Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Back to Work After the Break

Episode Date: February 25, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee get set for puck drop as the Toronto Maple Leafs return to action to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. They share expectations for Auston Matthews following a taxing gold-medal run, discuss the decision to start Anthony Stolarz, and react to Keith Pelley's message to Leafs season ticket holders. They chat about the importance of the next three games and how they will shape the Leafs' direction at the trade deadline. Later, Hockey Night in Canada analyst Craig Simpson joins the show (32:11) to dive deeper into tonight's matchup, whether the Leafs can find a way into playoff position down the stretch, and the keys for the team to hit the ground running out of the break. 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.

Got a game day. Thank God. National Hockey League set to resume action tonight. And no one's more excited than the three of us. Nick Kippreos, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, it's the real Kipper and Born show. We are live on Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 590, the fan in Toronto, and streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. Also available Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube. James Wilson, Derek Brandeo along helping us get two hours jammed.

We're good. We're good. Ready to go. I'm legitimately very excited. The Leafs are back. Very excited. Very excited. Yes. I really enjoy watching the Leafs hockey. I would say that I was looking forward to the sort of quote unquote break in which didn't feel like a break other than those shows that we took off right before the Olympics started because it felt more intense most of the time. but, you know, I was looking forward to having some evenings off to not doing lease talk and then kind of realizing that I'm just nothing, like a brutal guy. Like, I have no plans. I have no life.

Like, I don't do anything. Like, I'm in bed by 945. Got to realize that I'm a brutal guy. 945 most nights. I'm like, well, yes, it's time to just go to bed. There's a Seinfeld episode where they're at the coffee shop and Kramer's just looking at George going, You got a job?

You know, you got any prospects? You're seeing anybody? He's like, no, no, no. There's a Jerry and George there, too. What is this? What is this? Well, I get up and get the daily news. Is that you, Sammy?

I just, I, what I'm saying is I'm pretty worthless without sports. I really don't have a whole lot going on. Outside of my life. We love you. Even without sports. On a general question, like, whether you've been lying on a beach for three, weeks or Austin Matthews coming back to play for the Leafs tonight? Like what do we expect out of the gate tonight?

Dogs breakfast. The National Hockey League. Yeah, you know, the first week or two of the season where there's like defensive breakdowns and guys are fresh. So the game looks fast. The scoring is up. I would say reasonable to anticipate something like that. A lot of fresh legs, a lot of mistakes.

Does that seem reasonable? And the best players all hungover? Yeah. It looks like a HL game probably. Eight games on tap. Tonight, a few players, notable players, Jack Hughes, was expected to play for New Jersey against Buffalo. I think Austin made it pretty clear last night,

jumping on a plane that the Leafs happily had, like, started up on the runway, the moment he was done at the White House. They were waiting for him, were they? Oh, they were waiting for him. Oh, yeah. Yep. Get, get down here. Yeah.

I mean, fair enough. Fair enough. Yeah. You would expect, right? Oh, yeah, for him, get him home. Absolutely. And he spoke today, did he not? He did.

So fascinating looking around the NHL because Matthews is, I think everyone is playing who their teams want them to play. Vegas, we mentioned yesterday, their guys, they just said, don't bother. Five of them, three Canadians, two Americans, I think they said, just rest up. We don't need you guys to come in and be terrible for a day. And I love that. I wish the Leafs had that luxury. they don't.

But that's great that they're able to do that. Do you find with that the guys in Vegas not having a play? Listen, for me, whatever. You've spent 50 games putting yourself in a position where if you lose, it's not that big of a deal. Big picture? I don't know. I mean, did someone buy a ticket expecting to see Mitch Mariner play?

They're in Los Angeles tonight, if I'm not mistaken. Did? They are the road team. Colorado, but their coach won't reveal who's playing tonight. He says, yeah, maybe some of the players will play, but does somebody go and expect to see Nate McKinnon tonight? Michael O'Mato, SportsNet writer of ours, had a good point today on Twitter where he basically said that,

like, these guys, the season starts eight or nine days before the actual hockey event. And then it ends, and these guys were, you know, flying across the country and asked to, to play the next day. Could we shift this whole thing a day or two back? Give them another day or two on this side of things. Wouldn't that make more sense?

Get a skate together with them back? I don't know. I know the break felt very long, but maybe they just still less time before the games. I mean, the Olympics, they have it. Their schedule every year is just like the exact same thing. Like it's dialed in. When this starts, when this starts,

at what point of the Olympics? So maybe it's, I don't know, screwing with tradition, but you're right. Or Michael's right. They're struggling. Could shift a touch. Give him another day. And some coaches.

have the luxury of easing back into the lineup. And then there's Craig Barubi who everything points in the direction of like, we're in it to win it here, guys. Right? We're not mailing it in. And we want to get back in a playoff race. And he's going to be all over them in the first period. Yeah.

So let's do a refresher for the people at home at how we got here. And it was that they played very well for a stretch and it was starting to feel like they were a playoff team. Then they lost eight of nine games. Remember we had that tough patch where like, boy, the schedule's rough. We'll see how they do. And they got filled in.

The history lesson was they came back from that road trip where it was a bit of a sketchy road trip, wobbly. But at the end of it, they find a way to rally in the third period against the Jets. And they win. They get five of possible eight. Remember we talked to like, oh my God,

they finally got the five of possible eight. Coming home and it was the wild, the Red Wings, the Golden Knights, Colorado, Colorado, and Buffalo to finish it off. And they got one point out of that. Yeah, got killed. So they lost a ton of games on that stretch. And then right when I wrote an article that said they should just try to tank to the bottom,

they won the last three games. They swept their last three to kind of give them this little breath of hope. So that's where things sit tonight. The Tampa Bay Lightning, if you're not following, you know, you don't remember where they were at. They went 19-1-1 in their last 21 games. Including ending on a six-game winning streak, correct? Yeah.

I mean, they won pretty much all of them except that one time in the last 21 games over their last 21 games first in the league in record goals per game goals against per game differential power play percentage won't have john cooper behind the bench tonight uh very sad his father passed away so i mean he hadn't didn't let on anything when he was over there probably coaching through some you know some a heavy heart condolences big condolences to coon john cooper and his family yeah so i'm not sure who's going to be behind the bench tonight for them but it won't be john cooper So Matthews was at practice today. Yeah.

Oh, they hit him hard on the White House. Well, let's just, okay. Let's just play the first clip. God, I don't necessarily want to do politics again because, boy, I was impressed pretty yesterday at the post game. But it has to do with the game tonight, Sammy. So don't feel overly bad here. It's a natural conversation.

I'm not equipped for this, boys. Let's just listen to, listen to how Matthews, Matthew sounds the last three days. Matthews on the last three days. Yeah, it's been a pretty world win, 72 hours, to be honest. But yeah, it's, it was incredible. It was an incredible experience from start to finish. I mean, just being able to go over there and be an Olympian and represent and be in that atmosphere.

And, you know, from the village to, you know, the games and just all the amazing things that happened over the last couple weeks. It's, I feel very grateful to have been a part of that. And obviously to win a gold medal is truly very special. Yeah. I don't think he used to have success doing a word search tonight. There was a few years ago we did this show. And I went on a four-day bachelor party for my best buddy, Keegan Patterson. And we went to Arizona.

And I came back that Monday, flew a red hut. You weren't here. It was you and Brent Gunning. That's what I sounded like. I was like, yeah, at least they want to play the hockey. Yeah, go for the lease. This guy, you know, the perception of it, the PR aspect of it, I get why he has to play.

And I've been on the side of it that he has to play. But listening to that, that is a drain individual, a drained individual. I don't know. The people that are asking the questions is just like, that's good enough. You don't want to follow up with like, no, tell us about those three days. Tell us how those three days could possibly affect those. way you play tonight. Are you worried about that? Well, do you think that you can do it?

Let's play the clip three before we do the White House one. So clip three on playing tonight. Yeah, I think more physical than anything, just the jet lag, the time change. Obviously, the last 48 hours has been pretty crazy, but I just try to go out there and do my best. I mean, a lot of it's probably mental too, but I'll go out there. I got a good nights rest, you know, get a good meal in today and just go out there and be a professional. That's good that he thinks it's only physical and probably a bit mental. That's the only things it is. How about like, how about the ref coming out with like one of those breathalyzer tests?

I mean, that part I don't fault him for. And that part is. He's the child. We're supposed to be the adults to make those decisions for us. Not us, but people in charge, okay? They're supposed to be the adults saying, you know, to the earlier point, are we putting them in a position to fail or succeed here? And again, I'm not playing judge already here.

The guy could score hat-trick tonight, but I'm not sure it's still the right decision. even if he does. You know, it's one of those, I've been around pro hockey long enough and you have two to know that when a guy is in his position, you're probably better off with someone significantly less effective. Like, Ethan Cowan is probably just champing at the bit.

Give me a chance. Like, go hunt that tennis ball down like a puppy. I think you might get more out of someone like that for one night. And I think it's okay to give that to your captain, say, buddy, you've been through it here. Take a nap tonight. My, my, my, my, after hearing him, like when I first heard the audio, my perspective has changed a little bit here. Yeah.

And maybe it's just me that I want them to lose tonight and that I'm wanting them to lose some games. They're not win, win, win. The Leafs weren't worried about this Sammy. They were worried about the Sammy a day ago. Yeah, I mean, that said, he better play. Are we eligible to say we were wrong and change our minds? I know, I know, but they're still worried. Yeah, you have, but their feeling was.

60% wouldn't have changed their minds. They would have said, that guy better be in there. He's paying $13.5 million. Listen, those people have a point two. They only got $30,000 for a gold medal. They do, but you have to still, like I said, be an adult and still make the right decision

no matter what the perception is. But you can do that. Those people can say that, and they can run into the wall that is the team said they wouldn't let him play. He wanted to play. He's eligible. He came back. he asked to play we're not letting them.

The team can take all this off his back. I know, I know. That's what I'm saying. They are the adults. Right. And if they dodge a bullet, if he plays great, and they find a way to win, then they totally come out of it. Tomorrow's probably tougher.

I was going to say, there's a world tonight, adrenaline flying around tomorrow's like that. If he's gut awful, tripping over his left foot, if he happens to toe pick and crash into the boards, like. God forbid he does anything tonight. you're going to be like, uh-huh.

He's drunk. I told you. There's hammered. So many of those people are ready to point a finger. Yeah. I don't know. Those people. Right?

Uh, yeah. It's just, it's, it's not, it's so far from perfect. Or we could be forgiving and show him some grace. It's just far from. I don't have any fight left. Perfect. I don't have any fight left. It's,

there's no fight. There's no fight. It's just. Just do the other stuff. Sometimes in life, as they say, you know, it's hard to have. your cake and eat it too like some there's got to be some give somewhere yeah i i greatly remember uh missing a practice once after going out and partying the night before and our captain giving me a talk about how if you want to run with the big dogs you can't be up hissing with the puppies in the

morning you know you got to stay so if you want to go out and party with all those guys and be at the white house and all that there's people are going to expect you to be there answer the bell be a big dog yeah i just think he sounds like absolute crap oh he is going to be very bad uh Did you want to do the White House one? Yes. I think it was Joshua Cloke, I think. Yeah, we can put a bow on this. I give, I think it's Cloke, so that's who I'm giving credit to.

He gave him credit, he asked the question. Clip two, please, Derek. Austin, you pledging Canada. The president said troubles and things about Canada. Do you weigh that at all when you accept the invitation? I mean, I think it's not, you know, to me I don't like to get political or get into that kind of stuff. I mean, like I said, we're proud Americans. and, you know, winning a gold medal that's been 46 years since the men's ice hockey team has done that.

So, I mean, the team that wins the Stanley Cup every year, except the White House invitation to go. So, I mean, I just think it's something that you do, you know, because we are proud Americans and whatever your political beliefs may be. I mean, hopefully something like this will, you know, hopefully bring more unity to the country and stuff like that. But, I mean, for us, you know, we believe it's a great honor no matter who's in. who's in office. Pretty much exactly what I expected him to say. Yeah, I think he

covered it off. I mean, for me, if I was in Austin's shoes, I'd say it was a team decision, right? I'm the captain. It was a team decision to go. And, you know, I'm not, I'm not bailing on my team.

As I said yesterday, I think these guys are, you know, they grew up in the national program as great young hockey players. They're not exactly worldly kids. they win this gold. And they said, do you want to fly an Air Force 1 and go to the White House? And they're just like, yes. I do think some of that is, you know, not a lot of thought goes into it.

And that's not necessarily to excuse it. However, the one person that's on the hook for this is Bill Garron. Like, Bill Garron doesn't have to allow someone who is a divisive, very one-sided figure in there before friends and family are in the locker rooms. And all of a lot of these guys who haven't agreed to anything, one side of the country has claimed this event is theirs. And now these kids, Matthews and their, the rest of them are forced into a decision.

It's all political immediately. And he didn't have to do that to his team. He could let his team celebrate, let the whole country have their high fives. The timing with the state of the union and everything worked against them too. This got way more political than anyone wanted it to be, but they did it to themselves. And I think the decision Garron made was a stupid one. It's fair. I think Austin's decision not to go to the state of the union also helped him a lot, too.

Just getting back sooner. and just trying to find at least some, you know, some calmness, separation, you know. I don't want to do it anymore, but I don't necessarily put him in the same category as the Kchucks and other situation. I don't know. Just Thompson's wearing the. I don't want to do it anymore. No. Mega hat and that's different than what Matthews.

He got back. He's back. He's got back in plenty of time. Okay. Okay. Okay. So sounds like he's ready to go here. So we'll, we'll see what happens.

at 7 p.m. tonight on Pike Drop. And relevant, by the way. 7.30 p.m. Oh, 7.30. Okay. Austin Matthews, you guys, concerned about how he was going to play tonight. The Lightning had eight players at the Olympic second most of any team in the NHL.

The team they played tomorrow. Florida had the most at 10. So they're playing a couple teams who've got guys who been through it a bit, too. Yeah. Don't know how many Americans, but Olympians. What a nice. Would be nice to know Kutrov was on a three-day bender, though. Well, I don't think because he didn't go.

It means he wasn't. I mean, his three day bender was like a week and a half ago. Kuturov, as of October 31st, I got some interesting stuff from our own stats department. Kuturov, October 31st was like 60th in league scoring. And since then, it's just been red hot boys. He's now third in the NHL and scored. 60th in October, 9th in November, 6th and December, third as it tonight. Wow.

Also, one goal shy of tying Stephen Stamcoast for. for 9 30 goal seasons and one assist shy of becoming the first lightning player to ever reach 700 for his career. Third Russian ever to reach 700 assists. If he does it, Malcolm and Ovechkin or the other two. There you go. A lot on the line for Kutrovina.

You'll probably get both milestones tonight if I would guess. Okay. Craig Buret. He picked a goalie. Yes, that's who Kuches. I would have picked. Very surprising. Anthony stole ours. Yeah.

Did not see that coming. I didn't. Genuinely shocked, actually. You were? Genuinely. Okay. My first immediate thought is that's for trade purposes. Nothing shocks me, but I'm surprised, too.

Because I would have gone, I told you guys the other day, I would have gone Wallo. Yeah. Well, Stolar is an 882 save percentage this year. Joseph Wall is not. What do you read into that? Your first thought was trade? Let's hear the justification from the code before we get deeper into it. Let's play that.

On clip four, please, Derek. I like this last game in Emerton and, you know, how he was trending in the right direction. One month ago? Kind of want to keep that going with him. And that's obviously we need both of them here and back to back. But that really was the reason. And I thought during a week in practice, his practice got better and better as he went along. So it's just, you know, that's why I went with him.

That's almost like saying I really liked him last season. Yeah. Quick, quick, quib quiz. one thing that happened in that game. It was Edmonton? I couldn't even remember. Carlo hipped McDavid and we all thought he took his knee off. And we were all scared because he had to play for Canada.

That's all I got. Who scored a goal? Couldn't tell you one goal score. That's bad. That's not. It's a long time ago. That don't make no sense. I guess to me it's like they are going to play both guys.

So you're just picking. But then. A hunch. He's got the hunch. that he had a really good practice or two. Okay. Or three. Right?

Liked his game against Edmonton. Here we go. Anthony Stollars. He's a much better goalie than he's been this year. I would love for him to be healthy. You get rolling. So, Sam, I want to say something about, you know, just like wanting the Leafs to lose or whatever.

Okay. On what planet, is it better for the Leafs that they lose? Ever. They've got to give up their first rounder, so just win everything you can. No, that's not true. Because we are now living in a, night-to-night basis with the front office of the Toronto Maple Leafs,

apparently, because they're sitting, I mean, like Kipper said in his trade board yesterday, we're in a holding pattern for some reason. If they, they just got to lose, lose, lose, lose, then win. Okay. So you want them to sell. He's right. Lose the next three games. O and three.

Tampa, Florida, Ottawa, Saturday. Season's over. Done. Like, you're Burger King and Whopper with grill marks all over your ass. So then it's March 1st, and you, me, and, McKee are going to come in here on March 1st and be like Welp. Buddy.

Cover this team. We can only hope Marley's talk. We can only hope and they don't cancel our show. No, because then they're going to be wheeling and dealing at the deadline. But then after that, what do we talk about? The new players, all the guys are bringing up. How's Robert Thomas look with Easton County? Let me throw this.

With all the craziness over, let's just say, four years, five years, do you really expect them to go 0 for three? Like, again, what is the one underlining statement we've had over the years? Whatever you expect them to do, they'll do the opposite. Yes. As soon as you think it's over, they're good.

As soon as you think they're great, they blow it. But that's when they were good. Yeah. I think there's a difference this year than years past. And I think a lot of the trends that we got used to with this team don't really exist as much anymore. I would argue. I don't know if you guys agree with that, but you're right.

Like, if they really wanted to make it as murky as possible, they'll win three in a row on the break. That's what would happen. I think two out of three would still... Peak Merck? Would create some energy going into next week. Create some energy. Some energy.

Oh, my God. Great. Can I give you four stats? Games out shot this year by the Leafs, most in the NHL. Average shots against most. Average rush chances against against Most.

Five on five goals against most. That's the worst in the league. Teams they have to pass to get the final playoffs, boss. Most. So let's let's win two games ago. I see it here. Do you guys happen to read Keith Pelley's message to, I guess it went out to like just season ticket holders,

but I think it's out in the media now. I had it sent to me. Yeah. Would you care to read it to me? I did not see this. Oh, gosh. I don't have it. I do, yeah.

Unfortunately, with the number of key injuries that have affected this team, we are not currently in the position we had anticipated, but that is professional sports. Not long after, mind you, the CEO pointed out that Leafs have made playoffs each to the nine seasons, blah, blah, blah. We look forward to seeing you at Scotia Bank Arena in these crucial weeks ahead as we push towards the 2026 NHL playoffs.

We know that the support of our fans will achieve this ultimate goal together. While we always strive to be as open as possible, I know that you understand in the world of professional sports protecting competitive advantages is paramount and limits our ability to reveal team strategy until the appropriate time. That's not a man ready to pack it in, Sammy. Fascinated by limits our ability to reveal team strategy until the appropriate time. I like the concept that there's a plan.

So. He's not mailing it in. And he's not telling Brad to mail it in. One more time. And Brad's not telling the last line for the players. If you would. I know that you understand in the world of professional sports, protecting competitive advantages is paramount and limits our ability.

to reveal team strategy until the appropriate time. Oh, okay. That's a lot. So basically what they're saying is if they lose the next three games, we're going to train everybody. Yes, that's... Is that what it is? That's in there.

That's in there. The appropriate time may be next week, but it's not now, and these games matter to us. And if we can... That philosophy ain't changing if they win two out of three. I just find. No, I think they're going.

going for it here. They're going for it. Well, at least they're going for it is for the next three games. Three games, boys. That's, we're down to three games. This has got to be our 10th three game set of the year. We hung the season on. So what you're creating here is like, I don't know.

Maybe I'm. What do you mean I'm creating? No, no, what we're creating here. Okay. We're not creating it. It's there. That's what I mean. But like what we as a universe are creating here.

Yes. Okay. all right, I get it. I get it. Is that like, do all fans feel like me? Like, I don't know. I don't know. People texting.

Like, are people dying for them to go for that last playoff spot? Like, have they watched one game this year where they've been like, yeah, this is the team? What if Nyes is healthy and the goalie is healthy and stole ours and they get goal attending? And Cowan has done some squats over the break and he's fresh back. Tavares has some jump in his step after he's been, you know. This is exactly. what they're doing, Sammy. Exactly how J.B.

just described it. No one's any good in the East. Matthews kind of started to find it after Christmas. And if we get close, if we get in, you never know. We're the hottest team. We're the hottest team at the end of the year.

And we can beat Carolina. Okay. You're telling me there's a chance. But that goes out the window if they go one and two. That's fantastic planning. So, Sammy. Fantastic.

Listen, you're not wrong. I know. You're not wrong on the general idea of when windows close what direction you have to go. But they are the Toronto Maple Leafs and their bar and mandate is different from 70 other teams that can afford to do that. They feel like they can't afford to go down that path. I mean the number one richest team in the league can't afford to do it? Until they are completely painted in a corner. And they're not yet.

Can I really stir this up? Yes. Is any of this related to, like, showing Matthews that you, this is a place where we're trying to win all the time? We're a... A hundred percent. Buddy, we're not a tanking team. We're trying to win.

It's all of it. I'm just going to say the thing I said to Sam. It's a machine, right? It's in my head. It's a machine. You know, Marner went to that Four Nations last year. and they won and he was buddy buddies and celebrating with those guys in their ears

and all of a sudden he found a place he liked, made friends there. I sure hope Austin wasn't having those conversations with anyone. I'm sure 11 nightclub there are just talking about how great Toronto is the whole time. Anyhow, just thought I'd throw that in the universe on my mind. That's a nice thought. Of course.

It's a beautiful thought. You want to, if you want to keep them, you're not punting now. You're not going to show him that you're punting now. And then. But is he an idiot? Like, does he look around with this team be like, yeah, this is the team that's going to get me to my ultimate goal. You said the window, like, when the window closes, I'm not convinced the window's closed.

I think with some creative general managing and some, like, you could get back to a conversation where you could win a couple playoff rounds. Who know? How quickly? Within the next year or two. I do. I think if you had something that was. There's a big difference between a year or two. We have two years left of Austin Matthews.

Right? This year. So let's just say they missed the playoffs this year. Yes. You're saying that you can be okay to miss the playoffs next year? No. I think with some creative general managing, which I'm not convinced on.

You think you can have your cake and eat it too, Sam Gerard in a second for Simone Benoit maybe. So you don't think there's a world. Start doing some stuff. You don't think there's a world where they're good next year. If they do some maneuvering at this deadline. There's a world. Of course there's a world.

They just have to be creative. It's a tough world. and you can't miss, right? That's pro sports, man. So, do good to do good. Give me a scenario of what you're talking about, what that means. So it means trading McMahon. Correct.

It means trading OEL. Correct. And it means trading Scott Lawton. Those are the three guys I've got. If they traded those three guys for futures, I would be satisfied. Depending on what they did with those futures and what they turned them into for next season. And how quickly can you replace those? This is the biggest aspect is there need to be guys you see out there and say,

Vegas goes, how do we get that guy? Not how do we get rid of our guy? It's a lot easier to get rid of guys. It's how do you get that guy is the question. I'll just go back to conversations we've had in many others as well. And that was let Marner walk. We'll have all this cap space and we'll get someone back. Right.

And it never happened. It never happened. Because the question wasn't, how do we get that guy? So if it happened with Marner, like, why are you so guaranteed that you can get rid of McMahon and OEL and then replace them right away? Because McMahon and OEL aren't

Marner, but they're at the peak of their value and you could get something for them. And trade those things that you get for other things. Like, it's trial and error. They did it with Machelli. Okay, and it didn't work. I know. But I just,

But they missed. So they should stop trying and they should give McMahon $5 million and keep all of a record of March and just suck next year. No, but you may have to, you may want to keep OEL and find another way. They've been fantastic with them in the lineup. Right? I'm just saying it's just not that. My whole point is not whether you're right or wrong. Yeah, it's not easy.

But they're paid millions of dollars. And is Brad Tree living the guy that's going to do it for you? I don't know. When's the last time they made a trade? When is the last time they made a trade? Is it Machelli? Like, honestly. I'd like Stan.

There's a ton of questions here. There is a ton of questions, but, and for the record, I'm on your side. That's nice to hear. I'd move OEL. I'd move. You would. Of course. And I'd move McMahon.

Because you're a smart guy. Despite what people say about you everywhere, you're a smart guy. And I've told you all along, I told you guys three weeks ago, four weeks ago, they're not thinking like that. And now here we are down to three games. Let's go get those dubs. Right. Get those doubles.

Before we go, fellas, I just wanted to remind you that it's, it's, I do want them to win. I do think they may play out. It's Toronto Maple Leafs. Excuse me? Oh, my God, hold on. I do think they make a playoff. It's Maple Leaf's game day. Score a Popeye's chicken sandwich for only $6.

In classic or spicy, make it your new game day tradition. Get your $6 chicken sandwich at a Popeye's near you. Okay. Are we done? I thought I'd get that in right before commercial break. No, no. We got to go. We got a stammer coming up.

No, no. If they make the playoffs, I'm picking them in the first round. Is that right? They're going to have their deepest run yet. Oh, my God. They're going to get red hot. They're going to be so hot. God, I'd love nothing more to sound like an idiot.

But I'm fear I'm not going. You don't need the least to make the playoffs to do that. Fair enough. Just listen to the last two weeks. Okay, let's take a quick break. When we return, Craig Simpson, Stanley Cup champion. Always great to hear from Craig. He's got the call tonight.

Tampa Bay in Toronto. Maple Leaf 730 Eastern on SportsNet. More after these words. Hey, it's Blake Murphy. And I'm Matt Bonner. Join us weekday mornings at 11 as we break down all things Toronto Raptors. It's the Raptor show on SportsNet 590 The Fan. And wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, you're a co-host, man. If I'm snoozing here, just run with it. Where I go. Well, welcome back. Take us in. Take us in. Oh, I have a Simmers ready in my ear. So I think we should throw to our guest.

How about that, Kip? Take it away. Craig Simpson, former national hockey leaguer, Stanley Cup champion, and a guy that's way more alert than I am because I'm still in Olympics news, Simmer. How about you, bud? I feel the same. I think tonight's broadcast is going to be a microcosm of what we're going to see on the ice.

You've got one guy in the booth who's on top of his game just performed on the biggest stage. in the world and you've got the other guy who's going to have to figure out how the hell to do this thing again. I don't think I've ever had 22 days off in the middle of the season. So it is an awfully strange feeling. You've been

around the game a long time. I'm not going to age you, but as a player and a broadcaster, is there any way that you could have a little bit more insight than the average Joe on what we could expect tonight? Especially a guy like Austin.

Justin Matthews, who's been, you know, well, we know what he's been doing the last three days. Yeah, you know, it's such a unique situation where, you know, it's so few players. Well, you got Jake Gensel on the other side, then Austin, the two that have, you know, had, as he even said this morning, I was listening to the early and was down there watching him with, you know, the last 72 hours. Well, yeah, that's the hard part about being an athlete there is, you know, whatever you do in your personal time is your own, but it was front and center for the whole world to see. So it becomes such a hugely different dynamic tonight. And I listen to your debate back and

forth, whether the team should, you know, take the onus off and not to play. I just think there's just far too much at stake. The reality of NHL players being able to take their time off of the NHL and go play in the Olympics was really important. And I think it has to go back both ways for the players themselves to be ready to play. And, you know, it's such a unique situation because you're never going to have that kind of three-day lead up to a game. But the onus on the player now is, okay, you knew what was coming. You knew the situation that was there.

Everyone gets excited when you get something that, what, it's been, you know, so long since 46 years since the American team has won. So you understand the excitement, but I think it has to go both. This is one where as an athlete, you've got to find a way to dig in and find a way to play to the best of your abilities. And unfortunately, or not unfortunately, you've put yourself in that situation. You know, the world has seen what your it's an it kinder look like for the last three days. Now I think really it is the onus to say, no, I've got to find a way to dig in and be a professional and go out and play the best game that I can. they can. It'll be really interesting to see, though, guys, what Craig Barrowby does. If he sees and

sees in his player that it's just not there, you know, will he have, I don't want to see the guts, but will he have the position to say, you know, I can't play this guy right now. And I doubt that will happen. I actually think Austin will do fine and find a way to play at a, you know, a responsible level at least. I can't imagine he's going to be at the level that he normally does. But I think it's really unfortunate that you go through the excitement of the moment and now everybody's going to be judging off of your actions

that everyone saw that puts a whole lot more pressure on the individual to have a game that at least can represent him being a leader on this team Zimmer you were in Edmonton, Euler, you guys invented playing guilty.

I can tell you though, I wouldn't say I can't remember who I was saying to yesterday that you know, I've been fortunate enough to win two Stanley Cups, and I can tell you three days after winning those cups, I could never play a hockey game. I know. We'll see if it's the truth.

Yeah. It's crazy, Sam, we're like, you know, Matthews is going to lead him out there tonight. They played 57 hockey games this year. They have 19 regulation wins. They are going to make a push for the playoffs. Is there anything you saw in the first two-thirds of the season that makes you believe, hey, if the chips fall right, if everything, whatever,

that they're a good enough team to get into playoffs. Well, I listened to you talking to about the reality of the league. You know, the surprising team is the ones they're playing tonight. Having the 22 days off, all of a sudden I was looking at Tampa and going, holy cow, you know, 191 and 1, where does that come from from a team that maybe you thought would fall off? And they did it without McDonough,

for times. They did it without headmen. So I heard the talk with Toronto having the injuries. Obviously, TANF is a big one on the back end. But they just haven't found that time to come together and play their best hockey for a long stretch. You know, you mentioned it earlier. They had the run of, you know, 8-0 and 2 and 10 games. You think, okay, you know, that's how you get back. You know, last year, this Leaf team put together 12 streaks of 3 plus wins.

And, you know, this year, it just hasn't happened. They've got four of them, and there's only, what, 25 games left in the season. So I think that it's their inability to show the consistency night in and night out. Early on it was couldn't win on the road, couldn't defend very well, made it very difficult for their goaltenders to find their game. And now you're looking at, okay, you've had the reset. You've got hopefully, you know, guys getting a little healthier. was going to play tonight.

You hope that Matthew Nyes, you know, can 22 days magically get him back to being a forceful player and a guy that can be maybe of more impact than he has in the first 57? So I guess the answer is if you can find a way for 25 games to get good goaltending, better defensive play, I do think that it is such an oddity in the East this year that I know you guys were laughing. Kipper, you'd probably pick them if they got into the plan. But that's, I think, what their mentality has to be. But they have to show that they can put together a string.

They're going to have to go, you know, points like they did that 8-0 and 2. You all of a sudden put that together in the first 10 or 12 games, and you've got yourself a little bit of hope. And I know for Sammy, hope is a complicated thing in his mind because, you know, is it realistic that they can get there? Well, they have to show in this next two, three weeks that they can put a bunch of string, a bunch of games together. You've got a three-game winning streak going now.

And I do think you have to be of the mindset. You've got to win four out of every five and at least see what you've got. And can you bring that consistency that has been lacking throughout the whole year? Simmer, does it feel like it's easier today to do that? because we've seen the Buffalo Sabres rip a winning streak off. I think Columbus, I think, is on one right now, maybe seven. We talked about Tampa Bay at six. Does it feel like maybe Brad Tree Living or even Steve Stales in Ottawa can go,

well, if they can do it, we can do it. Well, I think you have to and you have to try to search for that in your game. And that's probably been the most frustrating and surprising you know, throughout this first 57 games is this has been a team that's been able to put streaks together, as I mentioned last year, the same thing. And when you can't find that traction, I just think that's where you look and say, well, what are we not doing? One night is we can't score. We go through a stretch where we're getting two goals a game. And then what, I'm looking now, you know, six goals against in three of the last nine games. You know, how are you ever

going to win hockey if you can't defend. And so I look at even Tampa what they've done during this amazing streak and Buffalo on their amazing streak. First and foremost is keep the damn puck out of the net. I mean, you have to find a way to be a much better defensive team. And that will give you the opportunity to get those kind of streets going because, you know, look at even Tampa guys. They've got one goal against in eight of their last 12 games.

And so how can you not have a chance for success in that? And that's something that's just alluded to the least the entire season. And quite frankly, if there is going to be any hope, it's got to be, can you string together like they have in their three-game winning streak? There's no surprise, guys, that it's two goals against against Vancouver, two goals against against Calgary, two goals against against Edmonton, and you've won three straight. I mean, that has to be top of mind. And I'm sure for Craig Barrowie, when you're trying to get the group reset for a start, it's not, okay, we got to. to be flashy offensively. It's guys, we got to take care of our own and be much more predictable there.

Allow our goaltenders to thrive and have some success or chance at success. And our offense will follow along with it. So we're curiously your thoughts on Easton Cowan situation, you know, over the break. He didn't get set down to the American League. Now, two have been eligible. He would have had to have played no more than 16 of the 20 games leading up to it and only been on the roster for 80 days. So they would have had to do some work.

A couple of scratches, maybe sent down for a couple of weeks. It would have been hard to make him eligible. But that means he didn't play for the last few weeks. He hasn't played in almost a month. And they're going to healthy scratch him tonight to start. Are you surprised he's not in the lineup tonight? And how do you feel about how this season is going for the young kid? I'm shocked, Justin.

I don't quite understand it. I think it's a wasted timeline when you just allow. what did he get scratched the last three before the break. And then I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing for himself, both emotionally, to get a little bit of a reset during that time. If I was him physically, I'd say I've got to get back up to a stronger level. It's a great break in the season for a guy that's not accustomed to play in NHL hockey for that long of time. But I'm quite surprised by it because I look and say,

you've got to make sure that this isn't a wasted year in his development. I think he's had what everybody would have expected some ups and downs. And quite frankly, when he got pulled out of the lineup, I thought he was playing some of his best hockey there. So I'm not sure if there's an underlying, you know, storyline there that I don't know about. But I would have thought that a nice refresh for a kid that you can maybe start to build up a little bit and say, you know, I hope you worked out in the gym. you feel a little bit fresher.

You've got the opportunity to play some big games down the stretch. And maybe you can find that he can be a real contributor. So it is a little bit of a head scratcher for me. And I will be really surprised if he doesn't play tomorrow, I would go, well, I think you've got to find a way to get him playing some hockey. And that means going down and playing for the marlies. So we're looking forward to hearing from you and C.C. tonight. It all starts, I think, 7 o'clock, 7.30 puck drop, the pregame all on sports.

SportsNet. Have some fun tonight, okay, pal? All right, it'll be good to get back in the booth. So take care, boys. Looking forward to hearing you. Thanks. Craig Simpson, Hockey Night in Canada, SportsNet, right back to work tonight.

These guys are awesome. Like I said, I'm genuinely excited to get back to it here. Okay, where do you want to go? Austin Matthews. I'm not hearing it. Okay. Austin Matthews tonight. Okay.

I mean, physically, we're all very curious to see what that looks. like, but just the pressure now on him to come back. And if there are leaf believers out there that they can get back in this, just the weight on his shoulders right now to lead that charge. Because I thought he had a very good tournament, right? But it wasn't like he was shot out of a can and he was just really good to the point where I think people were talking at the end of it more about his defensive look and his Selke-like kind of defense,

which was kind of reminiscent of what we saw earlier in his career. It's like more Barkov, less, you know, Kuturov. But can he be like that and get the Leafs in the playoffs? Because I don't think he can. Yeah, I agree with you. I don't. Yeah, I think he needs to office. Hey, Austin can still win the gold medal without scoring a goal in the last two games,

but it won't work for the Leafs to get them back into the playoff mix. That won't work. You know, also, like, is John Tavares one of the guys that scores or is he not, right? Like, it was for a while you had these four guys that were supposed to produce offense, and we kind of hung on and waited for that to happen when one of them didn't with the other guys. Right now, it kind of feels. like it's going to be Willie or Matthews. Tavares feels like he's dropped out of that equation

along with Marner going. So it's like, I guess I kind of thought Nyes would fill that void. Part of the reason why we haven't seen Austin look so selky is because he's got to cheat for his offense. And that's a very natural thing for all goal scores to do. It's just a level of how many times are you on the right side of a decision? And that'll be interesting to me tonight

is how far he pushes the envelope to try to put the puck in the net as early as tonight. Yeah. I mean, I'm not expecting him to push it anywhere at all. I think he's going to look fine tonight. I do. But I... Yeah, I still not hearing your pal.

You're hearing him? No. He's not saying anything good anyway, folks. You're fine. But Sam agrees with me that tonight is maybe not... Like, you have played guilty, I presume, time or two in your life? But that's only if three of my leaders are doing the same thing.

Yeah. I'm not doing it by myself. Okay, well, I was. And sometimes, sometimes, you know, it just finds you in the right spot. You know, like you're on the ice. You're in the O zone. Sometimes it just finds you in the right spot and you shoot it in. You just have skill.

That's what you're hoping today. And it's amazing how even your own coach will be blind to how you played sometimes when you shoot it in the net. They're just like, oh, yeah, you had one. You know, it's tough to see everything all at once. And so for Matthews, I think it finding him would paper over a lot. Just listening to Craig saying, I could never imagine after three of my days like that going to play a game. And not only just playing a game, but like 22 minutes.

Well, and Florida, Tampa Bay, Florida back to back. I mean, that's a. Panthers are drying out too. They're not. That's true. Like they're, I mean, they got a bunch of guys hurt. Tomorrow will be a tough test for Matthews. I think the adrenaline will go with the night,

and then tomorrow night, maybe it'll be a bit of a sap. By the way, do we think the Canadians lost and then drank milk and went to bed? Yeah, I think they... You don't think anyone had a couple of... Everyone meet in a hotel room 16 and hang out? No. No way. Too sour. Oh, yeah, they probably did, but they didn't go like them.

No, no, I know. It's not even a... Yeah, but they wouldn't have gone like them if they won. I'm just saying... I'm guessing they probably stayed up late-had drinks and fluids across the continent are also going to be bad. not as bad, but I don't think they're going to be at their finest. That's why Vegas said, hey, Canada, you don't have to play either.

You know, we're going to talk Oilers when we go national with Rob Brown next, but, like, what do we expect out of Connor McDavid moving forward in terms of just the emotional aspect to recharge your batteries now and go for the last 25 games for the Oilers? Like, I'm worried about him. Like, I just mean mentally, put so much pressure on himself to have success. You see, today he was asked, like, did you think it was this hard? Be this hard to win? That's a nice question.

That's a nice question. You know, like, you know, he's, be on it. All right. Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay. We get going. 730, Sportsnet. Don't go away. Nearly halfway through on the Real Kipprenborn Show, we go national next.

Rob Brown joins us. Sat Shaw out in Vancouver, also on the slate. More real. Kippin-Born after the break.