Real Kyper & Bourne - Blueline Battles + Avalanche's Comeback

Episode Date: May 14, 2026

Former NHL defenceman Chris Wideman (6:57) joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to chat about the strongest blueline between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens, Lane Hutson's development and game as a smaller defenceman, the Colorado Avalanche's comeback win to clinch a Western Conference Final spot over the Minnesota Wild, and if the Carolina Hurricanes are the team to beat in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After, Nick, Justin, and Sam McKee touch on the Vancouver Canucks introducing Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents and Ryan Johnson as general manager. Then, Avalanche beat writer Aarif Deen (33:48) joins the guys to discuss how the team climbed back from down 0-3 to win Game 5, concern levels for Cale Makar's arm injury, Brett Kulak's impact on the roster, and Nathan MacKinnon's clutch game-tying goal.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, just warming up here on the Real Kipper and Born show as we go national. We are live on SportsNet. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary and streaming. Always on Sportsnet Plus. Also available, Spotify, Apple, podcast, and YouTube where we love the chats. We love a thumbs up. If you can provide us one. Please do.

This hour of Real Kippoor and Born brought to by Bet365. Nick Kippreels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Chris Wyden, former National Hockey League defensemen, Abbs, Sands, Oilers, Panthers as we get set tonight,

pivotal game in Buffalo 2-2. Boys, can't wait. Only Canadian team left. You mean the Sabres? Let's go.

Sammy. What? Candace team, baby. Shear hard for the Montreal Canadians. You don't have to, I will. Don't avoid the question, Sammy. Why would I do that?

Would you really? Canada, baby. Canada. Come on. You're so Canadian with the Olympics. You can't be Canadian for a Stanley Cup. Do you much closer we are to Buffalo than Montreal? It's closer to here. They're in America, pal.

I don't know. I've been on the Sabres since their mics cut out and they sang the National Anthem. I was like, I'm in. They got me. And the funniest part is they would never root for anything, Toronto. And I'm like, I like you guys. I think there's also the, you're like sort of indoctrinated to Buffalo because we got the bills.

Yeah. They Toronto fans root for the bills. And our AAA baseball team is in Buffalo. The Bisons are down there. I don't know. I just, I feel like a connection to them. And the Sabres, I don't know. I haven't liked.

Right there, baby. I haven't liked the dives from Montreal. Oh, good gracious. I thought the first period in Montreal was a disgrace, quite frankly. Buddy, everyone's looking for a call here and there. Montreal is no better or worse. I disagree. This hour of real Kipper and Board brought you by Bet365.

All right. Does Lindy get a call or two based on a few comments? Does that even work anymore? I know Lindy. I know Lindy was leaning into it, which I like. It's very old school. It's very Mike Keenan-like. Appeal to the league.

You got to do all you can. Push all the buttons. Let's do it. Yeah, let's play Lindy Roth's clip there, Derek, on the dives. Yeah, I see some trends. where I know Montreal's got a good power play, but I think they're going down easy. I think it's part of the playoffs. It just is. You know, you know how important a power play can be. So you get a stick on somebody, you've got to be careful with your sticks. You know if they have a chance to make the play look worse than it is, they're going to.

It's playoff hockey. Every team in this league does it. Oh, right. Right. And it's an understanding that, keep your stick off. I mean, the little push that Thompson gave their player. I don't think that's called in the regular season. But in the playoffs, it's called. So tell our guys not to do it. I thought it was the other way around.

I didn't say in the playoffs is called. That's not how playoffs work. I love Lundy, man. I do, too. I'm a huge, a rough guy. He kind of admitted we all do it. But, like, some are better than others at it. The one.

Michael Blunting and Naz Cadry. I forget who it was. that drew it on the power play that the Sabres already had, the one on Dahlin that got called interference, where body sticks out his leg to initiate the contact and then dies over. And not to disparage our great friends in Montreal, but that fan base there are so electrifying and so horned up for everything that ever happens in a game.

They're jumping up and down. They're good for a caller too. Is that what you're saying? 100%. Because these refs are in this electric building, and all these guys are like, and they're like, oh my God, that was a murder. And it's like, meanwhile, he tripped over him.

Totally. But I'm just saying that, like, I think the embellishment combined with the fandom, they get a few extra calls in that building. I've experienced watching a few games there. Lindy thinks so too, and that's the appeal he's making. That's what I'm saying. I appreciate that. I'm saying.

It doesn't help that, for the most part, Montreal, I'm not going to say dominated, but held a significant portion of both games in their control. And more often than not, Buffalo is out of position than Montreal. And that's Lindy's biggest concern. Totally. Not the embellishment. I made this case to Sam.

They're very lucky Buffalo right now. To be in it. Totally agree. Should be three one. This reminds me when the Canucks went to the final and played Boston, that day in Vancouver, it was close, and they would eke out a win, they'd go to Boston, they'd get filled in.

And it kept happening. And it was like, it felt like they were just, they were in the series, but they were getting outplayed and eventually it would go the wrong way. And eventually it did. That feels like this for Buffalo.

Like they're hanging on. It's technically two, too, too. But if it keeps going this way, they're going to get filled in at some point. It's coming. So, yeah. Play to the Raffs? Got a great text from Kathy in Oswe.

All has Hab fans are super here, happy to hear that Sammy's cheering for the Buffalo Sabres because the teams he cheered for always lose. Fair. Fair. There you go. There you go. Fair.

What do you call it? The hedge? The hedge. No, I'm not going to go that far. I don't know. It's okay. So there is still the little issue at five-on-five where Caulfield has zero points

in playoffs. That's weird. Is it not? It's tough out there. And I don't think he's the only one. Slavkovsky also at zero points in the playoffs. It's crazy. It's crazy.

They played a lot of hockey games for them to be at zero. And they're very good. It's not like you can't find them out there. No, they're involved. They're involved and they're getting quality chances and shots and just it's not going in. But as Cofield even showed on his power play goal, he doesn't need a whole heck of a lot of room.

And he's got some sweet hands and he can make some things happen. And the most important thing is, is the depth players on Montreal. Kirby Doc and Texier and Duke. New Hook's been unbelievable. Bull Duke. They're buying them time. Yeah, they are. And those stars, they just need one moment to be a game breaker. On the other side of things, Alex Tuck in round one, four goals, seven points plus eight,

in round two, zero, zero, minus six. So some of the stars are struggling. Okay, let's welcome in Chris Wydenman, former national high. Rocket League defensemen, Habs, Sends, Oilers, Panthers. Thanks for joining us. Chris, appreciate it. Big night tonight in Buffalo, former team, the Habs. Tell me what's stood out for you in this series as we go into a critical game five.

I mean, I'll just echo what you just said. I think that the depth guys have bought a lot of time for the star players to get engaged and start producing. and, you know, you see almost every year the teams that have success deep in the playoffs get that depth production. So I'm excited for the game tonight. It's been a great series so far,

and it'll be a good one. Yeah, Chris, so you're watching the Montreal Canadiens and in that place is unbelievable. It looks like a lot of fun. Tell us a little bit about your experience playing in Montreal and how you see that translating to some good playoff hockey right now. Yeah, it's, It's been a lot of fun to watch.

It's, you know, I'd love to be in that, in that building for a game here on Saturday. And, you know, just the energy in and outside the building. And then, you know, you look at the way the team has played. It's been exciting hockey. And just the energy around it's been a lot of fun to watch. As far as, you know, two blue lines that are pretty stellar, Dahlene on one side, of course, Hudson on the other side, in terms of being that complete 200-foot player for their respective clubs.

You played the position. How much do you watch them in particular in a series like this? And who has the upper hand for you in terms of being a game breaker? Well, I definitely didn't play that position that they play because that's a different stratosphere. But, you know, I've been just fascinated by Hudson's development, you know, coming into league as a smaller guy. You know, I certainly felt that as a smaller guy, you know, getting leaned on by, you know, heavier guys that are forechecking and looking to take a bite out of you. You know, he's just, you watch this guy, I don't know where the holes are.

You know, he defends well. He steals more pucks than, you know, just about anybody with a stick. And then when he gets the puck, it's, you know, you're on the edge of your seat. So he's been great. I've got to let my bias show here and I'll give him the edge. But, you know, I think that the defenseman on both sides of this matchup have been a lot of fun to watch. And they get up the ice and produce. And it's the way the game is going.

And it's the reason why I no longer play because I couldn't produce. Yeah. Well, you produced a lot better than most people to be there. The questions with Hudson is like, okay, he's small when the going gets tough. Can he do it? You know, I watched the other series, Colorado, Minnesota, and they beat the hell out of Quinn Hughes,

Kail McCar. I don't think if they played another game. I don't know if he'd be playing. Like Hudson's doing okay. He's just so good at not getting hit, I guess. He's quick. And I think we all have to remember. He's playing for a guy that was of smaller stature

and played during a very rough era and is also a hot. Hall of Famer. So I think that Marty's wisdom and coaching has, you know, affected everybody on that roster in a positive light. And, you know, he's probably the only coach that I've ever experienced that can coach each individual, you know, and as well as the team at the same time. So the development of just about everybody in that roster has been amazing. And, you know, you're seeing it now in the second round of the playoffs and hopefully pushing to get through Buffalo.

As far as the goaltending is concerned, Luke and comes in and does a pretty remarkable job under the circumstances. Dobish still there. Where do you weigh in the Thompson Power Play goal in terms of, first of all, we know the odds of it ever happening again, but could we possibly be looking at a moment

where we're thinking that maybe the series turned on that goal or in your opinion, you know, is it just one of those fluky things and it's past now, Montreal? I think that what Dobis has shown thus far in the playoffs, you know, he seems to be fairly steady for a rookie goalie. And I would be shocked if that impacts him and his performance. but, you know, if I was a betting man, that Stanchin's being replaced at some point here, and they'll move on from that. Sorry.

I think we just lost your feet a little bit, or you fell asleep on our show, which happens often. But it was left at like an entertaining screenshot, but... With your eyes closed, Chris, just so you know. Thank you. Just so you know. But you wouldn't be the first one to fall asleep on us, I can assure you.

I don't know if you caught the audio, but I was a betting man that, yeah, that stanchet's being replaced. That thing is. Oh, my God. You know, looking at this series, I can't help but notice, you know, we played a clip before Lindy Ruff,

kind of complaining to the league almost, like getting in the ear of, hey, I'm worried that they're embellishing. Do you think that you can affect the reffing that coaches can actually sort of swing things or bias them in any way before? a game? Well, I hope so, right? They're humans too. Yeah. And I don't know if it's like, you know, leaning on him in an aggressive manner, but, you know, I always took the approach of like, hey,

you know, we're going to see this guy at some point down the line here, like, kill him with kindness, you know, and I think that's kind of how Martin, I mean, you normally see Marty lay into these guys and typically he doesn't speak publicly about it. So, you know, personally, that's the approach that I think makes a lot of sense. But, you know, again, emotions are running high this time of the year. And, you know, some of the calls in the last game, I mean, are they 50-50 calls, probably? But don't put yourself in that position, right? You give the ref an opportunity to make a call.

He's going to make the call. And then there was a handful of them that were, you know, for sure penalties. So it's, you know, you get behind that thing. You're in a tough spot. You're listening to Chris Wyden who played under the Stars of Montreal The Sands, Oilers and Panthers

Last night Chris, as far as the Avalanche were concerned How surprised were you that they were able to muster a comeback of being down 3-0 when you face the likes of Quinn Hughes? You know, I mean, you've

You played the game a long time Like you just could see it, right? Like it's like they make it a one goal game and then they pan over to the bench and the guys, it's like they saw a ghost and you know, you can just, you can feel it coming, right? And I think we've all been in that position where you're sitting on the bench or you just get scored on and guys are just kind of looking around and nobody has the answer. That's exactly what happened. And then you pair that with Nathan McKinnon and Kail McCarr, you know, generational talents.

Like it's not going to go your way. So was I surprised? Yes. Was I, you know, blown out, you know, was I that surprise? No. Like, that's, those guys are that good and they can make that happen. So last one for me, just your thoughts watching this Carolina Hurricanes team, which hasn't lost in playoffs yet.

Like, are they that dominant? Are they that good? Have they had soft competition? Where do you sit on, like, I feel like they're destined for the cup final, but I don't really know if they've just played no competition yet? Oh, no competition is tough to say. But again, they've been around it for a couple years now, right? They're a good team.

They're well coached. I've always found it very difficult to play in their arena. I don't know that I've ever had a good night in there. I actually scored my first NHL goal there. But other than that, that's probably the only time I felt good walking out of that arena. So I do think they're a good team. I do believe they are going to be a really difficult out for whoever gets through this series between Buffalo, Montreal.

But, yeah, I mean, it's, again, if you're Carolina, you feel really good, but you're taking, what, 10 to 14 days off in between games, and, you know, you're going to have a scorching hot team to play against, and then if you get through them, you've got to play, I guess, the winner of Colorado and, in my opinion, Vegas. So it's tough. You went on a pretty good playoff run with the Ottawa Senators. what would have almost two weeks off been like for you to come back from one series to another?

For that team of the ragged head to rag tag bandits we had on that team that would have been tough to play. We had a lot of fun with that team. And, you know, there was a big chunk of us that treated each playoff series when like they do in baseball and had a nice little party. so I don't think that would have played out very well for our crew. Chris, great stuff, man. Really appreciate your time to come on our show. Thanks for doing this. Thanks, guys.

Thanks, man. Appreciate it. Chris Wyden. I was actually thinking the Carolina Hurricanes thing. Like, that's too long. That stinks. Why'd they start it so damn early? Well, that was part of it.

You get a double sweep, and you want to be healthy. You want all your guys, so that's good. But by day three, like, I don't know about you. You skated today. I did. And for me, if I get out of the routine of doing anything for a week, it feels terrible when you get back to it.

Like, it's hard. They're going to have to bag themselves multiple times. It's not only that. You need also, like, you got to practice and you got to bump each other. Totally. You need to keep that up. You got to play a little hard. You got to have loose puck battles to step right in,

depending on how late this series goes or when they can start the next. next one, you're going to get it, first of all, it's best of three right now between Buffalo and Montreal, you're going to hit a wagon of a team coming in. Yeah, that game one will be tough for them. I do some of those like circuit workout things. And I was like, I dropped my membership, take a couple weeks off. The golf season started. And I went back yesterday.

I almost puked. Like, I can't imagine they're going to go play the Montreal Canadians in game one and chase them around. Obviously, again, you want to be. healthy, but man, it is tough to simulate playoff hockey. It's almost like they shouldn't have started the second round before the first time. I guess they were terrified of having a Saturday night off before because it was because it was the Sunday night, right, where the habs in lightning.

So they wanted to have that Saturday night with the Flyers and Carolina game one. I get it. But it just, you started early. You just speed it up and like 11 days off is nuts. They're going to feel healthier than they've ever felt. Like that's crazy. Until after the first game when they'll feel terrible. It's the new Olympic break.

No kidding. Quick Canucks thing? Yeah, for sure. We got Araf Dean, who covers the avalanche coming up in about 18, 17 minutes. We'll get into more on their victory as they wait on Anaheim and Vegas. But in the meantime, news around the National Hockey League, big news, obviously, the Vancouver Canucks, officially naming Ryan Johnson, their general manager. but also co-presidents in the Sadeen twins.

And my only question is... I think it's going to be the same question I have. No, it's not. Okay. No. If they've got a budget for a president, do they split it in half, or do they both get a president's salary?

Yeah. I think if they were going to give a president... That's not the same question you have. My question was, who has a final say? There's no such thing. they have one brain. It's in the cloud between them. They're just going to keep cycling the decision like they did on the ice.

Like cycle it. Cycle it. I'm going to rocks, paper, scissors. There's no indecision between the two of them. I don't think we've ever had co-presidents. That's a first, isn't it? I mean, it has to be. I will say this.

I know talking a lot with Daryl Sutter, again, working on a book with him. You know, when he ran Calgary, he hired his brothers in a variety of different roles, right? He had, I think, three or four of them on the staff. His theory was that they would be much more honest with him to a fault, right? Like you're going to get, no one's holding punches. No one's going, being a yes man at that point. Literally, no one's holding punches, I bet. No, totally. And now I know the Siddins are the Sutter's, but I do think you have two people who will be, you know, are they able to bounce it off each other without any egos or, you know, power struggle? who's really in charge.

It could be healthy. And Ryan Johnson, like they will report to the Siddins. So like this is, this is real for the Sadiens. This is you. Not what Mats is doing. You're not mad.

You are in charge. People. You're going to have to fire people. You're going to have to fire people. You're going to have to hold people accountable. You're responsible for amateur and your professional scouting staffs. Like,

they're going to work. They're going to work. But if you're going to work. to be around, be around. I support it. But they've been more involved with the connoxner than Sandin has been with the Leaf. I think for 10 years maybe, right? The last 10 years.

So they would know the business in the front office and all that. I do remember co-GMs in the National Hockey League. Do you guys remember co-GMs? No. Who did that? I want to say maybe it was 15 years ago. To Dallas. Dallas. Is it Newindyke?

Nope. God, I can't get there. Fifteen years ago is 2011? I'm going to blow you away on this one. I'll tell you one of them, one of the most prolific goal scores in the history of our game. Yep. No.

Brett Hall was a co-geny, the other one? Nope. Adam Oates. Les Jackson. Sorry? Tough guy. And a hell of a scout. Yeah.

They were co-general managers of the Dallas stars just before Doug Armstrong showed up. Is that right? How long did that tenure last? And what broke it up? I think 18 holes a day. That might shock some division. And coming to the ring with a sunburn. Yeah.

That also broke up his time in Arizona, right? If I recall. We got to give Brett Hall back on the show. we have to. I love to. I've texted him a few times that he's always like, I'm golfing for the next five weeks. He's got a good life. Check back with me in a year. I want to come talk hockey for 20 minutes.

So, yeah, you know, I hope the Canucks are, I think they're a good place. Like, they have all their picks. They have, you know, they, you know, they. They are, they're pretty deep in the hole, though. They are, they are. They are Montreal, like, like. Five years ago, six years ago. I really like...

They are three, five years of a major build. But I think one of the big complaints from Canuck fans, at least ones that I've talked to and ones that are in my life that the lack of direction and like they're trying to scrape together enough points to get into the eighth spot for some home dates in the playoffs has always been the bugaboo of them. They've always... It's really annoyed them.

So now at least you bring in two team legends. People love the Sadeens. You're going to draft. You're a great player. Probably a great forward, to be honest. Totally. One of Malhotra, whatever they're in. You have a clear direction now.

You stink and you're rebuilding. So a lot of Canucks fans are getting what they've wanted for a long time. So it should be, I mean, it's going to be a long time. I think it's easier to sell tickets like that. You're selling. Totally, man. Young guys come. Okay.

Let's watch the build happen. And when they trade Morgan Riley for Elias Pedersen and they'll see Morgan Riley in there. Sorry, what? Pardon? Oh, they said it. You don't want. that for real. Part of me does, yeah. Yeah? Part of me does.

I think there's more there. I don't know if it works here, but I think there's more there. More than not much, though, is scary that money. That now those decisions will fall ultimately in the city's hands. Well, but president is not supposed to be a hockey player decision. You think they're there to, like, like for marketing?

Well, yeah, a president of an organization. organization would manage that. We've had this come. We've tied with this a million times. If the GM's not the guy making player decisions. They have to be there to weigh in like mats, all their

experience and their gut instincts and their ability to judge character. All of it has to be right there for them. So now the GM has become the vice president somehow. You're a subservient

I don't know. I don't. I don't like them. Well, what do you think? Like Toronto is kind of tricky too, right? Because Matt's is reporting. They have no president. Matt's is reporting, though, to John Chica. He doesn't report to anyone.

They have a general manager. Well, that's the order, though. It's really. But then John Chica won't make a trade. He's publicly already said that if Matt's doesn't like it, it doesn't get done. Wink, we totally. So, you know, that's where they got to come together and make that final decision. And I think it should fall on the Sadiens as co-presidents.

To me, they're like the rubber stamp of approval. You want to trade who for who? Okay, fine, yeah, okay. I can see why you want to do that. Maybe you can nix a couple. Give me two nixes per year. The question is, is Adam Foote going to continue to be the coach, do you think, last year?

It better be Manny Malhotra. I'm considering my replies on Twitter. You got Scotty Bowman and the minors there? Apparently. I don't know how much people were paying attention. But they played pretty hard, Vancouver towards the end. Totally.

He was, I mean, there's being dealt the raw, or a bad hand. And, I mean, then there's so funny. He didn't have a goalie. Didn't have, he lost his number one goalie. They're small up the middle. They need to get bigger and tougher. I think Pedersen likes Adam Foote.

I think there's a lot of guys in that room respect Adam Foote. And that, that has to hold. That holds, has to hold something for that organization. I questioned Mulholtra on Twitter. I just said, you know, hey, they finished 29th this year. Can we talk about what happened here? And everyone was like, oh, they were hurt. They were injured.

He didn't have players. You know, what's he supposed to do? But then no one wants to extend that same courtesy to Adam Foot. Correct. This team was also hurt, injured. And horrible. Adam worked with Rick Tocket. Rick Tocket.

Rick Tocket was a head coach, too, if we can recall, right? He was behind the bench in Tampa. and he was, was he in Arizona? What are you saying? Rick Tocke was an assistant coach too? I missed the first point you made. My point is Rick Tockeet was a coach

prior to becoming this really good coach now in Philadelphia. Yeah. And people were questioning talk like they're questioning Adam Foote. Last time I checked, a lot of roses coming around Rick Tockeet. I think the same thing.

is going to happen to Adam Foote. Yeah, you think he's going through the same period where people question Rick Tockett earlier in his coaching career. Yeah. And that's okay. But he's got a great spot right now in Philadelphia. And I think Adam Foote can be that guy either in Vancouver or maybe even another team down the road.

So just your gut instinct is that he won't be back or he will be back? He will. He will. He will. Okay. And again, much like I talked about Toronto, I don't. I don't see this need to go get another coach in Vancouver for a team that your chest starting out.

But you've got guys that know Adam Foote, respect them, and played pretty well at the end of the year. They could have all mailed it in and just died on the vine in the last week. They kind of did. No, no, no, no, no. I'm talking about the last week, week and a half. They played hard and they won some games. And that, to me, go, go look at.

I'm just saying it's too bad they won games. Because they didn't matter. They were the last. But it says something about Adam. It says something about Adam. And it says something about the players who are playing for Adam. That's my whole point. I think it's totally possible to have a pile of respect for the man

and think that it goes better from here. And I don't think that's unreasonable. It is just jarring to go to this page, sort the league, and have them be 14 points behind 31st place, minus 100 gold if. So in their last, okay, so The last two weeks of the season, lost to Vegas, lost to the Kings, beat the sharks, beat the ducks, beat the Kings.

Got hot in the Western Swarks. Yeah. And then they lost six. Still in it. And they lost six. The other two teams are in playoffs. I mean, they... It's fine.

It's fine. Anyways. Game time? Game time. It's game time. Presented by Bet365. An official partner of the NHL must be 19 plus. Ontario only, please play responsibly.

As I mentioned in our first hour, bet three six five has been so courteous as to put up some numbers. for the next Toronto Mapleese head coach. Uh-huh. The favorite currently, according to Bet365, is Bruce Cassidy at plus 225. The next closest is a head scratcher at Bruce Boudreau at 4 to 1. Love Bruce. I love Bruce as a person.

To be the second highest likely guy seems unlikely. I do like this name up there. David Carl at plus 550. John Gruden, which, you know, it's just so funny that his name is John Gruden, one of the most famous NFL coaches, plus 550. Almost Jason Bourne. Dr. Gerard Gallant, Malhotra,

but then you go down the list. Kipper, you said you liked Halperin in the first hour? I do think there's some promise there for sure. Plus 2,500 for Jeff Halpern. If you wanted to bet on Doug Gilmore, John Cooper, or Peter DeBore, or Ty Domey to be the next coach, they're all 50 plus 5,000. So if you think it...

Squeeze me? baking powder? It's a great Wayne's World reference. I haven't thought of it a hundred years. Anyways, there you. go. If you want to bet on who the next leaves coach is, go to bet 365. That was game time presented by Bet365, an official partner of the

NHL, must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please pay responsibly. And a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Born is brought to you by Bet 365. Okay, we take a quick break when we return. Plenty they still get into, including the avalanche and closing out their

series. Also some Team Canada talk around Crosby. Yeah. Love it. Sammy's not too happy. we'll tell you why. Sammy's indifferent. I'm bothered. I don't care. I'm bothered. Bothered. We're going bothered after the break.

On the real Kipper and Bourne show, don't go away. Hey, it's Ben Annes. And I'm Brent Cunning. We got you covered on all things, Leif's, Rafters, and Blue Jays. Every weekday morning, 6 to 9. It's the fan morning show. Sportsnet 590 the fan and wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back in studio, Nick Kiprios.

Justin Bourne. What do you got for us, Sammy? Time now for the accurate before. performance matchup, the 26 Accura MDX, precisely premium. I was just looking up, anyway, so I was looking at some stats for the game tonight. Between the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights, Beckett Seneca can become the third rookie in NHL history to record a five-game goal streak in the playoffs. Following Joe Mullen in 1982.

And this is the name I was looking up, and I asked you guys if you had heard it before. Milan Marchetta in 1968. Sounds like a great tennis player. He played in his career. He played 54 games. He was on the cup team for the Leafs in 67. And then we played 14 games for the Minnesota North Stars. And that was where he got it.

In 1960s. Yes. He was on the cup team. I don't think he played three games. Yes. It's an unbelievable. Kipper, have you ever heard of Milan Marchetta? Never.

Never. I was blown away by that name. Yeah, that is fascinating. I don't know. Did you happen to see Kevin BX's interview with Cutter Goce and Seneca? I did. It was really good. Like an insight.

So those kids are kind of around his place in Anaheim, uncomfortable with him. And you can see them going back and forth at each other. And he was asking them, like, who you was going to have the better career? You know, Seneca or Goce? I think it's a real debate. Gocee is a shooter, but Seneca's a player. And that was a risky pick for not a lot of people had Seneca going that high. Last thing quickly before we bring in Areef, Mark Stone, Shea Theodore, and William Carlson

share the lead for the most points in potential series clinching games among the Vegas skaters on the active roster. 18 points for all three of those. They've played in a lot of these games. 25 games played for Mark Stone, 27 for Shea Theodore, 23 for William Carson. They've just been in the playoffs every single year, and they're always playing a lot. So anyways, that was the Accura Performance Matchup, the 2026 Accura MDX, precisely premium. Okay, let's bring in Araf Dean, who covers the Colorado Avalanche, does a terrific job, host of hockey Mountain High.

That's the Avalanche podcast. Araf, how are you, my friend? I'm doing well, Nick. Okay, so, like, what the hell was that? How do you go down 3-0 to close up? a game and then flip the switch. What did we watch last night? We watched a hungrier Minnesota Wild

team for 15 minutes and then seven shots for 45 minutes. That's what we watched it. We've seen a lot of this this year. Covering the avalanche this year is kind of been interesting because up until that 40th game of the season, like every game was like the last, you know, four or five we've seen against the Minnesota Wild

where it's like the avalanche have a chance to win. every single night. It's just a matter of how they're going to get there, not if they're going to get there. And that was something we saw for the, you know, two regulation losses through the first three months of the season. And that's kind of what it's been since the trade deadline. This team is just insanely deep, very talented. They seem to be mentally, they have it like Nathan McKinnon yesterday. I think losing the way we did last year kind of set us up for this. and then he had the other quote which was, I figured that was a long time for them to hold a lead on us. Like, what do you say when someone tells you that?

Like it's a special thing they have going on right now and like it just feels like they know that they can do it on any given night. Yeah, that's really depressing when even when you get them down, you know that they don't ever think they're done. They're just going to keep coming. That's tough. The one thing that stood out in regards to them being warriors is like, Kail Makar pretty banged up last night.

How concerned are we? That looked like shoulder to me and that that's scary. Yeah, game three, I went to talk to Kail Makar after the game and, you know, you give him a second to take off their skates and their equipment and all that. And then he pulled a giant pad out of his shoulder. That was like excellent equipment under there. So it felt like it was shoulder all along and it didn't take much in that collision with Matt Zuccarello to kind of reagravate. whatever it is that is going on over there. But that is, in my opinion,

it's probably just going to be like that the rest of the way. You know, they might have four, five, six days off here. And then it's going to be full steam ahead for Kail to continue to do that until we find out in some time in the middle of June, late June, that, you know, he's getting surgery or getting some kind of rehab done. Him being out and him missing those shifts would have hurt a lot less for the avalanche when Sam Malinsky's back in the lineup, which I would imagine is probably going to be game one.

But then there was a 41-year-old dude named Brent Burns that stepped in on the six-on-five and did the thing. Like it was, they just have like a luxury of riches. But that's not to say it. Like they need Kel McCar healthy or not, which I don't think he's going to be fully healthy. I don't know how many guys actually are, but they're going to need him in the third round

and beyond if they get that far. You're watching and listening to Araf Dean covers the Colorado Avalanche for a mile high sports. So is there a sense whether or not this could be four, five or six days or rinks locked in, dates are set no matter what? What are you hearing on the scheduling? So I haven't gotten a clear understanding yet,

but it kind of seems like Sunday could be an opportunity if they do, like if Vegas wins tonight and they want to do that thing again where it's like Sunday is game one, Monday is game seven or whatever it is for the Montreal series, if that gets there. I would imagine Wednesday seems like the most likely

because that would set you up in a situation where, or I should say Wednesday for the Eastern Conference probably because I would assume they probably want Carolina to play first. But like under the assumption that Montreal Buffalo go seven, I can see that series ending, well, that series would end on Monday, and then Montreal would go straight or Buffalo would go straight to Carolina for game one on Wednesday,

which would give the abs Thursday, unless they want to start the abs on Tuesday, which is also a possibility. But last year, I've been looking through the schedule. It looks like last year they took a day off between round two and round three, the NHL did. And actually it was Florida. Florida beat Toronto on May 18

and then had to play in the Eastern Conference Final on May 20th. So I can kind of see something similar to that. But ultimately, like, in any estimation, unless both of these series end in six games, I can't imagine we see any games until Tuesday, very slight chance for Monday. But I think Tuesday, Wednesday seems like the most reasonable scenario, which is good for the abs, even if it's Wednesday, even if it's Thursday.

Like, the more time, the better to get these guys healthy up and running because they did it in 2022. They're doing it again this year. You know, their big thing is rest is a weapon and no time off is going to affect them. They had 11 days off before game one of the Stanley Cup final in 2022, and they beat Tampa twice in the first two games. So I think they will take any and all rest that they can get. Yeah, it would need to be rested.

That Carolina team certainly getting their share of it on the other side. So the reason they get a rest is Brett Kulak scores a big goal. You know, maybe of all the additions the aves made this year, not the most highly praised, but boy, what a play. and what an addition he's been? He has been unbelievable in every aspect. His quote yesterday, did you catch the quote yesterday? I'm not the guy everyone's.

Oh, no. No, no, the other one, I'm not the guy that everyone's looking down the bench, like, all right, go out there and go win it for us. He knows he's not that guy. First career overtime goal in the playoffs, first career game winning going to playoffs. And I think it's his fourth career playoff goal in general in like 107 games. But defensively,

like not not to dunk on the edmonton oilers but like of all the defensemen that they traded i genuinely don't understand how that was the guy they landed on like he is exactly we noticed erif for sure uh like he's exactly the kind of player a team like the avalanche or even the oilers need like when you have the sam melinsky's the kale macars the devon taves like that's the perfect compliment it's the same reason why they went out and got josh manson before their last Stanley Cup. It's like they had all these puck moving guys that, yes, they play a two-way game. But when you have a dude that is committed to the defensive side of the game, the way Brett is, I think Jared Bednar said it perfectly. Like, he's a guy that you can trust in any in all

situations and know that he's going to go out there and not make any mistakes. Does he need to go out there and score an overtime game-winning goal? No, he doesn't. That's fun when he does. But he's just a guy that's going to go out there. Like, how many times did you notice him yesterday before the overtime game-winning goal? And then what if I told you he played 20? 56.54. He played more than Hill McCart. Unbelievable. He's crazy. Like when they first got him, I went back and looked and one of those two runs with the Edmonton Oilers, he was leading their team with like 23 and a half minutes. How does that happen? Eric, just one more for me before I let you go.

McKinnon. And earlier in our program, I kind of compared him wanting that puck to tie the game much like Michael Jordan would want the ball in his hands in the last minute. He's done so many amazing things there, but where would like that kind of rank up in terms of the special things that we've seen out of Nate McKinnon? It's up there. It's definitely up there because he even admitted it, and McKinnon hates those kind of questions.

Like, oh, where does this one rank on your list? But even he was in the moment yesterday when we talked to him, postgame about how much it meant to him and how much he loved that moment. And I just think there's a focus with this guy, unlike anything we've seen the last three, four years. And I think it's because, like, McKinnon is one of my favorite players to cover because he's, he's so in tune with reality. Like, when they lost to the Seattle Cracken that one year in game seven, he came out

post game and said, like, you know, look at our roster from top to bottom. we just don't have it this year. Like he did the Connor McDavid thing. Like we know when we're good. We know when we're not and we're just not a good team this year. But he's also very in tune with the reality of like he said it over the years. Like, you know, wait, we don't have Valan Chushkin for two playoff runs, you know, late in the playoffs. We haven't had Gabe Landisog in three years.

You know, this guy gets injured. That guy gets injured. Our goaltending struggles. This happens. That happens. Everything about this year. And, you know, you all remember the quote last year after game seven in Dallas. Like, we were better.

We outplayed them. not sure where to go from here. And it's like everything led up to this moment where it's like, there's absolutely no excuses anymore. Nazim Kadri's your third line center. Nick Waugh's your third line winger. Your fourth line is unbelievable. Gabe Landiscag is miraculously four years ago, Gabe Landisog, like every, Marty Nachis is a hundred point guy. He's not some 75 point guy you got for Miko. Like everything is added up to the point where there's no excuses and he knows that. And it just feels like he's so locked into like, if we're, are losing if something's not going right like i want to be part of the solution um and especially

in a game like that where you have your fourth line winger and your fourth line center score the first two goals like yeah i'm the superstar like let me get us over the hump they they they got us two thirds of the way there it's up to me to do that and and and and you can tell you know he's the michael jordan thing like i want to be the one to take that shot right air of great stuff man enjoy the western conference final appreciate your time thanks for doing this. Absolutely, Nick. Thank you guys so much for having me on.

Thanks for your time. Appreciate it. Arafeteen. Yep. I love Nathan. Who's going to stop him? No one. Well, in the West, no one.

No Kail McCar hurts a lot. If he's 60%, that changes things. That does. They need McCar, right? Their D's not unbelievable. With McCar, it's very, very, very good. You know, the Kulak thing,

it's one of my favorite things about playoff hockey in general. and there's not a lot of sports where this is like, like, for example, basketball, it's going to be LeBron James or whoever with the ball in the head. You never have the 11th guy on the bench. Pat Mahomes is going to be making the biggest decision at the end of the game.

Baseball can happen where a guy has a huge moment where it's at the bottom of the order he comes up. Like a Roja or something. Oh, God, like that. Sorry. It's okay. We're going to talk about it to get through it. You got a hat out of it.

I don't, listen, I just, I think that the moment where it's like a butcher defenseman, a guy that just plays defensive hockey like last year. In game three Leafs versus Sends, it's Simone Benoit who shoots it in the manner. Okay, I teed up before the break. Yeah, I want to get to this before we were off the air. You're waving me off.

Carlos Fabless over there. I just want to just make sure I get this in. It's okay that Sidney Crosby's not the captain. No, it's not. No, it's not. I agree. No, it's not. What are we doing?

This is the ultimate, like, overthink. It's like, hey, maybe give it to the, the greatest leader the country's ever had. Oh, he's going to be the captain. Okay, well, then let's just wait till he is. But when is he going to be the captain? David's going to be the captain for the next 10 years. And then it'll be him.

Yeah, like, he'll have plenty of practice being a captain. But, like, I don't know. I just, I think it's weird to take it off of them. They named him. You don't go back on that because. Why? You're making it up as you go. Oh, Sid's here.

I'll be like, yeah, no kidding. Of course, Sid. Giving it to Sid is making it up as you go. Yes, make it up as you go. No, no, no, no. Looked like he had a plan. I don't think Sid just dropped in their lap and he just decided.

No, you think they knew he was coming and like Celebrini is the captain more than him? I think they knew there was a chance that he was coming. And they still did the captain. Well, then they shouldn't have. Agree. But I don't care that much because they're still both going to be there. It is the most. Okay.

Like I am smarter than, you know, oh, I'm going to, what if he's going to be the guy eventually? I don't think Sid cares. I don't think anyone cares. I think Sid goes, I'm not going to be the guy. How many cases are you even going to watch? You know what? None. If Sid wanted it, he'd have it.

Sid doesn't want it. No, I'm telling you, Sid doesn't want it. It's just a polite off. We're having a polite off. You're the last parogi. I'm telling you right now, Sid went there and said, I'm coming, but if you give me the captaincy, I'm not coming. Oh, get out of here.

No, no squad about that. A hundred percent. No, 100 percent. How do you know? If Sid wanted the captain C, he would get it. Yeah, I agree with that. He doesn't want it. He doesn't want to be that guy.

He doesn't want to be difficult. He doesn't know. He doesn't want to be that guy. He's not a divv. He's like, whatever. That's right. And that's what makes Sid so great. Guess what?

He shouldn't be the one making the decision. Exactly. Whoever's in charge if it's our boy gets laugh or whatever. Sid gets to make the decision. Okay, because he's Sid. Okay. Okay. I didn't get fired up about this.

Eventually celebrating he's going to be our best player. So Ryan O'Reilly, the Stanley Cup winning captain and Sidney Crossby, the greatest captain. It's a decision you don't go back on. It makes you look like you don't know what you're doing. It makes you look like you're getting it right. People who change their mind are smarter than people who dig it and get stubborn. Oh, God, we're all idiots then. All right.

Is today the anniversary of one of the greatest comebacks in a third period, game seven? It was yesterday, but he saw yesterday. Oh, yeah, thanks. Okay. I'm just asking. I thought it was game seven leaps. I'm just asking her, Sam. It was four one game?

I thought it was today. No, it was yesterday, I mean, 13. How can you even bring it up yesterday then? If I, why didn't I bring it up?

Is that a serious question? Is that a serious question? Do we want any of these clips before we go? No, no, we don't. No, we don't care about those. Okay. So we got Stan Bowman on the cast,

you report. Oh, my God. I got to tell you, Stan Bowman, man. He could go to the, the Bob Stauffer school of being more interesting. Like, well, I think it's good to just...

I was listening to that. He was really surprised. Okay, go ahead. He's the teacher in Ferris Puehler. I'm trying to listen to him. I'm like, were you surprised the staff said that was an issue? Publicly?

I think it's a really good observation. Yeah. I think it's funny that Bob said he's going to be the one to tell him. But I do think it is a very good point. And look, like... No, it was an issue. The Paul Maurice blow up when the, like, before the panes,

It was famous. It was famous. It like turned their season around. Every time the camera flashes the knoblock. Yeah. There's never any emotion. Turn it up. Got to match Connor's pace.

Digin. All right, just like that. That's your boy. Two hours and solved nothing. Oh, leaf line tomorrow. 416, 413, 4141, 4141. 416, 413, 4141. Our thanks to Bob Stauffer,

Chris Wydman and Aeref. Dean. What's up tomorrow? Mac? I'll text, Mac. Maybe you'll come on. All right. Thanks for watching.

Thanks for listening. You get a chance to give us a rating and review. We'd love to hear from you. Thumbs up on YouTube. Have a great night, everybody. Go Montreal.