. I think home run plays have been there

We saw the Matthews to to Marner stretch pass beautiful play But I think they take what's given instead of trying to force something. I'll give you an example. Drake Bathurst had tried to force something in overtime last night. It didn't happen. It ends up in the back of your net. I think what the Leafs have been able to do through maturity, through systematic play, through that is take what's given, create a little bit here or there.

And when you're given in a power play or when you're given maybe open space that's where you take it but you don't force everything just because you need a ten bell play every shift. I think it was Gio that was talking to us about it and and I've certainly talked to Chris Pronger yesterday said every shift you don't have to win every shift what you need to do is is continue to build every shift you can't lose a shift if that makes sense where you get hemmed in and it's momentum. I think the Leafs have been a lot more methodical down the stretch here where they understand their game and they've been more patient within

their system. Does that make sense? Yeah. That makes sense. That's the next line. Patient I think is the right word. Yeah. And you know what, Jonas, you're right like it always comes back to the goalies like Stolarz has made more saves than Allmark and that's legitimately the truth. Like he has a 950 save, I think it's 957 at 5 on 5 in the series and Allmark is at like 848. Yeah. So it's like they didn't, I don't know like I don't know what you guys

think like thinking back to some of the goalies that They've had like Jack Campbell had his moments, but like it was always like is he gonna give up a goal in this like big Spot it was the same thing with Frederick Anderson It doesn't totally feel like that with with Anthony Stollers like he hasn't had many games this year where you look at the goals And you're like the end should have had that one should have that one Jamie you would know better But I still want to see it over a longer period obviously in two games Where he's starting every other night because he hasn't started like this before Yeah, so that's like that's something I'm gonna continue to monitor for sure and now it's on the road

Right everything's new for him. He's never started a playoff game on the road He's that yeah at home and last change and again at least have been up to nothing quick It's you know, they something's gonna change here two at home and last change and again the Leafs have been up two nothing quick. It's, you know, something's going to change here. Like I would not be surprised at all if Ottawa's up two nothing after the first tomorrow. And then you're going to see what you're talking about there. Like how much patience do you have? How much patience do you want?

When does the pressure turn on to the top players for the Leafs to not defend but now you got to go score? You know, because that's been an interesting, I think, evaluation of, of even Matthews. Like Matthews, I think has played well. He's got three assists in the series. He's checked pretty well. He's been up against tough matchups, but he hasn't been in a position where he has to be the guy with the moment.

You know, and that's going to come at some point. Like at some point, you're going to look to that guy, Matthews, and say, you're the best goal scorer in the world you're the best player on this team that you'd you know teams down to one of the third period you gotta go have a chef that you gotta go create score he hasn't had to do that that's a benefit to him in the team it's a good thing you prefer that to continue hopefully never asked him

but we know in reality he's going to and marner's gonna have to do that and willie uh... where they're gonna be chasing a game and stores is gonna have to keep them in the game as opposed to keep the lead And these are all different ebbs and flows that come with the playoffs and I would fully anticipate that tomorrow night and Jonas I guess Craig Barube indicated he likely won't make a lineup change tomorrow. Are you are you buying that? Are you surprised by that? What what would you expect for tomorrow? He kind of left it a little open-ended like the whole I'm still thinking about it which he kind of does all the time like he's always like yeah I might change something but in

this case I think he would have to think about it and I think there's really only one candidate to potentially come out and that's Nick Robertson he's played the least minutes so far which I don't think would surprise really anyone he's played about ten minutes a game he has has one shot on goal. He set up the Riley goal in game one, but takes the bad penalty in the game last night. That leads to a goal. He took some penalties like that late in the year where it's like, ah, like, and I still wonder about Max Baturotti. Like I think at some point, if they're going to go on a long run, they're going to need him for one reason or another.

I would put him back in. He hasn't played in two and a half months. So like it's like, what are you going to get from him for a guy who hasn't played since February? I don't know. But I still think they have a hole on that second line with the various and the owner that needs some sort of fix. And like, Hey, as you're mentioning, like when you're on the road, suddenly the matchups actually matter a lot more. And it's like those, that third line, if it's Domi, if it's home bird, suddenly that's like, if I'm Travis green, that's a line I'm going to think about picking on. So I wonder if all of that kind of swirls around in Craig, Brevet's mind in

the next like 12 hours and maybe he makes a change. Jonas, I think the idea of Max Patcherati playing about 10 to 12 minutes and hit everything that moves would be an ideal situation. Where it's not like 10 years ago where it was like be our best left winger and be a game changer and a goal scorer. Just say like a caged animal, you go out there, anything that's breathing on the black jersey side you run it through the boards. And I want you know, the ideal thing for him.

I don't think he's super happy right now about this situation. Because like, obviously, he didn't get to play the last two months because of the salary cap. And then it's like, well, you're going to come back for the playoffs, right? And then it's like, actually, no, like, we're going to go with these lines that work late in the season. And suddenly, so like, maybe you're exactly right. Give us 10 minutes, be pissed off. Yeah. And like, you're just going to trust him more than you're going to trust Robertson, ultimately, for me. Yeah. Yeah. I think that I agree with

that. And at the same point, you're putting trust in a veteran guy who's had injuries, who hasn't played in a long time, too. Yeah, but he has been in that situation a lot Lastly, what was the the buzz like in the room last night? I mean Domi scores he was on the ice for the cadet tying goal There's a miscommunication with him and Ekman Larsen. He had an awful game one I'm sure Max was buzzing but what what were you picking up on in the room? Yeah, you could see it all around him. Like he was, it was a more, um, like he hasn't had a lot of games like that or a lot of moments like that where he can just kind of be in a positive spotlight.

And like whenever like he's in a post game scrum or something, like he doesn't really like to talk that much about himself or dig too deep into that stuff. But like Ryan Reeves was around the room like Jake McCabe was around the room after the game like there was like a good vibe in there and you felt honestly like just watching Max Domey the last couple months like he has worked I'll give him credit like he's worked hard on his game like that's something I always kind of look for when a guy is struggling like is I can't see everything but I can see a lot of work that you do on the ice and he was working at it like he was working on his shot he was

working on his passing like the game before or the day before game one he was going to play with John Tavares obviously and he was working with Tavares after practice to just develop chemistry to try to build you know have some reps together on the ice so I don't know it's a nice moment for him he's had a difficult year and you could feel it in the dressing room that they were happy for him to get that moment, just given everything. And obviously the hometown factor is dad, all that stuff. Absolutely. Yeah, it was a really cool moment. All right, Jonas, thank you for doing this as always. We'll do it again soon.

I'll give you a big hug the next time I see you at the game. Let's hug it out, Jonas. Snub them. Let's hug it out. I'll bring the TSN hug the next time I see it. Let's hug it out Jonas Let's hug it out. I'll bring the TSN crew you bring the athletic crew. We're all we'll meet some how well up there I love later guys. Thanks Jonas. There's a Jonah Segal of the athletic Yeah, it was a big it's a big moment man Like you get an ot winner guy like Max Domi who's from here his dad was a leaf legend You know, that's uh, I know I'm laying it on thick the Battle of Ontario stuff but people in this town have been living off of the top, like Stompy was there last night, Stompy was looking great and how many

times have we seen that OT winner from Barrows into Stompy in the last two weeks? An OT winner is a big moment, like if you don't, I didn't win a cup, my OT winner in that same building is the biggest goal of my life. Turn the lights out on the Air Canada Center. Yeah. Yeah, that's exactly it, man. And those are that's what you dream of, right? You scored OT winner.

You can't beat that, man. Yeah, here we're watching this here where the defense man just dog park defense, but there they go. What's going on there? Stumpy just flying holding. I always found it fascinating. He's holding he's got both hands on his stick Well, he's flying in that hand. Yeah. Yeah That was Tommy B and that was that Tommy Barraza guys heard Rob's talk about it the other day at those Toronto teams Weren't so run-and-gun. I'll put that politely

teams weren't so run and gone, I'll put that politely. They could have won a Stanley Cup. Their attention to detail was not so hot. 40 shots a night for the pulley. Rob's was joking, like, you're going to get 44 shots tonight so you can be good, that's the way you play your best. 44 shots tonight so you can be good that's the way you play your best like if they There's we had no business beating that team if you just compare rosters in 2002 but turnover turnover turnover and

That's how games. Oh, you know two on one and overtime or here's a better example. I think it was in 1999 a Sabres team without it was in 1999, a Sabres team without Hasek. That's right. Whoa. Without Hasek, I was in the building and I'm like, they're going to smoke this Buffalo team and I was watching the game and my eyes were popping out of my head. I think the Leafs got smoked. Yeah, I think they lost at five, I think.

Yeah, Buffalo went to the Stanley Cup final. Yeah. Is that when Hasek choked out a reporter? Do you remember final. Yeah. Is that when Hasek choked out a reporter? Do you remember that? Yeah. The reporter thought he was faking an injury or something and he like choked the guy out. I can't remember. I don't know if that was in Ottawa or in Buffalo.

I feel like it was in Buffalo. It might have been. Do you remember that? I remember the story. I don't remember when it happened, but I remember. I think a reporter like, reporter basically, you know pair I'm paraphrasing like thought you asked if he was faking an injury or something and I think imagine asking a guy that Making an injury. I don't know like I can't remember what it was

But there I know there was a altercation where he went at the guy. Yeah, the light draw So you will choke out is it effective I will say yeah but it is it is aggressive yeah it's you know that's what it is now it's it's Thomas and cross and Roberts and Sundine and Domi now you know in terms of OT winners for the Leafs the Battle of Ontario game three tomorrow night and we mentioned

Jeff Skinner not playing tonight for the Oilers. Arbor Jacki will not play for the Habs tonight. There was some discussion there. Could they put Jacki in? Why would you put him in? Well, I guess the thought is the physicality and the size of the Capitals. But I hear he hasn't been playing and they've been playing well without him. He's a six. And then that, like he's not going higher in the lineup. He's a six and to me they're like I think they're Dees mobile like that Kaden Gouli like they're

he's good like they've got some good young defense and that Matheson's good. I get the toughness. Yes I get the toughness but it just you're trying to win a game you're not trying to win fights and I don't like fights like I just don't think Montreal is afraid of Washington. Washington's bigger physically, but Jack I just, I don't know. I know there's a big debate there going on and Jack I certainly is one of the toughest kids in the league. No doubt about that. I just don't, I don't think Washington's going, okay, Jack I's in the lineup. Well, they would probably want him in there.

Exactly, because they can little some defensively exactly you know i fight tom wilson and center-rights right it's at the end of the day marty san louis newt dummy no dummy like it was going to give them an advantage try to add to a better chance to win coaches or only put the best roster that they believe has the best chance to win he's not going to purposely sit out a player and you learn that as a young player and an older player will explain to you when some young dumb dumb says the coach is screwing me he's not putting me on the ice.

In the NHL there is so much pressure on the coach to win games. He has to put the guys playing the best on the ice. There's no way he's going to purposely screw over anyone because they're playing too well. It's impossible. But you're just so stupid and egotistical. You think, oh, I'm getting screwed. At every level, there's somebody that's saying, I'm getting screwed by the coach. He doesn't like me. No coach doesn't like a guy. You either play good, you go on the ice. Yeah. Yeah. That's generally the rule of thumb. True.

Did you see what Doogie sent us? In a heated exchange following a playoff loss, Dominic Hasek, while playing for the Buffalo Sabres, attacked Buffalo news columnist Jim Kelly. Oh Jim Kelly, he was a legend down there. The altercation stemmed from a column Kelly wrote questioning has six mental toughness and performance during the playoffs Three game suspension and a 10k fine says has six first push Kelly and then swung at a flying Yeah, Jim Kelly man. He was a he was a legend. Yeah, he was a legend

Yeah, I will come back and reset that and get to our best bets overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app All right We'll get to our best bets powered by Fandor later in the hour Get the Habs in action tonight looking for a split down in Washington the Oilers in action What else we got going on tonight and a lot of games Jays we got some NHL got the Jays We got Dallas Colorado back in Colorado that's a heater game tonight yeah that's gonna lace them up that'll be that'll be exciting to watch what a great story yeah it is and he

took the warm-up the other night and he's gonna play tonight like he sounds like it sounds like he's cider but I would be fairly confident that he would be playing tonight. Okay. I like that. And you think they were waiting until they got home for that to happen? I don't know. It's weird with these things. It's like, I don't know if it has something to do with the mental and like actually putting the player on the ice in an NHL building in warm-ups, skating around and then the next phase is like, you're staying in like your, you know what I mean? I just don't know what the protocol is.

I know there's some situations where some of these guys, I think the league went to teams and said, don't even think about putting that guy on the ice for the first game of the playoffs. Yeah. Well, that sounds like the Evander-Kane situation. Matthew Kachuck's out there playing. Yeah. You know?

Like he came back from the Four Nations, they're like, nah, I don't know. And then he's due gold. Something's tight. Something's tight. And then it was like, that has gone till game one. Yeah, we'll be lucky if he can play in the playoffs. I don't think the field will play. I think the league's got to look into it.

At two golds and an intersense. I think there's been, how many examples have there been? Like there's been Mark Stone, there's been Kucherov, Matthew Kachuk, Evander Kane. Yeah, Patrick Kane years ago did it in Chicago. Yeah, so I think the league's got to look into it just to address it. It's just got a bad look to it, man. It really does. Yeah, and the other thing too is, what sucks is, if a guy, like now in the future, a guy's

going to really get injured and they're going to be gonna be like oh look at what they're doing like it's because these guys have bad injuries but chances are they could have come back maybe a month earlier Kucherov could it looked like it sounded like he could have just come back. Just think of how stupid it sounds to to just say it out loud. The guy gets injured and you can add a quality player with whatever money's available it just doesn't seem right. On a league that's so tight with money and all we talk about is a salary cap. But it's been going on for a bunch of years and teams have won because of it.

I'll be honest though I think maybe two, three, maybe four or five years maybe when the cap is at 120 or the cap's at you know if that cap continues to climb? I don't think we're gonna run into these issues as much Yeah, but every player is gonna want more money That's the I understand that there is gonna be a guy who's gonna make 20 million and all of that like all the other leagues Have blown through it. Yeah, I've said this before it used to be You know Chris Pronger in 99 or 2,000 making 10 million a year. Now the top guys making what? 14? Yeah.

And basketball and everybody else. I get revenues and TV contracts and all of that. But it's been insane, the growth in other sports with the athletes, not the values of the organizations, but the athletes were kind of kept under this little wrap it's like yeah you know you're making 10 million a year that's a lot of money yes it is but you what we're talking about street clothes and guys like that don't they make 40 million a year 50 million a year oh yeah in the NBA you're talking 300 million dollar deals that are five years in length again different leagues exactly and it's a smaller roster and all that kind of stuff.

I mean, everything is different. Baseball is different. Football, you know, football, you could argue, is the craziest because you've got like the 52nd, 53rd guy on that team is making a million dollars and leagues generating $20 billion a year. Like, you know, it's a lot of money, but there are guys who are, you play in the league for three or four years You're not set for life like you're gonna make some good cash, but you're out

So yeah, I mean every every scenario is different But it will be great to see landiscaw go tonight And I'm glad there isn't an 11 o'clock start because I got out of that rink last night around 1145 or so last night that kind of gong showy on the streets? No, it's eerie on a Tuesday, an hour and a half after the game. There's no one out there.

It's just, it's kind of weird walking around downtown because it's a ghost town. It's almost midnight on a Tuesday. And people that cleared out of the rink, they may have gone somewhere for an hour, an hour and 20. No one's partying like it's a Saturday night. But I drove home Got home got into the door, you know grab something to eat sat down turn on TV

The Gold Knights game was still in the second period. Yeah, it's still I was watching Eleven I think yes, it started eleven though. Like I'm watching it was Ryan McDonough on ESPN He's like, yeah yeah if you're the Minnesota Wild you just want to get to the end of the end of the line here and without seeing the score clock, I thought he meant the end of the game. He's talking about the end of the period. I'll tell you what I give those Minnesota Wild like our Callahan I said McDonough Ryan Callahan. Yes. Yeah. Of course. Like that Minnesota team. They're not they are not going

to piss like they work man Billy Garen just not let those guys yeah well Boldy's good Capri-Sof Boldy's a hell of a player Capri-Sof the goalie's really good yeah but that Boldy after last year he just didn't finish the way and Billy Garen got right in his ear and said don't even think about coming back to camp and playing anything like that not happening not acceptable yeah and he got the message yeah they're plucky they're plucky for sure I I still that I mean Vegas is a really heavy hitter team but I in Minnesota like all of these teams they they know they're the underdogs they're gonna try they're gonna you know

battle away Vegas didn't have a great night I didn't think they looked really good you know watching that game like I was trying to sleep and you're like yeah the problem is is I get watching you're sitting your computer miss anything you know yeah exactly you don't want to miss anything you're like all right I'll keep it keep watching and now you're that the struggle is in between periods you know it's 115 in the morning you're like right I should be sleeping but I'll see what how the third shakes out well that's that was the other night with the other game it's for one you like forget it i'm out of here and then you miss mcdavid

put forth one of the great twenty minutes of hockey you ever seen i watched that live on my computer and i was at four one i was like curtains i was like i'm done i'm like i'm out of here but i got watching that uh... on craved their that the weird sure once talked about uh... what's it called the lowest weight load so white load and i'm almost that now i'm also the end of it for white lives i'm almost at the finish line so i'm

like okay i'll watch fifteen minutes of this and then i'll turn it off and i watch fifteen and then i'd jump back into the game and that's what i stayed right to the end of the oiler gave but it was the white lotus that that are also i was curtains at four one i would have never shut it down yeah i got you stupid show i'm and i like and do it once you're in it you're in it once that sam rockwell shows up to you where's this guy go out with his care

that guy yeah that guy yeah he's pretty you know that's seen it you know what i'm referencing it yeah this this sammy rock we're going to sell that he likes highland a lot except i will come back with our best bets powered by fandual and look ahead to a big night in sports overdrive continues to use and at fifty and on t s and two by fando make your picks in the sample of same game parlaying seconds on the fandual Sportsbook app. I'm gonna go Habs on the puck line,

Oilers on the puck line. I think both teams can win tonight. I like the Oilers to bounce back. I think the Habs, I like the way they played down the stretch the other night. But I think both are close games. I think if they lose, I could see overtime. I could see a one goal game.

You parlay both of those on the puck line, you're getting plus money, plus twenty on that that's your best bets powered by fando live same game parlors are now available for every stanley cup playoff game of the fando sportsbook at please play responsibly ninety plus physically located in ontario so we're gonna be in their uh... will be in their tomorrow prepping for game three

uh... the lease and sense and and Jets are playing tomorrow right and I think Boston Pizza is gonna send in some food I guess they got this new wing sauce the atomic hot streaker you gonna try it someone's getting after it tomorrow I'll try it I'll give it a shot there's something you'll be full Shaq as soon as the show starts I'm concerned about. I will go Shaq and I will be leaving you guys Garth Algar times two. You guys can have a good time if I'm not here. Or Dougie, maybe Dougie's Philip Pritchard and he's nailing back the Boston Pizza Hot Sauce. Dougie, you better bring a wig and a jacket and white gloves to see if we give you the

stamp of approval to go to the contest on Saturday. We're going straight to Party City after this. Love it. Shout out. All right, get in there. Doogie Pritchard. Doogie Pritchard. What's better, Doogie Pritchard or Nico Ferguson Jr.? That one's unbelievable.

I got to go with Nico, man. Nico, that guy can't be Dallas anymore. That's a dangerous character. I still... He's got to be somewhere somewhere in South America or something. On a beach in Costa Rica. I can neither confirm or deny that. I still love though, Hayes, what you said.

He had two months to prepare for that. That's his line. That's what he came up with. That's me in school back in the day. I told him about this exam two months ago Yeah, and I walk in there and I'm like, it's her be hand Like get up higher higher a PR for that

Literally have a script some doorknob in college could have told you this is one thing You can't say you had no idea how popular the player was. It's just the most asinine comment. It's the one thing he couldn't even go near and he did it. No idea. Totally oblivious to that. My bad. I don't know what else to say guys. My bad.

I thought Luca was more of a depth piece in terms of marketing here. Didn't realize how popular he was. What a comment. The only thing worse would be like I didn't realize fans wanted us to win Like I didn't know that that was something fans were looking forward to but now I know that and we'll go and do our best To try to win wild stuff. Yeah All right, so we got game three tomorrow night Leafs sends we got games tonight. We'll be breaking down the Jays are in action tonight

It sounds like Dalton Varsho could be close to a return maybe this weekend they're in New York playing the Yankees this weekend it's a big one tonight you got to get one in this series got it you're off tomorrow travel day in New York in the Bronx the Yankees are red-hot they're hitting they're doing what they're doing so get after it tonight full breakdown of all that and more who knows plus I wanted the NFL draft right then we got a gas gas mask tomorrow night anything's possible my god anything's possible in the NFL all right thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out we appreciate it everyone for tuning in TV radio

podcast web we appreciate that we're out of here enjoy your evenings enjoy the games tonight we're tomorrow at? Jonas might hate your guts. 4 p.m. We'll chat then. That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos, Candidate Asides 2025. Stay informed with my exclusive iHeart Radio podcast, available Friday afternoon straight through till election day and beyond. I'll have your weekly highlights and my unvarnished analysis of the campaign of a lifetime. The candidates, the quotes, the polls, and the momentum. That just happened with Vashikopelos. Canada decides 2025. Fresh every Friday.

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