OverDrive - OverDrive - January 5, 2026 - Hour 1 - Jeff O'Neill

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss Canada's defeat in the semifinal and the downfall against Czechia, Auston Matthews achieving the Maple Leafs' all-time goals record and his performance through the season, Matthew Schaefer's impressive season with the Islanders and Morgan Rielly's concerns on the blue line. O-Dog joins to dive into Canada playing for a bronze medal, Czechia's significant win and Matthews' goal record in Toronto.

This hour of overdrive is powered by Fanduil. Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go, Overdrive, Off and Running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker, up on TSN4, Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles, McLennan. And I think it's fitting. It's 2 o'clock, Eastern Time noodles. After the holidays, no one knows what the hell's going on. Why not just start it, too?

And here we are for the next two hours. Listen, the first and foremost, Happy New Year, when do we stop saying Happy New Year? I think that's the end of it right there. I think we can maybe throw one out to, oh, he'll join us later this hour, Mark Schlerath, you know, in the next hour. That's about it. I don't think much beyond today. I felt like there is an expiration date on Happy New Year, so I wanted to get that out of the way. And we could not not come on today.

Like, that's the thing. Like we both have had the Christmas off, all of that type of stuff. I've seen you worked a little bit. You've worked a little harder than I have, but I've been calling games. But that being said, there's just so much to talk about. And this World Junior team, man, I'm pissed because we should have just had a four o'clock show. Yeah, they're jam on us. The backstory here is, obviously, the bronze medal game, you know, we're going to play it on TSN and throughout the TSM Radio Network,

which we have been doing throughout the tournament, and that will, continue to happen. If they won last night, the game's at 830 tonight, we're on regularly scheduled programming, but because they lost and Chequia owns Canada, which is just a wild statement to make, but they do, they play at 430, pregame at 4, so we're on at 2. Cause was nice enough to move down a couple of hours. We're shuffling here, and we're adjusting on the fly. And the O'Dag, again, is still in Minnesota, obviously doing the panel for the game this afternoon he'll join us in about a half an hour but it is one of the more wild developments i can think of as a canadian sports fed noodles that chequia owns Canada they own Canada and it's

not just the world juniors let's not forget about 98 that's when it started like crawford gretzky hashikinette that was the beginning of it like you look at the last 30 years they have stuffed Canada in a locker on multiple occasions in big, big games. The Hasick one is still outrageous, but I remember Al McKinness telling me when he, I was playing with Al McKinness at the time. So Olympic break, get back, they lose all. Al McKinness flat out told me right to my face. I'll never forget this moment.

And I've seen Al recently, maybe last month in St. Louis. He's like, I wish I had just taken a slap shot off of his head. Like, I remember him saying like, like he goes, I should have just. just blasted a slap shot because that hasick was ridiculous never how good i mean he they won gold that's how good like that was at his the height of his power yes like in 98 dominant i mean this is a guy with gretzky and lemieux in the league that won heart trope not just besna's heart he has six besna he's got two hearts crazy as well so that's how good this goaltender is but i'll never forget al saying that and he was like i feel like he's joking but

he's not you know i don't know i'd never i'd have to ask him that but like i'll never forget that statement because you know there was such a uproar whether gretsky should have shot or not all of that type of stuff i didn't put the two and two last night i'm laying in bed after the loss and i'm trying to process as to do we need a hawkett summit do we need you know is is canada falling behind some of these countries because they're more concerned about x y and z i don't know i don't have the answer, I'm not a junior hockey, you know, dominant voice. I really, I watch as much NHL as anybody out there. But when it comes to junior, I just, I don't have the time. I pay attention. But the world junior is must watch. And I'm just so disappointed in a lot of

different levels. You saw some of the emotion of those kids and stuff. But Czechia played awesome. They were better than them. They deserve to win that game yesterday. They didn't get goalie. Last night, they didn't run in, you know, yes, they had an injury that affected their lineup, but it wasn't like they were, you know, just loaded with injuries and there was nothing Dale Hunter could do. Chequia played better, period. They were better from the puck dropping and hitting the ice all the way until the final bustle. They were more resilient.

They continued to push play. They were more aggressive. They were more cohesive. Top to bottom, they were just better. And that's staggering. Like, it really is. It is. It's disappointing, and I will say this, and I'm consistent with this, and I know I get some pushback.

I hate the reffing, and, like, the reffing is out. Buckle up at the Olympic Games. I've been talking about that since the Four Nations noodles. Ryan, I am so. Seeing some of these calls and some of these guys with their microphone there and trying to figure it out, I want to crawl through my TV and choke some of them. It's so aggravating. It's so aggravating.

I hate, and I know because. That's not what. they lost and i know you're not saying that i'm not saying that at all i'm not saying that at all because they earned that penalty in the last minute or whatever yeah rationing earned it like he buried that that was caprio's on furor back in the thing it literally was one of the hardest running of the goaltender and he's like i could see his words going i got pushed by who yeah like it was it was a tap and you buried that guy it was it was it was chipper it was on on fierce it really was but like outside like the penalty shot i thought was a soft call to start off with

and then to double down and give them another one i've never seen that before either i i was like what is going on here again i am not blaming the refs they earned like i just my point is is if this continues on into the olympics which it's going to we have to we have to change our expectations that's what i was watching last night that's it's it's And that's an important element to all of this, is that, again, we're looking at this. I think a lot of people, through the lens of the four nations. And I said it after that gold medal game. I remember coming on the air saying, enjoy it while you can.

That's not happening at the Olympics. And I know people understand that. Right. But it's a completely different game in terms of the way it's officiated. How, what they're looking for, how much they protect, you know, the goalies, the crease, you know, any big hit. they're looking for it. Like they are waiting to blow it down and they will call it. And it's different rules.

It's a different pace. Again, I think Canada is suited for that because it is about, you know, defensive play. It's about speed. It's about transition. It's about, you know, capitalizing on a special teams, which this Canadian team did on the power play. They were phenomenal on the power play. I expect Canada at the Olympics to be great on the power play. There's no reason why they wouldn't be.

But it's a different game. It's not, and it used to be, it felt like it maybe I'm wrong in this. And maybe we've got to reach out to like Bobby Mac or something or get Gordon on to talk about it. Right. But it, and I recall talking about this last year where it felt much, it felt more blunt last year, right? Like it was much more blunt the last two years because it was in the quarterfinals. This was in the semis. This checky team clearly is very good.

I mean, the reporting on that was well sourced that people said the coaching staff and the Federation really love their team and they look like it like they look like a really good team i i think they can and i think they will win tonight actually i'm kind of leaning on on check you're winning tonight but it was a scenario where it felt like in the past 20 30 years ago physicality was much more significant at this tournament yeah it was about hitting it was about the canadians being bullies and i don't maybe it's we don't produce players like that anymore maybe it's the natural transition of the game that the game is just changing, even at the NHL level.

It's very different. It's not nearly as physical as it once was, not nearly as intimidating as it once was to step on the ice in the NHL or on the international level. But if that has been balanced out, and it is more or less who can play their system, who can get big stops, who can stay disciplined, you know, as opposed to who's going to go in there

and just be energetic and blow the doors off teams, then it's going to balance out. Yes. And that's what we've seen, because the other teams can catch up with that. Where if it's a crazy take it to the alleyway type game, I don't think Jackie can play like that. In fact, I know they can't. I think Canada could put together a team that would go out there and bury them. But that's not the way the game is played, and that's not the way it's officiated.

It's a great point because that's the playing field has been leveled, where it's like the way they call the game is conducive for everybody to feel like they're not intimidated they can go out and play and i get it you're trying to respect the headshots and all of that but there's some where they're looking at it and the guy gets a little tap on the chin and they're like oh is this a five or is this we're not sure and i'm like i'm trying to figure out again taking my old man hat off my old school mentality all that so i'm trying to like be reasonable but you're i i can't there's no predictability about it like i'm watching it going well that i don't think that's a penalty.

Oh, it's a five. Okay, that's a five. I didn't realize that. You know, Zane Perrette took a shot on the chin. I think it was a couple games back, and the guy got five on it. I was like, I don't, I mean, it was a guess it was five. And we'll see what happens at the Olympics, like on the men's, you know, this is still junior hockey, and I'm sure they're told to officiate more diligently or more carefully,

I would think. But it is going to be different. And the officials, you know, they could factor in. And, you know, another thing that needs to be considered that is brought up is Celebrini could have been playing. Schaefer could have been playing. Correct. Like, we are, because Canada has so many elite, elite players that make the NHL, it's going to, you know, water down the pool to an extent. Which is fair.

Which has always been the case. And certainly has been the case recently. And Celebrity and Schaefer are perfect examples of that. Could you imagine what those two guys would be doing in that tournament? This Schaefer kid the other night. He's unbelievable how good he is. And I didn't, I'm reading the notes this morning. Apparently he was sick and under the weather.

Yeah, it wasn't feeling great. Wasn't feeling great. Well, he felt pretty good in the third period. I would say so. I'll be honest, I didn't notice him. You know, I didn't notice him that much. I noticed him, but it became the Matthew show, and I was like, okay, you know, we're watching that. But I didn't notice Schaefer having these bursts, like in other games that I've watched him.

But then he just came alive. Yeah, he can fly, man. And he did the exact same move that Austin had, same goal, exact same goal, you know, and you're like, okay, this kid is feeling, he can skate. And then he takes a little, whatever, the forearm, you know. It was like a cross check from Domey. He gives him a cross check. Wasn't that hard, though.

He just kind of, give him a little love to do what he was doing. Right spot. But then he comes back, and I'm like, this guy is all over. And getting back to it, he's a special player. The Islanders have themselves a special player. and it's he's a cornerstone kids 8 like 18 like my my daughter's 13

and I'm pointing to the screen like that kid is five years older than you and he's dominating in the NHL not just play oh his numbers are crazy like Mike Kelly posted his numbers again today in terms of like rush chances zone entries exits like it's top of the league period that includes kale McCarr and Quinn Hughes

like we're talking that's Why, I thought it was a legitimate debate whether or not he'd make the team. And, you know, he didn't. The reasoning is fairly simple. It's not overly complex. He's 18. And they're probably thinking we just don't know if we can trust them with the lights being that bright. But that's a game changer you're leaving home.

And that's the thing about this junior scenario where last year it was, well, Dave Cameron isn't the right coach. Or they didn't bring enough skill. Well, this year they brought all the skill and they brought Dale Hunter. Right. So all of a sudden, which one is it? It's probably neither. It's just the other team was better. And the Canadian teams, for whatever reason, couldn't get up in the moment.

You know, like they didn't play great last night. And that's something that obviously you can have to figure out because you're coming home next year. And last thought on this, it is a testament to the greatness of the program and the history that they're playing for bronze today. and it's, you know, it's looked down upon. A disappointment. It's such a disappointment. And that's a reality check. Like, that's how high the expectations are, not that we don't know that,

but that they've met them and exceeded the expectation so many times over the last 40 years that they could win a bronze in three or four hours and, you know, it won't be celebrated. Yeah. You know, it'll be happy for them. And I hope they get up off the mat and go play. You know, you might as well. You've got another game to play. Finland's a good team.

Yes. Go out there and play. It's not going to be a cakewalk. No, it's not. Once those teams get near the top there, the Sweden, Finland, Czechia, you know, USA dropped out. Like USA didn't get the play for a medal. And Russia's not even in it. You know, Russia's a powerhouse at this tournament.

Yes. It is unique. It's disappointing. But I wanted to hear what other people have to say, because I've got my own opinion, but it's, I don't know of hockey Canada needs a summit i don't think they need anything there's great hockey players like it was a great game yeah and they just you know again checkie has got their number and it's very clear that the players on the ice are aware of that they didn't have enough guys step up in the moment last night that's a big part of it they're young you know they're young guys but that happens to to veterans

that happens to the best players yeah and they just didn't have the race stuff and you know always been covering this turning for a long time he played in it he'll join us in 15 minutes and we'll get his take on it and what can we can expect this afternoon. But you mentioned Saturday, and it was the Austin Matthews show. And, you know, I found it somewhat unfortunate. And so very typical of the Leaf history and specifically with him on it, that the first game he ever played, he scored four, and they lost overtime.

I was just going to say, I was just going to say, we were there day one. This guy puts up four. We forget that they lost in overtime. Kyle Turus in overtime right down Broadway, scored on first. Freddie Anderson. Top shelf. Saturday night, he puts on a clinic, scores to, the bench is clear, you've got a lead, and they lose an overtime.

You know, it's like a 10-year bookend of history with the same result, which is, again, typically leafy and disappointing. But I think what was, obviously this was, you know, going to happen. The guy, we've known about this for years. You know, I tweeted out the other night that he basically. put the record book on notice that first game in Ottawa. Like when he scored four, you're like, if this guy

plays 10, 12, 15 years here, he's going to catch Sundeen. Like, they're going to set new records, and I thought the same thing of Marner and likely Neelander, not to the same extent 10 years ago, but certainly Matthews and Marner, I thought, could do that. Marner obviously won't because he's not here anymore. But the fact that

he did it in so few games, you know, he's 28 years old, he's still in his prime, but I think in terms of the micro view of this I'm happy for him and Lee fans that he's come alive to do it right

like he's playing really well he didn't limp into it he didn't limp into it late February right he's on pace for 21 goals brutal season you're like oh man good for you you know gets it in a law like a blowout loss or something yeah you know like with Tavares earlier in the year

he scored 500 and they were in was getting pumped and it was disappointing where this was a go-ahead goal yes it was on the road i'm very curious what the leaves do for him tomorrow night they better be ready to celebrate i'm sure they will be um again somewhat fitting florida's in town waiting for him tomorrow but you know the guy he's uh he's a he's a one-man show and he has been since day one like the way he plays the game is so electric he's coming alive he's scoring a lot of goals but it's not just that He looks good. You know, he's got linemates that are seemingly working with him.

McCann and Domi will see, or McMahon and Domi, we'll see how long that last because Berube is always flipping guys around. Right. But I think he's got to be very encouraged with the way he's playing right now. Yeah. Well, he's, for me, Brian, like, they need him, and he's the only reason why, in my opinion, they're grabbing points. Like he's, he looks like the Matthews that we've seen in past years where he's dangerous every time he's out there.

That wasn't the case two and a half weeks ago or whatever it was, but he now has come back, especially since Christmas, come back and looks healthy, looks motivated, looks quicker, if that makes it, it looks quicker, he looks like he's getting a shot off. Was it, I mean, we were on this show. You had said there was a shot. remember he had over the blue line. Was it overtime? He didn't shoot from there, right? And who went back the other way and they scored? And I can't remember who it was.

I'm blanking on the game now. Yeah, so am I. I'm blanking on it. They all morphed together. I don't remember anyway. Whatever it was. He shoots that puck now. Two and a half weeks later or three weeks later, that shot.

And it's a dangerous shot. He did it against Detroit the other day. He had a rocket of a shot. Hit the cross. Same play. Five feet over the blue line and just rifled it. Right. So that is come back to life.

What they need is others. Yes. You need others. But others aren't around. That's the thing. Like now Jake McCabe's out for a week. And Willie's, you know, on IR, I think he'll be back soon, but not likely to play tomorrow. I am worried the news about TANF.

I'm worried, you know, on a lot of things. But the players in the lineup, you know, Tavares has been quiet. Empty net goal here and there. like very quiet and listen he's 35 years old but he's had a good start to the season they need him they need him and and i keep saying this there was a tweet from erin port's line yesterday i don't know if you saw it because columbus has won four or five in regulation they've made zero ground up yeah and he's saying like his team's got eight to ten points and they've done nothing they haven't gotten off the mat the leaps have got 10 of

the last 12 they're last in their division still but but that's the crazy part at some points something has to give, you have to give yourself the opportunity to do that by getting points nightly, loser point here, win, like, win there. Like, you've got to, you've got to do it, and it just can't be Austin Matthews. You are going to need other players. Yes. And we have seen some life, you know, Nick Robertson. I've liked that line.

That Waugh-Robertson-Line, I think, has been very good. Got some jump. Yeah, they've got some jump. I like that line. You know, listen, Domi and McMahon are what they are. domi defensively and all that but i'm willing to accept the deficiencies if it gets the big guy going and it has and you're right like matthews is the reason they're winning they're getting points and there's probably going to be more there's probably more pressure on him right now than at any

point in his career you know and obviously playoffs notwithstanding in specific games you go to a game seven obviously there's a ton of pressure on a player but they're in last place in the division they buried themselves with the way they played their first 30 games Tannav may not play again this year we'll see McCabe's out Willie's out who knows if Stollars what's going to happen there and you've got

Carlo I think will return soon but you've you got a scenario here where I think he's got to be one of if not the best player in the league the final 40 games of the season for them to get in which is crazy to say

but we've seen it out of some other players, not to this extent, and you always need someone to ride with you, right? Like you can point to McDavid, Dry Settles there with him. You're right, noodles, like someone else, and I think it's got to be Willie, clearly. He's got to get healthy and get cooking because he was playing really poorly prior to that injury. But there is more pressure facing him.

You can throw the Olympics into it too because, you know, the Olympics, the Americans have never won gold with the NHL players there. He's going to be the captain of that team. Yeah. They have the highest expectations I can recall in the last 30 years. And rightfully so. Rightfully so because of how good they are and how deep they are. So he's got to juggle that with the fact that he's dragging this team out

and he's not got a ton of help. And it's asking a lot. But it comes with the territory. You're the captain, you're 28. You get paid a lot of money. Like $14 million a year. You've got to go out there and chug, man. He's got to be great.

He's got to be the best goal score in the league the rest of the way. The only scary, but there's lots of scary things we could talk about. They've still had the lightest schedule. Now, that's the thing. Like, hey, we're down in New York the other night. That's an hour flight. They're back in their bed. Yep.

Like, they haven't gone down, you know, it's not into Colorado, Utah. Right around the corner. It's coming. Exactly. I looked at their schedule. January, I think, to go twice out, out west or out there. And then after the Olympics in that, it seems like they play, I feel like they play. I feel like they play every night, like down the stretch.

Well, that's going to be it. Like, you've got a certain amount of games until you get to the break. You've got to be within striking distance. Yeah. Which is three or four points at most. Like, if you're five, six points out and you've got to jump eight teams, that's too much. Yeah. So you've got to be within a few points of striking distance and find a way to recalibrate

and get hot the final 18 to 20 games. You know, someone's going to get in. by coming out of the break going 15, 4, and 1, you know, something like that, or 16, 3, and 2 and get in. And that's going to have to likely be the least because of the situation they put themselves in. But you talk about pressure and what is needed.

Morgan Riley is in the crosshairs right now in this market. And that was maybe the worst game I've ever seen a play on Saturday night. He was, he single-handedly cost him that game. Like, you can't sugarcoat it. He was terrible. And defensively, he's really strong. struggling this year. But they need them maybe more than ever

right now. Because Tana's not playing. And you know, again, Carlos is going to return, but McCabe's out for a week, which with the Leafs, it might be a month. You know, who knows when McCabe's coming back? He's got a lower body injury. You need him, Ekman, Larsson.

They're going to play 25 minutes a night. They're not going to sit, Riley. They can't. They're not going to play Marshall Refai. They're not going to play Simone Benoit, 28 minutes. No, you can't. He's got to be better.

Like, he's got to be egregiously better than the way he's played, specifically defensively. It's got to happen. 100%. The problem is, Brian, 100%. The problem is, is when they were all healthy, they were a group that slotted nicely because everyone complimented each other. You had Riley with Tanna, you know, and McCabe and Carlo, like everybody was kind of,

hey, this was a compliment for you. They weren't this top-tier defensive group, but they worked well together as a pack of six, right? That's six not there. No, and it's not going to be there anymore. So what you're doing is you're going, okay, Morgan Riley, we need you to be, you know, a star as a one. You know, he's, if you look at other defensive course,

he's probably farther down what you would typically say as a one. Then you start looking at Benwaz, you know, the Stetcher's and that. Stetcher's a great. story but if you're asking a lot you're asking a lot of players Meyer you know again yeah six seven but he's got to play three four you know Beckman Larson was one a cup as a five six right because he was that's what he was last year is a third pairing guy and and excellent but now you hey we need you to play in the two spot we need you to play in the three and guess what you're getting you know you're getting everybody else's top players and it's going to cause a lot

of stress. So coming back to it, are they capable of doing it in a 10-game sequence? Absolutely. But you need, comes back to Morgan Rally. You need Morgan Rally to play the way Morgan Rally's capable. And that's skating, jumping up in the play, being an offensive threat, yes, defensively, you just can't stabilize. He's never going to be a great defense. He's not, it's not going to happen. It never has throughout his career, but it's the worst he's played defensively. He's always been average at best defensively or a bit below it. He's pulling pucks out of his net every

night. You know, and you can't get burned. You can't make misreads that he's a veteran guy. He's been in the league a long time. He's their longestanding player. You've got to rely on that. You know, control the front of the net and just find a way to contribute here because they need them. It's not

going the other way because they don't have the option. There's no protecting him right now. He's got to step up and elevate. Exactly. We'll see if he can do it. All right, we'll head down to Minnesota, catch up with the O-Dog. Get his take on what happened to Canada last night. What does he make a Matthews passing Sundeen's record? We'll get into a number of things with him.

More into the NFL, the Jays make another big splash. We'll touch on that. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. I'm Dylan Playfair. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship.

This is bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeart Radio Network or wherever you get your podcast. All right, Overdrive continues, powered by Fandu, bringing you more ways to play your game your way. We're on from 2 to 4 Easter today because Chekia had to go ahead and beat Canada last night. So now Canada is playing the bronze medal game, which is in a couple of hours, and that'll be heard right here on TSN and, of course, seen on TSN, and that means Czechos playing Sweden in the gold medal game tonight. But we will resume regular programming tomorrow, 4 p.m. Eastern.

And I don't know if our buddy will be back or not. I hope so because his team went plus 21 making NFL picks this year. And Al's brother and I could not have done it unless we picked up the waiver. claim of the century bringing the O-Dog in and it was just phenomenal to have him as a part of the ride he jumped ship at about minus 15 on the other side erroneous erroneous erroneous to the wolves but I still remain positive clean slate in the playoffs you guys can win the regular season we'll take the playoffs okay I want to be the Florida partners here he is the O'Dog Jeff O'Neill congrats oh and uh an absolute pleasure making history with you this season

I have to tell you, Hazy-B. It was kind of as a broadcaster, disappointing that I have to go and do a bronze medal game. But when I think of HBO, it makes me smile, and it's just the cohesiveness in working with you, too, and seeing how a proper operation runs, I'm very proud of that, and it made me smile this morning. And I would just like to say, come playoff time, if that, flying, what does he call it, a windbag or a... It's no thing without the ring or something like that. The floating bag, that's what he calls you a floating bag.

That's scumbag, floating bag, Luke. If he thinks that we don't start the playoffs with some kind of plus advantage, he's sorely mistaken. Oh, no, no. The regular season, you don't... Hang on a sec, Jamie. Hang on a sec. If you think it's fair, just to start the playoffs even,

we start with a plus two or plus three advantage, and that's just the advantage of winning the regular season. Well, so the president's trophy in the NHL, what did they get? Did they get two extra wins to start a playoff in the first round? Yeah, they start two-nothing in the first round. No, they don't. It's even keel. You guys won the regular season quite handily.

Okay, so if you win the bag, the floating bag. If you guys win the floating bag win the playoffs, does that mean you win at all? Or like, how is he going to equate that? Well, that's going to be his stance. That'll be Luke Stance floating bag. I can guarantee you that. There is a difference between regular season and the playoffs. We see it all the time.

The President's trophy team last year was, who, Winnipeg Jets? They didn't win the Stanley Cup. The Florida Panthers barely, you know, scraped into the playoffs. I wouldn't say scrape in third place and their division. They win the Stanley Cup. I think when the chips are down, it's an even keel. You guys are regular season heroes. We'll accept that.

We'll accept that. We'll accept that we are regular season goats, and that we're going to follow it up with just a spectacular run in the playoffs. I'm not concerned at all. You guys are the Carolina Panthers. You're eight and nine. You shouldn't even be in the playoffs. That's the truth. No.

Forget us. You're right. I don't know how we're in the playoffs, but put it this way. We might be the L.A. Kings, though. Remember when the Kings won their first cup and they got in an eighth place and lived their way in. You would play Daryl in that role. Exactly. Well, when the chips were down last night, oh, I mean, you were there.

Yeah. Nudles and I have given our kind of take on it all. What happened? Like, how did you see the outcome and what do you make of it the next day? You know what, guys, it just came down to the Canadians. I mean, throughout the tournament, I was asked a few times, like, what are they? What are they attached to? And a part of it was scoring goals because they could do that.

But I think the undoing of the team was their ability to keep it out of their net. And that cost them big time, and it cost them playing for the gold medal. If you look at elite competition, they gave up four to the fins. They gave up five to the checks and the round play. And then they gave up a six spot again. So it was like when critical moments, and I'm sure coaches would want them to be able to defend and kind of peak in that area at the most critical times. They just couldn't do it.

they couldn't keep the puck out of their net, whether it was turnovers, defensive play, defensemen just defending in front of the net, or just simple mistakes. They just, they couldn't do it at critical times. They made a game of it. Porter Martone scored a big goal to kind of tie it up, and it was like, okay, let's take our chances in overtime,

and they just couldn't get it to overtime. So I thought it was a gold medal winning team, but like I don't believe we need a hockey summit. I think it was Canada's best team. There was a bunch of high-end players, but let's not. take away from the checks. James Duthy's been telling me all year, I think this is

the Czech's best chance at a gold medal, and they kind of just played better. They kind of beat Canada at their own game. It's like when they did turn those pucks over, man, those checks can, the quick strike offense, they can make plays and they can put it in the back of the net, and basically all facets of the game, they were probably better last night, and that's the end of it. I don't think there's anything to feel bad about or start

questioning things. There were a bunch of good players. they just couldn't get it done and the checks played better. That's where I was going to go, oh, so you're fine with, you know, not having a summit or anything like that. Lots of good players coming out of Canada, but do you feel like, you know, some of these other countries have really put a lot of resources and time and money into their programs? Has the playing field evened out a little bit more, in your opinion, over the last couple years? I think so, Jamie. I mean, the checks and, you know, they're playing the Swedes and the fine.

And for years, it seemed like the Swedes could never get into that gold medal game. And now you're seeing something different this year. I think for Canada to just assume they're going to win the gold medal, which a lot of, like, for 10 years I've been doing this tournament, it seems like Canada had a really good chance. Obviously, there are some down years, the last two years losing in the quarterfinals. But you look at the American program, they were so good for a couple years. And this year they got bounced in the quarterfinals.

So I think it's good to kind of mix it up for the tournament and get some different teams. in there, but obviously selfishly doing for the broadcasting. I would have loved an American Canada matchup, and I would love an American Swedish matchup today, but it's not happening. Yeah, it's too bad, and yet that's why you play the games. You know, Czechia was

better. That's exactly right. Yeah. You know, 16 of them are playing in the CHL. A bunch of them are first and second round picks. Like, they got really good players, and they looked like it last night, and you know, it's too bad. Canada's got to find a way to get up off the mat. Finland's going to be ready to go,

Finland's happy with a bronze. Finland's happy to beat Canada, and it's not going to be easy in a couple of hours. But, you know, we were talking about the officiating, oh, and I know it's different on a junior level. But I do think it's a good precursor for what's coming in the Olympics. You know, we've talked a lot about it the last year. It is not the four nations.

This will not, there will not be hits and fights and scrums. It doesn't happen. They can't wait to blow the whistle. They can't wait. And a lot of those were penalties last night. Like, Reschney Perry. Some of them, Hayes, he did, but there was some, you know, you get cross-checked in front, and then all of a sudden you bump into the goal, you're going off for goaltender interference.

But you're right, that one there, like, he deserved that penalty. He blatantly ran the goaltender over, but you're right with the big hits. You can just see they're looking around. They're like, it's been like that and kind of international competition where if there's a massive hit, it's like, in a big noise, it's like the rest, like, do I got to call a penalty on that? because that was just violent. So it's just something to look for for Canada. And it's almost a disadvantage because every year I do this tournament

and I don't care if I repeat myself and it's the same thing. But one of Canada's advantages always has been. Obviously there's, Brian, you've talked about it for years. They have the elite talents, whether it be Gretzky, Lemieux, Crosby, McDavid, McKinnon. But I think their biggest strength is just kind of overwhelming the opposition in the offensive zone with physicality. it's like they play the ground and pound game better than anybody and you add in that elite skill it's really tough to compete against and if it's kind of called differently and you're a little bit tentative to run somebody over then you've got a different ball game you're almost leveling the playing field so on saturday night matthew sets the record we all knew it was coming he's up to 421 goals which is just remarkable passing matt sundeen and doing it in like 300 plus fewer games than sundaean which is again insane um and he's playing great like he's he's playing great and this team

there's more injuries mccabe's out for a week will he's still out danev we're not sure when he's going to play again if at all this year stole us who knows um i know you've been tracking the the juniors but i'm sure you want to give you two cents on matthews considering what he's done throughout his career and i i said earlier i think it's i think it's comforting that he did it in a fashion where he looks like he's back he's chugging man he had a hat trick the night before he looks vintage he's skating he's shooting he's playing

aggressively he didn't just limp towards the record book here he went and got it throughout his career and he's certainly done it the last two weeks yeah and it kind of takes you back to that the beginning of it we were all in Ottawa watching him rip home the first four and for him

to continue on at that rate and throughout the season guys I'm sure it's plainly obvious that's certain things in the league have started to rise up, whether it be the Florida Panthers or the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid, Brad Marchand, it's like it's starting to really pick out.

And the one thing that was kind of missing from all of that was Austin Matthews, and is desperately needed for him, especially now with all the injuries, for him to elevate and continue at that pace, because without that, I don't know where they are. They desperately need him to continue to score and be a dominant player if they're going to kind of stick around and get back in this race.

going to be awfully difficult regardless. Their schedule in the second half is going to be so tough that if they don't have that guy dialed in on all levels, they're going to have a really difficult time making the playoffs. Yeah, and it changes everything. We've talked about it before that it doesn't matter the sport.

If your best player is not playing at the height of his talents or abilities, everything feels off. Everything feels off. And with this team, all of a sudden, the Leafs, they're 4-0 and 2 in the last 6. I don't think it's a coincidence that he's playing the best hockey played in two years and he's a separator brian he's a separator it's like he he's the advantage one of

the advantages for the Toronto Maple Leafs and you often talk about certain players blending into a game if he's just average that team just blends into the standings and they're going to continue to be where they're at so he is one of the guys that's most important for him to elevate in the standings and if he's not they have no chance something to chew on brought to you by boston pizza Canada's favorite sports bar this January at BP get delicious mouth-watering pasta starting at 1199. Every single day, enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss. Hustle on your local BP tonight. So we're asking, oh, you can start noodles.

You jump in. Which of Austin Matthews feats was the most improbable? Four goals in his debut, the 69 goal season, or the least all-time goal record? I'm going to go with 69 in the season. That was incredible to watch. And to just to come that close to score in 70 goals, it was just an incredible season to watch. I'm going to go with 69 goals.

Yeah, 69 for me because this is weird to say. And you guys have pointed this out. Like the Leif's history book, you know, this is only the fourth 50 goal score. Like, 420 goals. Like, you know, like it, it, they've been around for 100 years. You know what I mean? Like it's, you go to us. other organizations and it's like, yeah, that guy got 700, you know, like here, you knew he was

going to get that. It was just a matter of time. The 69 goals is more special for me because that's an outlier. Rare, that's in rare air. The other, you know, we just knew he was going to get it. You knew the record. I'll be the contrarian here and say the four-goal debut because it was his first game on the road, Battle of Ontario.

The guy scored four goals. Like, it was remarkable. It was still one of the most incredible sporting events I've ever witnessed live, and I've been lucky to be in a building for a lot of them. You guys have been in buildings for more than I even have. But, you know, Chase in 60, you're right. You know, like Rick Vive held the record of 54 goals for 40 years. Like, Vive did that in 81, 82.

Matthews passed them in 21, 22, 40 years. Well, you're right, you look at Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Montreal, you know, all these other. Detroit. Yeah, Gordon Howard, what, 800 goals or whatever? Right. Like in Washington, the guy's got over 900. Right. You know, and at least 4-21.

I thought it was weird because you're, like, it's amazing. And, like, if Matt's, you said it, Matt's didn't play his whole career here. The number would be higher if he played his whole career. Yeah, we started his career for sure. Right. Like, you know, anyways, the point being is I just, that one, we just knew he was going to blow through. It was a matter of when. The 69 is the, you know, that's a special, like, outlier.

Unparalleled. Right. There was Gilmore in 92, 93. Dougie had 127 points. Absolutely absurd season. Most points by a player in an individual season ever in leaf history. But the 69 goals and him chasing 70. And he could have had 80 that year.

I know that sounds crazy. But he had so many opportunities, even coming down the stretch. But, yeah, he's coming down. alive and it's funny how other guys have too you see kuturov now all of a sudden he's sniffing around like he's got 25 points in his last 11 games he had five points the other night like it's it's and mckinnan's past mc david again like a week ago is like well there goes macdavit he's got not so fast not so fast like it's it's pretty incredible well the big boys they just consistently do it and for austin it's good to see it happen

all right well what's the prep like for bronze like how does this How would this be different, the pre-game prep and everything, compared to if they were playing for gold tonight? Honestly, it's like you've got to go and do it. It's not that fun, and bronze isn't that cool. But it's an opportunity to win the bronze medal, whatever the players think of it. But it's just the old saying,

and you guys know it better than anybody, like there's always somebody watching. If it's an exhibition game in the NHL, if it's an exhibition game in the OHL, WHL, if it's a gold medal game, if it's a pre-tournament game, there is always somebody watching to see how you react to a certain situation. So if you think it's just, oh, I'm going to go out there and kind of half-ass it, it's a big-time mistake.

And it's also a big-time mistake doing that broadcasting. So you guys know better than I will put forth my best effort. Of course you will. You will have a brand-new suit on. I guarantee you it'll be rocking. Did you, I don't know, it was at the end of the broadcast here. McKenna was, he wanted to get off that. a ice there. Did you see that where Scott

Salmon's like, you stay out here type of thing? Well, I don't know if you guys saw it. Yeah, I think he got 10 in a game. And I think he was like, well, I guess I'm out of here. But then somebody stopped him when he went off the ice and said, I wouldn't go on. He needs to have a game. That's the kid you're talking about right there. And I know that's crazy for the presumptive first overall pick. But I did not love his game last night.

No. He didn't have his best stuff, Ryan. It was kind of perimeter stuff. And it was the odd saucer pass. when you're talking about a kid like that potentially going number one overall you just expected more he's obviously made some great plays in this tournament but the the top guys the number one guys they they don't have that performance so he can kind of redeem himself and show something today because he just didn't have his best stuff last night all right well we'll catch in a couple hours we look forward to it hopefully canada can pull something out here and uh drive safe out there drive safely you and frankly Guys, the driving, guys, the driving, there's been, my thoughts and prayers are with Darren Dregor because he had an incident. He had to fly down here for the Olympic announcement. And when we were going home, Frankie was driving, and he thought Dregs was in the car,

and he put it in drive, and poor Dregs was dragged about 100 feet. I swear. And Frank, he was like, I haven't got in the car yet. He's yelling, getting drunk. dragged along the car, and Frankie was like, whoa, and he put it in, it was a mess. It was a mess. This guy is a menace.

And I want to tell you guys of one of the most cowardly things I've ever seen in my life. We were coming home the other night in the last, like, kind of group play, and we got off the highway, and we realized a car was coming the wrong way on the ramp directly at us. Really? Yes. And one of the most cowardly things I've ever seen is little Jimmy Duffy was in the back seat

and there was three people in the back and he grabbed Megan Redwood and he pushed her in front of himself and said, I can't go like this. And he used her to shield himself. That is so unfortunate to hear. That is the most cowardly thing I've ever witnessed in a car. Because Megan's a trooper too.

Exactly. And he tried to use her as a shield to protect himself. And I look back. And Frankie, he redeemed himself. He went around the car. And it was like one of those things when it's like something bad's about to happen and you blurt something out. And then it's okay. And then you look at him like, man, that was a tough one. That's, that's not a foxhole guy. That's, you know what Jimmy Duth is? He's got a book out. He's got a new book out. You got to take that into consideration. Remember George Costanza, women and children? He was pushing him out of the way in the house. fire that's that's that's JD just taking people out elbows yeah I literally heard him blurt out he's like I'm too important

I can't call like this and he shielded himself with her all right well say hi to Megan we love Megan and I guess say hi and happy New Year to JD and the whole crew and we'll catch you later the week all right we'll see you guys bye there is the O'Dog Jeff O'Neill very disappointing to start our new year

with a story like that I find that hard to believe but But very disappointing. All right, Mark Schlerath on what's up with the NFL going into the playoffs. We'll catch up with him in 15. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube live. I'm Dylan Playfair.

And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories. romances for over 50 years. And you can find bromance on the IHeartRadio Network or wherever you get your podcast. Something to chew on.

Brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar this January at BP, get delicious mouth-watering pasta starting at 1199. Every single day, enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss. Hustle in your local BP tonight. Hour two coming up, Mark Schlereth. We'll join us to look back on Week 18 in the NFL. The Steelers are in. The one-seeds have been determined. We know who's playing in the wild card round.

A lot of coaches fired today. A lot of reports about who might be looking for jobs, including a guy named Bill Belichick. We'll get into that with Mark. And the Blue Jay is making another sign-in, man. This off-season just continues to roll along for the Blue Jays. So we'll get into that and the possible ripple effect that could have on other players they might be pursuing it.

Back in the Leas Panthers tomorrow night and Canada, playing for bronze tonight. Overdrive continues. T.S. Sent 1050 and up on YouTube live. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fandul. Fanduil, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.

I'm Dylan Playfair. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories

and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeartRadio Network or wherever you get your podcast.