Real Kyper & Bourne - First Round Matchups By The Numbers + Flames Final Push

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne welcome in MSG analyst Steve Valiquette (6:11) to dig into the potential goaltending matchup between the Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, how goalscoring changes in the postseason, which teams have improved their defence against the rush, how Mattias Ekholm's absence affects Stuart Skinner in net and whether Connor Hellebuyck can find postseason success with 60+ games under his belt. Then, Cory Sarich, former NHLer and Calgary Flames analyst stops by (30:55) to chat about Calgary's chances of sneaking into the playoffs and what they'll need to prioritize when they reach the offseason. Finally, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee discuss Darnell Nurse's game misconduct, Ivan Demidov's eventful debut in Montreal and Gabriel Landeskog getting called back up to the Avalanche ahead of Game 1.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.

Closing out the final week of the National Hockey League season. The national hour on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We're live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary and across all major Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, and across all major Sportsnet platforms, this hour of Real Kiprinborn brought to you by Bet365, Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Steve Valakett, analyst for the New York Rangers,

who are eliminated, one of four original six teams in the United States, gone. Shame about the Rangers. Gone. He'll stop by on his regular Tuesday. We're gonna get into a ton with him as well. And then in about half an hour, Corey Sarge, of course, Calgary Flames still in it.

So we'll get Corey to talk about what a success this season has been, despite what happens in the next 48 hours or so. Massive, massive night for the Calgary Flames, playing the Vegas Golden Knights, who are not going to dress their five best players. Playing the Henderson Silver Knights, in fact. They are playing the Silver Knights.

In the meantime, Columbus Blue Jackets sweater continues to hang in our background. You know why? Because now I know where it is. Yes. Every day. Every day. My family enjoyed the story. Good.

And you know what's interesting from my angle is that Canon looks to me like it's aimed right at your head. That's like the Mona Lisa eyes, but only for Sam. It's him at all times. Columbus plays Philly tonight. They are currently four points behind the Montreal Canadiens. They would have to win both their games in regulation

and the Habs have one game left. They would have to lose it outright for them to get in. And they're playing Carolina? They are playing, yeah, the last game is Carolina for Montreal Columbus down to one last bleeding point mmm, gotta win them both but I Don't think it's over. We watched why really we watched Montreal Saturday here in Toronto play against the Leafs where They they still found a way to get a point. Could've got two points if maybe Suzuki could've buried a three on three opportunity there,

but they didn't play nowhere near as well last night against Chicago. No, and they were up two nothing, right? Bit of a gift from the official on the power play opportunity late last night to earn a point in my opinion Yeah, the trip on Murphy. Yes wasn't much it No, but no give full credit the play Hudson makes to earn them that goes. Yeah. No look on the tape to

Caulfield who actually healed it off the other guys skating in you didn't even hit it clean out of way And so yeah when a weird shootout like the first guy talks and no one knows they talked I knew it went in I was sitting at home on my couch the guy gave a little like yeah It's it's remarkable with all the cameras in the world and yeah, look at this the uh, look at refi. What's he looking at? He shoots in the net. Watch the little one hand up. The war room watching He celebrates the goal There has never been a more obvious in like where did it go then fellas?

It was one of the strangest things we've ever seen. And the broadcast didn't know so they you know put up the O, the shootout thing like he hadn't scored it and I was sitting there thinking I must have missed it, you know I didn't see that right obviously.

Demidov. Oh, geez. What a debut. Yeah. Shifty. I called it. I'm sorry. I don't like to do this often, but I just told you and you totally,

Sammy, just buried him yesterday. The most impressive part about Demidoff is the composure he had at an nhl pace game where it looked like he wasn't even going that nhl pace i mean they're playing the worst team in the history of the league here like let's see him in a good game that kid's special i know he's special okay i would and what i would say is that habs fan should get used to demidoff two points and a loss that's you should get used to that That's that's about right. You know, he made a couple of plays that touch pass You know just control the puck in those on hit. He's a couple fantastic back checks. He was killing it. He was killing it

The only blemish was the third goal where he had a shot blocked and then you made a reference on his backcheck yeah he shattered a little tired but i do think that i was being a 19 year old flight he's 19 long overseas flight it'll that part comes later his edge work he's on start with that skill the edge work yeah was like off the charts and the composure to hold on to the puck get your head up and make plays know who he reminded me of and I haven't heard this player comparison with the puck was Kuturov the way that he hung on to it and looked and shifted and it just seemed slow to him I got to tell you last night there seemed to be a lot of people watching that game for some reason

I guess it's demidoff there were some hushed tones the fan conversations. Yeah Hudson out there damn it off Suzuki Chicago had a chance to draft him too, right? Yeah, and passed up and passed. Yeah, that was another one where oopsie Yeah, and passed up and passed. Yeah, that was another one where Whoopsie a lot of it. I love a build But you know, you know who should be most mad. It's Connor Badaard Badaard watching that guy on the other team going so that could have been my line mate Got me out here with I mean you run through the list of his line mates. Can't say I love 98s game last night Oh and overtime and overtime he was like, I tried to get to the end.

I think changes are coming in Chicago, boys. Yeah. All right, let's welcome in. It's Tuesday, which means Steve Alliquette, analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG, CEO Clear Sight Analytics. As we get ready for Stanley Cup Playoffs, which unfortunately, Valley doesn't include the New York Rangers or any other big market team in the US. Well, I was listening to your show the other day

and I think that you guys need to start a quilt book. We had one in junior one year and the best quotes of the year that were in the locker room made the quilt book and at the end of the year, we went out for pints and talked about all the best moments of the year that were in the locker room made the quilt book. And at the end of the year, we went out for pints and talked about all the best moments of the season. That's great. Kepers line the other day where he said, Sammy is abusing his power.

I almost drove off the road. She was very good. I was dying. Okay. I was dying. And manipulating the masses. I told you guys I was local. Okay, I was dying and manipulating the masses I told you guys I was local I just got in I was I was local last couple days Toronto local and I'm telling you guys your popularity is through the roof

I'm not a banquet and people are saying to me. I watch you on kipper and born. They have no idea I work for MSG. They have no idea that I played before but they see me on kipper and born So Sammy don't abuse your platform. That's right. I never do I work for MSG. They have no idea that I played before, but they see me on Kipper and barn. So Sammy, don't abuse your platform. That's right. I never do. Yeah. That's right. Um, where do you want to watching you guys when I'm on? Hey, well you have Doug. That's Doug's line. I know he got mad at me once for using it. But one thing I can say, Doug, you're wrong about what you've been saying this year. We are getting a lot off this show. Yeah, I'm getting a lot of exposure Thank you very much. So

this is our last segment before we go into the Stanley Cup playoffs and Just in terms of what you do on a daily basis with your your clear sight analytics terms of what you do on a daily basis with your clear site analytics. If you were to take whatever information you have from any particular game during the regular season or even this week and you compare it to a playoff game, how much similarities or differences would there be? Is that, is that an easy question to answer? It is because like I follow the same process when I'm preparing for a TV gig that I am if I'm working with a client

team, or if I'm working with a player. And there's three ways to arrive at a pre scout, you can look at where they are weak, you can look if your strengths line up with their weaknesses. And then if their weaknesses or your strengths line up with their goalies strengths or weaknesses, you really need those three things to collide. Because when they do, especially if your strength is their weakness, and it happens to be their goalies weakness, you can say we can lean into that a little bit. And this is something that we can

work towards Ottawa and Toronto. Okay, again, I was at the Von Kings banquet last night and a number of people are very nervous about this matchup. I have to say that a lot of Leaf fans are worried about the matchup. Ottawa being a favorite even though they're an underdog playing to the Leafs strengths and look I heard it all last night there's not a lot of people that believe it's gonna be a cakewalk. However, I see a lot of things lining up here well for the Leafs. And I will start with the Leafs and pre-scout.

This is interesting to me, breakaways. So breakaways this year, the Leafs, they finished third in the NHL with 115 and they scored 29 goals. So they had a really good year at getting in all alone. And we both know, or all four of us know, that they just need to be able to bear down in the playoffs and finish when they get their grade A's. And I thought this was really interesting because you look back to the last three playoff years, the Leafs had 29 breakaways

in the last three playoff years, the Leafs had 29 breakaways in the last three playoff years, fellas. They only scored five goals. And they should have scored 10. So their shooting percentage is 17% on breakaways, last three years combined. It should be 34%, especially with their guys. They can even get into the 36%, 37% range with the finishers they have on breakaways. Um, I'm wondering if that's the tightness of playoffs that the Leafs experience year after year.

And we've, I've heard you guys talk about the two to one games and the three to two games over the last three playoff years. That's the difference right there. You know, in Allmark, he's not a great breakaway goalie either. He's a guy that you can get to on breakaways. I'm looking at the slot area chances that the Toronto Maple Leafs have gotten this year. They finished eighth in the NHL, but they overshot by 13 goals. So even though they don't get the most slot area chances, they have the finishers

specifically when they get that time in space or their odd man rushes to be able to finish. On odd man rushes this year where the Toronto Maple Leafs got to the slot area, they did this 37 times, they scored 12 goals. So when they get to the slot area on an odd man rush, I would be saying, I'd be yelling at my screen to shoot it. Like there's no reason passing up an opportunity like that against the Ottawa Senators in what could be a seven game series. Ottawa against, they gave up 24 goals on breakaways and they are 18th in breakaways faced during the season with 95 so they you can get the breakaway so I see that lining up.

A little bit of bad news though. All Mark specifically very good from the slot area has saved percentage really high. How about this actually scare even clear sight slot area where guys walk in and just shoot the score on them all mark this season only 3 goals on 75 chances. Wow. Yeah. Where you have time and space in the slot area, 10 chances faced one goal against and on odd man's with the puck carrier shoots it 14 chances faced zero goals against so gotta make a move. I know now I'm saying yo, but

that's this is what you're doing. You're looking at the video, you're saying to yourself, where does it line up for us against this opponent? What's it gonna take? It's gonna be obviously a really good series, you guys, but on the offensive side of the puck, I think the one thing that I took away from this exercise today was Ottawa defensively, they're not elite, they're pretty down the middle, but there's one exposure there on breakaways.

And you have a team that just has to finish when they get their one on ones. That was my final takeaway on that one. Looking at the Sens and the way they play offensively, Valley, it feels to me like they get a lot of chances from in and around the blue paint. I just look at their, you know, it's Greg and Pinto and Kachuk and you know, they got a lot of those type of guys. How does that line up for Stolarz? Is he someone who excels at in tight chances or I don't know if that would maybe lean into

rebounds or second attempts or what do you have on Stolarz there? So Stolarz screens this year faced 89, he allowed 15. The Tampa game that I watched the other night, all three goals for Tampa, there was net front presence on them. And some of it, the first goal in particular stood out for me because Yarncroak goes out there in a goalie stance.

There's one of my biggest pet peeves when guys are gonna be first to get in the lane. Don't use the goalie stance, because the goalie stance to me is you bring your stick in and you're actually protecting your five hole. And if you look at him, he looked like a scarecrow. Now, he's full of holes, but on the bigger point that I wanna make,

I think that everybody has to block in the postseason. That's a thing. Everybody's gotta check, everybody's got to block shots But sometimes the guys that don't block shots Well during the regular season get in the way in the postseason because they're not on the proper side of the shooting lane The proper shot side of the shooting lane and you can look at goal one again for Tampa It's a right-handed defenseman coming up to shoot it, but he gives the defenseman the ability to shoot long side You need to stand in long side. If you're not willing to block it, which it didn't look like

he really wanted to block it just get to the other side of the shooting lane. So you're preventing the defenseman from shooting at long side allows stool ours to look over the short side shoulder of the screen and then he knows he only has to protect one side of the net. It's it's like saying that Yarncroak, what he really should have done is lined up his left shoulder to the puck carrier's left shoulder,

and then he's going to be taking away that side of the shooting line. Does that make sense? Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It's easier to describe on a dry erase board, but that's the one thing. You want to cut the net in half for the goalie, basically. Yeah. Just make sure you can't go long side make that make that not a possibility because you happen to be standing in that way. Ottawa offensively. They're very good on rebounds. So all net front rebounds seventh in the NHL this year with 124. That's a really good number.

They're good at finishing on it. Screen seventh and then east to west seventh. So they everything else is right down the middle 1415. They're not elite by any means but Toronto guys seventh and then east to west seventh. So they everything else is right down the middle 14 and 15. They're not elite by any means but Toronto guys everything I looked at for Toronto and this is their best offensive year. They've had and like this this goes into a bigger conversation which is how are goals scored in the playoffs now the way that goals are scored in the regular season.

I'm just going to give you a percentage breakdown and I'm going to break it into rush, offensive zone play, unsettled offense, and face-offs. Face-offs during the regular season, they account for 5% of all goals scored. In the postseason, it's 6%, about the same. Unsettled offense, to me, this is the key right now, because unsettled offense is any offense that you're getting off your for check giveaways

takeaways, that's Unsettled it's not like you're coming off the cycle. You have a set play It's gonna be one where you fight to get the puck back in the regular season that accounts for 20% of all goals in the postseason 23% of all goals Okay, so OZP coming off cycle high cycle high rolls that accounts for 35% of all goals. Okay. So OZP coming off cycle, high cycle, high rolls, that accounts for 35% of all offense in the regular season, 32% in the postseason and off the rush is the most in the postseason and in the regular season. That's a big spread.

Pardon me? Big spread. Yeah. Yeah. It's 40% during the regular season. 39% in the playoffs. To me, that's, that's where you're going to find out who's, who's in it for the long haul. Who's able to shut down the rush against. And I've told you, I mean, we've been talking about this for a long time, fellas. And I'm going to bring it up because I brought it up at this time last year. And to me, this is the most important thing to know going into the postseason and it actually shades well on last year. And to me, this is the most important thing to know going into the postseason.

And it actually shades well on the Leafs. We're talking about the last, what do I have here? Five Stanley Cup winners. All of these teams really struggled at shutting down rush defense the year before they won. St. Louis, go all the way back to 2019. The previous year before they won, they were 19th. When they won, they were fifth. Tampa Bay, before they won, were 19th when they won they were fifth

Tampa Bay before they won that year. They got upset against Columbus They were 27th Columbus was actually ninth and then they lost they got swept in the first round the next year They went to fourth and second and they won two cups even though Sammy doesn't count those because it was COVID years Previous season to avalanche winning they were 12th and shutting down rush defense. And then they went to second and one Vegas went from 20th to fourth. Florida went from 10th to fifth. This is the this is where it gets exciting for the leaf heads. Last year the Leafs were 19th this year, their fourth. They fit the model. Oh, Sammy.

Fit the model. Come on. Sammy plan the model come on Sammy plan the jets when a page that's right there too from the West 18th last year this year first just so the top yeah, the top 5 teams this year when a peg Toronto Saint Louis, New Jersey, L.A. Kings Florida's night this year Colorado slip the 10th and I see that a lot after teams when take a little bit of slippage into it, but the teams that are really struggling guys defensively off the rush

Carolina Washington Edmonton struggling bad mix with skinner like I think there's teams that you can cross Tampa Bay's been struggling against shutting off the rush against so there's there's a there's some good teams here that I don't think I don't think I'd be putting my money on You're watching and listening to Steve Alicat analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG and CEO of clear site Analytics, okay, you mentioned the Edmonton Oilers a lot of a lot of people had them going to a Stanley Cup final Is there anything in your data that you can predict?

for what's to come for that you can predict for what's to come for the Edmonton goaltender specifically Skinner now that Mattias at home is out of the lineup. I heard Doug say this about a month ago. I should be Doug's reference. I might be his biggest fan because he said he said LAK. I know it's fire him up for Friday. I he said LA is going to beat Edmonton and I agree with them on

I'm just gonna give you the analytical preview is the defense that LA has along with the offense that they have Infused this year which they're very dynamic from the slot Stuart Skinner's kryptonite would be movement off of rebounds East to West off the rush. These are areas where most goalies get really frustrated and ends up on the backside. One of the plays that you're going to see in this series is skinner coming across on a strong side rebound he might be hovering over it and ls not

going to shoot it they're going to pass and he's going to be on his backside he'll be on the side will be hovering over it in l.a.'s not going to shoot it they're going to pass he's going to be on his backside to be on the side of the rolling over and it's going to be a slam dunk. I think that what Jim Hiller did was he added a very dynamic offense to an awesome defense of team that has learned from 3 previous years of failure and they to me are the favorite in that series I checked the line on that it's not that way it's still Edmont me are the favorite in that series. And I checked the line on that. It's not that way. It's still Edmonton as the favorite.

But as of today, it's L.A. Kings beating the Edmonton Oilers. Based on the defense that L.A. plays with, I just said they were top five, shutting down off the rush. They're very good in transition. They're excellent net front, and they have the permission. This is the most important thing. They have the permission to make plays from the slot and they're not just going to shoot it. They're not just going to dump it into the big goalie.

They're going to make plays. You'll see them fan out away from the net, passing off rebounds, passing from the slot. When you think they should shoot it, these are all things that make goaltenders miserable. And I think that when I look at all things that we can talk about from the slot area, uh, in in pre scouts, I don't think in 2025 a goalie should steal a series unless you are a coach that is telling your team, just shoot it because that cancels out the message altogether.

You know, it's going to be an interesting year. It's like the year of how far can McDavid's will take a team. He made some comment today about how he doesn't like this narrative that they're the walking wounded and that they're gonna be just fine All that so we'll see how he's able to to drag them through Talking about upsets, you know, lots of people have picked Ottawa. You had mentioned pick in LA Is there any chance for Montreal that they would be able to get past a Washington Capitals team who has been scuffling pretty decent I think over the past, I don't know, six weeks or so. Feels like if Montembeau got hot, they might have a dog in the fight here. Yeah, you know what, Borny, as far as we'll start a net with both teams since the Four

Nations, Markstrom, Kachetkov, Skinner, Thompson, Ottinger, they've all been near the bottom performance wise. Montembeau has been scuffling in and out of the midway point of being good or bad. And for the most part, Logan Thompson has really stepped back. But the environment for Washington has gotten more challenging. It's been pretty hard. 29th, I believe, is the last time I saw their stats and rushed chances against. And I think that's what's going to kill them in the playoffs. I don't think it's going to be Montreal,

because I just don't think it's a good enough Montreal team. Look, last night, how do they not finish it off? And I wonder when teams get close, why they don't break through they don't like to be expected but they like to be underdogs but I think if there is an expectation in a series where they are to get ahead I think that Washington would come back I wouldn't I wouldn't bet money on Montreal as much as I like their story and everything I don't I don't see them

winning that series I do I do see Washington but I don't think the way Washington's playing if they get through the way Washington's playing, if they get through, the way that I think they might think that they're. Just a handful of goaltenders, I think, with over 60 games played this season, Valley, but we know Hellebuck's a lock on being one of those five here. How's Winnipeg shaped up with Hellebuck

to take a serious run at this thing? Well, I think it's time for Jets talk and you know, 60. Yeah, there you go. Cue it. Uh, I think the 60 games scares me, right? It scares me because we talked about this last week. There's only two Stanley cup winners in the last 20 years that have played 60 or more games. Hellebuck has the Four Nations games. Hellebuck has 60 plus games during the regular season. I think it's too much for him.

I thought that, look, as far as high end play, Hellebuck this year, high danger chances, he has an insane number right now. He's a lock for the Vezna. His numbers right now on high danger chances, one goal every 4.8 high danger chances. So that's 347 faced, only 72 goals allowed this season. Shusterkin in his Vezna trophy year, he was he was allowing one goal every 4.6 high danger chances. In fact, side note,

he's allowed this year Shasterkin one on every 3.5 and that's a difference of 35 goals. Oh my God. Yeah. So I just fell into that earlier today. I was like, Oh my God, what a difference. My mistake. It was a difference of 32 goals. One goal every three and a half for a difference of 32 this year. And I thought that was just wild because you know, you're talking about the Rangers not getting in and they weren't really getting the big saves at the big moments. Now back to Hellebuck. When I went back and looked at his postseason last season against Colorado, a couple things

really stand out here. He actually allowed 19 goals, high danger goals on 51 chances. So he was allowing one every 2.6. So you look at his what I say was one every 4.8 during the regular season this year last year in the playoffs. And so he's trying to tell us that he was playing the best hockey of his life. I'm still perplexed on that one. Now the one thing that's interesting is that these are a few red flags on Hellebuck. Because like I said, there's ways to get to everybody.

Screens, broken plays, winning net front. Think about Nathan McKinnon's goal on him. I think it was the first goal of the game at the Four Nations where there was a Nathan McKinnon where he walks up top, lets everybody kind of get in there and layered screen and then sifts it through. Unbelievably, Hellebuck right now, he ranks in the bottom three goalies in the NHL this season on mid-danger chances. So that is a mid-danger chance. If it's a layered screen that flashes through and it's a shot from the point, those aren't high danger.

They're not going in one every three times, but they're more of a mid-danger, meaning like 16% or 18% depending on the time of the year. So those ones are giving him a hard time. He ranked 31 out of 38 goalies with in the air deflections, not ones that are delivered on the ice, but ones that are delivered in the air and then knocked down. And every one of the goals I've watched them all, they're all knocked down and he's reaching up high as well as one timers from the same side of the ice and slot area chances. And the one timers from the same side of the ice, one thing I saw,

and I'm sure that anybody scouting him will see this, he really brings his hands into his body and he's a little bit late to get back up and the weak spot is in the high blocker. So like there's ways to get to him and I think it's going to be interesting to see if these teams can go ahead and do that. And like I said, the list is just not that strong backing up playing that many games. I think that things break down and this is I'm not as much as I like Winnipeg right now as a team that's going to win. The only thing that can unravel the dream is hell about playing like he did last year. That's all.

Well, that sounds an awful lot like, you know, the least like the most positive Jets talk. They need they need Samberg and Ehlers to be healthy too. We're going to be leaning on you these Stanley Cup playoffs, buddy. So listen, next week, boys, I'm going to be in Honduras. I'm going scuba diving and scuba Steve that fits that's amazing so yeah so I won't be around next week but I promise I'll be back whenever you need me all right just write us a note yeah we'll let you go hey great stuff as always pal enjoy your trip next week and we'll catch up to you in two weeks. Thanks fellas. Hi buddy CEO clear sight analytics and of course MSG as well and telling me that the least gonna win the cup

Yeah, that's what you said that word for word you can put the clip out He's alligat says least gonna come that is interesting though 19th the fourth and rush chances against was that what it was It's funny cuz that when he said that what stands out to Me is Florida just no room No, we go no open ice for the Leafs to do the thing they like to do Which is send Neal under 900 miles past the enemy lines. What do you say 114 breakaways? They've had this year and Willie's I think had 111 yeah, that does sound right 115 breakaways 29 goals 111. Yeah, that does sound right.

115 breakaways, 29 goals. Game time, game time presented by Bet365. Visit the app, Play the Stars, and find out why it's ever ordinary at Bet365 plus 19 plus on Terran Only. Please play responsibly. So on Bet365, they've already posted a couple of the series that are confirmed.

And we'll get into full playoff preview mode coming up here soon when all the series are set. But the three series that are set are the Devils and the Hurricanes the Edmonton Oilers and the LA Kings and the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars So like Valley say these nightmares minus Dallas I mean for the US I mean doubt Devils Carolina catch the fever. What a thrill I mean if we power rank the first round, I'll tell you right now dead last But the LA Kings like Valley said there a lot of the information that he was giving you You can get some value on the LA Kings when that series there plus 120 underdogs to win that series

Edmonton is minus 140 in that series and they're betting on the pedigree They're betting on the history, but I that's a pretty interesting number if you And the other one that I'll bring up I mean the the Carolina's pretty big favorites are plus two to their minus 260 in that serious to win So yeah a lot of So good to tell you on the Devils and the last thing is Colorado and Dallas the Dallas stars are plus 105 That's his Colorado is minus 125. So some value there as well. So, okay Those are the three series that are confirmed already and we'll make our picks on Friday

Yes, we will that was game time presented by bet 365 visit the athlete is to odds of find out why it's never ordinary at bet 365 must be 19 plus Ontario only please play responsibly Okay, we're gonna take a quick break when we return we go a little Calgary flames talk Former NHL or Cory search will join us and we'll figure out whether or not the Flames are still in it or not or are we just dreaming. And also if we stay in Alberta, possible suspension for one of their key players the Edmonton Oilers going into the playoffs. We'll explain when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Get smarter when you listen to Hockey Talk, the hockey PDO cast with Demetri Filipovic.

Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet365. Can't go another minute on the show without a little flames talk. Flames talk. Here we go. Let's welcome in former NHL'er, does a terrific job on Sportsnet, analyzing the Calgary Flames. Corey Sarge, how are you, pal. Corey Sarge, how are you pal? I'm all, how are you guys?

Good, so here we go. Starting tonight, Calgary Flames, two games left on the docket and we'll see a game tonight against Vegas where they're sitting out five of their key players. We don't know what's gonna happen the following night in Los Angeles, but it's kind of bodes well for two games left for the Flames

to at least put pressure on St. Louis, Minnesota. Yeah, they've been in this spot, it feels like, for two months now. I mean, it's probably only been two weeks, but it's been a complete grind for the Calgary Flames this year. They've had to play playoff hockey probably all year long. It's been tough getting offense for this group,

but they've done a really nice job of playing pretty solid defense, especially in their own building. So tonight they're gonna get a different looking Vegas team. I know last time that they played Vegas when they were in, they had their third stringer in and they couldn't quite take advantage of it. It was an unlucky goal by Riley Smith.

In overtime, flames missed out on grabbing a point there. They did get one, but tonight you've got no excuses. And I expect the flame to become out flying. Their last game against San Jose was super flat for two periods. Thank goodness San Jose was, you know, they're out of it. They didn't put forth a very good effort, but they got it. They just have to take care of their business tonight.

And then of course, everybody's going to be scoreboard watching with those two games starting at six an hour earlier than this one in Calgary. So where is the Flames game at right now? Because as you mentioned, they have been pushing their fully healthy. How, you know, what is the state of their of their game? It's actually quite good except for those couple of periods against San Jose the other day they've been ultra consistent at home they play a tight checking game again they're gonna have to get somebody to score some goals I know Sharon Govich

has put a couple in recently Coronado is looking for his 25th of the year. Hubert and Kadri have been super consistent so far this year. So they just have to continue. But it's going to take a full effort. I mean, Vegas, they're not an easy out no matter what kind of lineup they have. They're scrappy. They're a big team. So the Flames just can't... Well, there's no reason for them to take anything for granted at this point They'll be ready to go tonight now. I'll expect a much much more spirited effort right from the get-go just speak to us Cory a little bit on on on Dustin Wolfe in his season and Often regarded as the best goaltender prospect out there, but did anybody see?

aspect out there, but did anybody see what should be what 54 games of a regular season and a 910 912 save percentage and maybe potentially two games away from making the playoffs? I didn't know. I think people hoped that this would happen, but I don't think people expected this to happen. And I don't think this many starts was in Ryan Huska's plan off the start, but. In Dustin Wolf fashion, you know, he gets to the junior stage and everyone's like, he's too small and can he perform? And he goes out and just kills it.

And then one of your MVPs of the AHL, the last couple of seasons, and he just rises to the occasion. Um, he's been super consistent when he does have the odd bad game this year in turning it around the next night. So I just, I can't believe that they're riding this rookie right down to the bitter end here with all of these crucial games. But again, he's been unbelievably consistent. So you just, you got to give them a shot. And then I got gotta give a shout out to Dan Gladar. He's been the consummate backup again this year.

He's won some huge road games for this team too, and without those points, this team isn't scrapping for anything. So it's been a really nice goaltending tandem this year in Calgary. Let's say things go really well for them. They get the next couple wins, they find their way into that final

wild card spot, they would draw the Winnipeg Jets. Do you feel like this long push to playoffs would be an advantage? Would they, they're used to playing every game matters hockey, would they have a chance at taking some games from the Jets? It's been, it's been pretty tight checking. And I think if you get through something like this and you get into the playoffs, I don't think that's just a bonus. I think you'd be able to finally take a little bit of a mental breather and then get after it. You've got absolutely nothing to lose if you get in. Like you're ecstatic.

So I would be nervous if I was the Winnipeg Jets and the Calgary Flames got in. Now they are a powerhouse this year, but they've had their flops and you got Hellebuck who has had his issues So if you do sneak in I think I think the sky's the limit for the Calgary Flames and you would be this place would go nuts like Calgary, Alberta would be just on fire and for all the namesayers we'd see them all come out of the woodworks that had this team written off at the start of the year because everybody just wants playoff hockey in Calgary.

And it's always too far in between. That's the problem around here. Corey, whether or not they get in or not and have this amazing experience that perhaps no one expected, bigger picture, potentially off season. What needs to happen to build Calgary to not be in a position to need the last two games

next season to make the playoffs? Well, it's offense. Like that has clearly been the struggle this year. Like they can't get past two or three goals and every time they do score four goals They tend to win games unless they really lock it down To a minimum so they'll have to address that concern The one thing that has really changed around here that I've noticed is

The locker room chemistry these guys truly enjoy playing for each other They've got great structure that Ryan Huska has provided and these guys have bought in. So they do have the basis to be a really solid team again next year. But I just don't think you can make a splash. Like you, if you look at you, I was just looking at it before I came on here. You put Vegas Golden Knights stats, stack them up against the Calgary Flames and it's just just it's just drastically different because they've got offense from everywhere and without it you just you can't survive in this league because again the Flames have improved greatly in the defensive end of the rink but again you don't

score enough goals it's a pretty high-powered league this one. It's gonna be fun to watch tonight. See what happens In the next few days. Hey, corey great stuff as always. Uh congrats on a great season, uh covering the flames with uh with sportsnet and uh Go flames. We'll see what happens from here on in but uh, thanks again pal for joining us. Yeah Thanks, and maybe it's about time these flames catch a break. Yeah, I gotta watch another team go into overtime that I'm cheering against Lose my mind Cory Sarge does a great job covering the flames. Ah, man, it's too bad that Minnesota and St. Louis They got a win tonight. Like it's...

Half their team's missing. Their stars are not there. You know what sucks? What sucks is that the Flames thing is they're the hardest working team in the NHL. I truly believe that they are. When you take out five superstars, you put in five guys who are hungry. Five guys who are like, this is my chance to show coach. You know, you're maybe not getting an under-efforted Not a word. You'd actually probably rather a couple of the stars playing in a meaningless game

Stay out of the lane. No, I don't think I would have blocked that shot You can get that one right in on the tendy if you want either way. I think this is a low scoring Battle dogfight. All right, let's keep it in the province of Alberta Last night the Edmonton Oilers lose To the LA Kings a team that they know they're gonna face in the first round Lost by five nothing but the biggest story of the night Mm-hmm was Darnell nurse was given a five-minute major and kicked out of the game for cross check on Quinton byfield. And we'll have a hearing tonight with the NHL discipline.

And boys, there's a very good chance they are starting game one without at home and Darnell nurse in my opinion you think you could get more than a game you think I won I don't think there's I don't think it's I don't think it's one game yeah and I don't the thing that the NHL has to guard against is that the bad blood continues in game one. And there was bad blood last night. Yeah. And it's the second shot where he's defenseless, face down. Yeah, that's bad play.

And he drives his stick in the back of his head. Borny. Nah. Not a suspension. He's got to play game one. I can't, cause you can't play off games as two games. You're talking about it, making it a hypothetical three gamer. That's too much.

What's his suspension history? Yeah, he's been suspended before. I don't know if it'll play into this. Did he get suspended this year? I feel like he did. Oh no I was thinking of Ryan Reeves. Yeah no I don't think he was suspended this year but he's got a history but I don't think it'll factor in. Do we have comments? We do we have comments from Deno and Corey Perry. Let's have a listen. Let's play those. I think they just have their B squad and trying to hurt us so So that's pretty much the message tonight.

That's what I'm thinking. But yeah. Oh, what's up? Sorry, my excuse my language. What do you want us to do? Did he not look at what's happened over the last couple of weeks? Like we, what do you want us to do? We're not out there to hurt anybody.

I mean, yeah, right. That's it. Nothing else. Move on. We're not out there to hurt anybody. I mean... Yeah, right. Yeah, this one's gonna be interesting. George Paros, of course, head of NHL Supplementary Discipline. If he gets just the one game, and for whatever reason, game one is ugly, NHL's gonna have to kind of own the fact And for whatever reason game one is ugly NHL is gonna have to kind of own the fact that

They didn't they they went easy on him. I think that's what the NHL needs to Guard against so the thing I need I wish I knew for context was that clip after what Darnell nurse says It was after or before or do you mean Philip to know I'm sorry Sorry, what did it fill up the nose? That was that after before I was after what Darnell nurse says it was after before or do you mean Philip to know sorry sorry What did it fill up the nose? So was that after before after what to do? Yes, that's a reply to him. So I mean to be fair Darnell nurse is not the B squad. No and also the ace can stuff in a sock. Yeah, it's like it's a hockey Yeah, we got a bunch of injured guys rolled out the bodies We do have and yeah, we're looking to maybe be a little physical here I'm not sure if you know we play in a playoff game in a week checking at

the schedule here and we're playing a seven game we're coming up yeah I don't know I don't know that's going against Darnell nurses like the scores out of hand yeah it's over yeah right like yeah you can't say like did he change his position you know before contact is like no he was laying on his stomach. Is that a two or more game suspension all day long during the regular season? The problem is it's probably a two game suspension. It's a two game suspension. It's a two game. But I mean regular season suspension. I think the only question is is do you if the league wants Darnell Nurse to play any games in LA to start this series? What do you mean? Oh, he might get more than two.

Yeah. I think it's two or if they want to go three. If they want Darnell to play in game two, that's the only question I think the league needs to answer. Nurse's suspension history is not bad at all. One game suspension for instigating a fight with Nick Hegg of the Vegas Gold Knights during the playoffs. He was suspended for three games for violating the aggressor rule during an altercation with San Jose in 2016. Okay. And then, yeah, I think that's it. So those are like, he's got suspended for being a good teammate basically.

Like sticking up for somebody. If they got suspended for three games, boys boys. I'm an oilers fan. I'd be apoplectic That would be I would lose my mind that that is gonna be received if you get there I think they look like they're soft if they don't want it. It's it's off. It's bailing out We don't want to ruin the series you already lost. I thought they're really hurt. They're missing guys We don't want to ruin the series you already lost. That's what they're really hurt. They're missing guys We don't want to ruin the series. Let him play I think two is the number two is the number for me to one You just pander into those He's got very limited history with this sort of stuff at this, you know, the the malice is it's a gentle cross check to the

Back of the head Just a shout out To brad may who we had earlier in our first hour edition of our program and for those of you That are buffalo sabres fans Maybe not Just have a listen to brad may talk about the situation in buffalo Just have a listen to Brad May talk about the situation in Buffalo. I found it very, very heartfelt from a former player who has emotional ties to this organization. It's one of the best for me, like look back to a season on a team and a city he really and a city the best he really cares about but his his honesty on what is going on there was as good as I've heard in my broadcasting

career 14 years no playoffs this is a guy that was drafted there and spent the first seven seasons there but his his honesty on how bad it's there Was to me like really compelling stuff to me Dahlene power Byron these guys getting another year old or help so they can get a couple of forwards. Oh, you need a couple of guys Do we do demidov in the leafs hour briefly. Yeah, but I wouldn't mind talking about him again because What I really I really enjoyed watching Really enjoyed watching him Montreal get in and this is like a major trade

Getting him. Yeah so this guy, he's gonna have moments again, like last night where he shoots it into someone and they come back and score. But the things that he can do will far outweigh the one or two mistakes this guy is gonna make as a raw rookie. He is dynamite.

I mentioned Kucherov in the first hour because the way he controlled the pace and not by being fast, but with the edge work, head up, possession, little tip pass through his legs. I mean, I'm really excited about Montreal fans having this guy. I mean, better for... Listen, I've never pumped up the Montreal Canadiens tires. I have no reason to. I'm just telling you as a fan, as an ex-player,

watching what he did last night, he hit the wow factor for me. He was, I think, how tall is he, six foot? Yeah. He looked bigger than I expected him to look. Like his frame, I gotta tell you, good number. Like how is 93 not retired in Montreal it's a fantastic number he had the jersey tucked if I'm being honest with

you guys yeah there's he's a can't miss superstar yeah like he's just you can tell immediately that he is gonna be 6192 6 1 no 6 yeah yeah he just looked do you agree that he looked bigger than that to you yeah you know bigger frame I don't know maybe I just thought his confidence with the puck was like jarring Yeah unfazed by playing in the Bell Center. Yeah, you know helps me in Chicago game We're a gel team that helps made some great plays I do think that he's at the stage that you know, maybe Hudson is to where they're you can see the elite talent that they're Going to make into stars. There's still gonna be moments like the back check or whatever where you go

Okay, they're coming along Hudson's come a long way in one year Demidov will too. How would you like being Demidov coming over here and then potentially making the playoffs and potentially making your NHL playoff debut or Stanley Cup playoff debut against Alexander Ovechkin who just beat the goal Like that's an inattentive How about him winning the cons my then pulling a Patrick wah? Just like seeing the reaction on your face I started to sort of like an owl who all right who more important Gabriel Landis gog. Oh, yeah back up by the Colorado avalanche He's going to start playoffs game one versus the Dallas Stars first three years. I

Saw I saw the whole big and hold up. Oh, thank you. Please. I saw the Pitcher up right dead center wearing the captain's jersey. Oh, he's got the sea back. I could cry It's beautiful and please just make it through the first game I know please jam pack cousins find a way to stick his leg out Jam-packed. Nick Cousins find a way to stick his leg out. From the other conference. From the other conference. It just went way out there.

Hey, we had a jam-packed show today. We did not even get into the NHL Players Association poll. Oh crap. No, we'll do that tomorrow. Yeah, we'll do it tomorrow. They say anything interesting? Oh yeah, it's always interesting. They say the best.

They had 12 hockey-related questions and yeah, Sid kind of took charge again. Yeah, and guess what? It's that. And they all voted Kerry Price is the best goalie still somehow No, but I think some of your maple leafs got best fashion. I was gonna say most overrated. They love doing no best fashion. Oh great Blunt's y'all an important night the National Hockey League Enjoy your game. And we're back again tomorrow. One hour tomorrow. Right? Sammy five to six gold flames. Go five to

six. Note it. Have a great night everybody. If you get a chance, give us a rating or review. We'd love to hear from you.