OverDrive - OverDrive - May 7, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' matchup against the Panthers, Joseph Woll starting for Toronto, the team's response to Sam Bennett in the series and the Jets opening the second round with the Stars. Got Yer Back Podcast Host and Former NHLer Jason Strudwick joins to discuss the Oilers' solid series start against the Golden Knights, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the team, the Maple Leafs' team mentality and the OverDrive PGA Picks for the Truist Championship.

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It's got that Game 2 vibe tonight. I'm liking it, man. A lot of good energy in the City of Toronto right now. I'll tell you what, when it comes to Game 2, you're going to get a Florida Panther team that's angry, that's going to make adjustments, but let me say this because you see it with those two animals out in Edmonton. If you get top players dialed in on top of their game, it doesn't matter what adjustment you make. Don't you think that Brucie Cassidy, our guy, has said, you've got to stop Drisital and McDavid? Don't you think Jimmy Hiller

said that out in Los Angeles? Don't let them have time and space with the puck. If guys are dialed in, they're going to make plays it's been like that for forever with hockey whether it's 99 66 Sid pays showtime Ovi they're gonna get theirs and if they're dialed in and they play possessed there's no adjustment that can stop it that is a hundred percent accurate yeah but nobody in the league is those two. That's the thing. Nobody. Those two are the two best. Okay well the guys I'm talking about aren't living in the bottom of a garbage bin. I know but I'm just saying like you always say well those two there's no those two are on an island. Say somebody else. That's the difference. Well Miko

Rantanen I would say. Yes okay but me i'm not a redhead and yes yes i hear you but you know it's i'm not sure other guys who are capable of having great nights even in dry side i'm just saying austin matthews is pretty good player is on the plane in the same breath as those guys is is william neil and it could be a game changer and he was i forgot to mention before i made the comment they're not as good as mcdavid and dry

side i forgot to state that fact you do have to make sure you do that. I'm just saying like you say that every day. Those two, but you know William Nylander went nuts last game. He got two. He's, what he's got to do is continue that on. I think that's the biggest thing. Matthews has more. Like I think he has more. Like. Well yes. I mean, he's snake bitten when it comes to, again, that we mentioned that one time we're in the slot in the, in the second period, I believe it was, where he missed it by 15 feet, but he got all of it. He just missed it. He just missed it. It wasn't even close though. And then the empty netter again, it's not,

it doesn't matter now the game's over, but like, those are weird jittery vibes where this guy, he scores that in his sleep and he didn't and again he missed the empty netter by a fair amount so yes I would agree that Matthews in particular has that ability he's he's got he's got the chance to do it tonight right game two because it's Marner well and again you say what you say those guys aren't no one's Matthews or no one's McDavid or dry subtle Florida doesn't have those guys aren't no one's Matthews or no one's McDavid or dry settle florida doesn't have those guys, right?

So you can't come in and say well, I expect barkov to play like them Like if if the line is no one can do what those two guys can do Then that means no one in the building tonight is capable of that on either team I think what I was saying is is like we always go those two guys Include say I say that but what if we just go those guys the guys who are playing tonight who's capable of doing it it's Matthews Marner Nylander Barkov Kachuk who else I don't need I don't like a Brian hard and who is as good as who all I'm talking about the

best players it might be the Florida Panthers best players it might be Matthew Kachuk and Barkov and Reinhardt that decide that they're gonna play tonight and there's not, the bottom line is when they're dialed in there's not much you're gonna do. Yes, and that I think is what you're getting to is that when the best players play at their best there's no game planning against it.

Right. Like you can try your hardest to clog up a new football. You can say, hey, don't turn it over. It doesn't matter. Right. And that applies to goaltending too. and say, Hey, don't turn it over. It doesn't matter. Right. And that applies to goaltending too. I think again, there's no game planning against a hot goalie. If the goalie stands on his head one way or the other.

And I think that is the story of the evening for me on both sides, quite frankly, because Bob Bob owes his team a response. And I would guess he'll, he'll grant them that request because of how good he's been for the last couple years and generally This is a guy in the playoffs who you can rely on to not just stand on his head But just be very very consistent and very difficult to beat But the other guy Joseph wall is now I wouldn't call this being thrown to the wolves But you're stepping in your teams up one nothing you're on home ice You have a chance to really take a stranglehold on this series

The guy on the other end of the rink again is Sergei Bobrovsky who you anticipate is going to have a much better night, right? It may be a race to three tonight Like that could be the game like the other last two nights ago. It was a race to five in the end It may be a race to two or a race to three tonight. That's the case. That puts more pressure on both guys, but especially the guy making his debut tonight. Oh, you said this to me off air, which is I agree with Joseph Wall can make a statement here. Like this might be some of the defining like moment, like one of them, like this series,

if he ends up being the guy, because we don't know. I hope Anthony Stoller is back anytime soon because, the guy because we don't know I hope Anthony Stoller's is back anytime soon because You know, I don't know we don't know but If for the next couple games, it's joseph wall's net He can be a difference maker and If he's positive if it's positive

then You know you go to Stoller's take your time and nothing to see here if it's not positive it's concerned it's the biggest storyline is it yes it's all it absolutely is I mean Joseph Wall you're and you're also you're an injury away from Matt Murray going in there who is going to back up tonight not cops he's one he has but he's also been playing for the Marlies the last year and I don't think there's a ton of confidence in that. But he has done it, he has done it and he's not going to step in and be horrible.

I mean, he would, I actually think, be somewhat comfortable in a situation like this. The more, I think the question would be, you know, is he rusty, would the body hold up? But yeah, we're Stolarz, you know, there's no announcement. They're going to be coy about this. Everyone's playing games, you know, maybe he'll be back. Anything's possible. Who knows? I think you kind of brace for the fact that it's going to be an extended period of time before we see him again.

So it's not just a one-off for Joseph Wall. And once you're into the backup or the second guy in a tandem, which is what they've been all year, if it's poor performance, you're not going to anybody else. Like that card has been played. You look at Edmonton, like Calvin Pickard is, he's the guy. He's the man now. And he went in because Skinner didn't play well enough and got yanked.

And I like thinking outside the box as far as goals and possible things that can happen in the future. If I'm Joseph Wall, I visualize Craig Barube going in front of the media and saying It doesn't matter who's healthy the next game Joseph walls going in net That's that would be a great story that ends on his head, but that's like a good Visualization for him to be I'm gonna go in there and play so good I'm gonna put the pressure on the coach to stay after the game It I don't know like Joseph wall played so good I gotta play in the next game. That's

that's what he needs to do also if Anthony Stollers is available if he's available but Chief decides I gotta go with that guy that's what that's what's at stake here that's the opportunity he has because again on this show when Stollers was injured it was Walls net Yeah, and he stayed healthy and played pretty well and and played well and there was a streak there and and and you know We always had these hypothetical who gets the net game one He would you know he had a shutout and we were like, okay game You know, this is it's his net then Stollers comes back and they lean towards him down the stretch There's some some trust there

But he has an opportunity To chart his own path here. He played 42 games for them this year He did 27 wins. It's not like he you know, he wasn't you know, a traditional it wasn't Eric Comrie This is an Eric Comrie who we did three times in the last round did but you know, we see him this round We'll get to that that's afternoon. Is that a Jerry's? That's a mini Jerry. Oh my god I think it has to think that's the biggest storyline coming. Yes, Jerry How many times does he skate out of well will you see Eric Comrie at all in the second round? He just want to throw one out now. Go ahead. Go ahead. What's your mini Jerry?

We see Eric Comrie for the Jets at any point 10% 10% what's your mini Jerry we see Eric Comrie for the Jets at any point and percent and percent That's very confident. I'm gonna go 20% because there's potentially one blowout where you're like that out of here That's where I was gonna go a little higher like 25 28 percent where it's like is a 6-1 game We saw Jake Gautin your get lifted after two. Yep in Colorado. It was 5-1 It's like mercy. I'll get him out of here. I could see a mercy pull but not you're you're where you're going it's like I'm leaning I know you're gonna say 80% no but your number is 1.5. That's the total and if that's the total that's concerning if you're leaning the over. If it goes over Dallas wins the series. I agree. You're not you can't

replay what just happened in the last house. Yeah like Hellebuck used that one get out of jail card and he's and they're out and they got through it you're not doing that again. What's your gut instinct that Hellebuck does this series? I think he plays better undoubtedly I fully believe that but I for me it's on there's something about being on the road man I don't know I don't know if it was just St. Louis or what, but I don't think it was a coincidence that game three, four, and six he got pulled and he just couldn't get over those demons. So I'm going to say 75% we see Comrie for an appearance. Okay?

An appearance. That's all he is. That doesn't have to be a bad thing. You just hate goalies. No, I don't. I love goalies. It's so funny. I love goalies.'s I love goalie's but no I don't disagree with you but I agree more with O. I agree more with O. There might be a mercy pull but I'm hoping just for for his sake too that is just like a great series. Ideally he never gets pulled. I

think Dallas is favored are they not? yes they are favored and i think they deserve to be you know that they're lineup with health may i got a good life they got a really good team like they they've got like from hints in the du shane into why johnson like they have robertson johnston that might be their third line as you get hands plan ranting which is just a beast of a day off back say against

back in playing well so you got like the veterans with like to Shane and Sagan and Ben and then you got Marchman I think with Johnston and Robertson and that's like that's a serious it is top nine throw Hayes can in back there at some point doesn't look like a Thomas Harley we all know is a really good player and if Audre plays well it's a tough test and again chifley and morris here game time decisions tonight i doubt they play i don't think don't play if they've if they'd you think they're gonna play in the stanley cup playoffs if they say game time decision they skate out there

for warm up their plan i'd use depends on the name for me it feels like they're playing mind games it did i never see i've never heard of guy, I used to piss me off a guy who would skate out there for warm-up, no bucket hair done and then it was like... I think Patrick Linay just did it in the last round. Who was the guy that you played with who had the flu? Oh, Radham Verbatta. That guy. But I said, what happened to you? He's like, something in my chest. I got chest cold. And I just couldn't, I would be so embarrassed to call my old man Yeah, and this is the second round of the playoffs I got listen obviously you need if Shifely and Morrissey can go they're gonna play it

I'm not I'm not calling out their toughness or manhood what I'm saying is they have been injuries or more Yes, like Shifely was in a tracksuit the other that was all performative going into game seven. You think so? Yes, I mean you guys know that. You go out there in gear if you're ready to go. You're not out there in a track suit looking like Ken Hitchcock moving pucks around. There was no way he was playing game seven. I think we don't know the nature of their injuries.

If Shifely's a concussion, that's different. You have to treat that with kid gloves because that is, you know, it's a squash. Morrissey, I couldn't tell, again I'm not a doctor, I don't know if that was elbow, shoulder, the way he got hit and the way he went off, but he was out there in the yellow jersey yesterday handling pucks. So if it's a hyperextension, if his shoulder popped in and out, it might be something that he just has to deal with and freeze Yep during the play out that would be a big 25 guys and I get big I also go on stupid tweets like when the Winnipeg Jets tweet out

Morrissey in a non-contact jersey eyeball emoji High flea non-typetic. Yeah, shifely non-contact eyeball emoji. I'm like they're playing so you think the social media intern in Winnipeg is Has devised a social media campaign To make you read through the eye emojis into making a call if they're playing tonight I just don't think it's that deep dude I don't see it if they tweet the players name with double eyeball emojis yeah what do you think that

means oh he's please practicing today no I'm I just feel like the I don't think you can go off with the social media yeah Scotty Wink Wink I don't think heavy sending down you know a screenshot of what he wants tweeted out. I'll put a hundred on it right now. Both of them play? Yeah. Okay. Let's do it.

Both of them play and I'll go right back to that tweet and then we'll lead the show with it tomorrow. I love it. Eyeball emoji for both of them and they're both in the line. I'm pulling for both of them. I want them both to play. I'm covering the game tonight on the panel. I'm excited if they will.

I think it'll be a good game. Both teams are coming off the most emotional games of their season right? How do you reset? What is it gonna be is it gonna be just jump right back on are you gonna? Are they gonna kind of wait into it to see how this you know how this goes well? I honestly think what happened like you look at that what happened in game one with the Leafs and Panthers There was that you couldn't wait into it because it was one nothing 30 seconds in massive hits and it's like you better you better realize quick the Stanley Cup playoffs are continuing here the Leafs came to play yes they did right from the drop of the puck Florida waited into it and they were underwater they were

underwater until they woke up in you know halfway through the second or whatever they were I had a question you were in the building it seemed like the puck was was the ice bad the ice is has never been good in the playoffs in May like yeah just and again I don't I don't know I don't know what the explanation is because just one like the I don't know if you noticed that it was chopping the first round to I found you're going as far as to say are you some kind of ice yeah you just said it's never good in the playoffs well what are you basing that comment on I well you played on that ice in the playoffs never in the playoffs yeah okay what do you remember

do you remember the ice being like it was it immaculate look terrible the other night I'm sorry I don't know who does the ice down there I'm sure they're wonderful eyes I think it's more that they have there's concerts and there's stuff going on right like it's difficult there's a lot of people in there the weather's getting nice and drawn it just looked like I don't maybe it was like just bumble yeah there was there was I noticed that too I picked up on that ask about the ice man I picked up on I am never on that I did I really good i i think we've got an insider send a note

take it for what it's worth in winnipeg yeah shifely took line rushes this morning jmo did not okay i double i emoji so maybe shaggy's going to bet but he's saying that both of them are going. He's saying, I get, all I need is one of them not to play. And you win a hunch.

I'm the winner, winner winner chicken dinner. Now, did it say both of them or did it say Shifely? Yeah, Sheveldeff sent both of those to the intern and said, make sure you post this verbatim. I'm telling you, I don't know. All I remember seeing was Shifely eyeball emoji, no non-contact jerseys gone. And that's big. Same thing for Morrissey. All right, I got you.

All right, well let's see if we can get some insight on the ice down at Scotiabank. You played in the playoffs down there in 02, do you remember it, was it beautiful? Carolina Hurricanes, no problem. I scored a couple big goals in that building, ice was perfect. Yeah, okay, There you go. I expect better ice tonight I expect great ice. I just I don't know that I was watching the other night. I'm like a simple play a pass

It would like hop over a stick. I'm like, that's not that's not on the player. That's on, you know, the surface Yeah, it did. Yeah, but if Vegas can have good ice if Carolina can have good ice, if Carolina can have good ice, that Carolina team, they What a win that was last night. Like it goes to overtime. I love when guys like Slavin get OT winners. It's like Benoit. Like Slavin's a great player, but he's not offensively, like he's not a guy you would ever pick before overtime.

Seein' eye shot right there. Landed on the ice and in. Yeah. Well and Carberry was really bent out of shape after the game. Like didn't like his team's effort. 13 shots on goal. Yeah well I was like Vegas last night like Edmonton in the second period out shot them 12-1 like they just completely flipped the game and I didn't hear Cassidy after the game I can't imagine he was happy with his team's effort. He actually was really

honest yeah all he said is he goes, our team had a good start, and he goes they were unable to raise their level when Ebbinton raised their level. He said we just didn't have a response. He said they raised their level, and he goes I looked around, and he goes our team didn't. And he goes that's why they won. He goes we're gonna have to adjust.

Now it hurt that they were missing Petro, because that's a big blow on the back end. Petro, I don't know if he's sick. I mean, they announced sick, but what does sick mean in the playoffs? That's a good question. My guy is there for, boy you're on fire today. I'm feeling good going into game two, man. I'm jacked for game two.

I have a lot. Turn our mics off. I feel like Don Rickles. I think high emoji behavior is insane. There it is tonight's projected lineup Okay, I don't I flee I see more I flee there. I see shy flee Topline with velour D and Connor. I do not see Morrissey Okay. Well, I mean who knows we'll see we'll get to that as we as we move forward here too much into projected No, that's not a game time decision i can have a projection the afternoon you

gotta wait till you get i would love to see it uh... by jason strudwick strudy coming up later in the hour often or the wind we're being you know we're always consistent strudy the doors open wins or losses or those of one five in a row um... and you look at it like do you point to the start of because the warriors won a minnesota last night uh... all the road teams and Indiana for that matter all the road teams in the second round of the NBA have won their games 5-0 and in the

Stanley Cup playoffs it's all the road teams except for Toronto now we haven't had Winnipeg and Dallas play right but Edmonton won last night Carolina won last night so the Leafs stand alone in the second round when you look at the NHL and the NBA for actually holding on to home ice. I think it's more of an NBA trend, but it's so funny. It started out with Tatum and Jalen Brown in Boston. People tweet out, Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum

when their team needed them in the fourth quarter, and then they Photoshopped some brutal player with their head. Yes Yeah, like someone said about the about Ant-Man Anthony Edwards They're like Ant-Man against Golden State and it was Bronnie James head on this That's awful like they just give it to those guys when they come up lame in a fourth They just don't get the job done or they're terrible. Yeah's the best. Didn't LeBron have a bad fourth quarter? Yeah it wasn't great in game five. Like he was hurt and that's why he couldn't go to the Met Gala and but it was that was it was that was

unfortunate for him yeah it was like James Harden was the worst of the worst he put up he attempted eight shots in game seven. I watched that guy is so poisonous They deserve seven. Yes. There was somebody it wasn't Stephen a Smith It was somebody on a desk and in the States just giving it to heart. I said that you see that I saw that and remember that was I don't know who that was either. Are you very composed? Yeah, like not overly animated or anything. It was just, James, I'm gonna tell you something. And he just broke down everything.

He went through the whole timeline, his whole career. Like that guy was the problem, that guy was the problem. And right at the end he goes, you're the problem. I like how he detailed all the... All the stuff that went on. No, he's like, you come here and you ask to go to Vegas on your days off. Who on earth is a pro athlete and tells the team, by the way, I'm not practicing on off days, I'm going to Vegas?

Like that's a reality for that guy. I would watch a 30 for 30 or some kind of doc on, that guy is not far away from Dennis Rodman type of behavior. You know what I mean? He is infamous for that. Like he loves hitting certain establishments in certain towns. And like there's videos out of this guy just making it

rain with cash you've never seen before. Which, you know, OK, you're a free man. You can do whatever you want. But he's won an MVP. He's a great, great scorer. But he just never gets it done when you have to win. You know, that's the thing.

It's like, just can't get it done when you need to win. Anyway, we got game two tonight. We'll come back and continue to tee it up. What can we expect out of the Leafs? Sam Bennett, he'll be playing. What do we expect out of Sam Bennett tonight? We'll get Struddy's take on that. If Struddy was playing for the Leafs,

would he do everything he could to fight sam bennett tonight delayed no the answer on that will catch up with strut uh... we got the game again cooking tonight we get the jays in the west coast after they lost last night to the los angeles angels of anaheim that was terrible that was to walk why jeff hoffman was even in the game the amount of mileage he has on his arm and he got towardsched last night, it's not good for the Blue Jays, man. It's not good. What looked good for a while there, they were off. Yeah they were, but then again you

only score three runs against that team. That team's a disaster and guess who you got on the mound? Yusei Kikuchi for the Angels tonight. Revenge game. He's gonna go ranting in on the Jays tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Overdrive continues powered TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Overdrive continues, powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Jason Stradwick coming up here in a few moments and we got game two tonight, Leafs Panthers and all eyes are on Sam Bennett tonight. And listen, he scored that fourth goal the other night to make it 5-4. The double, was it a a double deflection like it was a moldy was a weird goal and it got under

And it carl and it hit Carlos stick. Yeah, they could hit Carlos stick and then it went in I guess it wouldn't hit another panther it hits something and then Carlos stick and then went up like Under here. It was just a weird Weird goal. Yes, but it's not the night you wait until next year or it's 6-1 in a game tonight then you can possibly but remember that that guy's tough as nails so well yes like one thing you don't want to do is chase him around and take a four-minute penalty and they score two goals and then you don't stupid I don't think he would do that though I think he

would take the fight person I think I think what you do is if you got an opportunity to get a clean lick on him you do Don't turn them don't turn away a hit on him Don't turn away anything on him and if there is some form of like a one teams up five one or something in game three or four and Somebody wants to have at it. He'll he'll go at it Max Domi didn't mac dole me fight in this year did you have well then i don't remember why that happened with our and that led to the till like it was only thought that smith yeah i mean i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i I think the first game of the year, but again, I don't remember what the backstory was but but that's not what you're looking for Max Domi toe-to-toe off the draw is not like if it's gonna happen. It's got to be I

Would say nice McCabe is capable problem is both those guys have concussion issue Yes, and you don't want them messing around no exactly and they're both here to first line left winger and your top pair defensemen So you kind of need them on the ice. Right. And I think again, Bennett would from a chess match element of it would say, I'll take that to get you guys off the ice too. Right. I also was thinking about this in terms of the messaging from Craig Borubei,

which I appreciate because all the Leafs are on the same page, right? They're all saying the best way to get back at this guy is to win tonight and we've moved on and it's over and Barube is the one clearly that is sending that message even though he is probably thinking like obviously if I was on the ice it would be different. He even joked about that yesterday. It's like back in my day it would have been taken care of and then he said probably by me, you know something like that was a great line and everyone's laughing like yeah that would have been it probably Bar and then he said probably by me, you know, something like that was a great line and everyone's laughing like, yeah, that would have been it. Probably Borubei chasing him around the ice. You don't have that. It's not going to happen.

But I also think there's a strategy that comes with this because Borubei understands that's not how his team is wired. And most importantly, that's not how his best players are wired. And I don't think they're comfortable in a game like that. And I think that is wise in terms of that philosophy. Like if you're Baruba and you're thinking Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, they're wired in a way that they don't they don't love craziness. They're not overly comfortable in a crazy game. And if you start to send messaging that we got to get retribution, we got to back someone's it's gonna get crazy I think that possibly isolates those guys and I

because that's Kachakos okay you're going I'm going there and and somebody else like that you're right it starts you don't want that kind of energy with those players now if it happens spontaneously it's on them to play through it agreed but I think if you're if you're game planning for it I think it's wise for Barube even though maybe it goes against his instincts or the way it would have been back in his day but to think okay what's in the best interest of my four best players here because if it if it becomes a jungle out there that's not gonna be good for those guys like that's not a comfortable world for Marner and Nylander and Matthews.

You coach to the strength of your team, right? And that's the strength of your team is... I like the... And I think they did it well against Ottawa in Game 1. You drew penalties, you didn't retaliate. And you beat... You know, you got three power play goals that night you're gonna you might draw some penalties tonight the thing is is Florida wants you to get into the muck that's that's they're good in the muck I don't know

how good the Leafs are as you mentioned certain players are in the muck I don't think their best players are comfortable right so so try to get a plan out of it as much as you can agreed all right here's Jason Strudwick a good friend from the got your back podcast somebody's in the muck all the time all the time I can only imagine what would your game plan be tonight with Sam Bennett if you're on the Maple Leafs I'm glad you guys call because I have the answers look west every now and then we we got solutions. You don't need to get out and have a toe-to-toe battle at centre, you just stay together. One guy goes in, you all

go in and everyone just partners up like School of Dance and Mrs. Swaggy, whatever that place is called. You just all stay close and everyone gets in. There's a pack mentality and then they can't get free, they can't make it happen. Stay together. That's what their strength in numbers. And I've seen it done before. That's what they need to do. Stay together. They don't need to tee off.

Matt Nides has not to fight Turchak on his own, but everyone can get in together. I think that shows support for your teammates. Okay. I like that. I like that idea. It's not a hard thing to do. No. It's not.

No. Who are you scared of? Who has the heaviest hands on Florida? Like Kachak's not going to break you, you know, beat you up. Who else? Sam Bannock can throw, but exactly. He's not, he's not, it's not Craig Borubey. They don't have a heavyweight on that team. No. But you get in there, stay close. Everyone, everyone get in there. Again, you don't have to be chucking bombs. Just make it really tight and the rest of them are going to break it up. I've done got a before i've seen

it done before like it's that's what you stay together that's fresh because i mean tell the other team you're all together and i could talk to try to get around the benefits going to do what he does okay that's all right but if you're going after matthews everyone get in there and hold tight the rest of break it up i mean if this is in nineteen eighty right it's pretty it's pretty easy to get out of these types of situations

would you take liberties? Like that's the thing, you know, scrumming up. Is it always, when you do a scrum, is it better to be the aggressor and punch somebody or retaliatory and then the ref goes, both of you are going? Yeah, well, I remember when Boston and Vancouver played and, you know, Matthew, or not Matthew, Marshawn was having his way to the Sardines. Like, there's a point where Vancouver played and, you know, Matt, or not Matthew's Marshawn was having his way to the Sardines.

Like there's a point where like, okay, you know what? It's enough. Like I got a, I got to push back here. Right. And I think that we saw what enough looks like and that's the situation, but doesn't have to be Sardines. Someone else can come over the top rope, right? There's, there's guys that are in the top line that may be out caught out there for

a shift or two. And they can do something to maybe the other team's best players right and don't don't go after Kachak or Marsha go look at Barkov go find Berhegi go find uh Gustav Forsling those are the guys if they're going to target Matthews and then you go after them and scrums don't don't go after Kachak he wants that go after the guys that don't want it Gustav Forsling isn't looking for that type of night so make it uncomfortable for him but someone has to to have that, hey, if this happens, I'll take this guy, but you go after this guy. Take him to the ground and give him the old rabbit punch kidney shots. Yeah, that's a good point. I mean, Sam Bennett's going to have his head on a swivel and he's

tough and he'll be ready for it. That is kind of the old school play is you say, hey, Sam, we're not worried about you. Carl River Hagee, when we get a chance, we're going to try to destroy you. And Sam Reinhart and Barkov, like that line is so good. And yet they all play an honest kind of style. Like they're just going out there to play. They're not wired in a way. They're not looking for fights or scrums or the whistle blows. They're all like, we're good, we're done. And you know, it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out tonight. But Joseph Wall going in, I'm curious, Struddy, as a defenseman, how much that changes

your approach going from one goalie in Stoller's who was really good handling the puck and had been playing well and had been playing every single night so you're aware of what he brings to the table. And it's not like Wall is the guy that's never played for the Leafs. Obviously he's played a lot but it's been a while and he's got a different style in net. Does that affect you at all as a defenseman? What should we expect tonight for the Leafs?

Well I think there's a comfort level because you know this Goldie, right? He's been around the team for a while. This isn't a guy you picked up, you know, what is it, March 7th. So you have a comfort level. Obviously prefer if you're, you know, in right now, you're another one that minor stole ours was in the pie. So he's not available. So now, you know, the game plan doesn't change the way that you approach Florida and how they're trying to make plays and all that is, is the same. Um, you know, it doesn't even have to block every shot either wall can get it done.

Now, what you're looking for though, is how does he look when he goes out for those first couple of minutes, you know, because you can tell him to go his eyes you look back and like oh man that's a scared look in his face or this guy's dialed in or he's confident and you can you can just think you can tell from a defenseman when you're lining up you're like oh boy this this guy does not want to be out here and like yeah you're right I don't. So you've got to you've got to you know hopefully he can project some confidence he can get some early saves feel good about himself and just get on track but the game plan is still the game plan right it's not like it's a different picture in baseball it's a different goalie but Florida's gonna try to do I'm guessing there'll be a better

version of themselves than they were in game one but they still are what they do and you know how they play. Struddy you saw that fear in my eyes every game that we played together. Get me out of here. Get me out of here and the team was terrified too. But you know, in all seriousness, the one thing that I would be looking for too, and this is why I wanted to ask you as a defenseman. So Anthony Stolars handles the puck really well. So he's a guy that, you know, the team has now gotten accustomed going back. If there's nothing there there he's got a really good hard rim around and they take the fight up to the blue line type of thing Joseph Wall isn't as strong as handling the puck there are certain things that

you get into a groove between defensemen and goaltender the way you defend the way you like to box out the way you'd like to block shots how quickly can that settle in for a guy if you haven't played with a guy in a little bit and then the difference in their puck handling? I mean, can you see is it just keeping it simple and and more communication is better? That's the other thing is Stolars is really really vocal back there You know Hayes is at the games all the time you can when I was at the games that you can hear him yelling You can actually hear him talking on the ice the games that you can hear him yelling you can actually hear him talking on the ice so those differences are they massive for a defenseman or is it more

just about adjusting to who's back there well first off I'm gonna give you credit because I gave a move the goalie's made I called it the noodles that's where someone in remnant in and the D the goalie would get it and push up against the back wall so I couldn't get it off the wall and then I'd get blown up so I always the new oh we got the noodles on table tonight. So that's what you don't want. But when you have a goalie that's not as comfortable with the puck, it's very simple. You got to make it as simple as possible. If you leave it, it's up or it's over. So to me, leave it means obviously just put it in the, you know, get it off the wall and get

out of the way I'm coming through. Up means I'm going to the corner, you can give it to me there and over means he throws it to his back end to your partner. And it's gotta be very, very simple. They have to be clear. It can't be, hey buddy, you gotta make this play. Just simple and usually the goal-tending coach, the goalies, in this case, you know, Wall, and the D-men will go through it before the game

and say, these are the calls we're making. And the D-men, especially if a guy's a little junior with a puck, you have to make that call early and clear and then goalie you trust it 100%. You hammer that puck to me or you throw it behind or you just leave it and get out of the way. And because I played with young Lundquist, he wasn't great with the puck, but we made it very clear and he became proficient at it and then as he got older, he's a little more comfortable with it. But young goalies, you have to be very clear and you know it because now it's a treat when you play as a good goalie who can really handle the puck.

You just go get open and it's going to throw at you but this isn't the case now so you adapt and it does make it harder and if I'm a Florida Pant or floor checker I'm liking this because now there's not like a third defenseman back there. With Jason Strudwick, so the Oilers down 2-0 last night and they come storming back, they win 4-2, they've won five in a row that's sustainable I don't know I mean strutting you give us a vibe check out there are we back on Stanley Cup or bust mode where are we compared to where we were after two games against the LA Kings well first off I can't believe you

guys called me when you know there's a one five in a row I mean, what's the, Argos not have a press conference today? We know you have your press conferences out there. Yeah, there was one actually I think. We were going to play that instead of having you on. So, I'm actually, you guys are showing growth and that's what life's about. So, congratulations to you and all the Toronto listeners that love me. But you know what? It's, listen, their game has been trending in the right direction. They never had, they never had this roster together at all this year, right? It was injured, it was traded, it was this and that.

And even now it's not full with that come out. But now you can see what they were going for. A team that can play fast by being, you know, hockey IQ, moving the puck quick. And they showed it last night. I mean, last time was a bit of a weird one you get the double minor right away Vegas scores and then stone scores on a turnover that that's what they feast on right at the top of the blue lines you give it up boom they're coming back the other way but if you're the orders you know now how you have to play. The flip side is that

I think Vegas has a better game of them you know I really think that they're gonna try to get clean out their zone get the puck up to their forwards and try to put pressure on the orders D. The orders D were quick with the puck or quick to the puck, quick to move it and got it up there quickly. Guys like Klingberg and Bouchard, that is their dream scenario where you're just a step behind so they can make the plays they want and they don't feel pressure. Then other guys are maybe a little bit chunkier with the puck. They want that extra time to have that read and to make that play so I think Vegas is gonna be a lot smarter about where they put the puck where they carry it and most

importantly how they pressure those D so they're not having a nice day back there in a rocking chair. Strud I read this stat the other day that 10 of the 11 last goals that the oilers have scored drisett or mcdavid drisett scored last night but it was perry it's hyman connor browns conor brown but i mean you go into the last couple games against l a and it was the same type of thing you know are you seeing some of their depth wake wake up is it you know of kind of threats on each line now or is it just kind of

you know couple one-offs here or there no i think they've really kind of threats on each line now or is it just kind of, you know, a couple one-offs here or there? No, I think they've really kind of got it dialed in where each line has an element you like, a really heavy body, you know, in guys like Paul Coles or Kane or Frederick or Leon on the wing. Then the other side you have hard-working guys that can also score but also play a heavy type game. And then centers that are really smart down the middle. So the lines are all fourth balanced. Right now you might have a little more skill at the top end but there's that consistent you know smart center you know heavy on the wings and guys that can all score I mean all 12 forwards have the ability to score.

Arbitton and Paul Coleson with a second line wingers from a good chunk of the year they're now fourth line wingers now they're playing seven eight nine minutes but there are times out there especially Arbitton where he looks dangerous and he can pop a goal. He's got a good shot, not the wheels he used to have, but he has a good shot. So the depth is there. You know, Frederick is getting healthier every day when he first came in here. I mean, it was, it was really hard to watch him skate. Now he's moving. And as, as the series goes on, I think that the team will learn to play together more, continue to get healthy unless there's fresh injuries. Because keep in mind, you know, it takes a new team, when the season starts, it takes

a while to get that chemistry going. We're talking about a whole new lineup and they're now, you know, maybe since game three of round one. So I think the more they play together, the more they get those reps in and they understand how they can have success. I think it helps so it bit kind of long to go but noodles remind us of the beginning of the show that rice i will make david or two of the best players in the league

and dominant he was a good point he made it was there are very good player they might be a they're they're very good i don't know if you're going to have to use all flight with like and i know there it's so difficult and the point I was trying to make earlier Was when guys like that the top players get dialed in there's not much game planning It's like you would have to think the coach and you think the last coach would say if guys if those two guys are on The ice like let's be smart here, but they just make you look stupid every time Well, they're really skilled players

I mean that's that's obvious the plays they can make and decisions they make. But right now it must be nice for them to not have to worry about how many do everything because they have other guys chipping in. I mean, they were a huge part. I mean, obviously Connor, you know, this, what he did last night and how he can do it, you know, uh, Leon's got that back door backhand off the goalie's pad. I mean, those are skilled, skilled plays, but they don't feel feel the pressure I think to now have to do everything and feel like every shift after winning Stanley Cup I think they see that their teammates are contributing

and even if they're not scoring which they are because they got line goals from three different lines last night they still feel good about what they're doing they see that the team's working together the D men are working Cal Pickers give him a chance to win Cal Picker doesn't have to win the series from doesn't have to win a game for him he just has to give him a chance to win and I think they now see what the vision was by management when this team was put together in you know early in the air yeah I mean you look at that Corey Perry goal was just the two of them kind of how about that guy like it seemed like he was done six years ago

yeah he'll be 40 next year yeah he's 40 in a week and he's still like he was out there he scored he scored the 2-1 goal and he's still there with McDavid and Dry-Cytle yeah and he's like I'll just go to the net I guess well if you go back on that like the pass out you know who else was done two months ago John Klingberg that guy it looks really good now his 40 years old dangling with McDavid and Dry Cytle. But that 80 foot pass up to whoever that is. Dry Cytle started over to McDavid. That was Klingberg.

It's weird how it's all kind of right now in the time being kind of come together for them, but Corey Perry, like I think on the broadcast they said last night, you've got three heart winners on one line yeah I forget that Corey Perry won the heart that's right but it was 50 years ago it was a long long time ago it was 15 years ago at least yeah he scored 50 that year believe the only guy in the league to score 50 that year and yeah everyone's got a heart trophy all right well there you go Strud I'm loving life right now with the Eulers the Alcs I got a I got a really good

feeling about the Alcs this year so next time we have you on we'll make sure to get your tune up because we're getting closer to closer to opening day in a CFL well it's exciting it's exciting times are they planning the route to Scarborough and London or they're gonna hit Mrs. Hogwee or where are they gonna well i think that it's exciting time and i think i know about this carpool and one of the news committee missus hogley and where they can take the this is a long week yes i don't know what what was it will see what comes of it i had made it really so i was just gonna say i'm glad that we might be talking here in a month from now stride

and we will be doing overdrive from roger center in in that is maybe we meet you know we need to put a peg or something and i don't know everyone meets in the middle of the winter peg toronto you never know it's all three teams left yeah re canadian teams big strides to them are up on nothing they go so i don't know are they going to go go go for the play a great route but that's right

what is the whole i have no idea what you're talking about madison of a ball goal regret about the blade by i i i would like to do all the ball go to a public all you can get out of our house like what i think although bogo yes i forgot about it i do think the parade could get there at some case will put in that suggestion for you will send it down a city hall

and let them run out of operation. Thank you Strudwick. Anytime guys, talk to you later. There he is, Jason Strudwick. I thought that was a bar he was talking about. I thought so too. I mean, that was not even close. I thought he was trying to say Coco Bongo's. Is that a bar? Well, in Cancun.

Yeah, exactly. It's not in Toronto. I thought he was talking about the Madison or something You know like that's oh go bo go But what he that's his version of the total it's over co All right, we'll come back. We got some golf picks We got to get to because the truest is cooking this weekend heading into the PGA next week, man It's gonna be some really good picks really good golf over the next two weeks We'll get to those game to the J series tonight game to leash Pan tonight. We're chugging towards that. Ray Ferraro coming

up in 20 minutes. Ray will join us. Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. All right, big couple of weeks coming on the PGA Tour and the Overdrive. PGA Picks are brought to you by TaylorMade Performance Lab. For a limited time, use the promo code PSN 1050 to save on your fitting fee book now at tailor-made golf dot CA that's where all and I are all the time getting dialed in right the qi 35 I am hammering all over the golf course you guys likewise I love this club yeah it's great it's a great clock I've mixed in the seven wood and I mean have you been golfing every day? I haven't been playing a lot just because of the weather and honorable mention to my partner

We spanked a couple guys today Adam great job. Okay. Shout out Yeah, I haven't I have not been able to get out but when I have been hitting the ball I've been hitting it very well good. So I love it. All right, we get the truest this weekend down in Philly I'll give you the first pick Okay, I'll take the first pick You know who I think is gonna get cooking here leading towards a repeat for the PJ championship next week Xander I will take Xander Shaw flea. I will take my good friend from Northern Ireland

You think McElroy is gonna win another one here, dude. He's so well man. The strategy for this course is bomb it and find it. He's pretty good at that. Yeah, and listen, he's been red hot this year. What else are you going to say? Pebble, players, masters, whenever you put the best players together McElroy has been great this year. Another guy who's played really, really well this year, really, really well is Justin Thomas. I will take JT, Justin Thomas.

I'm gonna take a couple guys at ya. Yeah, throw a two pack in on that. I'm gonna take Ludwig Eiburg and my guy Richard Hovland. Wow. Richard Hovland. Okay, I don't have an issue with that. All right, I am gonna go Shane Lowry, who has been playing very well this year,

very, very well, and I keep going back to the well, but I feel like at some point this guy's gonna close and win, Tommy Fleetwood. Yeah. Tommy, alright, one more each. No, I'm gonna go Jordan Spieth, and I'm gonna also pick one of my favorite guys whose toes touch each other when he walks

rusty and rossel henley doesn't bomb the ball but plays pretty well care what i have two more i'll take min woo lee i love min woo and i'm gonna take korey connor's all korey connor's of it they go to the other and i'm done taking speed i can't buy you can't touch speed now the overdrive pgpix brought to you by the TaylorMade Performance Lab.

For a limited time, use the promo code TSN1050 to save on your fitting fee. Book now at TaylorMadeGolf.ca. Ray Ferraro coming up in hour two ahead of game two tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN1050 and on TSN4. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.

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