OverDrive - OverDrive - May 9, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: May 9, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs up two games against the Panthers, Toronto's approach to Florida in the matchup, Joseph Woll' skill set in the crease and the Oilers' overtime victory against the Golden Knights. Longtime NHL Defenseman Mark Giordano joins to discuss the Maple Leafs looking for a larger lead against the Panthers, the mentality of the team and the depth sparking the group.

Introducing Brian Adams Radio on I Heart Radio. Hosted by Brian Adams himself. Join me for an insider look on a wild ride through 40 years of global rock and roll. Brian Adams Radio. Now available on the free I Heart Radio app. Or ask your smart speaker to play Brian Adams Radio on I Heart Radio. This hour of Overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go, Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app your home smart speaker and up on TSN to Brian Hayes the Oduck Jeff O'Neill Jamie Noodle's McLennan. What's going on?

What's going on? How are we feeling this afternoon? Feeling great although I had one of my real-life fears happen today. Oh yeah? I escaped. I had to do, I had to go to the bathroom on the golf course. What's with you in the bathroom, man? It's a disaster. No it isn't. I was out in the wilderness so I stepped foot in the woods and I don't know why I thought of this. The wilderness. Yes. As soon as I was about to step foot just outside the red state I'm like gotta

snakes man I can just see a snake pop it up in this area and as soon as I said that I planted my feet to prepare and I look down and I was stepping on the tail of a Giant black rattling snake. I don't know what the hell this thing was started looking at me is gonna I was so rattled man. I Can't I can't stand snakes and the sight of them and it like a little like he was a soul like he had a little head on them

yeah but it but usually you just see little weasel snakes this thing had some girls to it and he was it yeah that's that's terrifying you run you run you have to do it yeah that's in the city though like i never thought of i know city snakes man i went to chip my golf ball probably fifteen paces from this snake City snakes man. I went to chip my golf ball probably 15 paces from this snake and I still right before impact I looked back and I horse-eyed into that area because I'm like, I don't know how fast that guy moves

I don't know how mad it is. I Hate him and I never see them and I don't know why I thought of it I was going to take a piss and I thought, I hate snakes. I think there's a snake around. I planted my feet, I looked down and a giant snake's there. Yeah, that's wild, man. I don't recall the last time I saw a snake on a golf course or anywhere else, especially in the city, because I know where you are.

There's a lot of people that live around there. Although throughout the city, there's a lot of ravines. I used to play Don Valley as a kid all the time. You'd see fox, deer, coyotes. I'm like, where am I? The 401 is right there. Like, you're literally under the 401 at Don Valley. When we moved down to Carolina, we went, Jake Sanderson's old man, Jeff Sanderson, and myself, we went down to Pinehurst. And the guy at Pinehurst says Watch the fescue. There's a ton of snakes and I'm like, all right, man I went to tee up my ball and Jeff Sanderson grabbed the grip of his driver and wiggled it up my leg and I I Did a somersault I jumped I just ran and jumped

Scared the hell out of me I'll never forget now the nerves because some animals man You've heard stories that they have memories and if you've messed with them, they will they will get you You know, there's now a lot of these are like actual animals that can really get you like by all accounts Tigers are like that you mess with a tiger. It'll find you six months later accounts, tigers are like that. You mess with a tiger, it'll find you six months later, 250 kilometers away. It'll sniff you out. It's the Pat Quinn of animals, the animal kingdom. My biggest fear, and I've had it since I was five years old, is face to face with a cobra.

And the cobra is just staring at me, and it just bites you to death, and you die. Yeah, that's troubling. Although, you'll note, I mean, again, you go to Australia and stuff like that, the smaller the snake, generally the scarier it is in terms of venom and in terms of like you get a black mamba or something like that. Like the cobras and the pythons, they're all over Florida too. You go down to Florida, there's massive snakes down there. Like massive snakes and they're taking alligators out and stuff

It's just good the poor is not a normal place. Twitter because these videos started popping up You want to talk about algorithms this thing knows my biggest fear. There's videos of snakes Popping up through a toilet. Yeah, you see that certain and I'm talking about an anaconda I know that yeah I know that that is where worlds collide if there's an anaconda in Kitchener and the two two of you meet halfway I don't know who wins that battle and here you would have been possible there that would have been the king daddy topper if an anaconda jumped out and bit me on the butthole while your TSM mug is rolling around. Right while the guy says, hey, that's probably old dog's mug.

See, nobody likes snakes. Nobody does. Other than Brent Burns. I believe Brent Burns is like a snake guy. And what was the goalie there? He ate himself out of the league. What was his name? I don't know who you're talking about.

I can't remember. But there was another goalie who loves snakes. I can't remember. But it's a weird... To me, they're really creepy. I'm sure I'm offending a snake person right now. I don't think so, man. You're not saying you want them all gone or anything like that. They're creepy. They're a creepy animal. They are scary, scary animals. There's nothing about a snake that anyone wants. You know what scary

or hazy be what's that a championship caliber team that wants to get back into a series well you know we just mentioned the state of Florida momentarily or just a moment ago and that is where you know all eyes are gonna be on South Florida tonight as we have game three on Tsn radio and i agree with that and the books would indicate that i saw on fando recently the the spread or the the line is minus 230 for the panthers to win tonight and at some point it was like minus 250 minus 260 really that's like borderline we're guaranteeing florida wins tonight that's what the books are saying that's what vegas is saying i'm tonight that's what the books are saying

that's what they just as saying i'm sure that's what a lot of people around hockey are saying it's it's understandable is justified because like you mentioned their cup champs and they have pride in they're probably sit there realizing you have to win tonight you put up the you corner a team like this and their backs are up against the wall they have to win

i think it's a safe bet you're going to get a good response. I fully expect Florida to play well, but I'm not of the mind that the Leafs are just going to roll over here because of that. I think the Leafs are going to show up and play tonight. It's a big opportunity. I think a lot of that line that I mentioned is paying respect to the Florida Panthers, which is deserved and understandable. And some of the line is still chipping away on the the legacy, the history of the Leafs, you know, and we're not quite there yet to believe that you guys are actually different.

And I actually think that's a good thing for the Leafs, not that they're on Fandol before the game. But you're up to nothing in the series. And I think if you're Craig Barube, you can still spin this as you're the underdog tonight. Everyone in the world thinks you're up to nothing in the series and i think if you're correct berube you can still spend this as you're the underdog tonight everyone in the world thinks you can afford everyone in the world thanks for just gonna pop you tonight i think you get to see a game out of the maple everything i said in the past guys

which bothered us all at different points and we've had to talk about it so many different times about the learning and we're going gonna learn from this they could like write a massive test tonight about all the learning they've done even through their experience with the Ottawa Senators like no withdrawals tonight like you put so much in and you got yourself in a good position like just keep the Florida Panthers out of the driver's seat I a kendrick perkins talking the other day about the next in the celtics and he's like the next gotta go home and they have got the he was calling it a mandatory win

for the next the win game three at home as he's not doing the same thing celtics of the champs the dot on cell picks in the next of the next time it's this it's a carbon copy only the next to go on home we're here the maple leaves are the Knicks. Exactly. You know, it's a carbon copy only the Knicks are going home, where here the Maple Leafs are going on the road. Right. Listen, it's an opportunity.

Everybody say, oh, the Leafs haven't played well in Florida. Florida's down two nothing. The Cup champs, all of that. Those are all just facts. But you have an opportunity here to change that narrative. And I don't want to say play loose, but don't play tight. Go and play hard and see what happens. To me, this is, you can be dangerous when you're confident and loose.

I think, maybe I'm wrong. I think it's mandatory for the Leafs to get one of these games in Florida. That way you give yourself an opportunity coming home. and 3-1 is a stranglehold. So in the end, it's probably better to do it on the front end because 2-1 makes it a series, 3-0 makes it, hey, you know, I'd maybe get the second one type of thing. But like this is a massive game and it's an opportunity for a lot of players who maybe haven't had their a game But they've looked good or whatever We were talking about it. Hey, is it oh we'll fill you in on it. But you know yesterday

You know, it's all right for a goaltender to steal a game Calvin Picker did last night for the most part he allowed for and he was fantastic Like you know, sometimes Edmonton last night, you know So sometimes a goaltender can factor in in a positive way Bob hasn't had his goods so he might have his goods tonight who knows but in the end these unique storylines like you know oh you've been talking about it what if somebody just goes what if Austin Matthews goes not on my watch I'm getting three tonight well I think it's a big opportunity for him tonight because you know he's he's played well he's played fine he's got two goals in the playoffs so far his teammates have carried the load offensively William Nylander has

been a machine you're the captain you're the best player you're on you're in enemy's territory you're gonna get Barkov a ton tonight you gotta do some damage at some point now I think as I said yesterday. Barkov took it to him a little bit the other night that line. Yeah they were leaning on him and again they didn't get on the sheet they handled him in a bunch of times early yeah but again if you look at it like there were times where i thought you know in Ottawa it was a similar type of scene where maybe out shot or

out possessed yet they were getting some really good opportunities in close and i'm talking about the Matthews line but ultimately opportunities don't mean anything you You got to get on the board. You got to score. You got to perform. And I do think it's a big, big, big opportunity for Matthews in particular to lead the charge in a game like tonight. And you know, you look at Florida, I think this game says more about them than it does

the Leafs. I thought game two said more about the Leafs than the Panthers because that's set up for a classic complacency game From Toronto game two they didn't show that they went out and earned it. They won the game. I think Florida Tonight needs to prove that they still have stuff in the tank that they still because it's tough to grind three years in a row Man, like that's the truth the other day Hayes plant that seed that maybe the magic's over That's what I'm saying tonight Like that's the truth. I told you the other day Hayes, plant that seed that maybe the magic's over. That's what I'm saying tonight.

Like Florida can prove that. Like Florida comes out flying and they win 5-1. You grind their asses into the ground and make them fight for every piece of ice and just say maybe we just, maybe this, maybe we can't go back to three finals. There's a mental thing too of a couple things. One, you've played a lot, now your backs up against the wall. A lot of guys in the room not everyone but a lot of them go home in the ring is our it's there that can never be taken away

from them right but it's a different hunger right the lease of the hunger where they have anything like they they've they've been starving and they're they're begging for anything they can get florida's been full and they just now the gluttons you know now they want more sure but it's a it's a different inspiration

And that's why I think tonight will say more about Florida if they come out and And they're flying and they lock everything down and they win a routine game and Bob stands tall you're like, alright They got a lot in the tank. They want another one watch out But if Bob's leaky if Kichuck can't get going then they're vulnerable like those two for me That's the that is what is gonna really be the proof of what Florida's all about if Bob's leaky for whatever reason and Kichuk just can't get going that changes the whole vibe of that team Yeah, well I top players right on players comes back the top players especially a goaltender of that caliber Yeah, and it's another opportunity for Joseph wallohl to kind of push through and go, guys,

don't worry about the health or the status of Anthony Stolars right now. I thought he played solid last game. I don't know how you felt. Oh, I thought he made some big saves when he needed to. It's a tougher environment now on the road, but he can continue to build his game out. I think he's got the ability Jamie obviously as he's still young and he's battled some inconsistencies and he's battled health problems but I think the one thing he's got in the tank is he can have that spectacular game. I think in Montreal in

the middle of the season or something he was fantastic diving all over the net and he was just he was making the incredible. I think he has the idea and who knows that this will buy enough time for Stollers but I think Joseph Wall has the ability to be incredible for that one game and steal one. I really do believe he has that ability because I think he's done it before. Obviously his consistency is something that he has to work on. The bad goals once in a while he has to work on. But he sure as hell has the ability to go in there and steal the show. And yeah. And I think that's kind of mandatory. Yeah, he's done it before. He did it against Boston last year and he did it the year before against Florida.

He was the one playing game four when they went down. They were down three nothing. They wanted to won that game I think it was and he played really well. He played really well in game five. They lost an overtime I get it. It's two years ago It's not like he's had 50 or 60 playoff starts, but he's he's he's capable guy He's I think getting through these first two games, you know, unscathed, and now you're in the series, I don't know what that means to you, Noodles, but I think there's no reason for Rust anymore. No.

Like now you've played twice and you fly down to Florida knowing you're playing. You're playing both games. Friday and Sunday. Well, this will be his third game played in in six days. Like that's your... You're in rhythm now. There's no more Rust. You're playing and that's it. And you

know, Anthony Stolars isn't on the bird right now landing ready to play. Like it's, if he doesn't play well, it's Matt Murray. You know, that's, that's where you're going. Matt Murray sitting on the bench in a ball cap waiting, you know, and so right now Anthony Stolars is just trying to get healthy and hopefully he's fine and all of that. But it's, this is Joseph Walsnett and he has to be a difference maker. And tonight's an opportunity. It'll be a hard fought game and we'll see if Florida has some adjustments. That's the one thing that the beauty of this game is whether the adjustments work, whether

you just laid out Hayes, the top players show up, the matchups, all of that type of stuff. We know Florida's third line has been solid in two games. Outstanding. Right? But it's their top six that hasn't really been super productive at five on five. And again, Nylander, Pacioretty, they've been fantastic. Marner scores the game winner, but I thought was you somewhat subdued last game like you when it according to his standards are what the standards we've left

or built up for him but it it's all right for for guys to show up and go power on power and see how it unfolds that's as you've been talking about it for years i think it was very early on may i i mean there's so many of the all kind of blend together upper management, Shani and everybody talked about it. The one word that came up was killer instinct and how they were going to get it and how they were going to acquire it and what they were going to do about it.

Now is a time tonight where if you truly deep down have learned in the past and it's actually there and the competitiveness of all the supporting cast that's it's actually there and the Competitiveness of all the supporting cast that's been brought in here and the coach that's been drilling it into you Now is the time to put it in place Because I don't care how good the Florida Panthers are if you go up three nothing and they Shock the world and come back then good on them, but you go up three Cobb You're you're most likely gonna win. You're in the driver's seat. You're in it right now two-nothing. You'd still be in it up two-one, but really you go up, yeah obviously you go up three-nothing or you get a split down there and listen it's Friday

Sunday. They flew down yesterday. You're going to be in Florida for like 80 hours. You're playing two games in 80 hours. It's a business trip. Get down and get out. But Matthew Nyes was speaking on that earlier today about, you know, anticipating what Florida could throw at them this evening and this is what he had to say about the challenge. 100%, you know, I think it's me. Obviously it's a challenge taking a game on home ice. So yeah, it's going to be a huge pushback. It's going to be the hardest game we've played so far and yeah, I think we're up for the challenge.

So I like that last line. It's a throwaway cliche, but I think we're up for the challenge. So I like that last line it's a throwaway cliche but I think we're up for the challenge. All right go get it. You know that's what Barube's been saying business like be ready take on the challenge it doesn't have to be automatic that Florida just gets to win tonight because they're supposed to. Go out there and ruffle feathers or at least make them earn it right. You're you're not gonna be I'm gonna beat I there I don't see us. You know we don't even need to get into that word, but it Florida's gonna fight Oh, is that it you yeah? I was set on the panel the other day, which is very disappointing

I heard what I say didn't you say sweep Did you mention sweep after game two? Drex told me that. That was really starting to move. Maybe I, how about this? Here's what I said. We asked the guy for context. I said I said it in round one and I'll say it again in round two. You're allowed to spank a team. Like you're allowed to spank a team. You don't have to make it interesting and let this thing drag out six or seven. They did it in the last series against Ottawa. And now they're up two nothing again. You you are allowed to spank a team and then I hear from the guy on my left he goes sounds like you're saying it's gonna be a sweep and I just thought that's what I said you're an idiot. Oh so it was Dregg that said it. Exactly I never said anything about it I wouldn't talk like a moron like that.

That's him being that's him trolling. Well we should know I mean Dregg likes the troll and Drex like to needle Or on so that so that's what it was cuz Drex. I worked with him right after that He goes your buddy was calling a sweep What do you think they're saying in Edmonton right now you think they got the stones to stay that say the the s word out There or what I think they are gonna sweep cuz I don't think I don't think Vegas goalie has gone out there with his equipment yet what like that pod Colson goal like there's been some goals going in on that guy then the nurse right after it yeah but it like the thing is

that weird like Edmonton does didn't deserve that win last night they were like Vegas played better than look at this at this call, Pod Coles and... Yes. What? That's a brutal snipe, man. Listen, those are bad... That was nurse. Those are bad...

I know, those are Pod Coles and Vegas. Well, that's Pod Coles and then the nurse scores right after it to make it 3-1. Yeah. But Vegas was... like this play, Vegas was loose. Look at just lost battle here, lost turnover, middle of the ice. And yes, you need to make that save, no doubt. That's what I call a warm-up shot, like when you wheel down the middle of the ice and you just risk one on the goalie. But look at it, Vander Kane scores from the slot.

Nobody's around there. Like these are, that's uncharacteristic of Vegas. So, Edmonton gets up 4-2, and then they take their foot off the gas, and Vegas tunes them up and goes at them. Like, I think Vegas deserved to win. Oh, you talk about it, those two. Those two were out to lunch last year. Yeah, McDavid and Dry Cytle. Now, Dry Cytle of course scores the OT winner.

Of course he does. And McDavid was ridiculous. Dry Cytle even said in his post game, he goes, I'm just the guy who facilitated it. He goes, this was a... But look at Dry Cytle, falls down trying to block that shot. Look at him, steps on his own stick here yeah it's like they just had it like a non-characteristic off night but that's they've scored 17 goals in their last couple games the last three four games 15 have been not Leon dry side as I got asked David's got zero amazing was the referee right in front of this that's a

terrible call was that guy at cheetah right in front of the that's a terrible call not on that i had she does shattered all night because that's about that is insane to miss that call account over the guy almost breaks his neck yeah and you don't call it like what are these right now it has to do with you you know why it can't open her separated shoulder see you later. No call and this is a hundred percent of penalty It might have been a major if you you really want to dig into it, but they missed that call

Ebbenton got a five-minute major For the cross check. Yes the cross check which was he got him pretty good He got him good right on the pretty good. I have no idea what that guy was doing I think he thoughtick was coming up with a stick i'm not trying to condone it but if you see frederick he comes up and then i think it's an instinct and he's like he actually think a part of it is he he's trying this is really wacky to say but the pop comes up and i think he wants to try to

hit the park with his and and then it was shit yeah like i i really believe you tried to do that but then he saw a guy's face in the way and he said I don't know I guess I have to cross check what yeah Frederick chewed on that five minute penalty and the Oilers had nine shots on goal and post and a crossbar so I was like okay Vegas is winning this like yeah and and they I believe they deserve to win but Edmonton found a way out of this area meter it goes up in smoke in the playoffs man in in the end to

we're talking about haze like pickered allowed four goals i thought he was unbelievable i think they can see look at the stats and i know there's overtime involved they had twenty seven high danger chances and the oilers had twenty five i think it was it was a pretty high event game 5-4 and overtime I mean it had that vibe to it. Yeah, but that is very very I think Comforting if you're an oiler fan is that you're seeing last night pod Colson and you're seeing Kane and you're seeing nurse And it's not it's not the McDavid dry subtle show. Yeah, like it's all man

Yeah, Jake Wallman was if he got on the board first for them last night Like that it's not it wasn't five points for McDavid and four for Dry Settle. Like that wasn't what happened in game one. That wasn't really what happened down the stretch against LA and even though they've accumulated points naturally they're always going to. I think what's scary is it feels like those two they've got a level or two left that they can still reach that if and when that happens and everyone else continues to pull your weight that is trouble that is trouble for a lot of teams and you look at you look at the here's most points in the 2020 25 playoffs for the Oilers. McDavid 14 dry settle 13 but then Bouchard Nug hopkins hyman i guess it filters down the way you would expect it

but i saw a note this morning about you know this down the cup odds and fandals making adjustments in edmonton is now at the top of that list as the cup favorites and what's interesting is the lease i believe of leapfrog the panthers but uh... while i were the panthers before second i think i remember what they want to take it was dallas that was at the top But last night... Where were the Panthers before? Second? I think coming... Weren't they won? Yeah, I think it was Dallas that was at the top to start the series and Florida was right there with them

But you know things have changed now again. We got game two of the Dallas Winnipeg series tonight It may flip again if Dallas wins game two They might jump over Edmonton and maybe they're the favorites. It's going to fluctuate based on what's going on out there. But interesting times, man. Well, I mean, Dallas deserves it. They, you know, they're a rock solid team and they're getting healthy. I'd like to see Winnipeg have a response here. Morrissey's playing tonight. Heisken and not back still. He's still not going tonight. Winnipeg Jets are running out of bullets. Like the next time their coach goes in front of the podium and says his team was junk and it felt like an exhibition game it might be

they might have one foot out the door like this is the Stanley Cup playoffs and I think it's three or four times and he's gotten up there and he's like don't ask me about Hellebuck we all stunk four times we've heard that I know oh but we were talking about it yesterday this guy he should be banned from the microphone because he is, everybody else, the coach goes up and it's just politician and very smooth and very, you know, Pete DeBoer is leaning back in a chair and yucking it up and Paul Maurice, we all know how smooth, even Chief has got smile on his face like, and it's Scott O'Neill is just like, that's

a game 40. I didn't see it that way obviously he he knew behind the scenes of what he saw from his team was capable of so he's right i'm wrong but it's just it's more about the way he's been in the media i don't know why i read my why are you at this guy he knew he's on a hit man he is on edge he's not an ad it is lieutenant daddy has have that cook in right now i'm gonna go down here you might as well just pick out the four guys a

father garbage like you're gonna go that far and really make a statement and kind of put the pressure on them to respond well gives you tonight exactly they they they think was out there again in goes not stay got one foot out the door maybe two they better win tonight got out of response got a win tonight will see that up in again least panthers right here at the s and radio mark jerry dano sets the scene on the game. We'll do that next.

Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Got Mark Giordano coming up and it's a big weekend. Big weekend, we got Mother's Day on Sunday. So you get the Leafs tonight and the Leafs on Sunday. Mother's Day, right? A lot of mothers out there are rooting for the Leafs and the leaves on Sunday, Mother's Day, right? A lot of mothers out there root for the leaves here.

Come on. So, uh, a lot of guys trying to get plants together too, to figure out how they can kind of work all this out. Right? This is where the superstitious leaf van is in a bind. Cause if your move is I'm always at my buddy's house hours before the game, doing whatever I'm doing and it coincides with like a Mother's Day dinner you better figure your life out man right what's

the priority here all right I thought you were talking about stopped by a gas station to pick up a gift card yeah I think that's a great move I stand by that and I've stood by that for for the last decade I don't think there's anything wrong with the character i intend on looking into those myself i have a very very good plan as pathetic for my gift cards your own mother well maybe i'll do that

now that possible to it's exactly i gotta figure out exactly the right amount yeah uh... alright game three tonight lease panthers we're getting to in Winnipeg as well Here's a former Leaf good friend of the show. Here's Mark Giordano joining us back on overdrive. Gio. What's happening? How we doing guys? We're doing well. Yeah, is my microphone on today or you're good You're good. You've mastered this now man. You're a seasoned vet. I love it

good you've mastered this now man you're a seasoned vet I love it so what do you what do you make of the approach for the Leafs tonight like if you're walking into a situation like this you're up to nothing you're on the road Florida they represent what they represent what would you expect the messaging and the mood to be in the Leaf Room before the game yeah I would assume that the coaches are on the guys so like let's not be comfortable at two nothing It's a it's a great start to the series But you know, they have a real opportunity here tonight to go out, you know that first ten minutes You know, Florida's gonna want to come out

But I think the Leafs should go out with with a counter to that and they have a real opportunity to show these guys like Hey, we're for real. We're here for real We're we're looking to sweep you because you know if Florida wins the game tonight the whole Outcome of the series, you know be it'll be in question. It'll not in question, but it'll look different It'll it'll feel like a seven game series if the Leafs win tonight, then we're talking sweep tomorrow, right? So I would expect the boys they know the opponent. They respect the opponent I would expect them to come out with a good start because that's Florida's game plan for sure. So Gio, with that in mind, is there anything different they have to do as far as the approach

or even the players in the room? Is there something that maybe guys have to step out of their comfort zone to maybe a little extra hit, a little extra take a punch in the face to drop penalty something is there there's something you could identify that maybe uh... could help put them over the top here on a tough road opponent well i think they've done a good job in all areas noodles to be honest in the series like they've touched a little bit everything like their depth has been great patch ready's probably been

one of the best players in the series domi's been good uh... you know they finally got that power play goal last game. So you're touching five on five. They're playing well. They're touching all areas like they're playing physical. They're not taking stupid penalties. And I would preach a lot of the same. Now, Florida's probably preaching a lot of the same too. Like they've played some pretty good hockey too. I think what they would want is a little bit better goal-tending on their end. And they'd like Bobrovsky to step up there.

But other than that, they've had some pretty good stretches. But I would be preaching a lot of the same. I like the Leafs, especially their rebound shifts. Like after goals or after momentum swings, they've had big shifts. Like the goal after the game got tied last game was a good example of it. But even Florida was pushing really hard at the start there when Marshawn scored in the second period.

Florida was pushing really hard for about five minutes. And the Leafs are showing that ability to rebound and get their own momentum back. And they've been doing that all year. So it's been really a really key to success for them. Geo, you're familiar with Wall obviously, you played with him. Like, are you comfortable with the idea of him or confident in the idea of him having the ability to go into Florida and steal one tonight? Because we've seen it in the past, he has struggled with a bit of consistency but the

one thing he can do, he can throw a performance at you where he goes nuts and he's just dynamic and he makes the athletic saves he makes the impossible saves and that's kind of what they need tonight they need him to be dialed in yeah yeah I agree I think I think he's very capable playing with Waller I think especially like he had it he had a long break there so you're you know noodles can talk better about this than me, but being off, not in the net for 20 days is a big deal. So now he's gotten those reps in. Yeah, like you said, I think one of the two games,

he's gonna have to probably steal one there. You know, Florida's coming out with some big, big games in their home building, basically, you know, not do or die yet but basically almost there so you know I think he's getting better and better with every period that goes by him with that huge save that you're showing right now in the in the third and he's definitely capable really athletic really moves well really reads the play well you'll be able to tell right away with Waller I always could tell right away with him you know if he's

calm if he's reading the play right away, you'll be able to tell. Did you change your game if he was drunk early, Gio? Oh, he might dive in front of a couple floaters from the blue line. No, he was pretty good. He was pretty consistent when I was there. But yeah, I think this is credit to the Leafs, the depth in their net. I mean, he's basically a 1-8, right?

So he's stepping in now and he's the guy. It looks like Stolarz isn't there for the trip, so he's the guy. With Mark Giordano, I'm curious if you're seeing a role reversal from what you guys ran into a couple years ago. When you're on that team, you get through Tampa, there's Chance in Toronto, we want Florida, we want Florida, Florida. At that point, it just backdoored into the playoffs. I think if Pittsburgh wins in Chicago,

Florida doesn't even make the playoffs that year. They're down 3-1 to Boston, they storm back, they find a way to win it, overtime game seven. And everyone at that point was thinking, all right, the Leafs are the team here, Florida's gotta prove who they are. now you know before you knew it you guys were down three nothing in the series and chasing it do you see do you see a role reversal here where is there a chance Florida looked at Toronto and

maybe wasn't certain exactly what they were really made of and now the Leafs to punch them in the face twice quickly and if they don't snap out of it they could be in a similar situation to the one you guys were in two years ago. Yeah exactly, I think Florida found out real quick that they're different this year, the Leafs team, they're built different, they play a little bit different system, their structure is really good, their face off detail is really good and I think that's paid off in the playoffs and I think

Marshawn's comments after last game said it best like he you know he was preaching how good the Leafs are and I think it did catch them off maybe off a little bit a little bit but I think they knew going in I think they were saying all the right things but I think everyone in the league who's playing knows like they're a team that that you should be watching for for sure. With Mark Giordano, Austin Matthews and the way he's been playing, what have you seen out of his game and is there another level there in your opinion and if so what would

that look like starting tonight? I like his game. I watch him on the defensive side of the puck now and he's been a beast and he's, you know, him and Barkov, you know, they're going to cancel each other out a lot of shifts if they're playing against each other. That's just the way it's going to be. Yeah, you'd like to see them, the boys, the top line, they'll contribute offensively as much as possible. But hey, like we said before, set up the next shift, play hard, play well defensively. And then, you know, Barkov got one last game on the power play, maybe the top guys on the Leafs

get one on the power play, but basically they're gonna cancel each other out. The thing that's been interesting to me is the depth has been canceling each other out too. As good as Pat Charette and those guys have been, like Marshawn's line has been really good in Florida. They've been scoring goals. So it's been a pretty even series like two one-goal games and

We'll see what happens. I think Florida I think you know if if you're in the coaches room when there's no players around in Florida They're saying okay if we can get a save here or there where we're gonna we're gonna be okay What do you make of your buddy? Mo's game I mean Morgan's a guy who who's certainly gotten some points and got some goals and looks to be a lot more comfortable in watching him. I'm sure you focus a lot on the D. What do you make of Morgan's game? Yeah, I've said it before, when Mo's feeling comfortable, he's up in the rush.

You can tell he's up in the play, and he's been up in the play a lot in the series. And that comes with confidence I mean you get you know, he had a regular season like everyone sort of up and down regular season But just like the last time he had a tough season. He came into playoffs and is our best player against when we beat Tampa there and and Moving forward so he's having a a good start to the playoffs offensively and I think that's contributing to his overall confidence and his overall game. Geo, with 2.55 left the Florida Panthers pulled their goaltender and they didn't get a shot on net. And there's been long stretches where the Leafs defensively, we talk a lot about

game breakers getting it done in the core floor and they've got to step up and produce offense but there's been long stretches where the ten twelve fifteen minutes ago by the have a large the lower shot against auto off and i'd be really stuck out when that florida panthers pulled their goaltender they didn't allow a shot on that what do you see would you say would be more personnel that's been added or is that coaching? Like what do you

attribute to their ability to check and defend and keep the puck out of the core area of the ice? Yeah, I think the personnel thing is as far as personnel goes, they're blocking way more shots than they ever have. I think at one point in the game last game, it was like Leaves had 25 blocks, the Florida's eight. So they're blocking more shots for sure but it's it's coaching its structure there they're packing it in the slot you can't get slot chances against this team it seems like they're they're not giving up much from in there and they're okay with Florida you know going low to high and then putting it back down and creating

battles behind their net and all that thing they're okay with that game but anything in the slot even off the rush you see their back pressure all that they're not giving much up in the slot and you know when Florida's Florida's on their game they don't give up a lot of chances but the difference is Florida's so super aggressive with their defensemen and they're they're relying on their third forward to be high and be at safety valve but if Florida's just a step off like we've seen in this series they'll give up odd man rushes and breakaways and they've done it a bunch in the series at least have caught them because they make crisp plays they make good little chips and they're so aggressive that there is that opportunity against Florida to create odd men's.

It was like that when Maurice coached in Winnipeg it was the same thing when they were on it felt like you had no room no time no space but if they're just a step off you can create odd man chances against this team. With Mark Giordano you mentioned Max Pettorelli in his contribution. I think it's pretty clearly benefited from not playing down the stretch although it may have been frustrating like he may have been ready and he wanted to get in. What is that like you know as a veteran in the room where maybe you're coming in out of the lineup but you understand the impact you're really going to have on this team is come playoff time but waiting for that, getting through the

season and understanding maybe your minutes are reduced or again you're not in the lineup but waiting for that time and hoping that you're ready to contribute complex yeah it you know what that was the hardest thing i've done in my career was to go uh... from playing you know twenty plus minutes a night today not playing the minutes and then you know towards right towards the end of my career getting scratched a few times and then coming in

there's a hard to say to accept and uh... everyone around you is telling you, oh, you know, you need to rest, take the pregame skate off, take the morning skates off. And like, I hated it, because I was like, it's, you're almost admitting defeat. Like father time has defeated me. So I hated it, but he's done a great job, man.

He's changed his role, first off. We all forget how many goals the guy's scored in the league, but he's changed his role into a power forward, third line checking forward, whatever you want to call it, and he's excelled. And yeah, for sure there is something to, the science behind getting the rest as an older guy and as a more veteran player,

and a guy who's been through some pretty tough injuries as well so good on him he looks great out there he looks really fresh and but it was I will say that was the hardest thing for me in my career to accept. Gio just wanted to follow up quickly on that like you mentioned you know father time catching up and having to adjust is it is it something where you, it's a feeling or did somebody have to pull you aside? Did the coach go, hey you know you're going over radio and you can't get there anymore? Like is it just a gradual thing?

Like you you're admitting it but at what point did you identify it and adjust your game? I think you know what Nudo's I think for me, the first year I would have started noticing it was when I went to Seattle my first year, I think I was about 37. It's just the speed, the ability to get there isn't there anymore. You have to rely way more on your reads and your hockey IQ, and I think a lot of old guys have that. That's why a guy like Corey Perry, a guy like Pat Suretti, like can stick around in the league.

It's just hockey IQ. And you have to be able to read the play properly. Like for me, it was as a defenseman, I used to love jumping in and getting in in the rush as the fourth man. And I found what I noticed was I wasn't getting as many chances offensively anymore because I wasn't getting up in the rush as the fourth man and I found what I noticed was I wasn't getting As many chances offensively anymore because I wasn't getting up in the rush enough. I wasn't getting there I knew I wanted to be where I wanted to be but sometimes you just couldn't get there and also playing playing the rush shot the other way you got to be aware like

some guys in the league have a kind of speed and that that's why as you get older, it gets harder, because you start giving more gap, you start giving more time and space, because you know you can't keep up. And then eventually, there's a point in time where you just, you can't play anymore, because you're hurting the team. So, it's just reads, it's little things,

but certain guys can hang on longer than others, that's for sure. I'd love to have just a screenshot of your brain when you're 40 and try to lead a rush and you're like what am I doing? This is trouble. That poor Jack Eichel last night was trying to skate backwards and I felt bad for him. He's a top 10 player around you know. He's in that range for sure. McDavid made him look like a beer leader but you know most forwards don't skate backwards. That's the other thing. Oh, were you a good backwards skater? Could you skate backwards?

Honestly, Jamie, you asked the question and I thought of how many times I probably skated backwards in the NHL. I'm not going to say that it never happened, but I don't remember skating backwards in that league, hardly ever. We were joking, Gio, before you came on. McDavid and Dry Settle didn't have a good night, but it's one play and Eiko gets caught back and he is like, oh my God. Look at him here, he's like, I'm dead. There's no way I can beat this guy in overtime.

You don't want to take the penalty, right? there's no way i can beat this guy in overtime like that was pretty crazy you don't want to take the penalty but against those two you almost you're almost better off taking the penalty because it's two on one with them is like it's always a bird ends up being a birdie so uh... maybe you try your chances on the pellet kill but well no I mean that was that's a nightmare that's a nightmare seeing him coming down of all guys to get that gap right terrifying and let's clarify Patrangelo was like wow what he was doing either, but he ends up on Aiden Hill. That's not comfortable either for anybody

All right, Geo game three tonight. It should be a great one. Enjoy it buddy. Thanks for doing this Okay, boys. Good talking to you. There he is mark Giordano doing this. Okay boys, good talking to you. There he is, Mark Giordano. Thanks, Joe. Yeah, that is terrifying for Eichel, but even again, you look at the aftermath, like Petrangelo drops, lands on Hill, and you know, like, because even the way McDavid stops on a dime almost to throw Petrangelo off on defending the two on one, it's crazy. All right, we've got Chris Johnston coming up, Mike Johnson will join us as well we got dear hazy B later this afternoon we're chugging towards game three right here on TSN radio overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 2 all right Mike Johnson coming up he's over in Sweden

Canada is absolutely stacked going into the world championship so we'll catch up with Johnny on that dude that team is it's. Like they got Braden. Shann is their third line center. I think. Says a lot about Sid, man. He joins up. Everyone's like, now I'll go. Yeah. Bennington's going. Shann's Shann might be on the fourth line. Cause Celebrini, if I'm Celebrini, I am begging the coaches to let me play with Sid like begging me to play. Can I play left wing? Let me play with said like begging me to play can i play left wing let me play with the guy

uh... yeah i'd be action for that the ice is on the lineup mckinnon whore vat deno o'reilly down the middle cross be shan fantilly celebrini on the left side connect the forester kent johnson and will coulee on the right side sandheim dobson matheson weger, Montour Spurgeon, Bennington Marc-Andre Flurry. Yeah, that's loaded. Pretty darn good team. I love that Sid's like, hey, I'm playing left wing over here. Like, I'm not going to go, I'm not in the corners. It's not a 200-foot

game for me. Like, I'll come over and I'm the captain, but someone else is going up and down the ice, man. Yeah. I'll take a face off from time to time but that's going to be it for me. Don't forget TSN 1050 giving away tickets to every Maple Leaf playoff home game and all you have to do is listen to us on the iHeartRadio app for your chance to win them. To enter download the iHeartRadio app, create an account and listen to TSN 1050 for at least 15 minutes straight. You can enter twice per day so listen to First Up and Overdrive and the more times you listen the better your chances of winning. Hour two coming up, Boat Johnson's coming up. One in Sweden, one in South Florida ahead

of the games tonight. The Jays are in Seattle starting a series tonight. Big win for the Jays. Everything's coming together last night. I love it. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on TSN2. Melodin Friday was brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. This playoff season Boston Pizza is planning the parade. It has a new all-star playoff menu for you to enjoy. For pizza pints and puck drops, visit your local Boston Pizza today. You've been listening to Overdrive powered by Fandual.

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