Real Kyper & Bourne - Canada vs. USA for Gold

Episode Date: February 20, 2026

Former NHL coach and GM Doug MacLean (2:43) joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne for an Olympic edition of Off-the-Rails Friday following Canada's win over Finland to punch a ticket to the gold medal game! Mac talks Sam Bennett's impact, whether we will see Sidney Crosby in the final, Canada's keys to success against a dominant US blue-line group, and he looks ahead to the trade deadline as the NHL returns to action on Wednesday. Later, Nick and Justin regroup with Sam McKee to read your texts and answer your questions!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.

Getting up for the national hour on the Real Kippur and Boren show. We are live on Sportsnet 360, 590, the fan in Toronto. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and 960 in Calgary. Streaming on Sportsnet Plus, also available Spotify, Apple podcast, and YouTube, where we love the chats. We love a thumbs up from all of you watching. Nick Kippreos, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, this hour of Real Kippering Bourne brought to you by Bet,

3-6-5. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in former NHL president, Doug McLean. We talk Canada surviving the semis against the Finns to advance to the gold medal game, the U.S. 20 minutes away

with a commanding lead over Slovakia. Do you think if they could play the third period with the wrong end of their sticks, everyone had to do it on the U.S. and get out of the third period? Probably. I think they probably could. Yeah. Do you play ringette? Yeah. Just go.

trying to kick it, whack it at the butt end. You're watching it. It ruled. I couldn't believe it didn't catch on. It was a weird sport, though. Like the passing rules. You never had to give it up. Just like the passing rules and like all the different things. I've ever watched my sister play a great ringette.

It's starting to hear little rumblings on three-on-three hockey in the Olympics. Oh, I thought you're going to say on ring it. No. Ring it, was that ever an Olympic sport? I feel like it should have been. Or is that just a Canadian thing? I don't know. It seemed like a big deal when I was a kid.

And then it just went away. Yeah. I don't know. Ring it. There's not even a ring it line anymore on the ice. They don't even put them in. I think it's still out there, though. You talk to Mac. Mac will tell us what's up.

Mac would know in P-E-I. For sure. More of a broomball province. What do you think of three-on-three? That's a ridiculous event. If the Olympics brought three-on-three hockey in, would you need a smaller rink? Would you...

No, you just let it go. Just let her buck. Same guys. You know, Michael Phelps could win nine golds at an event. Also, they'd play multiple? Yeah, yeah, just send our same guys and say, hey, there's also another event if you want to be a part of it. One of a Canada's men's curlers,

one of the front end guys, was part of the mixed curling team for the, at the start of it, the mixed doubles. So he competed in two separate events. So what's the difference? Connor McDavid compete in two different events. These people are, yeah, if you're like a skier, they put 10 more feet on the thing and they give you a new medal.

It's a new race. They put a couple more stairs in there and making a different mountaineering rate. What a week it's been for our show on For exposing out of uneducated, we are on Olympic events. Yeah, we're going to really revolutionize. We're missing the Leaves, boys. We're missing the Leaves. Where is he? Is he coming?

I don't know. Oh, yeah, there is. I actually think he's been here listening to all that crap. What's going on, Mac? You look exhausted from watching Canada the last few games. Yeah, it was a great afternoon of hockey. I can't say I enjoyed the USA Slovakia game. that much. But hey, the Canada game was one of the great games of the year. It really was for me.

I love it. Yeah, it's been more stressful, I think, than Canadians would have bargained for. Have you been surprised how close Finland and Chekney have made those two games? Well, it's funny. I was talking to Jimmy Clark, who's a pro scout for Colorado, within the NHL for 30 years. He had to leave the house and go for a drive. He was too nervous to watch it. You know, Jill's girlfriends went to the bedroom, locked themselves in the bed.

I mean, people are uptight about this team. But listen, I think we talked about it on your show the day after the announcement was made, and we sort of mentioned that maybe Bennett should be on this team. Remember they missed him on the first go-round? And all of a sudden, I'm looking at this game today, and I'm saying, the Bennett line was the turning point of this hockey game. The way they pounded those guys, the way, first of all, he runs over the goaltender.

Then all of a sudden they get Wilson and Marchant together. Marchant runs over the goaltender on the goal. Wilson hammers guys at the end of the period during the game. I mean, and I'm thinking, okay, is this not the perfect line to play against Team USA. Seriously. It was the second, I mean, was it the best line today? Or both?

It is. You know, they did score and a lot of people calling it a costly mistake. But, I mean, it just comes with the territory when you got a guy like Bennett, it's risk reward. You take your chances, right? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, look, he set a tone right off the bat.

We saw it in the Leaf Series. I mean, you guys are still crying about that hit from a year ago. Well, Sam is anyway. I mean, on Stolars. But I just thought, I thought to watch those guys perform the way they did as a line to give the team the energy in a really nerve-wracking type of game and to see them play the way they did. And then I look at Bennington.

I mean, did he make four, five great saves at. key times in both games so far. I was nervous about him. I got to tell you. I was nervous about Bennington and he comes through. I mean, you know, it was an impressive win. And McKinnon, I was uptight about McKinnon. I didn't like his game

early on. I sent Nick a note. I said, put Marner with McKinnon and Stone to get them going. They need to get this guy going. And all of a sudden, now you've got Celebrini who may be the best player on the team going with

McDavid and McKinnon. I mean, now keep that line together, play them, and then go with the Bennett line, and then you've still got the Zizuki group. I mean, you've got some great options to go with there. So I was thrilled with the game. I really

was. As far as looking ahead now, you know, Sid was on the ice, shooting pucks. The feeling is that he's certainly not ruled out, but they said that the other day. He doesn't play today.

You know, we're contemplating on whether Sid would risk, you know, coming back and possibly being in a position where he can't finish the game. Like, what do you expect that as Sid in the next 24 hours or so to possibly play? I think Sid has always been a team first guy versus a Sid first guy. And I really believe Sid will say if I can, if I truly believe I can help this team, then he will play. If he's 50-50 as to whether he can really finish the game, I don't, I don't see him taking a chance. I read not taking a chance because with him, it's all about the team. It's not about, you know, himself and Pittsburgh. It's about team. It's about Team Canada right now. Pittsburgh, yeah. He's a loyal Pittsburgh guy and he doesn't want to get hurt

anymore. I get it. But unless he truly believes he can be Sid and help the team win, I don't think he plays. Mack, a lot of people while they were losing that game 2-0 and even 2-1, they're doing the second-guessing thing on who they should have brought, who they didn't bring. Did you watch that game and think, boy, they could use Player X? You know what? I didn't really think. think about it that way. I just, you know, I felt I really wanted them to get some power plays in the game for sure. And I thought when they took charge of the game, the way they were take the way they took over the game, you know, late and first, all second, that they were going to start to get some power plays. And that to me, it was really important. But I never second, there's no second guess. We second guess the day the team was picked. The team was picked. teams picked, there's no more second guessing. I was thrilled to see Reinhardt make that great play, obviously a great shot, but he made the great tip. Those are got big game players. They're Stanley Cup winners that came through today in a big way. Guys doing what they had to do. I've been

a little bit hard on the blue line, and I thought the blue line today played, played exceptionally well. Again, Theodore comes up with the big shot. All of them played really well, you know, you know, obviously a top two or top four guy. So that was a real positive. But again, I go back to Bennington. To me, he's been the story. He's been the story in the Olympics right now with the clutch. Key saves he's made at key times.

And that's coming off a tough year. You're watching and listening to Doug McLean, former NHL president, GM and head coach. So if we were to look at the blue lines, just as a follow up here, Canada is going to see something they haven't seen all tournament and that's just possibly

the greatest assembly of defensemen on a blue line yet here. A clear advantage to the U.S. on it? I like the U.S. blue line better, but that's when I come back to the Bennett-Marchant Wilson line

because if you're going to play against Werenzky and Sanderson and those skilled type guys, they've got to be pounded. They've got to be hit. And that's the line that can really set a tone. And puck pressure, you know, the McDavid-McPenon Celebrini line is a great puck pressure line the way they're pressure and the D all the time. So, you know, I like the American Blue Line. Can they generate chances against them? It's going to be it. That'll be, I think that's going to be the telling point of the game. It's going to be, can they,

can they force, force enough pressure on that breakout blue line? Because they, they, that's going to be, move the puck as well as any blue. They're terrific at moving the pocket of their own zone. So they've got to have extreme pressure on them. Would you have those guys target Quinn Hughes? He is the head of the snake on this blue line, is he not? How did

we coach him in a pee-wee-banam tournament? He's not playing for Team Canada. What the hell was he doing? We're coaching him in Toronto. I don't know. Those darn birth certificates. What? I don't know. The birth certificate thing.

Anyway, look, I think the blue line is going to be their biggest challenge, but I'm loving the way Canada is forechecking. I'm loving the way they're forechecking. And look, their defense have been strong. They've hung in there. Now they haven't seen a team like this team. This is a good hockey team, the USA, and they're not going to be intimidated.

But I'm coaching against the Kichukes, and I've got Bennett, Mershant and Wilson at my disposal. I'm playing them head to head quite a bit. You're feeling okay. I did want to ask you about that. So like start of the third period today, Cooper's looking to get McDavid McKinnon away from the other team's top checkers.

So they start the third period with their second and third line. Third line over the boards is their first line, which I think is him trying to get those guys away from him. Do you think going up against the Americans, you're looking to match their top guys? Like you're worried about, all right, we need to defend their top guys? Or are you just worried about trying to get your guys away from their top guys?

You know what? I think it's a big mistake to try to get your top guys away from opposition players, unless it's really, you know, unless it's really obvious. Because it's an insult to McDavid and McKinnon to be pulled away. Right. head-to-head against the best. They really do. Now, if it's affecting your team play, then you re-establish and

re-look at it. But I certainly don't think you want to go into the game with that mindset that you're going to try to get away, get McDavid, two of the best players in the history of the game away from Larkin and whoever it's going to be. Bennington over Hellebuck.

Huge advantage, awash. Does Hellebuck still need something to prove to people that he can get it across the finish line? Hellebuck's got a lot more to prove than Bennington is. Bennington, you know,

won the four nation. He's got them back to the finals. You know, he's had a Stanley Cup. Helibuck has had unbelievably great regular seasons and very average playoffs. So, a lot of pressure on Hellebuck for me. And I just, I look

at Bennington and I don't know him at tall, but he appears to be a guy that thrives under pressure. He appears to be that way. It doesn't seem to phase him. Like, just think about the last second of the game, catches the puck off the scoring chance and puts it back in play. I mean, he's 100% focused in trying to kill the clock there. You know what I'm saying?

And I thought, geez, this guy is, this guy is focused big time here. So, look, I'm excited. I know the U.S. I think the U.S. have a great team. And I have a lot of respect for them. I really do. It's going to be a heck of a hockey game. It really is.

So, Mac, the NHL's been off for a while here. And, you know, we're going to kick back up again, I think, on Wednesday of next week, five, six days from now. You're not going to ruin the show talking about the NHL. You know what's funny? Hold on, Matt. We're sitting here going, God. Give them a swat across the head there, Kipper. There's like two.

games every three days in the Olympics we're dying here, Mac. We need the NHL back. Yeah. So what about it? Well, do you think it's lost some momentum? Your boy, Kippy League office over here, Betman's telling him to say that he thinks it's no good

that it's going to kill the league and no one's going to come back and watch. I wanted to get your thoughts. Well, I think that people will come back and watch and I have to give Gary Bettman a little credit here because there's going to be amazing races in the

NHL for so many cities trying to get in the playoffs. And teams that need to get in the playoffs really bad. Ottawa, Detroit, Columbus. I mean, these teams are desperate to get in the playoffs. So I think there's going to be some great

races. I really do. Do you think the ability to come off a Sunday gold medal game with obviously the emotions being that high and then kicking it up as early as Wednesday that like some of these stars aren't going to just be a little bit mentally fatigued here? I think that they will be fatigued for two reasons. They'll be fatigued because of playing and also hanging around the Olympic Village.

That's not kid ourselves, you know? So I think, yeah, you're 100% right. I mean, the emotional drain, I mean, sitting on the bench waiting for your shift in these last games, two games for Team Canada, that's hard in the head. Coaching in those type of games is hard on the head. That is unbelievable pressure when you've got to come back and score and win late in games. And I like them saying, well, there was never any doubt. There was never any doubt.

I had lots of doubts. It's just piles and piles of doubt. So when you're coaching, you know, how do nerves affect a coach? So there are times where you find that it like it affects your, ability to make clear decisions because there's a lot of noise and a lot of chaos and you want to win too, but you can't go out and do something about it.

Is it harder to coach? Coop's been through it, I know, but. When you get on the bench, I don't ever recall being nervous on the bench. Really? I think when you get, I recall being nervous in my afternoon nap, you know, and when you're having that afternoon nap

and you get up in your bed sheets are soaked, You say, I'm a little nervous, I guess. But I think that when you get on the bench, you're so into your game plan, your focus, your lineup, who you're matching up with. I think that that just goes out the window. And it's sort of a high every game,

you know, when you're in that environment. I can only imagine John Cooper. And the coaches were engaged. They were engaged today. So how could you not be, you know, when your coach, in a game like that. Yeah.

Pretty cool. So what happens Sunday morning? You cancel like shuffleboard or bridge to watch the game? I know. Listen, I have got to tell you. I don't know what happened to me since you left, but my golf, I had an 82 the other day. Ooh. My iron shot.

And the second nine. And I made $39. Oh, wow. And I told the boys, guys, I was, I was really good. I'm taking Sunday off. I took too much of your money. I'm taking Sunday off. You guys are on your own.

So I'm not playing this Sunday. I'm just going to relax. My daughter's coming in town from Cincinnati. So I'm just going to relax and watch the game. Is there a little vibe down there for the Olympics? There's no vibe down there. Come on. I got a buddy down at the pool this afternoon.

He's from Hartford. He's driving me crazy. Every time somebody scores a goal, he sends me a text. I said, I don't need a text on every goal. What a shot. No, there's not much of a vibe here, to be quite honest. But my one buddy from Hartford, he's into it big time. He was all excited about the women's team.

I say, that's really great. We got Trump. He's screwing Canada. Now we've got the U.S. women doing it to us. I mean, what a joke is. Three and three, it didn't count. I was going to have to ask if the bars open early there in Florida, but it's Florida, so I assume they just never close.

No, no, they're pretty good. They're decent. but I'm broke after Kippy left. I've been hurting financially. My social security check hasn't come in. Hey, just a lot of talk now that we're closing off these Olympics that the GMs now will heat up. We know that there was, what, officially like 12 days

as soon as the games were over to make trades here, Mac. How much legwork do you think was done over the break to prepare for this? And, you know, you did experience, few long breaks over your career here. Is there a chance deals got done during this break? I think there's so many bubble teams

that a lot of teams have got to make major decisions going into this stretch drive as to what we're going to do. I would expect that a lot was talked about over the last week or so for sure. I mean there's just there's

big decisions do we sell and who do we acquire? and what type of deals are out there. And, you know, there's some teams that are so far out that want to be buyers. That's a big decision to make. So I suspect guys took a well-deserved break. Most GMs and coaches. They loved it.

It's a great break. They get away. But there would be a little bit of work done. So they're back now of the NHL teams and they're having mini training camps or whatever. that to me as a player sounds like a nightmare just getting back into the whole vibe of things. Like it doesn't sound fun to me, Mac.

Talk about a pain in the body. No, it's the word. I mean, training camp is bad enough. When you have to have two of them, you know. Guys are talking about how good they feel now, how rested they were. They got treatment. They got massages.

No, no, they didn't. They went to Florida or Cal. They went on vacation. Yeah, now they're going to play 20 games in 30 days, and they're going to be a mess again. How many pulled groins in the first week? It's coming in high. Yeah, I mean, that's the downside of all these great tournaments.

But I'm telling you, I mean, Four Nations, this, it's really special to sit down and watch a game. Like, I'm sitting with Jill watching games, and she's a basket case. I mean, come on, relax, you know. It's only hockey. Would you trade for Bennington now more so than before these games, based on, you know, the horrific year he's had in St. Louis? I was definitely considered him.

You know something that jumped into my head today? And I hate to say this. I probably shouldn't say this. But remember when Saros was available in Nashville? I don't know how really available. Was that before they traded Ascarov? It was out there. But that was before he signed, I think.

I'm thinking, why would Ottawa not take a run at him? Imagine if they had Sarah. They got a Vesna winner. If Ottawa had a. him instead of Allmark. They would have made the Saros deal instead of the Elmark deal. I mean, where would they be today? Allmark's going to be great.

It's fun because I have a senator's friend who listens to this show and he's like, every week someone takes a shot at Allmark. Like just a drive-by. We're talking about the Olympics and Allmark catches astray. He's got the worst save percentage in the NHL and the team's out of the playoffs. What are we supposed to do? Send them okay flowers or what? Seriously.

Tush. Tush. I know he's had a tough goal and I don't like to. hear that, but win some games. All right, my friend, get well-rested here, okay? Because it's early. I'm scared you're going to sleep in. Okay.

One final thing. It usually takes a guy a year, two, three, four years to become a franchise player, right? Celebrini's a franchise player today. Today. Yes. A franchise player, like, he may be their best player. Yes. He's as good as anybody out there.

I mean, McDavid's out there, guys. Yeah. No, no, I know. But, I mean, the way he's playing and the little things he's doing, the anticipation, the hockey sense, it's over the top. Wait until he hits puberty. I remember watching to play with the Chicago Steel. He was like a 15-year-old, and he led the USHL in scoring,

and he goes to BU, tears it up. I mean, this guy is a franchise superstar already. It's amazing. We'll see if he's got one more in him. All right, Mac, we're going to let you go. Thanks for joining us. I'm excited. I want to see the Mariner Matthews matchup coming up.

Sam will be excited. Sam will be a disaster watching those two guys go head to head. Are they playing? I don't even think about it. I just think about Jersey Color, Mac. You just think about whether you should trade Bobby McMahon or not. Focus on the big pitch. That's all that matters.

Have a good one, Mac. Thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me on. Thanks, Mac. That is, Judge McLean. He's excited. What's that? 82's a good number, Mac.

Yeah, he can hit the ball on occasion. Yeah. Right. It's straight. Does his thing. Not so straight, but. I really hope people, though, when they talk about my golf game, yeah, he can hit the ball on occasion.

Yeah, it once in a while I gets one. Yeah, he's okay. What's a while? What sport were we laughing at that's on the radio? Cross country skiing on the radio. Yes. Yeah. But how about golf now?

Did you ever listen to the PGA channel? It's actually awesome. I like it. I can't. I can't. No, it's just. They do it on like serious or whatever. Yeah.

But they. That's weird for me. Boring. Why is it weird? It's just too slow. Well, no. Well, they do a good job of they kind of like do a breakdown of where they're at and then they'll go to like big moments.

Golf slow enough they can set up every shot. They set it up really well and they talk about updates. I like it. Okay. Good job. That's fair. There you go. Cross-cutter skiing.

I'm sure they do the same. Oh, he's coming up to a turn soon. One ski in front of the other. And he's done it. He's made the turn. Quick update here on USA Slovakia. Brady just scored it on a breakaway. It's now 6'1.

What a just a tough matchup for the States. I got to tell you, I love them playing this game for Canada. Yeah? Oh, yeah. A little loosey-goosey. Yep. Oh, point night out there. Oh, yeah.

Just a nice easy game. Nice easy gold medal for them. Now, you know what, they're not scoring in the first period. Oh, why did you do that? I think they'll score it in the first period, I think. The U.S.? I said yesterday else out again. No, they'll get frustrated in the first.

It'll be two, one or three, two. And one of the two. Final score? Yeah. It's game time. Oh, just go ahead. I'm so happy we didn't go in overtime today. Yeah. You know, just.

It's so crazy how often this happened, considering it was everyone's greatest fear. If the gold medal game goes overtime, which is very well. I can't stomach the thought. I know. Three on three. It's going to over. Gold medal goal.

I know. It's just we're going to get, we've come all this far to go to a gimmick. I don't know if I said this to you guys, but there is no possible higher level for the sport. And maybe it's history than a overtime between this America team and that candidate team.

I don't know if, like there's been some great teams, but the speed that these games are played at and just what they look like right now. And you're going to have guys regrouping. The most important moment of the sport, you're like, let's fundamentally change it totally. Let's just change it. But right now, Petman, he's got his feet up and he's like, wasn't me. This one's on someone else.

That was the IHF's decision. They didn't do it. Somewhere else. We got to have a referendum. You said it the other day. We got to make a call. Somebody's got to figure this out. Someone talked to someone, just go, boys, we all agree, no one wants this.

I'll tell you what's going to come. And the 10th and 3 and 3. I'm going to tell you what's going to come out of this. I'll almost guarantee it that you will be able to take a goal back when you see too many men on the ice. That's what's going to happen. Oh, yeah. At the NFL level? Yes.

You can't. They can't. They cannot. Okay. You think. You can take goals back. For a million things. For a lot of other things.

passes, offside. But you can't take a goal back on too many men on the ice is just wrong. And it will happen in the NHL. It hasn't yet. But they're going to have to change that very quickly. And can I just, for narrative's sake, as we talk about that goal in the history of Olympics, please don't be saying there was eight guys on the ice. Yes, there were eight guys on the ice.

There were six guys. They were playing with six. Two were changing. Two were coming on. Legal change. They weren't playing with eight guys. It's an exaggeration that makes the whole thing sound ridiculous. They were playing with six.

Those officials don't know how lucky they are. Oh, my God. You don't come home and ever live that down if Canada would have lost. It's one of the what-if moments ever. It's Ernie Clement. Or no, it's Arnes and Barger's all getting lodged in the fence. It's something we talk about for the rest of their lives. It is just.

Now it's a footnote. It is. It's a fun one. It's a fun note. Now it's fun. I forget who I saw it tweeted out. There's like, oh, there's four, the checks had 14.

My wife sent me like an AI video on that today of the checks having a whole squad out there. There are some good uses for AI. There are some. Mostly funny sports videos. Yeah. Anyways, it's game time. Instead of my bet three, six, five. Visit the app for latest odds at C.

Y is ever ordinary a bet 365 must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. So yeah, we're counting down to the, the gold medal game on Sunday morning. They don't have the over-under on beers consumed before puck drop for me here. So we'll avoid that number.

But I was going to bring up the... 6 a.m. for an 8-10 start. That's a good run. You know, you probably had a few cocktails at that age. Buddy, 6 a.m. was go time. Absolutely. God, there's just a small part of me. I wish I knew you back then.

Yeah, no, hey, listen, it would not have been better. Our relationship would not have been better. Let's check in on the only other sport other than the NBA that's happening right now. The Genesis Invitational, the at Riviera, one of the best golf tournaments of the year, number 10 iconic at Riviera, one of the bucketless courts. Kippur, you know anybody? I do, but I got to get out there. Well, would you take me if we could go? Buddy, listen, you rent a car.

You can drop me off. Anyways, Roy McElroy is the favorite to win the tournament at Plus 320. Marco Penge right behind him at Plus 550s, Zander Shoffley, Jacob Bridgman. Sheffler going to miss the cut, right? Oh, he was playing like dog crap. I was watching the end of it yesterday. And it was windy, it was cold. The sun was going down.

He was hacking it all around. So probably going to miss the cut. Golf's heart. Anyways, that was game time presented by Bet365. Visit the athlete of Stodz and C. It's every ordinary at Bet 365. Mr. 19 plus. And Terry only, please play responsibly.

Okay, let's catch our breath here. We return text 590. What's that? We got some banger texts already. Awesome. 590, 590 is the text. We'll read yours as we close off a terrific week on the Real Kipper and Born show. Dive deep into Toronto Sports and the NFL.

The J.D. Bunk is podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the Real Kipper and Born Show. As a reminder, this. hour of real Kipperman Bourne brought to you by Bet365. Nick Kippeeros, Justin Born, Sammy McKee, USA up

6-2. They gave up two goals. Yeah. I would have preferred them to win 6-0. Yeah. Feel a little bit more comfortable. Feels like some, as Sammy called it, score effects going on. Did we see Tage Thompson leave the game early? We did. Precautionary, they're calling it.

Is that where you have picked up? Yep. Walking around, bare foot. out there the rest of his gear on something like this is just all about like let's get out of this game as quick as we can and nobody get hurt you feel anything go to the room we'll just play other guys we can handle it but the prady kachuk just tried to go back end five hole and a breakaway and the goaltending was so bad it actually went to the other way to the side of the goaltenders pad oh chernak giving it to matth gichuk we got action oh yeah here we go get the flippers off we got out of Oh, Florida Tampa Bay, baby.

Oh, Brady's in there too. Matthew Kuch. Oh, we got a little hoot nanny. Oh, have a fight and get Brady, or sorry, Matthew. Canada's just watching this going. Oh, he's got the glove off. Oh, yeah. He's just throwing glove-less laughs.

Just beat the crap out of each other. Get the gloves off, Matt. Do it. God, turny. You're not supposed to be doing play-by-play, eh? I'm not. I'm just yelling. Speaking of IOC rules, this text comes in from Jason.

Kipper wanting Sean Reynolds to admit to using a drone or something. Poor Reynolds tap dancing. Hoping for a camera or a microphone. If you ever held your feet of the fire like that over sources, this show would be awkward. I'm not asking him to reveal his sources. I'm asking him to reveal what was seen. What you want her to say? He's got no leg.

He's pushing a, he's pushing a. chair out there. Do you think that Canada? I wanted to hear him say, if it was him or a source that saw it, I want someone to say, yeah, I think he can play. I think you think Canada is getting the word out there that he can maybe play because Canada wants the U.S. to sort of prepare for him and wants to mess with the U.S. I don't know if that stuff works.

Well, we've been doing it with Morrissey anymore. So Morrissey's not going to play. I mean, every game is like he's ready. It's old habit now. You just don't reveal any. anything. I will say, like, having spent some time in the coach's office and how you prepare for the opposing team, not knowing who's out, it just eats some of your time up, right?

It's another thing you have to prepare for, think about, talk about it. It just annoys you and takes extra time. And, yeah, if you want to inconvenience the other side, great. I don't know if it helps or not. Just a shot of Brady going down the tunnel there after getting shipped, I think, for punching. No, Olympic punchy punchy, punchy. I got to kick him off the tour for that.

I don't think he's, he's not eligible for Sunday, unfortunately. I think you're right. My sources, according to Sean Reynolds, not available. Super illegal. You would love that. I think he's wearing brass knuckles. Would I like that? I saw that.

I don't know. I'd like to wipe the smile off their face, but it's a dangerous game. You can still do that. Ternak was trying. What do we want here? You got text for us, pal? You. All right.

All right. This is from Billy from the road. Tell me, boy. From where? From the road? He's a travel man. Like the side of the road? Probably a trucker for being honest.

We got a big trucker on that. All right. Billy from the road. Tell me, boys, who were you ready to blame? Ready to blame? Like, presuming Canada loses here and we're going to start pointing fingers. Wow, maybe even through those two, the quarterfinal and the semifinal. Who is in your crosshairs?

Well, I think the absence of Matthew Schaefer has become pretty obvious. When you're behind the games and you're chasing, you need someone to make a play. You just, that's the one to me where it's like, he's the guy that I'm missing. Evan Bouchard as well. So, offensive D. That's your plan.

Yes. Yeah, I think that's. I'm blamed anyone by the way. No, but it's the only place that they're a little vulnerable. That's all. Right? And so far, I think if you, if you revisit Doug Armstrong and the picks,

it was always about trying to find a way to win a game like today where it's just 2-1, game on the line, get your Sam, Bennett. No, defenseman. San. Oh, Sanheim? Travis.

Sanheim, sorry. Get him just to move the puck on occasion, jump in on a play, play safe, play the percent. And we'll find a way to win this game 3-2. Real confirmation bias game for Canada. Because you got someone like Mack who comes on and he's like, that game is Wilson, Bennett and Marchand.

You know, and then you got other people being like, thank God the only skill we have did skill things. It's someone that kind of is played out the way they wanted this lineup to play out to perfection so far because they're in the final and they just got to do it one more time. It's a just win baby Al Davis type of event. I think there would have been an argument if, I mean, not as much

after today, but if they had a loss in the quarters and I didn't think that Marchand looked particularly good. Yeah. Like, I think a ready to blame situation would have been like, were you truly fully healthy and like, could you have maybe? Yeah, that would have gone on with McKinnon too. Well, I mean, McKinney's a different animal. I don't think

no, I know that, but we would have lent it towards he's not healthy. He was not healthy. He didn't look he didn't look right. Yeah. So. Yeah. No, the injury is hurting them, as I said. Point and Crosby were obvious today.

God, they just put up that graphic. What's that? Just Canada, USA. Make no mistake too. Right? Not ready, boys. The USA, you know, they lose Sunday. Where do you think the finger's going to get pointed on them?

Same thing. It's Trocheck. It's Miller. Instead of taking guys who could shoot it in the net. Absolutely. Connor Hullabuck, not a money goalie. Yeah, right. But he's just, I think he's just kind of the goalie,

much like Bennington is, regardless of his wards, he's just the goalie. Sammy, you can't lose on Sunday. Canada wins or Matthews leads a team to a gold medal. Good Lord. Don't put that evil on me, Ricky Bobby. If the gold goes to overtime, what if John Cooper and Mike Sullivan just shake hands and agree to send out five guys?

Yeah, I think that it's a fascinating thing. Like, could we not? get all the people involved. Like, is it still Renee Fasel? Who's the IOC? Who are the names that have input here? Can those guys... Richard Pound used to be involved.

I don't know what he does anymore. It's all about the closing ceremonies. That's it. Right, but like all these guys, presumably, if they know anything about hockey, you would be like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, let's just do hockey. Let's do hockey to see who wins.

And go to the players, you guys go to the hockey. And run the risk of a double or triple overtime. And, delay what, the Olympic closing. It's all about the Olympic closing Sunday. They don't care. They don't care. Great to a shootout then.

So they're like, we have to have three on three. Do 20 minutes. If you care that much about your precious closing ceremonies. Start it an hour earlier. Or 20 minutes of 515, then a shootout. If you have to get it over with. Just hockey. 20 minutes.

Do hockey. Can you imagine if they went all 20 minutes with no goal? Tough to imagine. With that's a skill on the rink. It just happened so quick. There's no one. Yeah. You know, I remember watching the old Flyers and Penguins game that went like five

over times. And like eventually there's just, there's not enough talent out there once everyone's tired. It can't happen with as much skill. They should do, they shouldn't do elimination games three on three. They should not. Okay. This one says tell Kipper to talk about the Casillora. the gatsarola the greek cooking pot that's the least we need that for good luck oh boy okay i told you

that and for canada i have vague memories i took a bowl of soup down to the blue jay dressing room in 2016 when was there run 2015 16 yeah yeah i took a and i took my grandmother's cassarola which is like this aluminum pot from like 1940 yeah that like if if you actually could crawl in it you could survive a nuclear war, you know, a missile. How many things, like over, undernumbered things cooked in that pot? I just, I never got it back. Oh, no. Yeah, I never got it back.

And every time they won, they pour champagne in it. Search Alandro Kirk's house immediately. They drank from it. They put champagne in it. Say it again? What's that? Caterola. They could use a Caterola.

They could use a Cicelola. That was in the finish to his question. My question to you guys, do you remember the 2002 Olympics with Mario? Yes. I still think of it that had so much more joy to it. The tunis put into the ice. I think it was the loony. I read that wrong.

Looney's into the ice. Do you remember where you guys were for that tournament? And who is the best Olympic Canadian player of all time? Who is the best Olympic Canadian player of all that? So my dad was coaching in Utah that year. So I was down there right before the event. And God, I remember watching the Olympic practice and all that. I wasn't actually there for it, unfortunately.

But I really caught a sense. for the vibe. Yeah. And so the best of all time. You know what? It's Connor McDavid. Wow. Like, just the best hockey player ever?

But he's got the record for points in Olympic games among, you know, like I was going to say I love Lemieux. Don't know what I'm going to be this guy. Yeah. How many gold medals? Well, yeah. How many has he been in? This is first one.

Yeah. I watched. My era is Canada Cup too, right? Yeah. It's Sid. It's Sid. Yeah, it's Sid. Yeah, it's Sid.

It's, it's, it's. Sid has the most points. But that's not the... We're talking Olympic. It's too brand new. He's just like, why do we do this? Why do we need to do greatest or like, come on, guys. We're doing a sports talk radio.

No, just stop it. I hate it, too. I hate it. They're doing it now with the women, with Haley or, you know, and it's like, come on. It's all language best versus greatest. Greatest, most talent. Sid is the greatest Canadian Olympic hockey player of all time. Yeah.

Full stop. All right. You're right. You're right. It's all that. Yeah, no, no. It's fine. But I do think of Mario.

Like, I think you think of it more in, in, uh, defining moments. Maryo is my favorite. And I, outside of the golden goal, one of my favorite moments in the dummy is the fake kickup. Yeah. And that's, you think of him wearing those brutal Nike skates and that brutal Nike helmet that he wore at that time, but goes through his. It's an unbelievable finish too.

Who, who shoots it on the back end again? A ginla. A ginla. It's an offhand one-timer, Barry. It's really nice. Korea. Korea. Yeah, Korea.

Yeah, right. Again, those on that line. Yes. Love that line. Love Joe Sackick, scoring the goal to make it fine. I was covering for Sportsnet. 2002? Yeah.

Really? Yeah. When did you start? 1998. Oh, damn. When SportsNet started. Yep. He is like, this is Dan Sportsnet.

When everybody said, you guys will be done in like two years. The country is not big enough to support. two national sports stations, TSN and Sportsnet. You guys will be done and buried. It is big enough. Working. Hey, boys,

have a submission for the Bennett line. The BMW line. The Bennett-Marshan Wilson line. You know I'm a Benz guy. Oh, yeah. There's also that line's been thing. Okay, it's the Ben's line. It's the Queens way.

The New Jersey Devils had a fourth line that went by the BMW line. It was like not big names. Anyway. Okay. Miles Wood was one of them. but okay oh uh uh hey guys gold medal game means no more games nothing to suspend a guy for do you think we're gonna see a fight thoughts from john and st catherine's you know i do think if this game is just out of hand one way or to other i don't think it's out of the question that you see a

either you know you know um five nothing one way or the other if i felt if i felt like i needed to settle a score or there's a payback, I'm going to pick my spot. And I'm, I'm... Like, Tom Wilson's probably not playing in the 2030. Even if the game's decided, I could still want a piece of skin off you. If,

if there's a world where Canada is up big enough, where Tom Wilson has to, drops the gloves and squares off with one of the kachucks or somebody, that would be one of the nation's greatest. It would actually be. dumb on the Kachucks part. They probably wouldn't. They shouldn't engage.

And they're going to be involved in future. I could see somebody wanting to, but come on, you still got to go back and play for Ottawa or Florida and you're, it's just, it really would serve no purpose. But again, I don't know what's going on between their ears to want to settle a score.

Yeah. You know, that's all it is. Not to be, I don't know, whatever, but like the line of Bennett, Marshand and Wilson are unlikely to be back in four years. Marshand is definitely aging out of that. Wilson's 30 beyond. Bennett snuck on as an extra guy this year.

It's tough. So those guys are kind of like, this is my international experience, maybe the end of it. We watched Chernak and Kachuk moments ago, and that's just, that was completely unsettled scores between Tampa Bay and Florida.

Totally. Churnack was just, like I do not care. I get a chance to punch him in the nose. There's definitely a super bad element to this. Last two weeks, F it. I'm not going to be. I'm just drilling holes.

I despise that, dude. Gary from... Can the NHL suspend anybody? No. I don't know. What? I don't know. I mean, if somebody did something really bad... If Matthew slashes somebody in the gold medal game, you just get suspended...

Get me on that plane! There is, like, I think, international stuff that sometimes can... Treason? I've heard Pierre Crinnon's band. I have no idea. I have no idea. Have they put Crinan in the clink yet? Have they hung them?

Remember Crennan? He was 10 storylines ago. They won't suspend you, but you can go to jail, I guess, right? Crenzy is just on the loose. My boy, Krins. He's a criminal. He's a crininal. Gary from T.O.

I think if there's anybody in hockey who's earned, who's deserved the right to make its own call, it's Sid. I don't think Cooper or anybody else can and will make that call for Canada. No. Well, it should be. Like most, I feel Sid will do the right thing

and is the right guy to put the team first. Yeah, Doug nailed it. Yeah, like Crosby's team thing would be to step aside and let the team do whatever. But it's why we said earlier in the show, if he can go, it's because he can go. And then, yeah. He just strikes me as a guy as, like,

if he's down he's down yeah yeah and that type of injury too is not something I think you can just play through it's not a pain thing there's no there's damage there the Bennett Wilson Marshawn line is great hope

is great hope they go head to head against the turtle chucks I guess the chucks I feel dirty cheering for them as an Euler fan Jay from Victoria yeah you know I kind of ask Mack about it but you know are you gonna try to match up

against Eichel and the Kichucks or you basically say and try to match up against us, how much are you worried about who they've got on the ice versus who you want to get out there? You said Canada would be home as the one seed. So you'd get a look at who they've got out there before you put your guys over the board.

Last change. Last change is huge. Yeah. Yeah, really big in this event. Particularly trying to find McDavid, hey, can we get them out there against the Trocheck group or whoever you think is soft? Not too many soft spots in that lineup. No. Maybe you don't get a medal

if you get suspended. That's it so much. Yeah, okay. You can go buy a piece of metal and carving yourself. Sammy, would you rather have the Leafs go to the Stanley Cup or Canada win gold? Go to the Stanley Cup. Go to the win and go are two very different things. All right, boys.

That's it. Does you answer it? All right, obviously. Take the Leafs? Well, depend. You can take the Leafs. You can come back in four years, try to win another goal. The Leafs, come on, 67.

since 1967? Playoff gave for the 10th of tornadoes tonight. That's all I got to say. Say it. You've seen a gold medal. I have. I have. I have seen a gold medal.

Fascinating answer. Well, right now I'm not feeling like it. Yeah. Because I think I saw Dragher talking about it's like, maybe the lease are actually going to sign McMahon. I'm like, oh my God, no. Or maybe they're just trying to drive up the price. Hopefully. I'm like, oh, God.

We got all next week, boys. I know. To get into that. So we're coming. in here Monday. Although I would like to see Edmonton revisit Bennington. So we're going to go here. We're coming in here

Monday. 4 to 6. 3.2 Canada. In overtime. No. I refuse to watch overtime. Yeah, I mean, I'm going to pick Canada 2. 2.4-3. 5-4.

4-2. Empty net. Nope. I'm saying 4-2 Canada, empty net. Marner, who scores me up the net. All right. He almost had the... Yeah.

He almost had the winner there. He cut in. Yeah, it was his patent and low blocker snapper. He just missed it by a little bit. All right, boys. I need to go to hockey game. Playoff. Our thanks to Sean Reynolds, Sportsnet reporter,

and Doug McLean, always terrific on a Friday. Sit back. Get your pancakes ready. waffles eggs 8 a.m. Eastern Canada goes for gold.

Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening.