OverDrive - OverDrive - March 14th, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 14, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Dave Feschuk for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' defeat against the Panthers, Auston Matthews' decreased goal scoring statistics and the importance of the depth on the roster. Senators Head Coach Travis Green joins to discuss the Senators' winning mentality, Brady Tkachuk leading the way and Dylan Cozens' solid on the team.

Introducing the Virgin Plus Value Menu. Get a piping hot foam plan with lots of gigs. Enjoy delicious discounts on food, fashion, and more with member benefits. Supersize your data and savor delectable content. Indulge in a great affordable plan when you bring your own phone at Virgin Plus. Value Meal is not a real thing. Just a fun way to promote this offer. Obviously. Conditions apply. Visit a Virgin Plus store or virgin is not a real thing. Just a fun way to promote this offer. Obviously, conditions apply. Visit a Virgin Plus store or virginplus.ca for details.

This Hour of Overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app your home smart speaker and up on TSN 2 all afternoon Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles, McClennan, Dave Feshtruck of the Toronto Star in here. What's going on guys? How we feeling this afternoon? I don't know you guys tell me how are we feeling? Well it's quite something right now in Leafland isn't it? It really is quite something where last night was a playoff game Right last night had a playoff atmosphere to it in a very similar outcome You think the Leafs would know better like afterwards like don't talk about playoffs

Yeah, after you've lost the game like that where afterwards, you know max dome You had a great night credit to Max that was a big big game for him last night big hit big fight scores a goal and he's like felt like playoffs it's like yeah but you lost yeah like you lost that's kind of the issue right now is that exactly it felt like the playoffs for the fans leaving the building watching the team lose again in a tightly contested kind of high atmosphere high energy game fun game like really fun game to watch and there was a lot of different things that came out of it but in the end

the team that is very comfortable in a situation like that the florida panthers they walk out with two points and believes go home and they try to reset for tomorrow night and that's where we're at yeah i mean i don't know i i i had to go back to watch the game obviously i was calling one but i a you know i thought it could have gone either way there was some chances of both

ends i'd like to see some difference makers be difference makers that's really what's going to come going to come down to in the playoffs i know you've been talking about that forever brian but it's you know in the ends when you look at it come up short and then then you're thinking, okay, well, they didn't have that blood. They didn't have Kachak, and they didn't have Marchand. And I mean, you know, but that being said, I would like to see Matthews being a different, you know, a finisher, he had a couple a couple chances in tight, but like, usually on other years, other chances, he scores some of those

goals schools scores some of those chances not happening for right now unfortunately yeah that that is at the core of the issues right now for me is austin matthews yes and i think you know there's this this debate within the fan base and everyone's got a different view on it and for me it's very simple if he's injured if he is hurt then stop playing right then get out of the lineup and go take care of yourself.

And you've got about five weeks to figure this out. But if you're going to play like he has been, like he did when he had to go to the four nations face off, he made that decision, you better play better than this. It's that simple. Like I'm just, I'm getting to a point where this, it's deep and there's a lot of layers to this because we dissect this marketplace countlessly and everyone's got a different viewpoint of how

tough it is and how why would anyone want to play here and here's the guy who is the highest paid player in the league he's the captain of the team he's in year nine he's in his prime and he's having the worst season of his career yeah there's no other way to play a mile by a mile he's having the worst season of his career. There's no other way to play. By a mile. By a mile he's having the worst season of his career. He's not seeking out contact, he looks uncomfortable when it comes to like a tightly checked game, he's not using his body a lot. And you look at the stats,

he has one non-empty net goal since January 23rd. That non-empty net goal was the first goal they scored in Vegas when they were losing five nothing yeah five one is the goal he scored and obviously we know how the rest of it played out and Al's brother had the stats last night Al's brother was really digging deep last night. He was harassing me at midnight. He had some great stats and you know since January 23rd that's the kind of date that people are looking at with Matthews here in particular. After him failing to score last night he has won five on five goal in his last 16

games in five primary points in that stretch. So to put that into perspective that's about a third-line player in terms of production. So you can talk about his two-way game, you can talk about his two-way game You can talk about killing penalties this year and that first power play goal. He was soft on it, right? He was soft on it and that was his man and he couldn't get there and he's waving a stick and he didn't get the job Done, but if you're if you're gonna score one five on five goal in 16 games and have five primary points in 16 games That's that's what I'd expect out of Pontus Holmberg. And look, you can defend that guys by saying, look, over that 16 game stretch, he's got

18 points. A lot of a game guy. No, it's a lot of second lot of a secondary assist, a lot of secondary assisting. You're not the highest paid player on this planet. You were not made the highest played hockey player on the face of the earth to get secondary assist. Right. Exactly. You were made the highest paid player on the planet for one reason and one reason only is that you've got next level, maybe never seen before abilities to snap pucks into the net, pass goaltenders and for some reason that ability has eluded him. He's had some chances. He plays a tight place 20 minutes a night Like of course, he's gonna get some chances and he's playing with great players

Although I didn't think Marner had a good night last night But he is he's fumbling pox and you know, it is it's off for him right now But I've been waiting for him all year like I think everyone else has and I've been giving him the benefit of doubt I'm speaking of Matthews here where I'm like, it's gonna pop. He's gonna take off like two months ago We were doing Jerry's and confirmed her denies and I'm like, it's gonna pop, he's gonna take off. Like two months ago, we were doing Jerry's and confirmed Denys and I'm like, I can still see him winning the rocket. I think he could hit 50.

Now, like the last six weeks have flipped for me to the point where now he's gotta prove he can get it back. Like he's gotta prove he can get back to that status because they absolutely need it. Like there's, it's the whole philosophy of team building and who they are, what they represent, starts with him being the best player and being the best goal scorer,

and five on five in particular. Cause come playoff time, tightly contested, not a lot of ice, and he does it better than anybody. That's what's so perplexing. Like prior to this year, there's no one that's been close to him five on five goal scoring nobody even close and for him to have the best goal scoring year of his career last year and truly one of the maybe five or six greatest seasons we've ever seen

when you can you know you do era adjusted and all that that's how good he was to this year he may not hit 30 goals it's just it's staggering to see well and you know you said Al's brother digging into the stats. Again, this is one that I look at, his shooting percentage is 11.5%. That's very low for him. Last year it was 18.7. So we know. Listen, last year was an outlier.

It felt like everything he threw at the net, angle right you name it just found the back of it That was a special special season I don't think you know we expected him to get to 69 But 50 wasn't you know we all like 50 in your sleep type of thing because we know what he's capable of I want to defend him still because I do believe You know there are pockets of play in guys' careers. I played with some great players, the Prongers and Bret Halls and you name it, Pierre Tourgeon, Hall of Famers, guys that went through stretches on seasons where they had downed seasons.

The important part is they play when it's most important. So he's got lots of runway here still and he's got a playoff ahead of him. So, you know, regardless of what happens right now, and listen, the team is in one right now, not getting points, it doesn't look as great. Yes, last night was a playoff game, but Auston Matthews has an opportunity here down the stretch to get his game in order and then pop in the playoffs if he can do that. And I just, I try and look at the other side of the coin and he's not alone. 97 and Edmonton's not been a world beat.

Now he's getting, to your guys' point, he's getting points. McDavid got points last night, but he doesn't look like the McDavid, the separator, all of that. There are some guys that are having these type of struggles this season, where long season, all of that type of stuff, Four Nations, everyone's got the built-in excuse. When you make that type of money, there is expectations. And when you've set the bar that high for McDavid, Matthews,

you name it, there's a handful of guys throughout the league that are going through it. But when it is particular to this market, and this is what we're talking about with Auston Matthews, it's just noticeable. And I get it. I'm in the rink last night in Ottawa, and I have Leaf fans that come up to me and be like, what are you hearing on Matthews? Is he injured?

Like everyone, that's the conversation you get. That's not the Auston Matthews we see. Is he banged up? Is he going through something? I don't know how you guys, your conversations on a daily basis, that's what I'm getting from Leaf fans is like, that guy looks different than what we've seen in the bar. Well, there's no disputing it. I mean, he does look different and the stats are different. That's another thing. Last year again, there would have been 40 or 50 times

you would have watched a Leaf game and said that guy was the best player on the ice or the most dominant, or he'd have moments or shifts, or periods where you'd say no one can stop him, he's unstoppable. That just has not been who he is this year. And again, because he was injured in camp

and he had the injuries earlier in the year and he went to Germany, that's hanging over everything. So that I think is what is leading to the hesitation for a lot of people to just state facts like the facts are last night that's a game you need Austin Matthews to break loose yeah he has to break loose in a game like that is at the end of the world that he didn't obviously not they're still going to the playoffs but you're you bring up you bring up a valid point noodles that the the definition of this season is still going to be ahead of this team it's a lot of the road yeah absolutely but I can't sit here and say I'm I'm confident it's going to flip right like that that's the thing it's it's not like

McDavid I think deserves more of the better for the doubt because what he's done in the playoffs in the past and you know. He's the reigning Conn Smythe trophy winner. Exactly. He won a Conn Smythe but his team lost. Like Matthews and the other guys with this team, they don't have that built in belief system. And that's the difference to me, Noodles, is like I agree with you.

Like ultimately we're not going to remember what happened in mid-March with this team. Right. I get it. In a vacuum we, and it's our job to talk about it. I'm not avoiding it. The reason why I wanted to bring it up, I wanted to bring context. Context doesn't mean I don't dislike what I'm seeing. I have to be clear on that.

I wanted to point out the biggest test is ahead of these guys. They've got to get their act together so that they're all playing at their best when the challenge comes whether that's Florida whether that's Tampa who knows whether that's Ottawa whoever's around the corner from them and you know I get people out you know I don't know if you're a Leaf fan you don't want Ottawa I mean you know what you need to do worry about your own that's what I would say and that the Maple Leafs need to worry about the way that they're playing and not hand-pick and go Geez, we want this team instead of that team because we know how that that turns out. You just need to worry about your own game

That's what I keep talking right and and they got some things they they still got to figure out, you know And in the last eight days, they played Vegas Colorado and. Like those are three real teams, man. Like those are any of those three win a Stanley Cup, nobody's surprised. And they got out played in all three games. And last night was the best performance they had of the other two. Like Vegas wasn't even close. And Colorado wasn't even close. It was a miracle they were up for too. Absolute miracle. Last night, I didn't think they played poorly as a team. I thought actually they got some depth, right? They actually got, you know, they get on the board quick,

brilliant play, knee landed to Tavares, the building's hopping, Domi throws a massive hit, wins a big fight. Like again, he had some jump last night. You bring Tana back into the lineup. And he looked good too. And he looked pretty good. And okay, you feel pretty good about that that but ultimately special teams and their best players

didn't get it done and yes it's not a playoff game last night but if you listen to the Leafs they're saying this you know playoff atmosphere and these are litmus tests so we got to keep learning from this and we got to keep going for it the issues they've had when it has you know the rubber has hit the road yes can their best players be clutch in big moments and can their special teams show up? And last night they failed on both fronts. Like there's no other way to put it.

And that's with Florida in your building without three of their best players. Without their heart and soul. Yeah, and they've done it. And Florida's been to two cup finals. Like Florida didn't look at that game like, oh, this is huge for us. I think they're just, they're wired that way to show up the like will come out

here punch in the face of the can but if they finish second third wild card i don't think florida cares beliefs are very different position because you would presume they should be because of their history and what they're finally trying to achieve here yeah and you're right like that you can't look past it all we know is what we've seen. And I say it all the time when people talk about goalie

tandems, well, I've seen one guy play in the playoffs. I haven't seen the other guy. So you don't know. And until they prove you right or wrong, this is what we talk about. And last night, you're right, with the minute that they say, well, playoff game, well, geez, Marner wasn't that great last night, you're right, with the minute that they say, well, playoff game, well, well, geez, Marner wasn't that great last night, and Matthews, and it's like, here we go again, power play went quiet,

and that's kind of been a problem scoring, and the penalty kill, like, you know, Bennett, you're right. Guys are banging away in front of the net, like, there was some of the things that we've seen in the past, so what it does is bring up those memories. That's exactly what it is. That's what I remember, you know? And it's because of who did what on the other side, those memories. That's exactly what it is. That's what I remember. And it's because of who did what on the other side. Like Sam Fennett, look at his two goals. He's within a foot of the crease on both of them.

Like that's a guy who his numbers are not gonna jump off the page. By the end of the year he's not gonna be in the Art Ross chase, he's not up for the Hart Trophy. But it's two goals where he's like I'm going to the net hard with my stick down and I'm fighting for ice and you can try to knock me out if you want But I'm betting on myself that it won't happen. But guess what? It wasn't that hard to fight in either. No, I mean both times He's just basically he's white. I guess wide open the second one I don't you can't be less harassed than he was there. Yeah

Yeah, I'm yeah, like the second one was Ben while the first one was McCabe and neither guy had him and he's wide open. You can't be less harassed than he was there. Yeah, yeah, like the second one was Benoit, the first one was McCabe, and neither guy had him, and he's wide open in front of the net, and those aren't skill goals, those are will goals. Like that's just a guy that's like, I'm going here, and if you want to hit me, come try to hit me, but I'll bet you I get my stick on this thing. But Noodle's like, that's, we've been talking about how they're gonna need elite goaltending for a reason, right? Because those two two players right there they illustrate how this team's defensive game 505 and penalty kill is you know at times has greater especially especially five on five like this they've become one of the worst defensive teams in the league since January 1st by a lot of different metrics and

Look Brandon Carlo might help that over time. It's going to take him some time to board the moving train. And obviously, Tana being back healthy is going to help. No doubt about it because he's been out for those couple of weeks that were, you know, where they really showed a lot of words. But man, this team, it needs to get its acting gear as a defensive unit. You know, matthews if they can't stop the part from going in their net matthews might not be able to score enough goals to to make the result change at the

end of the playoffs yeah you're right like there's a lot of i i i would say the word concern but we've gone through this ten days ago fifteen days ago they you know that on the show were playing Major League and they've won five in a row and, you know, looked like, and again, maybe their opponents weren't as formidable.

It wasn't as, you know, it didn't look as different, but, you know, there is pockets of play and I've seen it all throughout the season. You know, right now I call a game, like the Ottawa Senators are what, 6-0 and 1, you know, last seven-something. But, it was two weeks ago, they couldn't win, you know, and couldn't get a save, it couldn't, like, this is what we're seeing. So, you know, what you've gotta do is regroup today,

you've got a battle of Alberta, or sorry, Alberta, battle of Ontario tomorrow, which is, you know, it's electric, regardless of, you know, what side or whatever I know in in Ottawa They look forward to it I know the Leafs look forward to it those games are pretty good and they're quite electric and you know You've got the luxury of last change on home ice all of that a Saturday night You know to me this is an opportunity to right the ship if you're the Leafs and the sense like they're scratching and clawing

Like they yeah, they're scratching a claw like they yeah they're right on the always play the lease pretty well i mean that's yeah it you know and and you look at the leaves you know all these stats are coming up and you can find different ones for to to paint a different picture but there are now eight nine verses eastern conference teams that are currently in a playoff position

yeah they might as ten gold differential and on the year. And that's ultimately what really matters because yes they've won games, you know they're in the playoffs, they're going to the playoffs and that's not a horrible statistic but it's not overwhelmingly positive. That you know they're not defending that well, their best players nowhere close to where he should be in terms of his performance. You know you got the Marner thing hanging over them. They're still trying to figure, okay, what's going to happen with the goalies down the stretch? Like it can, it flips quickly. It flips quickly to all of a sudden you look at it and you go, okay, how are they going to

mesh this together? And how are they going to be in a position to succeed come playoff time? Because that's always what was going to matter is where, how they peak come playoff time. But again, a game like last night, you find a way to win that especially in regulation All of a sudden you leapfrog, Florida And you just you're gonna be likely in a bet you're in a better position if you win your division And it adds for your call big time you got to get those wins Well, you do and and the other thing too is the schedule is not slowing down, you know, you've got Ottawa tomorrow You've got Calgary Monday, Colorado Wednesday, the Rangers Thursday,

that's a back to back, and then Saturday at Nashville. So you've got five games in, we'll call it seven, eight days, depending on how you count them. There's no sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, hey we need more practice time. You're right back at it. So you have to have amnesia and say lost last night, got to go back at it, opportunity here to move forward. And the thing is you're playing teams, as I just mentioned, Ottawa's desperate.

The Calgary Flames are desperate. They're trying to make the playoffs on the other side. The Avalanche are who they are. mean, we just we know they're you know, the Rangers are desperate same situation and Nashville's wants to play spoiler So there's no there's gonna be no real easy layup games You got to get your game in order to you know to battle this and have a good week because there's there's no looking back Yeah, I mean you got to be if you can't beat Nashville like I hear you say noodles But like this is what is bothering me is it's like the Leafs should not be in a position Where they're like well, you know, you never know it's like no we you should know by now

I like you're a veteran team in the league that's been doing this for years You've got a lot of the same core players, you know, you got a new coach like there's just there's no excuses for not coming down the stretch strong Yeah, zero like I can make excuses for Florida. Good Chuck's heard act loud suspended They've been to three two straight cup finals I can make an excuse that Florida's like now we put our feet up, you know We we start to think about the playoffs are bad. There's no excuse for the Leafs I'm sorry none for them to ever take their foot off the gas well now they have that they've done nothing in their history to deserve that

one hundred nothing is your your your debt on there and here's the thing that worries you know about matthews right like you think you think about personal though their lack of injury disclosure and not even giving anybody a clue about what's wrong with him i think probably hurts them in situations like this where he's laboring we're not sure what he's laboring with right right but the point being like if indeed to your point he's I've heard a lot of people say well why don't they just shut him down put him on LTIR well they missed that poll they should have done it before

the trade deadline course they should have done it a while ago they should have they could have done it a while ago the fact they didn't do that right does that tell you maybe you know you know speaking to people in the trainer slash physical therapist slash orthopedic surgeon community who are all looking at this, they all watch this, they're all speculating about what could be wrong, what do they see, biomechanics guys, what do you see? Their point being, well, if they didn't do that, maybe that tells you this is one of those injuries that it's not going away with six weeks rest, which worries because he can play through it it's not getting any worse but it ain't getting any better with rest yeah and if that's the case you know and

again because of the leaves approach to this and Matthew's in particular you're you're never gonna hear anything no unless there's a press release out of nowhere that he had he had surgery and something happened like that's it and even that they probably won't even tell you what it was they'll just say surgery somewhere on the body that's right you know and that and and listen he's entitled to that I'm with you I'm not sure it helps him at all but that is scary and that's that's what I'm driving at here is that like you know everyone knows what he's capable of and when it comes to goal scoring when it comes to being a dominant performer,

the guy is on a very short list in the league. Like he's a phenomenal player and he's so important and he's the captain and he's the face of the team. And it's just, it's getting to a point now, we're into mid-March where if that is the case, like something's going on and no one's gonna know what it is, but there's no way of fixing it, what we've seen here basically the whole season and certainly the last month to six weeks is concerning.

That he won't be able to elevate come playoff time. Exactly. Because guys can have bad seasons noodles and then come playoff time say, I'm ready to go. Well, and you like, that's the thing. But if your body won't let you do it, then your body won't let you do it. I understand that and there is a saying in the pro hockey world as a players and coaches say it all the time You can't just flick a switch like you know, they we see guys and oh well now now I'm gonna try now

I'm gonna turn it turn it around like you do have to build you do have to find Confidence a lot of it is confidence a lot of it is, you do have to find confidence. A lot of it is confidence, a lot of it is the analytics people, pock luck, all of that type of stuff. I mean, there are hard stats that you can look at. And I pointed out shooting percentage. On the years where he is in the 40s, he's at 12-something. He's at 11. And the years that he's at 60s, he's at 17.

He's at 18. Those are years where things are going well for him, where things aren't going as well. You hit a post instead of it going in, you miss the net instead of it going in. We've seen a lot of that this year. You couple that with the injury and the rest and then the four nations and all of that. It's a busy year for him, but there's still an opportunity. Down the stretcher, you've got time to get your game in order before the big dance. And I think that's where, you know, he's got to focus on that, the team has to focus on that.

And there's no time, there's no rest for the weary. You're playing again tomorrow night and against a team that is hungry and wants to play right now. Yeah. Listen, we'll see. You're more optimistic than I am. I'm trying to be. I understand why you're trying to be and I get it. Listen, I hope it turns and I hope everything works out. I'm not rooting against it. I just try to be realistic.

Yeah, I mean, there's 65 games into the year. This isn't October anymore or November. This is, you know, Matthews is on pay. We got to be consistent here like if if Mahomes is doing something you talk about it Josh Allen is to I guarantee you the rest of the league's like what is going on with Austin Matthews like that guy had 69 last year he won a heart a few years ago and this year it just isn't happening and he's you know he's fumbling pox like late six on five last night I thought even the play where he broke through the defenders kind of a semi breakaway he got it off quick and and he

kind of flicked he was wait it wasn't even close that's the thing that I like it was like he got it off quick and I don't know if that's because he was bracing for impact or his you know what was going on I'm trying to get a read on the guy and obviously I don't know I'll tell you what that's the thing that's the thing I noticed in the haze it's like when you go watch my practice and you go and you watch clips like that, I mean I think back to watching this guy when he's in the midst of a 69 goal season and the number of times that he would shoot a puck and I would go wow like you don't see it and I've never seen a puck come off a stick

quite like that. There's been no wow factor this year. No No, you know what I mean? I guess I just haven't said that well He scored his share goals that he's got 20 something holes But I haven't you didn't see you don't see that explosiveness off the stick that was his trademark. That's who he is That's why they that's why it's the highest paid player in the league Yeah, and then you know he's got the captaincy hanging over like there's a lot going on like there's a lot of A lot of pressure on him a lot of pressure on these guys

And you know, you're you're right noodles though. He's you still have time to change everything Like it is just like edmonton just like a lot of different teams a lot of different individual players You go right through the league and there's guys that are having down seasons and you go. Okay. Well at some point the the balance of this team the success of this team relies on those people good or bad like you know you've mentioned Edmonton like that's the same thing this like there nothing's changing now from from now to the end of the season with the rosters they're not calling up a guy to play in front of Austin Matthews or Econor McDavid or

whoever else is struggling throughout the league to their standards it's these guys have to get their game in order for that particular team to have success here in toronto the glee stoneman a first round of austin matthews isn't a big part of it that's just the bottom line absolutely it it's not like it's not on one player you know you need you need everyone collectively to pop in but you also understand the pecking order of importance

and if he needs to be great you have to like you just you have to and if he's not going to be it's going to put more pressure on other players and again with the way that this team is built in really the way the league is now it's thirty two teams it's top-heavy there's a finite number of money you can spend yeah you've got your four,

five, six, seven guys that have to really just have a dream two months. Like just everything's got to break for them, they got to be great for two months. And if the guy at the top of that list is in a position where you're worried he can't get there, then that puts a lot of pressure on your whole team and you know he knows that the Leafs know that and again they don't have to have that answer today it's March 14th but it'll be April 14th before you know it right it happens quickly. You're right. Ottawa on Town tomorrow night. Travis Green he will join us. We'll tee up the Battle of Ontario next. Ottawa's won five in a row.

Linus Olmark looks outstanding. Everything's breaking their way. Ottawa's in a really good spot. Bunch of chance last night. Lots of energy in the building last night. So we'll catch up with Travis and get his take on what's been going so well for their team and what we can expect tomorrow night. We'll catch up with him next.

Introducing the Virgin Plus Value Menu. Get a piping hot foam plan. Ooh, with lots of gigs. Enjoy delicious discounts on food, fashion, and more with member benefits. Supersize your data and savor delectable content. Indulge in a great affordable plan when you bring your own phone at Virgin Plus.

Value Meal is not a real thing. Just a fun way to promote this offer. Obviously, conditions apply. Visit a Virgin Plus store or virginplus.ca for details. All right, Mike Johnson coming up later this afternoon. Dear Hazy B without the O-Dog. Whoa. The O-Dog is, he'll be back on Monday. Yeah, Dear Hazy B at 6.30. And it sounds like we've been helping people. I'm seeing a picture here of Josh down there with his wife in New

Town. I need context for that though. I need diet contacts for that picture i'll tell you about it because it's circulating online and okay i think it's one of our finest pieces of work quite frankly i think yeah i mean that's generally what we try to do it here is abuse help people and i think we we really help josh in company here so i'll tell you more about that a little bit later this afternoon but we're preparing for the battle of ontario tomorrow night and

i can't remember the last time we had a game like this between these two teams yeah because it's it's been a while where you know Ottawa's been out of the playoffs and prior to that Ottawa went to the playoffs every year and the Leafs weren't in the playoffs and it's going back maybe to the days when Travis Green was playing in the Battle of Ontario the last time we had a game like this jumping in the bench over in the times are like i can you was in there first and then talker went in and it was a circus like always maybe we'll get that tomorrow night here's a coach of the Ottawa Senators Travis green how you doing Travis hey

guys I'm doing good yeah I know if it happens tomorrow I won't have chief chief the uh... you know i need him in the middle uh... uh... and from one of if they grab and savvy or something like that mike man and i think that that that first uh... i love that he was uh... berubez talking about that superman punch by and while the other night is like i never tried that like well

you haven't tried it that That probably speaks to like how rare it is because no one fought more than Barube back in the day. Um, but yeah, it's, it's going to be electric tomorrow night. I mean, you guys are on a heater right now. Um, it must be a lot of fun to be coaching your team right now. Yeah, you know what it is. It's always fun when you win a few games for sure. Um, I think the mindset of every coach always is, uh, just reset and Yeah, you know what it is. It's always fun when you win a few games for sure.

I think the mindset of every coach always is just reset and get ready to do it again. We've done a pretty good job without our guys or players of just whether we win or lose, getting focused on the next game in hand. I think tomorrow is one of those games where you know coaches don't probably have to say a lot it's going to be an emotional game. Both teams will probably be on top of their game. So Greenie you talk about emotional game I mean your captain is kind of your pace car. When you look at the way Brady plays it's with emotion he's involved in everything but he's also chipping in

offensively. Is that something that you don't have to give him a tap, he kind of just reads the situation or do you have to reel him in sometimes? How do you handle a guy like that who plays with his heart on his sleeve? Well, there's one thing that I really believe in and I've said it from day one is I'm never going to take the emotion out of his game or what I want to. You know, that's, he's a rare player in the league.

They can do a lot of different things. Uh, he does a lot of things that some guys don't want to do and, uh, you know, he loves winning, but I think, you know, he's still relatively young in the league as well and he's learning different parts of the game as being a young captain but also controlling his emotions and I think he's done a great job of that this season. Well you mentioned new experiences for him. He I guess I wouldn't say suffered one but he experienced one last week when Josh Norris was traded and he and Norris best friends

I mean well documented he had a tough time talking about him after that and Dylan Cousins has stepped in and played great for you guys But I'm curious, you know, did you did you handle that in any which way dealing with Kachuk dealing with you know? Norris going out was there anything you felt you had to say to him to kind of help him get through that experience? I mean it's no secret that, you know, Josh and Brady were tight and good friends and, you know, the one thing about Brady is he also understands the game as well and I talked to Brady a little bit about it but, you know, he's grown up in the hockey world and the hockey family with his dad, his brothers, sisters, mom. And if there's anyone that's probably equipped to handle that or understands that it would be him.

And, uh, but that still doesn't take, uh, the emotional part away from it. Uh, I would expect them to be upset, and I think through the course of your career, if you play long enough, you meet people and you play with people that are lifelong friends, and it's hard to say goodbye sometimes. There's nothing wrong with that. you know at the end of the day there's still gonna be great friends and but you know if anyone knows that it's a business it would be Brady

well the business that you guys pulled off the trade deadline I mean albeit on pretty short sample size here Travis looks to be working pretty well with cousins having a point in each of the four games he's played. What's been the key to him sort of boarding the proverbial moving train with such ease or apparent ease anyways from outside? Yeah, you know, he's really stepped right in and looked real comfortable with our group. Whenever that happens, I think, you know, credit has to go to the players on the team as well. You know, I think certain scenarios, certain teams within the locker room of players have an environment that welcomes people and they feel comfortable. I think

that's a big part of players playing well. Also, he's, he's a very talented player You never really know a player until you coach them and just you know I've watched him from the outside and watch some video but He certainly played well since he's come here. He's got a Almost feels like a breath of fresh air. I think, in a way that he's jumping into a playoff race and, you know, he seems excited to play and he's played, he's played well. He's a big body. He skates well.

I think he had 17 hits his first two games with us. And you know, that's a part of the game that is still alive, is the physical part, but also he can score and do a lot of different things as well. Grainy, how good has the goaltender been? It was a weird game last night. Three goals and nine shots, not very busy, but then he locks it down and has what I yelled at the save of the year. How important has he been to your group,

you know, just with what he's been able to do when he's been healthy? Yeah, I think, you know, there's no secret how good Linus is. And coming off the, you know, what we thought was going to be not a very long injury turned into something a lot longer. I think like any player takes a little while to knock the rust off and find your game when you're out for that long. Uh, not that he was playing, uh, terrible. I think he was just not up to the standards that we had gotten used to for that 10 game stretch beforehand. And, uh, you know, I think he started to find his form.

Yeah. Stellar game against Detroit where we weren't very good as a team. And, and, uh, he made 48 saves, I believe. And, uh, you know, last night was kind of, like you said, a little bit of a weird game. Uh, I mean, you know better than me, but as a goalie, sometimes when you, I think at one point the shots were 20 something to seven and, you know better than me, but as a goalie, I think at one point the shots were 20 something to seven and you know, they had a couple of tipping goals, a backdoor goal and you know, he wasn't getting much action. And then, well, we took our foot off the gas a little bit and they started to gain some

traction and man, that save last night, to be honest, I hadn't watched it fully until later at night after I'd done media already, and it was pretty amazing. Yeah, it was a great save, man. That was a great save, and it's going to be a lot of fun tomorrow night. And I'm curious how you've experienced your own building throughout the this season because you know we're aware of the the playoff drought and you know fans kinda getting on different players and coaches and management in the past but last night based on what i saw noodles you're in the building to it there was electric man their chance going off and people going crazy how how how much fun

has that been like if you experience the fans kinda coming alive as the years going on? Yeah you sure have, especially you know now I think once we got to this final 20 games and you know quite honestly we were on the road for quite a stretch of time with the World Juniors. I think at some point we played 14 or 15 or 19 on the road. And, uh, now that we've been back in our building for a little more frequently and coming down the stretch, these last two games have been really what, what it's all about, what you envision in Canada when a team is, uh, either

in the playoffs or hopefully on the verge of making it and, and, uh, it's been great, it's been electric. It's been exciting. Obviously energizing for the players and, you know, that's that's part of sport and that's just the part that you love and you know, it's going to be exciting down the stretch here. Oh, it sure will be. Yeah, it's going to be a great one tomorrow night.

A building you're very familiar with. You guys have played very well against the leaves this year you have for years really in uh... i'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out good luck tomorrow night green we appreciate doing this all right guys thanks for having me you got it travis green of the ottawa senators and it'll be a fun once more night battle of ontario saturday night down the

stretch you know big game for both teams and you couldn't ask for anything better and you know just a side note to the Chuck missed or didn't miss but he didn't play the last seven minutes they have green he did say they have I didn't want to bring it up but I mean I expect he's did say in his media to prove Bruce Garriott last night that he you know little hip or something but he said he'd be fine I don't know we'll see got to track stuff like that but in the end you know they're they're a team that that's feeling it but again the Leafs it's

their building they've got to have a big push and these battles of Ontario they bring out I said this before regardless of where people are in the standings Battle of Alberta, Battle of New York, Battle of Ontario, like these are these are electric, even that those Buffalo on Buffalo Toronto games, they get people excited. So it'd be a good one tomorrow night. Hey noodles, I had to watch that save like four or five times this morning just because I couldn't believe it. Like what was the take me through where you were kind of looking at it from and what you saw in real time. Okay, so because I'm between the benches.

So I've got a view of the actual how it's set up. And I was like, okay, this is going to be five, four. Like that was for me, 100% goal. And Boston was really pushing at that point. It was five, three. And then you get into a position where they make that play. That makes it five-four and the Bruins now all of a sudden have life. Because Greeny said, the Sens took their foot off the gas a little bit.

The Bruins had the comeback win against Florida two nights earlier where Florida was sitting pretty up two-nothing and it's three quick goals and the Bruins win that in regulation. And I kept thinking at 5-3, I'm like, man, this game might not be over. That save was an exclamation mark. It kind of slowed things down. The Bruins kind of died in momentum at that play. And in the third, there were some presses and stuff like that. But that save was, I wasn't joking, like that's as good a save as I've seen in a long time. Yeah it's incredible

especially considering the context like you said like they yeah Ottawa was in the lead Swamen's been pulled like there's no reason to even make it a game and it's 5-4 going into the second intermission things get tight. Exactly. For him to make that save and then they kind of could breathe in the third period and now Ottawa you know they're they got a five-point buffer on a get tight exactly for him to make that save and then they kind of could breathe in the third period. Yeah. And now Ottawa, you know, they're they got a five point buffer on a playoff spot like the Rangers won last night.

Rangers are right there. The Habs are still there. Well, Columbus lost. That's that was a big one, too. I think Vegas beat them like it is again. I'm sitting there in between the benches and I'm just scoreboard watching. Yeah, it's all time. Awesome. It is great now

You know you look at Ottawa that what are they there four points behind Tampa six behind the Leafs? Like you know there they could still get in there like they could still get in there Yeah, but in the end, you know, I think that you're more focused on the teams behind you Like I that's what I if I was on maybe sure Travis and them might have a different mentality, but if I'm Ottawa, I'm looking at Columbus. I'm looking at the Rangers I'm looking at Montreal Detroit, you know, Boston has played More games so that's a bit of a struggle But in the end, you know, I just I look at it and that's what I'm looking behind me If I that's especially considering the recent history.

That'd be great if you get into the three seed or two seed or whatever. You just want to make the playoffs. You're just trying to make the playoffs. That's what they're chanting last night. Make the playoffs. Yes. Not win a Stanley Cup. Make the playoffs.

We want playoffs. That's what they were yelling. Exactly. You got to crawl before you walk, before you sprint. If you're anywhere, if you're in Ottawa, if you're Detroit, if you're the Habs, it's the same thing. You just want to get in but as it stands like they've now they got a buffer they're in a good place that you could see you know four teams from the Atlantic face each other in the first

round yeah that's right you know if if because no one's gonna catch Washington they lost last night but they got a nine-point buffer on Florida that no one's catching them they're gonna end up with the one seed in the east so whoever is that first wild card is going to play either Florida or Toronto or Tampa and yeah you know I if I were putting money down I think most people would they probably I would lean Florida with the one seed you know and they're they're in the driver's seat they're playing very well they've been red hot recently they defend very well. They check well

They have big game players. Even their fourth line was in the midst of middle everything last night set up the game winner Really good exactly and so like Florida is the pace car for us the team that the Leafs are chasing Tampa's chasing everyone Yeah, but you know, I think if you had Florida versus Ottawa, Toronto versus Tampa, those are two really good series. Florida-Ottawa, Kachuk crime. That'd be a great series. Yeah, the Kachuk brothers head to head. Like, I don't know how that would unfold because they both play for keeps. Like I could see them, like I've been present for a lot of

those head to head games. And you can tell like in regular season There is still and and believe me Matthew gets underneath the skin and everybody and bradys And him have argued a few times and on the ice and since i've heard him say like smarten up and that type of stuff But I can't imagine in a game like in a seven game series where it's a war You know like they I don't think they would fight but I feel like there would be scrums where they're punching each other in the games like in a seven game series where it's a war you know like that i don't think they would fight but i feel like there would be scrums where they're punching each other in the face of like i i i'd really feel like there would be and i will be promised not to fight allegedly they've been said there they've told them on the wouldn't fight

in the primo brothers probably make that promise of one point and i think that some of the promises can be broke they can be broken they're made to be broken but that wasn't it they fought in and wasn't it keith went into the training room in the mom was on the phone yeah i think that's easy all the brother of the actual in about yet you about that he fought wayne like yeah but you know it it it is what it is but let's let's not put the carpet for the horse there's still lots of games and lots of weird potential

Hey listen, that's a nice change still with the leaves like you know listen you're you're down on the way They've been playing recently. I don't see how anyone There's no sugar coating the way they've been playing like their defensive numbers have been terrible They haven't had big games from their big players And they've lost a lot of games in the last you know 10 days that have been litmus test type games and they've been outplayed in them but you still have 17 regular season games left and you're four points back of Florida and you got Florida twice yeah so it's not like it's over like the Leafs didn't officially become the second seed last night or the third seed so

they still have time to figure this out they they just they got to get going and tomorrow is a big one. And I think it's by Craig Barubei. I'd rather play a team. Like I think Ottawa was a perfect one tomorrow night. I wouldn't want to play Pittsburgh tomorrow or Philly or team that well, I'll give you an example like Philadelphia. Exactly. Philadelphia is lost six in a row and then Tampa goes in there and lose in a shootout when you want to challenge your team tomorrow like challenge and believe that a challenge is coming and step up to the challenge because that's what the least thing to do now they need a win where they're the better team for the majority of sixty minutes and they they leave the ring saying we that's how we can play we deserve to win it and then you can get

the ball rolling but until they do that Right, that's the thing like since the four nations They have not had a game where you can say they were definitively the best team now and like it doesn't mean they have won games They have but there's been too many sloppy moments or too many periods that have gone against them or too many times Will they lose in the possession game or whatever it is? They need a carbon copy like this is a Leaf game. And ideally it's tomorrow night. And if it is, that'll be a big moment for them.

Mike Johnson coming up, Dear Hazy B later this afternoon, overdrive continues, TSN 1050N on the TSN app. Introducing the Virgin Plus Value Menu. Get a piping hot bone plan, ooh, with lots of gigs. Enjoy delicious discounts on food, fashion, and more with member benefits.

Supersize your data and savor delectable content. Indulge in a great affordable plan when you bring your own phone at Virgin Plus. Valley Meal is not a real thing. Just a fun way to promote this offer. Obviously, conditions apply. Visit a Virgin Plus store or virginplus.ca for details. Mail It In Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza,

Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree, a side and a drink, and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston Pizza. All right, Tom Peter, tell us where where else brother's been hiding this week. Call us right now at 416-870-1050.

416-870-1050, the first caller through with the correct location wins a pair of tickets to see the Leafs play the Avalanche March 19th. What a game that is, man. What a game that is. 416-870-1050. Another chance to find Al's brother when we take it starts next week right here on overdrive brought to you by mccall pine ford in aurora our family the fort family in you uh... i have not track and else brother online but i haven't

actually over a while why i was is that all the some blocks in their is that a whole lots of a lot is that a whole with some plaques in there. He's at a hall with some plaques in there. He's at a hall with some plaques in there. Hanging out with the Stanley Cup. Yeah, the Florida Panthers just rolled through town to say hi to the Stanley Cup. That was nice. Phil, wasn't I one of the clues?

I don't remember. Were you one of the clues? Why would you have been one of the clues? Were they? I don't really listen, Ellis brother. I have to be honest with you. Did you donate memorabilia to the hall all noodles you got some stuff and all i by name is on a trophy in the hall of fame okay the jennings

no you're on the jennings and you win the jennings in saint louis but i wanted to say i was yet i got but here's the i played nineteen games you have to have masterton the master you have to have you have to say i want the jennings and i want the masterton but the Jennings i didn't get my name on it i see you have to have 25 games played in that year i had 19 let's get that changed so let's get that right now i would i would actually advocate for that because i do remember i don't know if you guys are in new jersey we got a talk we got a goal but

the new jersey devils put mike dunham in a bunch of games so that he could get on the call let's get you on there we need you on the Jennings in the 99 99 yeah all right our two coming up overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 2 you've been listening to overdrive powered by FanDuel FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. I Heart Radio is taking you backstage with Kane Brown in Quebec City. Y'all get ready. Girl, let's go put some miles on the line. Meet him, interview him, an I Heart Radio experience you'll never forget.

Turn up the night like that radio. With flights, hotel, and $500 included. Be like that. How we feeling tonight? For your best chance to win enter daily at IR radio dot CA Cane Brown's new album the high road is available now