OverDrive - OverDrive - May 13, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: May 13, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Jonas Siegel for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Bruce Boudreau joins to discuss the Maple Leafs' character against Panthers in Game 5, the Jets' subpar road performances and the Oilers' winning run against the Golden Knights. TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson  the Maple Leafs' outlook against the Panthers, Auston Matthews' goalless skid in the series and the legacy of the stars in Toronto.

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a personalized aging well plan to help you or left ones live safely, securely, and independently. Call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca. Hour Two Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles, McClennan, Jonas Segal. Man, the conspiracy theories were flying last night when the Mavs won that draft lottery.

Like that- It's fixed. They've known about it forever because that's why they made the trade? Well- No, no, no, no, no. Yeah, go ahead. No, you explain well I think it was again I I don't believe that this happened but I totally get why people believe it happened the Lakers are the most important market in the sport right and LeBron's getting up there in age and he's about to turn the page we got to get a young superstar out there so the the conspiracy theory is keep it quiet get Luke at LA and if you can do

that for us we'll make sure Cooper flags at Dallas that's too stupid that's a conspiracy I think one that makes sense is the fan base in Dallas hated that trade understandably worst trade ever. Yeah. Like they're turning their back on the franchise. If I was the league and I wanted to do a little shake and save it, save it. I'd be like, you know what, we got to save this franchise because there's no coming back from this. Right. Let's get them Cooper flag. So they're basically saying because of your idiocy and trading him. Yes and the reaction you yeah There are people thinking like they need to move the team like the ownership needs to sell the team

Now now no one's gonna remember that is a more reasonable Conspiracy theory now the the sexier one is mine yours is better the whole Lakers and everything We got to go to is there one conspiracy theory you actually believe in sports. No just in the world I believe a lot. It's a little on your favorite one? Well no I'm not gonna say it because why? Give us one. We don't talk politics on it. It's not about politics. It doesn't have to be politics. You could say that aliens are alive. Well I believe there are. Oh yeah? I believe that at least some form of something is on this earth. You think Doogie's an alien? He might be the way he acts. I think there's a chance Doogie is.

I think JP 100% is. The guy that usually sits in that chair. Oh, always definitely one. I've always believed that. There are some things out there that you're like, all right, I like to think outside the box. It doesn't mean I'm right. It doesn't mean, but my point is-

What's your proof of this? Do you have any theories about like things you've seen? No, I actually here's a crazy one. Do we he's a rabbit hole guy Yeah, go ahead played with a guy named Larry DePalma in the miners. Look him up He's he could shoot the puck like I've never seen the guy put put it through the boards He claims to have seen a UFO twice twice twice. Oh, yeah. Sure. Why not? But but in the the end I don't know I just think there is another there is some as a life form somewhere out

somewhere I and it's not I can get behind I need to think but it but that's a conspiracy and you think they'd be here why not there's area 51 all of these things my number one is the moon the landing of the moon I'm not buying that well that's there's that I'm not buying that goes up to Neil Armstrong is like swear he's got a Bible swear on a Bible you walked on the moon yeah like I'll kick your ass right now get the hell out of here it's just there was too much of a fight going back and forth with the rush that could be a farce too that one seems like one I think most people could get behind Buying the flag blowing in the wind

There's some guy with a mic Like how'd that guy get on yeah, so anyways no I don't want to be known as like a crazy one, but like I do what I like is these Alternate alternative views, but I try to keep balanced on it and go okay If you're gonna look at this way you got to look at it this way and then you make your your mind up but in the end like I just I You're not buying this one that Cooper flag is in Dallas. Well, it's because Adam Silver It's a very big coincidence put it that way

I don't yeah, I'm not gonna go that far because I that would be accusing the league of cheating What's more likely doing one I could believe well that one because that that would be accusing the league of cheating. What is more like viewing one? I could believe well that one because that one the league needed New York to get going I think was in a bad place David Stern had just gotten there today's world It's hard to get away with anything right because of the technology back then it's like there's no yeah exactly There's no paper trail by you know funny business could happen could happen and they're like, I believe we told you this is what happened. Sure.

Well, Adam Schefter, who I was not expecting to tweet out what I found to be the most interesting tweet of the night last night. Right. Because, you know, Dallas wins the lottery. The Sixers move up. They have no right to move up. I don't know. Pathetic.

The season they just had for them to move up when their pick was top six protected too. They move up and the Spurs you just got Wembe. Why are you up at two? That to me is disturbing. They've won five championships in the last 30 years. Why do you get more? Right, but I can't you know in Toronto you can't complain that much because the the Raptors they've won a championship. They've won the lottery. Right. That was a tough win. They won it with Bargnani Raptors they've won a championship. They've they've won the lottery, right? That was a tough win. They won it with Barney. I but they also won it with Scotty They were seventh and they moved up the core and they got they got him, you know They made a great trade a draft night Jameson for Carter back in the day

They've had rookies of the year like the the Raptors have not been Anywhere close to a few teams in the league if you're a Charlotte Hornets fan You have no reason to ever pay attention to anything ever. The Wizards are not far behind, the Kings are not far behind, but I didn't realize this. Adam Scheffler tweeted out that since the NBA introduced the draft lottery in 1985 the Utah Jazz have never drawn the number one overall pick, nor have they improved their draft standing. Not once have they gone from like like while they were supposed to pick fifth But now they're picking third and the street continued last night

They moved out of the top three links over rigged that too. I wouldn't be shocked now that one I can get behind He's nobody cares about you. Talk. That's why exactly like you taught no one. You're like the Utah Mammoth What are we talking about? I bet you Bruce loves the Utah Mammoth. Possibly Bruce. I guarantee you. Do you think he's a fan of that new name? That's what I'm saying. I guarantee you he thinks that name is.

I bet you he's played there in the Miners before. Well I played there in the Miners. I actually played for the Utah Grizzlies. I think I played maybe against Bruce. Well I did play against Bruce, but maybe not when I was with Salt Lake. Okay here he is. TSN Hockey Analyst joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline, Bruce Boudreau. Are you a fan of the name?

Oh, I love this guy. Yeah, it's so stupid and ridiculous. Utah Mammoth, Bruce, are you on board with that or what? Well, I think it's going to be like the crack and everybody hated it at the beginning, but they sold tons of merchandise. What I don't wanna see is them saying, oh, there's Logan Cooley of the Mams coming down the ice. You know, like, I don't want them to short form,

like you can call the Avs the Avs and everybody else, but I don't think you can call the Mammoths the Mams. No, I'm with you on that. Yeah, it's gotta be the complete name. Well, there's gonna, Mammoths all all the time unless there's a unique nickname for them that's the thing that what i call them that then against the what what would that well okay so the leaves are called the buds

yeah i'm not a fan yet he's right and they couldn't do it right but there maybe there is some form short form or maybe a nickname that there are going to develop in utah but I agree with you Bruce the the Mams or whatever. The Mami. Yeah that would be no good would be no good. What if you called them what if you called them the Tusks? I don't know you see the two tusks in the jersey I don't know. Yeah that's not bad. Somebody's gonna figure out something in there because nobody's gonna want to call them the mammoths all the time, even

though, you know, like when they're talking fast, but they are what they are. Yeah, you're right. Nobody calls the crack and the cracks, you know, so. That would be a good one, though. The crack, or the cracks. Give it time, it's just a matter of time, Bruce. So Bruce, I'm curious, your take on what appears to be the approach of Greg Barube here that if you go based on what we saw at practice today he's not

going to change the lineup leading up to game five. If that in fact is the case, are you surprised at all and how would you handle it if you were in his shoes? Well I mean I guess there's two choices. There's putting Stolarz in if he's healthy, and there's putting Robertson in for somebody. And I don't think putting, I think Wall has played fine. He was really good last game. And maybe Stolarz who's practicing. But if you've got a concussion, as Jamie would

tell you, there's still a protocol of about at least seven days that you've got to wait. And if he was just taking shots, I don't know if there was a full practice or not today. So I think going with wall is the safe issue. And I don't think the the one player that I was talking about up front whether it's Robertson and taking out whether it be McMahon or Patoretti or whoever I don't think that's a difference maker that's not turning the needle for me so I mean to me I would be sitting there boys you got us here you guys got the two wins you guys got the two losses you know I'm

counting on you and you make it sound as if you really believe in all of them and hope that they go out and prove it to you. I mean, obviously they didn't look very good in Florida, but I believe that the Leafs can be a different... You know, I haven't seen them look bad three games in a row for a long time. So I think they'll come back and be a real good team tomorrow night. Well, Bruce, we were talking about whether they should change up that top line and maybe flip Nylander and play him with Matthews.

And Brian and Noodle's both brought up that he's kind of done this all year. He's just kind of kept calm and not changed things up. So I wondered like as a coach, what is that line you walk between, I need to make an adjustment, but I also don't want to send maybe panic to the room. Yeah. I mean, I don't think they're in a panic mood.

I don't think Craig's a panic guy, but I mean, uh, uh, I did it often. If I'll go back, uh, I mean, I did it often in all the four teams that I was on, that, I mean, you keep say, Backstrom and Oveskin and somebody else together, but if it's my job as the coach, see who's going. And at the end of the first period, if somebody's not going, then you make line changes. And then even if they go good, the next day I'd go back to the same line and see how it goes. And then if you make adjustments during the game, I mean, I think he's going to

be going with what he thinks is the best combination to win. But if somebody's not going, he's also smart enough to make those adjustments quickly and hope it doesn't, you know, it's not too late to make them. I mean, I don't think, they've interchanged these lines an awful lot, I don't think putting John with Marner and all of a sudden changing it is gonna be the biggest difference in the world. It might, I don't know, maybe I'm too old

to think those ways, but I do believe that their best lineup is the lineup they've got. If it doesn't work, then all of a sudden we start getting a little bit desperate as the game goes on. And we start making line changes or shortening the bench or doing something like that. So I mean, sometimes your fourth line is playing so good you start playing them a little bit more. So I mean, those are all things that coaches do during the game. With Bruce Boudreaux our TSN hockey analyst so the Jetson Stars have game four tonight and Miro Haskin in his back for the Dallas Stars. How big of a boost do you think that is for Dallas and how

much more difficult is it going to be now for Winnipeg to get a win tonight that feels like a must-win for them? Well I mean you know when you look at it on paper you go oh no now we're down and we're facing this guy it's it's gonna be tough I know I hope he's ready he's been out two months I think at least right and so it's gonna I mean he's gonna take a little bit of time to get going but sometimes you know And I'm just trying to be a positive guy with as a leaf here. You know sometimes What happens is now the rest of the guys go well? We got me go back or or Nico back and all of a sudden we don't have to play as hard because he's here and go back and all of a sudden we don't have to play as hard because he's here.

And, and that happens how many times when your star player comes back, you think, Oh, now we're off to the races and we don't play that good. I think it'll be a great, great boost initially, but I really believe then they better, they better do good in the first period because I think they're going to waste a lot of adrenaline in the first period with the crowd going nuts that he's back and then just coming out and want to put their foot on the throat of the Jets. And so I mean I think the first period is going to be so important tonight. What do the Jets have to do to get a road win? I mean Connor Hellebuyck's been pulled three out of the four.

They gave he gave up a five spot last game, although I wouldn't lay it at his feet. But, you know, they've been great at home, Bruce, but on the road, it's it's not been a great formula. What do they need to do to calm that crowd or, you know, take the crowd out of it to try and get back into this series? Yeah, I mean, there was a third best road record in the league during the season. I mean, I'm answering these questions, but I'll ask you one while I'm answering it is, if you were a goaltender,

how would you feel about being pulled three times on the road? I still get mad, I've been talking about this. You pull them the first time, the second time you say, get in there and just, you've got talking about this you pull them the first time the second time you say get in there and just you've got fight this and may get better you pull up a second time you pull up the third time you're giving them easy outs so I think no matter what happens Halliburton's got to stay in there and suck it up and take it and and fight his way out

of this and on the other hand on the other side I mean they've lost eight in a row on the road. I mean, they're too good a team to keep this up. I don't know if it's a mental blip that they've got now. They don't think they can win on the road, but I mean, they certainly have got the talent to win. You've seen them play an incredibly good game, their last game at home. I've seen them when they needed to win, play really good games and beat the team. They just have to play their best game. And they, but I think Winnipeg, one of the things about them is they're in the playoffs anyway. When the other team scores, when it's on the road, it's like a woe is me and it takes them a

little bit more to get going. They've got to realize when they score to toughen up and just go right back at these guys and not allow them to score 42 seconds later or four goals in seven minutes and stuff. I mean, that's against St. Louis and against Dallas. When they get scored on the road, they seem to fall apart. And that's the time when they've got to get stronger. And hopefully they realize that and they will tonight with bruce bujr oh uh... edmonton with a really really impressive when last night and total control uh... they shut out vegas there there in the driver's seat

now they're up three one they deserve to be in my opinion uh... what have you taken out of edmonton really since game three of the king series where they've only lost once since then and it was with point four seconds left on the clock. What's happened here in Edmonton because they look as good as I've seen them in the last couple of years that includes the cup run last year. Yeah, I mean, when and even if you say they've won seven out of eight and they lost the one

game with a second to go like I mean They've been really good But I think I think a real big key a real big key is is their balance is so much better I think the addition and size and strength of Frederick and Kane have really allowed the team to get really a lot more balance Especially if for the most part you use Corey Perry on the first line that really equals up the lines and you don't necessarily, you love to have it and it happens more often than not to have Dr. Seidel and McDavid being doing all the dirty work.

But you know, I mean you can get other guys doing it where I never thought they did that in the past. To me they look really, really good right now and they're physical and they're they're strong and I mean so the idea of them I mean obviously they were told let's make life really tough on on Hill and they've been bumping into him every step of the way to the point where you know he looked like the goalie in Flapshot when they, when Newman was calling him a name when he went after the guys in the corner so I mean I mean a little bit of his focus was taken away I mean he played fairly good after that but I still believe that Vegas has got to be focused but Edmonton's doing everything they can and they're being

they're really good at it right now I think they they truly believe that they're the best team that's gonna go that's gonna win this series Yeah, I think They deserve to the way that they've been playing and it's you're right about that balanced attack Like it has not been the McDavid and dry subtle show Every single night and I one guy I think you got to give credit to her I do because I've been very critical of him Especially early in that last round is Evan Bouchard has really picked up his game Well, he's really snapped out of the quieter though. His game. That's why is exactly makes great pass the other guy too It's is John Klingberg looks like John Klingberg growing like three-foot sauces over sticks

I know who is this guy? Yeah, Yeah, this is Dallas stars John Klingberg we're seeing. Not Toronto Maple Leafs or Edmonton Oilers regular season John Klingberg. Or Anaheim Ducks John Klingberg. That's right. Which is also not overly impressive. Yeah, I mean those are the surprises. Bouchard, and you said the magic word, he's been quiet. He hasn't played for both teams on any given shift. He's been really solid. And I mean, Klingberg's been solid,

and I thought there was no chance when they got him. I said, what are they getting him for? So I mean, the Anaheim thing went terrible. His last year in Dallas went terrible. His Leaf thing was terrible. And then the other one is Walmen, like I mean, who's been traded twice this year. He's played so good where at the beginning of the playoffs, you thought Edmonton wasn't anywhere near as good as they've been in the past because their defense was really, really weak. And they've been a tower

of strength. And I think it might be only two games he's played now, but I think Skinner's got his mojo back. And I think that makes them a really complete team and tough to play against because they're big and strong and fast. And they're playing solid defense. So boy, I really believe whoever they play if they complete this round I don't think Vegas is going to go out quietly but I mean if they beat Vegas I think they got a good shot at whoever they're playing Dallas or Winnipeg

wouldn't you love to see a Winnipeg Edmonton final in the West I think that would be amazing for everybody except the American viewers. But I think it would be great for Canada. So that's what you keep hoping for. That's what we're pulling for Bruce. We're all collectively going to come together as a country and hopefully watch Winnipeg and Edmonton and maybe the Leafs. Maybe the Leafs as well in the East Conference Final. Thank you for this Bruce. Enjoy the game the game tonight will do it again soon yet don't give up on the leaves now we're not going to be really good

tomorrow okay i agree that there is bruce brugio joining us in the maple toronto hotline drive the built in canada fuel efficient funded drive toyota rap for gas or hybrid models available visit maple toronto dot com i did does feel like a you know it's a must-win I think for Winnipeg tonight gotta get one man you can't go down 3-1 you can't I mean look at this when Washington team yeah they're total I know it's just

methodical like they're quiet they just play well like they're just a that's serious card over man it's not a sex like a watching the games they're not high event games awful I don't know if you've watched any a little bit can I ask you a question about that yeah has it got me thinking like we could have Carolina Dallas in the final mm-hmm little ranted in bowl would ranting and be the best midseason trade a team has made like I don't know off hand but if they were to win the cup is that the best one oh I I think so

because they got him locked up on a deal. I think that's what would put it over the top. Like the most famous one is probably Ray Bork. Yeah Joe Neuendike. Joe Neuendike was a great one, calibrated Dallas. That was for Daryl McKenna. That's, and they won a cup.

On the management group, they made the trade. They knew how good Iggy was gonna be, but they needed a Neuendike to get them over the top that's a great one that's a good and i'm sure there's i'm sure there's no loss but i mean that one comes to mind you know because craig tells that story all the time he goes we love to roam we knew he was going to be great but he goes

we needed at that time somebody was going to contribute a veteran and i don't think they won the first year i I think it was the second year. But I think not only getting ranted in, but locking him up on a long-term deal. Like if he's going to play like this and they win, it's just an incredible deal. That's the worst. Yeah, I mean, with all the respect to both teams

and markets, if it's Carolina Dallas, you're like, come on. There's all these possibilities for Canadian teams, for even Vegas and Florida, Washington with OV, but right now man Carolina's getting the job done and Dallas I think is their favorite to win. Yeah I think it looks it feels to me like it's going to be Dallas-Edmonton that's going to be a great series. I think that's a coin flip in my opinion. But yeah and what Bruce said on the way out I mean with the Leafs tomorrow night it feels like even though it's 2-2 it feels like a

must-win for them but I think they respond I think they're gonna play well tomorrow yeah I'm not gonna sit here and guarantee a win but I don't I don't think they're gonna get blown out or anything they haven't blown out at any point during the playoffs they've done a very good job of showing up and ready to play yeah and well tomorrow too yeah and the building will it's always an intriguing What's it gonna feel like? I think there'll be a lot of nervous energy down there. Are you gonna be in the building? I will be in the building tomorrow. Aren't you a good luck charm now? Yeah it's flipped. Whenever I'm down there they win. They win. Yeah. Generally speaking. I think, I gotta say, I think the building in the playoffs needs to be separated from the building in the regular season. It's been phenomenal in the playoffs. It's been an unbelievable atmosphere. Right? Yes, every game I've been to and I've been to all of them, about one, it's been just

incredible. Like they've all been incredible atmospheres. Of course it's supposed to be. No, but it's not like, it has this reputation of the crowd as terrible. The crowd stinks in the regular season. Yeah, 100%. But in the playoffs, it's good. It should be exciting.

It should be. Because you know what? The guys who can afford the tickets or people can afford them actually sit in the seats and watch the game in the playoffs as opposed to going down for a filet mignon in the club. That's a big part of that. They're actually watching the game and cheering for the team. Or the people are big fans and getting those tickets from those corporate people going you're not gonna use them I'm going that's that's a big that is something that does apply during the regular season where

there are you know it's it's you know name a game on a midweek and people like I just I'm not going down to that right the playoffs like people are dying to get down there right you know and it's not that there aren't people that are itching to get into the building you know at any point it's just you don't have access to the ticket the truth is there are people that have access to tickets during the season and they're like nah I don't know if I need to go or if I do go it's like whatever happens happens it's just such an amplified atmosphere when you're in a game like

tomorrow night now I think it'll be nervous I think it would be rocking if they were coming home 3-1 that's very. If it was a 3-1 chance to close tomorrow night, that place would be going insane. I still expect it to be crazy, but it's different with it being 2-2. And if Bob starts standing on his head or something, like it could twist, and it won't twist because it's a bad building it will twist because of nerves and anxiety and history and people worried about you know what's gonna happen here yeah but you know the Leafs can control that you get off to a great start you score first you throw some hits you be physical you lean on Florida make them feel uncomfortable that place will be great it's gonna be a

great night should be good weather tomorrow everything's coming up Leaf fans right right Jonas yeah everything's coming up Leaf fans, right? Right Jonas? Yeah Everything's coming up. We've raised. All right, Mike Johnson will join us We'll catch up with Johnny get his take on the game tonight again game five tomorrow get his take on that What's going on down or over at the World Championships? Canada just continues to destroy teams dummy teams for fun, which is to be expected I mean, they are a massive favorite every single time they play. It actually might like if they if they don't dummy a team that might be an off game. Yeah exactly if you went for nothing against France or something you're like that's kind of embarrassing. Didn't have a good game.

Yeah that's an embarrassing effort. So we'll catch up with Johnny we got Keegan Matheson coming up from the park we'll get you that update on Max Scherzer what's the latest on Max? Not overly positive. And back into all the conspiracy theories out there. We're going to corner Noodles by 7pm, get his spiciest conspiracy theory that he believes in. That's a guarantee. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. All right, Keegan Matheson in about a half an hour. The latest on Max Scherzer is now his back is flaring up a little bit, Jonas. So he didn't pitch today, but you know, they're hopeful that at some point, Max will get out there and pitch again.

But the thumb, the forearm, it's the lat. Now it's the back. Like, I know he's my age, basically. I get it, man. I understand, it's tough. I followed him pretty closely last year. And this was the whole year. Yeah, it's like he comes back, he makes three starts, he goes five innings, and it's like, oh, then it's this.

It's like what happens, right? How he negotiated a $15 million contract. Desperation. I hear you, and the Jays were primed for it for it that's why they gave it to him but i get it he sure sir and his box office and all that but there was no way this guy was pitching anywhere close to 25 times let alone 30 31 32 like there it was a zero percent chance and uh it's very clear that that's still the case yet the jays are riding high and the bats are alive they've won four

in a row they're back up to 500 they get tamp in town tonight Keegan in about a half an hour trying to think if if I was doing like overdrive in Sweden and I was talking about the world championships and I looked at the scoreboard without having seen the game because we've been on the air and I saw Canada only beat France five nothing i think i would say that's disappointing and and underwhelming effort by the canadians let's tell the guy who actually was in the building watching the game here's mike johnson rts and hockey analyst how do we only be france five nothing

what happened here johnny well i did set the over under seven and a half and i did hit the under i'm with you i thought you know eight or so They hate you. I'll get y'all give the team credit days and I've been in this tournament. I've played in it I've covered it a million times these first few games that you're playing Austria and France and Slovenia and They're going to win. So like trying to up the intensity for 60 full minutes So like trying to up the intensity for 60 full minutes Can be a challenge and I thought they played the first 10 12 minutes really well the score two goals It made it to nothing and then they kind of got

Typically predictably a little bit sluggish a little bit separated They didn't really give up any chances Jordan Bittington made his debut today in the tournament So he's up and running power play continues a cook two for two best in the power best in the tournament that's good news and but it was like a professional mature almost respectful performance they didn't want to try to score 18 goals whatever it might be so so there's gonna have been more yes what I think is gonna be more yes but I'm not gonna criticize them for it was a very very professional effort this tournament because there are games like this that go along where occasionally you'll get like a 4-2 game you're like what happened there it wasn't really close never really felt close and they did what they

had to do which is all you're trying to get through in the first three four games. Exactly get out there and win find a way to win any way it happens you'll take it and move on. The same logic will apply tomorrow night down at Scotiabank Arena game five Leafs Panthers it doesn't matter how it looks right it's not how it's how many find a way to win but based on what you've seen through four games and the way that this series has played out what is your best guess on on what the game might look like tomorrow in other words high scoring like the first few games, low scoring like we saw in game four,

you know, kind of nervous energy early in the game. What are you anticipating or what are you projecting could be the kind of mood of the game tomorrow night? Yeah, I mean, I think it will be played more on the terms of the Florida Panthers in that lower scoring, probably tighter checking, pretty physical, certainly nervy and tense for Toronto Maple Leaf players and fans because even though they're, you know, they're even with two out of three games at home, that is actually a pretty good position to be in.

When they were the better team in the regular season, it just doesn't feel that way right now because game four went the way it did. But I think it'll be sort of Florida's onto their game. They make you play the way that they do. And when they do, they're hard to beat. But I think Toronto's going to have to find a way to almost beat Florida in that style, not at Florida's game, but playing that style to have success. I expected like 3-2 3-1 empty net or kind of game super tight and And someone's gonna have to find a way to break through for Toronto get around the front of the net a bit more, right?

Get the puck Possess it and get to the front of the net Where the goal is for where Matthew nice seems to be about the only guy who can just handle on it in around there. I do think coming home Hayes the matchups will be different. I think you want to keep William Nylander away from Gus Forsling because Forsling might be one of the few players who could sort of skate and have the feet to try to corral Nylander. I don't know if they like the Lundell matchup with Matthew so like this they could dictate

stuff there and maybe give Toronto a better chance to find some open ice. Well, so Mike, I chatted briefly with William Nylander today and he mentioned something exactly what you're talking about. He said, we need more playoff style goals. I think that's probably exactly what you're talking about. But I was actually curious to know your thoughts on, it looks like they're gonna keep the lineup the same. And I wonder like why you think Matthews Marner hasn't really been the same in the playoffs as it is in the regular season.

Like why do you think it's just been a little, I don't know, not there? So I mean, first off I'll say, like let's check it today, I have five on five. Like I think Matthews is ten four three against Yeah, and that line in this series is five two Right. So so while the sky is falling because he doesn't have any goals This guy's not falling because when he's out there, he's outscoring the opposition

Mm-hmm. I think why it has a hard time working against Florida specifically or maybe just in general the playoffs Is anything else the answers are obvious it's it's tighter tracking these guys thrive on open ice and they're better at open ice than the players that they play against the regular season but there's less open ice there so their numbers are gonna go down relative to what they experienced I think Mitch Marner who's been good he's been solid he's been good I think Mitch Marner, who's been good, he's been solid, he's been good. I think Mitch Marner specifically is a guy who thrives on sort of puck touches, possession of the offensive zone, and generally works the edges of the offensive zone and then creates for his line mates in the center.

And he doesn't get nearly as many touches. And you certainly don't really score from the edges. You get points perhaps, but you don't often score. He had the one goal as a wrer kind of through traffic that was not lucky, but an unusual goal. So I mean, I think there's style reasons. I think Florida obviously is a very good defensive team when they're on top of their game. That doesn't help. And I don't want to go back to it because if you have, but the reality is like I am fully anticipating some sort of update whenever the leaf season

ends, whether it's in a month or it's in four days, that Austin Matthews has something wrong with him. Like something. Because in that dynamic with Matthews and Marner, Marner works the edges, Matthews works the interior, right? You've got the body to get there, you's got the quick release when he gets there, but he's just not quite as good at it right now. He's not quite as explosive getting there

or shooting it once he has it there, and so the whole thing doesn't look quite as good. So that's the synopsis, and that's not new, what I'm talking about, except for maybe Matthews health. That might be the newest development this year. But that's sort of been the story of their existence in the playoffs and it's exacerbated

Because they're playing Florida who is as physical as organized and as pressuring as about any team in the league Yeah, I don't want to like I don't want to put the car before the horse and start discussing Hypotheticals after the series but like Matthews was pushed on what happened to him last year against Boston and he said nothing so why would we expect he's gonna give you details this year and if he does give you details six months right Hayes like been since training camp he's had stuff going on mm-hmm so almost he did I'm not saying he owes and I when I say it we're gonna hear about it he's very private He might not say anything

He'd rather just take because if they don't say anything it reminds me from my Joel Thornton had that one playoff series in Boston He's playing with I think they're playing Montreal. He's playing with like a broken rib or corn rib muscle and he was a shell of himself But in the postseason presser, nobody said anything and he was crucified for the way he played even though everyone in the organization should have known why he was playing the way he was. I almost think for Matthew's own benefit if there was something wrong with him they should say like yeah all year he was dealing with a herniated disc, all year he had a hernia in his groin, whatever. Just to let people know that this is what was going on, it wasn't just fully healthy and this is what he looked like

because that would be a stranger answer than nothing. Yeah, yet again in the past they've done that. And I get it, this is longer, we believe, it's been longer. Yet the guy's averaging over 22 minutes a night, killing penalties, taking draws. And playing well just not scoring but that and that's that's my thing like like he's got a score I'm sorry I just I can't I can't accept you just day sorry man like it you're in year nine here and he's he

scored three goals in his last 20 playoff games I'm sorry you just like dry subtle played with what did he have a couple years ago it was it was a cruel sprain gruesome move gruesome what did he do scored every single night so like this is the playoffs man every putt he's heard he could shut could Chuck could barely move you know see he's not the same right like in which way when he shoots the puck he's not it's not the same how it's not as quick it's not he's's not being always cleanly over thinking it i'd does it look the same you know i i i would argue that the one the back door bob ross the where he waited on them and then tried to put it out top that that's

not injury man that's over thinking that the one where you kind of double-clutch yes that is not going to have a really need to that all that it is in velocity clutch. Yes. That has nothing to do with injury. He didn't need to. Yep. I'll say this Hayes, his velocity on his mid-range shot for like the 20 to 30 feet is down like seven miles an hour on average from last year. Yeah and that's very beatiful. Like that's that's a massive amount. If he goes from you know 85 mile an hour average to 78 all of a sudden he shoots it more like Mike Johnson. That's not working for anybody

right? Like what separates him is that shot. So if the injury is related to his ability to shoot the puck, then there is something. And I'm not giving anyone a pass, like I get it. You're right, Dave, this is the playoffs. This is the second round. And you know we have this conversation all the time,

Jonas is on my side, like I very much can appreciate the process and the randomness of the results. And sometimes you can't control the results because you gotta control the process. That's in the regular season. Right now, process means diddly. Means absolutely bupkis. All that matters is results.

This is the playoff, you can get out shot by 40 to 15. If you go and score two goals, that's all that matters. And so for him, he knows this, he knows this. But if you're asking me why, that's what I'm suggesting is the reason why. And, um, I don't know how that gets solved for tomorrow's game. Um, other than perhaps getting away from some matchups, other than perhaps a change in strategy or philosophy on the power play,

and maybe a smidge of luck would be nice for him as well. Well, absolutely, there's things that- Because he's around it, right? Yeah, for sure. I mean, and the beauty of it is, Jonas, you can jump in here, is these are the legacy games now. Like more so than game one or two or three.

Like this is what was always gonna be remembered. He got through the first round, he had a, he scored the first goal in game six. That was very significant. And, but this was always gonna be the difference maker for all of them is what do you do in the best two out of three when the series has been shrunk and you're playing an opponent like this. This is it. So the we talked about that in the first round. Completely irrelevant. Remember they're up

3-0 then it's 3-1 then it's 3-2 and then it was this conversation again. I do want to ask Mike one thing related to all this. You're probably the perfect person to ask. How much, if anything, do you think the style of play affects Matthews in terms of how they play offensively, if at all? I think it affects them for sure. I mean, I think the offense was easier and more bountiful, right? Like just the quantity was so much higher when they played under Sheldon Keefe, right? Offensively speaking. They just got more. Got more looks, more chances.

They also gave up more, but they got more. So I think offensively, it's more of a grind. It's harder, right? Cycle, chances, dump and chase is harder to create than the way they used to do it. But the reality for him is he's the greatest goal scorer in the world, he's the highest paid player in the league. You have to find a way to thrive regardless of the system.

And you know, maybe not thriving, I don't know, if the system is part of it, the opponent is part of it, the health is part of it, who knows? Maybe the pressure of the moment is part of it. We don't wanna say that, but who knows, right? It might be, it might be because there's a lot of pressure on these guys. They care so much and they understand what's at stake. And you make a great point Hayes because you know what people are talking about today in Edmonton? Not Stu Skinner in his state percentage in the first couple games

of the playoffs when he wasn't very good. They're talking about a guy who sat out for two weeks, came in and pitched a shot out it was rock solid. And like that's what people remember. When the chips are on the down, game is on the line, who comes through? Can you come through? And you know, they have that opportunity and maybe that's how you have to spin it, right? Not that they have that pressure or that responsibility

or that burden, they have that opportunity. And can you imagine if Austin and Mitch and Willie and John and Moe and they go out there and they have big games, two games in a row, and knock off the defending champs? What that would do to just, not erase, but rewrite how their entire existence is viewed, whether they win a cup or not, if they were able to do that,

it would change everything Absolutely, how did there and that's the opportunity they have the next couple games? That's what I'm driving at is you know Listen heavy is the head that wears the crown Austin wears it and he's worn it for nine years What comes with with what comes with that is a lot of responsibility and a lot and a lot more Expectation than the guy behind you and certainly than the guy 11 slots behind you. Like you're the man and that's all that's the and yet the beauty of sport and the luck I think the fortune that these guys collectively have and I don't know if they'd look at it

this way is that Brendan Shanahan in particular has continued to put trust and faith in them that they will do it and an understanding that when they do it if they do it everything else will be washed away yeah and that is what is in front of them over the next six nights less than that five nights is literally if you if you go out there and play like rock stars and win two of the next three games no one's gonna remember well game four against columbus exactly no one's like hey it's all it's all going to be it's all going to change and then you have an opportunity to even to leapfrog even further from that with the next round and the next round and it is it's just a massive massive opportunity for them and

you know if it's right there in front of them they just they've got to do it again a factor in the get take advantage of this chance in yes it's it's more difficult for matthews in the system because also he's killed penalties now he didn't under shelving key and i tell you sat there i don't think that hurt though i mean and i think i mean played my whole career and i I've never been Austin Matthews, like killing penalties, I don't know how much that like you know

the minutes he plays there, if that takes away from his five on five energies, I don't know. It's more the freebie at the end of the penalty I guess, right? Like because Keith was famous for that, like penalty killed he'd throw the three of them over a lot of times. Right, load them up after. Yes. Well, when there's a first period like the other night where Neal under just doesn't play. Right.

Right? Yes. And I guess that, though, but that's the opposite. The opposite is Austin stayed in the game and Mitch stayed in the game because they were playing, you know, and they had the legs and I don't know. It's right there. you laid it out perfectly you laid it out perfectly and I think in a normal sort of team situation the overriding sentiment would one would be one of sort of hope and maybe optimism because of

what you just said mm-hmm what you just said but because of the reality of their history and how bad game four looks, there probably doesn't steal that sense of hope and optimism. It's more dread and pessimism about what could happen. What if it goes wrong? What if they get shut out? What if they can't score? Because that's what's happened in the past. This is the reality that the guys have been here for a long time that they have to carry until they, until they push it aside, which they could in just

two good games or not even two good games, Hayes. It could be two crappy games and two wins. Like that's it. That's it. It could be Joseph Wall being great. It could be Max Dolby coming through. It could be Steven Lorenz off his butt. And like, you know what? They're different. These guys are different. And that's what is at stake. That is what's at stake starting tomorrow night. All right, Johnny, we'll leave it there.

Enjoy yourself over there, buddy. We'll do it again later in the week. All right, it's gonna be a late night tomorrow night to get up to watch that one. I might have to go live with it because I am, honestly. I know, I'm jacked. I'm not the car trash guy. Like I don't want, like I'm not staying up

to see Toronto do poorly. I generally kind of want to see the guys do well. I want to see the guys, like whether they win or lose, I want to see these guys who care and have been through the wringer and will go through the wringer if it doesn't go well. I'd like to see them come out, know playing by their standards playing well and then see what happens I'm with you on that go out and exactly just play well try to

control the game find a way to get a win they deserve it moreover and more importantly the fans they deserve it like leave fans deserve can go find a way to them up right johnny good luck with that tomorrow you too uh... mike johnson rts and hockey analyst keegan matheson in fifteen minutes from the park jays race tonight down at the dome overdrive continues to use and ten fifty and on the t s and out

map is in about ten minutes checking on the jays get back into the dallas mavericks very deserving them winning the draft lottery last night and if you're a raptor fan it's crushing man because this season was as painful as anyone i can think of in thirty years it was an absolutely horrendous season

and really dropped two spots. Watching season because I never knew who was going to play. Awful, awful and at times you know I guess to their credit they were trying to throw games and they couldn't and they couldn't. Because other teams out tanked. Have you talked much about Yadis? Well why don't we get into that to start the next hour because he wants out and now everyone's pointing Dallas there I read today they're into that to start the next hour because he wants out and now everyone's pointing Dallas there I read today. They're not gonna trade the first overall pick to get them. Yeah, but San Antonio might trade either the second pick or You know other pieces maybe Houston those two appear to be the teams to look at

But Yanis understandably wants out of Milwaukee or is at least open to open to open to it. Yes. Well Milwaukee is gonna be a disaster for a long time. Long time. They have nothing. They got nothing. They got Chris Middleton and no he's gone. Exactly. They don't even have him. They have injured Dame Lillard. There you go. And even Middleton hasn't played in like two years. No he's on Washington. No I understand but I'm saying prior to him, like Kuzma, when they won the championship, he never even played. Yeah, right. Like he was never around.

All right, hour three coming up. Jays raised more on this, more on the Leafs tomorrow night. Jets in a must win down in Dallas. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. New. It's in the play. Nostalgic. Unmistakably Canadian. I want a look in my eyes and on the TSN app. New, nostalgic,

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