Real Kyper & Bourne - First-Round Chaos with Colby Armstrong

Episode Date: April 30, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Colby Armstrong (5:11) – former NHLer and Sportsnet hockey analyst to chat about the Edmonton Oilers pushing the L.A. Kings to the brink of elimination, how Calvin Pickard has given the Oilers a boost in net, if he believes the Maple Leafs will avoid being reversed swept by the Ottawa Senators, Game 5 between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues, and what has surprised him the most about the Montreal Canadians. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee discuss why Connor Hellebuyck needs to show why he's the number one goaltender in Winnipeg, Aaron Ekblad's suspension, and if the Habs can extend their series against the Washington Capitals.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.

Let's keep her going right into our national hour on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by bet 365 Nick Kipper, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee in a few minutes. We'll welcome good friend Colby Armstrong former National Hockey League er does tremendous work as an analyst on Sportsnet and TNT and Chicklets game notes on a podcast busiest man in the world busiest guy

I don't like to bug him too much because he just does every why he's too busy like skating into people's kitchens Every commercial he's the busiest guy on earth. I don't think he likes to say no. He's on couches with Sid and he does it all. They call me, I show up. I crush an energy drink and away we go. So we just spent our first hour in our Leaf Edition talking about ghosts and demons

of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It appears that the Edmonton Oilers may have had a small ghost early in this series against LA. Casper, if you will. But crushed it. Like last night. The most impressive thing I saw last night was what was around Connor and Leon last night

To me I saw a team around those two individuals that said We're not letting them down. I would rather die than let those two guys down tonight Yeah, and they played their hearts out. They they brought that win home last night. Yeah, 18 guys brought that home with that that win home last night outside of depending on Connor and Leon. People are going to make fun of me for this.

But during the twenty twenty four playoffs, there was two separate occasions where I saw a guy in the oilers skating with the puck really fast. And I was like, oh, McDavid. And it was Matias Janmark. I was like, oh my God, he was just so fast and working so hard in last year's playoffs and last night. It's like this guy is built for those sort of games. Gets this backdoor solid finish there.

Yeah, they did. They got some support from their depth guys and got another one across line. And I mean, that's as much as you can pump a team on the road who was the best road team in the NHL. That's just like the Oilers have a gear almost no other team has. The Oilers at their best are as good as any team. They I mean, they just kicked the crap out of them. There was a was a foul score 3-1 They got an empty under nude scored But like if it wasn't for Kemper that's it easily a 7-1 game

Like they just everything towards the net towards the net is coming around I Redric maybe I do watching the last couple of games Evan Bouchard, of course is a a lightning rod for many Oilers fans. When he's great, he's great. When he's not, they love to beat up on him, as many of us do on occasion watching him in his own zone. But there is a new appreciation for him from me anyways as no matter what you think of him at times defensively, there's not many defensemen in the league that can do what he can do. It's the best way I can sum him up.

And what's funny is like, he's not even Eric Carlson to me like that. Like Eric Carlson to me was even more high risk, up the rink, whatever. Bouchard, I like him more than Carlson to me was even more high risk up the rink whatever Bouchard. I like him more than Carlson's yeah. Yeah, I I take Evan Bouchard over Carlson all day long. Yeah, we wouldn't have been saying this He was putrid in the no, I know I know I know but then he scored four times since yeah and then you there's just, there's just a calming influence in the offensive zone when they go back to him.

The threat that they have with him walking the line, when they make David, when they find him trailing, it's like, this has a really good chance of feeling like a goal. I'm gonna see how quickly I can find the shooter stats but like the amount of times this guy rips the puck 90 plus miles per hour is pretty much unparalleled in the league so that's helpful too. That hammers it. Absolutely nukes it and loves to do it.

Yep. So Kings, sorry, Oilers and six all of a sudden looking pretty good. Well I'm not completely gonna write off the LA Kings, but like I will there you will. Yeah I will I think they got to just find Another gear if they can't hit third or fourth gear like bring it up to second gear Yeah, there's there's more there in the tank for the Kings, but buddy, how do you bet against this oilish team? Okay. Let's bring them in skating from kitchen to kitchen and soon coming to your kitchen near

you. Colby Armstrong. What's up boys? What's going on buddy? Oh, I'm just in one. I'm just in the grind of playoffs. Like we all are just late I'm just in one. I'm just in the grind of playoffs like we all are just late nights just grinding away. But we got you on video. I did. We always had him on

video. Yeah. Oh, okay. You asked me if he was gonna be in studio and I said no, he's gonna be on his zoom and then I and then you said okay, but I guess you didn't listen. Looking good. My friend fresh as a daisy. Which which series are you covering for TNT? I Was bouncing all over the place. I was working there last night Just got home this morning and then had a big recap of the whole Leafs. I Don't know what you guys what do you guys know? We'll get into it. It's fine. We'll get into it, but Can we can we stick with the Edmonton Oilers right now because we started our conversation on them three wins in a row and In terms of your surprise face on on the turnaround of this series

I Mean any any team with McDavid and Leon? Yeah, okay You can like they're dangerous like anything could happen The thing that's crazy is like guys like they're not the same team as last year, right? Like we know that the amount of guys that they've lost, the speed that they've lost through their lineup, they're just not the same, but what they've been able to do and partly because of LA, whether it's their tactic

or their style or human nature or whatever it is, getting leads and just sitting back. Like I think they're generally a checking team, but for what I've seen through the depths of this Edmonton lineup, like top to bottom, and the way that they've pushed themselves, I guess, or been given an opportunity with a door open in this series and have taken full advantage of it

I got to hand it to them. I got to hand it to them and and I I imagine that LA is in a Is in a terrible place in their head right now for what has happened in this series and all the while Riding on the back of Calvin Pickard. I know that's what that's what I was gonna ask you about How how do you feel about that like it for years? It's been like Skinner's their guy, you know ride or die. This is it's gonna be him and then it's just not him Yeah, I know I was talking to no block the other day about that. I think heading into game four and we asked about him and then them going with him and like when you get in and you get a chance he came in relief right and then and then went back to back games and then back to back and like when you get in and you get a chance, he came in relief, right? And then went back to back games

and then back to back to back games. But he said like, he's just talking about like his battle level and a guy that can seemingly stylistically or technically and there's probably other guys that you have on that are great goalie guys to talk to. But he just said like, he's just a battler. Like this guy is just a battler. And most backup goaltenders I think have that trait,

like first guys on, taking all the shots, like have done this forever, like knows where he sits in his career, right? And like what his role and job is. And only so many opportunities come knocking every once in a while. And I think I saw them ask the question in the scrum last

night, like when's the last time you played a playoff game and loves, you know, consecutive games like, like this. And he did it last year too against Vancouver. But I think he said it was in junior hockey, you know, and he's an older guy, like he's been around a long time. So I think these guys traditionally like from my experience in playing for one And your guys is probably too is the backup guys are hungry their workhorses and they and when they get an opportunity

How long can it last though? That's always the thing with them is like they're they could they could throw together a few games for you But if the Oilers play the way they did last game I mean, they're not getting a heck of a lot of good looks at him. Like he's had it pretty easy, but that series, like these playoffs are crazy and like the things that are happening are kind of generally crazy night in and night out and every series obviously has its own craziness, but what happened in this one in Edmonton, even in the first couple games too, like the game one was just insane. This series is crazy.

Game three, I got a sick feeling in my stomach, guys, after that challenge call and the time of the game, where it was, why are you doing this? What is going on? And please, for the sake of Jim Hiller, I guess, and like the team, like, hopefully this doesn't come back to bite you. And here we are three wins later now. A big bite.

Edmonton Oilers. Amazing. A very large bite. You're watching and listening to Colby Armstrong, former National Hockey League co-host of Chick, Chicklets, Game Notes, TNT does it all so Coles Tell Sammy why the Toronto Maple Leafs will not blow this unless You don't believe it. I Don't think they will I don't think they will I mean if there's a playoffs where they could it's it

It could be this one just because it it's like, it's crazy. These playoffs have been just insane to me, watching and seeing what's going on. The one thing that I guess I am a little bit not concerned about, because this is just how they are, how their guys are. They're so chill, you know, not a big deal. Right.

Like, you know, like we've seen this forever. And then I see Brady Kachuk like we're bringing it home. It's his first time in the playoffs and he's doing all this stuff. Like it's a it's different. Like it's he's he's he's on a different level. He's doing like Mark Messier stuff. I'm like, I'm like, that's kind of scary. Momentum is scary and and vibes are scary.

And you got a young team that can feel it and they're hungry and their foot's in the door. And you've got a team with crazy amount of pressure, right? Like they have a crazy, these Leafs, they have a crazy amount of pressure. I do like that they're different this year. I do like, and I think they have it in them to close it out in six, I do, honestly.

I think they're obviously the better team in my opinion. But I mean, I'll have to jump in the fire with all the other Leaf crazies and Leaf fans out there when it's like, we've seen this movie before, what do you mean, Army, what are you talking about? I feel like it's like everyone's waiting for the ball to drop, but these guys have to go get it done. They have to prove it.

The stats are insane in elimination games. Since 2018, those stats are crazy, and it's getting, it's adding, they're adding to it, these crazy stats with goals for, goals against, the core for how many points of production they have in elimination games, power plays, and everything down the list. So it's, they gotta put an end to this narrative

and it's time they step up and edit in six and just put it to bed. Colby, I'd love to hear about some of the guys that you played with that had sort of that unbridled passion, that hate to lose. You know, I wrote an article today, I was trying to make sense of why these guys haven't been able to get it through.

I was like, is it character? Is it physical? Is it mental? And at the end of the day, I can't assess that it's character or whatever. I just know there's some guys like Nathan McKinnon who just won't be denied or McDavid and dry-cited and you played with Sid.

just won't be denied or McDavid and dry sidled and you played with Sid. Yeah, it's like a it's like a like a hunger that these guys have like just like a driven hunger that is untouched and then you put on top of it like they're dogs. That's what you call it, right? That's what that's what the hip kids are. That's what we call it. These guys are dogs like they're in the fight. They're on it. They're involved. They're the hip kids are. That's what we call it. These guys are dogs, like they're in the fight, they're on it. They're involved. They're

difference makers. They want to be the guy they want to be that they want the puck on their stick. They want to like be in the fire. And I think when you look at characteristics of good, good players that find ways to get it done, they have that like they are just ultimately hungrier than your average player. How do they get that? How does it grow?

How do they manage it in pressure situations that's different from other guys as well? Can the Leafs find one tomorrow night? Two, two of them? The dog? Yeah, find a dog or two at the pound. They gotta find the dog. Like, I watched a clip of like Marner flopping when like he got the goalie kind of bumped

into him like, dig in, like dig in. You know, like there's just little things in games where it's just like, you know, and those guys are examples, right? Those guys are big time examples on your team and you have your foot soldiers is, you know, I think Brian Burke coined that phrase for guys, but it's, it's those guys got to be the dogs and they got to get it done. And, and, you know, elimination games, you look at those numbers, like it's been, it's been a challenge. So they've got to find another level here to put this away.

You know, the other team that you might mention that's kind of in that leafy mold these days, the jets, the Jets. Like the Jets have... Oh my God. I know. Every year we feel like this is a team, they are a capital T team. They're gonna pull it together here

and HellaBook's making us a little nervous again here. Yeah, they're like, they're like, nobody loves us. We never get talked about. Nobody talks, look how good we are. And it's just like, get it done. Let's get it done here. Like now they're like, don't talk about it. Don't talk.

But I I'm a Jets guy. I you know, that goes back to my thrasher days boys, as you know, alumni. But what I saw to them in St. Louis was nowhere near what they were at home in games one and two. Like St. Louis didn't take their foot off the gas. They stayed with pace. They stayed on the gas physically. They executed, they played in your face.

And it kinda seemed like Winnipeg was like, whoa, like I don't know if we can keep this up type of thing. They're gonna have to find it in Winnipeg. They're gonna have to find it in Winnipeg They're gonna have to find it on home ice like they got to get it They got to get back into this and hella bucks eating a lot of it. Yes, and rightfully so and he's got it He's got to be the guy. He's he's the Vezna guy and and you know, he's got to be the difference maker But you can't play you can't expect

Them him to be good when they play like that in front of them the last couple games So there needs to be an uptick in the dog in in the Jets. No question Okay, but he he has to he has to hold some accountability this time of year. What is this? What is it? What is the one or two things that you see at a hella bucks game when it's compared to? regular season MVP guy to what we see now in the playoffs? Like I wonder about that too. Like when I look at him,

he looks like unsure a little bit when it's going hard for him. And then what, he got yanked the other day and he just stayed in the room and was like changing his undershirt or something. Like definitely like PO'd, right? He just stayed in the room and was like changing his undershirt or something like definitely like like P.O. right? Like he's he's he's the guy.

He's the horse there. I don't know what I don't know if it's mental. He said he likes his style. He said I see my game. I see what it looks like. It looks good when I look at it. And I was like, you know, we're players, right? So I'm like, stop the puck, dude.

Like that's what I say. But it's a- It's all a process. He's gotta get it, like, he's gotta get to that level up there where he's, it's not what it looks like. It's like, it's getting it done here in these kinds of playoff situations. For whatever reason it is, you know, he's, and stats don't lie, the numbers are crazy

when you look at his playoff performances over the last number of years and how many goals he's given up, or how little of games he has with like three goals or less. It's crazy, so, and it's crazy to say that about him, that he's attracted with his pedigree and his regular season and he's attracted with his pedigree and his regular season and he's going to win the Vezna.

And it's like, here we are talking about this guy that can't get it done in the playoffs. So he's got to exercise those demons, no question. I can't put it all in the... He's got to be the guy, he's their big boy, and he's got to find a way. So Colby, how much does the pressure of a game or how even does the pressure of playoffs and big games affect guys this much? Like maybe it's pure coincidence but there are certain guys who just don't respond the same way. I agree. I agree and I think I've talked to you about this Borny like the dumber

you are the better you are. Yeah. That was good. That kind of, that kind of thing. But you should have won Con Smyth's in the playoffs then. I should be a multiple stand-in for that champion. But it's kind of a weird thing, like the shorter memory you have are like really like, I wouldn't say like the more calm you are because that's not it, but guys just don't seem to be phased in certain situations. And I think that's why we've seen guys be able to play in Toronto and some guys not,

guys be able to play in these markets and some guys not, some guy... Everyone's different and some guys are just different, but I generally think... I really think it's that dog that we talked about with a managed emotion type of type of play with like a lunatic leadership quality and and I think that's what we see in the great playoff performers you know I think that's what we see and hope to see and a guy like we're seeing right now and like Kachak Brady Kachak with his first crack at it and slowly got his wheels turning in this series and now seems to have found a different level of that. We'll see if they can do that.

But it's, the playoffs are different, man. Like when there's a turn, when there's a swing and a team grasps on to something for whatever reason and that seven game series, that's why it's seven games. And look at the Oilers. Like I would have thought LA would just, reason and in that seven game series that's why it's seven games and I look at the Oilers like I would have thought LA would just and and they it looks not even close and that's why you play seven games and that's why everything matters and that's why you're like every little detail of your play period to period

matters and rolling over you know that momentum as quick as you lose it to quickly grab it back. How many times this playoffs have we seen a goal scored and then like eight seconds later a goal scored? Yeah, yeah. It's just wild and I think those moments are fragile and they can swing really, really hard in playoffs with the added pressure. It's been interesting. This first round's been amazing to watch and interesting for all the... Did we lose him? I think he dropped. There he is. He's back. Colb, are you with us? There you are. Okay, so gotta ask you about the Montreal Canadiens and whether or not they can extend this thing. And how much do you focus on the game? And how much is the Montreal Canadiens

gonna have to focus on a guy named Tom Wilson who could shake a few cavities on you? Buddy, did you guys see him, Kipi, sitting at that post-game press conference next to Logan Thompson, who's like a pretty big guy? No. Did you see like, he looked like me sitting next to Louis de Brusque.

Like. He's like the mountain and the. Was that true? Yes. Are you kidding me? One bite and you're gone. Is he on a higher seat? Is he elevated?

Is he on something else? I don't know. He was wild to see. He's just a big, big man.. Oh his jaw is wider than my shoulders. I mean this guy is an absolute specimen. So what does Montreal what do they do? You know what they have and I think everyone's feeling it like they have like a likable style of their game and they've honestly they haven't given up. They've they've pushed back they stayed in the fight. You know another team with first time experiences for a lot of their young corps, which has been really, you know, fun to watch to see how

they would react. And it's probably been better than everyone thought, I think, against a team like Washington and what they have and the depth they have and the size they have. The thing about Montreal is they can score. Like. They've got some game breakers that can hurt you. And I think to their... They're playing with house money, right? They're playing against the Caps. It's not supposed to be this close of what they've made it. And so I think they've got some of that belief and that good feeling going. So I think they're dangerous. I think they're dangerous. I think they're going to be dangerous tonight. I mean, you can get them the first goal of that game. And I, and I, I don't know what Washington will do to

react to veteran team. They got a lot of guys in there and they're good to hockey team, but how does Montreal react? Like I think Montreal has some kind of decent mojos going right now, although being down three to one, but they've, they've been, they've hung in there and been right there. Funding watch right now. Easy team to cheer for too. Hey, like I find that I talked to other people. Everyone's like, man, I like watching Montreal, man.

I got a little, I just, I watched the crowd. I watched the, you can feel the energy coming right field Suzuki Slavkovski is unbelievable, but the energy out of the Montreal You know Bell Center I guess is I get another Bell Center game boys for now. I want another Bell Center game before we're done kippy it is phenomenal and we deserve it is a Spectacle beyond anything you've ever experienced in hockey Colby I've been meaning to tell you that I heard you give what I thought was one of the best pieces of analysis that people are behind on this, but it's the idea that wingers are

no longer a joke defensively. The role of winger in the D zone is no longer, when I was in junior hockey, my coach would literally say, touch your demon, like be within a stick length and I would stand him while everyone else played defense and now other that's not it It's not for idiots anymore where you actually have to switch and go low and now you're the slot when you're the weak side winger It's changed about the responsibility between those positions center and wing Yeah, and it's it's it's become Harder one for pressure down the wall more than ever is like automatic now with how systems and teams play And then and then without the puck in your zone

It's not just you're in your quadrant and your stand there and you got everyone in this area like a lot of teams play That hybrid hybrid man on man type of thing and the way these D these half these D can play forward now on man type of thing and the way these D these half these D can play forward now the mobility now they all move like Hudson and when I played Kobe even when you broke into the league meatheads on the blue line meatheads couldn't couldn't move 25 a bunch of guys who never felt any pressure they were just oblivious to it right Exactly now they're all like Quinn Hughes Yeah, like water bugs used to go north and south now they go everywhere You got to cover these guys all around the zone and now with this high offense like you know

Which opens up the the offensive zone so much more and their ability to manipulate and work in smaller like, you know, these guys have like five feet of space, they're painted in a corner until they break your ankles and they're gone down the boards or jumping to the middle. It's never been harder to navigate and operate defensively with the kind of D-men that are in the league right now. And now also too, you know, you look through the production through the league and they're I don't know. I think there's like six or seven in the top ten in scoring You know, they do

Majority of the production where it used to be centerman. Yeah, I think I think centerman obviously you got to be big down the middle Right. Those are the same things. We always believe in hockey, but I think the wingers put some respect man on these wingers They're there. They're the new center man. Thank you. One more quick one just on Carolina. People underestimating them. They couldn't keep ranting in. We're not sure who their number one goalie was. After, you know, Frederick Anderson beat a team

like the Devils who decimated with injuries. So should we take them a little more seriously now? Well, like, are, do you think any differently of them than any other year? They're, no, that's really well put. They're still just the Canes. It's a good point. Yeah, they play the same.

They chip pucks, they chase, they rim pucks, they shoot pucks like crazy. They, oh, they work, they work, man. They could beat anyone and, you know, over the time of a seven game series, they could get beat. That's the way they are. I don't know if they have enough to ultimately beat some of these elite teams. They're definitely up there as a contending team, no question with the way they play. But I don't know, I still think the same of them

every single year I go into it, like with the Canes. Like good team, tough to play against, unique stylistically, amazing engine that challenges you and it's hard to get scoring chances, man on man, blah, blah, blah. And then after that it's just like, okay, can you withstand it? Can you beat it?

Can you hold up to it? And what can they do? Like they're the same. They score the same. They do their same thing. And you know, they are what they are. So I mean, can they get hot? Can they get hot in a series?

Can they catch momentum once they get going against some of these better teams and not a team that was missing, you know, half of their core group Well, we'll see I think it's up. It's up to them Freddie Anderson. I love Freddie Anderson He's a really good goalie, but with it. He's always hurt. Yeah, so it's like now you got Kachekov I don't know if I believe in Kachekov, but it's gonna be a little scary but pretty forceful good team pretty forceful Wasn't it pretty was a forceful nudge. Wasn't it hit for a full nudge, forceful nudge. He tried to like stop and kind of was like, Oh, whoops.

He whoopsied right into him. Colbs. Awesome stuff. My friend. Boys. Can you imagine this though? Saturday night game seven Leafs Ottawa. Would that be elect? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no is Get it done next game. All right Anything like biz like mark my words or anything. Yeah, that's what I think. All right, great stuff. Thanks Go on doggy boys. All right, Colby Armstrong soon to be skating in a kitchen near you Let's have him back on it was nice His backdrop just see you know what though text him. He's got the air much He had way more energy today for us the last time we had him on he was tired traveling and he sucked He was it was no good

Now we got great Colby when he's a little worn down The plane needs a couch three jobs for kids Why you need a couch to do interviews Guess what? I know the feeling. I know the feeling of being worn down, but I don't have four kids. I'm just worn down by a team. I talk about drugs on Saturday night. There will be darts involved on Saturday night.

Oh yeah. Winner lives. Like you'll have a pack around. Yeah, there'll be a post-game dart. Regardless of what happens. The old PGD. You gotta have one in here. We have kids watching and listening to the show. What message are don't message. Are you sending they don't have to smoke darts

Just a game time please no problem It's game time for my bet 365 visit the app latest odds and find out why it's ever ordinary at bet 365 must be plus on terror only Please play responsibly three game fives tonight fellas three good ones The Montreal Canadiens as you guys were just talking about are on the road trying to stave off elimination plus 165 Big time underdog David. I don't know if they can stave Giving hopes up big-time big-time underdogs as you would imagine Washington minus 200 on the money line on that side of it. I

Think the I think the haves will put up a good fight tonight, but I don't know I just it's good value at plus 165, but this does feel like Where a team with some pedigree puts them away during tough like last night would have been I get the reference the Florida Panthers in Tampa to take on the Lightning in a game five no air neck plant tonight suspended two games are sure we'll talk about that after the breaks but it's a baby's no I think it was for the forearm shiver the Tampa Bay Lightning are slight favorites in that game minus 115 on the money line the Florida Panthers minus 105 so pretty much a pick them there but the Tampa Bay Lightning slight faves and the Jets talk of the evening a

Pivotal game five in franchise history if you will like people love the pile the pressure on the tournament Please this is as big as it gets in Jets franchise history tonight. Connor Hellebuyck's legacy and all that. It's time. It's time. Huge game. And as you would imagine, they are huge favorites on home ice. Minus 185. The St. Louis Blues plus 155. Winnipeg people, please plug your ears. Donate bluesate blues at plus one. I just think every game in the series to me is a total coin toss, although they did just lose the last two twelve to two. They weren't exactly going to. I don't know if getting them a plus money is not a bad bet,

although I do think the Jets win tonight. All right. And that was Game Time presented by Bet 365. Visit the app for latest odds of find out why it's ever ordinary. A bet three, six, five, plus one plus on terror only. Please play responsibly. Nice job, Sammy. Sir, when we return, we'll get into some NHL news and notes.

The Jets will get some help tonight in their lineup. There is talk about a leaked name for the Utah Hockey Club. We'll get into that. Echblad gets two games, as you mentioned, but it was only one I'll explain to you why he got the extra game love it and More after the break more cats talk to more just talk the best blue Jay show out there period Blair and Barker be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever

you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. All right. Well, NHL News and Notes gave Velarde back into the lineup for the Winnipeg Jets. We talked a lot about the Leafs in our opening hour, but like, where is this on a must-win for the Winnipeg Jets? And Velarde, can he come in after being off with, I think it was a shoulder injury and

be a factor here? Tough to know that part. His last game was March 23rd against the Buffalo Sabres. Just know that like this Jets team's whole thing is that they are solid everywhere as a team. But for everyone to slot into the right places, you need your top end guys. He's a guy who plays first line minutes. Typically, I know I have follows done an adequate job there. That's an undersell, a good job there. But yeah, they good to have them back gives them a better chance. You can have all these nuanced conversations about what the Jets need and what they are looking for. They need a damn save boys.

Like what the numbers that Valley gave us on our show about the quality of chances. The didn't say they were second best to the Leafs in terms of the quality of chances that they were getting. They have done enough. They are built around their all-world goal-ten. He is the franchise player. He is the face of the franchise. He is the guy. He's going to win.

Was his third straight Vezna or second straight Vezna? It's on him. I hate to say it. The Jets have been good. They've played well. They've been in the... But he has suored them in multiple games. It's on him.

It's him, baby. This to me will be like a fascinating case study of human behavior. How does he respond? For sure. Yeah, you know, he talks kind of funny about it, about the way that he watches more goalie video than any else in the world and 147 games and all that. She's like, just go stop it.

Colton, I said it best. Can you just save the puck? Yeah, I did a nice tilt article for AWS. It's on Sportsnet today and I did the Jets Blues series and I was looking for the Jets, you know, their possession time and what do they do great and all that and going through all their season stats. They're pretty good, they're pretty good,

they're pretty good, they're pretty good. You know what they do really well? They get a ton of saves. They get more saves than anyone else and it isn't close. Really? They get the most. He's the best goalie in the league and they're not, they're good.

They're a good team their playoff team They're competitive with him as average, but they're not president's trophy team without him They're not a Stanley Cup winner without him elite So he needs to be needed That's kind of the point tonight All right One of three tonight including the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning and I game will get started 730 Eastern and Echblad I will be suspended not one game but two

Hmm. I was rather surprised. I don't think it's that surprising What to you pushed it beyond the one game? surprising what to you pushed it beyond the one game targeted yeah it was head or player player yeah okay it was seeking it was against a guy that took a very healthy run at your captain and that's the extra game that's the extra game. He really pulls it back. That's the extra game. One game suspension and one game for going after a guy that you wanted retribution on. Yeah.

Yeah, that's something the league doesn't love. Does this help Tampa hurt Tampa there without a 90 point? Yeah, defensive stalwart and Hagel now like, does this? They've won already once without him convincingly. That was Hagel was out that game. Yeah, he was out. The game they got suspended. Yeah.

Oh, you are right. So point Kuturov, right? They've got some firepower there, and I think they'll be So, Point, Kutrov, right? They've got some firepower there and I think they'll be just fine. They've, again, they've shown that they can win. They just need Vasilevskiy not to let in the really stinky game-winning goal.

Yeah. You know, if you're a Leafs fan, hypothetically, it'd be really nice to see Tampa Take it to Florida for a night push this thing. This is what sucks this series started three days after the least Yeah, and it's like oh They might be done before the Leafs all of a sudden when you had two chances to It's a national at least I not have to worry about it pal National art national art national art and the Sens are a national team as well It's a National hour. At least we don't have to worry about it, pal. National hour.

The Sens are a national team as well. And probably deserve a little love, because we don't give them first hour love. We're allowed to talk about them here. How do you like the Sens? Every game I've watched them, they've gotten better. Okay. Sanderson is exceptional. Sanderson was the best skater on the ice last night.

And I think it's... How many rinks is he going to step on that heerson was the best skater on the ice last night. Yeah. And I think it's... How many rinks is he gonna step on that he's not the best skater? I think he's... I don't just say that he looks the prettiest, Sammy. He... The best skater to me is a guy that takes control and dictates a lot of pace of play when he's out there.

He's a hockey player. He's not just a point getter. The Leafs have to make sure that he's facing the glass in his own zone. If his toes are up ice, they're gonna be in a heap of trouble again in game six. Yeah, he is the most hit player on Ottawa in the series. The Leafs have done their best and he's out there the most but he's still Energizer Bunny. We have a couple Travis Green clips from after the game if you wanted to take... you talked about that. Derek, if you're ready there, we have them on getting more comfortable which is something that you just alluded to there. So Travis Green clip three, please Derek.

Yeah, I think like I said, I think our comfortability level playing in playoffs has gotten better but I also say the beginning series our group has a lot of confidence in themselves you know I don't think a lot of people give us much of a chance in this series but and rightfully so they got a really good team over there. But there's a lot of belief in our team if we can play our game and get to our game for 60 minutes that we have belief. As a reminder, this is our Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Beth365 which brings me to... He was so good after the game last night.

...Almark. Who? Travis Green. Was he? Just simple. Simple, doesn't not scared and and Just give them enough don't give them any more any less in your comments and Get the heck out of there as much as we've talked about the sense growing in this series He's growing in this series like his what he said to the media. I guess he's won some games

What's different for him? But like he's not he was outwardly talking about how much better they were five one five Talking about the officials all this stuff and he was really a lot of attention towards it and he's just turned that right off Yesterday we had our Steve Alliquette segment if though if you didn't catch it segment if though if you didn't catch it give it a download because His his breakdown of goaltenders around the National Hockey League is second to none including all mark What a piece on all mark and Certainly he made his point really clear that he did not expect all mark

To get this series done for the Ottawa Senators, but he did warn of a guy that has the ability to hit a high level and you just can't let him get there. And I can't sit here and tell you that Omar stole the game for him for the Ottawa Senators last night, but he was good. And he's one of many right now, who's gaining confidence for the Ottawa Senators last night, but he was good and he's one of many right now who's gaining confidence for the Ottawa Senators. He, Valley said, I expect him to steal a game and lose the series. Was essentially what he said of Almark. And he texted me last night, he's like, I'm sorry, man.

I hate being right. I can't just, he would, he said this thing. Wow, you got to shut out. I know, but no, he said this thing. Wow, you gotta shut out. I know, but. No, he didn't steal it. It wasn't on him. No. Which he is part of something that's kind of growing.

Well maybe you steal still the cum, Sam. Great. Yeah. It's gonna steal my will to live. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, goodness. steal my will to live. Goodness. Composure keeping.

No, there's no the composers at the window. All right. Well, pick a series pick a series. Habs Habby's tonight. Give Habby's a little more love. All right. We talked to him a bit with Colby. Give Habbies a little more love. We talked to him a bit with Colby. We could talk a little bit more. They are giving it everything that they have, but

they are the smaller team and you felt it last game and I don't know how you don't feel it tonight. Yeah. And it's the wear and tear on the guys. This is why you get in the latter part of a series. Size matters. Yeah, it gets harder. If you're the team that's always in the wrong end of getting run over. It does get a little bit more challenging in Washington. It definitely feels like you know, you talk about they entered playoffs almost playing with house money, right? Like for

Montreal making the playoffs was a success. Tonight is also a house money night where it's like, you know, Washington's up, they're back home, you're supposed to lose. You can just go play. I would love to see another game in Montreal. Off a win in Washington. That would be really cool. I crap on the haves more than anybody probably in media because that's just what I am.

But I cannot say one bad thing about how incredible that building is and how well they react to it. Like it's a thing of beauty. It really is. They're just so, so fun to watch there. A last game, Jack guy got fined for some pregame shenanigans. I think Macklewrath did too. Yeah They're really I saw what Jack I like barely did anything like reached over the red

I'm telling you we need to have a summit on warm-ups right now and how dangerous they are referendum if you ask we do yeah, I I Honestly get rid of them get rid of them. Okay Get the guys okay to do ten jumping jacks in the room and then drop the puck That I don't see any other way It's too dangerous out too dangerous. You think it's silly that the league is being so Penal with some of this stuff Incredibly.. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Incredibly silly. I get it. I get why you can't shoot the puck at the other team in warm up. Anything else besides jumping jacks you can think about it but give the guys a good warm up. Yeah. There's other options. Yeah. They got to run up the stairs and they got to pour beers for everybody before the game starts. That's the guy to do. Get the arms worked out. You know what's the big thing too gotta pour beers for everybody before the game starts That's the guy to do you know arms worked out You know what's the big thing too is I hate the gotta be the last guy off the ice stuff like Shifely and Hofer had Little thing I hate so I will say so cuz I hate licks a puck but guys are allowed to shoot them down at the end of the

the end so I actually just gonna say I don't like and I understand that in whatever you think of it like Chabot shoots it in the Leafs net whenever it's off the ice the other way. I hate that. I you know like I think I would take that personally. Of course. I don't know if the guys know that on the Leafs. If you're if you're finding a guy for flicking a puck at a goalie that doesn't even know it's coming.

Right. Then why are you allowed to Shabbat to shoot it at the end of shooting at a person can't shoot it at a person it's a safety thing then that's not gonna get hurt but you're kind of just making all of this up as you go along for sure that's exactly right it just doesn't matter it's about a wall you can drop down. She's like like it like the gym class where they would like Yeah, I hated that the curtain between half the gym great. Thanks. I couldn't agree more it's so stupid, but I would say if you're a Habs fan that I have a Habs player tonight and

Just keep your head up. Yeah Tom Wilson you gotta be scared. I did one thing I did think that we didn't talk about so the Leafs are down to nothing goalie pulled Auto scores to make it three nothing all I could think of of was like what would Florida do if they were down three nothing and About to play game six. Yeah, take a couple of strips off somebody right? It wouldn't have their four stars out there trying to get back into a three nothing game that's over. But then Benoit did kind of tangle a little bit and Lawton was looking for someone to dance with

and you like that? Do you think that's just a waste of energy at that point or what? Sending a message, stop. You know what? I did a hit for Sports Central. They came to me real quick. I did not see the last minute, minute and a half. So I can't specifically speak of that, but yeah I'd

probably be a bit of a sore loser at that point. I think it's okay. I think it's okay to be a sore loser in those moments. Los Angeles Kings, are they fully cooked? The defense to me is like worn down. Yeah, and they cannot handle the speed right now. They're going back to Edmonton right for game six? Yeah. It's over. It's over. It's over. And I feel, you know, I'm not very right about a lot of things, but I just couldn't quit on the Oilers and they've given me reason not to quit, but that game, that game five that they played last night, that looked like the team that went to game seven to the Stanley Cup final. And it just felt like they had the bad start. They get a lucky break in that game and game

three. You let them off the mat with that challenge. They get back into the series, they tie it late in game four. I feel doesn't get that one out. I mean, It's just these little mistakes and what the great great teams do They punish you for these mistakes and they made two big ones in those games and now they're done Really think the Kings are gonna go in there and game six and that building with a chance to eliminate Connor Leon No shot and it's like I love coper tar but he's a lot of wear and tear on that He's he's in his late 30s

36 37 I was gonna ton of them a ton. Yes poor guy Yeah, you saw McDavid and whatever game it was kind of Juke him and out muscle him It's like you don't you didn't used to see that sort of thing from him I can't I couldn't help but think of the the Greg penalty against the Leafs and right talk about yes You know a team opens the door for you take. The great teams just make you pay every time. Instead you serve one up. Story out of ESPN about Utah maybe having their name leaked. Did you see that?

No, I didn't. I didn't either. Let's do it. Yeah. Greg Wyshinski. Thank you. You didn't get it. Greg Wyshinski.

Wyshinski. Wyshinski. Wyshinski. Wyshinski. Wyshinski. Wyshinski. Wyshinski. It's just which is wishin cheat. Thank you. You didn't get it. No, Greg was Shinsuke. Wait, which wall? Why shin shin ski ski set? No he wrote yeah that The the hockey club's not confirming Mammoth, but apparently there's a leak according to his Article, I think that's Greg

You like it cool. Love it. I love it. I'm not just saying that cuz of her We just want to golf our personal dear friend Ryan Smith, but I think that's probably the best of all the options Speaking of which oh, how about Larry Brooks? writing that John Cooper only had the one-year extension and on the thought of Rangers on the thought of Sullivan leaving Pittsburgh could a first-round loss lead Cooper out of Tampa Bay and could he end up in Utah with his buddy Ryan oh my that's his boy. Yeah, the golf guy. Remember you came out of show. He's like, oh yeah, play golf together in Utah. Coop could name his

ticket buddy. You want the Rangers? You want the Penguins? I think he's gonna come to Toronto and build the coach the rebuilding leaves after they lose it. There's a lot of talk about Sullivan resetting the goalie market or the coaching market. Sorry, goalie. The coaching market. Time is getting paid. Yeah. Tauke just turned down 25 shmuel apparently from the Canucks. Yeah.

Rick's doing good. Yeah. He wanted more. Can we offer him that to be an analyst on the show again? I got the money. Twenty five. All right. Just like that. Two hours of the fastest show in hockey and we saw nothing.

We accomplished big night ahead. Nothing. Montreal, Winnipeg, Battle of Florida. Enjoy your game. And we're back here. On the real Kipper and born show. Have a great night everybody.