Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Disappointment in Sunrise

Episode Date: April 9, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Daniele Franceschi kick off the show discussing the Leafs latest loss against the Panthers. They discuss Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies comments after last night's game. Then, they look at what the loss meant in the big picture, how Joseph Woll performed in his first game against Florida this season, and the importance of tonight's contest in Tampa Bay. Later, Sportsnet colour commentator Craig Simpson joins the show to discuss Leafs vs. Lightning, what the bottom six should look like in the playoffs and if it matters where the Leafs finish in the Atlantic.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.

Welcome into the fastest two hours in hockey. It's the real Kipper and Bourne show. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Daniele Franceschi, Derek Brandeo, Jen Rolnick. In for those fast two hours. We're live on Sportsnet 590, the fans, Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet Plus. You can also download us anywhere you get your pod. You can always text us your name. What else, Daniele? Location, please. Location and standard message and data rates apply.

This is why Disco Dan is the best. And standard message and data rates apply. This is why Disco Dan is the best because he cares. He cares and he's warning people that Rogers may charge you 20 bucks to send us a message. Right? Whatever it is, the man cares. Thank you. Sammy doesn't. No. And hey, does anyone still pay per text anymore?

Is that I don't even an option. I have Is that is that Sammy after last night's game Could be He way dumping all over the leaf or he's underneath it. Yeah, could be but he cannot be feeling very well. This may be he's the best week ever to have Sammy as far away from the Toronto Florida game as can be as he's in Hawaii. Yeah, he got to be here to watch the Leafs beat up on Florida

in a game that wasn't all that close in the Leafs favor. And then you got to leave to not see the opposite of that, which is what happened last night. Not to go ahead and give you my full take on the game kit, but that was their best. I lied. This is going to be a very slow hour of the show because if you don't have anything good to say You're not supposed to say anything at all is what my mom always told me So I don't know where we go after a 3-1 loss, which Could look really respectable on a on a summary sheet in a on your computer or on a

newspaper with an empty net or really right to one game what's the big ad yes the Leafs had a chance to tie the game up with five minutes to go and steal a point or two and that's where the glass ends on being half full. Yeah anything and Like I said, it's a slow hour because I don't know where we go from here in terms of where do you even start on a game that Like it's an understatement to say it's the most disappointing loss of the season, isn't it? No, well said. I think, you know, what's your worst fears? If you're a Leafs fan, if you're the management of the Leafs, your worst fears are that when the going gets tough

and you're playing a good team, that's playing a tight playoff checking game, that they're not going to be able to break through again, that they're going to be quiet, that they're just going to kind of go down with a whimper. And last night was that, you know, they get out, pick a metric from last night, pick a metric. The biggest one to me is they lost the puck battle percentage, according to SportLogic, 70 to 30, 70% to 30%. They lost puck battles.

That's a big part of it. They couldn't get shots, expected goals, whatever you want. Florida carried the play last night. And Matthews, Marner, and Nylander combined for one shot, which kind of came late in the game. In about 30 minutes, we'll welcome in Craig Simpson. He called the game last night. Always has an ability to ground us a little bit here.

So I am so looking forward to Craig Simpson's thoughts. At the top of the hour Hall of Famer Chris Pronger will join us. And somewhere in the building is Mr. Glenn Healy. Is that right? Who is the current executive director of the NHL alumni and I told him if he doesn't come in and see us it's somewhere in a window between now and 6 p.m. I'll never speak to him again and I think he left he said he said come hunt me down okay which is like a campus here. So good luck. So plenty of positivity coming or you said plenty of good guests. Okay, so I again I'm I'm lost in terms of where you want to start. Do you

want to extrapolate last night to something greater? Was it just a one-off where they played bad? Or did you see something that you think that's gonna be a real problem? I've watched and I came off my vacation, but I certainly watched enough of Columbus last week. And I came back and you told me that they, you thought they played really well.

I mentioned that there's still parts of the game that I don't really like. What I didn't like the most was averaging seven shots a period, you know, in the first 40 minutes. And I get that sometimes shots on goal can be misleading, but the one thing that I like when you have about 30 or 40 shots is you're guaranteed that the puck's not in your own zone. Yeah, yeah, that's a huge part of it. They could not get past Florida's four check.

You know, you mentioned seven shots a period, they only got four in the third, right? When they were down goal chasing So that Florida for check is hard. We know it's a major strength of their team and You know right now the thing that the Leafs want to do is they want to try to out Florida, Florida They want to flip it out and they want to chase and they want to check they can't do it as well as Florida I've been consistent on this for, I think the whole season. I do not like stretch passing.

I don't like, I do not like Willie Nylander blowing the zone. And yeah, on occasion it can work. I get that. But when things really tighten up against a good team like Florida, the flip pass is all you have. There are no lanes for a 30, 40 pass. And you've got to come out together. You watch Florida, any type of heat that the Leafs gave them

in the second period, it was pass, pass, pass out. The little ones, Supportive ones. Leafs do not do that. I compare that to, and I don't know if you've ever played, but ultimate frisbee, you have to throw it. When you catch it, you can only run two or three steps where you have to throw it again. So sometimes people have these little, to you, to me, to you, to me, and you just kind of ultimate frisbee your way up the field. That to me is how you break out against a heavy forecheck. centers got to come all the way low. So they're playing 200 feet They got to be this far away from their D little slip that's that hasn't been Berube's

Message to them or they or it is and they're not listening, but they do not do that. They don't want to do that That's well, that's not Ruby's the question I have here is I mean what's so different about Florida compared to anybody else that they play? Because because we have this old this traditional trope of when you get to the playoffs It's different and that's been the whole message throughout the season. It's been consistent. Hey, you got to play this way Because when it counts, I mean even last night after the game all these guys, especially Matthew Nye's reiterating that to a tee This is how you play come playoff time. So if that's how you have to play,

then what makes Florida so different than when it's been Tampa or Boston, or I mean, really those are the only two teams they've seen in the postseason really. But why, why is it that then for whatever reason, Florida is the kryptonite that when they see them, they don't know how to adapt to what they're seeing for me. It's an authenticity that like this is how their forwards like to play.

This is their their preferred game. They like to be over top of guys. Barkov is always tight and O'Bannon didn't play last night. But the for check is, you know, the Leafs are asking guys to do something they don't really want to do. It's not their preference stylistically to flip the puck out, to chase it, to be tight in the neutral zone. So to me, it's just this is really who their players are and the system fits the talent really well. That's a tough matchup. It is a tough matchup. I wasn't thrilled with Matthew Nise's game, but I loved him post. Okay. Comments.

We have four Matthew Nisbett. Yes. That's why. That's why Disco has four. Because he was fantastic in assessing what he really saw. I saw comments out of Tavares and Riley where I'm like, comments out of Tavares and Riley where I'm like, did you play the same game that I just watched?

I had someone write me about Riley's comments and I didn't hear them, but he said something to the effect of like, it was a close game. It was a close game. Yeah. And I'm like, Morgan, please, please tell me you've been in the league long enough where you know, you just got your ass fed to you. Please.

You cannot go on air and tell me that that was a close game with a little attention to details. I'm sorry, but be more honest with the people that watch you and support you The Florida Panthers almost had as many high danger chances as the Leafs had total shots. Yeah. Yeah That's nuts because they had 12 high danger chances. Yeah and Toronto only four in the game. Okay Let's go to our first kippers Clipper and It's led by Matthew Nye's clip one Yeah, I think

You know our for check wasn't really good enough the the same. I mean, it's always going to be, you know, hard battle. And, um, yeah, so we we knew it was gonna be like this and you know, we try to push back But I think we didn't do do a good enough job, you know, I think our physicality, you know kind of You know, I think we were a little bit soft in some areas and you know, not through the full 60 So yeah, we're gonna have to learn to do that when it comes to playoff times Just you had me it's soft I Was bothered only once by the softness really and it's when there is a shoving match with Bobby McMahon and someone else in the third period and you know you're going to see this team in playoffs. If you want to win the Stanley Cup, you're going to have to go through Florida.

You assume some sort of standoff to him. You won't be pushed around and just no engagement in a certain scrum. I was like, God, just want, God, just want these guys to be aware that this is an opponent you're trying to send a message to. Totally with you on all accounts. And we praised the guys, including Lawrence Saturday night on his fight, and Benoit taking on the toughest guy in Columbus, Olivier. And it's like okay you did it you know and but you can't just

randomly pick your spots you have to be able to bring that to the equation when it's called for in the games that you need most. And nothing, zero out of all their role players. They needed somebody to stand up and go, I've just seen about enough. Like they have, they're having their way with us completely in all facets. Do something to slow them down. Do something to throw them off their rhythm. I don't care what it is, but you gotta, you can't just sit there and take uppercuts for 60 minutes.

It's like when you're playing 21 against someone and they're on the free throw line just draining buckets, you gotta throw it off the line sometimes. They wouldn't, they did nothing to throw off or change the rhythm of this constant push by Florida. Craig, was it Berube who used the term three quarterized? Three quarterized, this is a couple weeks ago. That's me is last night where you flip it out in the neutral

zone. They get it in the three quarter ice and they come back down your throat and you flip it out and they come back to it. It's just like this sort of repeated cycle that kept saluting here too and couldn't find a way out of that. All right, let's go to Craig Ruby on his thoughts and they're not good ones when you mentioned that's a good point. I think that's a good point. I think that's a good point.

I think that's a good point. I think that's a good point. I think that's a good point. I think that's a good point. I think that's a good point. I think that's a good point. I think that's a good point. I think that's a good point. They were seemed like a more desperate

team than us. On a game with the division on the line. I do think that that game, oh, this is not overwhelmed, meant more to Florida than Toronto, standings wise, and Florida had just lost five in a row and needed to find themselves and got some play. I think Florida had all the right factors to bring their best hockey game to last night. That's not to say the Leafs shouldn't be ready for that, but I do think everything pointed towards you were gonna get a Florida effort in that game This is a team that just won the Stanley Cup went to the finals the year before like no no other team Has more reason just to say we'll figure it out later. No, we'll just rest on our laurels, right? Yeah, and

Like the Leafs acted like that the Leafs acted like we're the division leader We're just oh, maybe we'll get it here tonight. But guys, this is not new. No. It's not new. No. That's the thing that's always frustrating. They give you these. Every team isn't, don't get me wrong,

every team is entitled to the odd goose egg here and there. Right? The flat performance or a flat period. I get it. It happens. 82 of them for a reason, right? Baseball, buck 62 and you can quibble all you want when the manager says, we gotta tip our cap. But sometimes I get it.

I understand it. I can accept it. The problem with this team is it's nine years of this behavior that has become habitual. Time and again, you're seeing the same things. And it's generally against the same quality of teams in most instances. Like I wouldn't be shocked if tonight they go out and they play great.

I would not be stunned whatsoever. They've done that before too. Yes, but it doesn't erase what happened yesterday. That's the other thing. It doesn't erase it because come the playoffs, every game is gonna be even more magnified. We know this and they should know this too they also know tonight if they lose they will play Florida in the first round yeah that's incentive okay I mean definitely the

team that just did you happen to see my article today no offense no I did well I wrote about that it's good read born I did I read it yeah the the idea being see we think of the way that tonight you can make the case that tonight is the most important game in this course history based on what's at stake if you lose tonight Tampa passes you for first you try your tied in points but Tampa has a tiebreaker for first your pro Tampa has a softer schedule more home games more non-playoff opponents you're probably finishing second playing Florida in that case you're probably losing the first round that's and at that point you're probably finishing second and playing Florida. In that case, you're probably losing in the first round.

That's, and at that point, you're probably losing Mitch Marner. You might be losing John DeVaris. Whatever you beat Tampa tonight. You almost lock up the division for sure. You're four points up with a few games left. Um, at that point, you're getting Ottawa at that point, Florida and Tampa Bay play each other in the first round. If you were to beat Ottawa, you got to saw there's this path where good vibes maybe you're at a conference final you can extend Marner you believe

in the core now tonight is could have huge butterfly effect on the season oh yeah i mean that's the first thing i thought a sliding doors moment absolutely in a month from now you look back you say boy that that game with four games left five whatever it is against Tampa that was the sliding door moment where it changed it because you didn't get the draw you wanted and now look where you are You're maybe already teeing it up Not to play not to not to be negative. It's just so dramatic. It went tonight and you're fine lose and Marner plays for the Hurricanes Even if they find a way to win tonight Last night leaves a mark. For who?

For you? For your belief? Yeah. Yep. You know, yeah. It leaves a mark. But what does that mean? Like, it means that...

I don't think it changes anything. It means that I just have a little less faith in what we've experienced, I think, for 75 games. Yeah. And also- That's all. I still cannot, I can't come around to a team that didn't show better

when they needed to against a team that embarrassed them in the second round last year. It's like why Why like at the end of the day? How do you answer why habits take time to break? Do you really miss jake mccabe and david camp? I don't know. Is that is that a contributing factor? They're all we said they're missing their guys. Yeah, bennett. Yeah, bennett eclad that The biggest you know, there is

part of me, you know, when I'm trying to be like, all right, Florida brings the best game. They don't play very well. It looks really bad last night, but anyway, you cut it. The matchup sucks for the Leafs against Florida. Like just the way that lineup goes head to head to the Leafs lineup. If you go through the Atlantic division, there's some weird outliers Montreal's for Oh,-0 against Florida this year. They absolutely have their number. Ottawa is, is it 3 or 4-0-0 against Toronto? Yeah, 3-0-0.

Toronto is 3-0-0 against Tampa Bay. Like, there's just a matchup. Is it less about the personality and then how Montreal plays them compared to how the Leafs play them? And maybe they're a lot more structured when they come out of their own zone maybe they're not cheating and stretching out passes well is this a coaching issue it could be but it could also be personnel

in that Lane Hudson can make people miss on the on the breakout and make little passes Mike Matheson is a great skater and can make little passes on the breakout like maybe it's that their D are doing a better job going back on pucks and breaking it out and McCabe does it well they miss him a bit but that's not everything. They they they do appear slower against a lot of teams or they're moving the puck slower or they're thinking slower they're not processing fast enough. I just think they have a lot of D whose job it is to not make the big mistake. So they're saying Benoit when you go back bang it off the glass Myers when you go back bang it off the glass Tana.

We're fine with chipping off the glass Carlo. You're okay to chip it off the glass you go through it and it's like, okay Riley and Ekman Larson are allowed to make a there was that one shift by Ben Riley passed it to them. There's a one shift by Ben why we thought he was playing center. I think oh, is he so far up the ring? Oh my god, I know actually simmer will talk to him after this. He was like, okay, Oh, so far up the ring? Oh my God. I know.

Actually, Simmer will talk to him after this. He was like, okay, Ben was up the ice again. See if he comes back to the D zone. Yeah. And so they don't have a lot of D that are meant to make cute little plays. So it could be personnel. It could be the way they're being told to play. And the emphasis has always been like, don't give up the middle of the ice, block shots, right?

It's defense mode. They're going to park the bus, baby. Park the bus. Just get hit by shots. I think also there's... I hope Matthews and Marner go score. Honestly, I think there's also just an element of certain teams will be more comfortable

facing a certain type of personnel. For whatever reason, when Florida goes and they're on the whiteboard, Paul Maurice, for the game, his his staff they're just looking at it matchups they they feel really good they like it they're not afraid of 16 34 88 as much as maybe when Ottawa sits there even Tampa oh boy line matching how do we figure this out how do we navigate navigate? Oh, in this situation, let's do this. Just inherently, it seems like when you listen to them talk especially,

they're very calm and at peace when they have to play those games. Yeah, that's a confidence thing, isn't it? It's just a confidence thing, 100%. For sure. All right, let's find a positive. Okay. Outside of a first goal by Forsling, Joseph Wall.

Now, do you get to do that? I don't know, I'm gonna try. I'm gonna try. Outside of that one that really crippled the... If Sammy was here, I'd give him a... What do you think the score would have been if you would have had a Leafs Samsonov in that last night? Oh, that's a tough look.

I mean, probably five-one, something like that. He was... He locked it down. Really, that's a tough, tough look. I mean, probably five one something like that. Yeah, he was he locked it down really really good At least the goaltending is is still there to keep you in games. Keep you engaged He should feel good about himself. You know, he's played that Florida team very well many times I like the idea that he's gonna enter playoffs without the pressure. The team is saying Stolarz is the guy. We've seen Wall come in the backup capacity and excel. So glad that he he looked like he did last night even if he didn't like the one. We do have Morgan Riley for a quick one. Alright let's give Morgan a comment here. Riley clip one please.

I thought Joe was great. I mean, we want to help him out as much as we can by blocking shots and talking to him when he's out playing the puck. But both our goalies have been outstanding for us all year and I thought Joe was good tonight. Yep, absolutely. Yep, did the job. How about the puck that exploded off of Morgan's stick? Like, I get it.

Eventually, something bad is going to happen when you're when you're eating glass all night. Totally. Something's bad is going to happen. Yeah. Like I initial reaction you watch that and go, I mean, that's the worst possible luck you could have on a fumbled sort of puck handle. And then you go, if you play the whole game in that part of the rink,

it's gonna happen. So as much as it's like, I'm not that upset about the one physical mistake, I'm upset that you're in your D zone for the 94th consecutive shift. And that sort of thing is gonna happen. You guys mentioned the foursling goal, right? It was funny, watching it, I even chuckled in the moment because I thought about what Valley said yesterday

In regards to the shoulder movement and you look at how wall played it. It's caught Yeah, he was caught between glove and shoulder, right? And you're thinking I'm like boy which good stuff Valley like you just hit the nail on it You talked about that nails it and you literally see it happen right there in the moment And then what is it? It's a one goal hockey game in the end that goes well, effectively because three to one empty net effectively one goal game. That is the outcome. And you start on the back foot with a play like that that you're thinking, huh,

maybe you get that save. It's a little bit of a different ball. Maybe I don't know. Yeah. Right. Certainly could have changed things. So then then after that game you go into your room We do have a clip from Ruby on message after okay. Let me just follow it up because I just want to say off that goal something that we've never seen is like Not ready John Tavares on a face-off which was really really almost freakish He's he got caught in the league in face-off.

That he got caught like relaxing or feeling like he just didn't pick up. They didn't like that draw though. They thought the linesmen weren't fair. The rhythm of the official's hand bringing the puck down and to John's credit after he owned it. So let's go to John DeVos clip two on the face off. That one's on me. I think, you know, you understand tendencies of guys you go

against and what they do. And I was anticipating something on his end and I just completely mistimed it and misread it and it's on me. Obviously you can't lose them clean like that and give an opportunity in the middle of the ice. Yeah, and that is good. That's the right way to handle that sort of thing. Yeah, if you're good to turn the page to Tampa Bay, you know, we've got some clips from today aiming, you know, looking forward, Craig Borube, clip three, we'll get his message to the team after last night's loss.

Yeah, a lot of the, what we talked about last night, I talked to you guys about, and you know, move on, the We got to win more puck battles than we did last night, more urgency in our game than we had last night. I mean, that's really what it boils down to. I just thought he would be more higher strung than he is. He is like a dose of ketamine, man. This guy's like, whatever. Pretty chill, right? He's not fooling us. I know he is passionate and cares. I know, but when I say he's not fooling us, he? No, because I know he is passionate and cares. I know but when I say he's not fooling us

he's not playing that and then going in there and Ripping posters off the wall. Yeah ripping posters off the wall like I'm asking you. What is he? I Think that during games he's probably a lot more animated than we know But boy, he sure is not he whatever's going on behind the scenes, he is not tipping his hand. No. And I bet they love that. You guys see the clip of him, like... But they're, they're not acting like they,

they, they care enough about it. You see the clip of him from the L.A. game, in the, in the intermission, he goes in, must have been from one of the Leafs, the little behind the scenes blueprint, I think it's called, and he's just dropping bombs, like going at him. And I'm thinking, yeah, so that's still there, right? That version of him is still there.

I bet you it's just maybe also to some extent playing the media game, understanding what market you're in and all of that, because you don't want to be too revealing. You don't want to tip your hand. You want to kind of stay even keel as best you can now I would it be nice occasionally a little bit of more fire and a little bit more pointed criticism at times probably but yeah I think he's just trying to really play it and then behind closed doors you're getting a different feel yeah I mean I have to believe that's the case. Yeah.

All right, I know you mentioned briefly, Matthews, Marner, and Nylander with one or two shots on goal. Yeah, one combined. I wonder if that's ever happened before. I think they were credited one each, Matthews and Marner. Collectively, just one.

Just collectively one? Just one collectively. Okay. Okay, they didn't even have a, Nylander, Matthews? They didn't have. Okay. They didn't even have a Nylander Mavis an attempt didn't even have an attempt through to period. Yeah, so how much pressure on them now to come back and Show well in Tampa tonight Because it's not like we spent the last 28 minutes like ripping on them. We just mentioned a stat, which is kind of rare.

You're the best offensive players. They always get opportunities. I mean, that includes power play, right? So there's certainly some pressure, but I do wonder, so I've told you how I feel about the stakes with tonight. Do you think that they think it's that big a deal? Yeah, I do.

Yeah, I do. How can you not? You've been in the league almost ten years. They haven't won the division yet as a core. They had won the North division. They haven't won the Atlantic. It's in your hands. I don't understand. At this point, we will say they blew it.

They had the lead multiple four points with two weeks to go. Do you think a big portion of, of the matchup and why they don't fare well is because like Barkov and Lindell are so friggin big and strong and so positional and you know, do they catch a break and I'm not suggesting that point in Sorelli and now Yanni Gord are inferior to Florida. But does the matchup feel better for Tavares tonight and Matthews who lead the first two lines? I just can't see how it could feel better. You know, Point and Sorelli.

I don't know if there's two better centers in the league. Like back to back on one team. I don't know if there's two better centers in the league. Like back to back on one team. Like, yeah, I just I don't know what I don't know what it is. I don't know how how Matthews and Tavares and Tavares made a great shot, but it was off a giveaway, too. And it's not like the case scored. I get it. But outside of that, he got he. You know, he he and Matthews just

could not Control any part of the ice any point the game. Yeah, and I I do put it on them Of course, they're a part of it too, but collectively they spent so much time playing defense You know, it's you know, like an NFL team that can't get their offense on the field It's like you just had your defense out for the whole game. They're exhausted. They're pinned. Kensal, Pointe, and Kucherov.

I know. Kucherov is like Fuego right now. He is an inferno. He's on fire. The three, the trios with the most goals in the NHL. Third is McDavid, Dreissel, Hyman. the three uh the trios with the most goals in the nhl third is uh mcdavid dry saddle hyman then it's uh matthews tavaras and neilander and then number one is the guys you just met a positive leaps have been very good against the lightning they like playing against vasilevsky it seems no one

has scored on him more than austin there you go so if we're looking for positives, think about that. Thank you. Maybe that's evidence of why for whatever reason he likes playing against Point as opposed to playing against Barkov. Fair enough. All right. We got to get the simmer. What you're saying is there's a chance. It's always a chance. All right. Maybe we'll get one from Craig Simpson too when he comes on next when we return to real Kipper and born. the

the the just in born. Just go Dan in for Sammy McKee. He's recovering off the 31 lost Florida Panthers last covering off my ties In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Craig Simpson Who will be calling the game tonight with our very own CC you kind of screwed up I mentioned that Craig worked the game last night. He should never admit you made a mistake. Someone told me that once

But I got I can fill it two hours with mistakes that I've made but that pretty much sums up why the Leafs lost because it was on TSN oh yes we blamed TSN and Simmer didn't work the game he's gonna work the game tonight and the Leafs will be fine is that the Leafs will be fine. Is that the way it's going to work out there, Craig? I was wondering. I was worried that you thought I was calling

a game that I wasn't calling. So I guess I'm not that impactful either way, even to an old buddy. I know I think I think who knows what we're going to get tonight, but it but no question watching that one. I was echoing the sentiment that both you guys have been talking about for the first half hour.

So when you watch a performance like that, your first thoughts are, does it go to style of play, the system that they're using, or is it just stare in the mirror time? the the game. I think that the game is a little bit nature. They may have been a little bit guilty of thinking about tonight's game a little bit because at the time, anyways, it seemed like off

Florida's struggling. I saw their lineup the game before. You don't know what we're going to get. You know, the chance to get Tampa's one, but once that game starts and you're in the thick of it, you go mad. This is the opportunity to give yourself more of a good thing. You know, you have the opportunity to

give yourself more of a cushion tonight. So instead of that four point cushion. Now this night means even more. So I think that disappointment has got to be there. I echo Berube sentiment with just you look at. Some nights you can

say, Okay, our team just didn't have a day. The other team wanted it more, but's one that now you hope that you can really. Influence your guys to come up with way your best effort, and I think it was Justin is saying that is kind of their M. O. Isn't it? They can disappoint you one night and then wow,

they come back with a great, solid game. And I think that's why if you've listened to Craig's story, you know, I think that's the way that he played it. And I think that's the way that he played it. And I think that's the way that he played it. And I think that's the way that he played it. And I think that's the way that he the every aspect of our game. And I think that's where he's just tried to continue to drive that point home. And I think that's why you saw the kind of talk

that he had after the game, just saying, you know, that team looked like they wanted it more than our team did. Simmer, this whole season has been aimed at nothing matters but playoffs, right? They changed coaches and the fans don't wanna hear it. Show me in playoffs has kind of been the mentality and they're playing a much more playoffs style of game.

Yes, last night was disheartening, but do you believe that the way they're playing with the personnel they have is a recipe for postseason success? Oh, there's a loaded question. Isn't it? It depends who they play, right? I'm not sure they, yeah. the the team that was the team that was the team that was in 2019

their final game against Boston. And you know, you look at that lineup and say. That's not a team built the superstars. That's a team that was built out of a lot of role players, a lot of glue guys on the back end, some really blue guys in

O'Reilly and Shen up front, and I think that was perfect for the way that Craig wants a team to play. And so you're looking at that same kind of scenario of how I heard you guys talking about, you know, not making those good little short passes and getting out of your zone, not having defensemen who are able to maybe even make that long stretch pass right now. It's more of a, you know, stop the cycle, chip it out or stop the cycle, get it up on the board. So I do think it be able to ship it out or stop the cycle. Get it up on the board. So I do think it's been

an adjustment for this group. I think at times they've passed and at times they've grown. But I don't I also do think that you know, depending on the matchup as Justin was saying, you can get a team like Florida that just has that muscle

memory of how to play, and they are built very differently. Even, you know, Matthew Kachuk doesn't play a wide open game. Bennett doesn't play away. Even Bartoff is not, you know, an end to end guy. Their game is very different structurally than even Tampa because as Nick was saying, Kucherov has a mind of his own points all over. You know, sometimes a matchup just seems to work a little bit better. I think Toronto plays a system that can play against Tampa at times a little bit the team. You know, sometimes the matchup just seems to work a little bit better. I think

Toronto plays a system that can play against Tampa at times a little bit more easier. But when a team like Florida puts up an effort like they did and are just taking away ice and don't give you any time. I do think that's going to be a

challenge for the least, and I think that's what.ube has been trying to, you know, preach to these guys is the consistency of playing, you know, under pressure playing defense being above the pocket, getting it out quickly, getting it in quickly, getting on the floor check and being aggressive, is trying to create that muscle memory so that when it does get tight like the playoffs do, you're hopefully better handled and suited to handle it. You're listening to Craig Simpson, former National Hockey League or Stanley Cup champion and current Sportsnet colour analyst getting ready to call the game tonight between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sportsnet. So, we've kind of seen an evolution somewhat on the blue line where we're seeing some pretty spectacular talents emerged. And Hudson's one of them now in Montreal, but Hughes and McCarr the last few years.

And last night, and I'm not suggesting that, you know, Forrest Lange is in that category, but the man was a complete horse last night for Florida and still probably doesn't get the recognition of how good he is right now and Mikala was this big stud last night too but how imperative is it that that you have guys that can skate get up and down the line up here and you know we've been waiting for Morgan to be that guy and I'm not sure he he is or can be anymore

like he has in the past but is that one missing element right now for the Leafs? I don't think there's any question and it's it's not I mean an element of it is there's just such a lack of offense a lack of You know, if I'm a offense can be created by those long stretch paths is are good outlets or the jumping up in the causing havoc and getting a miss

misread by a forward coming back. And now I'm wide open. You know that's that's what that element brings, and it was really noticeable. Even on Saturdays that Keren's keys 20 goals were more than the entire Leaf defense. And I think that's the most notable even on Saturdays that Guernsey's 20

goals were more than the entire leaf defense and. At some at some points that's going to hurt you. I think I've said in all these close games in a little while, you know they need to get something out of the back end that might be a

game changer and might might turn. Game around because. It's so easy if you're just defending against three guys if you're defending against four or a fifth like that Florida defense can when you get eggplant and. Forzling jumping in and jumping

up on the play. It becomes set to more difficult defensive read for us dumb forwards as all the defense say, Um and I do think that's really important. Even looking back to Craig's team in St. Louis, you know, a guy like Jay Bollmeister was zero offense by that time, but man, he munched up 26, 27 minutes and it was almost like he didn't notice he was there, but he's a guy who could take five strides, separate himself from the floor, check, make a play and you're out of trouble. And I go,

that's what's missing. And I think that's a big element. Yeah, it's when you're out there, you control the pace of play because you have the puck. And that's missing. Yeah, they certainly need everyone on board. Like having one of their 5D that are good hurt is immediately noticeable for me. When you look upfront, Simmer, last

night there, bottom two lines were Lontendome Jarncroc, Lorenz Holmberg Robertson. How does that stack up compared to what you expect to see in playoffs? And do you have someone in there that maybe comes out when Camp is back? Well, you know, the debate will always be Robertson's the guy who's the the I'm not going to play him. I'm not going to play him. I'm not going to play him. You know, maybe I can't play him now. But if we're not scoring, I'll bring him in and you know, maybe he can be the catalyst. I

think it's been an issue. Obviously the bottom six the entire year. It's been trying to find some pieces that work together. At times you look. I think I've told you this many times. One of the most incredible things being a part

of a coaching staff is how much you debate and talk about. The makeup of your lines and it changes with injury, of course, but sometimes it's literally just. You have the stickies up on the board and the way and you make this line. You say,

Oh, I love that. That's going to work great. Then you look at your other two and go No, but that destroys that and that's not going to work there. And I think that exercise is probably going on, you know, numerous times in the leaf room as well. I think you're just

have to realize you're not going to have the perfect look that you want. So what you have to do, I think David Camp probably have to be a playoff player for you. I think he's you know, he's played well enough in the past. He's

reliable. He's a face off guy. He's a penalty killing guy. So who comes out? You know, you might be Robertson, but you might find at times you got to make a little tougher decision because as much as they've had their moments in Lawton and Domi and Yarncroke, I just, I've heard Justin, I think say it five,

if not 10 times, I'm not sure that's a line you can play in the playoffs. And so you might find that it's not what you thought it was going to be, and you're going to have to adjust. And you might find, you know, you might have to anchor with the top few lines, and that's where a guy like maybe Robertson, you know, can play a little bit higher up for a little bit because let's face it you're gonna be adjusting I think when you don't have a bona fide you know 12 guys and forward you say these lines all

look good I'm just gonna roll Craig Berube I don't think has that so I think it's pretty safe to say there's gonna have to be some tinkering going on as a series goes along. Simmer the last 40 or 50 years whether we've watched or played or covered hockey games this time of year, we've seen some goaltenders carry their team a long, long way. And I'm just wondering now if the Leafs continue to get this primo goal tending out of Stolarz or if Wall comes in and relief, can the Leafs play a little rope a dope here and still find success? Well, I think so.

I think what you have now is some predictability. And I think, you know, as a that I think is some predictability, and I think you know, as a player, there's nothing more deflating. When you come back as a team, even though you know, you're always going to have a night where. Unlucky goal or

even like last night, a bad turnover behind the net and score. Okay, but when you start to turn the game and to start to get it back. What kills playoff teams that can't get over the hurdle is your team as a whole starts to grind starts to get

it back. You're down by two. Now. All of a sudden you're down by one. Now you've tied it up. And there's nothing more deflating and more that pulls the team apart than another bad goal. You know, you're a better player than another bad goal. You know, you know, I've said this so many

times, Nick playing with Grant Fear was the best example of that. Fiery would let in one or two bad ones, but it's all about when it is, and there was not a better bullpenner that I played with. That when you sense the team was taking over

and he was fortunate he had a team that could take over games in five minutes. You know, you're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're

going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're

going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're

going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're

going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win the game. You're going to win admit it. You know, your goalie got beat on a shot that he shouldn't have got beat at. It happens all the time, but it's when it happens that matters the most. From all the years I've done Toronto during this time, there's no question that it's a different feel. And it's a different feeling the way the players feel

about the goaltenders. I really do feel that they can feel that if the game starts to turn, these guys got you back. They've got the ability to maybe steal a game, but maybe more importantly, can they keep it, you know, to two or three? Can you get three or four to win a game? And if you can do that offensively, I think the confidence builds that your goaltenders got your back.

Simmer, last one for me, and we appreciate your time today. The you know, on your way to winning a couple Stanley Cups, I'm wondering how much you guys worried about what opponent you drew or if you just worried about yourselves because it's related to tonight and how important you think tonight is for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yeah, well I'll flip that on you Justin that I've been watching both Paul Maurice and his comments in the last week and John Cooper. And I can guarantee you that internally and talking, the only thing those coaches are worried about is the health of their team. They really, I think, couldn't care less where they end up finishing or who they end up getting

because they believe in their guys. They've got 70 to 80% of win the game. They are getting because they believe in their guys. They've got 70 to 80% of their team that has been through those battles against Boston to try to win or been through those key moments that you can fall

back on there. I really think just focused on. You know, getting ourselves healthy and we'll deal with whoever we have to play with. That being said, they don't have the negativity that's built big thing for the Leafs. And that being said, they don't have the negativity that's built into what the Leafs players are dealing with.

And it's a real thing. And so I do think it's a different feel for the Maple Leafs and even for Craig Barube to say, No, let's make sure we focus on trying to build confidence in each other, build confidence in the group that we can raise our game to another level. We failed last night. We got to come have to get that game. We're going to raise our game to another

level. We failed last night. We've got to come back and show we can do it tonight. So if I am them, it's a different cake for Craig than it would be for the other two coaches. Get that first overall. I know it's not that you want to get auto

warning. It's you want to prove. That you have the ability to come up when you need it the most. You have to find and start building some muscle memory and some mental memory in your body about what it takes to play at the next level. There's such a difference between playing a playoff game and playing a regular season game. The opponents that we're talking about in Tampa and Florida have all pushed through that proverbial brick wall and done it and won it and don't have a whole lot of negatives in their mindset. You know, the one time for Toronto, you score the overtime winner Tavares against Tampa,

and then you get lit up by Florida, it creates another negative. They have so many more negatives in their collective minds that I do think for Craig, he said, we got to find a way to build something that makes us feel like we're at that level now and then we've got to bring it into the playoffs. A win tonight will go a long way to get this thing back on the rails. Hey Simmer, great stuff as always man. Have a great call tonight. We look forward to hearing you and CC and we'll catch up to you soon. Okay guys, take care. Thanks Simmer.

Out of Stanley Cup champion, sports net analyst, Craig Simpson. He knows as much or more than anybody who talks about the Leafs. He watches them. This is the new biggest game of the year. The second consecutive. Huge one tonight. We're looking forward to it. All right.

Don't go away. We got an hour. We go national. Chris Pronger. Did I ever tell you he cross-checked me in the Grands a grand fear? Oh, did that happen? Yeah, that happened. Yeah, it was on him. Glenn Healy. Did I ever tell you that Glenn lost the Stanley cup in New York city? We lost it. We'll share that and much more when we return to real kipper and born. Don't go away.