OverDrive - OverDrive - December 11, 2024 - Hour 1

Episode Date: December 11, 2024

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Frank Corrado for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' victory against the Devils, Anthony Stolarz's impressive performance for the Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews' notable goal against New Jersey. Maple Leafs Analyst Jim Ralph joins to discuss Anthony Stolarz's enhanced role in the crease, the team's tandem in Toronto and the performance in the Atlantic Division.

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or visit askkelvin.ca this hour of overdrive is powered by fanduel fanduel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score all right here we go overdrive off and running tsn 10 50 on the tsn app, your home smart speaker. And up on TSN for Brian Hayes, Frankie Corrado, Jamie Noodles, McLennan. What's going on? What's happening? How are we feeling this afternoon? All good, boys.

How was the panel last night? Did Duffy stay out of your way? Did he give you free reign to do whatever you want? We were doing the show yesterday, so we couldn't watch it. We don't know what happened. We saw the cold open. It was great. But we were talking.

We're like, it would be great if those guys showed up, and they just told Duffy and Billy, stay out of our way, have some viz ready, and we're just going to let it fly for 30 minutes. That's pretty much what happened, I would say. I mean, the captain i think that's gonna he was enjoying himself there in the corner i'll tell that was bobby mac spot and there was shades of bobby mac with the one chat you just went on you radioed yourself because tv it's like you're allowed 15 to 25 seconds of tv he went 90 seconds like d, Duffy's staring him down. You just was. Hayes was on fire last night.

I was proud. I ran around. The thing that people wouldn't know is if the camera is just on Hayes, Duffy's in the back. He's trying to get people's attention. He's like, coming back to me. Like, guys, it's coming back to me. And Hayes would just be, like, pushing him off.

Like, I'm still going here. I got stuff to say. Well, and you're referencing the SportsCenter hit that we did to start the night, which was, that was the starter that I went long. And I think what happened there was a classic example of worlds colliding. Because, listen, those guys, they're the best in the business. Like, James Douthy and Mike Lane and Billy Dots and the whole crew. Everyone behind the scenes, on the floor, everyone helping out.

And it's their world. That's the world they live in. Like in Noodles, Frankie, you guys have done a lot of panels over the years. You know what it's like. I've done a few now. I'm familiar with it, but it's kind of a new world to me. But at the same time, when we're on it, it is understood that it's it's the panel first

obviously we we have a reason to be there the Leafs are playing tonight but it's an overdrive mashup and the boys are going to be there so I think they they loosen up a little bit in terms of allowing for a little bit more freewheeling so to speak and I think what happened there on that sports center hit was we we I thought we had had kind of preplanned a couple of things we were going to hit. And Duffy threw something else at me off the bat, which was fine, and I can react to it on the fly. But I gave that a little bit more time than was necessary for the reaction. And then I just said, right through the yellow light, and I started getting to the point I said I was going to get to and that led to like a 90 second answer.

And that's how the night got started with the SportsCenter hit. Basically me chewing up time that Owen Noodles were supposed to get. I love it. Get your money's worth. A retrospective apology on that one. But outside of that, it was a blast. We had a great time last night. We had a blast.

And you know what, though? I felt when you get a unique situation like that, regardless of what the game was like, I felt like we were kind of charged up to bring some material anyways. And we were tested. You get a dud in that first. What was the shot? 16-1.

15-1. 15-1. And we're still like, okay, glass half empty, glass half full. They've got a chance to win this game, and sure enough, that was basically, I mean, it was Keith Bauer's stunt double, and it was Austin Matthews. That's what it was. That's right. It was Anthony Stolarz had himself a Vesna game last night.

He did. Listen, I think it's Halibut and Gustafson who are clearly 1-2 in the league. Noodles, Frankie, you can argue that if you want. I can't imagine you would, but maybe you would. But I think at this point, it's Gustafson for sure. It was Halibut earlier in the year. It felt like a lock, 15 games in.

When they were 15-1, it was like, just give them the award. I think it's actually evened out a little bit because prior to last night, Winnipeg had kind of hit a bit of a wall. But I think Stolarz, when you look at his stats and you look at his numbers and you look at a game like last night where the Leafs, that was a controlled scrimmage in the first period run by Sheldon Keefe. Both teams were looking at Sheldon Keefe going, okay, you're going to run the drill here because there was familiarity to it.

But you're right. That's a great term for it, controlled scrimmage. That's what it was. That's what it looked like. That was what it was in the first last night, and yet it was 0-0 because of Stolarz. The Leafs had nothing, absolutely nothing. It wasn't like they were missing the net or whatever. That came eventually in the second period

when Matthews had all those breakaways and two-on-ones and he couldn't close. But Stolarz was phenomenal last night. He was great in the second period as well. And even in overtime, he didn't get tested a ton but had to be there when he had to be there. And that's what it was.

That was the Stolarz game last night in basically his hometown. Just an incredible night for him. Isn't it crazy that Sheldon Keefe is on the other side with New Jersey, and how many times when he was the coach of the Leafs did we see that script where the Leafs outshot, outplayed, outperformed, and then they got goalied by the Vemelkas of the world. And Stolarz is having a great year. He's not a super well-established starter at this point in the NHL,

although he's working his way towards it this year. But the Leafs were on the other end of that, where their goalie makes the saves, keeps them in it, buys them enough time that eventually they get the garbage-type depth goal that they desperately needed by Holmberg, who desperately needed a goal. And then it gives Matthews a little time to get that one extra chance because he had missed like three grade-A chances at that point in the game already. That just buys you time to find a way to win the game. And ultimately, that's what the Leafs did.

And I don't think there's been a lot of time bought by their goaltenders in the last few years for them to do that type of stuff. No, nothing to that extent. Or even really the extent that both goalies have supplied all year. You look at it now. Stolarz has started 16 games. He's 9-5-2. And he has a 9-28 save percentage.

And all the underlying numbers, expected saves, expected goals, all that, it's just elite. Couldn't have asked for more. Elite to cross the board. And even when you get to Joseph Wall, Wall is 7-3. He's got a 9-19 save percentage. And neither of them have been pulled. Neither of them have been a gas can. Three goals on five shots.

Like you said it while we were watching the game last night, Noodles. Like he was getting snowed in like two or three minutes into the game. Like off draws, set plays. It's like here we go. He faced four or five shots almost immediately. And he looked so comfortable. And then he was in it. Then he had a bit of a sweat on.

It's like this guy's here to play tonight. Like you couldn't predict he would do what he would do three or four minutes in, but you could tell he was prepared to play, and he was great last night. He was phenomenal. That's where I went. We were talking before the game, and I brought that stat up. I was like, yeah, nobody's been pulled. Nobody's really had an off night a week.

The Florida game, Stolarz called himself out. I think he just wanted it. He'd gotten his Stanley Cup ring. He just wanted it, but he wasn't red-rotten. The team didn't play well in Florida. Florida's allowed to play well some nights, too. You know what I mean? So I wouldn't say that that was a terrible performance, but if you look at it, I said

to Hayes and O, I said, we haven't seen a goalie pull. We haven't seen anything like that. And that game kind of just smelled like something like New Jersey was coming off being shut out. They were a little pissed. And I said to Hayes about three saves in, four saves in, about three, four minutes into the game, I said, he's going to be fine. But if he wasn't, if he was off, that's 3-0 before it's five minutes.

It's over. The game's over. And the game's over. He was brilliant. And coming back to, you made the comment earlier, Brian, about putting yourself in the Vez in the conversation. I think he's going to get to the amount of games where he will be in that conversation for sure because it was Allmark that had 49, I think, that won it. Even if it's something with a four in it, if it's in the high fours, you can be considered.

And to me, yes, he has to be, you know, if you do a top three to five, absolutely he's 100%. And I don't know. I'm not voting today. But, yes, Hellebuck has to be in there for his body of work at the starting of the season. And now, you know, yeah, they hit the ditch recently. But they put up an eight spot last night on boston was that was wild last night yeah but but but the thing is is i think hellebuck's there i think augustus is there and then at three you know stole ours there's other guys but why not like that's my point is is he's his name he's had such an amazing start

and people were mad at me last week when I was like, just leave the sunglasses alone and stop pucks. There was an old man yelling at the clouds. Yes, but I told you off air, Brian, I'm so passionate towards Stolarz because I think it's an amazing story, and I just want him to play so well. And last night, I think that was his best game as a leaf it was unbelievable and it reminded me of game one where Montembeau stole that game right Montreal that was Stolarz last night that's how good I thought New Jersey played fantastic yeah Sheldon

Keefe can say you know what guys you play like that 95 out of 100 times they're going to win that game doesn't matter they got goalie Stolar stole our, stole the game. He did. He did. And the amazing thing is when you look at the details of the game, that even with that being the case, Matthews could have had four goals last night. He could have. He at least could have won 4-1 in reg because we were breaking down the tape in the second period, the third period. Marner almost hit him the first time on a two-on-one,

and it got broken up. Then it's two-on-one, misses the net. Nyes hits something. He tries to go five-hole. Then he was in a loan a couple other times later in the game. Like, in a loan. Like, wide-open breakaways. And he didn't score.

And then finally he gets it in overtime. And, like, we're watching it. If you're watching on TSN4. That's four there, Brian. That's four. This is five. Yes. This is five. Yes, the fifth one finally went in. Like, legitimately, he could have.

You're not going to score on every single one, but two or three. And if he didn't score on that overtime one, he would have got off the ice afterwards and just been like, what is wrong with me? That's a shattered stick as soon as you get into the dressing room. Like, that's how frustrating that night would have been. And I know, like, Matthews is coming off the injury, and we've been talking how healthy is he,

when is he going to really start to pick up the pace goal-scoring-wise. I wasn't overly worried watching that last night because how many times was he able to create enough separation where he gets the grade-A chance? If he wasn't able to do that, if there's always a stick in the way or there's a body in front of you and you're like, man, Matthews is just not getting the looks,

then I would be more concerned that way. And it's not about getting chances. I think that's the old saying, hey, I'm not concerned because I'm getting chances. No, he created enough separation with his body that they were clean looks last night that at some point he was going to finish. And his shooting percentage is so low this year.

Like we were talking about it yesterday. He's a 10% shooter. He's regularly a 16% shooter. And last year he was at 18%. So at some point that is going to even out. And I watched that last night and I say, okay, that is going to even out because he's getting the separation and he's getting the clean looks at the net. If he wasn't getting that, I wouldn't feel as optimistic about it.

Yeah, I think that's a really good point because there's different layers of goal scoring, right? Like a 20-goal scorer, his chances are rebounds around the net or tip-ins or something like that. If he's not getting those you're like all right he's in trouble once he gets those and they don't go in you feel like all right he'll get one soon he'll get up to his number 20 goals 25 when you're a guy who's capable of scoring at the level he is you got to have those you got to have the power play looks but you also have to

have what you just said so you got to be able to separate and create on your own like when you're the best goal scorer you create goal scoring on your own. And I'm not sure he was capable of doing that earlier in the year. And last night he did it. And specifically just using his body, using his pace through the neutral zone. Like, you know, in overtime, Pesci's trying. And Pesci's not a small guy. You know, he's trying to get them.

He can't. Can't keep up with them. And credit to Matthewthews for just continuing to go to the well go to the well and they stole two points but you're allowed to do that and you know the the beauty of a tandem uh is that when they're both healthy and they're both playing well you're just going to get that a number of times over the course of the year not not as extreme like you're you're playing with fire obviously, obviously, as extreme as it is last night. That's just simply going to happen once or twice a year, maybe.

But you can have your B game, and if the goalie's playing well, you're probably going to win. You're going to be in a position to win a lot, and you're just not going to get blown out. And I think that's what sticks out with this goaltending this year, Noodles, is, of course, you're going to lose games. You're going to have games where the goalie isn't the greatest or your bounces aren't breaking your way.

But they've been so consistent. Very rarely, if at all, have we been in a situation in the second period or going into the third where you're like, they have no chance. It's over. The goalies pretty consistently always keep them in the game or put them in a position where they feel like they can win it halfway through the game or going into a third period. That's all you can ask for is your goaltender to give you an opportunity every night.

Now, the interesting part is, you know, if you start looking into the underlying numbers and that. Now, Anthony Stolarz has one stolen game coming into last night's game. Joseph Wald doesn't have one. It doesn't mean they haven't played well. It means that that's the Montembeau night opening night, like where it's like that's a goal. Last night was a complete stolen game.

So now Stolarz has two. And that's on par because you're looking at one every 10, one every 12. Your goaltender has to stand on his head because another team. And we've seen it. Lucas Dostal almost did it. what was it, a couple years ago, and then the sun took a shot at him saying this nobody or whatever, like whatever it was.

But it's rare that a goaltender steals a game or has to, but it's impressive watching that when it's the team that you're watching and going, okay, it's our guy because usually we're going, that's the other guy that's had to do it or whatever. Especially if you're a good team, right? Like, at least you're a good team, so you shouldn't have to rely on your goalie to steal you as much, where if you're Anaheim, you will. You know, if you're Montreal with Montembeau, you're going to have to, because you're probably

going to be on the wrong side of the depth chart. You're looking for quality starts. Like, that's, if you're getting quality starts, I think that's the stat that's the most relevant and the one that you can hit on if you're a good goalie, the most consistent. And I don't know how you guys felt, but listening to Sheldon after the game say, that's the best goaltending in the league right there. Hey, that could be true as a team. But your guy Markstrom is really good too.

I just kind of wonder how he would have perceived that. Okay, let's play that. Let's play Sheldon after the game, and we can try to get a read on him if he's being sarcastic, if it's a matter of fact. Here's Sheldon keep posting him on the Leaf goaltending. Coach, you mentioned this felt like one of the better efforts of the season. What do you think prevented your team from being able to bury more pucks? Best goaltending in the league on the other side.

Okay, wow. I don't think he was being sarcastic. I think he was just saying like that, you know what, like if you look at it statistically, they're right up there. Like it's, you know, he's happy with his, we had him on two days ago. He should be happy. He's got Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen. He's got two goalies. They give him up there. He's happy with his – we had him on two days ago. He should be happy. He's got Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen. He's got two goalies.

They give him a chance, even in that sum. And there's nothing wrong with saying – I don't know. Brian, did you take that as sarcastic? No, I think he's being – it's a matter of fact. Again, that was, I believe, a New Jersey reporter. It may have been – I may have read it differently if it was a Toronto reporter doing something. And he's, you know, yeah, best in the world. You know, sometimes you got that with sarcastic coaches in the past.

And guys would come up – I remember John Cooper would do that sometimes. Oh, they're just too good over there. That's a Daryl Sutter, too. Or Daryl Sutter. That's a Daryl Sutter. Yeah, Big D. He would test them all the time over there. I don't know.

What do you want out of us? Who did he say that about? Remember Big D was, like, greatest player I've ever seen. Yeah, who was that? I can't remember the goalie. He was like, I can't believe we even scored on him. That was in the playoffs. We've got to find that quote or whatever.

Yes. Joe from the bridge. The other one, he – Coach, what did you think of your third line today? Or, Coach, what did you think of your fourth line today? Which line is that? Right, dead man. I don't have a fourth line.

They're all number ones or they're all number fours. That was against Detroit. I remember that because he was trying to get the reporter to say, okay, who's the third line? And Steve Eisenman was on the third line. He's like, that's not a third line with that guy's on the – basically, like Darrell was being, you know, facetious with that. But I didn't take Sheldon's comments like, listen, he just watched – guys on the you know basically like darryl was being you know facetious with that but i i don't

i didn't take sheldon's comments like listen he just watched his team just got goalied you're gonna say and and statistically they're right there so it's like there's that's not a false statement no i i think i mean do we think that stolarz again is better than hellebuck better than the best vasilevsky in Shusterka. I don't. No, and I don't think Sheldon does either. So we don't have to parse words and break down everything. But I think what you're driving at, Frankie, is it doesn't matter what the Leafs feel about it

or anyone in Toronto feels about it. It's how the room would feel about it. And that comment reminds me of last year when Colorado rolled through town. I remember what he said about McKinnon and McCarr. And he talked them up as if those are the best players in the world. He might have used that quote. And they're unstoppable, basically. And when they get going, it's like there's nothing we can do

because they're so good. Slightly different context. But I guess if you're Markstrom, I don't know. I mean, he's been good for them. He's been very good for them this year. But I think you also have to be reasonable as a pro. I mean, Markstrom, I don't think would put his hand up and say I'm the best goalie in the world either.

No, he's not. He's a very good goalie. I also wonder if part of it, from his point of view, is like how long was he here? Five years? He never had Stolarz when he was in Toronto. Like, he never had that kind of goalie while he was here. He always had the, here's Jack Campbell, he's playing pretty good,

and all of a sudden he's not. Here's Ilya Samsonov, he's playing pretty good, now he's hurt and he's not. Like, go through the list of the guys that he had. He never had that when he was here. And all of a sudden he leaves and here it is. But he had pockets of that. We can't forget that Freddie Anderson made the all-star team. Jack Hamill made the all-star team.

Ilya Samsonov, I think, went two months without a loss, right? They had good teams and they had stable goaltending. I think what happened is, and what you're probably getting at, Frankie, is it's more when push came to shove, the trust factor wasn't there. Whether it was down the stretch or into the playoffs or the guys weren't healthy to handle that. I think there's a difference in, you said, well, is Stolarz Vasilevsky, is Stolarz Hellebuck?

You could also say, I don't think he is, but it doesn't mean he's not playing like them or playing like them this year. Absolutely. So there's a difference. He is. So I wanted to back up my comments. That's not a shot. No.

Just because somebody maybe doesn't have the talent of other guys. Anthony Stolarz is having an unbelievable season, and he has to be in the same breath as guys who are top tier because he's playing like it. So he deserves all the flowers in that direction. I wanted to back up my comment because it's not a shot as to like, he's not Hellebuck. Well, he hasn't won business.

He hasn't done that. It's factual. Exactly. There's other goal scorers that have more goals than Matthews. It doesn't mean they're better at goal scoring. I mean, obviously, we know what everyone means by that. It's just a fact. Like, Stolarz has been a backup his whole career.

He's still in a tandem here. He's been phenomenal, though. And I do think Keefe was, you know, handing him out a genuine compliment because he deserves it. And, you know, listen, he saved the players. He allowed Matthews to have a big moment, which he needed. And historically, he's been great against New Jersey. We saw that stat last night.

He's now scored 19 goals in 20 games against the Devils in his career. He scores against them at a higher clip than any other team in the league, which is saying something. But Stolarz saved them from losing three in a row and then looking back and digging even deeper because even when you look before that against the Preds it wasn't a great game they came alive in the third and took it against Chicago the game before that kind of flat but they're just so much better and Chicago stinks so they said we'll take the two points like if that is three nothing last night and Stolarz has hung out to dry in his hometown,

it's such a different mood and it's such a different reaction. But that's also the benefit of the goalie. And this is where you look ahead to the rest of the week here. And the players and the depth on this team, and we'll see if McCabe returns because I think that's a big part of it. They miss Jake McCabe greatly and his consistency all throughout the lineup. But you've got Anaheim tomorrow night. They're playing tonight in Ottawa.

So back-to-back, you're at home against Anaheim. You're going to be a massive favorite. And then you've got Detroit and Buffalo this weekend, two teams that are really struggling. If you play the way you played last night, you're going to lose probably two of the three. You'll probably get one just because of who you are and who they are. But last night, hopefully for the Leafs, and I'm sure Berube is preaching this, Probably two of the three. You'll probably get one just because of who you are and who they are. But it's time.

Like last night, hopefully for the Leafs, and I'm sure Berube is preaching this, wake-up call. You had a little dip. It's all good. It happens. Every team is going to go through it. Get going here the next few games because you can really bank a lot of points and feel good going into a Christmas break.

Yeah, it's an opportunity. Yeah, you're right there. I mean, you're right there with Florida top of the division, and Boston and Tampa have had their ups and downs. It's a good opportunity for Berube, too, though, to kind of keep his foot on the gas, right? I think sometimes teams, when they win and they get away with it, it can be like, yeah, we'll sort it out.

Don't worry. We're getting the points. You don't really reflect on it when you don't lose because it just, it has the winning feeling after the game. You show up to the rink the next day. It's kind of business as usual. Like if he can find a way to make it not so business as usual, you know, and you're still stacking the wins, like that's a nice little happy medium there

where guys aren't, you know, not to say they're not miserable going to the rink because you wouldn't be miserable on a team this good, but just keeping the foot down and while still collecting the wins, like that's a pretty exclusive little spot to be in the NHL. Like not everyone gets to do that on a day-to-day basis. And this is a part of the schedule where, like you say, you look at quality of competition moving forward, it's an opportunity for you.

Listen, Anaheim is not just going to roll over, but you do have an opportunity on a back-to-back situation to catch them. Again, going into Buffalo, going against Detroit, that type of stuff. You can bury those teams. You're going to have to battle the palm trees in Buffalo, though. You'll have to work through that. How happy are the Rangers? This is a classic example of who wants to be playing tonight.

The Sabres and Rangers. Rangers are probably ecstatic they're out of New York, but they're not out of the state. So the Ranger fans are going to show up tonight. There will be a ton of Ranger fans in the building. I believe the game is in Buffalo. And then you've got the Sabres and Kevin Adams, and we don't have palm trees, and we've got bad taxes,

and that comment hanging over them. And whenever they get a lead, it's inevitable the Sabres are going to blow it. My God, that's a thing. It's crazy. Like, I was watching that game the other night. It was 5-3. I turned around, and it's 5-5. I think UPL's starting tonight.

It was James Reimer the other night. I don't know if people were – Reimer's still in the league. I don't think the average league fan would have a clue. He was with Anaheim this year. He started in Buffalo. He got picked up off waivers, and then Buffalo took him back. That was such a bizarre scene, Buffalo against Detroit.

Detroit didn't want to start the kid, Cosa, who's like a big part of their future. Right? They start Huso. He gets pulled. And you think, okay, this is Buffalo. Like, you've got to take advantage of this. Like, this is pedal to the metal. You know, kid playing his first game.

He's coming in cold. And they only got 14 shots through two periods. And the kid wins, and Detroit wins. Like, if you can't win that one, I don't know, man. There's all kinds of problems there. Ugly scene. Yeah. Ugly scene.

The thing is, the weird part is when those two teams play, somebody's getting – that was a three-point game. Like, they're getting points. Like, that's the weird thing is, like, that Atlantic, I said from day one, I think it's going to be more bunched up. Now, you could separate yourself at the top, but it's going to continue to be bunched up because nobody's separating yourselves in that bottom, call it four or five.

Like, that's where there's points every night, and they're going to continue to get them. There's the standings there. Yeah, I mean, Ottawa, again, you've got Anaheim here tonight. Ottawa, it's a mandatory win. They have to win, but all of a sudden they're two points behind Tampa. Yeah. And, you know, like that.

Now, Tampa's got a few games in hand. That is the one thing is Tampa's now out west. I think they play in Calgary and Vancouver. No, they just did Vancouver. They did Edmonton last night. They were in Edmonton last night. Yeah. But these teams are playing against each other,

and there's points to be had there. The separator isn't as big in those, we'll call it the bottom five. Yeah, as long as they keep up. It's still earlier in the year where it can be deceptive. You add another 20 games, and those four points become eight points. It's got earlier in the year where it can be deceptive. You add another 20 games and those four points become eight points. It's got to flip the other way. Florida and Toronto are in one place. I do think

Boston's still vulnerable. I think Tampa could be. And Ottawa can get them. Buffalo's in a weird place. But Ottawa, they can get them. They've got to run off. They've got to get wins like tonight. Tonight is a mandatory win. You've you gotta win tonight not only because you're playing anaheim noodles then ottawa's got to go to carolina which they never win there and they're

on the road for a long time like it's going to be a grind for them because of the world junior so that like that's why they got to make hay at home. But the biggest challenge, too, is on the road, they do Carolina, and then it's out west, right? Like Senators at Canucks, it's in Seattle, it's Calgary, it's Edmonton. It's a circus. It's a circus of a trip that they're on. But you have to win games. That's the bottom line is you've got an opportunity. I think Tampa's a really good team.

I just think they've got to catch up in games. But that game last night against Edmonton, I was watching that. That was pretty good. It was a close game. Yeah, it was a low-scoring, close game. All right, Jimmy Ralph coming up. Ralph, you'll join us on Stolarz, on Wall, and what he saw out of Matthews last night.

The patch already hit on Hughes at the end of the second period. Oh, we've got to get into that. We will get into that. And the reaction or lack thereof from the New Jersey Devils, top 50 Dougie just right in there having a conversation. How about it? Hey, don't do that. Don't do that.

Did you vote for me? Excuse me, sir. Don't do that. I was like, oh, are you kidding me? That should have been a cross-checking penalty or something. And even the nice hit from behind. That was a bad hit. That was a really bad hit and yeah no one did anything uh ralphie coming up and um

we've got role play level of concern in about an hour more on what's going on down at the winter meetings those are wrapping up there's a lot happening in baseball a lot happening in the al east we'll tell you about that as well some updates on scotty barnes and uh we're pushing towards the thursday night or tonight, or tomorrow, Niners-Rams. What a game that's going to be. NFC West still up for grabs. So we'll get to that as well.

Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. It's a brand new year. Time to review last year's financial decisions and set new priorities for 2025. Kelvin the Money Guy suggests the three-step approach. One, clearly define your goals for the new year. Two, create a plan tailored to your needs and ambitions. And three, make sure your portfolio is designed to serve that plan. Goal, plan, portfolio. Contact Kelvin the Money Guy

and set your plans in motion. Call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca all right overdrive continues brought to you by fanduo bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score scott hartnell later this afternoon role play level of concern tim kirkjian will join us as well on what the jays are doing uh what's going on in the ales there's a lot of breaking news today so we'll get into the baseball world a little bit later on and at least we'll be back in action tomorrow night with the Ducks in town. You'll hear that game right here on TSN 1050, which means Joe Bowen will have the call. Alongside our next guest, here's Jim Ralph. How are you doing, Ralphie?

Good, A.J. How are you guys doing? We're doing very well. What did you make of Stoller's last night? I mean, can you put that into perspective for us, how much he helped his teammates play in the way he played? Yeah, I think they've got to create a different column for wins, which should be like didn't really deserve it. Yeah.

But, I mean, you're going to get those over the air where you'll play the opposition and it doesn't go your way. But I think, and hopefully Noodles would agree with this, it was a tough game. I mean, there were a lot of scrambles and a lot of traffic. And, you know, even the sequence that led up to the Holmberg short-handed goal, there were five or six whacks at it and scrambles in front of the net before they got through.

So it was, to me, it was one of those games that it was a battle. It was an absolute battle that he shone for them and it was the number one reason easily that they won that game. Well, that's where I was going to go, Ralphie. We see it all the time. We saw it game one of the season for the Leafs where Montembeau was the guy that did that at the other end. But is there something, I mean, you've watched these goalie tandems for years now for the Leafs where Montembeau was the guy that did that at the other end. But is there something, I mean, you've watched these goalie tandems

for years now for the Leafs, and I was trying to defend a little bit in previous years where you had Jack Campbell made the all-star team, Samsonov had some stretches, Freddie Anderson had some stretches. What would be the separator for this tandem that is a little bit different from years past that we've seen? Well, I mean, I think the odd thing is, I think Stoller is the most he's ever played in the season. He's 27 games, and Wall only got into 25 last year.

So the odd part about this duo is they've never done it before, on their own or with anybody else, you know, an extended period. And it'll be interesting to see, especially with the heavy schedule they've got the rest of the month, if they can keep it up. But it just seems like, you know,

if you want to compare it to Hallmark and Swayman and, you know, the runs they've had together when they were in Boston, that's probably the only comparable I can think of, other than maybe let's throw Glenn Healy in with Curtis Joseph as a comparable to what we're seeing now for Buddy Heals. Of all the things that make you feel comfortable with Stolarz specifically, how high up on the list would be just his sheer size?

Looking at a goaltender that's that big in the net, I feel like that's something the Leafs haven't had. If you go back through the Samsonov, Wall's not as big. Campbell was smaller. You go back to Freddie Anderson, that's the last real big kind of hulking goalie in the net. How high up on the list of things you like is is his size well i think it's almost a contradiction frankie because he's got the size but uh the

agility as well and you know usually you get a lot of guys that are big goalies that uh are great positionally take up a lot of the net uh play their angles well, but his agility for a big man, I think, is what stands out. And, you know, like when you only see a guy once or twice a season, if that, you don't get an appreciation of a player unless you watch him game in and game out in every minute that he plays. And that's what amazes me is that he's not a blocker. He's very active, he's very agile, but at the same time under control. The size, you almost don't notice as much as the agility we've seen from him.

With Jim Ralph, Ralphie and Joe Bone with the Colts more than I, Leafs Ducks down at Scotia Bank Arena. What did you think of that hit by Max Pacioretty on Jack Hughes at the end of the second period, and furthermore, the reaction or lack thereof from the Devils? Yeah, I mean, I'm kind of mixed on it, to be honest. You know, I think there's similarities between the white cloud hit on Nyes, where they say, you know, the head didn't snap back so they don't look at it as the principal point of contact. So you understand that. And then on the other side, I've always been mixed on,

if it's a clean hit, why does a guy have to fight after? You know, you talk about lack of response. The Leafs did that and ended up with the extra-minor penalty after the white cloud hit. So, I mean uh i'm not sure you know who was it dougie hamilton was yeah dougie was the first one in there yeah yeah brendan dylan's right there guys that's like dylan's a monster that's the thing he was chirping but chirping's not gonna chirp all you want noodles i was a wet noodle i would

chirp on the ice like i wasn't gonna fight you like. That's a guy who's, I don't know if you want to call him in the heavyweight class in the league, but he can fight the heavies. That's the thing. We've seen him fight heavies, and that's like a no-brainer. Hamilton, go in there, chirp, cross-check, but get out of the way. Or Dylan, just take control of that situation, because if you're a heavy and you're not going to fight in that situation when are you going to fight yeah yeah it was an opportunity to jump in i mean and i understand as well it's reactionary you see your guy get drilled uh you

don't call a huddle and say hey guys was that clean or not uh she should just stay away and put her head down and go back to the bench. But it's, yeah, I mean, that'll be something, especially if they turn around and lose, you know, you're going to question maybe the team not jumping in

for them, especially because it's one of your skilled players. Like I said, I've always been mixed on if it's a clean hit um are we saying that guys have to pay a price regardless for for technically doing their jobs and playing physical um i've always been back and forth on but like i said i mean it's reactionary so all you do is you see your guy get drilled uh i don't think you really sit back and compute whether it was clean or not.

There's usually more of a reaction than a response, and there was neither. Yeah, there was none of it. And I'm with you in terms of clean hits and the idea that someone has to fight on behalf of themselves because of that. But I also know we went through that. I was going to say, Hazy, too. I remember going back to the Stolarz thing and the way the game played out. I do remember the game, and it's still a leaf record for fewest shots in a game, where they route shot 28-9 in St. Louis and won 4-0.

And Curtis Joseph was easily the first star in that game. And I also remember a game very clearly where it almost happened. game and i also remember a game very clearly where it almost happened but at least i think it would have shot the opposition 38 to 14 after two periods and matt sundin had a four goal night they finally won in overtime uh six five against florida i don't think i remember that game i remember that game i remember that vividly that goaltending performances through the roof you know what the the part that hurts the most about that night? I think I've told you guys this. It's that Joe Neuendijk got a hat trick and we lost.

We're sitting on the bus afterwards, and I'm staring at him. He can barely move. His back is so bad. And my heart just hurt for him because I was like, you should be celebrating. You were so amazing tonight. But Matt's got four on me. because I was like, you should be celebrating. You were so amazing tonight. But Matt's got four on me.

And I was like, God. Like, I just. And, Matt, listen. There was a couple of them. It's Sunday. That's not a bad. I know. But the thing is, there was one that really bothered me. It was a half-wall shot.

And he could bring it, but it just. He overpowered me with it. And it still bothers me to this day because it was. Listen, I made lots of saves in that game. It's not the saves you make. It's the goals you allow. And I just. I still, to this day because it was like listen i made lots of saves in that game it's not the saves you make it's the goals you allow and i just i i still to this day i can remember sitting on the bus and looking to my right over and joe knew and i could barely sit down and this guy had put a hat trick up and the bus was silent because we lost six was it was it wasn't ot goals you got a point

i would love you came on the bus we got a point for this good good the other the other side of that noodles is people don't remember you for that You got a point. I would love you to give him the bus. We got a point for this. Good job. The other side of that, Noodles, is people don't remember you for that goal again. I mean, it was off the left-wing boards, right, in the third period? Yes. Yeah. It was a tough one. It's not that we remember that.

It's an amazing. Yeah. I love it. I have no idea where I parked, but I remember that Sunday goal. You remember that one. 20 years ago. With Jim Ralph. I have no idea where I parked, but I remember Matt's on the eagle. You remember that one. 20 years ago. With Jim Ralph. So you look at the way they've been playing, Ralph. You know, last week you beat Chicago just because you're the Leafs

and they're Chicago. It wasn't a great game. The same thing with Nashville. Like, with all the respect to those two teams. Well, I guess very disrespectfully saying they are what they are, and the Leafs just found a way to get it done and they moved on. Then you lose to the Capitals and Washington just outplayed you. Pittsburgh might have been a coin flip, but you lose it.

Last night Stoller stands on his head. Now you've got Anaheim, Detroit, Buffalo, like three teams that are in one right now, three teams that you're going to be heavily favored against. What would you expect Berube's message to be based on what we've we've seen out of this team the last four or five games and the opportunity to to rack up some points over the next few nights yeah i'd say there's got to be mild concern and if you want to go back just a couple of games before that easy they uh you know they lost in florida uh which you could say they were due They lost in Florida, which you could say they were due.

Then the game in Tampa, they give up three late third-period goals and just hang on and get an empty header to win there. And then all the other games, Chicago, Nashville, Washington, even the Pittsburgh game, they're all flip-a-coin games. We're talking about a bounce-off, a referee escape. We're talking about power play goals at the tournament. So they've sort of been, I'd say there's a mild concern that they've been flirting with being a 500 team. And I think the concern is with the heavy schedule ahead,

they've got to find it. They've got to get that traction back. And, you know, hopefully last night you steal a game. It's a bit of a wake-up call to to get back to some of the things you were doing you know three or four weeks ago well and and health is going to be a part of that too right like jake mccabe has been day-to-day for weeks that's been a theme with this team and who knows when he returns and and mcmahon returns he had max back last night playing on the way. I didn't notice him much.

I think he's going to – but he's got to get going. Like, Max hasn't scored a goal yet. Like, there's guys on the – like, we know what we expect out of the top four or the core four and certainly the top four defense and the goalies we've been raving about. But do you look at anyone on the level below that where you think, okay, that's a guy that can really spark, you know, the depth of this team and make it feel like that's a conversation you can put to bed if and when that guy in particular starts playing better?

I know we even said it after the second period last night. This is a game where somebody else has got to contribute. Bottom six or defenseman scores. It comes from the unlikely source of Holmberg shorthanded in the third. I think that's, you know, when you start talking about bounces and special teams and everything else those are such valuable goals to get from your bottom six you know, whether it's killing a penalty or five on five to tie a game late. So, you know, you hope that's there but it is

amazing that, you know, you hope that's there. But it is amazing that, you know, the conversation has flipped for most years where we're talking about how great the power play has been and how Matthew's going to hit 70 goals. But they've been giving up too much defensively or the goal setting has been a little bit shaky. So it's sort of um interesting that the the conversation has has flipped 360 from what the what we've had over the last five years yeah it really hasn't and we'll see what comes of it tomorrow night leafs ducks uh right here on tsm radio joe bowen jim ralph with the call uh thank you ralph we enjoy it tomorrow night we'll do it again down the road all right thanks boy there he is uh jim ralph yeah it's, it's been an interesting season so far here at Toronto,

and there's so much going on around the league as well. Patrick Demko returned last night, got through the game, right? Got through the game. That's a positive. That's almost all you're looking for there. I don't know how comfortable he was going to be. He settled into the game as it went on, but even said afterwards, like, I felt rusty.

Sure, he looked a little bit rusty. He hasn't played in like eight months, and he's coming off an injury that no one's ever seen before in hockey. But, yeah, it just didn't look as comfortable, but got better as the game went on. Yeah, I think there was, you know, you watch the broadcasters even talking about the way he was moving and getting up and that. Like, my biggest thing coming off of any type of injury, regardless if you're a player, and especially as a goaltender,

if you can see the person think instead of react. And what I mean, the body language, am I worried about pushing side to side if I've got, you know, a knee issue or a hip or groins, any type of stuff, to me they're looked, again, I could be wrong, they looked a little bit like he was gingerly moving sometimes. Now, he's a tremendous skater and he's got great lateral movement. I think there was just rust, and it might have got into his head, hey, how am I going to feel when the lights are on and the adrenaline's rolling? You know, I'd love, can't wait to see him 10 games into this where, you know, now he's back to normal.

But I think they lost in OT. They lost in OT. Yeah, so it was a fourth. Yeah, so it was close. They got a point. But it's nice to see him back and, you know, JT Miller on the road there getting back. So I think they're on the road there getting back. I think they're on the road to recovery at the

right path. That's what you're hoping for. Again, the concern with Demko is with a player. If you miss camp and you miss a couple months, maybe you don't get it back this year. You'll see pockets of it, but they're banking on it returning. If it does,

it's a game changer for them because of how good he is. All right, we've got Tim Kirkton coming up later in the afternoon on what the Jays have done this week, what they could continue to do, what else he sees happening in the AL East. There were trades today. There's been signings in baseball. We'll update you on that. News on Scotty Barnes as well. Role play level of concern coming up in about 40 minutes.

Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. It's a brand new year. Time to review last year's financial decisions and set new priorities for 2025. Kelvin the Money Guy suggests the three-step approach. One, clearly define your goals for the new year. Two, create a plan tailored to your needs and ambitions. And three, make sure your portfolio is designed to create a plan tailored to your needs and ambitions and three make sure

your portfolio is designed to serve that plan goal plan portfolio contact kelvin the money guy and set your plans in motion call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca all right role play level concern coming up and we're on the panel last, and all of us have been in there. Studio 6 is the number of the studio, the name of the studio in which the magic happens. And it's such a cool place and behind the scenes. They always have a ton of people coming through there and different tours. Right when you walk into the studio, and it's a massive studio, just on your right, there's a few different tables,

and there's a litany of TVs up on the wall, right? I don't know how many there are, six or eight. It's usually a bunch of different channels and all the sports channels and all the different games, and sometimes there'll be like CP24 up there or CTV News. And we're getting prepared to interview morgan riley we're getting prepared to do the sports center hit trying to get in the zone and i look over and i just see al's brother's face on like three of the tvs because overdrive

was on yesterday frankie you were in there and obviously obviously one of the TVs was on TSN4. And there's Al's brother, and I know what he's doing. He's giving out his clue. And I'm like, this must be amazing for when they bring people through on tours, like especially bigwigs or whatever, big investors. They're like, come through here. There's our TV wall where we watch everything, including Al's brother give out a clue with a blurred background.

Like, how do you even explain what the hell is going on here at TSN? That's talent. Al's brother, give out a clue, with a blurred background. Like, how do you even explain what the hell is going on here at TSN? That's talent. He is part of the talent pool at TSN. He absolutely is. He is a superstar, and he's my partner. And we've sent Al's brother out somewhere in the city with a pair of Leaf tickets, and you have to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them. Are you guys ready for the third clue of the week?

Yes. Hey, Overdrive fans, it's Wednesday, and I've got another clue to get you one step closer to finding out where is Al's brother. Giving away Leafs tickets for December 21st against the New York Islanders. And here is your Wednesday clue. I'm standing next to an iconic Christmas tree said to be the tallest in North America.

Okay, come on, Al's brother. We know where you are now. Tune in tomorrow for another clue, not that it's necessary. And the first caller through on Friday with the correct location will win a pair of tickets to see the Leafs take on the Islanders December 21st. Find Al's brother is brought to you by mccalpine ford in aurora our family the ford family and you full details at tsn1050.ca all right hour two coming up scott

hartman will join us role play level of concern bill belichick i believe is employed again i think he's coaching football again we've got to touch on that scotty barnes update a lebron james rumor and report we'll touch on that where Brawny comes into play. Hour 2 up next. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.