Real Kyper & Bourne - Canadiens, Oilers Game 2 Previews with Jason Bukala

Episode Date: April 23, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Jason Bukala (5:35) of Pro Hockey Group & Sportsnet to chat about the Edmonton Oilers' lineup changes from Game One to Two, how Evander Kane and John Klingberg can ease their way back to on-ice speed, whether the Montreal Canadiens are capable of winning their series against the Washington Capitals, what to expect from offensive d-men Lane Hutson and Evan Bouchard in their defensive zone and Mikko Rantanen searching for chemistry in Dallas. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee dive into the Battle of Florida, Matthew Tkachuk's return, and how the Ottawa Senators can get back in their series against the Maple Leafs.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.

We are live and in color on the national hour of the real Kipper and born show. We are live on sports net 650 in Vancouver and 960 in Calgary. Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. This hour real Kipper and born brought to you by bet365. Our thanks to our thousands and thousands of listeners who just recently text Sammy McKee, change the jersey. It's actually really heartwarming. How many people have your back on that?

I have, you know, my whole life I've had forget issues and like I've left stuff in places. I get really late.'s like on the bus. Yeah. But like. Oh God. People are asking where they can download that. It's a jam.

Stop texting me, I don't know. Yeah, I wish. I just, you know, people often say that heaven is a room that you walk into with all the stuff you've ever lost in your life. That room would be very full. There's no room to walk in. And you should write a song about that. Having it be, I have no talent.

Having it be like part of my, like I got four different Instagram DMs, three different texts on the text line. My mom texted me like it's like, but now I have a reminder. I set a reminder so the fun's over. It's just gonna be changed every day. All right.

In a couple of minutes, we'll welcome in Jason Bucho, pro hockey group, Sportsnet, former NHL scouting director. Mm-hmm I said an NHL coach because sometimes my mouth moves and there's no filter relatable I hear you say whatever I say. That's fine We don't have a fact checker on the show Which is good. We do have Lane Hudson's jersey up behind us though today. I thought it was more Cole Caulfields. It is.

Oh, small jokes. Look at it. Tiny man playing hockey jokes. Is very talented. I think part of the however, seven billion dollars USD we just spent on hockey. Let's get 200 of it and get a new Habs jersey. No, why? That's embarrassing. That's a 200 of it get a new Habs Jersey. No That's a that's like the hockey sweater from the book

I'll bring one in Tomorrow I do have jerseys at home. I'll tomorrow. I'm calling you have to you have to like You have to say I'm not hanging up until you put it in the car. I could talk you it. Talk me through it. Okay, I'll talk you through it. Three games on tap tonight, including the Montreal Canadiens taking another crack. It may be getting a split against Washington. We've seen some comebacks already in this series or in the playoffs.

Yeah. Montreal almost pulled it off, game one. They did. How do you feel about the likelihood of it happening game two? To me, they lost the element of surprise here Like I think washington's going to be better prepared For a good Habs team a good effort Uh, yeah, I don't know like

You can talk yourself into like they're going to really tough, but do you still look like maybe? Montreal supposed to lose and Washington let that part of their guard down. Yeah, and now they won't Yeah, maybe a it's just it's a lot of you know They're best players on Montreal outside of the top line But even including slav like it's you know, demidoff is very exciting and Hudson's very exciting and slavkovsky's got they have a bright future there You know, it's an old veteran big calf's team It's it feels like when you get to play a hockey that tends to come through but that I saw they defied the odds all year And more in Montreal I saw today Marty St. Louis mentioned that there's potential for putting in Arbor Jack guy tonight to kind of you know

Yeah, bring in the physical element to have a bigger guy out there going up against that team but well, it's it's also the the optics of Wilson or Ovechkin Running people over. Yeah, what's not his? Particularly Cole Caulfield. Yeah. Well, but just like who do you take out? I mean, Matheson definitely not. Carrier has changed their decor. Gouley's been so good.

Hudson's so good. Savard's old pro. I guess Struble, but I like Struble. Yeah. So I guess it's Struble that comes out. For sure. But I think there's two ways to look at that because when the Caps really were running away with that game in game one at the start

Like the physicality was off the charts and it felt like the Habs grew into that game and sort of you know They end up tying it they lose in overtime But I don't know if you can keep up the physicality all throughout the game But if the caps play as physical as they did in the first couple periods against the Habs They might just kind of go away a little bit I also feel like if you're the underdog team, kind of the best spot to be in is like down one or two goals, because you want the other team to stop playing. Yes, absolutely.

You know, that's kind of the best case because this Capitals team, I think when they put the pedal down, you know, we talked about that with the Leafs in Ottawa that they kind of took their foot off the gas a little. You got to keep playing a little bit so hang around get some late Nick Suzuki. All he does is score big goals and Oilers tonight do Montreal Canadians in the Washington capital 7 p.m. On Sportsnet As Sammy just alluded to the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings tonight 10 p.m. Eastern this one has all my interest tonight. Evander Kane and John Klingberg. Klingy's back. Klingy's back. Kane hasn't played since game

two of the Stanley Cup final. And Jason Buchelot is back. Boys, pro hockey groups, Sportsnet, Placpedia, and former NHL scout joining us. Man, you're looking good like, like all the Milky Way. Your shirts like the Milky Way right now. You know what? I made a mistake when I bought this shirt. I was, I was, I was not wearing the shades when I bought it. And these are goats. These are goats on this. Goats. So when you wear it, the men's opening and it's got like the greatest of all time on your golf shirt, you just, you can imagine what happened. So you can imagine, it may take the greatest of all time. And maybe Connor McDavid to single-handedly beat

the LA Kings because that's what almost happened in game one books. But when we look at the Edmonton Oilers, of course we think of 97 and Leon, but outside of that, where is the help gonna come from to even the series tonight for the Oilers fans? Well, I better start hopefully be on balance. I'm not so sure Skinner was horrible the other night. I know that he gave up a lot, but I don't be on balance. I'm not so sure Skinner was horrible the other night. I know like he gave up a lot, but I don't think on balance. Klingberg's coming in.

I know you guys just talked about that. Kane's coming in, hopefully Kane playing with in the two hole, I think with R and H and Hyman might balance out some things upfront, but man, oh man, the recipe for success does not exist. I know they had to put the pedal down to come back in the game last night or the other night or try to come back in the game and they did, but the time on ice distribution throughout that lineup was shocking.

Like the blue shard at 28 minutes, which is 10 minutes too long for him to defend in his zone, nevermind what he does offensively. And then up front, it was just, it was like six guys took up the majority of everything and everybody else just strapped the boots on and kind of hung out until their number was called. So, books, you watch like they have no confidence in Josh Brown, right?

And you know, at the end of the day, you're starting the Stanley Cup playoffs in game one. And it really looks like you're down to 5D. And as a former scout, do you not feel like whether you're a general manager or not, the whole department goes, what the hell, man? How does this happen in game one? Yeah, it does. That's how you're, you, you almost took the words right out of my mouth with a few extra superlatives in there. The other night when I looked at that, cause you

know, Josh Brown for four minutes, like why dress them at all? But I don't get it. You expose yourself. I felt like they, I know they went down, it's game one, Kipper, and if they want to go on the marathon route again, think back to last year. Remember their penalty kill last year? I believe they went on a run of like, I could be out by one or two, but it was like 26 in a row. They only gave up one or something crazy right?

So the buy-in was there right out of the blocks the other night everything's disjointed and it's a mess and that just wreaks a panic and lack of personnel preparation I would suggest. Let's see how it goes. Let's see how it goes but if I'm the LA Kings I got them right where I want them right now. out goes but if I'm the LA Kings I got them right where I want them right now. The Oilers in playoffs last year their PK was 94.3% in 25 games and their net PK so when you count their shorties they were 98.6% Unbelievable okay and who's not there so let's let's do this real quick like pretty much everybody oh well at, obviously being out is huge. Let's let's be fair here.

That's a big wall. That's a huge wall. But, you know, the majority of them were still there. They did make some changes up front. How good would Robur look in that role? Yeah. Like Holloway killed Fogel killed McCloud killed. They had a bunch of guys.

Speecy. Yeah, of course. Speed and tenacity there. Right guys? Like McCloud all the way like dogs on a ball, Fogel up by F1, even when he's killing penalties, watch them with LA. Like he almost jumped out of his skin on the game winning ball. He was so excited the other night, right? He's up by so fast. So great vert. Yeah. This is what you say he's played hurt. No, no., I said great verse when he on the Deno shot. He jumped in front of Skinner's eyes there.

He was just about just about cleared the big man. So but like when I look at the team books, I now that they're getting some guys back like they to me, they haven't seemed physical. They haven't had an edge whatever but like Frederick's back in Kane is now back in, Dry Saddle's big, Perry's got some edge, Hyman's big, like is there a way that they can get this thing moving in the right direction and be the team they were last year?

Maybe, but I'm not feeling great about it, I have to be honest. They're coming back into the lineup without momentum, without legs, so when you have to roll Corey Perry out for 15 plus minutes a night, but let's be honest, he's a, he's a 12 minute guy in a situational type of scenario. He can't track up and down in the seven game series at this stage of his career for 18 minutes. It's not going to happen in my estimation. He can prove me wrong, you know, but in my estimation, that doesn't fit. Frederick played nine, nine minutes and 40 seconds, I think the other night. So that just speaks to maybe a little bit of fragility, maybe getting back up to speed. This is not the time of year to get back up to speed. It's a heavy, heavy lift. You know Kane, you know when Kane comes back in

tonight he's going to want to try and play the physical straight line type of game, get under the skin, become a rash for the opponent. But again, guys, it's this is high octane shot out of a can in first couple of games of a playoff round in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Real hard to do. As far as LA is concerned here. They almost blew it. Let's face it. It was what does that say moving forward and how much focus is solely on one guy and shutting him down?

And it looked awfully good for what? 39 minutes and 55 seconds. I mean, it was pretty much a shutdown for two thirds of the game and then 97 just took over here. But is that it for LA just try to find a way to stop this guy for 60 minutes instead of 39? Well, I mean, if you look at the first half of the game where they have like six shots on goal or eight shots on goal, something ridiculous. And, and then yeah, it just it turned

over. And it was just like, they couldn't stop. It was, he was skating downhill and everything was going in the net. Start with a lead, it was imperative that they get out to a lead. And I think they'll strategize things differently. I think that you'll see a little bit more of a neutral zone clog. You'll clean things up so there's not so much momentum

and space through the neutral zone. And then off the flank is when, if Edmonton is up to speed, and not just with McDavid, but obviously he is the most obvious one, but other players too, off the flank, like if they can expose Doughty, Doughty was almost standing still a few times there and they're gonna have to get more back pressure

or at least more lane support through the neutral zone so the attack off the rush isn't as aggressive and then they're gonna have to come up with some some more timely saves this is this is huge for LA especially to hold with with the way they play on home ice only losing five regulation games I believe all season long at home ice this is a massive massive moment for them tonight to to take control early control the. Did you guys see the harmonica anthem? Did you get? I saw that.

I didn't see it live, but apparently it played way better live than it did through everybody's television set. I had buddies texting me like, what is happening there? And then I see people tweeting about it. Biz was tweeting about it. Like they tried to get them to come back. These guys are stars now That's not a question at all for me. It's not a question, but it is an observation from a distance

So for me, it was like a car accident I didn't see it live but then I saw the tweets or whatever So I went back in and at first I wasn't really sure what the hell I was watching like the name of it was fantastic Tim Mcgill did a great thing on sports like the name of it was fantastic. Tim Mcgillip did a great thing on sports. Like the retirement home, a harmonica class. It's like the South Korean retirement community center or something here. What is it? The Korea town senior community center, game one of playoffs. They rolled this out and I guess it rocked.

It is the one instrument that does give me a headache though. Yeah. It's the old concussion button. Yeah, it does. Up North, Sam, UNO and Sound, me and Sudbury, we only bring out those weapons when we're at a few too many wobblies on the lake and we got a massive bonfire going on. When a guy pulls out a harmonica, you're like, I'm ready to leave. This is not going to be good. Wonderwall is coming out soon. Yeah, when a guy pulls out of harmonica, you're like I'm ready to leave

Anyway, here's one girl Alright, are you good on that? I turn the page. Okay, we talked a little bit before you're on about Montreal You know where where do you see that series? You know, are they playing to? Basically establish themselves to get experience? Is this all part of the process for them or is there real hope for them to be able to win some playoff rounds? Well, I don't know if I can go that far. I don't know. I think that their best opportunity to really feel good about themselves,

Captain obvious here was to come out on top after that. Come back the other night and you don know find a way to win that game like they're they're they're building up scar tissue for future for future opportunities to do this now there's some underlying things there you know what David Savard is gonna retire they're gonna give everything they got Gallagher you know I don't know what the version of him is gonna be next year year. So, but boy, oh boy, like how good is Nick Suzuki, fellas? Honestly, I know that Borny's got him like the 25th best centerman in their national hockey league or something. But sorry, Borny. He's not, by the way, Borny didn't say that, that he probably read

it. I wrote it, but it doesn't matter. And so they're like, honestly, Caulfield, I thought was in the fight. Suzuki has been great. Demidop, this is a heavy lift for him at this time of year. Um, you know, and some of the heavier guys in the middle lineup, I thought they performed in the best of their ability, but this is a learning curve opportunity for the organization and boy, oh boy. Kid to keep an eye on, I was impressed with them. I thought Struble was in the fight and I like his growl

I think there's a lot of pushback there and that's a that's a kid that I'm gonna keep a close eye on tonight. I Like Guli a lot. We just mentioned the thought of Jack I going in and who would they take out I Guess you know you look at it would maybe have to be screwball and that would be I wouldn't do that because I know there I know the reason why put Jack I and we all know the reason why more physicality heavy heart Gouli plays that way to fellas oh yeah he's got a means for this guy's a one like he's a top pairing D 24 25 minute two-way guy and on the horizon for them I really like this kid he, and he'll cross

the line sometimes too. Like he'll pluck your eyeballs out if you're not if you're not careful. So I really like him. It's so hockey for that to be a compliment. That is hockey. I know I write, you know I just insulted some people by saying that. They're saying what a jerk a comment that was. But that's old school. You know it's that time of the year you got to get after it but look at Stolar's only took about 10 wax at Ridley Gregg last night who's an old school guy as well that stuff gets called all day in regular season. I loved it I absolutely loved it this time of year it's great and and the right call right just perfect. For sure. Send them off. What was the right call on. Was it the right call on Greg for getting punched?

Both of them. Greg's back of his head shouldn't have been hitting his fist. Yeah, don't go there. How about just stay away from him? Two minutes for... Can I tell you guys a real quick Ridley Greg story? Of course. When I was telling him in his draft cycle, he was playing in a game in Winnipeg when

the Winnipeg guys were playing there before they moved again. And he gets hauled down from behind face first into the post face first. His dad scouts for Philly. He was at the game as well. Former teammate of mine. He's great guy. A great guy. He's leaking oil.

The kids leak an oil. They go over. They like, well, I don't know what they do. A little bandage or whatever. He skates right in penalty shot, pots it a winner goal. It was awesome. I thought to myself right, right away. This kid is my kind of guy. It's a pain. And that's awesome. He likes the gamer. You're watching and listening to Jason Buchla former NHL

scouting director pro hockey group and of course, right here analyst analyst for sports net. Soz, I want to pick a little bit of your brain on the scouting part here. We saw a tough game-winning goal the other night, goal against the Montreal Canadiens and Lane Hudson, perhaps on the wrong side, defensively here. We see these great young players and I'll include Evan Bouchard in it with just talent beyond to create offense, to push pace of play,

but sometimes a little suspect defensively. Keep in mind that Bouchard's probably played what? 250 more games than Lane Hudson, but as a scout, you when you look at ceilings on how much better guys can get defensively is there just a certain point where at this point of their careers there's only limited upside or there's still a lot of upside for Lane Hudson particularly or even Bouchard if you want to comment yeah so let's let's go really positive on Hudson. First of

all, I do believe that that in getting to know this kid over the years and watching his development from the program in the US all the way through college, now the National Hockey League, he's gonna he'll be better tonight for that type of area coverage than he was the other night. I would also say this, though, that without going into the debate about whether it should have been icing or not in the first place,

when Lina gets back into the circle and his job, Kipper, is to come out to the point and defense his own coverage off the last drop, I thought he should have protected the middle of the ice and gotten away of Ovechkin coming through the slot anyways just to impede the timing of that a little bit. the way of Ovechkin coming through the slot anyways just to impede the timing of that a little bit. So there's a lot there for me that landed on Lane Hudson's plate as I guess what I'm saying. Now I will say this though I've always been realistic with his upside

he's a dog on the ball and he's like a trowel he's gonna be a trowel he's gonna bite at you but I just need it to be average defensively like good enough that means he is going to be exposed sometimes but it's not going to be for lack of compete it's not going to be for lack of care or awareness where I struggle with Bouchard is that I mean this guy you know he just his routes to kill plays he'll they'll stand beside a check out front of his crease. He very rarely bodies up to kill a play. He'll take the long route and give up so much ice, and it really sacrifices what he does. In my mind, it doesn't add up to enough value in the hardest games,

because the offense, I can't overlook the deficiency defensively. It's, it's way too laissez faire for me. I trust Lane Hudson. Believe it or not going forward more than I trust. We sure fascinating. The, um, you know, the skill guys in the league now can just do some freakish sort of things. You see that Capri's off sauce last night to boldy. Oh God. Yeah.

Oh God. Every hockey person you mentioned that past year is just like, oh, Jesus. It is, I mean, this guy, this guy changes that series and gives the wild a legitimate chance. He, listen, he was to me before he went down with that knee injury guys halfway through the season, I thought he was an MVP candidate. I really did. Like that's how good he was before he went down with injury. But, Oh, it's so flat and it lands right on his tape. There's an NFL quarterback

that can't make a scene throw over the middle like that. And you're getting paid 50 shrill. They've all played for the jets for the past two decades. That's and he did it as well in game, uh, uh, towards the end of the season did it as well in game towards the end of the season at back door feed and towards the end of the regular season when he came back in the lineup. Hey, and Matt Baldy, he's a Blooming Star too, isn't he? Great finish on the kid. Honorable mention to Zuccarello too. This guy competes for the size.

This guy plays like he's six five. He does. He does. It's a great point by you because right. I'm going to the UA team worlds on Friday in Dallas, right? For the next step for draft rep and team Swiss will be there. The guys like Matt Super Ella who come out of Switzerland, like these little guys oil void, they only know one way to play. And that is hard.. They compete to the best of their ability each and every night. That was a great pickup by the while back in the day. They signed me to an extension. I was like, I'm not too sure.

But yeah, he plays the game the right way. Just to follow up, like no one's going to get real nervous on a one-to-one split, you know in two games but the way Minnesota beat Vegas last night particularly with Caril and Matt and the way they played Does that does that plant a seed into Vegas? I Think it does especially because let's like Aiden Hill is at the bottom of the league right now and play off everything as a goal. Like all Mark, I don't think it's been great. He's better for two periods last night against the least, but you know, Aiden Hill, he's

the guy that for me has struggled as well to come up with that big timely saves. I don't like it. I don't know where you guys are with it, but even if you see that goal there, the goalie scored, when big goalies don't even get a piece of a puck, like they go through them, I really have a huge problem with that. Like you gotta be able, you can't open up to the point that,

you know, you're whiffing on things. So this team's gonna come at them hard. And honestly, in game one, Minnesota was pretty good in game one too. Like that's a hard building to play in and they might have woke up the sleeping giant a little bit now or maybe not because that's, you know, the fans in Minnesota, that's a great building. They're going to be rocking and rolling down there. You know, we're kind of waiting for these best teams to look really good. Edmonton didn't in game one, Vegas, you know, gets beat. Because they're not really good Edmonton didn't in game one Vegas, you know gets beat

They're not really good right now, Bernie Edmonton. That's why okay. Well, then maybe we'll take him out of that category But who we can't or shouldn't take out of that category Colorado Dallas there. They're gonna get back at it the avalanche Seemed like going into the series things were falling in their favor like with the injuries to Dallas and you know, Landis gog Maybe back, you know, a lotgog maybe back, you know, a lot of people have them at the top of the list for, for cup favorites, but you know, as they lose game two, where do you have that series? Bill, it costs up. I don't know. Like you're what your one injury, your one, your one goalie getting really hot away from, from everything changing here.

That's a seven gamer for me all day long. Dallas, you know, Randon hasn't got going yet. Thankfully for the Dallas Stars, you know, some of their younger guys, like Harley, like Harley, he came out right at the Four Nations. Everybody was like, wow, how good, he's just, he's really good. He's a stabilizer back there, especially with Heskindham being out. So I still say this as a seven gamer. I don't know that I totally trust McKenzie Blackwood.

I don't know, I can't quite get there. So to be determined. As far as ranting is concerned, as an organization, there's nothing you can do except hope and pray that this guy starts looking like the player that you know, he's been throughout his whole career. But as a scout or as a coaching staff, what's left other than just hoping that he turns it around? Is it a chemistry thing that he's had

trouble with from Carolina to Dallas? Perhaps? that he's had trouble with from Carolina to Dallas, perhaps. Yeah, I think that some guys too are programmed not to handle upheaval very well. And when you get traded in season and you move and then you got like four nations and then you move again, all these types of things, I think that it really, it can last, the lasting effect of that. They'll be better next fall is my long answer

to the question, but that doesn't matter right now. So I don't, for me personally, as a scout or a coach, I don't think you get in the way of that. I think that's the guys in the room type of a thing. And when, you know, we always talk about players playing free, he's gonna have to figure that out on his own. He's a big rig, he's had tons of success in the league. Somehow him and his teammates got to establish that. Maybe it's just, he's going to run some guy

over below the wall. I take the puck to the net and you know, cash in and that's going to spark plug them. But we'll see. He's got to certainly start to have more impact that he's had so far for Dallas to open up more avenues to, to hurt their opponent with other guys. Great stuff as always, books. We really appreciate your time and enjoy the games tonight and let us know where we can get a jacket or a shirt like that. Yeah, I'll I'll let you know. They're in the mail.

Boys, they're in the mail. So thanks a lot for having me on, boys. Of course. If we're doing T.O.I. by series we've talked about, Carolina and New Jersey just sits on the bench, eh? They can't get a shift. Have you not gotten us any Sheldon Keefe clippers?

I sat down today with great intentions. I pulled it up on YouTube and I listened to 753. I couldn't bring myself to cut one clip. Nothing, eh? Just we had some good looks They didn't fall Timo's been good in front of the net like we played well. It was just like I I don't want to do this It's like I keep a smile shut, you know, I hate the phrase I hate the phrase fall like you said that he said all the time and

With Timo Myers, you know Timo's around the net. They can't really around the net. He's gonna have some chances that fall that fall blah blah blah blah I'm like, I'm sorry Sheldon. Yeah, you were good here. You gave us Clippers for four years, but I just it's over You know, they're tough nights There you go game time game time baby. All right, it's game time because I know I bet 365 visit the app play the stars and find Out why it's ever ordinary at bet 365. Let's be 19 plus Ontario only please play responsibly. So now we have a couple games played in the This series around the league here. I wanted to pull up the series exact score lines as I quickly do it here Because I think this is actually pretty interesting Some of the like for example the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars who played tonight and are tied

the favorite in that series for the outcome is Colorado to win in six so it's the lowest odds which is plus 260 So if you want Colorado to win in seven it's plus 375 if you want Dallas to win in in seven It's plus 425 Dallas one in six is plus 600 So the favorite in that one is plus 260 if I go down to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators What do you think the favorite is? for this for the series probably Least in five correct now, correct

the least to win for zip is plus 240 the Toronto Toronto Maple Leafs to win five is plus 196 plus 400 and seven is plus 550. So, Bet 365 is hedging that they're gonna get it done in five games. Gold Knights are still a big, big favorite for them in that series. All their results are plus 330, plus 280, plus 300. The other ones are over 500 and 900 for the Wilds,

so maybe some value there. And as you would imagine, the Habs, long odds at pretty much every result. On the ice tonight for the actual games, as I quickly pull it up here, the Montreal Canadiens are in Washington. They are big underdogs again, plus 150 on the money line, Washington minus 180. The Dallas Stars, really big underdogs again, plus one 50 on the money line. Washington

minus one 80 the Dallas, the Dallas stars really big underdogs tonight. Plus one 60 Colorado minus one 90 tonight and some value there. If you have any hope in the stars and I'd mitten tonight plus money plus one Oh five taking on the LA Kings at minus one 25 in the money line. That's money in the oil is pretty good. Don't mind either of those. that's good. All right, that was game time because I bet three six five Is it the absolute odds of find out what's their ordinary at bet three six five must 19 plus Ontario only please play responsibly Okay, we'll take a quick break catch our breath and when we when we return little NHL news and notes including

What happened in the Battle of Florida. Wagon City. Hey, cheating. It's unfair. Stop it. Investigate. Don't leave your best stuff after the break. Investigate. After the break. Matthew Kachuk, miraculous comeback.

A miracle of modern science. More on Tampa Bay in Florida when we return to real Kipper and born. Hey, it's Alish for afar. And I'm Justin Cuthbert. Join us as we discuss the most important sports stories of the day and tee up the biggest games of the night. It's the fan pregame 6 p.m. weekdays on Sportsnet Sportsnet 590 the fan and wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder this hour of real kipper and born brought to you by bet 365. So last night four games all with scattered start times. I kind of liked it. You did? I did. Especially the six, which it took me about 10 minutes to

get home. So six, 10 minutes. Yeah. He just glides off the top of the building. 12. Did he chopper in? 12. But I liked her in? 12. But I liked it a lot.

I don't know how well it plays out locally for people racing from work to not even maybe having any dinner at all or having a rubber hot dog. It's kind of funny that the NHL was like, well, it's inconvenient, but it's Carolina. So you're going at six, that's tough. So I'm looking at the schedule for tomorrow night. Panthers and Lightning, they have puck drop at 6.30. Oh yeah, 6.30, seven, nine o'clock, 9.30 tomorrow. Yeah.

What do we got tonight? Good from work to home, but not work to rink. Right. Yeah, this is a... If they had a 630 puck drop in Toronto, there would literally be no one there. Yeah. It would be until about 7-12. He can't get anywhere in the city.

Seven o'clock Montreal tonight. We got Stars and Avs at 930, Kings and Oilers at 10, all on Sportsnet. So did we want to talk about the cheater cheatersons in Florida? Yes. So home ice advantage going to Tampa Bay. Better team, more consistent team during the regular season. And lo and behold, they lost home ice advantage. Florida. Air lifts in Matthew Kachuk straight from his coma or whatever it was he was in.

And he scored two goals, one assist, made people angry. Gensels John out of this move was out of his world. He could have shot an actual bowling ball through the legs of Vasilevsky. So the rules only apply to Edmonton and other places? Was it Evander Kane? There's speculation that Evander Kane didn't play game one because I don't know, Edmonton was nervous, but I hope that's not right.

I said this the other day. I just hope it's not the case. But I just pretty right about stuff. Freedges is always right. Yeah, yeah. I just hope it's not the case. But I just don't understand why you would worry about Evander Kane who plays, who makes half the money that Kachuk and Mark Stone and Kucherov make. He's also missed all this hockey going back to last year's Stanley Cup final. I mean, those sort of injuries are almost discretionary. You tell us when you can go.

The final the file must be this thick on Evander Cain's injuries. So there's a new CBA coming. You can't tell me that they can't clean this up. Right. You still have to field like an on ice salary cap of or something to that effect. Yeah, I mean, I don't know the players as long as they get paid, I guess, right? I don't know. That's, that's the thing is, I think from a players association, there would not be any issues because

Just want as much money as you can for your Pay we don't care what the rules are about who can be where when if they're playing or not playing if your decisions to Address them or not dress them is relevant. Just make sure there's money in the system for them. Yeah, okay, so all that stuff aside You look at that lineup for the Florida Panthers and you picked them to win the cup, right? I did. Yeah, it's kind of hard to... Did last night scare you off Tampa? It changed everything.

No. Did you pick Tampa? Yes. Did you pick Tampa? No, I picked Florida. You picked Florida. I did. Did it? Yep. Tell me why. Because often when we see teams that are underachieving

what we think they are, we say, oh, maybe they're saving it, or maybe it's rope a dope, or they'll step it up when it's crunch time. And 90% of the time, it's real. The teams are trying, they just can't get to that next year, something isn't there. And we've said to this Florida team, they don't care where they finish,

you know, they'll be there when it's important. And I've watched them this year at Times and Gone, I don't think they're not trying, I don't think they're as good. And I watched last night and went, oh, there it is. They get, they still have it, they have that snarl, they have enough talent, they have that snarl. They have enough talent. They have that swagger There they're still florida. They have so many good players like it's just it's a stunning when you look down their lineup

Just the amount of really good players who play Gritty playoff style hockey. It's just it's absurd It's almost like it's almost like the salary cap breaks that they get has really helped. Last night, the Leafs rolled out a third line of McMahon, Domi and Robertson. And their third line for Florida was Lusterain and Lundell and Marchand. Yeah, that's a tough matchup for the Leafs. So the final weeks of covering the Leafs, they went down to Florida and played a horrible game against the Panthers. Did they? Never had a good moment.

Did they? And then they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning. And the one thing that I got out of that game was how much looser Tampa Bay plays compared to Florida. It was like night and day. And that's basically the issue for me in game one is that they just picked apart. Like Kachuk's one power play goal

where he's all by himself. And it's like, there isn't a Tampa Bay Lightning to be found and he gets to go forehand, backhand, forehand. Vasileski's sitting there with, you know, in a pretzel. He was doing it, he was literally dancing on ice. Like he made him, he put on, like you know how they say in the NBA where you put him on skates? He did, he was actually on his skates.

He put him in shoes, exactly. You don't, you don't see Florida, even on their worst days, give that up. No. Yeah. So. There's too many guys on, I love Tampa's top end.

I just love the competitive talent combo that's in Point, and Kuturov, and even Gord, and I, Sorelly love those yes but but they get Kachik back they got cool back and after game two they get a very well rested at blood back yeah oh yeah and he's all strong as he's ever been yeah fresh out of life gonna come back looking like Reacher. Why is he so strong? Well, rest, extra gym time. Oh, rest. Yeah, rest. But I will say, if you are a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, like someone this way, you want this... I was trying to figure

out which way we were. I was doing a stairway. You may want this series to go at least six. You can't... you just gotta pray Florida doesn't get through this in four or five. I didn't, because of- I mean you gotta pray the Lees get through it too. Because of- Well, yes. I didn't watch the game closely,

but I did catch the last three or four minutes, and it was a very quiet finish. I know there was some pushing and shoving at the end, but I thought Tampa would try to take a strip off of them at that score Going in a game too, and I didn't even see that feels like they kind of know what scares me is Sorelli Sorelli is such a big part of what they do selkie votes if not selkie winner this year Down the tunnel don't think he came back hoop had no update on him today I mean, did you see like just the start of that game the gold Bennett scores? winner this year down the tunnel. Don't think he came back. Hoop had no update on him today.

I mean, did you see like just the start of that game, the gold Bennett scores like, oh, we're doing this again. Yeah. Where it's just like a flying pot out of the air, shortens up, puts it home. I just I don't expect this to be a four or five game series still. You think Tampa's got? Well, come on.

I mean, we were talking about Kuturov and and point some of these best modern-day players in history here I we haven't really done a ton of overreacting to the first couple games on this show. It's fun But I will I think it's gonna be a sweep or five. Oh, I do I said I said Tampa and set. I'm sorry Florida and seven to start I I Forced way better. Was it was it six years way better. Was it six goals on 16 shots? Yes, they tore him apart.

They just clinical. You know, I really losing Bjork strand hurt Tampa Bay because they made those deals of the deadline and you went, God, now there are three lines deep and it made all the difference. lines deep and it made all the difference and then without York Strand like they needed every piece now I look at it and go look at their bottom six and here's five of the names Geeky Gergenson's Glendening Radish Gonsalves. Geeky Gergenson's. Geeky Gergenson's and it's like that's not enough good guys. Florida has so many good guys. We could have used Kipper's Clipper from John Cooper. Did you hear any? No I didn't. Did you? No. No. No. There'll be a lot of list. Not many listens. He's probably just, you know, he would have wax poetic, like it's a long run.

And, you know, it's the first game. And yeah, this is the same cast of characters. There you go. There you go. You're a little credit to Dallas because I kind of wrote them off after game one. Yeah, we did overreact to that one. That was another overreaction. Yeah. Yeah, I'm guilty there because I I thought they fought hard And I thought they got stronger in game two You know what stood out to me is the guy who's near the puck when Blackwood goes back for a second free attempt on black or

Blackwell shot it on black wood Yeah, when black well goes to the net. It's it's miles wood. It's the guy who I like maybe the fastest guy in the league But they put in ahead of landiscah It was wood in landiscah out after warm-ups and that guy ends up being the guy standing there Landis going in tonight and you know captain see standing there. Landy's going in tonight and you know, Captain C. He's going in. You still got a ton of game and has had a great career is Jamie Ben.

Like watching him play in that game. He is still a huge factor. He's a big brother. The size, the front of the net. Just like he's a disruptor. You don't want to play against that guy. Tyler Sagan also with a power play goal and some thought maybe he wouldn't make it back In time and he he still got some juice

You know if they can push this long enough and get Hayes gonna back and all of a sudden the whole Crews there. No, I don't hear Miro Coming back in this series the board said that walking the board said today that he's getting closer I know I don't know. That doesn't kind of jive with the things that I'm hearing that he's not that close just yet. They're in Colorado tonight. With that elevation, Landis Goggs coming back. Without Hayskin and a lot of Leann Bichel and Alex Petrovich I will say though as a Canadian hockey fan I Thomas Harley warms my heart oh this is a very encouraging he he is definitely he is definitely in Italy next year playing for Team Canada he was great for them in the four nations he's been great for the Dallas Star you just him and Wyatt Johnson could both be potential factors

for Team Canada I really like watching the stars, so I hope they can stretch out this series. National hour, we should give the Ottawa Senators a little love, because we did the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first, not love, but we should give them some attention. What do you want to say? Well, I mean, would you stop it?

What do you want to say? I want to get Kip's take on where the Sens game is at, and can they get back in this thing? I want to get Kip's take on where the Sens game is at. And can they get back in this thing? I do agree with Travis that it's getting better. It got better in game two than it did in game one. And we are still talking about an inexperienced group. And much like anyone else down to nothing,

you cannot lose game three. They gotta get off to a good start. And I think they'll be fine if they do not get down in a hole to nothing. And all mark, I'm sorry, but two goals on four shots cannot happen. It's over if it does. You know, a lot hinges on all mark.

And unfortunately, if he's not good, you know, he hinges on all mark and unfortunately if he's not good You know, he's there for three more years and he's a big part of their plan He needs to show them that he can hold them in these sorts of big games. The playoff resume is getting longer. What? I got nothing to say Maybe they should get their eye in the sky that's pouring over the tapes of the too many men Maybe they he can help him out with their with their game plan going into uh going into thursday night Get the binos out boys Too many men. Oh, mr. Travis green. It was too many men, sir

Didn't you see that? Really hate you now. Oh, I don't care good good I hate run through you. Yeah, do you expect a four-game sweep? I don't I don't but Yeah, do you expect a four game sweep? I don't. I don't but we shall see where they are. But they're top players Stutzla who I thought got stronger as the game progressed. They need to find a two or three point night. Yeah, I thought they've handled Brady really well. You know, like Stutzla has had the puck and been the most scary player for Otto the most dangerous guy Sanderson skates it well and obviously Greg has been involved and in the kitchen the Leafs

But yeah, Brady Kachuk has been just just okay for me. Yeah, you know, he gets the lucky goal Off the foot of Carlo, but they got some work to do Bathersen by the way, awesome awful somewhere in the middle next game. I we do have a Play it but he was pretty downrodden today, Batherson. Yeah All right, let's turn the turnover late and okay One if you could yeah, you live and you learn I mean you make a mistake and You learn from it and sometimes it's the hard way and obviously cost us the game. So live and you learn but it's the hard way and obviously cost us the game. So living your learn, but like I said, you got to move on and move on to the next one. But definitely wish I could have that one back,

to say the least. Can we hear his coach as well? A way in Travis Green, clip seven, a way in on Drake Bathurst. You do live and learn first of all, and it can eat you up. I want to make sure that he doesn't dwell on it. I think it goes back to a lot of the lessons that we've learned this year. He can't live in the past, he can learn from the past and live in the present. When you make a mistake that you don't like that ends up in the back of your net, it doesn't feel good. That's funny, he could have been the hero with 50 seconds left in the game.

He does a lot of good things for our team. And it's easy to say that that goal cost us. I mean, ultimately it did, but there was no guarantee that we were winning the game as well if that play didn't happen. They could have still won the game somewhere, some other point in overtime. So I think it's important that you understand the mistakes or whatever you learn and you move on and you can't dwell on it.

I'm excited for him to get another chance to play tomorrow as well. He had a good chance, 50 seconds left. Yeah, the toe drag where he kind of fell down and he hit the side of the net. It actually looked like it went in. Yeah, it was a... Close. ...primo opportunity. Yeah. Yeah, it was a close primo opportunity

Here's the good news for for the Drake here is that as bad as he feels it is game two and What happens in game three and four will be more remembered possibly for the series than that if if if that turnover happens later on in the series and even five six or seven it has a chance to stand out to live on to live on a lot more in people's minds there's plenty of time for people to forget about that turnover with what will happen in game three, in game four. What about the brutal flyby too? Will that be remembered or no? As you evaluate their team. Well, that was two of them, right?

Yeah. For me, Dylan Cousins to me cannot. I go to Dylan Cousins a lot more than Drake. Max passed them both. Yeah. Cousins, you know, when you look at guys who are on the Sens team, Max Pass them both. Yeah cousins You know when you look at guys and they who are on the sense team who are important to them and gonna be good Totally believe in Batherson that guy's a hockey player very impressed in game one

Love what Pinto does Greg's gonna be a pest dudes. I can skate they have pieces Cousins man, I'm not sure I you understand why Buffalo's like we're not getting anything out of this guy right now He needs a good summer. He almost ripped one bar down though, 90 seconds left in the game. Still has an excellent save. Okay. Once again, fastest two hours in hockey gone. Just like that.

Sorry, Ottawa. I'm not. Three games on tap tonight. Montreal and Washington, Dallas and Colorado. Edmonton against the Los Angeles Kings. Don't go anywhere. You're all looked after here on Sportsnet.

Our thanks to Gord Stalek, Jason Bucola. Pick your game, enjoy it, and then join us again tomorrow on the Real Kipper and Boran Show. Have a great night, everybody.