OverDrive - OverDrive - February 20, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! Olympic Gold Medalist and Former NHLer Jarome Iginla on his memories playing with Canada, the experience in the tournaments and winning a gold medal. Hayes gives his top storylines for Canada and USA's 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game and TSN Edmonton Bureau Reporter Ryan Rishaug to discuss the matchup in the game, Jordan Binnington's importance in the crease and Connor McDavid's prominent role and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

Welcome back to Kids Played, where we break down school stuff, kid style, so everyone gets it. Today's topic, class sizes. Let's go to a call. Emily, what's on your mind? Hi, I love learning, but I need more one-on-one time with my teachers. My classes are just so overcrowded. Oh, I know that feeling, Emily. It's like being lost in the crowd. What we need are smaller class sizes. Want to help support students? Visit nomore.ca. That's K-N-O-W-M-O-R-E.ca.

A message from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association. Final Hour Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles-McClennan, we got Ryan Rashad from the garden in Boston, TD Garden, Toronto Dominion Garden down in Boston and

He'll join us in about a half an hour and Jerome McGill coming up here in a few moments Catch up with Jerome. I know it's not a big deal But did I I thought I read online that the Bruins anthem singer wasn't singing I haven't seen I haven't seen who's singing tonight, I don't know. So they had that old guy, they used to have the guy Renny something, the rum nose and the mustache and just the fist bump. And then they went into another guy who, listen, they sing awesome. A great anthem singer. A great anthem singer. But I saw from like a Boston scribe going, it sucks that he's like

not doing it which is weird yeah i think that is the guy now like he does it every night he's got the black suit on is a bit of an island so i have to be happy i guess you bring in somebody else i don't maybe a famous person i don't know to be honest i didn't pay that much attention to the anthem in Montreal the other night. Was it the local Habs person that sang it? I couldn't tell you.

That's a good question. I don't really know. Yeah, there's much story about the booing and all that, but I didn't know who did the actual anthems. But I have to clarify, not that it's not that big of a deal, but it just, I saw like a local scribe from the Bruins going, they did them dirty. Yeah, like they they did him dirty. Yeah, it's our building but you're out which is kind of, you know, it is a bit weird. Yeah, I guess. I mean, you would think

like if you're running the program, you'd want them in there getting the place fired up. Yeah. You know, if you're the Bruins, you'd be advocating for your guy because he's, he's your guy. He's the guy who does the anthem every single game. And he has this routine like he points and does the fist pump and he points at all the players. Like he does this whole like, it's a song and dance before he sings and after he sings, right? So I don't know. I mean, you're right. I haven't even checked and not that we should care. Well, we should look that up, dude. You try to find out who's doing it tonight because yeah, maybe they came over the top with just

a big celebrity and you know, it's probably worthy of it this type of stage. Like it's it's got that kind of feel to it, man. It's it's gonna be a big one tonight. A big, big one tonight. Yeah. All right, here he is. Long time flame. Long time hockey Canada representative hockey Hall of Famer. One of our favorites. Back on the show. Here's Jerome again. How you doing Jerome? Hey Brian good. How you doing? Hey, you know, we're doing great man. I mean you're you're a Canadian you you must be Jacked for tonight. What are you expecting out of this game? Oh very excited. Yeah, it's been fun to watch it I'll tell you I never saw the that last US kind of game. I didn't see that start coming Loved it. I'm not sure what to expect tonight, but I think it's gonna be a great game and I

know a lot of my family friends were watching and Looking forward to a lot of bragging rights on the line Well, you know you played in so many you played in the Olympics you played in World Cups You mentioned the game on Saturday. Do you ever wish you could go back and drop the gloves, you know, against the Americans like in 04 or something like that? Was that giving you a kind of flashbacks like, man, I wish I could have fought Keith Kachuk 20 years ago. Well, Keith Kachuk is a pretty big guy, pretty tough guy. So, you know, he was always hard to play against.

But no, definitely it was one of those, like I say, I was shocked to see it, but it was exciting to see the passion, that energy. And it's part of what makes hockey, you know, so special is the skill, the speed, the intensity, you never know what to expect on the physicality and yeah, oh yeah, it makes it brought back a ton of memories and how much of an honor to play for Canada and how much fun in the whole country watching. Well, Iggy, you talked about energy and you know, butterflies, all of that type of stuff heading into a game.

I mean, was it a lot different? You've played in a Stanley Cup final. You've, you know, you've played on the biggest stages. Was it treated differently or did you personally and the guys in the dressing room treat it differently? Could you feel a different energy before these big games? Oh, before the big ones for sure. I mean, playoffs, that's why it's so exciting.

And then, um, you know, I've, I got, that's why it's so exciting. And then, you know, I got to play in a few game sevens and it feels like those. It's, you know, the game goes quick. It's, so yeah, you get the nerves, you get the butterflies, you know, the start's important. But these tournaments are different for sure. The, this was a little bit of a short one, but you know, it usually takes guys a little bit to get comfortable, to know your lines, know where you fit in, to also, when you're a young guy, get over the awe of being with Crosby or McDavid or guys that even though you're a peer, for me it was Lemieux, Leiserman, Sackett playing with these guys and then to settle in and find that groove. So

You know the Canadian fan. I was pretty pretty excited to see the last game McDavid and McKinnon and Crosby's look like they really Are rolling and I like that for our chances tonight the whole team With Jerome McGillin you mentioned kind of your idols on those teams back in the day You know two in particular and obviously eiserman and sackick are legends, but mario is just Like mario, he's like sid like he's he's the equivalent of sid For this team and you mentioned you're kind of in awe and you're looking up to these guys

but i'm curious how much comfort you got joram walking into the room being like Mario's here and he's playing and he's ready to play like how much Do you think the younger guys will draw of sid walking in the room being like Mario's here and he's playing and he's ready to play like how much do you think the younger guys would draw of Sid walking in the room being like I've been here I've done it I got you follow suit how much of that factored into your mentality you know to in particular walking into the room behind Lemieux, Iserman, Sackett etc. Yeah you're 100% correct. 02, you know anytime you play for Canada it's a it's a ton of pressure it's an honor and it's exciting but it's a ton of pressure you know it is that expectation of win or bust and that's what it is. So you know at 02 I remember we didn't have a great start to the tournament we We lost to Sweden big time.

And as a young guy there, that was my first time, I was just excited to be there. But if we would have shown up the day after, I remember coming after we got trounced by Sweden in the first game and people are all over us. And you see Mario and you see Joe and they're like, nothing happened. It's a new day, they're smiling, they're ready to go. And we took our cue from them. You know, it's one of those things, literally you look at them and you're like, okay, Mario's fine and he's joking with us.

And if they would have been tighter, you know, a little, uh, off, we, I'm sure it would have, uh, went through the whole team. So yeah, you're, you're right. Sid's been through this a lot. Uh, and I'm sure guys looking at him are amazed. I remember when I played with Mario O2, he was literally the best player in the world. He's 36 and been through his health issues and sit out here, how smart he is and how competitive and determined he's already had. I agree. I think people can come and just focus on themselves as young guys and bring the energy. You never know what's going to

happen in the game and the different parts, but it is nice to be able to look down and know you have Sid and McDavid and McKinnon. That's pretty impressive and an awesome group to follow. So, Iggy, you talk about all the guys who are great players, but really everybody in that room is a leader or a captain on their team or is a go-to guy for their respective club team. How does it sort out so quickly throughout the tournament? Kind of who paces the team or who is the leaders?

Is it just the best players like you mentioned, guy like mario joking around the next day or is it you know fall on younger guys who have have been you know great players throughout the league where we talk about said right now but the david is you know the best player in the world like would he take a leadership role in that dressing room or does he just defer to maybe the older grout guard know if I'm guessing I think he takes the leadership. I think guys look to him right away and obviously Sid and yeah McDavid being right at the top of the game. They know you know people play against him day in day out. They know the impact he has so I think everywhere he goes he does have that.

But one thing I think Hockey Canada does a great job is they prepare Right from you know under 17 program to the u18 to world juniors You see how much pressures on those guys those young guys but each time you get used to dealing with a little more pressure you get used to come together quickly in a team and and Whatever role you're given you you sign up for it, you just, you do it. So you learn these things all along the way because each one feels like the biggest tournament, biggest game in the world playing for Canada,

whether like I said, it's U17 and now being four nations and next year, super pumped for Olympics. So yeah, it's one of those things, these guys have all been used to it. I didn't check, but I'll bet you every single guy played for Canada right before. And you get, you get, uh, you wait and see what the coach has. You're not sure when you show up to these. Uh, if, but I'll tell you, you're pretty excited if they give you a spot on

McDavid's line or Sid line. Cause you know, uh, you know, that's, uh, probably one of the top lines and going to be playing loss with, uh, Jerome McGinley probably one of the top lines and gonna be playing lots with Jerome again line and one of these teams gonna win tonight and then we're gonna resume the NHL play on Saturday So everyone's gonna be back in the room basically by tomorrow certainly by Saturday and you know You're two gold medals and oh two and ten were both against the Americans, you know The first in Salt Lake the second in Vancouver. What was it like going back into the room? Afterwards and specifically with your American teammates? What was that like after you

won gold and you beat the US? Oh yeah it was awesome and they were different. I get asked a lot which one was better and they were I go back and forth so like oh two Canada hadn't won in 50 years and then Pocky at the Olympics so trying to break that drought we got off to a tough start and then also those are guys like I said that that I looked up to when I was 12 and 13 and 14 and and watching Rockham Sockham on the bus and watching these guys you know being the highlight reels and now I'm playing with Lemieux and on the line with Joe Sackick. So that was really, really special. And then when we won it, it was like super exciting.

You know, you knew Canada was watching at home and I was a young kid. Whereas 2010, being in Vancouver, home soil, an awesome Olympics, the whole city was partying the whole time and enjoying it, and it was kind of trying to finish it off the right way. And it was nerve-racking. That one was, when they tied it up late, like in the last 30 seconds, whatever it was,

it was hard to take. It was guys were in the room, it was quiet. Nobody said a word for probably the first five minutes and then I think Neidemeyer said, okay guys someone's gonna be a hero tonight. Then you get refocused and but when we won that one it was like peewee throwing our gloves around. It was you know what you dream about on the outdoor rink but it was also a lot of big relief because you know as Canadians and hockey players we wanted to do our part to try to finish the Olympics the right way and we also knew

we'd never hear the end of it if the US won. So Iggy we had prongs on last week and he was talking about the Vancouver one I believe it was Drew Doughty it was kind of late for a meeting, like kind of showed up, kind of slept in. I mean, everyone has their different approach to the game, but I mean, were you surprised as to, you mentioned the anxiety and everything that comes with the pressure, but here's a young kid that was like, yeah, I can find a way to sleep through my alarm and just kind of walk in with the fans and show up and probably played 28 minutes that night or a special last better character for sure that it's cool it's like

you can see the intensity in some of the guys in and everybody's intent in their own way to get to this level and be successful but yeah i got to carry it so much different uh... you can see you know conwood david and mckinnon across we can see that intensity. And then you look, and Drew Dowdy loves competing. He looks like he's always having fun and never gets flustered. And yeah, I remember that.

And it probably happened to the right guy because it didn't bother him at all. And he was, I've slept through stuff before too. And it would have bothered me a lot more if it was at that Meeting and he was the right guy so Pretty awesome that it worked out. Yeah, well, it's gonna be a fun one tonight And you know the whole country's waiting for it, and we'll see how it plays out Hopefully it plays out like in 10 and oh two right noodles

Yeah, Iggy I got one last one before you go, because we were talking about this earlier in the week and O-Dog brought this up. So he was in the building on Saturday night and it was electric and Mario walked out and the crowd went nuts. But O in his mind all of a sudden had this daydream and he said, what would you do if Mario came out and he was holding the flag but the other guy on the other side was Spangler Cup silver medalist Jason

Strudwick if they announced Jason Strudwick and Mario Lemieux like oh said his head he would have passed out from like surprise I mean what do you make if Struddy walked out with Mario Lemieux? Haha, well, you know, I've never thought about it. Nobody has. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I know Struddy's a proud Canadian. He definitely wouldn't have looked as athletic as Lemieux, that's for sure. Long skinny legs. He'd be looking to fight though, he'd probably do pretty well yeah that's right

he'd probably be doing pretty well yeah all right well Iggy we always appreciate you doing this enjoy the game tonight enjoy the resuming of the NHL I guess on Saturday as well and we'll catch up again down the road thank you for this hey thanks for having me guys have a good good night You got it. There's a Jerome again. La former cam moves blazer as well I got he made a strutty and he just gives it to strutty in the group chat He refused to go after him. I leave him alone. I was baiting him. I was baiting him

What do you say to strut your boy? Yeah, exactly Those days those blazers got to stick together publicly. It is pretty cool though. He's told that story about Niedemeier before. And I can imagine giving up that late goal and how much the angst in between the third period and going into overtime after giving away a lead. Because you're right, if the US wins there, you never hear the end of it. And maybe that is something they hang their hat on that's what we've been talking about for two hours now is Canada in the

biggest moments have been able to get through you know outside of 1980 you know the miracle on ice right and that wasn't best on best you know like that's important to clarify like you know we were talking about yesterday where I'm like the Americans haven't won anything but the 96 World Cup and people, you know, writing me and in the comments are like, they want an 80. Yes, that was not, that was amateur hot, Wayne Gretzky wasn't there in 1980 playing, you know, Gila Fleur wasn't cruising around because Canada obviously would have won the gold. But you know, in terms of best on best best on best, it was the 96 World Cup.

And this is the truth that when I remember, I was young, you would have been playing in the league. When the Americans won in 96, it was, here's the next generation, the Americans have caught us, here they go, Gretzky's coming to an end, Lemieux's got health issues. And then it stopped in 02. And then it stopped in 2010, it was the same, look, the Americans are coming, look how good they are, they can do it, and then when Canada beat them in 10,

and then dominated in 14, and the Americans just faded, this is what has happened consistently for 30 years, where the Americans have come in waves, and you could certainly make the argument, this is the best group, for sure. I would say the one in the 90s was pretty damn good, too If you look at it with celly osin hull and Mcdano and Kachuk it like they were loaded that team They certainly were but this this team's a great team. The Americans are great team. There's no question, but

Until they actually win one of these Yeah, they're still the little brother. I'm sorry Canada's the powerhouse and They're still the little brother, I'm sorry. Canada's the powerhouse and that's what's on the line tonight. You have to bust through. That's what it is. On paper, this looks like a very pretty equal game. Coin flip game. Coin flip game.

And it should be right now with where both nations are in their development of hockey. Honestly, my biggest fear tonight is that Bennington doesn't get it done because we're talking Canada goaltending. Crease crisis, you're going to be on Jay yelling and screaming going, Crease crisis, we don't have a Vezna winner, we don't have a superstar in net like other countries. If Bennington, if they win tonight, it just silo, it just quiets it down for another year until the Olympics. Big time, that's it. But if they lose tonight and Bennington allows a bad goal,

then it's okay, well why wasn't Logan Thompson there? Do we have a star goaltender to push through? The cycle is down right now. We don't have the Bredeurs the was you know right down the line and and which is rightfully so but it's just that you're like it is a true yeah it's it's not wrong but it just i feel like and i've treated it like they're there though seven out of the ten i'd believe last ten cup winners

have been canadian they've got the job done. So Bennington's got to get the job done or else we are going to circle that position and say we need development. It would be so deflating if that happens where they're down 3-0 ten minutes in and it's three goals on five shots and you're like, come on man. And that could happen. Listen, it could happen to Hellebuck too and if Hellebuck that's why there's a

lot of pressure on Hellebuck. Bittington's got his cup you know and Bittington will have to battle for the net forever with Canada there's no guarantees he's the man next year but Hellebuck is the guy but if he can't perform in a big game like this he opens the door to someone else passing him for next year you know and USA hockey opening the door to someone else passing him for next year. You know, in USA hockey, opening the door to maybe we need change. And you know, I was thinking about that, the five stories to watch as I get to my Hazy B list, at number five I have that goalie battle because I think it is just so obvious. You know, it kind of goes without saying.

I think it's more directed towards Bennington. But again, because Hellebuck has been so great, plays in a Canadian city and his his playoff stats the last couple years have been what they've been they haven't been good they've completely fallen off a cliff so there's a ton of pressure on both guys and the nature of the position number four is McCarran McEvoy out this could be higher this could be higher I think this is you cannot underrate the significance of this are no you're under you don't underestimate it because it's the car could play thirty minutes yes he could be the best plan the ice tonight

and no one would be surprised right if he dominated the game you'd say that's a man that's that's what he does that's what it that's why one accounts might when i had the cup final that year was unbelievable that's gail mccarlin yeah and and there's not only a little bit right there's an opportunity right there's an opportunity now make no bones about it macavoy was a difference maker saturday night big massive he set the tone

i've never seen mcdavid get hit like that i was trying to think that myself i don't remember that happening i mean now he danced macavoy earlier in the game he he did but i mean mcdavid you could freeze frame and he was horizontal in the game. He did but I mean McDavid you could freeze frame and he was horizontal in the air. He got smoked, crushed. Like that is what that hit is is one where that's on the front cover of a of a sports page the next day the McDavid like horizontal in the air from that hit like that was a ridiculous score right away.

A clean hit too. Yeah, exactly. That wasn't a dirty hit. And honestly, it wasn't predatory. It was just a massive hit. Great NHL hit. Yeah, that was... Man, oh man, he stepped into it. He leveled the man. There was some chatter, I don't know if you guys talked about it, like should someone have tried to fight McAvoy and I don't know what like he the one thing is is McDavid I give him credit he got hit hard he got up and played like it wasn't hey we got a half now maybe regular season that little different that's a fight and and but in

this scenario where a penalty or a power play could be a difference maker he just got up and played hard you You gotta let it go. And I respected him on that. I agree. So McCarran is huge. McEvoy out, especially in Boston. He's the guy representing the Bruins for the Americans. That's number four.

Number three, admittedly this is biased to this city, but I got the Leaf players at number three. Like how does Austin play? How does Mitch play? We know their history in big games. They gotta own it. That's the reputation. You know, them know them the team the Leafs have the reputation the players have the reputation that when the going gets tough they don't

necessarily get going you know they they need big games tonight and I'm very curious to see how comfortable they look how much they play who they play with how Austin is feeling you know he missed the game on Monday he's been banged up Marner you know you had his opportunity to play with Mc Austin is feeling, you know, he missed the game on Monday. He's been banged up Marner, you know, you had his opportunity to play with McDavid. It didn't really work out They moved them down the lineup. So does he get in a position where he can move back up based on how he's playing? I'm not quite certain but the Leaf players and the roles that they play in this game. I've got it number three stories to watch tonight Number two I got

Sid on an island. Cindy Crosby the guy you know I referenced it earlier I was I was watching some video of the 04 World Cup which is again largely a forgotten World Cup but Lemieux was on the on the team. So you go from 87 Canada Cup to the 04 World Cup Lemieux was a part of it the whole way you know and obviously there was parts in the 90s there where he wasn't. But, you know, 87, 02, 04, that's Mario. And he's a part of it all, he's a leader in all of it.

And that's Sid, like Sid since 2010, 2010, 2014, 2016, and now 2025, the guy is a machine. And in terms of legacy building and all that kind of stuff, this is something that the other players didn't have an opportunity to play in but he could get something that no one else has You know like fairly or unfairly Gretzky couldn't play in an event like this or Lemieux or whatever He can just add another notch, you know three cops two gold Cup, World Juniors, four nations. Like it just, yeah, just adds it all. It becomes a resume that's basically unparalleled in men's hockey. It's unparalleled. Yeah, it is impressive. And you're right. It just adds to the legacy.

You know, just all of these storylines, you can just dive deeper into them. But I feel like, you know, O said it yesterday, this feels like a legacy McDavid play. I just don't, you know, you heard Ege talk and like, Sid, like, it's an honor to play on Sid's line. It's an honor to play, like, I just feel like he's built for this. And let's not forget, if he doesn't get on the bird

tonight or tomorrow with Kyle Dubasas and he's going back to Pittsburgh Yeah, and if he if he chooses like I don't want to be asked to be traded I want to finish my career in Pittsburgh. These are his Stanley's is the rest of the way up tonight's and the Olympics next year is his Stanley Cup based on where he is on his club team. Yep, and he's not he's not stupid He knows that the pens they're not winning anything anytime soon. They're not even close. Like not even close.

So I got Sid on an island at number two. And number one, stories to watch for tonight, I have the Kachuk brothers because I really think it's been their, it's been their tournament quite frankly. Like it really has been. Like the way that they, they've been the voice boxes for everyone They've been doing the media rounds. Yeah, they've been up there on the podium together

They've been talking about the group chat. They've been responding to Hegel You know, they're the Kachuk name is a legacy name in USA hockey. Yeah, it's this is the Exactly, and I'm fascinated to see what they bring tonight as Americans on American soil that the thing that I Worry in you know, I know Matthew and Brady quite well. I know, you know Keith very well as to what worries me and what Canada could maybe feast on is Canada could maybe feast on is their emotion in a too excited way. Because Matthew and both of them run hot. So if you could find a way in a scrum to draw an extra punch from one of them and the ref

goes, that's it, you. And you get two out of that and you score on that power. That's the difference maker. Because they run hot and you know that they're going to be going for broke tonight. It's all out there. And Matthew's a guy, I remember when he played in the playoffs against the Oilers. You know, Cassian chasing him around. It was Evander Kane and Edmonton.

Evander Kane went right at him and drew him in instead of Matthew drawing them in. So that's if I'm looking at a game plan for Canada is hey engage the Kachak brothers but whistle the whistle and if you have to take a punch you got to take a punch and you hope that you get a power play out of it. Almost let them run hot. That's the way I would do it. That's how you get to them. Let me ask you this question in terms of prediction. Canada's blowing out the US. Five-nothing,

five minutes to go. Brady Kachuk, do you think he's jumping, guys? Do you think he's doing what he does in Ottawa where he's dying for a fight and tries to grab somebody? I think he would. I think that's what would happen. I was just going to say yes. I feel like it's cuz if it's March and that says something to him You know pop him in the lips that's that's but he plays like that and this is the one thing Like he plays that like that on a Tuesday in November. Yes, so he's playing like that tonight That's what I'm saying. Like if it's a blowout, I think he's blowing a gasket Brady Sure

And I'm curious to see how it's handled the Americans may may just laugh at it, or Canadians could laugh at him and say, get out of here. You know, and if you go out Marchand, go for it. What he'll do is he'll pitchfork you or something. You know, like Brad Marchand is the definition of crafty and veteran when it comes to guys trying to come and get him. You know, like he'll chirp him and then Brady will come at him and he'll sandbag him somehow. Like that's how I could see it playing out. We got to go, I know, but keep in mind, there's lots of rivalries that are playing with each

other. Sam Bennett knocked Marshand out last year. Knocked him out. It was kind of a forearm shiver, man. That was a punch or forearm in the jaw. Like knocked him out. And really out of that series. They, like that's and they're playing together Yeah, they'll be now they win tonight. They're having a beer together

Absolutely, cuz Marchand's done it the opposite way many times like yes, he's got some guys too where it's like, yeah Alright, okay. We'll head to Boston one more time T up the game Ryan Rashad coming up best bets later in the hour overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. All right best bets coming up later in the hour overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Alright best bets coming up later in the hour and PJ Tour has issued a statement after their constructive working session at the White House today yeah how was that? Everything's coming together the reunification of golf it is rapidly approaching so we'll see what comes with that. But yeah, we got Canada, US, TD Garden down in Boston. Go time tonight. And this is one of those games, man. I really, I do think we'll

reference it for a long time, especially if it is a great game. You know, if it's a blowout or boring or something like that, that could be a different story, but I think if there's a ton of energy, there's animosity, there's maybe lead changes, it's close in the third, that's what you're looking for. And I think that's what we're all hoping for tonight, which will include a Canada win in the end, of course. Gotta conclude with a Canada win in the end. But yeah, let's head down there now

to boston here's ryan rishad uh... you've been down there for a few days shawter i mean how would you compare and contrast the energy the vibe today tonight compared to the last couple of days now we're finally close to part of yeah i mean i would say site were not in canada right in montreal this was a huge deal

and everybody was fired up for that Saturday night game. So, you know, staying right downtown, in and around the ring, just a little bit of a different feel, I think, when you get north of the border for these events. But lots of people are ready to go outside, lots of Canadians, you know, lots of high fives, walking to the rink and such.

So I think it's good and uh... not the same though that that i think it's not the same well it's i mean you can't beat the bell center on a saturday night you just can't beat it and that's kind of my point yeah yeah not the same now uh... anyway i'm with you on that go ahead and it was so shaggy what do you think is

the biggest story line i mean is it cindyrosby, is it McDavid who's got to grab this from a Canada side? What are you circling or focusing on for them to have success tonight? Jordan Binnington needs to not get in the way I think. He needs to just have a solid night and not have goals going in that has the bench and, and, you know, everybody's sagging. Uh, and I'm not trying to be hard on the goal center here, needles, but I think if you look at what's going on on the ice, you get McElvoy out, McCarr in, that's a huge swing from the last game. Um,

you know, you look at these lineups and amazing players on both sides, but where you hit a brick wall in this head-to-head is in net. And so Jordan Bennington, I would say, has given up a softie in each of the games. And I think that Canada's been able to survive it for the most part, but I just think tonight he needs to lock it down in a way that he hasn't yet. And so to me, that's my focus. I think that's the difference tonight is if Bennington can find a little bit more of a level than he's found so far.

Am I being too hard on him, buddy? You can hold me accountable if you want. No, not at all, because that's what we've been discussing. We've been discussing it forever. And I said just before you came on, my is that if Canada wins then we're not talking about You know a goaltending summit and hey We're in big trouble heading into the Olympics if they lose and you guys you just mentioned Bennington is at the forefront then you know the headlines are crease crisis and what's going on here

And where are we at with Canada, so you're bang on with it and what's going on here and where we are with Canada so you're bang on with it yeah and and you know what guys like I I felt heading into the third game that Hale would have been a good direction to go in because if you play Hale in that game and he plays really really well well now you've got a goalie that's put together an excellent game and you've got a decision to make for the final right you can kind of make your call right there. If he doesn't play fantastic and you likely squeak through anyways, then you go back to Binnington and that's fine too.

But I think by going all three with him, they gave themselves absolutely no choice. They never gave anybody else a chance to grab it in a more meaningful way than Binnington had and I think that third game was absolutely the place to do it. I think Bennington earned the second start by being clutching overtime in the first game so of course you give him that matchup but I think after what happened in the second game that's your window right there to say alright we're going to rescue give him a look and now you've maybe got a couple options on the table because the minute Bennington

started that game he was starting the final if they got to it almost regardless of his performance. With Ryan Rashog ahead of the game tonight, Canada, US down in Boston, in terms of the amount of minutes you would expect the top players to play, forwards in particular, let's start with McDavid. Do you see 24 minutes tonight, 25, is that possible in a game that's such a high pace like we're expecting tonight? What would be the minutes prediction for you? Yeah I mean he can handle it like he's a horse. I see the number of double shifts he gets back in Edmonton and long shifts and he can absolutely handle those minutes and

the pace is an issue for him. It's not like you're asking Zach Hyman to play 23 minutes out there. Right. Uh, that's a loaded statement. But it's not, it's different for Connor McDavid, right? So I think some of it depends on special teams. If there are a number of power plays, right? He'll, you know, eat up good buck, buck and a half of those. That's where his minutes creep up at Edmonton. If it's an even strength game

and there's not a lot of power plays, it wouldn't surprise me if he was in like 20 to 22 range because they are going to want to roll some lines and keep some other guys engaged. But my guess is he's in that 20 to 22 and a half range. So you mentioned Connor, and Coop mixed up the lines. It was Brayden Point that slid up there. It was Mitch Marner that came off that line and went down.

You think it was the right move and did you, you know, it's a lot tougher to find people to play with Connor than you would think, is it not? Yeah, yeah, and that's not any knock on him. I mean, I recall covering Sidney Crosby at multiple Olympics and, you know, best on best where a lot of the discussion was trying to figure out a line that works, trying to find a line base that works. Um, I think that decision was a game changer for John Cooper. You know, I, like when, when Braden point went in there, it worked immediately. And now they've got another full game under their belt of it working.

Braden point is just a, he can just do it all. He can get the corners and grind if he needs to, he can make plays. He can, you know, he can, he can put get the corners and grind if he needs to. He can make plays. He can, you know, he can, he can put the puck in the net when he needs to. It's been a great fit between him and McDavid and just an incredibly high skilled player, but who also plays the game with an energy that will meet the moments.

And you know, Mitch Marner's energy, Mitch Marner's physical engagement hasn't met the moments and it didn't work. He was never gonna be the guy that went into the corner and grinded it out for the line and to get the pucks out of there. It's, you know, and we were a little skeptical heading in having some people that watch McDavid all the time.

I'm looking at that line going, who's going to get pucks for him here? And that ended up being exactly what the problem was. So Point, much better suited to do that than Mick Marner was. the big CFC of Marner who's had a couple of moments here can find a way to contribute from where he is because they desperately need him tonight.

Well, it'll be interesting in terms of that that Maple Leaf conversation. Obviously we're having it a lot here. And you know, the big dog on the American team is supposed to be Matthews, but he hasn't really played up to that. I would argue that the Chuck brothers, some of the defensemen, Slavin, Wurenski, Hellebuck's

been outstanding. But you know, you look at Austin as the captain, what would you expect out of Matthews tonight? Yeah, I mean, this is where, you know, players that want to be considered among the best in the game right now, this is where you have to come out and find a way to make a difference. And Austin Matthews is the captain and is the player who should be in the discussion of the highest end players in the league. Yeah, I would expect Austin Matthews to try and find himself a moment tonight. He has the ability to do it, he's got the shot to do it.

And I think that that leaves for you guys, they can't take these opportunities lightly. To play on big stages and really meaningful games, this is a moment for Matthews to really test himself and to push himself on a stage like this because he wants to play on much bigger stages than this. And so how he does tonight, you would have to think he'd be a player and a person who sort of looks at this and goes, okay, this is a really good opportunity here mid-season to see where I'm at in these moments. So I'm fascinated to see what he's going to have in the tank tonight.

Now, we do know he's been a little banged up and we always allow for that, but he's good to go. All right. So speaking of banged up, Shogger, I mean, we're all focused on the Four Nations face-off. And you look at a lot of general managers and owners are showing some angst behind the scenes because you've got some players, Theodore McEvoy, the Kachuk brothers are banged up, Matthews doesn't seem to be 100%. They got to play on Saturday, or the club teams are playing on Saturday. Connor McDavid could win or lose tonight.

He's playing at one o'clock in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon. There are ramifications that turn around 24 hours from now. All of a sudden you got to snap out of it and you're back into, hey, we're in a playoff chase down the stretch here. How do you think that's going to go over yeah and you know that was a lot of talk heading in that's why maybe some of us weren't sure exactly what the caliber was going to be the players set the tone very early in this tournament but they were not here to tiptoe through the tulips it was going to be all in and

we've got a fantastic tournament as a result but to your point we've seen some significant injuries we've seen some tough stuff as a result. But to your point, we've seen some significant injuries. We've seen some tough stuff. You know, guys are some guys are getting sick. Some guys are getting worn down while the rest of the league has their feet up on a beach, chilling out and reloading. So a great example in McDavid, you know, at Coleman Arvidson, too, like it's it's I do think that the players have just decided they're putting that

for the most part aside that they're just willing in this moment to sort of put it all on the line regardless of what it might mean. I think the only difference we will see the only difference guys is like for instance Matthew Kachak right we saw him pull himself from that game and I think you know if that's a playoff game he doesn't do that. I do think that players if they feel they're at you know, if that's a playoff game, he doesn't do that. I do think that players, if they feel they're at risk of significant injury that's going to hurt them, they're probably not going to be willing to play through the same thing you would in a Stanley cup final, but beyond that,

they're blocking shots. They're making plays and taking huge bets. It's all on the line here except maybe that last five percent we'd play to stop me absolutely shouldn't enjoyed tonight right it's going to be a blast on their and uh... will do it again so thank you for this but alright take care guys there's rather shag

joining us here from boston ahead of the game tonight he's not rock i mean the bennington thing it it's not the elephant in the room, it's just the truth. It is goaltending in one game scenario unless it's just a route. If it's 6-1 and Hellebock falls apart but then it's still a goaltending story. To me it always is going to be unless it's just irrelevant but I feel like it's not going to be irrelevant in this one game takes all scenario. Yeah, seems unlikely because you know even if there's a like you can go back to 2010 the golden goal where Miller's probably like man I should have had that like yeah Sid got it off quick

but from the angles. Bad angle five hole like it's not a great goal. Gotta have it yeah that's and that's the thing of that that goal goes in on Bennington tonight in overtime like you gotta have that you know and conversely if in on bidding to train overtime like you gotta have that you know and conversely it goes on hellebuck you gotta have that but well you know what the the thing that's lost in all of this is there's overtime which is three on three which is not like the n h l format yep and then there's a shootout if you go ten minutes

so it's a good point budget shootout tonight for that uh... well what that takes away ninety eight what what what what to the shoot over has a quiet ninety eight That's a good point. There's a shootout tonight for that? Well what, was it 98? Who went to the shootout where Hasek won? That was 98. Yeah, 98. Yeah. And Gretzky, who didn't shoot?

Gretzky didn't shoot. Yeah, Mark Crawford didn't put him out. Yeah, but it just like, I feel like that would put a damper if it's like, hey, you know what you've had? You've had an unbelievable 70 minutes minutes or 60 minutes and then 10 minutes of three on three that probably had chances at both ends and then it's a shootout. Yeah, that would dampen a lot. I mean that really would for both. I mean whoever wins they're not going to they're going to say who cares these are the rules and those are

the rules. Okay, yeah, but so a doogie is you know what I must have misspoken though here final rules 20 minutes five on five golden goal all of my life all i i i didn't know that either i did not know that that's good so that we're not going to run into that scenario i don't want to be on top of it that's great to know i i did not i wasn't i wasn't aware that they had made rule changes for this guy kept thinking like

if this goes to three on time i don't know i mean i get just so it is n.h.l. flat out rules here so it looks like you're here is great that's where she really that's exactly that that meet a credit to the age of as they knew what we were just talking about would have been the reality that they have having a shootout would just dampen everything you can have it yeah um... but that so we're guaranteed to see a winner tonight. Someone is going to score a game winning goal. Awesome. All right. We'll come back with our best bets powered by FanDuel. T up the game one more time. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 2. All right.

Today's best bets are powered by FanDuel. Make your picks and assemble a same game parley in seconds on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. Got a little three game parlay here. Under the number five and a half. I just feel, it feels three two, two one, four one maybe. Yeah. Just feels like a tightly checked, not a ton of chances, ease into a tight night. That's just kind of what I'm anticipating.

Sid with a point, McDavid three plus shots. That pain plus five forty six today's best but the power by fando live singing parlays now available every nba game and a child game wherever you want to find on the fando sportsbook at least for a response we nineteen plus physically located in ontario well yes and i i feel like it is going to be a tight check game. I don't know. Every

time you've got that feeling, it's going to be this. I'd love to see 6-5. Like, I would absolutely adore that. Like, I want to be wrong desperately. I would love lead changes. I'd love craziness, hits, fights, odd man rushes. But 6-5 Canada. If it's 6-5 US, we've got a goaltending problem. That's the problem I see. I hear you right because they're gonna be bad goals involved Not all six are gonna be beauties right if you lose six five and you if you're Canada you lose six five We're talking about Bennington. Yeah, if if if they win if Canada wins six five It's kind of like hey they got he got it done regardless

And maybe you look at hellebuck and go geez you know that that's you know a six spot. So I I don't know I I you're right lead changes excitement I just feel like we'll all be on the edge of our seat but you know this is why you play the game. This is why you play. Yeah this is why you play and I think in reality if they lose that goaltending chat is happening anyway like that's like if they lose the goaltending jad is happening but that's like if they lose one nothing tonight people gonna be like what are you gonna do next year blah blah blah but i do think on the other side if bittington plays while they win

then everyone will breathe and say see that's why hockey canada did what they did like a diet it feels it was premeditated like before the tournament started there just like bittington's playing and that's it like that's just the one it's going to be. And you know, Army even said it on our show, he's like, they're in the final. Like that, you know, you basically, this guy's gotten you to the final regardless of whether you like him or not or whatever, you've got a one game scenario, yes it's on the road, but he's won on the road in a game seven so he's got a replicated again and

he was a big factor in that game keep in mind like when they won the cup he was a big factor on the road in game seven I want to say that game was like was it two one like it was a tight oh yeah it was a huge say exactly what we're anticipating kind of what it to be like tonight you know it's like who won game seven last year in Florida right exactly same exactly. Same thing back in 2019. So we'll see. We'll see what comes of it tonight. We'll have a full breakdown tomorrow as we always do and thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. Thanks to everyone for tuning in today. TV, radio, podcast, web, we appreciate it. It's gonna be a fun one

tonight. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the game tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4 p.m. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the game tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4pm. We'll check that in lights camera action. The 2025 Juno Awards are hitting Vancouver on March 30th and I heart radio is your ticket to the stars hosted and performance by Michael Buble. A final performance by Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees, Sum 41, and more. You can win an iHeartRadio experience with tickets, flights, and a three-night stay at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

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