OverDrive - OverDrive - April 29, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: April 29, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the Maple Leafs looking to rewrite playoff history, the stars' spotlight and Rick Tocchet out as head coach from Vancouver. ESPN Hockey Reporter Emily Kaplan joins to discuss the Maple Leafs' mentality in the series, the Battle of Florida's heated physicality and the series around the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Join today and be part of something amazing. Hour two Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score, Brian Hayes, the ODOT, Jeff O'Neal, Jamie Noodles, McClennan, and Mike Johnson. Hey. Yes. How are we doing, Johnny?

I see my accusers face to face. Do you remember last time we had a conversation? Absolutely. What happened? Well he said the Leafs would get swept in the first round. I'm not sure if that was the nature of the conversation. Something about stats nerds and you're a goalie attacker. This side of the table. This guy is okay. I came here to fish. I came here for a reason. He's over here for noodles and friends with everybody. I have issues with goal tenders. You have issues with analytics and stats.

I don't. That's factual. Just own it. And I don't know how you, you picked up on some shrapnel, Johnny. I took a couple of strays. Good to see you. I have weird issues with like random things. I don't know what it is.

Right. Like traffic. I was pissed off talking about it today. Traffic is an issue for you. I'm driving from Real Sports up here. I don't know why they decide to do work. Yeah, the Leafs are planned tonight. The Jays are on. Right by the rink. They're digging it up. I'm like, this is going to be a mess. My favorite thing about the Gardner is the other day I left before coming here

and I was watching CP24 and they're like they're a they're a year and a half ahead of schedule on the Gardner. I drove on the Gardner there was one guy with a shovel and one guy getting in a porta potty that was it that was all that was working on the Gardner like there's two guys helping. But if you go talk to people that live by Eglinton man that's yeah they're probably that's probably accurate at least they got someone working on it. of like the LRT's been a decade dude faster you did go right to Scarborough town yeah take the train to Yonge and take the subway yeah take you 45 minutes I know I'm worried

about when I'm gonna make it for the third period and I can't wait for your analysis about what happened the first full breakdown you're watching it on your phone I'll be listening on the way down and possibly watching when I get there we'll see I'll bring the heat. Don't you worry about me. You guys will be on the panel tonight. You'll be Ford in the car or whatever. What's he reading? Yeah, Rob Ford is reading emails on the Gardner. He's like, oh, that's an interesting take. And someone's like, that's Rob Ford driving around his sink. I got a picture of you. Yeah. He's like, oh, yeah, I guess. That's probably so. He's always working.

Working with people. He was a man of the people, Robbie Ford. There's no disputing that. All right, where does your head go first here, Johnny? Do you lean the intensity needed for the Leafs tonight? I mean, it goes without saying, Ottawa, if they don't show up tonight, it's like, what are you doing? I mean, you're down 3-1 in the series.

It would be hard press for me to understand if either team is not, left the game saying like they weren't fully, fully invested in everything they had. Right. They may not execute, might not work, but they're given her. My mind goes to the Leafs history. I mean, that's the first thing that goes. They're in a great spot. And it's so strange because ofs history. I mean that's the first thing that goes. They're in a great spot. And it's so strange because of their history. Like is anyone talking to Carolina like,

ooh, you've lost a game. How are you feeling only being up 3-1? Is anyone talking to Washington? Well, you're only up 3-1. No, they're delighted they're up 3-1. Right, you're in the drivers. Like you're right where you want to be and yet because of what Toronto has done, it's shocking really. I mean look at that. Twelve losses and one win in thirteen potential winning of what Toronto has done and it's it's shocking really. I mean look at that 12 losses and one win in 13 potential winning situations. When the fact is what's crazy about the, we need to wrap your head around this number, is that the team played well enough and was good enough to have a clinching game. They

weren't playing teams that were way better than them. They were playing against teams that they were as good of or better than up to that point. So that's where my mind goes. Like what can they do? And oh, I don't know if I have to hear you say it again. You said it so many times for so many years. In this moment, have one of these guys have a game that they're capable of. And be like, yeah, I got two and two like McDavid like dry so like we're just talking about those two guys Johnny it seems like like all series like in in every game when the Oilers need something those two guys provided now whether that's fair or unfair or a disadvantage to the Oilers those guys

just get it done man that dry cyber you talk about him every year he's an animal he's the most clutch player performer in the game it's like he's it's like he literally scores every game every single game. That's how he does He's like 19 goals in 22 games. Yeah. Yeah, he's got a night like he'll score tonight It's not even there's no point even predicting it. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking about Do they do that? It's like one of those guys can they have that moment? They've had so many chances one in particular that like why isn't it Austin? This is what for me I talked about a lot over the go ahead But if I if you say I think the most likely the most likely guy to do it Willie. Yes. No Willie. Yes

I agree with you. You look at his numbers in these kind of games in these situations for whatever reason he's able to sort of Let his physical skills come to the forefront and I thought he actually played pretty well in game four after he's been good in the series but he hasn't been dominant I thought he was pretty good in game four and I just like this is the kind of game two days off he's rested if one guy's gonna go out there and run it around and really snap it around I would say Willie. The only reason I said Mitch is because if he comes kinda uses that four nations it's like

you know like hey I got a big assist on the game-winning goal and the four nations like you know that that tournament there were games where I didn't think he was very noticeable but then all of a sudden he's there it was scores and over time yes it was three on three different scenario but you know I could see him doing something but you come back to it. Why not 34? It should be 34 first.

Right? Every time. In the packing order. If you want to have the title as one of the best players in the world, the top five players in the world, they usually get it done. Donnie, do you think there's any assistance, like a new coach, could provide these guys to feel any different about the scenario? Like is there anything he could say to relax them or to make it more... I don't know or is it just like

this is your gig and you're big-time players for a reason you got to go out there and do it? I mean I don't know about you guys like coaches had a slight impact on how I felt about going out there but not a lot. Like a big rah-rah speech I'm like it's still on me. It's like the coach not getting fired up to had a slight impact on how I felt about going out there, but not a lot. Like a big rah rah speech, I'm like, it's still on me. It's like the coach is not getting fired up to play well or not fired up to play poorly. It's always on the player. The one thing I will say is that Craig Barube, as intimidating as the person he is, he is remarkably calm. And so he's not going to up sort of the blood pressure of anyone during the day, at practice,

at the video session. There is a calmness to him. And I suppose if you're going to say he's done it before, he's won before, if you're willing to believe a little bit more what he says as opposed to what maybe Shelton Keefe said who hasn't won in the Stanley Cup playoffs like Craig Rubé has, maybe. But again, I just give it to the players. You could put Newt Rockne in there, you could put Scotty Bowman, you could put whoever,

but Brian Hayes. I don't think it's gonna make a big difference one way. It shouldn't make a big difference. Hayes would probably be goalie. I would, I'd start yelling at Stollers before the game. Say, get ready Joseph Wall. If you don't play well, you're out. You'd be Mark Keenan, you would pull the guy

after the first goal and then put him back in. Keenan got a cup? He did. He's got a ring? Keenan would pull Feersie. Remember that one year, Feersie played 79 games. He got pulled 12 times that year. People forget.

Keenan would like, I didn't like his warmup, pull him after the first shot. It would be 0-0. He'd pull him. I love that mentality. I love that mentality. I think what he did that year... Wasn't ready to rock. It would be zero zero. He pull him. I love that mentality. It was What he did that wasn't ready to rock I don't like he wanted Fierce to have The record for games played in he was gonna plan to play the other guy but start Fierce and pull him right away It's like a quarterback going out for one snap and then leaving that was I mean

Who was that somebody? Josh Allen did well, yes Foul the guy for three seconds to keep his consecutive games play out bridges I bridges I did the last Carolina game against Ottawa Brent Burns has the Ironman streak He played like 14 seconds. Yeah, and then they just which is kind of bench Toronto flew home to have a kid yeah, but he played a shift jumped on the private bird went home and came back two days Later right street going I mean I got him on the ice and get him out a impressive street. You'd appreciate that as a player Well, yeah, no exactly. Listen, I'm just saying and maybe I'm wrong on this I did Gordy how play one shift and leave ever I feel like Gordy probably played 20 minutes every night

Probably he was into his and elbowed somebody and he had to go. He was playing. It's an A5-3-5. Yeah, he was playing. Now, I think the goalie is important tonight, but I don't think, I think it's more what you said. Like, I think it's the star players that if the team plays solid like they did, you know, give limiting chances, you know, smothering Ottawa, then Stolars doesn't have to factor in and steal the game feels like it All mark is more of the story in terms of the goaltenders tonight Yeah, like all mark has got to play well needless to say I mean if he let if he lets in a leaky one or a

Couple leaky ones you get I think you know scoring first is massive tonight the Leafs have played very comfortable with the lead Yeah, I'm curious about especially you guys. Do you guys you guys really ride the roller coaster. What would feel better tomorrow? Leafs win, comfortably 5-2 in control, spread it around, everyone kind of gets a piece, kind of like game one. Or, nail-biter, hard fought, Leafs win, and one of the big boys has an end to end rush to win it 3-2 with 30 seconds. That's your answer right there. I'm going to say the latter because I think it would be better preparation for whoever you get next, right? Like for one guy to step up, it's a stupid answer, I know. It's a great hypothetical though. Yeah, like I would because if there's another nail biter down the stretch, I want somebody to at least feel good about themselves that that board that Joe puts up is is gonna be

Starting to be lit on fire and it's not the case anymore. So somebody to step up That's what I want. Not the fact that this team is different because they're different team Yeah, not cuz they got a good great player But like the fact that you know, I'd love to see them all-line score got a good great player but like the fact that you know I'd love to see them all-line score, Storrs be good, power play be solid, 5-2, never never break a sweat. Right. I'm not gonna lie, it's not a bad option. That's the more professional look. But that's what I'm saying, I think people now though given the history and given the lack of success in these moments for the big guys, like I think somehow people

might prefer the big guy coming through Listen, it's a side story that Takes up a lot of oxygen, but it should I mean you'd tell you solve it exactly I mean, let's call it what it is like Austin Matthews Mitch Marner like they have to prove their playoff performers, right? They're not until they actually prove it. They've had ample opportunity It's not like they've only been the playoffs twice. No, and they're not here in the playoffs, but they've gotten through keep in mind They've gotten through to that second round like and we haven't talked about it because they're not there yet So like let's not put the cart before the horse But the team that's waiting for you on the other side that's gonna be out of a challenge regardless of who it is That's where you're gonna need to continue to build on your game build on your confidence build on everything

Knock on wood for health all of the things that come with having success. You just got to, I, that's why I said, and I wanted to ask him, would you shorten the bench tonight if you had to? When's the next game? Two days? Thursday. Thursday, Saturday. If they lose. If they lose.

No, I, I, I shorten the hell out of it if it's close in the third period. Like I play it normal, I don't shorten it early, but if it gets the third period and it's tied, then yeah, 25 minutes. I think you try to just find shifts. Instead of shortening the bench, if you get a fourth line cut out with an icing, you toss them out there. Yeah, it's the same thing. Yeah, different opportunities. I'm not going to say Lawton never plays or D or Domi never plays not that kind of shortening but more

The guys probably if they play normally the top guys would be 22 the 21 in a playoff game If you have pushed out to 25 like they did last game now, I went to over yeah Yeah, I would do that tonight if I had to like I would I would slide him in I would okay Maybe it's a shift where the art crook doesn't go and hey Mitch go play on the fourth line Or wouldn't you expect the players to want that? Of course, like that's kind of what everybody wants Yes, put me put me on the ice and you don't ever think that your game is deteriorating because you play too much Like you don't even really feel it. You're like, no, I feel good. I'm playing a lot It's not it's not really to maybe you look after the fact or maybe the next day like maybe I was a little tired there

I wasn't as good as I should have been but I would I would a hundred percent shorten it not quite like LA yeah LA from the puck drop played nine four words and four and a half defensemen yeah this is a D man they're trying to hide but Brant Clark was the fifth guy and a D man named more of a day you know very more of a day Jacob more more more more of a more of a more of a more of a more of a more that's why we let the play by play guy you say his name go ahead or e v a r e or whatever rare or whatever okay we got played two minutes yeah um which team benefits more from the refs putting the whistle away tonight no penalties puts the whistle away who would want that more? definitely

power play, good power play, i know it wasn't good in the last game, special teams i thought that was a big part of last game that auttawa started feeling good about it well you're right i just think you're playing with fire like we saw what happened in game one they took way too many penalties that cost them the power play three for six that night and they were 0 for 3 on the power play. I feel, and it comes back to, 5 on 5, regardless of the lack of shots, they feel like they've played pretty well.

Special teams have been a big difference, and really, the special team battle, Ottawa won it last game, they won the game. So, I would say, if the refs say you guys sort it out Ottawa would probably want that. I don't know how you know. Although I think Ottawa scored a power play goal in a three straight game. In a short, shorty deal. In a few games in a row Ottawa scored a power play goal. So it's not like they've been really struggling either. But no I think for all the obvious reasons how good the power play has been, but also how the top guys thrive on good touches on the power play, even when they don't score.

They get some handles, they get a couple shots, they get to feel it a little bit. Yeah, I think Ottawa would take a 5 on 5, 60 minute game all the way. And the longer you play 5 on 5, the more likely it is that nothing happens. And the longer nothing happens, the more stress and strain goes to Toronto versus Ottawa which is amazing because the Leafs are up 3-1 in the series yeah but their history is what it is and they're supposed to close and you don't want to go back to Ottawa so it naturally I understand why it's there but fair on any team that's up 3-1 like Carolina's, I would think Carolina wants to finish Jersey on.

Yeah, of course. But I'm saying if it's 2-2 in the third period, Carolina-Jersey versus Toronto-Ottawa, Toronto is feeling way more stressed than Carolina in that moment. Or maybe the general atmosphere will be one of tension versus one of opportunity. I often wonder though, we are on the outside of that dressing room and on the bench and all not we're not on the bench and all that. We in the media, the fan base feels that stress like I, you know what you've seen the players, you've been on the bench and that like those guys are pretty you know they're a lot different than we think they are. That's why they're fighting their nails.

Yeah, oh no, oh no. Yeah, they just play. Plus, good point, like how many important players are new? Right. With Ekman Larsen and Tanah and Stollars and Carlo. They're hoping that helps. These guys have no scar tissue at Toronto. Well, and that's, the reality is, like if the Leafs lose tonight,

you might as well send the five players over there the core four and Morgan Riley and say you're doing your own press conference in an auditorium because there's a million people here to talk to you guys the other team can go over here and have a reasonable you're still up three two in the series presser I mean that's the truth not far from it those five guys are separated they're the ones that have been here everyone else in the organization is turned over from it. Those five guys are separated. They're the ones that have been here. Everyone else in the organization is turned over. And it's one simple question, if it doesn't go well, why does this keep happening?

One for 14 if they don't win tonight. One for 14. But again, context of our topic. What if it's another overtime goal and just a close game? You're like, okay. Like at the start of the series, I don't know what you called. Did you call Leaves and Six? I called Toronto and Six. Okay. So if it goes six...

Still right there for you. Right. What did you... I don't know what you called. We didn't actually get into... Yeah, that would have been reasonable. I thought Toronto would win, but... But I think a lot of people were like Leaves and Six, Leaves and Seven, you know. That's... That doesn't mean you're allowed to give them another game. I'm trying to get context to it if it just... With three overtime games in a row. Your McElroy's caddy going back for a playoff run.

Right. On Monday you would have taken this. Right. Like you just, the point being is like Ottawa is going to play hard tonight. I don't know what's going to happen, but I think they want to keep it close. They're going to try and battle and get it back. In their minds they're going, so we got to win one on the road because we want to get it back to Ottawa.

We've talked about who we're looking at in Toronto like who's got to step up who is it who is that in auto? Outside of all marker just all. Yeah Push the goaltender out out of like the goaltender you gotta have. To me. I think Stucla is is an obvious one. I think like Brady's pretty impactful though. Like you notice him out there like he's a physical and you know where he's going right? He's going impactful though. You notice him out there. He's so physical. You know where he's going. He's going to areas that make noise. I think if Pinto has a good game, because Pinto's a swing guy, because he makes life tough on the other team's good players.

That's fair. So if Pinto has a very good game, he doesn't need to score. But if he makes Austin Matthews less than great, or dominates Tavara's possession and chances and maybe gets a goal, to me he's a swing guy where it could go really well awesome Matthews less than great or dominates Tavares possession and chances and maybe it gets a goal like to me he's a swing guy where it could go really well when he has a good game versus if he loses that battle it's good chance they lose the game. I would say Batherson because he's been littered all over these games good and bad. I got thought he was their best senator game one. He

looked really good he looked comfortable. game to the turnover that you know that the turnover and the soft play on Last game he's high-sticking Yeah, and if like almost I mean tennis not gonna lose any more teeth I don't know. I don't know where that blood came from. Well, he's got a lot of chips or anything. Yeah Yeah, but people are like, it's gonna leather things, but he was bleeding out of. He's like, he may have bit his lip because he's got three teeth in there, who knows, but it was, he came out with a handful of blood. People thought he was the Cuban assassin from Stampede Wrestling. I love it. If Tavares knew there was a powerplay going on, apparently he didn't even know because they took him off quiet room he looked like his head was you imagine how quick you would try to buzz through the protocol if you knew you had a four-minute power play to win a series in a sweep and you're a state power play guy and I'm glad they did it I'm a hundred percent glad that you got to be

consistent with it if you're gonna do it. It's for the best of the athletes protect us from ourselves because every single one of us in this table like check me in ten minutes or check me in four minutes just let me play the power play. We'll figure out after that, but if you knew It was right there on your stick. You'd be like, yeah, I'm past. Yeah, let's go me down for it. Say on all of these It's Saturday. I'm going right exactly multiple choice. I'll take a well Do you remember those concussion like I'm sure it's changed, but I remember having to start with the letter D. I remember sure it's changed. But I remember having to start with the letter D. I remember. Go. 30 seconds. I did. I remember on the clear one without a concussion having stage fright and it was like all the letters you could think of was C. I was

like like saying swear words. And there was a lady and I was like oh my god I'm so sorry. And it was like four words. I could have got the biggest concussion and hammered off 10 words, but in my baseline, I had like four words because I had stage fright. Your boy Tyson Nash would acknowledge he intentionally fumbled those tests. So if he ever got one during a game, he would probably be around the same level. Right. Intentionally too poorly. You're an idiot, but you're not.

Yeah, you're a certified idiot here. Like I literally, no joke, she was like F and I go fart. Like find, like F word, you know, swear. Like all right, get him back out there. It was like ridiculous. Put your helmet on. You're good kid. Yeah.

Keep playing. Johnny, let me ask you, if you were a coach and you could call an organization, a lot of openings right now, who would be the first call you made? If that's the way it works. Let me run through the vacancies. You're talking open jobs right now? Open jobs. Vancouver, because Rick Tauke just set them out. Bruins, Rangers, Flyers, Blackhawks, Ducks, Kraken, Penguins. So if I am, I got a two-part answer, sorry. If I'm a veteran guy, if I'm Mike Sullivan, I want the Rangers or probably the Bruins.

Kind of like a little, like the Rangers are maybe closest to being competitive in the moment. Not, I don't know if they're going to win, but they'll be good and you can make them be good. Boston, I think is better than they showed this year. If you're a younger guy I would be attracted to Anaheim. Yeah. I love that life and I love that team. Where's Vancouver on the list? They're sort of murky middle right now for me. And... He's has them bottom. I would want anything to do with that team. They're not ascending that market and they don't love paying their coaches a lot I think

that's the fact of Rick Tuckett not being there they don't want to pay the top dollar so if you're a coach who's not going to command a top dollar maybe doesn't have that resume they'd be a good option so what would you guess Rick Tuckett would say look I'm a coach of the year if you want me back here it's gonna be what it's gonna be five million dollars I know in bucks yeah and they say we don't pay our coaches more than three. Now they're not alone. There's other teams that, like Boston,

famously the same thing. Like I'm not paying, I'm not paying, I'm not gonna do it. Well you better snap out of that because if you want the guy that you want and a quality coach, that's what they cost. Look at Jim Montgomery. Like he wins coach of the year and he wins that.

They have no problem giving a guy $6 million that scores four goals on the third line pay the coach i i get it but they have this this mantra in certain organizations it's interesting talking to coaches because a lot of them now will share salaries but they'll share what they're making so that they can use it as mhm as ammunition for years roddy brendam or was like when when organizations would bring up Rod Brendamore

to a prospective coach, they're like, don't even talk to me about that guy. That guy is getting jammed, and he's given the hometown discount. Talk to me about people that are in, because Brendamore's a hell of a coach, and I believe he's getting paid now. I think-

Not as much. He's still- I don't know what the number is. The good guy that he is, he said, okay, I'll take less, but you pay my assistants more you pay the trainers more you pay the equipment guys more all that so I mean doesn't it make sense though talking goes to Philly Sully goes Mike Sullivan goes to New York or by son-in-law plays for Boston Charlie McAvoy's a son in last marriage

daughter man I would it would be weird but want that but not good well yeah I understand you say but McAvoy is also a superstar, makes it more manageable. If you're Mason Louraille, a son-in-law, why is he on the power play? It's no preferential treatment. McAvoy is always going to get the best treatment because he deserves it. But Rangers are Boston, and then... David Karl apparently shot down Chicago. That's a tough look tough that's a bad luck because they're all in on him i don't know if they're gonna pay him

you have to pay him a lot to get him out of school out of denver university but college but they make bannery i understand that but i like national i just watched him from afar the world juniors i think he uh... i don't know thirty four five so i'm i'm not exactly what you want him i'm talking about chicago like if you can't make all the money you have regional six that market you got the guy college would be drooling that's what

i'm saying and how often is a college coach it's like uh... what's his name did that to the lakers uh... what's his name down a uconn and he was like man i couldn't get But Danny Bobby Hurley, Danny Hurley. Yeah, Danny Hurley had the option. And it's like, you're going to stay in college over the Lakers. Because only two. Yeah, that was that act would not play in professional basketball.

No, Danny Hurley's. No. And maybe he knew that. I'm going to get there and LeBron's going to look at me and say, that's not enough to work here. Well, what's what's the guy who had the bar play? What was his name? name in football? Oh, Urban Meyer. Urban Meyer. Yeah, Urban, that was a tough transition for Urban. When you get college coaches that turn pro, he really enjoyed it. Former Bowling Green coach. We turn him out. That's where he first came to fame. Did you ever come across Urban Meyer?

No, he was after me. He went BG to Utah to Miami, Ohio State, whatever. Yeah, he might have had some himself. So, hey, do you like Vancouver? I wouldn't want that job. Would you take Seattle over Vancouver? Not necessarily, either, man. I mean, honestly, I don't... I gotta be honest, I wouldn't want Pittsburgh. Put it this way.

These jobs, they're open for a reason, and I don't love them. But they are... I mean, Seattle's in a rebuild, and they do have a couple good... Rebuild? They're four years old. I know but it's They got a cycle back. Sorry rebuild is the wrong word. They're in a build. They're still building. They're building. They made the playoffs. They have permit issues. On the second year, which is probably. Bureaucracy out there. They're stuck in committee of adjustments. Yeah, a lot of bureaucracy. That was an outlier them making the playoffs. Yeah. Yes. So they're still in a build

But I I think they're you know, you know and i have a very some attractive teams it depends on what you are and what you want to come dress away i know we gotta go round the horn they went to make leaves up before i leave i need to hear it yes i think they're going to win some

i will i will go on the record got them right they're going to win the high i don't want to talk about it i have to come in here the beards off. You're gonna get rid of the beard during the playoffs in the first round? Dude. You can't do that. You remember the saying, you remember the quote? Remember the quote? You look like John Daly. Idiot! That's the quote. Nothing changes, nothing changes. That's right, John Daly once said that. I can don daily once said that i can't believe that hooters you've been a guy like john daily why i'm saying this quote is that you said that i was on the other side of the hooters and said

hey yeah in nanny sets up shop at hooters down there in august of this guy there's no uh... that's all it's not a lot of it goes to game seven that'll be all saturday night in seven days imagine the post if I don't even want to get there you don't want to throw that into the universe man. All right boys well we'll catch you guys tonight on the panel. Good luck. It'll be a good one. The hot zone tonight. The hot zone will be cooking on YouTube man. You guys are doing great work. Yeah you know wish me luck. I think I'll be down there

six minutes into the first. No, that's my guess. It's a late puck drop. It'll be 715-ish puck drop. 1120. They don't drop the puck. 708 first game. 708 first game. You did not see the construction that I saw. I know the construction. I'm aware of the construction. Harbor 60 was basically closed off. It was one lane and people were there were some angry Lieutenant Dan's down. I'll be laying on the horn southbound on the TVP. Like it was not good. Watch yourself JP. Yeah. Alright boys good seeing you guys. We got Emily Kaplan coming up. Mark Masters from the rink tonight. The Jays are back home in action tonight. Confirmed that the night will continue as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Alright, Emily Kaplan coming up here in a moment of ESPN. She was in Florida last night.

And now she's in Toronto. ESPN's going all over the place. Making their way around, yeah. So you've got a 3-1 series lead for the Panthers, a 3-1 series lead for the Maple Leafs, 3-1 series lead for the Washington Capitals, 3-1 series lead for the Carolina Hurricanes. Is Montreal playing tonight too? They play tomorrow. Okay, yeah.

So tonight's Toronto, Edmonton, tomorrow, then it's Montreal, Winnipeg. Okay. From a Canadian standpoint. Yeah, staggered, yeah. Which I like. I like the idea of having an early and a late game, the Canadian

teams. Great. But yeah, Emily was there. We'll get to her commentary in just a moment. But this is what John Cooper, the head coach of the Lightning, had to say about all these hits, all these questionable hits, the potential suspensions, and how he is kind of responding to it all. Coop, what did you think of the hit on Hagel there? Any surprise? At least how the team responded after the hit getting two goals quickly there? Yeah, like

it's getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game, so I'll ask you. You ask me the question. Why are you asking me the question? Do you have anything to say about it oh well but you know if anybody in here has something stand up and let me know all

right let's move on yeah I appreciate that greatly because you have to advocate for your guys right but I think what he's saying is like I we can't just it's the playoffs yeah we're just and like, I, we can't just, it's the playoffs and they lost and keep, you can't keep talking about every single game. What about this hit? What about that? And that's what I was yelling about an hour ago. It's like, well, what about the goals? What about the fact that you lost the game? What about, you know, all these different storylines? And I understand why it's compelling. I get it. And I get it goes viral and these are bad hits and

bad plays, but it's every single game uh... right here she is and was in the house last night she's in the house tonight we sense game five down scotia bankers emily caplan of the sbm uh... emily what did you make of john cooper's approach to uh... being asked about no bad hits again for the four straight game well for the thing you have time and firstly, thank you guys for having me. I'm literally down at scotiabank

I'm like calling you guys in the basement here. So hopefully the connection's good Look, uh, you know covering this series and i'm covering these both of these teams over the years It's a real rivalry like these guys hate each other and there's obviously so much familiarity of playing each other so much including in the playoffs And I think that there's also gamesmanship between these two head coaches We know they're both brilliant orators like they know what they're doing in terms of public messaging and John Cooper's piss Right, like Brandon Hagel is such an important player to them. He's an impact player He's a guy that John Cooper wanted to bring to four nations for Canada. He was suspended He was really upset by getting suspended, you know, that's whatever, he served his punishment.

But then to have him go down like that and not have it punished, A, on the ice, and B, knowing that the Department of Player Safety is meeting today to announce whatever the supplemental discipline will be, and I expect us to hear from that shortly, like this is him just kind of making sure that he gets his narrative out there,

and I give him a ton of cred, and this is why guys like to play for coaches like this because he stands up for them. So Emily, you know you're around a lot of series, you're around a lot of games, like how nasty is this series? I mean I know there's a history, they play each other it seems like every year in the first round, it just, it's almost carried over, the hatred. Every time they play each other it's, every whistle it's scrum, every whistle it's almost carried over the hatred every time they play each other it's every whistle scrum every whistle it's punch in the face and that in the hockey's been great

but is it being overshadowed by this rivalry like is there enough light being shined on it because there's other great story lines throughout the league that's a great question and i don't know if enough light being tied you much light being signed but i will pay at the period that i've covered so far this is probably the nastiest and I just think that the Florida Panthers built a team of guys that like to get their hands dirty like they joke that they're a pack of rats but like they really are you know you've got Matthew Kachuck who I think is a master

at just toeing that line of the dark arts and really getting under a guy's skin both physically and with the chirps that he has on the ice you know we know Sam Bennett can be that type of player then you add Brad Marsh and into the mix. And then also when you look down the roster, you're like, wait, there's so many other guys that can do these things. If you're the 10 Bay Lightning, you get annoyed when you see that again and again, and especially in a playoff series and they claw back. So I would say out of all the series that I've covered so far of the hatred in this one is very real is rooted in history. And I think it was telling that when I interviewed Seth Jones on the

bench last night I mean he's only been a part of this for a couple months couple weeks now and he's like I feel like I've been part of the four or five years like I hate the Tampa Bay Lightning yeah and you know that's just the way it goes that's the way it should be absolutely with Emily Kaplan of ESPN down in Scotiabank ahead of game five tonight it's interesting what's going on in the east you know like three one panthers three one leaves three one carolina three one washington

uh... i don't know what you're anticipating but does that surprise you at all and do you feel like all those teams that are in the lead now it's just a formality we're gonna see the four of them into the second round i never view anything of the formality when it comes to the Stanley Cup playoffs. I feel like anytime you're ready to write off a team, it's when they come and surprise you. Out of all of these series, I think that the Carolina Hurricanes probably have the strongest

hold on the New Jersey Devils just because of how banged up the Devils are. Now without Jack and Luke Hughes and Brendan Dillon, it's a lot. It's added up and they perform valiantly, like at some point you just lose some manpower. I would say this about the game I'm covering tonight, the Senators remind me a lot of the mentality of the Montreal Canadiens where they feel like they've been playing playoff hockey for a couple weeks now and so it's a young team but they know what it takes to play with that urgency and neither of these teams are here for participation trophies. Like they believe in themselves and they've got confidence that they can do it.

And so I'm expecting them not to be a walkover tonight. In fact, it very well could go the Senator's way, especially, you know, with all the pressure on the Leafs in their own building, you know, not having to deal with all the questions again and again, like, oh, can they not close out a series? So, um, I just, I don't know what to expect and I'm expecting really good hockey. I not close out a series? So I just, I don't know what to expect and I'm expecting really good hockey. I think it's probably the only thing I feel certain about. Where do you fall with goaltenders? Because we always argue on this show. I mean, Hayes, he gives them a lot of heck

and O's in the middle and I'm obviously a goalie hugger. But when it comes to playoffs, goaltending is front and center. If you have it, you don't complain about it. If you don't have it, obviously it is a storyline. And it has been throughout the league. You've got Anthony Stolars who doesn't have a lot of deep history in the playoffs. And Linus Almark has been a bit of a lightning rod with his playoff performances. You've got the Toronto game. Vasilevski was taking some heat earlier on the show because he hasn't been great in that.

That's aren't great. That's aren't great. Hellebuck has not performed well in his last couple games. You know, do you make it that the league should just be called goaltender and you either have it or you don't? Yeah, and you know, it's funny because it's almost like you have it in that moment and it's really just about peeking at the right time because going into the playoffs, I'm like the goalie I'd feel best about is Andre Vasilevsky. Look how he's played the last few weeks. And I don't think that any, you know, deficit in that series is his fault,

but he definitely hasn't looked like the Andre Vasilevsky we've seen in the past that can completely steal games. So I think it's just about who can get hot for a period of time and who has the depth because you know, like the Caroline Hurricanes are dealing with it right now your goalie at some point is either going to need a rest or get injured and you trust your backup so i'm curious to see what Kachekov can do

yeah no kidding i mean and that's a completely different element the guys who get hurt you're like what are we supposed to do now Samuel Montembaugh like gets hurt Logan Thompson gets carried off and plays the other night like that and. And wins and looked very sharp. Connor Helbuck, like I say, is in one. Darcy Kemper, who's a Vezna finalist. People are talking about Stuart Skinner and Calvin Picker, but if you look at Kemper, he's given up goals.

A lot of goals. Like Edmonton's gotten to him as far as scoring. We'll see what happens tonight, but it is. You're right, I think it's more in the moment. What have you done for me lately because you know Anthony Stoller's I think is fantastic season Fantastic first three games a little bit of a step back last game and all of a sudden people are whistling Wow, you know, maybe some walls of wall questions were coming up today and Craig Ruby looked at the people like they were asking him like he had a they had three eyes

He's just getting used to Toronto media still yes Ruby looked at the people like that were asking him like he had a they had three eyes. He's just getting used to Toronto media still. Yes, this is when it really gets cooking Emily, you know that you're in town you'll see it tonight. You'll see it tonight. What do you make with Emily Kaplan of ESPN? Rick Tauke at Leaving Vancouver. How do you connect that to Quinn Hughes and his future? You know I wouldn't put it as closely to Quinn Hughes, even though that's obviously gonna be a big question mark and an even bigger one going forward, more so just in the landscape right now where there's seven other openings and saying,

okay, if I don't feel super confident where I am and maybe have questions about ownership or the way things are going or the direction or the facilities or whatever it may be, well, there's no better time to be a coveted free agent than now because so many teams are thirsty. I've got a lot of experience. I'm an attractive candidate. Let me see what else is out there and maybe there's been some back-shattering.

You know, the last couple of weeks, you know, tampering happens in all different areas where he knows that there could be a place that he would feel comfortable going. So I think it was more so of just the landscape around the league which is probably why the timing was right but I do feel for the people in Vancouver and specifically that team because I know they love Dirk Tauke and I know Quentin Hughes loves them and you know Quentin Hughes is American and the two brothers are playing in America and maybe you know the thoughts go into his head of like is that something I want one day? I don't know that to be true. I know that he's very dedicated to the Can that like is that something i want one day i don't know that to be true and other he's very dedicated cannot he really takes prime being a

captain uh... but it's definitely a shockwave to that organization that had a really tough year that this was not a year that they wanted and it's not going to come out of the one of the day no that is uh... a hundred percent true and we'll see what you're not a for two speaking to the media in about twenty minutes as to say about this out in vancouver five tonight, Sends Leafs on ESPN. Emily, enjoy the game and we'll chat again soon.

Thank you for doing this. I appreciate you guys. Have a great rest of your show. You got it. Emily Kaplan, live from Scotiabank Arena. And sound of the game tonight. Loud, she found a quiet spot down there. Yeah, well it's still early, right?

Cause sometimes we'll have people, we're gonna have masters on and if you get Mike Ross, like the PA announcer doing tests before the anthem singer warming up out there. And it's like, you know, you're trying to ask, Hey, what do you make a stollers tonight? And it's like, yeah, something's blaring in the background, or they've got a band playing that's going to be doing the anthem tonight. Yeah. Anyway, yeah, it sounded clear. And I guess I'll see Emily down there tonight. But yeah, the Rick talking news, we'll see what Jim Rutherford has to say in 20 minutes. I think he's gonna Jim Rutherford is so refreshing, because he's

so honest. Like that's why I said to you, I'm like, we'll be talking. But if there is something spicy that comes out of it, we've got to have the sound turn around immediately. For sure. Because he's not, he shoots from the hip. It's not like he's a 60 year old executive. I believe he's late 70s, isn't he not? Well, and with Lou Lamorello no longer an exec, he is the longest standing executive

in the league. Yeah. He's been working with, he's been in the league, he's a player, he's been in the league for 50 years, more than that. More than that, yeah. So I would just, it'd be interesting to see what he says because I don't think he's gonna sugarcoat it to go, hey.

Not generally in his nature. And you know there's gonna be questions going, what does this mean for Quinn? Like what would you ask if you were in that scrum? Would you ask about Quinn Hughes? Well, yes, so if I had unlimited questions, okay You know, let's say it was an interview and I'm going Larry King I would begin by asking him what he thinks this means for the reputation of the organization That's fair after the disastrous season now talk it to sort of decides to leave right, right didn't get fired

They wanted him they made it public. They want to keep him and he said actually I'm gonna go somewhere else right rare you don't see that very often in sports what does this say about how you're perceived in the league why did Rick we did Rick talk and give you an explanation as to why he left right and then yes eventually I would get to Quinn Hughes is on I'm sure he's on the minds of everyone in Vancouver yes they love him they should he's up for the Norris he's in he's one of the five or six best players in the game. Yeah. He's a phenom he's an unbelievable player he's 25 years old he's your captain. Yeah. Got two years left the last

time we heard from Jim Rutherford he referenced the fact that Quinn Hughes has mentioned he wants to play with his brothers. That's what I mean like that's and they're both in New Jersey and it's been well reported that Quinn Hughes had an affinity for Rick Tauken. So yes, like the Hughes story, albeit premature in some ways because he's got two years left on his deal. There's nothing they can do anyway, and there's nothing they're going to do. They're going to let them play out at least next season, but by next year, that question is going to be incredibly prevalent. Well and wouldn't you say where do you see what do you see this

team looks like? Yeah are you competitive next year? Like what is the vision for this group come October 1st next year? What's the mandate from ownership? Yeah are you competitive? Are you a playoff team? Are you a cup contender? Like what do you feel like you could do with this time off but having you know some injuries but then you know Besser leaving you're gonna have some money there like what do you you know what do you envision? Like that would be an interesting you know if you had true serum what do you what do you, but you're right, it could be, what's the mandate from ownership?

Ownership says, hey, you gotta make the playoffs, then there's your answer. There's your answer, man. You're gonna do whatever you can to do that, clearly. Exactly. Including hiring a coach who could be a short-term coach. Right? Right? Like some guy, you know,

and I don't know who this would be. Mike Sullivan, if you could get him. Maybe, yeah, and I can't imagine he some guy you know and i'm i don't know who this would be all of them if you could get him maybe yeah and i can't imagine he's you know honestly be john tortorello would kind of fit that bill obviously he's not going back to vancouver right but some guy comes in pokes and prods says i'm going to get this team to play right for a year or two we're going to get into the playoffs or do you go with with like a younger up and coming coach that you think you know as a sp Carberry type of approach

I don't know. We'll see Rutherford again is going to speak to the Vancouver media and by extension the NHL media in about 15 minutes All right, Mark Masters coming up in 20 will continue with confirm or deny We only got through like two confirmed eyes. Yes, we were yelling and screaming while different things We had some fun with our John Daly in here earlier and he was talking and he threw us off. Skinny John Daly. Skinny John Daly. Let's be careful.

I need to make sure that I point that out. Skinny John Daly. All right, Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. All right, Mark Masters coming up in about 15 minutes. Confirm or Deny will continue as well. Jay Sox tonight. Man, they got to gety will continue as well. Jay Sox tonight.

Man, they gotta get that offense going, man. And like Varsho's gonna return and, you know, I saw Keegan Matheson tweeting out like some of the roster decisions, what they're doing, like who they have, how many outfielders they have, what they're gonna do with different positions. You know, they're trying to find it. They're trying to find as many bats that can get hot yeah as quickly as they can get hot and you know you're never gonna have nine guys hot at the same time no but it's nice mixing two or

three you know give me give me a couple of guys who I can look at and say this guy's gonna produce for me and we know who they're supposed to be supposed to be the best players and Bo and Santander and Kirk got paid like he's an everyday guy. He's their everyday catcher, man. He's their guy. He's not going to play every day, but. Where would Alejandro Kirk rank for catchers? Or just say even in the American League?

Yeah, I don't know. I guess. Yeah, what do you want to spot? Behind the play, the thing is about the catching position You need to bat you need to hit if you're gonna play you got to be you got to contribute to the plate But he is he's very good at framing pitches. Yes, very good. Yeah, it works very well as a battery like works Very well with his his pitchers. They they rely on him. I think they feel like they're very confident with him behind a plate Right. He's a good defensive catcher. So's worth a lot right if that's that's very valuable

But when you look at what he did a couple of years ago when he I believe led the American League in in OPS Certainly for bat for for catchers. He was an all-star hit for average hit for power Slugs, you know, he just got on base a lot like everything across the board The guy looked like solid Mike Piazza in his prime. I know. Since then, it has been a drastic fall off. Yes. Like to the point where again,

last year the explanation was, and he had a child I believe in spring training, missed a lot of spring training, personal stuff, maybe he had a contract hanging over him. This year they get out in front of it, they sign him during the spring, they commit to him, and his performance is dreadful. Like at the plate, it's just awful.

And him and his has been awful recently. I mean, you can go on and on. There's no one that's standing out offensively that you feel great about right now. That's the problem. Like there's, all the time, when you look at teams that are struggling, you can always ask the question, name me a player that's playing great

You know that's there's usually maybe one guy or whatever you go all that guy's having a good season But for teams that are struggling You're looking at them on paper saying that team should be better. Yes, that team should be able to do this. I Don't know. Are they underachieving? Is it bad luck? Is there been, you know, things that- No, I think the problem, you know what it is, the way you look at a roster, it's amazing, the human mind with sports.

Right. If there's wins attached to a roster, you look at that roster and say, I like this roster, man. Yeah, look good, look good. Yeah, like I like that guy. And when you lose, and that's where they at, they've lost seven of eight, and of a sudden you're like look who that

look at this lineup they can't obviously they can't hit yeah you know you look at it you're like this isn't a surprise and the run differential is terrible their home run differential is like second or third worst in the league so when you're in bad you look at everyone and say I don't like any of it don't like that this guy could be better there are three the three guys at the top of the order have to be better can be better will be better right the rest of it though i'm not convinced will be and that's what's concerning that's where you start talking 77 wins 78 wins and you got to be reasonable in terms of what you can expect out of those guys yeah and listen the socks you're fighting with right like it's early i get it but every, the Sox you're fighting with, right? Like it's early, I get it, but every game counts, man.

And you're fighting with Boston, you're gonna fight with Tampa, you're gonna fight with the Yankees to an extent. All right, final hour coming up. Mark Masters, confirm it, then I will continue. We'll get to our best bets as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050, soon to be up on TSN2.

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