OverDrive - OverDrive - May 7, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joins to discuss the Maple Leafs looking to carry momentum against the Panthers, Joseph Woll's grand leap in the crease and Mikko Rantanen's exit from the Avalanche. TSN Maple Leafs Reporter Mark Masters joins to discuss the Toronto's matchup against Florida, Woll's impact in the crease and the team's response to the Panthers' performance and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Simple Blend and more. Final Hour Overdrive continues powered by Fanduil bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles, McClennan, Darren Drager will join us here in a moment in studio. We'll head down to the rink, Mark Masters later in the hour.

We'll get to our best bets as well. A same game parlay for least panthers game two tonight Beauty the playoffs as you reset like yeah, Monday night game one in this round and the first round against Ottawa was a party It was an amazing atmosphere The building was rocking there were a bunch of goals, you know It got dicey at times in game one of the second series it didn't against Ottawa you know it got a little bit a little bit crazy in the third period against Ottawa more with like penalties and all that but it was never a close scoreline you think there's lots of

goals tonight are tight I mean here I am again I thought it would be we thought it was gonna be a game the other night I would lean towards that I mean my uncertainty lies in Joseph Wall and how he's going to play. I fully expect Vabrovsky to bounce back and have a better game. I fully expect him to be dialed in. I expect Florida to have a better game. Aaron Echblad returning to the lineup is significant. That lines everything up for them.

They're healthy. They're ready. But the Leafs are healthy. They're ready too. Yeah. But I thought the Leafs obviously did a really good job of finding space and really kind of cutting up the neutral zone on Florida the other night. And they get on the board with the first shot 30 seconds in.

That's likely not going to happen tonight. I would lean 2-1-3-2, but for entertainment purposes, I have no issues ever with a 5-4 game. Always more fun. It is more fun, but it just, both coaches are like, hey, we didn't get to our game. You know, or what are we doing here? Like, Paul Maurice was, after the game was firing himself, was like, if I have a job, he's, you know, tongue in. The way they started and, yeah. Ruby had to call a timeout in the third period. Like, know you both coaches are they had the coach the hell of that game

the other night well that's what you'd expect right yeah like every coach has got to be on top of it tonight and there's so much focus on Sam Bennett he's gonna get boot every time he touches the puck tonight but that's gonna Brad Marchand every time he touches the puck he gets booed but Marchand's been getting that for like a decade exactly Exactly. He's used to that. I think Sam Bennett is somewhat used to it. Like I don't think, he's the type of guy, I don't know if you've met him and stuff, but he's a hockey player. It's like, you know, how Oh always talks about Matthew Nyes, just hockey player looks like

a hockey player. Sam Bennett's like that too. I don't think the moment overwhelms him. I think he just plays hard. Not a 60-point guy, but he's a playoff performer. And I don't think he's gonna change his game one bit tonight. Like if he has to go into the corner to get the puck

and take a hit to make the play, he will. And vice versa. The weird part for, like some of my thought process, this guy might be in the middle of something tonight again. Like an egregious hit or something. he could throw a monster hit tonight on someone right and if it's him that's what triggers the response not right like it's a ass cuz you know the leaves are are gonna they're gonna

be composed to try to be composed and it sounds like the messaging is very consistent right you know just go out when win the game, focus on the game. And I said earlier, I think a lot of that is from Borube's standpoint, is very smart because of his best players and how they don't seem overly comfortable in a jungle-like atmosphere on the ice. Right. Like it's just not how they're wired.

Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares. They're not wired for scrums after every whistle. They're not wired for I better get in here and throw punches and who knows who I line up with. That's not what they, they're not comfortable with that. So you've gotta consider that. If you're Craig Barube, it's not about getting Sam Bennett, it's about getting to four wins.

And I think the other teammates, non-core four teammates, a lot of them would be wired maybe to think, if I can get this guy, I can get, I want to get him, or I feel like we got to do something for Storrs, he's my teammate, our teammate, et cetera. They may keep that composure until Sam Bennett lines somebody up and gets Mitch Marner coming across the middle or something,

then all bets are off. Then you wonder also how Craig Barubei responds to something like that. It's hypothetical, but it's possible. It's not far-fetched because of who we're talking about. I felt bad the other night. Remember on their show was you and I, and I go, I think we'll see a suspension this series.

Remember I said that. Yep. Now there wasn't one and there hasn't been. But we never got a goalie change in the last series. We got one in game one. We didn't have any like any plays that were gray area. We got to discuss. It wasn't the animosity either. There really wasn't. There wasn't a punch in thes contest after every scrum or anything that's what leads me to believe that brady kichak

was battling through as he would be wired to at least try to fight to try and get after mckay bar carlo or somebody who could get handle him to like that it just didn't happen i got think he was doing what he could but it it was at that point there wasn't enough to get there. Either he wasn't healthy enough or just the timing of it wasn't right. Here this feels like there could be a little bit more, although Florida has team toughness,

they don't have a boogeyman. Like they don't have, like they don't have Tom Wilson. No, exactly. They don't have, now Sam Bennett has become somewhat because there's gray area there and he plays hard but he's not. But he's like a upper middleweight. Exactly. He's not the size of Tom Wilson. Evander Kane is a unique player because he's a top line or top six player who can fight. Right. Like he's a Dano Chara in his state, on luchich like those type of guys don't just not there like if you look through their last

the eight teams that are left this dallas have but threatening purging the ban i guess would be but he's far and so they're in it in age down to like ben ben could play that role i think you still can get hurts but i don't think he's at the same just Yeah I'm trying to write the teams on the fly here like well Tom Wilson is the guy who stands out clearly Above everyone else where we're like Josh Anderson represents that much. You're always not playing anymore, right? You know if Renpy was playing or something It's just those kind of guys players that are can be gray area

But they they're on the ice because they're you know, Wilson was a 30-goal scorer this year. Like he, you know, it's not a fourth-line guy that you throw out, you're trying to hide in the lineup or you've got to shield him for minutes. Wilson plays in all scenarios and he's a gray area guy. Now, it might be Brad Marchand, but he's not, Brad Marchand is not physically big, but there's, he has big moments. Yes, and he has moments where he can get you yeah you know and that's that's the thing but yeah you're right I

mean that's the truth that the I think that's what Barubei was driving out at the start of the series when he was asked you know the mean right and listen Echblad got suspended you know Bannock gonna do what he's gonna do Kachuk's gonna go out there and try to ruffle feathers but that's the thing with Kachuk like it's not that he isn't capable of fighting. He has fought in his career. But you know what he's doing and it's simply just trying to get you off your game. Like it's not wired like I have to go kill somebody. Like some guys throughout the

history of the league are just they have a loose screw. He's not a loose screw guy. He is like I am gonna try to jab here and I'm gonna cross check there. That's all that is. But that that's where Struddy was saying this you know an hour and a half ago. He's like who is it that's scared like why would you be scared if you're collectively together? Right. You know where again if Kichuck and Bennett and Rodriguez are on the ice and there's a scrum and it's Lawton and Lorenz and Yarncrook, why would you run from that? Like get in there and go.

It doesn't mean you're gonna drop the gloves because no one's gonna be fighting out of a scrum. But there's no reason why you're not gonna embrace that. Yeah, and stand up for yourself or stand up for your teammates, that's team toughness. But I think Florida is just wired that way. I mean, they have 51 hits in the first game. That's one thing that they're not going to take their foot off the gas.

They do finish every check. They do try to make pathway to the middle of the ice a little bit more difficult. And I didn't think, I thought they had two different games in game one. I don't know how you feel about Dras first thirty minutes i thought they were slow and and didn't look very good and look disjointed in the second thirty minutes they'd i think they got a little bit going there now i would agree with that now i mean it's this series i don't think is going to be different than a whole lot of series

that we've seen historically so you know you're going to see probably the top lines basically neutralize each other right for the most part i mean You know, you're going to see probably the top lines basically neutralize each other, right? For the most part. I mean, you know, Nye's I thought was really, really good for the Leafs. I thought Taveras was excellent. Willie gets a couple. You know, Patoretti seems to work there.

So what do you expect from Florida's pushback in this one? Everything. You know, they're just going to be tighter. They're going to be more physical or try and be more physical. I actually thought that the third line, the Marchand line for Florida, had some good looks. You know, some things that Marchand is probably gonna want to tighten up. You know, maybe a couple of options there where he could have or should have shot the puck and didn't, but you have to believe that Florida is going to be that much better

in game. Well, it's interesting where, you know, you're focused on bennett you're drawn to catch up yet but barkov verhagy reinhardt is probably would get to when you're not painted with your if you're i guess i'm speaking as a leaf and some of the craig marubin the lease are aware of this right but you're going in thinking don't let bennett get you don't like it should get cooking here don't let bob where it's like the barkov reinhardardt Verhege line is one of the yeah better lines in the league it is and more than capable it's very it's very likely that if Panthers win tonight it's because that line snapped out. Find something yes. And Barkov has a night tonight and he

neutralizes Matthews. Yeah I didn't think like those three were quite quiet I noticed them I thought Verhege was skating well and was trying to get in and stuff. They were quite quiet I was complaining and asked Brian because he was in the billy. I thought the ice was terrible I'm not lying like there but the puck was bouncing all over on both teams Not just yeah and in Florida looked disjointed their passes looked off They they looked slow and deliberate where the Leafs had lots of jump and they executed their game plan early. Is it the same thing for the Leafs, Draggs, where it's like, start like you did last game. You might not score 30 seconds in, but you have to have that same mentality. It's chip and chase, be physical, try and

force that D to play in their own zone. That's exactly the game plan. And yeah, look, Craig Berube and the coaching staff, the Maple Leafs who had been preaching that for the last two months, right? You know, it's not because of how you have to match up against the defending Stanley Cup champions. And you know, you guys, I'm sure have talked about this a lot in the last couple of days, but yeah, I mean, the Bennett thing matters because it took your number one goaltender out of the series at least temporarily. Right? You know the word is he's feeling better. Yeah it seems like a stretch that he'd be back in the mix in less than a week so that keeps him sidelined for games three and probably game four. But there was that there was the Matthew

Kachuck nonsense at the end of the game trying to get to Marner. But if you're Florida, you're also looking at, you know, situations where okay, you know, patch already takes a bark off earlier. Yeah, early in the game. No call there. Yeah, you had the trip on Reinhardt before the Matthew Nyes driving to the net. Yeah, but but that's the balance that goes along with right everything this time of year. The difference is it's Toronto. And the volume is that much louder in this market

than it is anywhere else. But I think the thinking of the Maple Leafs, fan base aside, is the best way to get your pound of flesh, if that's what you're looking for, is to play harder than you did in game one, right out of the gate, but play legally. Because the last thing that's what you're looking for is is to play harder than you did in game one right out of the gate but play illegally because the last thing that you can afford to do is take a major penalty and have Florida bounce three by you and it's an even series yeah so I think that the forecheck is

gonna be key that's always the case but I think that Toronto is gonna be dialed in tonight right from fuck drop yeah and you you mentioned Stolarz like if it is you know upwards of weak you think Joseph Wall can do anything to put himself in a position to stay in the net? Yeah. Like in other words if Stolarz is let's say he's back I'm healthy I can go game five but Walls played great in games two three and four because this has been a tandem all year. Here's a scenario for you and again hypothetical. Careful you're gonna radio yourself. No, because I think it's a fair one. Game six. Okay. Heading down to Florida, the Leafs are up three games to two and Joseph Wall has looked good. Yeah. But Stow-arse is available. Yeah. Maybe

game five wall has has stolen that game or are put them ahead to make it three to the summit at some point in the six games here somebody's up three dot right that's that i think what i was going to say that i don't know about right exactly it's crazy as the ebbs and flows without stole ours how well he played it's not a wall-e pep scenario it's not well that that you know but

yeah you you could lose your crease in any time in well this was a fortunate was all ours is a split crease this year but it was in the playoff not down like a direction on the stretch in the place like craig ruby's been very clear i want one guy yeah for the most part that's who is right yeah and and look i mean this up there's nothing the greenlight opportunity here for joe wall now they don't really have a choice. I mean he has to be good And he was good when given the opportunity when he was healthy in the regular season

So you're to go in in the circumstance that he had to go in in game one man. That's a challenge mentally Eric, you know He's going to be sharper and better prepared for the start tonight in game two But he has got to manage that crease Like his life depends on it. Yeah, not his career, you know And I know I'm being ridiculous and sensational and saying that but I a hundred percent would support the idea If if you're leading in that series three to you're going into game six and Joel Wall is The reason why you're leading or a big part of the reason why you're leading in the

Series stabilizing force you name it how you got to give him that net I would have to give him the net I'm getting crazy and way ahead myself. I'm just trying to Hypothetical and say but it is he's got an opportunity and oh said it that he's got an opportunity here You know to paint or carve his own pathway you know it in yeah he had there was a stretch here this season where he played very well and it was in the absence of Stoller's yeah where Stoller said that knee injury Stoller's was out for like eight weeks yeah right before four nations and then you throw the four nations in it felt

like three months the guy again in play a game and he comes back down the stretch obviously he was chiefs choice to be the number one because he has been any it carried away this is a massive game because it can go a different way

well how significant do you think the uh... insertion of erin eckblad into the lineup for Florida is tonight? I mean, I think it's huge. I mean, in every sense. You know, he's obviously a physical guy, probably a little gun shy, given everything that he's gone through in the last couple of months.

You know, they need him in the lineup. I mean, they're that much better when he's in the lineup in every sense. You know, just how he manages the puck. park you know he's a mobile enough guy makes good passes he can shoot from the point i mean just all of the attributes of a well-rounded defenseman that you'll want this time of year but that's that's what i'd provide is a number one to have a lot like he is regardless

the depth of number one is is probably subjective But he's a he's a top player for them and you know Jones has done a really nice job But when you have two of them like Jones can work a power play so connect black black You shoot the puck like he's he is physical He is he's not the meanest player asked Brandon Hagel about it but I mean he is a guy that that will finish his checks and you know the guy who scored the other night Belinskis is that the guy who's coming out I do believe I don't know it's a left shot right so but but in the end you know they did miss Ekblad they do miss him in a sense that

you know he is a minute muncher he's a 22 yeah 24 minute right like that's your big man's on herring and you know i i i think they're dear are really good well you can tell the way toronto the advantage of not having a blood in the lineup in game one like every time jones had the parker was in a position to be yet they got a little bit they they they tagged and that's got to

continue yes got and scale is to get out you got a ECBOT into that too because you mentioned it he may be gunshot you coming off the suspension and he didn't play for 20 games prior to that like who knows who knows what you're gonna get out of him starting this evening Darren Drager at TSN hockey insider in studio we got Jets and stars tonight how do you on how do you prepare for this considering what these two teams just went through and the fact that it's a borderline miracle they both survived no kidding uh... well it sounds like both teams are getting

healthier i believe jason robertson has been cleared uh... so that'll be a boost obviously for the dallas stars uh... mirror his can and isn't quite ready yet men on winter pig side you saw that morrissey and logan stanley both skated but that was the first time on the ice right i i mean they call it a game time decision i i don't think that either one of those guys is quite ready at will see

uh... but i'd be real surprised if march i've lead their number one centers and back in the mix he took regular line rushes as part of the morning skates will get a better handle on that uh... you know when when they go to warm-up but I was in that building on Sunday night for game seven and come off oh my god like I so as soon as Lowry scores a double overtime winner I mean literally the building is shaking it's shaking and my sense was I left the building probably an hour after the game ended and the streets were basically bare Which was shocking to me, but I'm thinking what happened is, you know

They were so well oiled prior to the game and then postgame They probably have a couple of pops on their way and then they're just Emotionally fried mentally drained. Where were you? I mean I was texting with Mike Lane going, okay What's our schedule because at Winnipeg's out like you're you're it was two minutes left. They're down three one bonkers like so You're you're trying to plan your life ahead and going. Okay. What what's the schedule? What's you know is Ableton in the minute like you're looking at things and all of a sudden it's like okay Okay, another goal and then the goalie comes to life. Like hell about comes to life. Oh yeah. Third period and over time, man. He was, he was, he was really good.

Really good challenging out of his neck. And I had almost like he said to hell with it. I mean, if I'm going down, I'm going to go, I'm going to go down being super aggressive, not waiting, you know, kind of getting towards the park instead of letting it just go by him and wave at it to me i thought i thought he was fantastic but we don't know what he's is it the monkey i really had

and he just takes off or is it like a really see shades of what we saw that's the their million dollar question yeah i do know the sidebar that i'm looking forward to is the young guns here you know scott earne alafter games heaven said and not just because cool profiteers clutch in game seven obviously with two one book people redirects but he he called him one of their top forwards in the series and that was a tough heavy series against the saint louis blues not just the goals but how we went

to the net you try to apply himself physically is not a big kid so what is he capable of in terms of trying to elevate in this series against all of us and then you look at the other side of the sheet you see why johnson that twenty-nine that one-year-old potential phenom leases star in the league uh... uh... earned a mega contract i honestly

those two kids i think you're going to be as much fun to watch as as anything in there. Yeah, I think you're right on that I the fascinating guy for me and he wasn't I mean Well, he did get an assist on the game tying up Nikolai Ehlers Cuz I don't know like we didn't really pick it up. He was rusty He was his first shot on goal when he first got back. I don't know if you guys saw it. He shot right Yeah, did you see that? Was unbelievable. Yeah, he had a chance to score and it was a cross body So he switched hands and shot right and he got a pretty good shot. I bet I made a good save. Mm-hmm

He's a very unique player. Oh, yeah immensely talented unrestricted, correct? Yeah. Yeah, like yeah They've got work to do to figure out work to do their same thing they would want to keep him too yeah Joe from the bridge that brought up Aaron Echblad Sam Bennett these guys are available you are getting paid said the other night it was it's funny we're talking about Sam Bennett in the gray area and like and you go tree be calling for a suspension tomorrow and then you'd be calling him on Julyuly first on i need to hear like type of thing because i mean the carol of the

suspension said would never be a lawyer but but there are i'd like sam bennett would be a coveted player act glad same thing nicolai elers i mean he was has had injury issues that's the only thing that you'd have to be in mindful of he doesn't get a good players being available this summer. Absolutely.

Mitch Marner could be there. Obviously the biggest one. Yeah, Mitch Marner. And Miko Ranthonen almost got there. Carolina didn't screw it up. I still don't know. Like Joe Sackett speaking. Again, we always go truth serum.

I would just love all of them in the room and go, here's some truth serum. What exactly happened? What the hell happened? truth serum i would just love all of them in the room and go here some true serum what exactly what i'll happen why not a lot back as you would expect hall of famer and bring over competitive man super competitive everything he does golf yes yet everything i feel like it's some point he's gonna i'm gonna find a way to stick it too ready agent uh... the carolina hurricanes I'm gonna find a way to stick it to whoever right the agent The Carolina Hurricanes because you you Ray and I talked about this in the podcast

Yeah, you trade him to Carolina which with all due respect kind of an outpost. Yeah. Yeah, and then he ends up You know being right back and worse nightmare and nemesis like You know, there's got to be payback there's something there man and and yet you know Sackett was saying today it's thought you can't pay three guys all that money and he's talking about McKinnon and McCarr yet by all accounts they offered him like ranting in something so if he accepts it then how does your philosophy play out? You don't have to go back though and say okay this is last and final yeah giving you the full heads up right and and we're going to trade. We're going to trade you.

What do you think? So again, it is what May 7th? I don't want to radio us or whatever. I was like You have to think this Nathan McKinnon is sitting right beside Sidney Crosby right now with the world. One of his best buddies. Come on Sid. Trained again and go One of his best buddies. Come on Sid. Trained again and go Okay now it's time for you to leave Pitt. We need you. And McKinnon calls Sackhick and goes I don't care who you're trading that guy's on my team next year. Because McKinnon lost in all this How pissed he was in his media after the game Saying we lost to a team with their two best players out. I don't know where we go from here That was your best player. Oh, he's angry. That's that's angry saying we lost to a team with their two best players out. I don't know where we go from here.

That was your best player. Oh, he's angry. That's that's angry. But that's what I mean. You can't say like these guys are close. I even I'll even go a step further. The guy who was playing tonight for Florida is available to Marshan. Three bodies. Yes.

And they're they their training this summer and that's why i was built for exactly those two guys exactly you know you're not gonna have to commit longer-term all it's got his extensions you don't have to worry about that and and you know march you'll get whatever he gets what i just i was getting crazy this afternoon take it about it and i don't know why i don't know how it came out but it was well you know i was on the system I mean that's the

thing like they traded they traded Richie in a burst for Brock Nelson right no so I don't think I got a goal in the series Charlie Koels you know there wasn't a whole lot there in terms of good man great acquisition but that's the thing like well I don't know what else they have those guys would have been you know you could see see the thought process behind those trades. They were fantastic trades. Yeah, exactly.

And they look great at points down the stretch. But it just, we all knew there was going to be a cup contender off the board because of that matchup. Yeah. They're up 2-0 going into the third. That's another thing where if you're Joe Sackig, I think you also have the right to say, guys, you're up 2-0 in the third. Yeah.

What do you want me to do about that? How about how about don't let ranton and score twice and have four points and walk through both defensemen? Yeah, exactly. Have you guys had rate for our on? Yeah, we had one We had a month ago and I'm talking more did he talk about you? He wouldn't say on the podcast what Mika Ratnam was saying to the Colorado bench Oh really, but he said he was saying some stuff. And it wasn't, it obviously wouldn't be directed at the players, I mean those guys are buddies

and you know he went to war and won a Stanley Cup with a good chunk of them but he was verbally and physically delivering a strong message to Colorado management. Did he not look up, like is that just the internet? I don't remember seeing that. I love that that is that the internet though like is that probably I didn't like after he scored the dagger the empty netter I feel like didn't they say he looked up to like possible the thing is it was in Dallas so would he know where they were well you might I

guess those guys sit I hope so I love that like that's gamesmanship, but you imagine he scores the empty net or the dagger and then You know looking up we all talk about Shane Wright given the the horse eye to Montreal I have the draft took Slavkovsky instead of him. Yeah, I mean if Aaron is very happy He was pretty quiet in the first four games of that series agree But showed up in the biggest way when needed ever sure did yeah all right Drex enjoy the games tonight there is Darren Dreger TSN hockey insider we'll head down to the rink catch up with Mark Masters our best bet still to come as well on game two tonight Leafs Panthers overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 2 all right best bet powered by Fandel later in the hour Mark Masters coming up

here momentarily from the rink rank lease panthers game two tonight beautiful weather here in toronto this patio nightmare it is patio type night right like the these are the ones you crave if you're a fan if you can't get into the building yeah this is where you settle in patio maybe at least for the first couple periods exactly boston pete a little patio now when the sun goes down cools down you go inside so good

i love you do that you have to be flexible i agree you have to be well it should be a rockin building it's been great down there like it really has a big the crowds were great i've i've said a multiple times credit to the lease i think they're game ops they've done a really good job of like bringing back legends and i have bring talker out there you bring wendell Clark we saw Rick Vive

down there they've done a really good job of bringing people out I think doing a good job of getting the crowd involved and the team's done well score goals you play well you're into the playoffs like it's been rambunctious down there it's been a it's been a great atmosphere yeah and I expect nothing but a great atmosphere again tonight ahead of game two let's head down to the rink. Here's our TSM April Eve reporter Mark Masters mark You've been down there every single night. What have you made of the atmosphere for the most part down in Scotiabank? Yeah, it's been good. I've been really good fans have been into it. They've been locked in I think they've been reacting at the right time

I think for the most part in a really good by the expected to be even better tonight i'm currently in the beginning and then it hearing it from the people here and yeah it's been really good really good so far in the playoff you sense any nerves from joseph wall is he saying and doing the right things or what do you know what do you make of that i don't think any error but he has funny like we don't talk to the police on the morning of the game day that they play

and you just kind of hanging around a locker room jerry a lot of the member rish and then he was we're doing a problem carlson i'd like what one out over there and it was uh... but the wall kind of try to go to the cabinet right where where we then in the interview trying to find them and pay p needed and uh... yeah you can be like he was too worried about anything

So I think he's you know wasn't he's done this before he's come in mid-series before he's got really good numbers 953 percentage in four games as a starter in the playoffs. It seems like he's in a good place From a game I was talking about the game odds there and them kind of scanning the crowd and stuff Have you heard anything of Anthony Stolar's and whether or not he'll be in the building tonight? And if so, would you expect them to pan to him because I think he'd get a huge ovation if they did I Haven't heard anything about that. What I can tell you is he's been around the team Yesterday morning he was back with them

Today he was in the ring Austin Matthews mentioned seeing him. I just don't know. Obviously they haven't announced what the injury is. We're all assuming it's a concussion just based on how it played out. And I don't know if it would be good for him to be in the building with what he's feeling. We don't know anything about any sort of symptoms he's dealing with. Craig Brube said he's recovering. I agree that if he's in the building and they showed him that would be a pretty electric moment but I just don't know what the plan is there With Mark Masters at a game two tonight a big development over the last two rounds has been the offense they've been getting from the defense

which was not something they were privy to throughout the regular season. You looked the other night, obviously Riley scored, Tanev scored, McCabe had assist, Ekman-Larsen, the previous run Ekman-Larsen got on the board, Benoit got on the board. How significant do you think that turn of events has been, Mark, in terms of the success the Leafs have had, that they're getting goals and assists and points in general from a defense core that really didn't supply a lot during the season. Yeah, it's huge, right? Like, I don't know if the least defense was playing possible all year or what, but they can't stop scoring down this playoffs and it takes a lot of the

pressure off the big boys and just the team in general. I don't know. That was, Dan was asked about his goal after the game the other night and he started kind of laughing because there was such a weird knuckle Pucker or whatever the heck it was, but they're just putting punches in the net. I think that's a good mindset I think we saw a lot of that in the one series They won against Tampa Bay a couple years ago. They were beating Andre Vasileski with with long shots from from far away Deflection screen a lot of the time in the playoffs. That's what happened

So it shows that they have the right mindset and maybe they saved all their luck for the playoffs whatever it is it's definitely a very positive development for the Leafs. If there's somebody or someone or some line or some pairing that you need more from who would it be? Well tonight you're looking for the Scott Lawton line to respond you know if you're looking for areas to respond from game one, it's the Scott Lawton line. They had some trouble with the Anton Lundell line. Obviously, not many teams are going to have Brad Marsand,

a player like that, on their third line with Luis Duran in. And yeah, the Lawton line had had a good run, but that was a tough one for them. So looking for them to bounce back. And then it's the power play. 0 for 5 in game one. I thought they had some good moments, but you can't go. There's not going to be many nights to go then it's the power play over five in game one i thought they had been good moments but you can't go not to be many night to go over five on the power play and feel great at the end of it though

i know they've talked a lot about how aggressive the panther penalty killin uh... they got a move the pot faster and just operate faster when the when the panthers are gonna swarm around and they worked on that our play at the morning eight today so i expected to be better on the power play tonight the morning skate today. So I expect him to be better on the power play tonight. So they can they get the opportunity with Mark Masters on the flip side. You look at Sergey Bobrovsky did not have his a game on right on Monday night.

I mean, he didn't he didn't look good. He didn't play well, the Leafs exposed them. The Leafs took advantage of that. What what would you based on your experience and what you've seen out of bob like what what is your expectation on how he will play tonight yeah bob rossky was not very good but i i think you've kind of a whole panther seemed off right like i don't know what it was but they did not start very well i thought

bob rossky got better at the game went on just like the entire team they lost five one in in the first game of the second round last year to Boston. Boston was coming off the emotional game seven win against Toronto. The Panthers had been off for a bit. So I don't know. I don't know if that's something that with a bit of a layoff that they struggled to get up to speed with their game sometimes. But I just, I expect for Rossky to be better tonight and I just expect the defensive team to be better. They're making, obviously you get Aaron Eklad back from suspension. That's a big boost. Everybody is plotted now properly on their back end.

They get Nate Schmidt back to his proper side. You move Demetri Kulatov who was minus two down to the third pair. Seth Jones doesn't have to play like 28 minutes or whatever the heck it was in game one. So I think Eklad coming back back from rossi will be better they put in a key families david on the fourth line for a degree i think that's going to make an impact for them to i like white-offered them a few that you're in the regular season yet yet and three of this in the two games that they played here in toronto so

i i i expect a much better but brought in a much better panthers here tonight what do you make of Craig Berube and you know his comments even you know I know you guys in scrums have been trying to press him about you know Bennett and Retribution and all of that type of stuff and he's just basically said we need to move on from it you know what do you make of Berube his message and and and really you know how that he's going to coach this team heading into game two? Well his message has been pretty consistent from the start of the playoffs right he's just been trusting discipline and composure it's just pretty much all he says right we've been talking about Brady Kachuck and the

and the Senators and Ridley Gregg and how he wants his team to deal with that and it wasn't a bit different in the immediate aftermath of game one because remember you know after game one in in Senators series, we were asking about Ridley Greg's cross-check to John Samarasen. He didn't really talk about it all and he got up from the podium and said, call the league, don't talk to me. Well, he was talking about how it was a blatant elbow in his mind on Stolarz after game two. Obviously, Samarasen wasn't hurt in that Greg situation where Stolarz had to go to the hospital. So I'm sure that influences how the coach is feeling in that great situation where scholars had to go to the hospital so i'm sure that influences how the coaches feeling in that moment but for

the most part group a has been pretty consistent into talking about a let's just be composed play our game not get involved in the stuff after the whistle and if we do that we're going to get a good spot so very consistent from brooklyn so what's up with you and paul marie smart we just going at it this morning or what yeah i'm entering my larry brooks state i guess i don't know uh... i think you just

become all the quite like it's been pretty much non stop for him right like that that it so large story line i i i know after the game uh... we are on the way through and we came out into the news conference room he was already going in uh... michael and kevin mcgrath of the front of start them again about the benefit on store art in so that already he was getting asked

about that twice doubling up after the game and then of course it was the big talking point yesterday you know on the off day in the series and the Panthers making Bennett available was was I think a good move by them and yeah so I think he's just a little fed up with it but you you know, I don't have any problems with it I thought you know, he's always gives us gold. That's the beauty of Paul Marie So I'm happy to stand in there and take his barbs and I thought it was good theater and I'm intrigued Like he can say whatever he wants about Bennett and you know, the fans won't have an influence influence in the game It probably won't but hey, they're handing out like wanted posters with Bennett's face on it in the Union station yesterday

So I mentioned there's gonna be some sort of reaction to Bennett here tonight Well, you know, he's gonna get booed every time he touches the park. Marshan is already getting booed Is there a third like this is could could Chuck hit that level? Like is there is it possible we get a third guy? I think there might be a third guy that might be a record I don't know if there's ever been three guys getting booed by a crowd every time it has a park marker you aware of that ever happening now i mean there's no shortage of uh... bill it in this period that for her and obviously not to be checked me he just seems like he's

he wants to do something right like you found one after mitch marter at the buzzer last game i don't know what he was going to do there but he's always looking to stir the pot so let them know i don't want to have really better can't that started to get it heard later in the game on game one so the fan

there they have to talk about it through a market that was probably number three on the bill in our rankings and now he's probably number one tonight i would think so the fact that they may just be going whenever the better that the direction of the pot uh... tonight so that that you know just with all the different political happen now who knows their net plan you know if anything the better than any more physical and more in your face

tonight after losing a morning getting a flat back though i hope that they're into it i think that would be make for an incredible atmosphere and they've shown in the first round how they're going to bring the contract that they're up for it that's not a bad idea anytime florida's got the park just collectively boom just never happened

yeah doesn't matter who's got the pockets it's cool accounts getting around and you just are building him uh... nonstop for and i think we might be honest up in their mark that's not the word they're talking about brought the entire view of the bronx here again they've been a bad bird making their voices heard it great as they say i did

you know what the first time to go one day one the first game of the second round period in a while so people getting caught up in it it's often i already feel like we're up you know i just very worried about every two new levels that we didn't see in that Senators series just in terms of the bad blood and just how people's emotions have been inflamed. It's fun. There's no question about that. It is everything we missed out on maybe in the Battle of Ontario came alive already in game one and I anticipate it continues tonight. Enjoy it, Mark. We always

appreciate you doing this. My pleasure. Anytime, guys. There's Mark Masters, our TSM April Leaf reporter. Why don't we play his exchange from tonight enjoy it mark we always appreciate you doing this my pleasure anytime guide there's a mark masters or take tsn a plea for poor why we play his exchange from earlier this morning with them palm trees here's the back and forth between masters in maries all matured the police will be given any extra treatment and and then and you've been asked about him

and anyway uh... not sure if the lease will extra attention, but the fans will probably be on him. Are they bringing their skates? You never know in Toronto. This is not unfamiliar territory for him to be in the spotlight like this. What have you learned about how he responds, how he's comfortable, or what you notice about him in this in this spot? He's our leading scorer forward and he'll play an honest hard game the way he always does. I don't think he's he hasn't in the past and there hasn't been believe it or not that many. Don't be funny Paul. It hasn't been that many

situations he just he'll be fine and I appreciate the concern I felt that he's fine I think he's gonna be okay that's pretty good line it is Paul Maurice he's always gonna handle things well listen Paul literally coached the Maple Leafs he knows the way it works well he worked at TSN he knows the around he understand he gets what's going on even though leaves was it his comment yesterday was like I've seen every hit that Sam Bennett's made since he was 12 years old because I turned the TV on he goes I've seen every hit that Sam Bennett has made since he was 12 he goes I get it you know we're here and listen I think the biggest part that he's trying to get to

is puck drop. Because for 48 hours, it's very noisy. In between games, it just gets noisy, right? The 24 or 48, pretty much leading up to next game, it's always 48. It gets noisy. This one was very noisy because of the nature of it. An injury to your starting goal tender.

Now, it can be a moot point or it can even ramp up more well that's the thing like Leaf fans will be even more angry if wall is no good isn't good tonight yeah because then it really rehashes like you'd knocked out stole ours yes and you know I don't want to say it's a 50% chance because I think it's more of a 10% chance but there is a chance that Joseph Wall doesn't have a good start. Yes and guess what he's going to play game three. Yeah. Like that's the thing like regardless of what happens tonight Joseph Wall is going to continue

to play. Yeah. And you don't want to you don't want to get there but it is of all the different avenues this could take could go any any direction. One of them is that wall just gets thrown in and doesn't have it and it's tough to win with Goaltending if it's not good enough and Then that's a completely different scenario. It's not like all the Leafs weren't up for the fight or all they buckled or they couldn't do this Like here's the only thing that worries me is that we're arguing on the show tomorrow Say Florida has a response and they win for two2 empty net or something like that okay but Woll allows maybe one bad goal okay you're always now the fan base is gonna go Stolar's would have had that yes because we have you've even said this if you have two number one

quarterbacks two number one goaltenders you don't have one because you're always looking to the other guy. That is the only concern from the goaltender union is like unless this guy wins tonight, there will still be, you know, like he's got to win. If he wins then it doesn't matter. If he loses but plays well people are like well you know what Stolarz would have, you know, it's only human nature because Stollars had played well. Didn't leave because he played poorly. Exactly. Yeah, this isn't Stuart Skinner.

This is, you know, Wohl is starting because of an injury. You know, he's not available. Yeah. So that's the only thing that could be unfair. And ultimately, it probably would be be you're laughing because I know I don't I you're a hundred percent right and I I'm pulling for Joseph Wall because I just hope he performs well that doesn't mean you guarantee a win or loss like you said could be Florida just comes out plays great it could just

be an unbelievable hockey game right triple OT a back door tap in it's like what do you want to do nothing you can do you know and and that happens but Joseph Wall you know this is a massive massive moment because he's going in and no one expected it right all right best bet still to come game two tonight overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 2 all right best bets powered by Fandirl make your picks and assemble the same game parlay in seconds on the Fandirl sportsbook yeah. We've got Austin Matthews one plus point tonight, Mitch Marner one plus point tonight, Sam Reinhardt three plus shots on goal tonight and Maple Leafs on the alternate puck line plus one and a half.

Keep it close. May not win. Keep it close tonight. That's paying about two 38 plus two 38. Those are your best bets powered by Fandirl live same game parlays are now available for every Stanley Cup playoff game on the Fandol sportsbook at please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario so there you go by tomorrow we're gonna have a full breakdown of two games in this series yep the Jets and the Stars will be off and running got game two in Vegas tomorrow game two in Washington tomorrow, game two in Washington tomorrow. Got game two of the Jays Angels series.

Let's hope they find a way. I mean, the Angels are so bad. That's tonight, right? Game two, yeah. Kikuchi. Kikuchi's on the mound. You gotta get a win. You got Barrios on the mound.

You gotta score runs on this team. This Angels team stinks. They're awful. Yet these other teams are like, oh great, the Jays are in town. We can take advantage of that. You score four runs, you probably win. what happened last night yeah I think anyway I think they get back in the winner's circle tonight you gotta find a way to get this series then they're

off to Seattle which is always a really fun series because people are coming across the border and it's always a great weekend. I think it'll be great but I just let's get a big Toronto night tonight like I said patio weather let's get the Leafs and Jays cooking here let's get the J Jets a win. I think Hellebuck plays well tonight. I'm calling it right here right now. Are you calling it right now? Hellebuck with an absolutely outstanding performance. That would be nice. That would be nice. I'd like to see the full and full. I'd like to see Winnipeg hit the ground running. Yes. You know what? And that building will be rocking again. And if Scheifle's playing that's big. It is. Sounds like you probably will. That's gonna be a great atmosphere tonight.. I agree All right. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it everyone for tuning in today TV radio podcast web We appreciate that. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4 p.m

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