Real Kyper & Bourne - Cats Will Defend the Stanley Cup + Oilers A Game Away

Episode Date: May 29, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Ed Jovanovski (3:50), former NHL defenceman and Panthers TV analyst to chat about Florida's return to the Stanley Cup Final after taking down the Carolina Hurricanes, Sam Bennett and Seth Jones' impact on the roster, the differences between the 2024 winning team, and what went wrong for the Canes. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee touch on Paul Maurice's disagreement with Rod Brind'Amour after the game. Afterwards, Hockey Night in Canada's Craig Simpson (29:52) weighs in on the Edmonton Oilers' ability to outscore the Dallas Stars, Mattias Ekholm's playoff debut, the Stars' roster flaws and their chances to come back in the series.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, let's get her going here on the national hour. We are live on sports at 650 in Vancouver and sports at 9 60 in Calgary. This hour of real Kipper and born brought to you by bet three, six, five, in a few minutes we'll grab at Joe Vanoski, former NHL defenseman covers the Panthers as a TV analyst. See he's got it easy. Jovo. Yes. Yeah. Right? Oh, you're just covering a team that has 10 different ways to beat another hockey club. Yeah, great. Yeah, sweet. Yeah, they win games, then he goes golfing. Doesn't have to be critical, doesn't have to like, you know, like us every day with the Leafs. I'm trying to find a Bill Zito quote from today, which is basically that his job is hanging out with Hall of Famers neat

and five-star meals Guys glad you're having fun down there. Yeah six straight years a Florida team has been to the Stanley Cup final boys. That's awesome. So I got a dreamland I got a text from Irv up in Collingwood Kipper, I can't believe you drank a 25-year-old Coke that I had bottled for the All-Star Game. Come on. Yep. Is that where it came from?

Yep. Here's what, so if you didn't hear us in our first hour, Kip brought 25-year-old glass bottles of cola today, Coca-Cola, and drank one. Yes. It's not good. I had to get them out of the house. I brought them here. It's not good. And I was thirsty.

I don't drink soda. I don't drink a lot of soda, but I had a craving for this Here's what I don't get since we've done this show you move You had to physically move the cola bottles from home to home. I got I put it in storage for three years And then we're like, I'm not paying for storage anymore Stored Coca-Cola bottles. I believe there was a show on TLC about this sort of thing Someone buys his storage shed like there's nothing Wayne Gretzky Jersey I brought him downstairs to our new house in the basement. My wife's like get those out of here Yeah, I had nowhere to take them. She knows good thing you have her in your life. My god. Mind-bottling, isn't it?

It sure is. It sure is. Okay Let's okay. We're gonna tee up obviously Dallas and Edmonton for sure, but let's put a bow on and we'll get Ed Jovo momentarily but boys come on like Florida Panthers what is they just keep getting better you know I'm talking about handshakes go go handshakes go anywhere you want no quick well just three years in a row for Florida Panthers it's pretty incredible you know the the core still there through the whole thing I don't know okay last night

last night is the anti, we've been talking with the Leafs for an hour, so pardon my Leafs, Brian, but they're the anti-Leafs last night. They fall down two nothing in that game. They're no good for the first half of that game. Turnovers, Bobroski, Letts, and Softies. They immediately get one back,

and they just turn it. Stand the fight. That Barkov goal, so we've had a conversation on the show that I think Matthew is not that far behind bark over whatever oh didn't didn't help me a world or love like a backpack and then puts it out front of her Hagee and Robinson was it yeah I thought he's going behind the net and then he dished it goal line flat like seven minutes left to clinch the series and just for Hagee like this is that the puck landed on a guy's stick in the slot more than big spots?

It's unbelievable. He's new Justin. All right, let's go to a job in Oski who covers the Panthers on a regular basis Regular contributor to our show Jovo. Thanks for joining us, you know, I was just telling the guys man You know, I'm so jealous of you just following this team out. It's the easiest gig in the world. You're stealing money, Jovo, stealing money, talking about constantly how good these guys are. Yeah, you got to take it when you can, right? And I really appreciate the guys continuing this so we continue to work. But you're right,ipper, I mean it is it has been a treat, especially obviously the last few years and now we're a third consecutive trip to

Stanley Cup final. Um, you know, just to see the growth of this team, the change over the team and then to continue to do it. Um, it's been special. What a game last night. Yeah. That kind of embodied the Panthers a little bit. So how much of it, like the reputation of the Panthers just being so physical and the way that they play,

are they very different than the team that went there the first time they went to the Stanley Cup Final? Or is it still the same thing? I think it's the same thing. It's the same system. I think when Mold came in here, obviously, you know, we discussed this before about, you know, if you're going to make advances, you know, in the playoffs, you got to play tight defensively sometimes, you know, the team will play that run and gun style, but they, they'll mix it up, whatever they can, I think. And physically, I think if it's going to go the duration of a series, you see how teams, you know, kind of wear down because they do have kind of that repetitive kind of get the puck in, good on the forecheck, banging bodies, defensemen continually keeping plays alive

in on the play, in on the cycle. And you can see it last night too, when they did have Carolina hemmed in, man, there's something to watch and they're very tough to contain and they're getting a lot of opportunities from that aggressive play. We say aggressive, I also mean responsible defensively. For the most part, you have that third guy high,

he's tracking back, he's really allowing everybody to kind of get involved knowing that there is some cover up there. Matthew Kachuk's gone on record and talked about just the thought process of just, we're gonna pound, we're gonna pound, we're gonna pound you to the ground, we don't know when it's gonna kick in,

but it could kick in in game six, game seven, or game seven of overtime, but we're gonna getcha. And it's one thing to say it, but it's another thing to actually believe in it. And then once you believe in it, it's almost as if it's contagious because it just goes through the whole lineup like guys get braver around certain guys and

To me, it's right through the lineup Jovo. I'm Steph Jones. I think Yeah, it is. It is kipper and I think when your top guys are doing it there's no reason that it doesn't kind of just trickle down through your whole lineup. And, and whether it's, you know, Matthew, for example, is, is getting it. Yeah, he's been pointed close to point a game, you know, kind of in the playoffs, but it ain't going, you know, offensively, he's always touching the game in a different way. And that's that sandpaper you talk about, whether it's being good along the boards, being that net front presence, driving the fenceman back.

I think this team is kind of adapted to a style that, tough to explain where you just love watching it. I mean, how many times have I heard kind of around the block or whatever the case may be, you know, how fun this team is to watch and they're vicious and they're like dogs and then this the way they go out there and relentless and work off each other. They really embody that team aspect and it clearly shows as these playoffs move along.

You know, what always catches my eye. So we're obviously in Toronto and we've already moved on talking about, like offseason stuff. Sam Bennett's name comes up all the time. When I look at his stats and the way he plays, it's funny. 50 points I think is his career high. He plays 16 and a half minutes per night in the playoffs right now for Florida,

yet he has such an incredible impact. How is he so important to this team without playing huge minutes? It's you know, how is he so important to this team without playing huge minutes? Well, he's just so involved in everything, you know, when he's on the ice and we talk about kind of getting to those tough areas with Sam. He's not shy getting to those tough areas and he gets rewarded a lot of the time and say he's not a huge numbers guy, but he's so effective when he was on the ice and he's got some wheels when he comes through the neutral zone he can make some nifty plays if you got your head down he's gonna he's gonna light you up and he's scoring some big goals and I think when you look at a team and you want to build a group I mean he's your second line

center behind Barkov it's pretty one two and you go down to Lundell, and then you go to Nozick down there. Whoever is kind of these guys that are just playing very tough, but I think Sam Bennett embodies what it takes to win a hockey game. And I think when you look at that group, and we talk about Matthew and and Benny's no different. I mean the guy just does not give up and he's going to get to that

spot he's going to do whatever it takes to get there and and boy they're having fun doing it too they're always smiling working and it's been fun to watch. You're watching and listening to Ed Jovanovsky, former NHL defenseman covering the Panthers all season long. Jovo is this team better than the one that won the Stanley Cup last season? Did you guys hear Matthew's interview last night? After No, he said that if we had the same group, we probably wouldn't be here today. And I thought that was really interesting because you're losing your buddies and, and

you know, you have that turnover and, and you have new guys in the system. But what it does, it brings that hunger to your group. And yeah, I mean, guys move on, guys are getting paid and you got make changes, changes. But the guys that Bill Zito brought in fit the mold and you got the hunger and his words were yesterday Yeah, we're you know, we're excited being in this position having another opportunity to win But we're more excited for the guys that are brought into the fold and I thought that was a true leader the way he speaks Let these guys experience this and have an opportunity To win with a handful of other guys, you know, Joe

But I want to follow that up with you because you're a defenseman in the National Hockey League that played over 1,100 games Do you have an appreciation from watching a guy like Seth Jones? Struggled the last little while in Chicago, being told you're not worth $9 million or you can't play anymore or the game's moved off on you. And then you put them in this environment and you see a guy thrive.

Like, what kind of, like, there should be about 31 other teams taking notice of that. Right. He's underpaid now. Yeah. I think, you know, it's tough cause you know, you get locked into these situations and nothing against Chicago and you know, of late where he was. I mean, you're a real building group and you just kind of get this losing mentality and you're I don't know if you become okay with it.

I know guys just, you know, they'll get pissed and when you're losing a lot of hockey games and I think for Seth playing a lot of minutes being a lot of key situations in Chicago. Yeah, you're on the ice a lot, but you're out there with a lot of younger players that can make young mistakes. I think now you bring into a system where you're so well coached, the systems are letter tight, that he just has to be Seth Jones. And you watch him, you know, get the puck when he has the room to skate, he's lugging the mail. If not, he's moving the puck, you know, to the forwards and the forwards are

getting into a zone where you're going to create some offensive ability, which no one's telling the defenseman to stop jumping up in the play. I mean, that's kind of a staple around the league. Florida does it very well where you're adding that fourth and fifth guy. But guys, I tell you what, man, when you have that size and skate like that and cover a lot of ice and this group is big and you know, to win in the Stanley Cup, you look at your back end, you got to be heavy. These guys play big minutes they lean on you so as you get in the latter part of a series

yeah you wear down these players and he's been exceptional since he's been here maybe a little bit of a slow start we can say the same about Marchi when he came here but once the puck dropped for the playoffs they all been special. What do you make Carolina? You know, that's a lot of a lot of people thought maybe they give Florida a better push. What did you see out of the Canes? Well, early on you can't really see it was kind of a different team. I think you didn't expect that before the series started. I thought there's gonna be a really tight series just like there was, you know, the last one with them

could have gone either way Florida just tight series, just like th last one with them, uh, c way for to just fortuitous that they end up winning But I think it's more rea saw in game four in game very good along the board skills and um, some playmaking skills. And, um, but when you look at that group and you just see kind of how, look at last game, you know, Florida, obviously not the start, but once they found their footing, it was just like, boom, boom, boom, you know, Florida Panther hockey, and it just, you felt the

nervousness on the other side, but Florida really didn't give an opportunity to have the puck. Right. They kept possession a lot of time. on the other side, but Florida really didn't give an opportunity to have the puck. Right. They kept possession a lot of time and that's when Florida becomes really dangerous is when there is no turnovers and the puck's going north and now you're getting in the offensive zone and spending less time in your D zone by good advancement by the D. Jovo, how important was it that it ended last night?

We don't know when the Stanley Cup finals gonna begin depending on Dallas of course in and Edmonton, but it could go as latest I think June 7th if I'm not mistaken, but How important is resting for a week because a few guys banged up including Lister rain in last night leaving the game but You know how healthy or not healthy is are the Florida Panthers and how important is one week off? Well, you know, you've you've been all the way, Kipper. I mean, you know how many teammates are banged up at this

point. I think as we know, there's a few guys that got injected back in the lineup yesterday. I'm sure those guys probably be a welcome, you know, handful of days to kind of reset and get the bodies right. I'm hearing that if it ends and Kevin correct me if I'm wrong that if it does end tonight that the series starts June 4, if not, yes, correct. Yeah, so there's there's some time in there. Well deserved break.

I'm sure it'll take a couple days here. Find out if tonight, if they're gonna face the Oilers again or have it kind of go on to another game. But anytime, as they say, rest is a weapon. How is Brad Marchand fitting in as a deadline acquisition? Oh, he's been great. And you see all the, you know,

he's having fun with it now too. I think for him another opportunity another you know Stanley Cup you know finals for him but he's been really good especially with the with the fins I mean that line has been really good as you saw you guys you know with the Toronto series just kind of getting that chemistry but really having fun really kind of you know and join his teammates and and you can see him at the end of games enjoying this whole rat thing and just really kind of embracing it you know as you get older in your career you take these moments for granted I think it we all know it all comes to end at one point and and I think for him you get another

crack at in the latter part of your career. Although I do think you know the guy can keep on playing and be very effective player but he's really enjoying his time here and I know the organization the fans especially really enjoy him being here. Jovo one more for me and that's around Aaron Ackblad Brooks Kepka's favorite And Aaron, act blood Brooks, kept us favorite hockey player. That was like really weird by the way, that whole thing, because Aaron at bloods really, really good. And I think he's just getting better and better and he's a UFA. And like, I don't know, man, if I'm, I'm probably 25 other teams right now thinking I'm close to winning, I'd want to sign this guy. Just how important is he to the Florida Panthers? Well really important

You know playing all the tough minutes plays with Forze Plays mid 20s most every night. Yeah, I plan a defenseman at some point your career You know, I think you're you kind of turn a little bit and you you pay attention to that defensive style game and you mold your game into that. And I think that's exactly what Aaron has done. He draws these tough assignments. He's not the flash and dash guy, you know, but he's getting the puck through on the point. He's anytime you have the opportunity to lug the mail, he's doing so he's get back back, gets back quick into the zone and it got great chemistry with, with Forsling. But, you know, he's just,

he's just one of those players that's been here from day one, right? So he's got a lot of years here in Florida. So you like to see him first off, win another Stanley Cup and then possibility of staying here, which I hope will get done for him and the organization. But he's a good kid from my hometown and know him well. Just wants to win, go out there and play hard. And he's on a nice little run, especially when he was gone. You can see it might not

notice it early on, but as though that suspension time went on, you can start noticing that when you have him out of the lineup, you're kind of a different group. So if you got a couple of rounds in with Brooks, kept it all down there. Yeah. We actually all play together. Him and neck. You're actually good buddies. I know they are. I know they are. Hey, tell Brooks we want them on this show. We want to, we got to get them on and we got to get his, his thoughts and ideas on the Stanley Cup final minus the, the pylon on his head. Yeah, we'll, I'll try it. All right. Don't go out of your way or

anything. And lastly, for those of you that aren't watching on, on zoom here, Jovo's got the best golf tan I've ever seen. And it's, I thought we were interviewing Chris Cellio. There's three, there's three boxes, there's you. And then there's Justin and I who looked like we've been dipped in flour. You know, not feeling real good about that. You know, I got the Macedonian bloods and I know you're Greek, right? Oh yeah. So I got, I got that little Mediterranean in me too. You do my friend. You do. You do. Always love having you on Jovo.

Thanks for doing this pal. Thanks so much. All right, anytime guys. Yeah. God, he's got a good life. I'm so jealous. This is palm fronds gently swinging in the breeze in the background.

Well it's nice here now. It's supposed to be beautiful here this weekend. It's nice here. Now he's... Oh hey. It's been brutal. It's coming around now He's gonna jump into the golf cart that's in his garage to go play another 18

Did you guys want to do this Mary's handshake thing? Yeah, I do okay Full transparency. Yeah, I couldn't get through the clip Sam can't even stomach fall Mary's but so I asked we do have the viz So Jake if we could roll roll the viz of them shaking hands here. So here he is lecturing Rod Rindemore. I don't know, do we know he's lecturing him? Okay. And then let's, wow.

I mean, did that look like a two-way conversation? He's saying he's not going to shake his team's hand. If didn't follow it up if you didn't hear Paul Maurice doesn't think the coaches should shake the hands of the opposing team whatever can we do I play the clip we have the clip so this is Paul Maurice going on about it over two minutes once it seemed like you and Rod had an animated discussion at the end of the game. Was that just on the handshake line? Yeah, that's all it was.

And it's a personal belief, and I really appreciate what he did, because I understand the risk, that there's a bit of a risk. The story goes like this. I don't believe that the coaches should shake players' hands at the end. There's this long list of people in suits and track suits. We had like 400 people on the ice.

They're all really important to our group. But not one of them was in the game. There's something for me visually with the camera on. Honestly, just can we just go? Stop it. You be quiet. Hold on. We're going to listen.

It's the end of one season. It's excitement for the other. The last thing that a player on the Carol Iron Hurricanes deserves is 50 more guys in suits they have. They have no idea who they are, and that's not a negative. There should be something really kind of beautiful about just the camera on those men who played Shaking Hands, and we should respect that.

So we talked to Craig Berube on the ice in Toronto and I figured if I could sell it in Toronto, and he understood it because he's played and Roddy's played, so they both kind of get it. I don't know where it changed. When I first got in the league, he would never go shake the players. Now some coach wanted to get on camera, is the only thing I can figure out. Oh, that's rich. And he was like, I don't know, maybe you wanna shake Wink Rescue's hand or something.

I don't know what had changed, but I don't think it's right. I think there's a really nice kind of beautiful part of our game when just the players shake hands at the end. When you think of all the wars, that's not the right word, all the great competitions. God, enough, enough. Oh my God, enough.

I like Paul. I consider him a friend of mine. Good, that makes one of us. I couldn't finish listening to that either. It's very condescending. Do you want me to tell you what I think, why he doesn't do it, why he did that, so that he got to talk about it for two minutes after.

That's why he didn't do it. You know. We get it, you're the, you're the, you're God's gift to hockey, Paul. Stop it. Okay, okay, okay. There's parts of it that we really like, because this is what you've asked for all these years,

is closer to the players and share more and put a camera in the urinal, whatever it takes. Okay. You just want to be closer to the players. Me? I get it. I don't want I get it. He's done that over the past few years. He's gotten more animated. He's gotten closer. People have appreciated it personally. I'm with you. I don't need an hour special on handshake lines after an NHL hockey game. I want that. I want that. You want that?

I want to have that conversation. I just don't agree with this particular choice. Okay. Can you just get out there and shake hands? Yeah, that's kind of how I feel. Come on. It's pretty easy. Seriously.

Thanks. Good game. Six minutes, six minutes on a handshake line, but some people want it. Who wants that? Oh the nerds out there. The nerds. They want that conversation. There's people that want to hear about handshake lines. People watch the handshake line. Yeah, they like it because they've watched two guys kill each other for seven games and then they get something out of them shaking hands. I don't know. It is one of the great traditions of the sport. each other for seven games and then they get something out of them shaking hands. I don't know.

It is one of the great traditions of sports. It's weird, but like I couldn't care less about the handshake line. Yeah. The coaches are in the fight too and I think he wants us to point that out perhaps, but you know, I'd be fine if no one in tracksuit shook hands. Here's the thing. If you felt like this before the series, you can say they can be in contact. Just so you know, our group's not gonna do it

after the series. Oh God. It's not even that important for me to mention. But to me, listen, it's at that moment, Bryndamore, his season has just ended. They were tied with seven minutes left. Now you're going up to him and talking about some BS. It's like, what are you doing?

This could have been done in 10 seconds. And I'm happy to, when I talk to Paul again, I'll be the first one to tell him the same thing that I'm gonna tell you right now, okay? This is where I think Paul Maurice went wrong in this. He said, I don't believe coaches. What he should have said is- Wasn't right for me.

It's not right for me. I'm gonna shake your hand right now because I don't wanna go in the players room. And then if you have a beer or under the stands, you wanna get more in specific to Rod Brendan Moore on why you don't, take all the time you need, go have beers over it. But at that moment, all he said was,

I'm gonna shake your hand here cause I'm not gonna go in the line and end it. But when he says, I don't believe coaches, you can't speak for 30 other, 31 other coaches. Now he's saying something that I don't believe that you should or you should or any of us should. And that's much different than I don't believe I should. Agree, it's a little bit of I know best

and everyone should listen to the wise old hour. That's the part that's driving Sammy. Now it's like you just beat your you're in a match play and you just beat him five and four and you're like, God, if you really just could rotate those hips a little better, you might have a chance. For sure. Rod is just processing the season ending and what he could have done differently. It's like getting some lecture on, you know, the right thing to do. I love Paul Maurice. Listen, I'm the biggest Paul Maurice fan. Yeah, I am too. I know you are. And you know sometimes when you're really good at getting people like Sammy to eat out of the palm of your hand you can get carried away sometimes. I mean he has been

carried away. Guys talking about shotgun and beers in church. Like, you think, like he is. Buddy. He's Mark Twain. He's our hockey's Mark Twain. Him with the microphone is like taking candy from a baby. There is no one that likes to hear themselves talk more than him and I'm sitting in a room with three guys. Well, you know what?

Because he's great at it. But he's really good at it. Sure, sure. He's really good at it. We have different definitions of good. That was game, it's game time. at it. He's really good. We have different definition. We have different Deficients of good that was gay. It's game time. Is it about that? I love the pat McAfee yelling the other day This is the athlete it's on to find out why it's ever ordinary bet three six five must be 90 plus a terry only Please play responsibly

rather large game tonight for the Edmonton Oilers in Dallas with a chance to advance to their second straight Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers. They are underdogs tonight. Plus 115 on the money line. On the other side of it, the Dallas Stars are minus 135. No Hyman, of course. I got to tell you boys, I really, really like the Edmundton Oilers tonight. Yeah. I just have a hard time seeing them at that money. Plus money for that team up three one in the series.

I know they don't, like Nohyman, Ekholm back. I just, I think the Oilers are gonna win tonight. So plus 115 is a pretty good number. I think Dallas is gonna win. You do? I do. You know why? Because they have to win. That's why.

And I don't mean because they're gonna be eliminated because everything up until this point is gonna be lost for them. It will be crushing to them. I think it puts a lot of things at risk. Maybe even DeBoer's job, I don't know. But this, you cannot lose at home, and you cannot lose with Zach Hyman

out of the lineup at home tonight. Yeah, I mean, Jamie Ben is in the last year of his contract. What happens there? And you can't lose to Edmonton in five games. Not this team just traded for ranton in and was supposed to be one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup I'm not saying they're gonna win the series, but they don't they can't lose at home tonight We got to go, but I'm gonna shoot my shot tonight Give me Jeff Skinner's first ever playoff goal tonight at plus 325 Give me Jeff Skinner's first ever playoff goal tonight at plus 325

That was game time presented by bet 365 visit the app Play the stars and find out why it's ever ordinary at bet 365 must be 19 plus until only please play responsibly Tonight on sportsnet the oilers and the dallas stars 8 pm eastern sportsnet and cbc to get into that a little deeper We got craig simpson joining us after the break. You're watching and listening to Real Kipper and Bourne. Covering the Blue Jays from an analytical perspective. Jays Talk Plus with Blake Murphy. Be sure to subscribe and download Jays Talk on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you

get your podcasts. or wherever you get your podcasts. In just a mere hours, we go to game five, Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars to help us tee that up. Let's welcome in as always, a great friend of the show, Craig Simpson, former NHL or two time Stanley Cup champion as he gets ready. Simmer, how are you, pal? I'm great, guys. How are you?

We're good. I just want to start where we kind of left off here, just coming to you in terms of the Dallas Stars here. And, yes, it's a must-win. It's elimination game. But for them to go out at home tonight with arguably one of the best power forwards in the game and Zach Hyman not in the lineup. There's just no excuse for them not to extend this series. Your thoughts?

Well, you know, I think if you've watched the start to finish of this series, you know, it's kind of been a little bit puzzling. I just haven't felt that Dallas is really at any point other than maybe, you know, the huge comeback in the third period on home ice in game three. But you know, they have not been a team that looks like they've gotten to their game at the level that they want. I know Pete de Boer keeps saying, I think we're improving, we're getting better. But to me guys, you know, they've been the second best team throughout this series. The series probably is where it should be. And you know, given the third period collapse by Edmonton in that one, you know, it might've been, or pardon

me, game one, it might've been one that Edmonton should be done by now. So I think the challenge is there. And the one thing you know about teams guys is it's hard to knock them out. It's hard to knock them out at home. You know, guys have huge pride. They had huge expectations. I think they felt that they were probably gonna be the better team maybe coming in to this one.

So by no means is this an easy given that Edmonton can close it out. But quite honestly, Edmonton has looked like a team that's destined or at least determined to make that possible. Simba the thing I can't make sense of with these Oilers team looking as consistently good as they have in dispatching very credible opponents is they don't seem to be making those glaring mistakes and I thought watching the Oilers at times this year,

it's like, yeah, they're good. They're quite good. But like Bouchard is going to make some mistakes, or Wallman might, or Klingberg might, or whoever might on the back end. I just don't know where those have gone. How has this team managed to be so consistently solid with some guys who typically might make a couple of upseas?

Well, I think they're just, quite frankly, it's experience, you know, the core. And even the periphery guys have been through the experience last year. And they've realized those mistakes cost you. You know, those little mistakes early or a blind pass. I think it did a replay in, it must have been game three, where Janmarke, in a one goal game, was behind the net in the offense, the game. I think it did a what's the safe play and you know what play will not get us in trouble. And I, I, I'm really impressed collectively.

This team is a mature team that got their heart ripped out last year that has spent all year, not so much worried about, you know, how great are we in the regular season, but the opportunity, and especially after losing the first two games of the playoffs in Los Angeles it's like oh no we're not letting this happen and this 11 and 2 run Justin has looked a lot like what you've been talking about a team that doesn't make mistakes a team that plays calm under pressure a team that finds a way to generate the you know we generate offense even though they're playing defensively I just was listening to a clip from Matt Deshains and you know, generate offense even though they're playing defensively. I just was listening to a

clip from Matt Deshains and, you know, we've had lots of pushes in their offensive zone and a team that we've been pressuring and getting good chances, but this Edmonton team is one that can defend for 45 seconds in their zone and bang, eight seconds later, it's been in our net. And that really has been the story of the way that this Euler team collectively has played. And quite frankly, it's been impressive. Simmer there, you get to defend a little stronger. Matias Ekholm set to join again

and no one would ever sit there and say that, he shouldn't come back in the lineup. We know he's arguably their best guy but is is there a danger of upsetting the rhythm right now on the Edmonton Oilers on the back end is there a risk of that at all? I think you probably saw that a little bit in game four and my my gut said that Echolme probably could have played in game four maybe you know it's only two days later and I think that's a great thing to do. I think that's a great thing to do. And my my God said that at home probably could have played in

game four. Maybe, um, you know, it's only two days later now, and he's back in. But I do think you know, we've talked that great like Troy Stetcher has played so well in that role and his six games that he's played have been

excellent. And so it's hard for a coach to take a guy out. I think it might have been the plan, had Hyman not got hurt, to have 11 and 7 here in Dallas. You know, give at home those extra two days. You don't really want to take stretcher out because of the way that he's played and the continuity that the D has had. But I just think with Hyman out, 11 and 7 is not nearly as attractive because you don't have another you know guy like Hyman that can play 21-22 minutes so I'm sure it's a tough call for Chris Knobloch but Kip that's probably my feeling that you know he was really close to playing a game four they just bought the extra time and probably weren't going to take Stechir out of the lineup

had Hyman not got hurt. So we had Jason Greger on yesterday and he was talking about Miko Rantinen's postseason and he said that Miko Rantinen has 17 of his points in five games in the playoffs and otherwise it hasn't been you know entirely red hot. What have you made of his performance with the Stars? Yeah inconsistent you know I think that's kind of been, I mean, to the guy's credit, what a year he's had, right? You talk about being all over the map and having to deal with, you know, the mental part of the game. I don't know what his family situation is, but you know, that had to be such upheaval.

And I think his playoffs is kind of looked like that. First four games of the playoffs, one assist, they were two and two. And then as you said, he just blew up in those critical games later in the Colorado series and then early in the series against Winnipeg at nine goals and 18 points in seven games and they were five to well now, you know, the last six games, he's got two assists and they're two and four. I think it does go hand-in-hand with the you know the fortunes of the Dallas stars and You know what a tough one for Pete DeBoer too because it's not like a guy that you've had forever that you know in Intricately what his personality is like what he needs to get you driven So I think it's been a hard coach. Don't you think, for Pete DeBoer in terms of, you know, do I call this guy right now? Do I push him?

I know the length that he can play and the excellence he's had, but it's been inconsistent. And I don't think there's any question in your earlier comment about Dallas not going out easily. If he's not playing an impactful part, I don't see any way that the way that they can keep this thing going. And that's kind of been a little hit or miss in the last six games, the way he's played. Oh, I listened to the whole lineup outside it. Rantanen has been miss a lot. And I just, I just look at this lineup and I'm like, who is there to really give Ranton and some support here?

I think they've got good hockey players, but how great they are or how much they've risen in the playoffs must be a little bit of a disappointment from hints to Robertson to, you know, and I'm not sure where Matt Duchene is all in all of this. And we like Jamie Ben, but Jamie Ben's on the 17th hole right now. You know? I mean, maybe this lineup isn't what we made it out to be.

No, and I think that's probably two series in a row against Edmonton, but that's been the narrative. Like last year was the same thing, better goal-tending in Dallas, better depth in Dallas. You know, okay, special teams teams pretty good for Edmonton. That series showed better depth for the Edmonton Oilers. A better Stuart Skinner, 922 compared to Audinger's 901 last year.

Well, you look at this year, I mean, it's not even close. Is Audinger's 869, Skinner 939. You know, they flipped the script again. And I just think that's the challenge when you get into these specific matchups. There's only, well, now there's only three teams left in the NHL that are still playing. And, you know, it comes down to a specific matchup

at a specific time. And quite frankly, both years, I think the Dallas Stars went in feeling like they were a better team and a deeper team, and they haven't proven it. the way that they played. I think that, frankly, both years, I think the Dallas Stars went in feeling like they were a better team and a deeper team, and they haven't

proven proven it that you know the top guys just have not risen to the level of the entire team. I think the way that Edmondson's played, I think for Pete DeBoer going out now. You gotta find a way. I think you put Wyatt Johnson was ranting and you know Johnson had 10 goals last year. You've got to find a way to spark a kid who's still young, who's still you know

learning the game at this intense of a level but he's got that ability. He's got to play with a little bit of flair. He's got to play with some confidence. They haven't had that. They haven't had that from Robertson although he scored in the last two games. I think you have to shuffle it up and say, forget, erase the negatives that are in anybody's mind right now. We got one game to try to stay alive. I'm gonna ride the guys that in the past has given me that.

I think you have to find something. Rupe, Hintz, and Rantan haven't really connected in this series at all. I'd be switching that up if I were Pete. Yeah, that makes some sense. So we were talking about the Oilers and just saying that like, basically, everyone's playing good. Like you go down the list and be like, how about this guy? Arne, he's awesome. Oh, you know, like everyone is playing good. But I don't know how much of

it happens without, of course, the big two. I just I want to talk about Leon Dreisaitl for a second, just because I can't think of someone who plays a more I don't know enjoyable playoff style of hockey you're more confident in the way he handles the puck and thinks and you've watched a lot of playoff years and seen a lot of success over it does he not just seem built to drive a team in these deep series 100% you know everybody talks about the game gets tighter in close quarters and you know there's no time or space. You watch his game, you know, even game 14 of a regular season, he can play any way.

He can go flying down the ice at 100 miles an hour. He's a faster guy than maybe you expect out of the big body. But his entire makeup of his game is stick your rear end out, get your arms, protect the puck, buy a little bit of time, spin off, put the puck between your stick and skate. I mean all the little details of skill sets that you'd want and especially you add to a 230 pound guy who's got a long reach and a great shot. You know like that is playoff hockey in a nutshell and that's the way that he is so comfortable playing in those

style of games. It's been brilliant to watch. You know, you go back to what was a 22, both he and Connor in those series against the Calgary Flames when he was playing injured even, you got a feeling A, he's got a drive like his teammate. you know, their drive is like Gretzky and Messier like, you know, like it is really going back for me watching to the games, the games best player and arguably one of the top five other players in the entire game. And it's watching two guys that now don't have the cups that those two have had. But man, that drive and that intensity and the understanding of how important their role is is exactly like watching it or in living what we did like in in 1988

we had 16 and two guys to win the Stanley Cup and But they're 11 and 2 right now since those two losses, you know like that that's a pretty significant accomplishment and it comes from the drive and the calmness and the consistency of those pop players, drags everybody along, makes guys. You know, you put on the board, Pete DeBoer has a game plan to try to shut down McDavid, try to shut down Drysou. Here's what they do. Maybe even Bouchard on the back end. But you don't have the game like Gretzky and Messi. How do you shut down Yari Curry in a one-timer?

How do you stop Glenn Anderson going in that? How do you get Yari Kerr or Yassip Tickenin when he's going? Well, right now you had Zach Hyman in that same way. How do you stop Ryan Nugent-Hopkins? He's been the best player arguably offensively in the series. That's been the challenge for Dallas. You got to focus on those two guys. And like you said Justin

Everybody else has risen their game to their highest level as well It's it's been fun to watch and hopefully for them They you know They're a driven bunch that wants to do what Florida did last night and get that rematch Ready to go and start it again Simmer one more for me and I'll let you go as you prepare tonight for the Oilers in Dallas Stars on Sportsnet and CBC here. And I don't want to put the cart before the horse here for you here, buddy, but I may anyways here.

So how much of a void could we see as early as tonight with no Zach Hyman or the next series against the Florida Panthers? Yeah, I think you're not to look ahead, right? But I think it does have an impact on tonight. I think much like the way they played in game four without them, other guys like Perry stepped in admirably and played a significant role as he has all year. But let's not kid ourselves, Corey Perry's not Zach Hyman in terms of the pace and the game and the strength that he brings. I'll be interested to see,

because a guy that quite frankly to me still hasn't really fit in or found his way is Trent Frederick. And he hasn't really looked comfortable. He's played okay. He hasn't really looked comfortable. He's played okay. He hasn't really showed much You know the intensity and the things that you would maybe expect from him and Nick when you get to Florida Hyman is a huge loss. I mean he had a concerted effort this year to be physical

He's done that each and every game. That's it That's a huge void against the team that plays the way, Florida does so, you know, maybe you get the opportunity Arvidsson came in, played hard and well, but he's no Hyman. I would be interested to see a Frederick for, hey, man, all you got to do is play well for seven games and, you know, play

the best hockey of your life and fill a role. And I know the most heartbroken guy is Hyman to be injured at the time that is most important to him But somebody gets the opportunity then to walk into his shoes and play a role and boy what an opportunity it may be Simmer great job throughout these Stanley Cup finals UNCC and tonight will be no different looking forward to your call Thanks for doing this pal

All right. Take care guys. See See you. That is Craig Simpson, NHL on sports. So I don't think I don't think we had I don't I don't think we had this discussion, but this the Oilers targeting hints and his injury. Yeah. But he I'm telling you right now, like for me, the ultimate insult as a Dallas star was Evan Bouchard doing that and laughing all the way to the bench. If I'm hints, if I'm hints, I am following Evan Bouchard into the bench and I'm taking a whack at him and at the worst, at the worst, I'm looking at two minutes each for slashing. But to do nothing on an Evan Bouchard is to me-

And you don't get to make those chops. No, I'm sorry. No, you're sorry. Did we just green light Evan Bouchard? You know, like that's what I'm thinking. Like I watched that and I'm like, Dallas'm sorry. Sorry, did we just green light Evan Bouchard? You know, like that's what I'm thinking. Like I watched that and I'm like, Dallas is done. When Evan Bouchard gets to do that and laugh at the bench and you do nothing, you want to talk about bad culture on an NHL team to try to win a Stanley Cup?

Rupert, no good, my friend. No good, no freebies. Rupert would have gone back at him though. Rupert. Rupert would have. Even though his thing is- Rupert did not. If any of his teammates saw that, or mentioned it to someone, yeah. Like that doesn't fly on Corey Perry's watch,

doesn't fly on Matthew Kachuk's watch. Well, you know what else? That was also Tampa Bay's reputation. Was that you'd like give someone a rabbit punch and five lightning guys were flying at you with their gloves in the air. And it's like, God, not this again. You know, like good teams tend to have that pack mentality.

I'm excited for the game tonight. I love this Oilers team right now on the plaster. Just so fun to watch. And I'll tell you something. That Skinner takes sometimes a beating. Yeah But I'm gonna Stewart Skinner, but he's been fantastic and he answers the bell all the time He looks people in the eye. He answers honestly Like he is he's he's a tree man. He is he's a man. Yes

I don't have my second page of the lineup. Can you go in the simmer? He's a treat. He is. He's a man. He is. He's a man. I don't have my second page of the lineup. Can you go in the simmer? I put a stat in there about his save percentage in their wins this year. Zeus Skinner owns a five and four record this postseason. His 985 save percentage in wins. Is the highest on record for one postseason.

Well his 0.39 goals against average in wins is the lowest in the league's modern era since 1943 985 I should hope they win. Yeah 985 in their losses Yeah I'm assuming Edmonton gets past Dallas here at some point if not tonight, but I I'm sad for Zach Hyman. Yeah, I am.

I'm really sad. I love this guy. You do. And he's good for our game. He plays the game honestly. Like, I'm not gonna enjoy the final as much with without him against Florida. I'm not gonna go that far.

No, no, seriously. It wouldn't have been better. Sam, it would have been better. Sure. It'll still be good. It's gonna go that far. No, no. Seriously, it would have been better. It matters to me. Sam, it would have been better. Sure. It'll still be good. It's gonna be very good. But it's better with a guy like Zach Hyman. How, you know, impossible is it for him?

I think it'd be wrist surgery. Wrist surgery. Quickly, before we go. Two weeks from now, game six, game seven. The jersey. The jersey. They're giving these jerseys away at the Jays game tomorrow look at those Vladdy Vladdy Jersey City Connect or whatever

15,000 people first get tickets and go unbelievable games sorry what great corporate job I love the Jays cool sweater love the Jays yes we love you here on the back I know I know you don't really love the Jays oh I love the Jays but he does he's just mad at them for the back. I know you don't really love the J's. No, I love the J's. Oh, hey. Of course he does. He's just mad at them for what's happening. I mean, I don't know if you saw the electric 2-0 victory last night. I was a face painter, J's face painter once upon a time.

I bought tickets today. I'll be there on the weekend. Nice. All right, Jam-Pack Show. Our thanks to Luke Fox, Ed Jovanovski, and Craig Simpson. We are back at our regularly, un-regularly scheduled time. Tomorrow. What time?

I think three probably. Three to four. Check your local listings, everybody. Have a great night. Enjoy game five.