OverDrive - Strudwick on the Oilers' solid series start, the star duo leading and the Maple Leafs' response to Bennett

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

Got Yer Back Podcast Host and Former NHLer Jason Strudwick joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Joseph Woll stepping into the crease for the Maple Leafs, the response to Sam Bennett in the series, the Oilers' comeback win against the Golden Knights, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the team and more.

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Here's Jason Strudwick, our good friend from the Got Your Back podcast. Struddy? Somebody who's in the muck all the time. All the time. I can only imagine what would your game plan be tonight with Sam Benin if you were on the Maple Leafs? I'm glad you guys called cause I have the answers.

Okay. We gotta call West. Look West every now and then we got solutions. All right, go ahead. Go ahead. What do you got? You don't need to get out and have a toe-to-toe battle at center. You just stay together.

One guy goes in, you all go in and everyone just partners up like a school dance and Mrs. Swaggy or whatever that place is called. You just all stay close and everyone gets in. There's a pack mentality and then they can't get free. They can make it happen. Stay together. That's what their strength in numbers and I've seen it done before that's what they need to do stay together They don't need to tee off math knives is not to fight to Chuck on his own, but everyone can get in together I think that shows support for your teammates. Okay. I like that. I like that idea. It's not a hard thing to do

No, who you scared up who has the heaviest hands on Florida? Like, who? Like, Kachak's not going to break you, you know, beat you up. Who else? Sam Bennett can throw, but exactly. He's not, he's not. They don't have a heavyweight on the ice. It's not Craig Borubey.

They don't have a heavyweight on that team. No. But. So you get in there, stay close. Everyone, everyone get in there. And again, you don't have to be chucking bombs. Just make it really tight and the rest of them are going to break it up. I've done it before, I've seen it done

before. That's why you stay together and that's frustrating because that means you tell the other teams you're all together. And then Kachuk's going to try to get around and Bennett's going to do what he does. So okay, that's alright, but if you're going after Matthews, everyone get in there and hold tight, then the rest will break it up. I mean, this isn't 1980, right? It's pretty easy to get out of these types of situations. Would you take liberties? Like that's the thing, thing you know scrumming up is it always when you do a scrum is it is it better to be the aggressor and punch somebody or retaliatory and then the ref goes both you're going. Yeah well I remember remember when the this Boston and Vancouver

played and you know Matthew Matthew, or not Matthew, Marshawn was having his way to Sadeem's. Like there's a point where like, okay, you know what? It's enough. Like I got to push back here, right? And I think that we saw what enough looks like and that's the situation. But doesn't have to be Sadeem's.

Someone else can come over the top rope, right? There's guys that aren't on the top line that may be out caught out there for a shift or two. And they can do something to maybe the other team's best players, right? And don't, don't get your Kachak and Marsha go look at Barkov, go find Berhegi, go find Gustav Forslund. Those are the guys if they're going to target Matthews and then you go after them and scrums.

Don't don't go after Kachak. He wants that go after the guys that don't want it. Gustav Forslund isn't looking for that type of night. So make it uncomfortable for him. But someone has to have that, Hey, this happens, I'll take this guy, but you go after this guy. Take him to the ground and give him the old rabbit punch kidney shots. Yeah, that's a good point.

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

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

Well, I think there's a comfort level because you know this goalie, right? He's been around the team for a while. This isn't a guy you picked up, you know, what is it, March 7th, so you have a comfort level. Obviously, prefer if you're you know in right now You're number one that minor stole ours was in the pistol. He's not available So now you know the game plan doesn't change the way that you approach Florida and how they're trying to make plays and all

That is is the same You know it doesn't get the block every shot either wall can get it done Now what you're looking for though is how does he look when he goes out for those first couple minutes? You know because you can tell him to go his eyes you look back and like oh man That's a scared look in his face or this guy's dialed in or he's confident And you can you can just think you can tell from a defenseman when you're lining up You're like oh boy this this guy does not want to be out here and like yeah, you're right I don't so you've got a you've got a you know hopefully he can project some confidence

He can get some early say feel good about himself and just get on track uh... but the game plan for the game plan i just like the different picture in baseball it's a it's a different goalie but florida try to do i'm guessing will be a better version of themselves in the word game one but they still are what they do and you know how they play strutty you saw that fear in my eyes every game that we played together uh...

got out of here and the team was terrified too. But you know in all seriousness the one thing that I would be looking for too and this is why I wanted to ask you as a defenseman. So Anthony Stolars handles the puck really well. So he's a guy that you know the team has now gotten accustomed going back. If there's nothing there he's got a really good hard rim around and they take the fight up to the blue line type of thing. Joseph Wall isn't as strong as handling the puck. There are certain things that you get into a groove between defenseman

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

back there? Well, first off I'm going to give you credit cause I gave a move the goalie's made, I called it the noodles. That's where someone in remnant in and the D, the goalie would get it and push up against the back wall. So I couldn't get it off the wall and then I'd get blown up. So I always knew, Oh, we got the noodles on table tonight tonight so that's what you don't want but we have a goalie that's not as comfortable with the puck it's very simple you got to make it as simple as possible if leave it it's it's up or it's over so to me

leave it means obviously just put it in the hill get it off the wall and get out of the way I'm coming through up it means I'm going to the corner you can give it to me there and over means he throws it to his back end to your partner. And it's got to be very, very simple. They have to be clear. It can't be, hey buddy, you got to make this play. Just simple and usually the goaltending coach, the goalies, in this case, you know, Wall, and the D-men will go through it before the game and say, these are the calls we're making.

And the D-men, especially the guys who will do the puck, you have to make that call early and clear. And then goal goalie you trust it 100%. You hammer that puck to me or you throw it behind or you just leave it and go out of the way. And because I played with young Lundquist, he wasn't great with the puck but we made it very clear and he became proficient at it and then as he got older he got a little more comfortable with it. But young goalies you have to be very clear and you know it because now it's a treat when

you play as a good goalie who can really handle the puck you just go get open and it's gonna throw at you but this isn't the case now so you adapt and it does make it harder and if I'm a Florida Pants or floor checker I'm liking this because now there's not like a third defenseman back there. Well Jason Strudwick so the Oilers down 2-0 last night and they come storming back they win 4-2 they've won five in a row that's sustainable I don't know I mean Strudy you give us a vibe check out there are we back on Stanley Cup or bust mode where are we compared to where we were after two games against the LA Kings

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

come out but now you can see what they were going for a team that can play fast by being you know hockey IQ moving the puck quick and they showed it last night I mean last time is a bit of a weird one you get The double minor right away Vegas scores and then stone scores on a turnover that that's what they feast on right the top the blue Lines you give it up boom. They're coming back the other way But if you know it is you know now how you have to play the flip side is that I think Vegas has a better game In them, you know I really think that they're gonna try to get clean out their zone get the puck up to their forwards and Try to put pressure on the orders D. The orders D were quick with

the puck or quick to the puck, quick to move it and got it up the ice quickly. Guys like Klingberg and Bouchard, that is their dream scenario where you're just a step behind so they can make the plays they want and they don't feel pressure. Then other guys are maybe a little bit chunkier with the puck. They want that extra time to have that read and to make that play. So I think Vegas is going to be a lot smarter about where they put the puck, where they carry it, and most importantly, how they pressure those D. So they're not having a nice day back there in a rocking chair.

Stroud, I read this stat the other day that 10 of the 11 last goals that the oilers have scored drisett or mcdavid drisett scored last night but it was perry it's hyman connor browns but i mean you go into the last couple games against la and it was the same type of thing you know are you seeing some of their depth wake up is it you know kind of threats on each line now or is it just kind of

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

I mean, all 12 forwards have the ability to score. Arbittson and Paul Coleson were the second line wingers from a good chunk of the year. They're now fourth line wingers. Now they're playing seven, eight, nine minutes, but there are times out there, especially Arbittson, where he looks dangerous and he can pop a goal He's got a good shot. Not the wheels used to have he has a good shot

So the depth is there, you know, Frederick is getting healthier every day when he first came in here I mean it was it was really hard to watch him skate now He's moving and as the series goes on I think that the team will learn to play together more Continue to get healthy unless there's fresh injuries. Because keep in mind, you know, it takes a new team, when the season starts, it takes a while to get that chemistry going. We're talking about a whole new lineup and they're now, you know, maybe since game three of round one.

So I think the more they play together, the more they get those reps in and they understand how they can have success. I think it helps so it is big time, the longer the series goes. Brad Noodles reminded us at the beginning of the show that Dry Cytlin and McDavid are two of the best players in the league, and they're dominant. It was a good point he made.

It was. They are very good players. They might be, yeah, they're very good. That's basically it. Do you laugh to yourself? Like, and I know it's so difficult, and the point I was trying to make earlier was when guys like that, the top players get dialed in, there's not much game planning.

You would have to think the coach, and you'd think the last coach would say, if those two guys are on the ice, let's be smart here, but they just make you look stupid every time. Well, they're really skilled players. That's obvious. The plays they can make and decisions they make. But right now it must be nice for them to not have to worry about having to do everything because they have other guys chipping in. I mean, they were a huge part.

I mean, obviously, Connor, you know, what he did last night and how he can do it, you know, Leon's got that back door backhand off the goalie's pad. I mean, those are skilled, skilled plays, But they don't feel the pressure, I think, to now have to do everything and feel like every shift after winning the Stanley Cup. I think they see that their teammates are contributing. And even if they're not scoring, which they are, because they got goals from three different lines

last night, they still feel good about what they're doing. And they see that the team's working together. The D men are working. Cal Pickers give them a chance to win. Cal Picker doesn't have to win the series for him. Doesn't have to win a game for him. He just pickers give him a chance to win cal picker doesn't have to win the series from doesn't have to win a game for him he just has to give him a chance to win and i think they now see what the vision was by management when this team was put together and in you know early in the year yeah i mean you look at that corey perry goal was just

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

That was Klingberg. It's weird how it's all kind of right now, in the time being, kind of come together for them. But Corey Perry, like I think on the broadcast they said last night, you've got three heart winners on one line. Yeah, he scored 50 that year. You forget that Corey Perry like I think on the broadcast they said last night you've got three heart winners on one line yeah Corey Perry won the heart that's right but it was 50 years ago it was a long long time ago it was 15 years ago at least right yeah he scored 50 that year

believe the only guy in the league to score 50 that year and yeah everyone's got a heart trophy all right well, well there you go Strud. I'm loving life right now with the Oilers, the Alks. I got a really good feeling about the Alks this year. So next time we have you on, we'll make sure to get your tune up because we're getting closer to opening day and a CFL. Well, it's exciting times.

Are they planning the route to Scarborough and London? Are they just gonna hit Mississaugui? we are ready to take that is a strong we yes i don't know what will listen we'll see what comes of it i had made it leaves or there i was just gonna say i'm glad that we might be talking here in a month from now stride and we will be do doing overdrive from roger center in in that is maybe we need to know we need to win a peg or something and i don't know everyone meets in the middle of the winter peg toronto you

never know there's a lot of three teams left yeah three canadian teams big strides to them are up on nothing they go to go are you going to go go go for the player period route what is the whole i have no idea what you're talking about madison of a ball go What is Obobogo? I have no idea what you're talking about. Madison. Obobogo. It's why I did Bow the Blade. Bow, I was pipe suited.

Obobogo. Don't do it. Etobico you idiot. Oh yeah. Thanks when I. Obobogo. Yes. I forgot about it.

I do think the parade could get there at some point. We'll put in that suggestion for you. We'll send it down to City Hall and let them run the whole operation. Thank you Strudwick. Anytime guys, talk to you later. There he is, Jason Strudwick. I thought that was a bar he was talking about. I thought so too. I mean that was not even close. I thought he was trying to say Coco Bongo's.

Is that a bar? Well in Cancun. Yeah, exactly. It's not in Toronto. I thought he was talking about the Madison or something, you know, like that's oh go bo go But what do you that's his version of it? Oh, it's over. Go All your friends fast hits Burles Creek June 28th and 29th presented by play Oh Joe casino and powered by I heart radio headliners Avril Lavigne and Rise Against. It's all fun!

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