Real Kyper & Bourne - Caps Bully Habs to the Brink + Kings' Collapse

Episode Date: April 28, 2025

Washington Capitals analyst Alan May joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to discuss the Caps taking a 3-1 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens (6:05). He gets into how Washington has matched up against the Habs' top line, the importance of being physical in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Logan Thompson's status moving forward, Ivan Demidov's potential and much more. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee chat about Connor Hellebuyck's continuing struggles in net for the Winnipeg Jets, why the Edmonton Oilers have taken the reigns in their series against the L.A. Kings, and the controversial suspension vs. no suspension for Brandon Hagel and Matthew Tkachuk in the Battle of Florida.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.

Welcome back into the national hour of the Real Kipper and Boren show. We are live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary and right across your Sportsnet platforms. This hour Real Kipper and Boren brought to you by Bet365, Nick Kiprios, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. In a few minutes we'll welcome in Alan May, Capital Analyst for Monumental Sports Network, who was in Montreal in what have been two electric Stanley Cup playoff hockey games in Montreal.

Like, have you guys ever covered a game in Montreal for the Stanley Cup Playoffs? I've never been to the Bell Center, period. Let me tell you something. I went to a regular season game against the Stars once. There is nothing that can compare to it. Nothing. I'm telling you right now, I've either played or covered Stanley Cup Playoffs for Sportsnet, Stanley Cup Finals.

No team in the league can match what Montreal presents to their fans before and during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Believe me that comes through clear as day. You know I actually I felt a little bad in the first hour. I had Jason York on talking about Ottawa and he said, I think that's the loudest. Is it the Canada Tire Center? The Canadian Tire Center.

The Canadian Tire Center. It's called Canada Tire. I've heard of the brand. Canada Tire. There's no better smelling store in the world than Canadian Tire. They have their own money, you know. Yeah, I'm aware I have some.

$6,000 of it worth one cent. But yes, he talked about how he thinks that's allowed us that's buildings been and it came the day after watching The Bell Center and it was like whoa, those are different tears of volume That Friday night game with the fights in the benches fights at the benches Montreal wins big goals and then I mean it was a great hot I thought it was a lot more of a exciting game than the one on last night, but I mean that hit is just I How many times do you think you've watched that hit the Tom Wilson carry? Yeah more than twice ding. Yeah, that's just like a That's just a that's a freight train

Yeah, he just like skips out of there. He was delighted with himself. I mean you talk about on the button, you know, like hitting a home run or striping a golf club down the middle. That probably feels pretty similar to that. So Kerry made the play. That was the game right there, wasn't it? Was the game.

Anderson went and shook his gloves at him to fight. Wilson declined the offer. Moth Plague went on and Washington scored. Duhaime banks it in off of Caulfield, I think, to... I don't know who was it, but... Yeah, either way, full marks to the Montreal fans. The two games there were unbelievable. How are we feeling about the Oilers before we get into just a quick look?

Actually, really good. Really good. I mean, it's two-fold, right? The Stars, the big boys. And... LA. What are you guys doing? That by-field failed chip-out is the stuff of nightmares.

Haunt you in your dreams stuff as a hockey player. Just bang it off the boards. It's more than that though. It's just that's two consecutive games where you played not to lose and you cannot do that this time of year. We haven't had a show since the challenge, right? That was Friday night?

Yeah, no, no. It's just not pretty. Those this poorly like those you let a series altering moment You let a team that was really feeling down and out now. It's like I mean, I will do game time later in this hour I don't sure they're the favorites now. I don't know I don't know like how LA is built like, you know, we've covered the Leafs here in Toronto all year We know that we know how their department works. We know who's the video guys, who's calling the shots.

Ultimately, it comes back to your head coach, right? I mean, there has to be a comfort zone in his staff. And if it's on you, it's okay. I'm with you. Let's do this. I don't know where it stood with Jim Hiller, but that was as much the most I can give him is 50-50. The most.

The most and now we are in the flipping the coin. With fire do I absolutely. In a tie game. You're not behind. With six minutes to go. two possibly three of the greatest players in the game's history on a power play. Over the last five years it's the best power play the league has seen. What are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing? Not sure. Not sure. That was... You don't deserve to win the series if you're going to make those type of gambles.

Now, other teams get breaks and don't take advantage of them. McDavid and Dry Settle, and I said this before the series, everything pointed to LA for me winning this series. But I bet on Edmonton. Because these two mutants, these absolute freaks of nature, refuse to lose. You can't win like the Edmonton Oilers are playing. You cannot win a Stanley Cup. You can't get to a Stanley Cup final. They kind of did last year.

No, no, no, no, no. I know last year they were better. They were better last year. This is just, those two guys taking advantage of some really, really bonehead decisions and moves. But it buys them time to figure it out as a team. Win enough, so at home. We're coming back to the Oilers.

Connor and David had 42 points in last year's playoffs. We're just beginning. In the meantime, let's go back to the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals. Joining us now, former teammate of mine, Alan May, who's covering the Capitals for Monumental Sports Network. It's a heck of a series. Where are you, buddy? What's going on? Are you in the lobby somewhere? I'm back home in D.C.

and it's the most beautiful day of the year right now. So I wish I was outside, but I'm happy to spend time with you guys. You know what's making a beautiful up 3-1 on a team that you're covering? That certainly helps and I'll tell you what, what a great experience this has been. The other night I was in the broadcast booth filling in for Craig Laughlin in Montreal and that is one of the loudest buildings I've ever heard and you know in my pro life when I was a kid I watched Evan to know others when for Stanley cups from inside the

building one of those I was an extra player and you and I played in a New York Rangers series years and years ago in 1990 and we lost 7 to 3 and that arena was so loud and so rabid at the next game we had to put on a gong show and we ended up eliminate them and four straight after that but you know I heard Tampa caps and playing Tampa and 2018 here in game 6 was amazing that last year every single game. I was at an evidence in the finals, but in Montreal, my legs were shaking and vibrating in the

booth all through game three. It was a great experience for me and probably for all those Montreal Canadiens fans. That team dominated. They skated so fast. The fans really helped them get the win there. And then the Capitals found a way to quiet the fans yesterday and come out of there with a series lead at three to one because Montreal was feeding off those fans so well You're watching and listening to Alan May Capital analysts for monumental sports network

So who who who quieted them down just one guy Tom Wilson? Well, it was Tom Wilson, but before that kipper You know you guys are watching those games and in the first game, you know I watched it, you know two times after the fact after being in there you know it was so loud in there so I watched our broadcast and then I watched the Sportsnet broadcast and you know I know this was all the pushing and shoving all the skirmishes after the whistles the Canadian fans were getting pumped up and I thought that elevated their team and then a game for every single capital Any type of the time the on a jersey or give a lit

They just turned the othe the way they didn't are t to them. They didn't mess part, they didn't have th the decibel level never g game three and just for a few minutes on that power caps calmed it down again and it was just not getting involved in those active

skirmishes making sure that they weren't arguing with the referees not giving them anything to feed off of and of course Tom Wilson kind of shut everyone up with that monster hit and he was skating 15 miles an hour he wasn't going 25 or 30 he was going 15 but 15 miles an hour. He wasn't going 25 or 30. He was going 15, but 15 miles an hour meeting a player head on. And Tom Wilson is 235 pounds of ripped muscle. He had his feet planted firmly and that really shook the building up

and really affected the Montreal Canadiens on how they were gonna play the rest of that game. Allen, I think going into this series, a lot of people would have reasonably expected Washington to handle their business with this Montreal team. Have the Capitals been surprised by all the push that Montreal has given them here? I don't think so.

When you look at what Montreal's doing there, they're a top-line team. They rely solely on the first line. They rely on the power play. And the Caps knew that Suzuki and Caulfield and Slefkovski, not to forget him, we're going to do some damage, but they are fast hockey players, especially the first two I mentioned, Caulfield and Suzuki could play a five minute shift and never get tired, never slow down. So they're trying to keep them to

the perimeter for the most part at five on five, they've been able to keep them out of the middle of the ice. The capitals are just kind of gone back to relying on that defensive play. They got out of sorts in game three, but the first couple of games, you know, Montreal puts a push. They, they just go as hard as they can. And there's not a team in the national hockey league that doesn't kind of go in a defensive posture. And a lot of people said, while they wanted to prevent defense in games one and two, they did not.

The capital still had great plays, but the Canadians found a way to convert on some scoring opportunities and that they did and the Capitals I thought kind of took off their foot off the pedal a few times at trying to score, but they dominated actually when you look at the play and the fancy stats and all the different you know the sports logic things that we go through the capital still had, you know, basically dominated the play in three of these games outside of the game three, the capitals have dominated in all those statistical categories. There's no question. The physicality out of the Montreal Canadiens early in this series has almost gone shoulder to shoulder, but they are perceived as the smaller team.

And I think when people saw Tom Wilson, you know, with that hit, many of them are sitting there going, okay, how long can Montreal keep going physically against them? Is this where it really catches up, I think, to the Montreal Canadiens in the latter part of the series Well when you look at what the caps were doing to the defenseman yesterday were decimating them right from this first ship They did it in game one first shift. It was a vesture and Bavilia a planting defenseman

They're going after Lane Hudson. They're finishing the hit Tom Wilson racked him in the first period He finished the hit on him perfect within the rules. Same thing about the same speed he was going when he got Carrier, but he nailed him and he was shook. He was grabbing his face and, you know, Wills gave him a shot and he bounced off into the glass. And we saw a couple of plays yesterday where Dooham and Dow simultaneously hit their two defenders on like a 212 for check and Dow went flying back off the Kaden Gouli but I watched Gouli on the bench and neither of the broadcasts were showing Kaden on the bench and he was shook up he was winded he was bent over and you go down to five defensemen and then you go down to four because you're not going to play Jack.

defenseman and then you g you're not going to play those other guys out ther finishing, finishing fini game. So this series has It's a lot was a lot eas Louis to get his line ma the caps, you know, they

and strong to go head to Coffield because those ki go for it offensively. An on a shot. They're on a fast breakdown the ice so that the line changes on Wednesday night it will be back to matching with to bar down against that Suzuki line and then the other guys are going to after but the one thing the caps will do they will go after

and try to stay within the rules of finishing the hits on those defenders are not the biggest guys. Their fleet of foot specially call Lane Hudson he's. He's hard to hit but one stops skating You got to finish on him and that's what the Capitals will go in and they will try to do that in Game five and send Montreal home sad and that's you know They've got to stick to their game plan stay within their defensive structure And that's how they come out of this. If they can close this out in five, that will be how they do it. And are you confident that Logan Thompson is healthy and able to be the guy he's been for them this season?

All the confidence in the world. And it was really nice of the Montreal fans to be cheering him on his seat yesterday. And they cheered him when he got up the other day I thought it was a year but he was feeding off of the animosity from the crowd. I love the Montreal crowd. I thought they were spectacular but last game Logan on the high danger opportunities that they had a 5 on 5. He was there for his team he had no rust on him he had nowhere to tear from what we saw got all the confidence in the world to him but also Charlie Lindgren has been a and It looked like it was a knee issue or something. He limped off, did he not? I don't know.

Yeah. There was a lot of contact. Every time you watch that replay, there was head contact. There was a- Which we all assume is a, he got bumped in the head, right? I mean, that's the initial report, right? Oh. It went down, but you know,

and then there was also, you see strong skates through him and the skates are in the midsection. And then you, when you get the camera angle from behind, you know, he, he takes, you know, it, it looks like his knee is hyper extended. So it's so impossible to speculate. And at that point, really you want to get them out of the net because much rail was rolling, uh whatever was going on at the LT I haven't asked him you know how bad he was shook up but who knows it could have been one of those overall body stingers when it just everything hurts on a big impact collision but you know to see him skate out there and you know he was walking in

the building on Saturday and he was laughing and joking with his teammates and then he and Lindgren went out there and they left the ice at the same time on a Sunday morning and that was absolutely hilarious that you know the mind games they were playing with everybody so you know the Caps have all the confidence in the world and both of their goaltenders and just like Montembo you know really gave Montreal a huge boost in the way he'd been playing down the stretch so you know it's just one a huge boost in the way he'd been playing down the stretch.

So, you know, it's just one of those things. Hopefully you don't ever have to change your goalies. But when you do, you want to really be able to believe in the other guy. Montreal's got some reason to believe in their future. You know, Slavkovsky looks good. That Hudson is really hard to hit. What have you made of Ivan Demidov? Shifty little fellow out there.

Not even little, just shifty. Shifty. He is so fast. And I thought, yeah, really good. I started playing him more in his very first game. I was like everyone and you know, a true hockey fan in North America. And I was texting with all of the former capitals that I worked with. We were watching the game at all different places. And I had about 20 of my friends.

We went to a bar to watch and a sports bar here in DC and we were like, wow, we couldn't believe how electrifying he was. And it was exciting for me and it was exciting for the league and the people of Montreal when he came out for the rookie lap and the arena's jam packed, it's full. You know, Aki is so much in the people of Canada's blood and him to go out there, the way he got his first assist, the first goal. But one of the thin still got to learn how to puck, the defensive struc

he's lazy and everyone is second game you play. But errors and you can't give because at the on the othe of the day, you want him him to be offensive. You to carry the puck end to end and dish the puck the way that he has been.

I love watching him play yesterday and he is electrifying and if they ever pump him up with Suzuki and Caulfield full-time. Wow, there's going to be a lot of goals scored. You're going to see those three guys get to a hundred points each because he is that good. I was amazed to see him play. I can't believe what he can do with his wheels, with his skates, the edge work that he has,

the shiftiness, he's really one of a kind. So, you know, they should almost go down to the three lines and just have that kid on the ice a lot. And because when he's out there, he's gonna get the puck down the ice and you're gonna have to worry about him inside the defensive zone. But he's been a blast to watch,

especially in person, it's always better. And man, he has not disappointed me. Awesome stuff. Before I let you go, Albie, just one thought. Washington Capitol is gonna get even bigger with Protus at six foot six coming back into the lineup for game five. We will see. Tomorrow will be his first full practice. And then, you know, game day morning,

he'll probably go out there for the, you know, they always do an optional on game day, but everyone seems to show up for them. But I would expect, you know, it's been about that time. It's been three weeks now since that injury. And you know, that's normally when you look at it, it's a minor thing. It's thing is usu days. If it's more than m three weeks, usually more waiting to the six week m he was skating in Montrea he's good to go and what

a weapon that is to bring a 31 goal score that is o killers that is a play dr think I've ever seen any as far as my time in washington whether as a player or my broadcasting role that's ever expanded and improved his game so much from season to season plus forty this year six goals last year i think was six goals this year thirty one

and he came in and it's not linemates because no matter who you put him with he's been playing well but he's battled harder on the wall with the pucks. He usually wins every single board battle Shooting, you know last year so many times he'd be ten feet from the net He'd dish the puck somewhere. It drove me crazy this year He just seemed to be doing everything right a true student of the game and an excellent teammate for the guys on his squad So if he can come back, that'll be a huge difference maker. Great stuff. Enjoy game five, Wednesday. We'll see what happens. I'll be great stuff as always, my friend. Thanks for joining us.

And Barney send me that tie, bud. Oh, is that a tie? Do you have a tie? He liked your tie the other night. Oh yeah. Yeah. The blue one. Okay. On it. Hey, you got it, buddy. All right. How's that a tie to have a time he liked your tie the other night? Oh, yeah. Yeah the blue one. Okay on it Hey, you got a buddy

All right Alan may cover in the Montreal Canadians the Washington Capitals, you know what I'm wearing for a tie tonight I'm wearing a camo tie. Whoa, is he be Biax had one the other night, and there's one in my stall today. Let's do it. I'll throw a camo tie on. I am very envious of all the great suits. I just think the Sportsnet suit game, all the guys look fantastic.

Really good. Really good. Deberman showed out. Oh, the best. Debi, good work. Really good. Okay, what is going on with kind of goaltending in the first round here because I don't know

it's kind of looking soccerish to me a little bit. Yeah, some crooked numbers out there. It's a tough game. I'm talking about the flopping and the guys like, you know, make like, like, okay, we just saw for those of you watching and not just listening, Logan Thompson come off the ice like he was done, done, done, like grill marks on a burger done. I couldn't believe, like,

and then 48 hours later, he's kinda giggling and laughing, like, I'm sorry, but like, how do you go from looking like that to 48 hours back in the game? You've torn your MCL before, right? ACL. ACL, I did my MCL, and I remember how loose my knee below the knee felt, like it just feels like

there's no support. I saw him try to skate, and I saw, it looked like his knee just wasn't there for him. And I was like, oh, night night, you know, not seeing him again. And then the next day, he's in there just doing his thing. Doing his thing. But on the, when he got cross-checked by Strom, right? Was it that was coming back on the back check when he fell back it looked like his

Left or right skate kind of picked. Yeah, and he went over the top of it. You're like, oh, it's popped It's gone like it's not like he was because I listen I love to accuse boys of being huge fakers and divers because they all are of Course, but like this was not a situation, listen, I love to accuse goleys of being huge fakers and divers, because they all are, of course. But this was not a situation, well this is a different one here, but this is not the situation where I thought he was faking it, or I thought he wasn't actually done. Oh, he just gets cross-checked to the chin straight up. I know he does, I know, but it's not, it's like he can't walk.

Well then he might be seeing Tweety Birds, I don't know. You always say maybe like Keeps you from putting weight on your left Laying in a way you've seen boxers get clocked and have trouble to get their feet under him. Okay, so brings us to Freddie Anderson Carolina seems to be very comfortable against the New Jersey Devils, but Home, behold. He's gone. I'm gone. Stunning. We're gonna be the Make Fun of Injury show?

No, we're not, we're not, I'm just, I'm saying like, you wanna lose this reputation, finally. I know. And he walks right into the same reputation he's had his whole career. Yeah. It's just... I'm not shocked.

Really strange. No, I know. Listen, our bodies are built differently. His does not seem to be a durable one. I don't know if we have it, don't have it, show it, don't show it. I don't know. But like he, it was... I'll give it to him.

It was a very strong Nudge Very forceful nudge you got hit hard. Listen, I am the foremost Freddie Anderson make fun of her like I But he Like what Tom Wilson's hammered but carry a didn't play anymore either. I don't know. I thought it's a hammer. I would have played they told him stop. Yeah Strong nudge Okay, I Know further comments at this time. Okay. All right. No further comments at this time. Hey Just one comment. I'm on dovich good goalie good goalie good

Good goalies have no real drop-off needed a save yeah I needed one my G pot yet like still a good. It's a good shot. That's a good point Sam It's a good shot. No no for sure every half back sitting there saying he's close He's close. I like him too. I didn't think like you said not much of a drop-off I do wasn't like all this guy's way worse than Sam Montalvo hundred percent agree thought he made some good saves in that game but that's a young goalie and I don't know if we have the highlight or not, but Monge upon he's coming down the wing coming down the middle of the ice. Oh V out to the right. Mm-hmm. He's mentally cheating Yeah, he's thinking he's gonna give it over to all be on it in this guy

Just upset the goals record and then Monge upon he went on him quick But you know My my thing with the Habs is I was like they have some players I don't know that they're gonna have the elite talent to be like a cup threat in a couple years and Hudson has changed that and demidov has changed that yes Caulfield was always you know a 40 goal guys, but Slavkovsky's come along. They got guys now Sammy that hate to break it to you That they got to get bigger for sure. I just got to get bigger They're just too small right now when they're gonna lose Savard in the offseason. I

Guess I'll keep Anderson. He loves them. It of loves The toe drag to the outside. Mm-hmm like where he tries to like because he's really good at he loves me Like he did it there was another player other than the game and that's what you love with the Montreal crowd They're just so incredibly locked in where he did like a between-the-legs toe drag. That's a really cool looking move Goes nowhere the whole crowd goes Like it's like a collective like oh like they can see what he almost did you love that Yeah, but you know that was a great play to set up up Slav Cosco in the power play told right behind the net Okay, we still got plenty to get into but we got to do

game time Game time set about bet 365 visit the app for the stars and find out why is ever ordinary at bet 365 That's 19 plus Ontario only Please play responsibly So only two games tonight boys Bit of a come-down from some of the I mean yesterday my poor couch like I Did some things around the house and then went on a bike ride to get some lunch before 1 o'clock

I did push an assault. I honestly didn't leave my couch until And all that stuff but it's a little bit of a come-down tonight stuff is a dad. Yeah, sorry, bud Blue dog had to go for a walk at one point The Panthers are big favorites on home ice tonight minus 140 against the Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa plus 120 Hagel back don't know where I'm leaning on that one. That to me is gonna be an absolute battle I I really don't feel like the Florida Panthers are worthy of minus 40 in that game. In that game without a suit of armor. That's what I can tell you about tonight. I would not step on the rank without full on like you'll those dog training suits.

The only way I'm going out there is with a sword. It's like a Roman gladiator being released in the lions and the Dallas Stars are home to the Colorado Avalanche in a pivotal game five should be an excellent game Dallas Stars plus 115 on home ice Colorado minus 135. I think that's a good number You can kind of feel that the Colorado Avalanche are yeah coming around you're not gonna give us the the other number of the big event tonight No, I was trying the election numbers were posted earlier the the but I think they've kind of taken them down now

So I can't access because earlier today when I was looking they had the Canadian election on here But it's not posted right now So maybe too much information starting to trickle in or whatever it is But yeah, hey if I guess you go out there and vote you can do that. It's your voting All right That was game time because everybody bet three six five visit the app for the sods and find out was there ordinary bet 365 that's renting plus Ontario only please play responsibly okay we got a ton to get into NHL News and Notes we haven't even had a hell of a conversation not

even close yet I guess you want to do it now where you want to go to break. We'll go back but I'll just say that I need Jets talk we got some jets talk big time and also Tampa Bay and Florida tonight Matthew Kachuk so much has happened between our last show on Friday and today Dubas we've got to even talk about Matthew Kachuk people actually wanted him suspended. I know I'm not here. Who is that? Okay? people actually wanted him suspended. I know. Who was that? Okay. Let's get into that.

Oh, great. And more when we return to Real Kipper and Born. or wherever you get your podcasts. Chill News and Notes, but my list is huge here. So this is gonna be like speed dating. When I cut you off, we gotta go to another topic. Start, unfortunately, with Jets talk. Yes. Hush tones, Jets talk. Okay, so. Jets whispers.

Watch the game, closely. Justin, it was you, Sammy, and David Amber. This closely Justin, it was you Sammy and David Amber. And I had you guys in the background. I probably was eating. I was looking back. I'm not sure if you guys had the discussion, but I would not, I thought Hellebuck's not coming out for the third.

Did you guys have that discussion on there? I don't know if we had the, is he coming out for the third? We talked a lot of Hellebuck. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he was the third. Did you guys have that discussion on there? I don't know if we had the, is he coming out for the third? We talked a lot of hell about it. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he was the topic. Were you surprised that he came out in the third? I thought he should have bolted his ass right after the second period and say, get much like Peter DeBoer did that with Autinger the other night where it's like, you're not coming out and get ready for game. This is four one after two periods, right?

Yes. You know, I just. Would you have pulled him? I know. I don't know that I would have. It would have felt like kind of rolling over on that game to me. But I get why you would have. I understand it.

Yeah, he just didn't have it. No. And if you were. Does he ever? Well, yes. Lots of times he does have it. You got 20 minutes. you got a good offense You're not out of the game, but you're out of the game the moment Robert Thomas came down and again

Look, you look like you were Robert Thomas made no fakes on that backhand move. He never and and hell book was actually sliding the opposite way somehow. I Was shocked. Yeah, you know my my problem with Hellebuck there was he typically plays deep in his net anyway, and then he was kind of passive and small on top of that depth, and it just, he didn't look like himself. There's no doubt about it.

Now, I'm not one who thinks that like, this guy can't play in the playoffs, and it's between his ears is too much. He's going to be terrible game two. I thought he was good for them. I'm not giving up on Connor Helba. There's no, it's just no, no, no, you don't. But like you're not you can't do what he did all regular season and then bail on him now.

No, okay. So no one's saying that he shouldn't start the next game. But I hate that. I hate that. I hate that. He looks at his D man on the now. No. Okay. So no one's saying that he shouldn't start the next game. But I hate that. I hate that. He looks at his D man on the second. Something's going on here where he just shrivels up this time of year. We have a clip of him from today. If you want to hear it. Hold on before we hear it. Do you want to have the conversation about how many games he plays? Do you put any stock in the idea that playing 60, two goalies since, I want to say 2004, since the lockout have played 60 games and won the cup. Yeah. It's very uncommon. The reason goalies don't play that much.

I don't tie. I don't tie what's going on with him or previously at this time of year to the games played or where he is physically. I think his problem is mental. I think he does not challenge himself to go to the next level. We see different players now play out of their tree trunks. They just rise to the occasion. This guy has trouble doing that this time of year and his body language, the fact that he plays so far deep in his net now, and instead of looking bigger, he looks smaller. He doesn't, teams, the way they play you is different.

You got a goal 10 different this time of year. You gotta be more aggressive. I didn't like the one that bounced off a P-Hawk. Like come out Go and and and make yourself bigger and if it does bounce off of two guys At least you're on top of them. You're into the pile. You're into the pile that one like the shop block attempt was bad Like profet, he's not in the lane goal. I hated the Tucker go I hate that one in particular because of the reaction as I said his d-skates in front of him He looks at him goes

I don't know if he's calling to the ref like I got touched or what but he's like just like how about looking in the mirror? Mm-hmm. Who are you looking for to blame? I didn't like the Shen one for just pure passiveness Just get out make a strong play Confident motion. Yeah, anyway, this is the same between the ears and he's got to make adjustments He's got a goal ten different this time of year because they play you different this time of year. He doesn't believe in him, right? That's who we're in. I don't just listen to this clip. Can we listen? It's a little bit. It's like over a minute line. Just listen to him talking here Well, you don't love giving up that many goals, but we're two two in the series

You know, that's all that matters are winning the next one Am I gonna be better? I am gonna be better. I've studied but we're 2-2 in the series. That's all that matters, winning the next one. Am I going to be better? I am going to be better. I've studied goaltending extremely hard. I've probably studied the most out of anyone in this world. So I know what to do and how to get my best game. So that's what I'm looking forward to do. And I've got to get two days here and time to bring it on game five.

You're a Vezna finalist again. Congrats on that probably no surprise given the numbers you put up like your playoff numbers are a surprise How relative are they to your play? Yeah, thanks Honestly, it's a surprise in my world too when I'm watching my game and you know, there's a certain way that I I needed to look and I want it to look and game and there's a certain way that I needed to look and I wanted to look. And it'd be crazy to go that many regular season games and then all of a sudden switch something up in playoffs. You don't win 47 games and then come to playoffs and switch everything up.

No, I know how it needs to look and I like a lot of things. I'm not gonna go and make huge changes. That being said, I'm gonna be better. That's my job and that's the foot. I'm not gonna go and make huge changes that being said I'm gonna be better That's my job and that's the foot that I'm putting forward lot there so Feel the same way after hearing that I I'm okay the way he handled it at the end of the day. All I heard was I'm gonna be better. So, okay Just show everybody that then that's all I heard. I don't like two things I do like that. He's like, I know I need to be better and whatever but like I don't like him saying

I studied more than anybody else in the world You know, it just feels like one of those why is it be like a weird? It's okay. It's it's uh, it's overcompensation Right and then like you know, you know 47 games. I don't you don't need that We we don't need that stuff stuff But still okay if it helps them yeah feel better to me would put more pressure on yourself because you're putting yourself forward as this anyway, I I I Think he's gonna be okay Valley has done some work and we'll talk to him tomorrow on how he is not typically excelled through screens in the postseason I

Gotta ask that's the battle part. I gotta ask that's the battle part I gotta ask that's the battle part I'm trying not to be competitive here okay but what has he ever shown you mm-hmm in his playoff career that makes you think he's gonna be okay well this is great this is great because this is something I don't think he's going to be okay at all but this is something that you and I fundamentally have always disagreed on which is like McElroy's a choker yeah but, but then he was because he played well that one time Yeah, and the Oilers can't win but then all they started well this year Can't win this cups in Detroit with Stevie Iserman can't win him with OVs never be we you can't he can and

Hellebuck has had moments. You know, he came to I thought he's pretty good this series 2021 I think he had a good playoff series. I know it's not recent. I just think good players are good at hockey and it's still hockey. And you play enough of it and that will normalize at some point. It's not another sport. I know it's different.

I know it's more physical. I know there's more screens and he's got to figure that part out. But typically if you can figure out enough things to become the guy he is, you can figure this out too. If he just thinks It's a coincidence that he's really hasn't studied Okay, he needs to make that's a good point

physical mental emotional changes In the way, he's gonna be hard. It's not the same exactly. It's not the same. Yeah, it's not the same Do you need to make some changes? Okay. Um Told you we were gonna come back back to the Oilers in LA. Jets, dog. And that was Jets, dog. Why I think LA might be in trouble is I don't know if you can get over the hump of losing two games the way they had.

I don't know if you can lose two games the way they did and still find a way to win a series in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Yeah. I think it's gonna carry a little bit with them. You do, eh? I do, and there's a number of reasons, and one of them is watching this team in the first round

play with four defensemen like when they signed Edmondson right he was a Leaf right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. He's good for the Leafs last year. He was good. Yeah. Good play. What is he? Four? A five? A six? Sure. Okay. Four and a half. He's one. He's a one for them and you know who's two? The guy who hasn't played all year, Drew Doughty. Yeah. Okay, when you when your top two defensemen are those two guys against a very fast team, you're you no wonder you can't close out games.

Yeah, they're tired. They're not they're not fast guys as is and they're your two best defensemen. And you cannot play the Oilers just holding on and playing defense. I thought McDavid mentioned that in a post game comment. I thought he kind of planted the seed. He goes, well, they're mostly playing four guys back there. He said they're playing three lines and four guys, which is a bit of a, you know, it's not just the four guys, which you don't usually hear. It's two guys who cannot get up and down the ice. I'm sorry, but that's not their specialty anymore. Drew Doughty is on the other side here. He can, he's still very valuable, but he can't get up and down the ice. They had no push for offense in the third period

or in overtime. They were hanging on. You cannot play McDavid and Dry-Seidel hanging on. The Oilers cannot play in their own zone and they have a goalie they're not sure of. Why aren't you still pushing hard here? The ice times, quite frankly, for the Kings are insane. Like I mean Edmondson 36-16 in that game. Mikey Anderson 34-14. Drew Doughty 32-57. 31-40 for Gabrikov and then

Brent Clark played 11-58 and then their their sixth defenseman uh Mo Harvey. Played 226. 226, why the dress? Moverer, Moverarm. Why the dress? This is your first round. How can you- Hellenius played a minute 44. How can you prepare to play the Stanley Cup finalist in the first round with a sixth defenseman you can't use?

You've already handicapped yourself. You know what's so crazy about this? It's nuts to me. They were the second best defensive team in the NHL in goals against this year and by the fancy stats, them and Vegas were the best defensive teams in the league. They didn't give up anything. They didn't score much.

So for them to go into this, I think they're 14th in goals for per game, to go into this and score every game. How many goals have they scored? I don't know. Kempe's got nine points. They're filling the net and to still be two and two, giving up goals like crazy to McDavid and Dry Saddle, who have nine points each as well. It's freaky that they haven't been able to get wins scoring as much as they have. Kempe has nine points so minus five. Did you? He didn't score on it, but I know you love Kempe, nine points, so minus five. Did you?

He didn't score on it, but I know you love Kempe, so I thought I'd bring it up. But in the first period, I think, he came ripping down the right wing and then like in stride pulled it from out of his and just rang it off the crossbar in one motion. He's a very cool hockey player. He's fun to watch. He is. He'd be in a rocket contention one for sure But I feel it's a great player he's gonna have a great career

What was he thinking? It's one of them the most This is I hate that play for an empty net goal get the goal. Oh my god this guy will never be remembered as as goals as numbers guy you got gotta be Kopitar. I don't know why, like, it was that important to him to maybe get an empty net goal. I know he's thinking, I'm gonna end the game, I'm gonna put the game away, but look at the time of the clock here.

There's 45 seconds left. That gets out, I know. And Bouchard, what a great decision to pinch. You back out there, you end up playing goal. He really had no choice. I don't know that a lot of guys would have recognized that. It's a great hockey IQ play. Just chipping off the boards, buddy.

You got four strikes. Chipping chase. Okay, go get it. You're fast. Keeper moving here. Two games on tap tonight. You guys have a pregame show at 630? No, 7 o'clock.

We're going to come up for three minutes or something. a pregame show at six 30. No, seven o'clock. We're going to come up for three minutes or something. We got no pregame. No, it's like you have a few more reps on our show before they give you a pregame. We'll see someday. Working on it. Matthew Kachuk, yeah. The the people that wanted him

suspended are the same people who thought Montreal and Washington had a brawl in game three. So that wasn't a brawl in game three In what world do you think that was a brawl? Well, I guess in the playoffs gloves don't really come off But like when it's in 2025 kipper, right? Yes your world Gen Z bro There's two guys in the bench it was awesome. It was awesome. It was fantastic I tried to ask to get back to the point of Matthew Kachak. Yes, I Don't think I hate that any of these are

Discussed for a suspension like people be like all zoob should have been says I'm like come on really like People me bringing it up because it's just I think not to get into this again. They set the standard by suspending haggle that on a different play interference blindside shots that put a guy to the ice right and I Like I think if you I mean that's a it's not as it's a late hit. It's not as violent

It's a late hit but that's a guy who just had the puck so late hit There is way more intent in that than there was in Haggis. Oh my god That happened way slower than Haggis did oh no question. I know I think it's brilliant by Matthew Of course it is That even to discuss this because I love it to go get a shot like that Like they just gave you one prior in the game and to kind of even up the score without ever Threatening of a suspension is just a nice Wiley veteran move that's just the fundamental difference

And I said this in our group chat I'll just say it so my stance is that one of them is on a four check where Barkov has no you have no reasonable Position to assume he's going to be carrying the puck Whereas the other guy that picks everybody's pockets the best in the league and was about to turn towards the net now He's he's going in for a loose puck battle. You know, you can't assume he's gonna have it and you can light him up It's it's it's predatorial. Whereas this was a gamble. It's a gamble You can't build and can Chuck the guy did have the puck. It's not a good hit. It's a bad hit It's a penalty. It's whatever but it's a great late hit. They I love them all they got Hagel rest

I don't for and they won. I love... It's a good move. And I gotta say too, I mean I saw some pushback from Habs fans on the Wilson one. They're like, oh it's a headshot, oh it's dirty, oh it's like... Oh it's some Zapruder slow-mos of the hit today. If you... Just stop. If you can't enjoy that... Wilson had to be on his knees to be anymore.

If you can't enjoy that. Okay. Dubas or no Dubas and Mike Sullivan part ways like we can't be that surprised right? We had talked about you can be some surprise this scenario and whether or not Sullivan sees himself as a rebuilt guy and does he want out? I think it's good. I do. I think it's good too. I think it's a fresh change. Give Pittsburgh a chance to turn the page on the cup teams.

Give Dubas to get his guy in and gives Dubas more control. Listen Sullivan, Dubas comes in with a lot of power with one of the biggest, richest contracts in history, but you're not telling Sullivan what to do. No. Now he has more power with the next guy that he hires. So they turn on the page on Sidney Crosby too? Well, I actually, I will say the one thing that caught my, you know, Dubas said that he had a five minute conversation.

You wanna play the clip? Yeah, yeah. We have the clip. So the question comes in hot. So just prepare yourself for the clip one, please. Kyle, how does Sid feel about this? Because he is notoriously abhorrent to change. I'm not going to speak for Sid, Mark.

Like, you know, he's- Fair question. I'm not disputing whether it's fair or not. When we go through and make coaching changes or any changes in the organization, I have to do what I think is best for the organization. I called Sid yesterday morning before I met with Sully to give him the heads up. He's been through it before but in terms of how he feels about it, I had a five minute conversation with him before about the fact that we were going through this to make a change and we didn't get into the ins and outs of it. So I have to do what I think is best for the organization. Every single player, if you pull that room of players

you're going to largely have probably seven of them that love the coach, seven of them that hate the coach, and seven that are indifferent, and the same applies to management, same applies to the remainder of the staff as well. So I think pulling players on their feeling of the coaches is not always the greatest thing to do when you're trying to make that change, and I had to take all the information from the last two years and do what I think is best. When he starts to fast talk he's angry. He was mad at that.

Yeah, he just tried to kind of get out of it. And I'll tell you what I didn't like about Kyle's answer. God, I love that. Okay. Is that you go from having a five minute conversation with the most important player in our era, not just Pittsburgh, just the leagues. One of the most important players in the history of the league. Yeah, one of the most important players.

For sure. And then you quickly go to, you don't generally pull players. And I'm like, but he's not in that poll players group. He's kind of a punk out of it. He's not. No one wanted Brian Rust's take on it. Do not go from a conversation with Sidney Crosby to, generally we don't like polling players.

Okay. He is not a polling player. He's a guy that could either be with you or against you too in the organization. And he's a guy that can really control perhaps the narrative on what kind of journal manager you're gonna be the rest of your career if this guy decides to leave tomorrow, right? It's not going to bode well for Kyle Dubas.

He needs Sid Crosby so badly. Yeah. I don't like the idea that it was a five minute conversation either. You know, like I spend an hour with him. Well, this feels like something that's like, where are we going? Who's it going to be? How did we get here? Means he was mad.

You know, like... Means he was mad. That's kind of the, you know, like, here's what we're doing. But you know, you don't have to go public with that. That could be behind the scenes. You say I talk to him. What you don't need to do is go public and say I spent five minutes with him I didn't really get into it. We don't generally pull players

Okay, all right, Sid maybe should ask it said You'd look good beside demidov with me. Oh, I'd be good and blue and white too bad Sid's got plenty hockey left to play at a very high level. I'm not sure if he's going to want to just not revisit his future. All right. Did I not tell you this is the fastest two hours in hockey? You did tell me.

Felt very fast. Very fast. Two games on tap. You can watch me on Sportsnet with my good buddy, Justin Bourne. Have a great night, everybody. We're back tomorrow. Valley.