Real Kyper & Bourne - Hurricanes A Game Away

Episode Date: May 28, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, where the Hurricanes pushed the Canadiens to the brink of elimination. TVA's Ren Lavoie (7:21) joins them to remember the life and legacy of Claude Lemieux, and to weigh in on what's gone wrong for Montreal. Then, Stanley Cup Champion Glen Wesley (34:45) stops by to share his thoughts on the Canes' recent dominance, their blueprint on the blueline, and Rod Brind'Amour's impact behind the bench. Finally, Nick, Justin and Sam look back on Canada's win over Team USA at the World Championships. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, don't blink because it's a fast hour on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We're live on Sportsnet 590, The Fan, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, SportsSept 650 in Vancouver, 360 Sportsnet, Sportsnet Plus, YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Sammy, I'm almost done. Yeah, you got it all over it. Keep it going. This hour of Real Kippur and Born brought to by Beth 365, Nick Kipreels, Justin Bourne, our very own Sammy McKee, Frank. The Tank is with us today. Buraska and Derek Brandeo. Tons going on. Conference final around the National Hockey League.

But first, our condolences to Clodal Mews family, four-time Stanley Cup champion, gone at age 60. It was announced today. Sad news that we lost. You know, playoff hero for many, including, of course, Colorado, Montreal, most recently seen game three carrying out the ceremonial torch, which we all love. That's been so amazing to watch throughout these Stanley Cup playoffs. And just a sad way to start our show, J.B. It is. Our thoughts are with friends and family.

Obviously, it's tragic news. And wishing everyone the best at a tough time. Yeah. Consmite trophy winner in 95, just an all-time playoff. And a very controversial one at that. Probably the biggest one was 1996 with the Western Conference Final between Colorado and Detroit, where a big hit on Chris Draper.

He was a competitor. Wow, he was. Renaud LeVois will join us, Hockey Reporter for TVA Sports NHL Network. I'm sure he'll have a few thoughts on Lemieux as well. And then Glenn Wesley, former NHL defenseman, Stanley Cup champion, of course, talking a little Carolina Hurricanes, who J.B. are just one game away from getting over that conference final hump that a lot of these guys have alluded them in the recent history. Of course, they have already been there before Stanley Cup final, but that has to go back to Rod Brindamore lifting the Stanley Cup.

but how surprised are you that Montreal for the second consecutive game at the Bell Center couldn't muster as much energy than the city or the fans did to start these last two games? Yeah, it's surprising that in Montreal they've had as much trouble as they have in the postseason. You know, it's funny, right? Like I pick Carolina in five in this series, but I didn't think it would be quite belt-a-bum-bum. like it is right now. It is, it's a,

as one-sided a series, as we've seen in a long time, and statistically that bears out in a number of ways, particularly shots and shot attempts. The whole game is in Montreal's end. Elliot was on camera before the game or at intermission. Me talked about a comment that one of their guys said, drag them into the deep end.

You know, basically you got them so tired. You just, you just make, see how long they can tread water for. And that looks like, that's what it looks like to me. that Montreal just can't swim. I think there's a lot of ways you could break this series down

and you could get into the minutiae of it, we will. But to me, this looks like a rested veteran hungry team versus a dog-tired young team. That's magic. It's kind of running out. I mean, I think you've seen this over the years plenty of times where a team gets through the first two rounds, has some great overtime winners, all this stuff.

And then they run into the first really great team that they're going to play. And they just kind of go quietly. And that's what's happening. It sucks for Montreal. With the, they lose every game at home. With the exception of Dobish,

he's the only guy that doesn't look like he's running out of gas. Breakways after breakaways, he can't. He can't keep it close. And we're sitting there going, he was pretty good again last night. And the game's not even close. Yeah.

No, that's a great point. You know, the one thing that stands out to me is Valley did say that Carolina is the way they play can make goalies look good, right? they shoot everything. They fire, fire, fire. But at the same time, I don't think we've seen it to this degree.

And Dobish, when he said after the seventh game of round two, I could play 40 of these, he doesn't look silly for saying that. He has held up his end of the bargain to me. Yep. But it's, he's just doing what he can. He's fighting in there. He's like, Danny Lemieux and Slapshot.

Yeah, he really, you got to give the guy credit. But it's just, when you saw that there was no Florida coming out of the Atlantic, year. You kind of, we've kind of been saying that this, this had to be the Cain's kind of time. Yeah. And you got to give them credit to, boys. Like, they are just, they are a well-oiled machine.

Against Tampa Bay and Buffalo, you watch Montreal and you're like, can't slow them down. And Carolina is completely shut down. Any type of speed through the neutral zone. They cannot generate a, a thing through the neutral zone. Is that just Brenda Moore, Slavin,

Chadfield, Walker. That Chadfield's good, eh? And Keandra Miller. No, I'm telling you. Kejadre Miller, like, where have you been, my friend? Where have you been in your career that you can look like that? He's out of this one. You think it's the structure around helping them

or experience piled up and he's getting older? It's just him. It's just him and his decision to take whatever God-given talent he's had and put it in with a work ethic and put it in with a focus and just announce to the world, this is my time. He played 25 minutes. Slaven, I don't even think, play 21. I saw a thing about Khan Smyth for Miller today. It's like he's almost a point-per-game guy. He's playing the most minutes. He's been on for no goals against short-handed in almost half an hour of short-handed time. He's having a playoffs right now, particularly against Montreal, where that takes you from just being another six or seven million dollars

at time overpaid guy to Olympics, like world stage stuff. Yeah. Totally. I got a man that big to move like that. Is he 6'5 or something? Isn't he huge? He's a big man. And to sidestep Philip Dainaut on that one, the second goal to me was like a signature moment for him in his career.

Yeah, Deno's spectacular defensively, right? Let's welcome in Renaud-Lau-Lau. Who we've had many times on this show. And most recently, I know you had a health episode there. I don't know if we've spoken to you since. But before we get going here, Reno, we are so. so happy to hear that, you know, you recovered and you're doing well. And just seeing your face on our Zoom call is enough for me right now. Yeah, you know what? I feel blessed. I'm really happy

to have the luxury. That's what it is to speak to you today. I was the luckiest man alive on May 1st. I'm still Liz, I am the luckiest man alive today. I was lucky to be at the Bell Center when it happens to me. Renaud sort of cut you off, but there's a lot of listeners or viewers that may not know what we're talking about. Not to get into great detail, but can you just share with them quickly? What happened to you? So it's quite simple. I was training at the Bell Center.

I felt really, really bad at one point. Something popped on my right side. I couldn't see well with my right eye. I was kind of like in my right eye, my vision was, there was some pixel in my vision. I went to a quiet room.

I knew that I needed an aspirin as soon as possible to help me. I wasn't sure if I was having a stroke or a heart attack and the Keynes training staff helped me. I call Chantal McCabe. It was the head of the PR group. And she helped me right away, set me up with, you know, all the staff that was there to help me.

They sent me to the Montreal General Hospital. I had another stroke in the car. I wasn't driving, obviously. And they took care of me at the General Hospital. And after that, the Neurology Institute of Montreal, one of the best in North America. And after two days, I was out of the hospital. I'm in great shape today. just received today the green light to start working full-time.

Yes. It's a good day, right? It's a great day. We're so happy to see you, man. It is scary stuff. And as Kipp said, just echo the sentiments, buddy. We're happy to have you. Thanks.

Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. From good news to very sad news and disappointing news, the loss of Claude Lemieux. And, you know, a brilliant career that included, you know, many Stanley Cups, a Kahn Smyth,

but pertaining to the Montreal Canadiens, he was a draft pick of Montreal, came up through the system, played in the American Hockey League at Sherbrook had amazing numbers and then stepped in and really, really took the Montreal Canadians by storm, you know, early in his career.

Yeah. Just your thoughts. Well, you know what? For me, Coldenew, is, if you think of a guy who battle really, really hard through his life to show the rest of the world what he can do. You know, I remember being 13 years old watching the Kenyans against the Alford Whalers,

1986 in overtime. And that goal, that Clodomier score against Mike Lee, my God, I'm still hearing Mario Trombly was on the French CBC broadcast and he was still playing for the Canians, Mario, but he had a shoulder injury. who couldn't play and to hear his voice and hear him like go crazy on the Cannes broadcast was just something. And that was the beginning of a great career for Stanley Cup, one cons might. I mean, he was, you know, a difference maker in a game. You played against him.

I'm pretty sure it must have been a pain to play against that guy. But the beauty of Clod is, because I did tons of interview with him, you know, during his career, when I was a little older, and the calmness all the time, when you were in the dressing room with him, he was not trying to make a show. He was really, really calm, was talking to you, and was not a man of, you know,

was not a guy was, you know, talking for minutes and hours. Now, what he has, he was telling you what he has to say, and that's it, that's all. And remember one day, So we're around 2008, 2009. I'm calling or I'm receiving a call from Mark Bergerbe. I was working with the Blackhawks back in the days. And Mark is telling me, Renaud, have you heard that Claude Lemieux wants to come back in the NHL?

So come on, come on, Mark. Like, it's been five years since he played. I'm telling you, Renaud, if I was you, I'll do some phone calls. I'm telling you he wants to come back. And I talked to Claude, and it's exactly that. He told me, I just want to prove myself that I can't do it, and he played with the sharks. What an amazing story and career. He always wanted to prove people wrong.

It's a sad, really a sad day here in Montreal. People just don't understand what happened here, especially with him being at the Bell Center and receiving the ovation on Monday. it's a tough loss for the Montreal Canean's family and it's a tough loss for the devils. It's a tough loss for the avalanche for the sharks, the Dallas start where he played the coyotes for a few years and Phoenix was his home now.

So it's a huge loss for a lot of people around the league and especially for his family. I talked to Jocelyn, his brother earlier this morning. It was a tough conversation. And I'm sure that over the next few years, days we'll hear a lot of things about Claude in his career and, you know, a lot of people are going to cherish the man that he was. Just one more, Claude Lemieux story, and then we'll get into the Montreal Canadiens.

We, of course, beat them in the conference final in 1994. The following year, we get presented our Stanley Cup rings, so we want to go to the bar and and show them off, and we did. And we bumped into Claude Lemieux at the bar. I believe he was with Tom Chorsky that night or another teammate. And there was like four or five of us there. And I don't particularly know, I didn't know Claude Lemieux as a personal anything. And he says, let me see that ring.

And then he looks at my ring. And then he looks at Tom Chorsky and says, hey, look at the ring. We gave them. That's Claude in a nutshell, right? Yeah, that's it. That's it. That's all that. You don't have to say much. No.

And he loved to compete. He loved to compete and he was an agent. But you know what? One thing about him, and I was talking to colleagues from other network, obviously, today. Have you ever heard a Claude Lemieux story as an agent, like a story that he upset a GM or someone was upset with him or a player that, you know, didn't really like, really like him as an agent, I never heard something bad about him after his career. And so he, and he was a great man, a great example of what needs to be done sometimes

to play in the league for a long time. And I think Poplar Me was the DNA of, you know, a guy who tried everything to stay in the league and not only to stay in the lake, but to be a guy that's going to be under your skin and he's going to find a way to beat you. That's told him you. Renwell said, we'll take it to the ice now. Obviously Montreal Canadians backs against the wall,

down three to one in this series. You know, I guess I'd just like to throw it to you for almost like an overview of how we got here and if there's a chance for Montreal going forward. You know, there's always a chance. obviously we're getting late in the process here okay I feel like this is a team with a lot of players that are injured but at one point the mental aspect of the game needs to take

another step I understand the injuries I understand the problematics of being tired but if I go back to my memory lane 2021 game 4 the Bell Center. The Maple Leafs are playing the Kenyans. It's the exact same day the next day. It's over. We need to pack our things. They're going to fire everyone back then. Mark Bergerbein is going to be fired. All the coaching staff is gone. Obviously, it's not the same thing that's going to happen. If the Kenyans lose tomorrow, no one will be fired. But no one is giving the Montreal Canaan's a chance. So why today is an important day? It's an important day because the leadership group needs

to take charge. They need to have a big meeting today in Riley to look at each other and say, you know what? We understand we're not physically at the right place, but we need to find a way. We're still alive. In 2021, a miracle happened and the Canadians were able to beat, you know, the Maple Leafs and 7. Can the Kenians do the same against a veteran team? I know. If you look at the mountain, It's a huge one. It's an impossible story. But I don't believe in impossible. I believe that, yes, you can find a way, get your energy back.

But it's going to be mentally a real, real struggle. So today, for me, is the most important day of the playoffs for the Canadians, even if they're not playing. They need to look at each other. They need to have a conversation between men and find a way tomorrow. say you're bringing a game at the Bell Center, game six, that's just another step. It's going to be a great step. Fans are going to be excited. But I've heard that story before.

A team is done. It's over. They're going to pack their stuff soon. And the first thing you know, there's a game seven. So yes, it's possible. Rino, if by chance what you just said doesn't materialize and they go down as quietly as they have, the last two games. Will there be a different feel

the way Montreal Canadian fans or the city will feel about them this summer? Because big picture, buddy, we weren't even sure if they're going to make the playoffs here. They went on a great run. They took out a veteran team in Tampa Bay. They took out

a team that felt they were destined in Buffalo. But if, once again, I'll ask you, if they go as quietly as they have in the last two games, will it really affect the way the fans will feel about them going in the next season. That's a great question, Kipper. Human nature, right?

And today on the sports radio here in Montreal, obviously there was a lot of people saying, well, why did they win game seven against the Sabres? Like, why? There's a reason why they wanted to show people wrong again. And that's part of their DNA since a year and a half now. like Mike Madison mentioned to us last night after the game. So the reality is, yes, perception could be, you know, different if they lose tomorrow night.

But at the end of the day, Kipper, you need to look at the forest. The forest is telling you right now that this is a young team, okay, that youngest in the NHL, they're capable of great things in the next few years. But at the same time, they need to take. tweak some things here and there. No disrespect to anyone, but that fourth line right now or wherever you want to call the fourth line, it's not a, it's not a fourth line that can bring you to the Stanley Cup. That's my belief. I hope I'm wrong. Okay. But you need to understand that in the playoffs, you need the AJ Greer of this world. You need a fourth line that's the smallest player

is six foot two and two hundred fifteen pounds. That's your smallest. You need speed on the fourth line. You need to ground and pound the other D's. That's not what they're doing right now. That's Carolina's fourth line. Yeah, exactly. That's what they're doing. That's what they're doing. They took a page of what

the Panthers were doing in the last few years. And they say we're capable of doing exactly the same thing, even better probably. That's what I'm looking at right now. But at the end of the day, the game needs to be playing on the ice. And tomorrow there's another game. So let's see.

what's going to happen. Never count Martin San Luis. Don't bet against Martin San Luis. The minute you're doing that, you're going to hurt yourself. I've learned that a long time ago. I'm not betting against Martin San Luis anymore. These people can find ways. They're going to go through different scenarios to help the team being better, but I believe that they can find another gear. Even if it's easy to say and you look at it and you're like how it looks impossible

believe me, they have another gear. One thing we know with a young talented teams like this is the best is yet to come for a lot of the guys in this team. This is kind of like their second foray into the postseason but it feels like their first real contender year. How have you felt about the guys

who are going to have to make the difference being Suzuki, Safkowski, Salfkovsky, Demadoff, Hudson. How have the stars done, Cawfield included in that? You can look at it and say, we need more, right? But at the same time, I can look at management

and say, they need more. Yeah. Like, not the management, but the players, you need that second line settlement. Okay? It worked out with Oliver Capitin and Ivan Demidov,

and it's a great story. But at the end of the day, Kappan is not playing right now. He's a healthy scratch. So you need to look at it as a problem, and you need to take care of that problem and find a solution. I really believe that Kent Hughes was really close to get that sentiment at the trading deadline. But there's still some work to be done here.

And if it doesn't happen, probably Kipper, people are going to be more upset by this than anything else if it doesn't happen during the summer. So we'll see how things are going to evolve. But they need more physicality. They need more physical players, bigger players, and they need that second-line sentiment as soon as possible. It's not going to happen for tomorrow's game, that's for sure. But now they're patching, you know, things.

But there's... And the minute you'll get that second-line sentiment, maybe life of Nick Suzuki and Kolkofil and Yorazlav Kalski will be a little... easier because it's really tough for them. When, you know, the best players on the other team just have really one assignment and it's to stop these three players, it's not really complicated, believe me. Great stuff, Renaud.

So happy to see you looking great, healthy. Enjoy tomorrow night one way or the other. Hopefully Montreal can still make it a series here because that's what we want. We want that drama. Thanks for doing this, pal. enjoy the rest of the day and thanks for having me it's always a pleasure to talk to you thanks very on you too bud one of the good guys Trent Levois great to see him

TVA sports yeah um he had to bring it I love that chat it was just great Lemieux memories and reminiscing happy about his health and he's like and the 2021 Leifes I'm like no reminder of the time the Leafs gagged away the 3-1 series lead to the abs right yeah you know it's like we've we've we've talked about how great the Montreal Canadians,

the build, the future. No one's going to ever take that away from them if they lose tomorrow night. But you don't want it to end. Of course not. Like this because and I'll bring up the Toronto

Maple Leafs, Sammy, because once you go down a path of you know, planting the seed that these guys didn't bring it, they weren't playoff performers, whether it's Coffield, whether it's Suzuki, Slavikovsky's been quiet. You don't want to start planting the seed that, like, these guys shut it down or they just quit.

And that's, come on, 12 shots a game is like unheard of. It's really, it's unheard of. Like, what is, there has to be a bigger story than just Carolina's better than them. And that's what people will start searching. And you don't want that. You don't want to end this year. It sours the run. That happened the first time the Leafs moved on,

faced Florida, and Florida just went bam, bam, bam, and it was like, oh. That game one goes to, Sir Gabriel Brodsky was unbelievable in game one. If they win that one, it's a different series, but we don't need to go down that route.

They sure didn't. You don't want to just start planning that seed, like, you know, these guys aren't playoff guys. Yeah, no. You got to end strong. Totally. Don't have to win it, but you have to play hard tomorrow night,

and you cannot look like, like you've looked the last two games. I know we got a clip and I don't know if you want to play it. We got a bit of time for Cup. On the fans, Channing Shoot the Puck. Can we get that from Marty St. Louis? Yeah, let's do it. Clip two, please. Martin St. Louis.

I think we're seeing why the Hurricanes swept their first two series. You know, I guess you heard the fans third period. They're yelling, shoot the puck. They're frustrated. Your players are frustrated. How do you deal with that frustration when the guys can't get a shot? Stand tall. Is there something different that they need to do? The game's going to humble you.

You know, whenever you get humble, you just stand tall. It's not fun to hear that. But they're not wrong. It's just such a good answer from Marty. Yeah, we can shoot the puck more. That's what we can do. Marty's really good. The game will humble you.

Like, you know, anytime you're playing against the best in the world, it doesn't matter what you're doing. You're not going to be awesome all the time. I want to sit here and make fun of the habs as much as anybody. And I will. There'll be a day for it. like Carolina is just way better. They just are.

They're rested. They're fast. They're well coached. But Montreal's fast too. Like are they going to play that audio on the comeback documentary? It's tough to see happening. They're not coming back. They're not going to.

They're going to lose in five. I hated. I hated the time out Marty took. Oh, it's about to challenge? Yes. The offset wasn't even close. So Montreal, like you got a ton of energy. Yes, he just gave up the first goal.

Then the next minute and a half, two minutes, the game comes to a screeching halt. You got your whole bench coaches, players. They're all looking at the monitor for like 20 seconds, 30 seconds. And it's like, can't slow your team down anymore than they already had. And yet you're doing it with this timeout. And it's like, what is that timeout going to do for you that your staff and your coaches can't figure out in the back room? And it's like, get going. Put that goal behind you and kick them in the ass

and get them going ASAP. But all that did was just play into that. We're in mud right now spinning our tires. Yeah. No, you're right. It's so funny too. Like you get through some, I don't say, easier opponents or different style opponents.

But when you come up against a team like Carolina who has been through these wars and has the experience, it really opens your eyes to, how much you have to keep the pedal down, how much pace you need to play with, how exhausting it is. And I always go back to that Wayne Gretzky piece of his autobiography

talking about the Islanders in 83. They beat the Oilers in the Cup final. They go to walk by the Islanders dressing room, you know, going to see them celebrating everything and everyone's just in their stall. Like, I'm so tired. Done. You know, like nothing left to give.

And it's like, that's what it takes. Game time? Game time. It's game time. Presented by Bet365, an official partner of the NHL, most of 19 plus. Ontario only, please play responsibly.

A quick thing here for the Montreal, Canadians, Carolina Hurricanes. They have a posting here on their on Bet365. It says when will this series end? Game 4, obviously, minus 240. So that's basically you bet the canes from minus 240 there.

I find game six interesting. Plus 350 for game six. You know, Hobbs have been way better on the road. One last, stand before they head back to Montreal, maybe lose it home again in front of their rabid fans that leave 10 minutes before the game's over. Yeah, rabid. Shots fired.

Shots fired. The cathedral. They leave early. Just like everybody else. So yeah, I don't mind maybe the Habs fine and away. Dolbush stands in his head, a couple soft ones from Freddie. I think that's pretty decent value on the series ending in game six. And looking to the baseball diamond heading to Camden Yards for the Toronto Blue Jays opening up

a four game set with the Baltimore Orioles. Patrick Corbyn on the Hill tonight. Jays are underdogs plus 110 on the money line. Big win yesterday at the dome with your boy present. 11 hits for the Marlins, one run. A lot of mistakes on the base pass for the Marlins. Thank God. Jay's need some breaks right now.

Do they ever? Okamoto hit a bomb. So maybe they're getting hot. Only two games under 500 right now. So hopefully they can get back to that mark. Anyways, that was game time presented by Bet365, an official partner of the NHL, must have been a team plus.

Ontario only, please play responsibly. And as a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Born is brought to you by Bet365. Beautifully done, Sammy. Thank you. If Carolina puts this thing away tomorrow night,

like, can't really recall. I don't want to use the word easy, but those first three rounds for Carolina, like they're not, they weren't exactly going up against, like, It's just, it's been in, it's been in, I don't want to use it or it easy.

It was that kind of year. But are you going to downplay Montreal now, though? Like, because you were picking up on show. In five games, in five games with 12 shots on goal, yeah, I am. I'm not going to call it easy because it's, I'm giving them credit for making it lucky. Oh my God, Sammy, the ice is just tilted. Yeah, but everybody was saying, I know, and I'm one of them.

I did. I did pick them. We can't have the other side of the conversation. I can't. I can't believe how much they've. shut down in two days. You think Hudson has not been as usual? Is he worn down?

A lot of brain farts with him right now. I'm tired. Martin Hook comes out the first minute and a half and just hammers Dobson. Yeah. Hammered him. And then early in the second, did you see Nick Eler's Hammer Hudson? They're taking a pounding.

Dobson looks like he's not having fun. A lot of I know a lot of guys in Montreal are struggling right now, but he's got to be near the top of the list of guys who it's like, all right, you got to defend a little bit. Win a battle, make a play. Let's hit the break.

Glenn Wesley on the other side. NHL All-Star Glenn Wesley, former NHL defenseman, Stanley Cup champion. We'll talk Carolina Hurricanes and their secret. We'll get word on his secret in 2006 as well. Plenty more when we return to Real Kippoor and Bourne. Everything you need to know about the Blue Jays, Blair and Barker.

Be sure to subscribe and download. the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back in studio, Nick Caprio's Justin Bourne. All right, Sammy, let a rip. Time now for the Accura performance matchup, the 2026 Accura MDX, precisely premium. So no game tonight, clearly. Getting down to the every other night time.

Yeah. So just what, so obviously looking ahead to game five in Carolina. And we're going to talk to Glenn. Glenn, let, oh my God. Glenn Wesley. here shortly. Yeah. Former teammate of Rod the Bod.

Listen to this Rod the Bodd stat. This is amazing. The Hurricanes won their 99th playoff game since their first playoff year in Rally in 1999. Rod Rindamore has been involved in 98% of those wins. Jeez. 97 of 99, recorded 39 as a player, obviously, from 2001 to 2009 and 58 as a head coach. The two games that he was not involved was game two and game three of the 1999 in conference quarterfinals against the Bruins.

So he's on the team, though, then. He's been on the team for all. Pulled the shoot. He pulled the shoot for the 2%. He pulled the shoot. 98% of their playoff wins. A hangnail, maybe. That is one of the craziest stats I could ever remember.

Migraine. I don't know. Some of his numbers are awesome. That playoff year they won. In 25 games, he had 12 goals. Yeah, it's unbelievable. Or every other day in the playoffs, you're doing something right? This one was surprising to me, too.

Sebastian Ajo recorded his eighth career playoff game winning goal yesterday, moving him into a tie with Arturi Lekanin for fourth most by a finished player. The other ones obviously are Yari Curry with 14. Sotikinen with 11 and Timu Salani with 11. I felt bad for Eilers ripping it off the bar on the empty last night.

He's been so good. I'd like to see those numbers juiced up a little so too bad. It's funny how... He's been a great signing. It's funny how now like all these star players this time of year, like where that fine line is between earning your money and not earning your money.

Like there was a lot of heat. Big time. The last couple of games on Sebastian Ojo and Sveshtnikov. And now they're looking pretty good. Yeah. Right? Yeah.

And it's like fork in the road. You lose three in a row. You get shut down. Everybody's going, where were you? That was all that lease talk for years. Like, just go on long enough. These are good players. It'll start to go in.

They never had a new hook shooting it in the net for them. And that was the accurate. performance matchup, the 2026 Accura MDX, precisely premium. Speaking of good players, let's welcome in Glenn Wesley, former National Hockey League defensemen, Stanley Cup champion, of course, with Carolina in 2006, and probably not overly surprised to see former teammate Rod Brindamore doing kind of rod things, right, the last couple of games. Wes, how are you?

I'm doing well. How are you? We're good. We're good. So just your thought of this particular heart. hockey club going into a very kind of hostile kind of environment. We've all seen the pregame rituals in Montreal, the torch. He couldn't come in with more energy.

And man, oh man, to limit their scoring opportunities and their shots on goal. Like, in your opinion, what has been the secret here for them? Well, I think just looking at the way that Carolina plays just man on man, and they smother you. They check hard. They're quick on their toes. They defend hard. They're physical as a group.

And they're a relentless group to play against. So watching this team here, I guess, do you see any similarities to the way that you guys were built when you won your Stanley Cup in 2006? Well, I think we probably had a little bit more depth, I would say, up front. But I don't think they have, I'm no disrespect, but I just feel that from to a man that they're not as deep as we were in 06. but they got some guys that are overachieving right now and playing with a lot of confidence as a group. And when you're feeling it like that, you never know what can happen.

You know, you're getting great goal tending from Freddie Anderson and their specialty teams have been pretty solid, you know, throughout the whole playoffs. And they're playing, as I said, with a ton of confidence. and Roddy instills that belief. And, you know, they have guys that will go through the wall for them. When we look at the position of defense now in 2026, Glenn, it really is kind of the model out there is McCar, Quinn, and Hudson.

And you marvel at their talent and what they're able to do on any given shift, the mobility, the east-west, and all of that. Yet, Montreal is a game away from Macar, Quinn, and Hudson all being eliminated. And then you got the kind of meat and potatoes of the Slavins and the Keandra Millers and Walker.

And like, what's the best way to win right now? Is it going with, in your opinion? Like, it's great having that talent, but, you know, yeah, it still might not be enough. No, it's true, Kippe, I'll take any of those guys all day long, but at the end of the day, you know,

you have to be able to defend and check. You know, those guys are incredible players, as you said. But at the end of the day, you know, Miller to Slavin, you know, those are high-end defensemen that have played really well for them. And, you know, they're, as I said earlier, they're playing with a ton of confidence and the belief in their system and how they support one another coming out of the defensive zone, how they're structured through the neutral zone. And they attack in the offensive zone. So they don't, they don't give up much. but at the end of the day they come in waves at you

and they play with a big heart. So seeing a Rod Brindamore led team do what they do here, maybe you can give us some insight into Brindamore. You played with him. What makes this guy tick? Are you surprised that he is having the success he's having as a coach? Did you see it coming? Well, sooner or later it was going to happen

in the conference finals. Like he can't go whatever the record was, one in 16, whatever it was there in the past. And, you know, unfortunately, he just ran into some juggernauts and some real good conference finals teams

that went up against them. But right now, they certainly are going to give them every opportunity to close out. this series and go to a final. But Roddy, you know, personally, like he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's a motivator. You know, he, you've, you've seen what he says after games, you know, when, when they show the video of, of, of how he, how he motivates his team.

His team goes through the wall for him, as I said earlier. And, and, and he's, he's a great X's an O's guy. You know, he prepares. He's just a great, great human being. Just one more before we let you go, just to add on that when you won, when you played with Rod, was it easy to look at him and go one day?

Yeah, that guy could be an amazing coach. Oh, easily, Kipper. Yeah, never doubt that he had it in. just the way that, you know, he prepared as a player and it kind of rubbed off. And when he got his opportunity as coach, you could see just how he instills confidence, belief, trust, like all those things that you would want in a head coach. And it just oozes out with confidence for those players to be able to play for him and they go through the wall, as I said earlier.

And that's a big piece of why he's had so much success. Wes, great seeing you, man. Through this Zoom, you look terrific. I really appreciate it, man. Retirement's obviously good to you. No gray hair, you know, lots of golf. God, I wish I could have played in Carolina. Yeah, that's the way to go.

Thanks, pal. I appreciate you guys look great too. All right. Thanks. Thanks for coming on. Appreciate your time. Ben Wesley. Okay, thank you.

Great career, of course. Yeah. Always nice watching. Underrated. 1400. Watching and knowing that you want a Stanley Cup too. Yeah. And might see another one in Carolina.

A couple minutes here. Did you guys see Evan Bouchard today at the World Jam? Yeah, I did. Yeah. Oh, my God. I text somebody and I said, that's the same hit that put Scott Stevens in the Hall of Fame. It really was.

Okay. Sure. I'm just saying. It's not the world's in 2026 that he threw it. I'm not 100% that that's a suspendable hit in the NHL. Okay, well. I know he got hit. I know he got hit in the head.

But he also got a lot of body. Yeah. That's fine. Go ahead. I don't want to quibble with that point. You know, I think Sam, we were talking before the show, I just think you don't think, like, have you ever seen Bouchard get hit like that? I don't think I can remember him. I don't think you think you're going to get hit like that in an I-IHF summer event.

I just don't think you think guys are treating it like that. And I know when you put your skates on, you have to be prepared. But I don't think you're prepared for a guy to be like, like that. I'm going full Stevens on you. Yeah, you might be right. I mean, I've never participated in one before. But there's certainly a lax feel to that tournament. There's not the, there's not the physically, you don't expect it.

Intensity. There's not NHL playoff intensity. Put it that way. I got to tell you, though, if we were watching Keynes have the Bell Center last night and Kandre Miller catches, I don't know, Slifkowski with that hit, I'm coming in here today being like,

that rocked. That was, though, that was incredible. I loved it. But just, like you said, it's not if you're allowed to hit him. But like, are you sure you needed to do that, Lingren? Did that need to happen? In the IHF, that's a Yeah, you got kicked out of the game.

Five minutes of the game. So it's a no-no. Yes. Just lesson learned. But like, what are you to suspend Ryan Lindgren? He's like, okay. I don't know if anybody really cares about that. That's my point.

That's the exact conversation. It's like, what's the pet? Would it not make you think twice about like going? Going? Totally. 100%. But I think that's the point is like, are you committed to playing real hockey? Do you see Matthew Kachuk?

I did catch his interview. He's like. Yeah, it's disappointing we lost. I hope I never played this tournament again. Is that what he said? Oh, okay. Well, he's talking about like, I want to be in the playoffs. I'd rather try to win a Stanley Cup than play in this tournament.

So there was a moment in the third period where Pockrim's around. Celebrini's coming down the half wall and Kachachuk's got him lined up. And he threw out the kind of knee and arm like he was going to, and Sellebrini got around it. But we were centimeters away from like an elbow Matthew Kachuk to celebrate. You know, you can't take that out of him. You put him on the big ice with foreign a fish. It just doesn't matter. I did catch a clip on my phone where.

Oh, this is never a good start. When Matthew Kuchuk went down and the referees miced. Oh, God. I see what he said. I forget. What do you say? Get up. Hey, you're better than this.

You're better than this. No, he's not. No, he's not. You're better than this. And I'm sitting there going, that's one of those turning into that meme now for the rest of his life whenever he's going to do something really goofy someone's going to drop

you're better than this and it will live forever I will say the highlight of the worlds for me has been by a good distance the ref camps and the ref mic up see if I'm Matthew Kachuk right now and I'm known for the rest of my career with you're better than this

get the mic off the referee We don't really care that you You need to be heard on that Fans love this stuff, right? So what are we? I think it's hilarious. I know because you don't give a crap about Matthew you can chuck. That's why you think it's hilarious.

In fact, I would like him to be shamed as much as possible. But making the referee and then having him say that to a two-time Stanley Cup champion, although whether or not you think it's warranted or not, regardless, how does that benefit the player? I wonder if, well, I mean, the game isn't solely designed for that. You're right. You're right. It doesn't benefit the player at all. But the game is... Makes you look like

a jackass. That's what it does. But there'll be a jackass. But losing makes you look like that. You know, like it's sometimes in these sports, you put yourself on the line. Get the mic off this. Well, I'm serious. Like, just call the game.

No one cares. No one wants to hear about your personality or your chimes or... No, don't care. No one, not everyone is Kipper. Get the mic off the official. officials, boys. Listen to me, players.

My Twitter, do you like it or not? 90% yes. Kipper wants it filmed on like a phone with no microphones in black and white. The Players Association has a saying this. Get him, get the mic off the official. Just call the game. Do you not acknowledge that there's been awesome content? Isn't this referee stuff?

Yeah. I haven't watched enough of that. It's been unbelievable watching these guys having to tell. You realize how often these guys are bombarded by. players being like, well, he was tripping me and he shouldn't have done that. Hey, he helped with me. I was just trying to get. And the reps are just like, oh my God, their parents were like eight-year-olds.

They're like, just go to both your rooms and grow up. Get out of my face. Their job is being professional parents. And that is growing the game? I don't care of as well. Tell me, is it growing the game. Yes, it is. No, it's not growing the game. It's going. We're talking about it's interesting. I hear this

in my house. I don't want to hear it now. It's awesome. Ekman Larson was giving it to some guy the other day. It's only awesome because you don't hear it very often. You will get tired of it. And you'll discover who's a whiner, who's not a whiner. I want to know. Shut up.

I want to know the people. Don't. Don't because it's the Wizard of Oz. You draw the curtain back. You see this short little guy in a white coat pulling all the strings and you're disappointed. Yeah. That guy's a little baby.

Marley's Minute? Marley's Minute? Marley's Minute, Kipper? I don't really do H.L, bud. Okay, well, they won. I think they got shot 100 to 10. There are two stories. This game one of the Eastern fire.

Yeah. Cowan scored. Cowan fired it in. This Atthiomov apparently is... The story is... His Actiumov is really... He's been the best player in playoff. Healdi's on the bench. He's like a 930 save percentage.

Yeah, and our boy over at the Worlds, you're talking about the World's update here. We're doing... We're going across the pond. Our boy, Tinas or Tynus, Cobblar or whatever, He's lightened it up. He's got eight goals or six goals. You know your team finished in 28th when you're talking about the second rounder

scoring at the world. I don't know. Maple Leaf prospect update. You're going to be doing this for the next three years. Everybody's like, oh, they got to draft Stenberg because he's lighting up the world. It's like, well, I can't bring up Tinas who's lighting up the world. Tiny Luke. Oh, penis.

Tiny Luke's our guy. Let's go, Colbes. Quiet night tonight. Yeah, Jay's. Jay's an NBA. I like hockey. Me too. Our thanks to Renaud LaVois from TVA Sports

and NHL All-Star Glenn Wesley, Stanley Cup champion with the Carolina Hurricanes as they hunt down their second one. A game away from going to the Stanley Cup final as Vegas awaits. All right, boys. Good show, bud. See tomorrow. I guess I'll text Doug off the rails.

Oh, sounds good. If you had a chance, give a chance. us a rating and review. We'd love to hear from you and a thumbs up from YouTube. Have a great night, everybody.