Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Game 6 Desperation

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to Game 6 as the Leafs look to extend their second-round series against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise tonight. They check the pulse of Leafs Nation before getting into how the team responds to the Game 5 blowout, Craig Berube turning back to Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok, the decision to keep Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on a line together, and what to expect from Joseph Woll. Later, they answer your calls and questions on the Leafs Line!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.

Getting ready for game six on the real kipper and born show. This is the leaf hour edition of our program. We are live on sports at five 90 the fans sports net 360 and sports net plus Nick Kiprios Justin born Sammy McKee Derek Brandeo Jake the snake Schultz. All right game day. We had a show yesterday that reflected a lot on what happened in game five moving towards game six, we'll get into game six a little bit more. But I just want to start off the show by asking you guys in the last

24 hours, the temperature out there, and is it much different than what Leaf Nation has gone through over the years? Was there much different from the two felt or seen in the last little while here? You know, it's actually been funny, Kip. Like the least fans I've talked to, and I'm talking about true least fans who've been a part of this roller coaster over the years, almost to a man think they're going to win tonight. Wow. coaster over the years, almost to a man think they're gonna win tonight. Like every person I talked to and part of it is a joke like oh I think they're gonna

they're gonna get it tonight and then they're gonna pull the rug out from under us again in game seven. It's I know I've talked to a few of those people not as many as you have but there's there's some sort of feel like it would be very leafy of this club to win because no one expects them to. They haven't hurt the fans enough yet. They haven't achieved maximum pain by just going out tonight in Game 6. Sammy's chomping over there. I'm not chomping. I would prefer to just be in a dark room and start the game. Okay. Before we... Well you're not. So here we go. What

would have you heard from and watched either through various shows or the internet on where Leaf Nation is compared to years past? Same, quite frankly kip is it I I haven't really know been talking Are you hot at least I got I over the past 24 hours or? 48 hours whenever that game. I've basically been talking to like the very close Interleaf fan circles in my life and people professionally. And outside of that, I haven't been doing a ton of Leafs points because it's all encompassing. Is it because this one hurt a little bit more than others?

So I don't want to start on a negative note. No, I just want to give you a feel. The difference with this one is The Marner stuff with him leaving and we all we're the reports are flying out here about all this stuff and so I Think a lot of leaf fans myself included are sort of coming to grips with The most hope that they've had for an era of hockey since I don't know when the early 2000s or whatever it is that it's just it's not going to work. Like what you've had so much like I was watching a clip of

Austin Matthews first playoff goal. It was in 2017 against the Washington Capitals. I cannot tell you how fast that went. I cannot tell you how not long ago that seems. And now we're here with two series wins in their franchise since those guys have come here. And I think a lot of Leaf fans are just starting to realize that it's kinda as we know it over

unless they win two in a row against the best team in the league. In the Mighty Ducks script here, this is exactly what happens before they pull it back from the brink and they get the best out of these guys and they white knight it through the finish line and you know, but in reality I want to believe that's 3-2 and that's it. There's still a chance here. Yes, but for sure there is. I'm a believer that there is you think but you know what I'm saying their believers in the room because I

Don't I don't know how do you? We've heard them talk about noise. We've heard them the reference to the noise There's no way that they Avoided the noise can't can't avoid this. They're gonna lose unless was through your phone in the lake. So are they going in there? tonight saying we know we represent a city that has already quit on us I Don't know. I don't know is that you're not just asking you're not giving him a pass. I'm asking if that's the case

How are you have they is I? Don't think the majority quit on them? I don't think the city's quit on them. I don't think so at all. I talked to my neighbor today walking to school. He went and bought two Leaf jerseys yesterday. Okay, all right. I'm asking, I'm not insinuating they've quit. Everybody's quit.

A lot of people have quit. A lot of people have quit. I think people view this team. I just don't know if the players would feel like the whole town's now quit on them or just they know that it's only just us. Who cares? Who cares? You're the hockey players.

It depends on if it motivates you or you go in there tonight and feeling like if they've quit then what's there to play for? Well, you're a professional and there's to play for, your pride, your career, your money, your everything. You know, it's... Yeah, and we kind of talked about that before game five. For sure, it hasn't, it hasn't been, I'm not saying there, I'm just saying, I'm not willing, it felt, sorry,

it felt to me like you're trying to be like, well, why would they even care today if the fans have quit? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I've been a professional athlete I know like and I don't I don't buy into like they don't care they don't quit they just they're still a little lost on how to show it. Yeah there there's no they should be riddled with doubt you know they should be riddled with questions about the team they've been doing this for years but you know that the reality is these teams are not

Six one games, you know, Florida's not five goals better than the Leafs There's going I think you're gonna see a hockey game tonight I just you know what I was starting to say and I think I may use the metaphor I think fans view this team as a Kentucky Derby horse with a broken leg and They dread they just want this thing over with they just if you're gonna lose just lose. No, no not just lose And then shoot the horse a bullet in the horse and let's be done with it I don't think anyone wants to go into game seven Then you're gonna get more doubters then you're gonna get Leaf fan say, there's no way they actually pull it through.

I sent out a poll today just to get a temperature check asking simply if you have any hope left. Do you have any hope left? Oh, I didn't see it. And the... There was almost, I mean, there's 18 hours left in the poll. I should have done it shorter because I don't think they're going to be voting after the game tonight, but maybe they will in in you know, there's 1600 votes on it 56% of people say no

43% of people say they do have hope left. So already 3% there's still there was people chanting Leafs in 7 yes, and those are probably the those are probably the people that voted. Yes on my pole those are true fans if if I can present a leaf fan you know not win win because it's not win-win but like a sense of calm heading into tonight there's two outcomes here you have a miraculous comeback where you win two games against the best team in the league, maybe. One there, one on home in game seven, exercise demons, and you're in the conference final with a real shot of going to the final.

Okay, that is one outcome. The more likely outcome is you lose. You lose one of these next two games and you go into the off season and so many fans that have wanted so much change and all this different stuff You're gonna get your wish So it's kind of for a lot of fans a win-win situation Like you can go into this game knowing that if you hate the way they look It's gonna be over if they lose and if you love this team and they win Well, they're in the conference final and you have some excitement like I do think there's a sense of freedom going into tonight I

know that's interesting the the Luke Fox also has a poll what's the feel today and he has Panthers and six Leafs and seven Panthers and seven as options love this maple Leafs and seven 50.7% so the followers he's got leaf and followers half of Lee fans according to him I haven't more up 60 40 For the fan base, you know what the betting odds are the betting odds give the Leafs a 18% chance of winning the series 15% the other place I saw yeah That's higher than I I would even think

So you're saying there's a chance. Saying there's a chance. All right, we know. One and five, one and five and change. We know where you guys are in terms of the team's mentality. Where does the head coach have his teams? Yeah, let's play it. Clip one. Clip one, please.

Well, game five's over. So that's over with. Excited, ready to go. Go play. Game five is over. Sure is. Should we talk about the lineup? I get the sense... We did talk about the lineup yesterday. We said he's gonna go back to... he's gonna go down with the ship. Before we move to that, can I ask you? Like that game five result and

I'll ask you just get the sense from that clip that the result and the backlash to that. It feels like it genuinely caught him off guard with that clip to me like he's sorry. There's backlash to that. No, no, like just him talking like oh game five. Can you play it again? Derek? Clip one. Like, go game five, can you play it again, Derek? Clip one.

Well, game five's over. So that's over with. Excited, ready to go. Go play. He understands his market, I get it. But like, even him maybe after what happened after that game five and the way people talked about it, myself included,

I think that maybe caught him off guard. Do you get that sense in that clip? Yeah, maybe, you know. I don't think he caught him off guard. Do you get that sense in that clip? Yeah, maybe. You know. I don't think he gets caught off guard. I just think he just dictates whatever he wants to dictate. And I'm not getting caught up in all of that. I don't need to explain anything.

As far as he's concerned, he's moving on and he can only control what he can control. Yep. fair enough. You know, I'm gonna say something here that's gonna sound positive to the point where you guys are gonna hate me. But the last time the Florida Panthers lost a game five one or six one like the Leafs, Stanley Cup final, they lost five one to the Oilers.

Two games prior to that, they lost eight to one to the Oilers. In the series, they lost five one and eight one. In the Stanley Cup final last year. Was it game six they lost eight to one to the Oilers in the series They lost five one and eight one in the Stanley Cup final last year was it game six? They lost in Edmonton they lost game four eight one and game six five one. Okay, I thought it was flipped Yeah boys good teams lose games badly, and I'm not saying we overreacted to last game I am saying that this is not what I said initially. I don't think these teams are miles apart last game was What I said initially, I don't think these teams are miles apart. Last game was terrible for the Leafs in every conceivable way.

It's not going to be 6-1 tonight, and if it is, I will have a lot to say. Emotional damage. That's for sure. They've got some weapons still. Say what you will about game five Willie could find a way to make a couple of big plays Austin and Mitch are still there they didn't Didn't become bad players. They didn't lose their talent right in 48 hours

You know a bounce an opening opening, a seam. Joseph Wall, those are, those are the things that you gotta consider. It's sport. It's Joseph Wall, yeah. Joseph Wall. Yeah, like Joseph Wall to me, if he's good tonight, Bob can have bad nights. We saw him in the first couple games, first three games. What'd he give up, 10 goals or something?

It can happen. Okay, let's go to Craig Berube on the lineup changes. We spoke of him momentarily, but let's get deeper thoughts on New old faces coming back or is it old new? Um, just I liked our you know, I liked our game with the other guys in the lineup I I made made changes. We lost a couple added some fresh guys some fresh legs Uh other guys arrested, you know guys arrested, ready to go, and we played good hockey with that lineup we have tonight.

I mean, he's not wrong. Old Nicky Robertson comes in, gets his G-note, back in the press box for popcorn. Yeah, I don't think, here's what, I mean, the key is, it's probably tonight, if I had to write a game story pregame it's not going to come down to Pontus Holmberg and Callie Yarncroc no is that a fair statement very fair so he did put him back with Holmberg back with Tavares and Elander and that line was actually very complete they weren't as good offensively but they've been complete when they're together and he can't control the matchup

So we probably want some more defensive mind on that line. Yeah Kipper I Know what you're trying to say with it's not gonna come down to that We we know of course what you are insinuating the big boys needs to be the big boys but if They happen to be on the wrong side tonight, then it does have something to do with it. And I've stayed consistent.

The one thing that I know I've stayed consistent is my look at the left side all season long. And I know that Matthew Nyes is gonna be a terrific hockey player and a power forward and all of that. But I still look at Matthew Nyes and he's not ready yet. Like he's not peak Matthew Nyes. And it's very difficult right now still in a development process to ask him to be a star left winger on a Stanley Cup team.

And this is where it gets really like disappointing for me. That you need now to come back to Pontus Holmberg and start him in a top six position on the left side. And then I don't know where you go from there. Lorenz and McMahon's been a major disappointment. So I look at that left side left side tonight, and I'm like This hasn't been your take for this year This is since we started our show up on in the old studio on YouTube. This has been your take

This is not a new thing for the lease Sorry, so that's no and that's where you can look back and say You guys kind of left it a little exposed there mm-hmm you took your chances on McMahon and I get it I I like them I saw the potential coming in to be a 25 goal scorer heavy there's times when he was physical you drive to the net you take one guy on his back with them and Now is there's just nothing there Bobby McMahon looks good Bobby McMahon looks like You know one of the 30 best offensive players in the league when he's like flying and scoring and running into people You're like my god. We talked about how much you know more money

He could have earned and all of a sudden. It's just can he give the leaf fans a game moment a game tonight? I thought for sure thought for sure and you know He has had a few recently where he's streaking down and trying to take it to the net I will say you can see him trying his last goal was against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 25th Geez, man. Yeah, that's a long time. That's right. Yeah. It's now May.

All right, well, that's just, that's the only thing is, is Holmberg's gonna come in and he will be bigger and heavier than Nick Roberson. Yeah, and on the other hand, left wing on the top line for the Florida Panthers last game was Bokevest, Jesper Bokevest, you know? But he scored a big goal.

Yeah, you're, you know, but there are going to be soft spots and lineups and could one of these guys do something like that and to be fair to Matthew Nyes a Lot of these games for me He's been the most noticeable of the three I get some of the four check and he goes to front of the net and he's good in the power play like I don't think the least of my worries about the job people uses Matthew Nyes, too I got if you not liked his game-kipper As a top-line left winger like I think he's been pretty good in the playoffs

Yeah, but I think he's gonna get so much better sure in a few years Yeah, but it's not a few years like I think he's giving them enough for a top-line player to me No, not for me, Okay. Not for me. And I'm not talking about the heavy four checking and I'm not talking about standing in front of the net and whacking one in. I'm just talking about overall poise and confidence to hold onto a puck and make better plays, better passes. Matthews, Marner looking more like a number one line.

Matthews isn't doing it, Marner's not doing it, and Nyes is not doing it for me in terms of looking like a number one line for me. So then that kind of brings us to our next thing here, is that they didn't switch it up. Mm-hmm. I would like to hear Berube on clip four on not splitting up Matthews and Marner.

It's always a consideration. I think, you know, I've split him up this year at times. And I never felt that it really did anything, to be honest with you. You know, these guys have been a combo for a long time. And they've had a lot of success. I mean, so I trust them. I trust in them.

I believe in them. This is the part again, where I won 82 games in a regular season to have different looks just in case I need them in the Stanley Cup playoffs. We've been all over that. I don't know if it's 10 days or two weeks, but at some point, like move it around, keep these guys guessing a little bit,

make somebody, bench somebody, give somebody a healthy scratch, move someone up in the lineup for a game or two, and give them s- it was just way too predictable all season long for me. So I was looking for this, um, and I just found this article from Jonah Siegel in the Athletic and he has- he writes about Matthews and Marner together and what Barubey just say, he said that they've been a good combo for years or whatever.

Um, here are the number of assists for Marner on Matthew's five on five goals in the past six post-seasons, including this one, zero, one, one, two, zero, one. Really? So you have no Marner to Matthews connections in the playoffs, and now Matthews hasn't scored many goals in the playoffs, so that's part of it. But like this, my point, guys.

But then if you did it during the regular season, it'd probably be As high as any pair for sure right for sure But that's that's what he's going by the regular season and my point is he shouldn't be to break There's enough sample in the playoffs to go. There's no reason to believe that this duo is Unbreakable we have to play these two together So to your point I would have liked to have seen some Some more combinations throughout the year to have something else to go to we know he doesn't like neilander with matthews. Well now what? You know kind of feel like you're running out of options even

He and I know he's probably the the only one he's really truly that i've seen anyways double shift is neilander on occasion and even two of Truly that I've seen anyways, double shift is knee lander on occasion. And even to have, I don't know why he wouldn't do it for Matthew Zermarner, but it's just Willie. I see your point. In my point. If you need to slip in Mitch out there. I'm watching Peter DeBoer with Rantanen and he's got ranting and out there, of course with his number one line with rupee hints

But then he'll he'll drop ranting and down and he'll give him five or six minutes because ranting is unbelievable I'll give it to you, but he'll move them with steel on the fourth line Mm-hmm, and it's like no one goes to prison. They just just it's okay. But go to your horses and it's, he never did it at any point at all where it's like just get some different looks here. You may need them and he's not. He's no different than Sheldon. It's like I got two choices, right?

Matthew's and Marner's together or Tavares with Marner. What's funny is Sheldon used to take those two pairs, set them aside and put the rest in a blender. You know, but Berube's just kind of likes it the way it is. This is what we trust, what we believe in and off we go. It's just something that we haven't really looked at much. Why? Are you and Derek on good drop in?

Big hug after the show. Big hug. Told him I loved them. We've worked together for almost 12 years now. Yes. I love them. Yes. Why do you think that,

you think it's the penalty kill stuff where it's like they already cleared such a heavy load? Like what is it? Is that the reason? Like you can't stick them out there with Lorenz and Lawton for a shift? It is a reason though to keep them together as a pair because you do PK them and you can't stick him out there with Lorentz and Lawton for a shift it is a reason though to keep them together

As a pair because you do PK them and you don't get your lines all mumbo jumbo But then you don't have to PK them as a pair either No, but you do now because you took camp back out. So yeah boy boy camp tough If this is how his season ends, yeah, I'm going into next year All right, you guys want to get a thought from Ruby on the bottom six Yes, and then let's do goaltending before we Alright, let's live. Yeah. Well, no, we did get contributions last series a little bit from them and We got a goal from Max told me this series Yeah, we do need them to chip in if it's you know, they get that's important for sure

And it's not you know, it's not like they get that's important for sure and it's not you know sound like they're not trying to score um you know they just got to keep doing what they're doing and you know see what happens i mean with goals but you're right we do need contributions from everybody tough when you watch florida get goals asking from bokevist grier gajdjovic i don't think every every defenseman yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah i think that's the true test test of having like real depth is when guys can come in and and find a way to contribute here. And I mean, Robertson, we had written off in November, December, he stuck around enough to play 70 games, put them in once and going right back. And it's-

It's not like he had a game. But he scored. But my point is, did they have enough depth to really start this thing when you look at it? I think so. 14 guys. You could use one more high end guy, right? One more of the...

Just to slot everybody better. They turn Lawton into, you know, take your pick of guys who are available at the deadline, I guess. But not to go... Not to zoom out too much. Not to zoom out too much here here fellas, but this is the flaw Where they don't have enough money to spend on anyone else and yeah pay for guys a lot of the money

You need those guys Again, we've had this conversation million time. I know you can we've had it just feels like kind of Groundhog Day blaming the severely underpaid, underutilized bottom six for lack of production when it's the top guys that have a lack of, you know, it kills me about the whole thing though is like when Dubas gave those guys the initial con contracts, the idea was like, as the cap goes up, this is good. They're going to have, they're going to be in a good spot. Obviously the pandemic

captain go up, yada, yada. And now that we're on the cusp of the end of the core four era, the caps about to go. Yeah, good timing. You know, very leafy. Yeah, then it's gonna be, well, we just don't have enough leak eyes. We can't, you know.

Oh, did you see? Just win a couple games here, boys. Wait, just tonight. Win just tonight? Well just focus on just getting through tonight. Do you want Maurice on game six or do you want to talk to Joe Wall? Let's talk to Joe Wall and then we'll play the one clip from Maurice. Okay, I said yesterday I'm very disappointed in terms of Joseph Wall's overall look coming in and relief on Stoller's. in terms of Joseph Wall's overall look coming in

in relief on Stoller's. I expected better. I didn't get it. Lee fans didn't get it. But he is a talented goalie. Like his forwards. Yes. As long as there's a game, you wait for it again.

Yeah, he's certainly capable of having a good one. With the goaltending, there's nothing to do or say. You defend in front of them the best way you can, which let's not forget that's supposed to be the strength of this group is limiting high danger chances. And you just go, hope he's good tonight. That by the way, is like the one thing that could pull the rug out on my thought that they'll win tonight is like a wool's bad that He has to be good or there's no chance

I don't think that's any different for anyone else out there and including Bobrovsky who the first two games was as leaky as anything we've ever seen in his prior years in Columbus but He shot he in his prior years in Columbus, but he shut it down. You get the feeling that you're gonna need early, a couple, cause they're gonna come out on fire. Their building will be on fire.

I expect the Leafs to come out on fire. I don't know, that's it. I have no idea. That's the thing where I've just gotten to the point where I really don't know. That's it. I have no idea That's the thing where I've just gotten to the point where I really don't know what this game is gonna look like at all and then You can convince me of a lot of different outcomes, but so it's very unpredictable to me I think Florida for the Leafs to win tonight Florida's kind of got to look like the first two games in this series How hurt do you think the Leafs are? I mean, I know everyone's heard at this time of year like it feels like I mentioned chris tanov yesterday and I don't know what the

The count total on hits on him, but it was like almost 50 percent more than the second guy in the playoffs I just he got hit like he's been hit 80 times and the second guy was like at 40 He got hit like he's been hit 80 times and the second guy was like at 40 I don't know what I just saw two years of Mike Babcock coaching in Toronto and all he wanted to do was hold up the Forecheck interference slow down the forecheckers, you know, they're all penalties like is no one holding anyone up Like it's just a complete highway to Chris Tanev shoulders. What do You look at the Panthers. They're not even paying a toll. No. This isn't the 407 maybe. No, it's not the 407.

Well, it's not the 401 that wouldn't be moving quickly either, so I don't know what it is. But, the Panthers are so good at that when you try to dump and chase on them. Somebody's always got an arm out, somebody's always leaning in your way. Like, it's really hard to get a clean four check against them. And's always leaning in your way, like, totally agree, really hard to get in on the for check against them. It was early in game five. And a lot of the times this year, we let we know that the Leafs like to

work below the goal line and find that little outlet in the middle of the ice and work their way up. And Matthews tried it and it was like nothing but Panthers everywhere. Yeah They're good. That's I mean they it is a true strength of that team, but you know, it's a strength of that team So eat some solutions. Can I? Provide there's no way that one of the most prolific goal scorers Since he's entered the league is gonna go six games in a playoffs series that's going right? Oh, there's a way Six games he's 11 straight against the Panthers. He's not gonna score a goal Here's the see if I can find the shooting percentage of the Leafs top point getters and playoffs

It's like 17 14 4.9 for Matthews 13 18 23 20 Like Matthews is 4.9. He's the one on the team that has a sub 5 That should be a power play goal in there tonight or like at least like shifely shot one off Harley skates last game You know, everything's going off everyone Matthews has 41 shots in 11 games to go a couple can't go off something Two goals a couple can't go off something Two goals on 41 shots. It's hard to even if your wrist is broken 41 shot first lead to a few more roles the wrist thing in no world of mine is a guy taking face-offs

If he has a wrist issue, I don't think he has a wrist issue. I don't think he has a wrist issue with it Okay, it's not happening. You're not taking face-offs with a wrist issue do not think he has a wrist so what's left what's left back okay that's tan of how his back is well it's not good yeah well it's not good it's not good so I don't want to hear it I really really don't. I want to hear, you're hurt, don't play, next. I just said if his wrist is broken, you would expect a higher shooting percentage than that. It is in, yeah, some's luck, yes, I don't know. I don't know.

Okay, so we do have one Marshand clip. Oh, delightful. And I just would like to point out how incredibly good at this Brad Marshand is and this is from morning skate today Can we play clip one Brad Marchand, please? I'm game five. It wasn't that one-sided when you look at it Yeah, we got a couple bounces and that can dictate the outcome But I mean they had a lot of twos that I said the bounces are huge they play a huge component of the playoffs,

and we got more than they did last game. They had a breakaway early. They had to post early when it was 1-0. Things like that change the course of the game, and it just kind of got away from them a little bit. But I don't think that the score was really an indication of how the game was played and how close it actually

was. But it doesn't matter anyway. It has no impact on the game tonight. If anything, it's going to make them hungrier to have a bounce back game and to prove a lot of people wrong, which is a very dangerous combination. So we have to bring with the best game tonight there's no questions about that we'll just be happy to be in the game tonight

so nice oh yeah he's the best the Leafs are going to be on fire tonight who could beat the Leafs tonight? I think really one of the signs of me growing in my Leaf fandom and just being older in general I appreciate that I just can't hate them anymore I can't hate them growing in my Leaf fandom and just being older in general. Appreciate that.

I just can't hate him anymore. I can't hate him. I just, after all these years, he's still so good. He's still- You're just saying, Brad, you win. But he's the Leafs' papa. He's the Leafs' papa. If they win, it's a five and oh and the playoffs against them scored

a million goals against them. What can I say? He just owns the Leafs. Owns leafs he's even with those comments today like that's the most perfect quote of all time Where you really wish he would you know? Just be the dirty rat that you are and just say yeah, they sucked The leafs are really good. He's got a couple bounces in 161 That's and they're gonna be better tonight, but they sucked that night. Yeah. No, not at all. They're the best see buddy They're the best just like I mean we got we got a taste of it with team Canada when before the game

I don't know how we could be no bulletin board material got a team full of Hall of Famers like they're just Unbelievable if we're even in this game, it'll be a miracle all the famers like they're just unbelievable. If we're even in this game, it'll be a miracle. It's the best one playing Paul Maurice last one. Sure. On game six, a little Paul Maurice for you. You got John Cooper to you. Okay.

All right. Just Paul then. Yeah, maybe it maybe the environment changes, but every team is going to do that exact idea. Ours as well. Every single game, right? You're coming out and it's playoffs. So you're getting flat out.

The other team's very best. single game, right? You're coming out and it's playoffs so you're getting flat out. The other team's very best. We would have possibly a desired advantage in that you're right there for a prize. They clearly will have a desperation advantage. It's the team that controls those things the best, has the best chance to win. It's almost the same manifestation of what happens in a game when you want it that bad you start making plays to get it right you want to win the game every time you touch the puck and when you've got that desperation it's the same idea you get it you want to make something happen every time so you know you control those emotions a little bit keep the energy and no secret place

honestly he talked for 11 minutes today boys and that was the only really like thing I understood and I barely understood it I'm just at that at the point they could lose game seven the Leafs, but make them Get on a plane make them come to a hotel Inconveniently come like there's not one guy on the Florida Panthers right now that wants to get They want us they want to win tonight and go back and sleep in their bed and get like four or five days off Forget the Leafs Skirop for Carolina where no one's gonna ask them any questions. Make em pack. Print the t-shirt.

Make em pack. Pick out the socks. Just a toothbrush probably, Marshad. Just a toothbrush in his jacket. Imagine that begrudging like More costumes and customs Go through custom three and a half hours. What's Florida Toronto three three plus? Don't have like three beautiful meals on the flight and play cards stale cookies. No, no, no, they yes, Florida You're right, Florida Panthers. I don't know if they're their owner can

Getting anything these days. Alright, what else we got Sammy? Let's hit the break and we'll come back and do Leafs Line. Leafs Line! You've heard from us way too much. We want to hear from you next on Sammy's Leaf Line when we return to Real Kipper and Born. The best Blue Jay show out there, period. Blair and Barker, be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome back to the program. Nick Kipper, Real's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. It's the Real Kipper and Bourne Show, a segment that we started I don't know halfway through the season in January and it's mid-January it's my favorite leaf line where you get to take over the show yes you do and the leaf sign is brought to you by Miss Koka Bay Resort a top-10 ranked Canadian courts part of the freed golf network Interesting calls today. Oh, yeah in terms of just our people feeling let's start 6040. Let's start I don't know. I don't know where you get your percentages from. Let's start with you guys. Let's start with Paris in Hamilton

Hey guys, it's Terris from Hamilton here again and I got a feeling we might not win the Cup this year. But you know what I do know, we're going to win tonight because we got it. That way they can inflict the maximum amount of pain upon this fan base on Sunday. Jesus. Thanks for a great year boys. You did a great job. Well, at least you did. of pain upon this fan base on Sunday. Jesus. Thanks for a great year, boys. You did a great job.

Well, these two did. Go Leafs, go. Terris. Jesus. Terris. If you're listening, repeat after me. Make them pack. Make them pack.

Slightly inconvenience them. Yes. I mean.ience them. Yes. He's on board. I just love, that should probably be a drop. Jesus. What would be the maximum pain? Like a good hearty win tonight where you feel, oh Matthew scores three. Yes.

You know, Marner's awesome. They find it. They look electric, Wal's awesome. And you're like, They they find it. They look electric walls awesome. Yeah, and you're like, yeah, they've got it Well, and the same thing to me Happens in game seven where the least play great Matthews and Matthews and Marner both score They're buzzing they go to overtime so they lose on a fluky goal and then we get to have the conversation but Matthews and Marner They were really but maybe those two games. They were really, but maybe, well, run it back.

As ugly as game five was, this is the part where we all go, you're telling me there's a chance, but they have another night to prove to everybody that it is different. It is different. Redemption's available. I don't believe you. It's just, thank God you've got another opportunity and it didn't end on that game five. So true.

You know, you should just, alone on that, you should feel really good going to the rink tonight. I appreciate the feedback I got in my article, the absence of greatness that I appreciate the feedback I got my article, the absence of greatness that I wrote the other night. But you know, in it, I feel like I didn't close the door on the possibility. Well, you're very optimistic in general. Okay, that's fine. It is. It's not over. And it's so weird to be like, it is true. It's not over. So anyway, so okay to that point Let's go to Davy in Dublin

Quick question if the Leafs go to Florida and let's say they equal out You know what two one or three one whatever and they get it back to game seven and they win in my mind Open apology, you know know they're being absolutely ridiculed from everyone. You know Bunkus was ready to kill six of them yesterday. But on a serious note, would they be olden apology from the fans and Toronto media for the absolute lashing they're taking? Thanks boys, love the show. That's a really great question.

Absolute lashing. Lashing? show. That's a really great question. Absolutely lashing. Lashing? Yeah. That's great. And? No. The answer is no. No. The answer is no. There just has to be an acceptance in this market that when you play well you get all the accolades, you get commercials, you get this, you get that, and then when you don't take they pound on you here. They'll absolutely pound on you. And that has to be one of those those things where if you're a leaf, you understand it. And if you're on the outside, you go, oh, my God, do I?

Would I really want to play in that market? And, you know, we do the analysis based on what has happened in real life. And we have been, in my opinion, a try to be fair. And if the information changes and they do awesome stuff, I will adjust and I will give praise and I will applaud. But I don't think it would make what we said previously incorrect or apology work for that matter. If they go to play against Carolina, whenever that will start, I will say right now, I will fully apologize. I will apologize.

And they'll get mad all over again when they're playing like crap against Carolina, but for that one day. Carolina just fails them in four calling me. I will apologize. I've apologized. I'm a very guilty conscious. I've been told guys my whole we got locked in cameras, but you End up on your knees apologizing. I go into a conference final. Correct. I don't have he was short I'm a holy things to make that yes. Yes. That's true. Let's go to okay

So as positive I guess is the first two kind of were. Oh, here comes the... Do you guys want to get into the mud a little bit? I don't, but I think our caller will. Alex in Oak Ridge's place. My take today is I think the other night showed us, and I think we can all agree, that some changes need to happen, some changes are overdue after nine years, and that includes exploring, trading Austin Matthews.

I think he could use a fresh start too after everything he's gone through over here. I think a team like Utah with a lot of young, controllable players would be an attractive destination to land a player like Austin Matthews. They'd love to have them on their team and it could be a great opportunity with a lot less pressure and closer to home for him and they've got players like Keller and Gunther and probably a plethora of picks. I'm not sure what their cupboard looks like but yeah that's my thought. What do you you guys think and that would leave us a lot of extra money to play with over the next couple of years

it's just so hard to get top end guys so hard first of Alex, I will tell you this, that in the last 24 hours, for some of my contacts or some of the people that I talk to daily, like that's the conversation people are having behind the scenes. I've got that question way more. What does it look like if they lose tonight and where do they go moving forward?

And now is not the time to have that conversation. I don't know if Monday morning will be. Monday might be. Right? May not be as you prepare for life, maybe with Carolina. We don't know until we know. But Alex's comment is more real with conversations than I've had if, so you're telling me there's a chance.

There's more of Alec in that conversation, including Matthew's, and all probability, and I've said this, you don't get past Florida, we know Marner's gone, and where do they go moving forward? That, Alex, is a real conversation that's been going on with many of us. Yeah, he's 6'3", 220, won the Heart Trophy. Jack Eichel had his start to the career in Buffalo

and everyone's like, this guy, all the negativity, whatever. Goes to Vegas, plays on a good team, they win a cup and all of a sudden, it's anyway. Let's switch up the vibes. Let's go to Mary in Vaughn with I believe a poem. Mary in Vaughn. What's up Kipper? Hey Borny, hi Sammy McKee.

I watch your show religiously. I tune in each day for some experts advice. Hey, if the Leaf team did too, wouldn't that be nice? Yeah, I've been a Leaf fan for so many years. And so what if the playoffs has reduced me to tears? I hang on to the hope that our Hope Heroes come through and make all of my Stanley Cup dreams come true. So I cheer, I believe while I watch every game and I pray to Lord Stanley this year won't end the same. It's not over yet folks. Game six is finally here. We still have the time to proclaim this is our year. The thrill beats in my heart and refuses to slow as I can't for my team See

Leaves Oh Before Christmas theme I will say this that I will say this that we know the Leafs are the most envious team in the league. They're the richest team. They're the team that pisses everybody off because they have a lot of power. They get Vancouver fans to change their time. Right. My favorite thing of the year. But it's not the money that they make, right?

It's not the attention that they get. They're most jealous of fans like Mary. Yeah. Because they don't have many Marys. No. They don't have as many Marys on their team as the Leafs do. The Marys per 60 here is high. They have a lot of lovely fans. We just got taxed. I think we're gonna lose game six just because of that poem.

See you can't tell that and laugh at the same time. Did you understand them? Yeah, because he just said it like he's got a mouth full of marbles. Someone texted in and said I think we're gonna lose game six because of that poem. One quick one. One quick one. It because of that poem. One quick one. One quick one. Let's do it. It's a great poem. One quick one.

Let's go to Hunter from Toronto to fire us up at the end. Yeah, it's not looking good. Guess what? They're professional athletes. You're down three, two. Yeah, it hurts. Yeah, it sucks. But you know what's better than going into the sunshine state is making it rain.

Yes, tonight. You take a win. Take a win. You steal a win because the last thing Paul Maurice and his island of misfit toys want to do is go back to Toronto. Make a pack. Make them pack. You take the win and go back and listen to all the people like me and the three of you and everybody on social media and maybe secretly all of the players friends in the group chats are thinking this team is cooked they might be But isn't that fun when there's no expectations?

Isn't it fun when you can when the bar is so low you stub your toe? But every day on this show And then break my heart on Sunday when you lose the game seven That's all have a good day buddy. He should give the pregame speech. They should pipe it in fly a man right now It's not too late Can you get down there in three hours for puck drop make them pack Anyways the Leafs line was brought to you by Muskochabay Resortort a top 10 ranked Canadian course part of the freed golf network and sports That and Muskoka Bay Resort are excited to kick off a contest to give it a giveaway an incredible stay and play package for four

Retailing for forty five hundred dollars. All you have to do is text Muskoka to 595 90 to enter and visit sports That dot CA slash 590 contest for more details standard message and data rates may apply Visit sports.ca slash five nine contest for more details, standard message and data rates may apply. Nice job, Sammy. Nice job, Freed Golf Network. All right, boys, dare I say it or ask it? Give me a score tonight. So the one thing I did want to add to this is that

even if they're not the most competitive, the stars of this like fire, whatever, there's a lot of incentive to not go out like last game, right? To not embarrass yourself, to at least put forth a prideful effort. I think tonight goes to overtime and I don't know if they're gonna get the bounce or not. I'll take the positive view and say they win 3-2 in overtime, but I think it's to be close hockey. I've said Florida in game seven so that means they win tonight. I said Leafs in seven so give me the Leafs 2-1 in triple overtime.

Triple overtime? We got Leafs talk after. Alright. We've been blessed. There hasn't even been a double from the Leafs talk era. We've got some Jim Carrey vibes here. There's a chance. Oh by the way, we'll be on holiday Monday. So we're coming back after Sunday, we'll be back on holiday Monday. There you go. Producer spoke. There you go.

Real Kippur and Boren on Monday. Okay. That is one quick hour. Preparing for game six for the Toronto Maple Leafs. We go national next with you know who, Doug McLean. We're back after these words.