Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Managing Matthews

Episode Date: April 15, 2024

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee start with the Leafs' 5-4 overtime loss against Detroit over the weekend. They get into Matthews' chase for 70 goals drawing the team's focus, how to best manage his minutes in the last two games and the Leafs running into the injury bug at the wrong time. Then, a chat about where the team stands in net after Samsonov's concerning start in Saturday's game. Finally, an evaluation of the Leafs' blueline heading into playoffs, confidence rankings, what McCabe's injury means and if Brodie is on the outside looking in for Game 1.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Here we go. Four days to go. Regular season. Action. And then we kick it in. High gear for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Welcome in to the real Kipper and Bourne show. Leaf edition this hour. kiprios justin

born sammy mckee derek brandeo and james wilson wilson wilson we are live on sports it's this boom it is why do you have jimmy wilson on for me because i'm bad at my job oh my gosh you're horrible at your job start of the week here let's roll sammy sorry get back on the rails it's this boom bar this boom bar and i even went in and asked and he was sitting there he's like it's me today and i was like hey it's david and then i went back and they didn't tell you. Sportsnet 590, before I was rudely interrupted with a bad program. Yes. Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet Plus from 4 to 6. And as always, a reminder, you can download us when you can't catch us live in Texas 590, 590, especially this week.

Yeah? Yeah. I got a lot to say, pal. I know you do. I know. And I'm sure a lot of our listeners do as well. So we're going to get into it as far as the Toronto Maple Leafs are concerned. But one note at the top of the hour, we're going to welcome in Brian Burke.

In studio, might I add. Yeah. Berkey. Okay. You made up a bad mistake early by getting Berkey in the show. Well, I would take credit for it. But, I mean, I asked him to come come on and said, do you mind doing Zoom? He said, yeah, no problem. Then he texted me back later. He's like,

why don't I just come in? So I can't even take credit for getting him in here. It's great having guys in the studio and Berkey's the best. So there you go. Okay, here we go. Toronto Maple Leafs lose their second straight game, but it doesn't really matter. We're just all focused on one player.

I think that's the theme of the show, doesn't it? One player, one number. Yeah. Right? And this is where we're at right now. Was it everything you thought of going into the game against Detroit? Was it more than you even thought of? The chase, getting 69 was a great, probably, vibe.

I wasn't in the building. You guys didn't make the game? No, no. On the couch. You can sense it. You could have sensed it from wherever you watched that it felt like 70 was coming. It did.

He got to 69, and it felt like every time, like in a home run chase, the guy would come up to bat. You know, like every time he was on the rink chase, the guy would come up to bat, you know? Like every time he was on the rink, a little more energy, every touch of the puck, you could hear the crowd a little bit more, and it certainly became the focal point of the evening. And he scores a goal on the power play. Beautiful shot, beautiful setup.

The next shift, I believe, I think Willie hits him down the seam. Yeah. Makes a great move, tries to slip at five hole and slams into the end boards harder than i've ever seen him hit the boards it was his life flashed before your eyes my life flashed before my eyes because i do a leaf show every day and we wouldn't be doing one for very long this spring if he had been hurt for any period of time so lilligren leaves the game for spot duty. Yeah, he comes back.

Yeah. Austin didn't leave the game. I couldn't believe he got up, and he was on the knee for a while. I couldn't believe they didn't pull him off. Hell, you can't score 70 from the quiet room. That's a good point, actually. That whole pulling off and who doesn't go and who goes, what a scam. What a, you know what?

They've never identified who the concussion spotters are. Where is he? And good thing. It's David Ayers. But good thing, honestly. He's also the emergency goalie. Like, you know, there's like fights where guys get completely dropped and they sit in the penalty box and stare at their skates and get back out there.

He bounced his head off the back boards like it was a basketball and right to be honest you know he plays the end of the game and he doesn't get 70 whatever i was expecting today like at practice to be like austin matthews absent. Like, oh, a little banged up or something, but he's there and he's okay. Dodged a bullet. Okay, let's go to our first Kippers Clipper of the Week, Sheldon Keefe, on his star player, Austin Matthews. Yeah, I mean, obviously that's a major distraction.

It doesn't help us, you know, what we're trying to accomplish on the ice, but it's exciting. I get it, you know, and it's, especially when he gets to 69, you can see it. It's, but it's exciting. I get it. Especially when he gets to 69, you can see it's growing and anticipating, and now you're feeding it. I'm feeding it.

I want it to happen. I want it for the fans. I'm glad the game's over. Let's move on. Oh, my gosh. This is going to break him. What does I'm glad the game's over. Let's move on. Oh, my gosh. This is going to break him. What does I'm glad the game's over mean? Is he going to make it?

What does I'm glad the game's over mean? He's at the end of his rope with this. That's what it sounds like. Yeah. I was listening to the morning show today with Gunnar and Ennis, and they had Frank Cervalli on. And he's just like, it just feels like he's about to pop at any moment. Well, listen, he had this game plan and it was a game plan that we had talked for weeks about

is like not having this thing as a major distraction. Just don't have it come down to the final game or two. Boys, I thought about this literally in February. Can we have the this is my nightmare drop? It could not have gone worse for the Leafs on Saturday night. Matthews gets 69, can't get 70. Plays 24 minutes. Two guys get injured.

The goalies has a tough night back-to-back games. It wasn't a good Saturday. Sammy told me to calm down before the show. Guys, I just... I got to lay it out there. Our Pets heads are not falling off. They're in a playoff race. Their good players are okay.

All things are good. Good good team very good team calmly say that it's counterproductive what is the chase for seven the chase for seven i disagree i disagree with that did you excuse me i have to did you did you not listen to yeah heard the coach. Sheldon, for the last week, is saying, you know, everything's great. It's team first. And now he's like, it's out of control now. It's out of control. Like the chase for 70 is like a tsunami to him right now. One second he's on a patio having a nice drink. The next thing you know, he's floating in the Indian Ocean.

It's out of control. i don't i don't necessarily disagree yeah it's but it's out of control it's it's first it's out of control but like i just have a hard time buying into the notion that they'd be playing so hard and like grinding it to the death without the 70 definitely not right like, if anything, it gives them a little something to play for in meaningless games. Like, that they're trying to get this for them. Where do you get meaningless games? Guys are trying to get into the lineup. They'd be mailing this in 70 goals or not. Guys want to know who they're playing with, what line they're on.

Yeah. Their penalty killing stinks. Stinks. Okay? Absolutely reeks. Where do people say they have nothing to play for in the last week well i mean they have little besides the standing 70 is to play for penalty kills to play for those are things to play for 70 goals and 70 goals those things are a distant second to getting one guy 70 goals. Of course.

You know, they're not saying that, right? We are saying that that's how it feels, and that's as a product of the fan base, not the team. The team isn't saying this is the most important thing to us. The fans and everyone I talk to... Can we play Sheldon again? He's basically saying the same thing. He's blaming the fans. He's saying that he hates, that he can't get out of the way.

It's their fault that I'm acting now like I'm coaching to play this guy to 70 goals. Heaven forbid the guys who paid $600 to sit in the lower bowls were excited that he might get 70 goals. What a crime. If I was Sheldon, I'd succumb to the pressure too. See, I'm glad you said that. I'd succumb to the pressure too. I see. This is a, this is, I'm glad you said that. I would. I'm not the first one to admit.

I'm not saying it's right. And I'm not saying I like it, but I'm saying I get it. So how would you find a way? It's obviously great. And I don't think it's great that he's done this well. And I don't think necessarily that playing, pursuing this goal, continuing to score goals in eight straight games is going to make him worse in the first round.

It's not a guarantee. But you'd sure like to plan to win the Stanley Cup and to rest, guys, and take breaks when you can. So I present to you, what do they do the next two games? How do you manage two hockey games? You get him to score as quickly as you can and then you back off his minutes and then you don't play him against tampa bay what if he doesn't score then he's playing against tampa bay and you're again waving you're saying you have to keep him

in to chase here all day i guess i'm not saying you have to i'm saying they probably will if i'm the coaching staff if i'm bad for living if i'm everybody i'm going to austin and i'm saying tuesday's your last game regardless of what happens tuesday's the last game you're playing it's not the way it works with those guys it's not but if he's if he's as great as a team he's as great of a team player as everybody says he is and he's a leadery guy and all this stuff and they think he needs the rest what if you find out he's not well but he doesn't want to hang on 69 i'm telling you right now he'll be pissed if he doesn't close this thing out in two games so you think he plays wednesday

regardless no i'm saying if he doesn't get it, I think he plays Wednesday. But if he does, he does. What about not playing Florida, the team that's going to hunt him like a duck? If you're Austin and you've got two cracks to get a historic number in a Toronto Maple Leaf uniform, do you want to only make it one?'t want to but i would be understanding i think i think i'd be understanding that like buddy this number's huge to him it's like it's huge to everyone i mean it's not just him the fans want it yeah i know teammates want it i think 90 of our listeners want it they want him to to chase. And they're just, he's just hope and pray that he's healthy and that the team feels really good going into the game one and everybody's happy and everybody lives

happily ever after. That's the goal. And you roll the dice. But, but what, but it's your eight or nine, eight or eight, I guess of, of you know not a ton of playoff success they have said numerous times that team success is what matters most consensus is that

rest would be better i think there's you know what if it was tortorella what if john tortorella were the coach here and he said we're trying to win a stanley cup you know personal records be damn he's going to watch the game. Matthew probably wouldn't have played 24 minutes on Saturday night if it was John Tortorella. Or probably would have been taken out if he banged his head against the wall. But Sheldon wasn't trying to play in 24 minutes. He was trying to

not be in this pickle. He was looking for a get-out-of-jail-free card. He's in jail. He's in big-time jail. Okay, let's go to sheldon on resting austin i don't think these fans are going to travel us on the road but but uh we'll make the decision you know that we think is best for the team we got guys dropping right now we're gonna have to dress 18 skaters so we got some guys that will not be available for us so that in itself is going to be

a factor and the salary cap is what it is because we have so many guys so we got lots of things to to sort out here the next little bit so his point is they can't call up american league guys and tack them on because they're up against the cap you know that's so bad for the league well just in general like come, come on. Toronto Maple Leafs can't even fill out a full roster. Who are you blaming? Oh, the salary cap. Okay.

Yeah. Or mismanagement of the cap. One of the two. They managed it well. They're up against it. I don't know. I mean, Vegas is 100 million over. I don't know. You got to see how ugly the story gets.

I mean, I don't want to see anybody get hurt, but if guys get hurt and you're overtaxing guys in a meaningless game from a standings point of view, then why didn't you leave yourself wiggle room for this to happen to address a full roster? Yeah, I'm going to disagree just because I think you're trying to get the best roster you can for playoffs, and that involves having all these guys. I don't know how you hide them otherwise. Well, you've got to get the best roster you can for playoffs and that involves having all these guys i don't know how you hide them well you get across the finish line

with your salary cap and you've got to cover yourself in game 81 and 82 and i don't know i don't think it's i think it's a long shot that you know anything happens that's bad yeah but it sucks you know salary cap sucks yep but you're not gonna kipper you're not gonna be like let's manage it so that we can rest guys in the last two games of the season you're gonna try to win as many games you possibly can much like chasing 70 the salary cast is a beast eat too as well so to be absolutely perfect after how many playing days? I don't know, 180? Yeah.

It's hard. I get it. So, you know, I think we all agree, and he made the point, Sheldon made the point there, that, like, guys are hurt, going to have to dress 18 skaters. He's going to play against Florida, which I would have loved to have avoided. It's a terrifying matchup for me. They're the number one defensive team in the NHL. Was that the stats?

Yeah. Do you want to read those out? I'm just gonna pull it up here quickly so not easy to get your your big goal against a team that's saying we want him to play tomorrow against tampa we don't want to give him any momentum against us they're gonna he's gonna be wearing two florida panthers everywhere he goes yeah the florida's second in goals against per game second in uh expected goals against per game scoring chances against per game slot shots against per game inner slot shots against per game their first

in all those except second in goals against that's all for me there's just one main uniform there that's gonna be all over him barkov oh yeah come What, do they have combined 10 PIMs, the two of them? What a battle. You got this close to a 70-goal guy against... Selke frontrunner. The best. The best. Yeah. It's the table set for a big matchup.

Table set. Great. Right? Great. Why couldn't that puck just slip through Reimer's pads on Saturday night? I loved your tweet when he scored. Was it high glove on Reimer? Was it the Chihuahua with the war scene in the background?

Oh, yeah. It was not. Good meme. Good meme. So just to give you another sense of how important it is for him to get 70, we've talked a lot about Bertuzzi, Matthews, and Domi, right? Mm-hmm. But Marner goes right back.

Yep. With Matthews tomorrow night because that's the easiest way to get, and the fastest way to get him 70 goals. And Domi's hurt, so that helps too. Even if he wasn't, I bet you Marner would be up there with him. Well, I think Domi's been unbelievable, Kipper, passing him the puck. He's been just as good as Marner has. I'm just telling you, that is the number one reason why he's up there.

What? To get him 70. Okay. Maybe that's the incentive to sit Domi. Say, yeah, you just hit this one. So Domi plays Saturday. Why? Why did he play Saturday?

He's hurt. He didn't look great. He didn't have great energy. Why did you play him? Don't know. I don't know. Would you like a Max Domi update? I would.

All right. Clip seven, please. I'm not going to play tomorrow. I wouldn't expect him to play in Tampa either. We'll see where he's at with it. But, yeah, I mean, we're not going to give you much this time of year, obviously, but, you know, we'll just see where Max and Bobby both are later in the week.

Is that our Bobby McMahon update? There's another Bobby McMahon. Another one. Okay, let's go straight to that. He's not going to play in either of these last two games here, and then we'll just see how he is. We've got a week here before we get going, so we'll see where he's at as that approaches.

He's saying he's highly unlikely to be ready for game one. Is that what you hear? Is that what you know? That's what I get out of hearing. Oh, well done. Well done, yeah. Well then. That's a tough one because he has been big and heavy,

going to the net, shooting the puck. What I like about him is when he doesn't score, he helps. Yeah, I think that stretch that he had where he was unbelievable and way above that expectation. Even without that, he's a really important guy. He's a four-checker and gets on the D-side. He's been helping on the penalty kill here and there. Like, he's a guy that is a playoff-type guy

that you would like to have at 100% going into the playoffs. But are they going to get Kelly Yarncroft in to be new McMahon? If he is, he's just under the buzzer. He'll have to be ready. He skated today. Yeah, he's close. He's really close. Yeah, missed the first half of practice and joined them in the second half today.

I think without McMahon in the lineup, then there's going to be a big push to get Yarncroft in. Yeah. Yarncroft in. And this also leaves Nick Robertson in a position to start the Stanley Cup playoffs. So that's Domi and McMahon and Gregor out. And that would have Robertson in.

I got to tell you, choosing between Gregor and Robertson, Robertson's the right choice. Oh, yeah. No doubt about that. Yeah. Listen. I like Gregor, by the way. Robertson's done great.

He's shooting the puck in the net. I mean, the goal Saturday was a nice one off the rush. The only thing I worry about him is sometimes getting bounced around like a pinball yeah that's it for sure that's the only thing i will say and if you if if if you see a playoff series that starts off heavy with checking it doesn't favor him gregor is competitive and physical i know he's not big but he does run into is that enough to make the change in game two or game three if it's really super tight checking? You better lock it up. Is there a chance that this is opened up

and the offense is flowing a little bit and Nick Robertson can find his lanes to the net? You know, I just think there's people saying about this Leafs team, you know, that last year they go seven straight games scoring two goals. You know, they need that one extra goal. Robertson is a guy who can do that. But I do know that game ones tend to be a little bit physical and heavier and i mean listen i'm you guys know

my opinion on nick robertson i've never been much of a fan of him i haven't believed him in the past but if you're not going to give him a game one start after all the injuries they've had and all the and just his production with the limited ice time and all this stuff. There's not a ton of guys on the team that's going to be able to score a goal like he scored on Saturday night. No, and you're taking out McMahon and Domi who score.

So now you want to put that back in. The one thing I'll say for him that he has to learn is little guys can have success in this league. Marner's not a huge guy, but Patrick Kane is another example um they don't get hit you know and robertson hasn't figured out a way yet to stay out of those spots he gets hit he gets hit he does get hit all right do you want to talk about that game other than matthews thoughts on the maybe the goaltending i didn't notice it was saturday night

it didn't come up for you you sorry i just wanted to see how long i can keep you with a straight face mid you didn't think it was a big deal the two worst players on the ice were wearing gold pads i wouldn't be feeling great if i'm detroit with that james reimer either no you're not going to give samson of any credit for the second and third period he made one very nice day he cleaned it up big time they hold the whole team cleaned it up big time that's why he cleaned it up right listen goalie wins or pitcher wins play the right way it's what we said all along okay just roll the dice with samsonov and hope for the best. That was so Samsonov Saturday night. I'm sorry. It was.

You don't know what you're going to get with him. Just do yourself a favor. Do not play him in either game this week. Really? Yes. You want him to go in? Let him sit on the last two periods

where he feels somewhat good. I would never take a chance of playing him Wednesday night against Tampa Bay so those boys can light him up for four or five and then go into game one. Leave him. Give him the week. When he takes time off, it's proven. Get Curtis Sanford in there. Get him refocused.

Get him going. Let him sit off those last two periods don't ever don't take a chance of of a third bad start for him all i'll say and that's all very well said kipper and i agree is that first intermission i was legitimately like i guess wall started game one like i'm totally i'micked. Like my panic meter was off the charts. But the fact that they stuck with them and they, let's listen to a clip from Keefe talking about San Diego. Sure. Then we'll go from there.

Like the first period, I mean, I should say the, not even the first period, like 10 minutes and, you know, at 10 minutes into the first period, we're up one, nothing. The shots are five, five. We're actually on our odd man rush at that time and don't manage it well. And then it's 1-1. And then, you know, we just were not good from there. But so I don't have any of that on Sammy.

You know, he's a reflection of the group. But it was important that we play with some pride, you know. And that's why it was important for Sammy, you know? He's discussed, you know, taking him out. You know, it wasn't unanimous in there by any means about what to do with it, but I felt it was really important to, like, I felt our team was going to be better, and I felt Sammy needed to be a part of that.

And obviously glad that it worked out the way it did because he was outstanding. And in the end, you know ultimately to me is the reason why we get the extra point wall jones i don't care oh it doesn't matter just not sammy and sammy sammy like i give them credit for not pulling them first of all because i would have pulled him i absolutely would have pulled him anybody, any other coach with any other goalie would have been pulled. You don't get to stay in the net giving up four goals on 13 shots. You don't.

But it worked, Kippy, because now you don't. It worked. Well, it did. They got back into the game and made multiple good saves getting back into it. Usually it doesn't work. You know that, right? That's what I mean. Of course. He stayed in because he's Sammy,

and he's so delicate, and he's so sensitive that you could not pull him. Well, then to their credit, they read him right. He deserves. They went for two and converted. The coaching staff deserves credit because now if you say what you say that he's not going to play for the rest of the week,

the lasting memory of him isn't getting pulled on four on 13 it's him them getting back into the game with him playing well but you still got a guy that you don't know what you're getting get on it was never going to be any different than that it was never going to be any different no there was a feel like yeah you felt good about sammy at one point i didn't but you did you hey have i not sat here and heard you sammy's back i feel good about sammy sammy's back no no no no all i said is i'm on board that he's the guy now i'm in i'm in he's the guy you're gonna start i i came around that he's the i'm not i was never comfortable he can go he can go on. He can come back. He can find a way to get on a streak here. But the way he plays, the style of his play, it's risk-reward.

It's either go big or go home. There's nothing steady about this guy. Okay? Nothing. So get ready for the roller coaster, Sammy. That's all I'm telling you. From one Sammy to another, get ready for the roller coaster sammy that's all i'm telling you but from one sammy to another get ready for the roller coaster goalies are i don't know like i they're the most unpredictable thing in the world unless you have all of them

five of the best ones in the world like i mean you look across he's he's he's a little over the top when it comes across the league like how many goal how many people are super thrilled about their goal like brodsky last year was the first time he was ever good in the playoffs he didn't start playoff he didn't even start playoffs like colorado they got a starting goalie that can't make one save you know it's just there's this guy's got a little bit more defense he's got a little bit more of a track red goalies too he's got a track record. I can't believe I'm the guy defending Sam. To me, he's not lumped in with everybody else. This guy was waved.

Yeah. Okay? Waved. Yeah. Next thing you know, you're like praying that he comes back off two periods after he's let in four and 13. He can be good. He can be good.

And there's other teams that can't say as much. I'm just roll the dice. Sure. That's it. Sure. Let's listen to Keith on cleaning things up before playoffs because Samsonov has been good at when they clean it up, he can get the win.

I think our team has shown that we know how to play. And that's why I didn't have to say much in the first intermission. I like to think when the game matters and it's competitive, we're going to be ready for the moment. And even through this, I think we've, this last little stretch, I think we've played some pretty good hockey. There's times when we haven't, for sure, and it's been inconsistent. But overall, I think we've done a pretty good job as a team.

So, you know, I hated the first period. I hated the last ten minutes of the first period, I should say. I thought we started just fine. And, you know, a big power play goal gets us going, and I thought we were good in that first ten minutes. It's almost, you know, Austin hit the crossbar, I believe, and was in alone, and then we got a power play goal. It seemed like one of those nights where maybe our guys thought it was going to be easy,

you know, and we know how that goes, and that's the case, and that's kind of what it seemed like it was. So it's not going to be much coming easy from here. Felt like that for a very long time, eh? Some nights they just think it's going to come easy. They can't shake it. It's a defining trait of this team. Man, he just made Reimer look stupid on that backhand move

where he put it off the crossbar. Yeah. Just put it in the net. Come on. Put it in the net. I almost swore on radio. I'm so exhausted. Just put it in the net, man.

It speaks to their comfort zone that if they're off and they're down two or three goals, they're never out of it, right? No. They have that off. It's almost like an arrogance. You know, and I think that works in their favor, having that sort of belief in themselves to an arrogant degree.

I think it works against them because eventually you don't win that way. It catches up. It catches up to you. Well, I think when you're behind, it's not a bad spot to be in. You know, I look at this Florida team, and everyone has made such a fuss all year about how they're mean, they're tough, they're mean, they're tough. Look at all the videos.

It's the word you use about them. Playing offended. They're offended all the time, whatever. They're okay. They're okay. The team's good. They had a stress where they dominated. Sure. And then they came back. Leafs have been the best team in the league for the past six weeks.

So what are you barking at here my point is that they're a flawed team like the Leafs are a flawed I don't think they're going to get run out of the building anymore we've we've acknowledged that the last couple of weeks for sure yeah I just you know like I still feel pretty good about the Leafs going into this series and I am curious to know how much you want to show them on tuesday how much you want to they don't i i expect uh pre-season feel do you yeah i do yeah yeah really i do yep i i can see that i don't know if i agree with that i mean what are you gonna do you you can't i i think the 70 goal thing boys again. No, no, no. I'm not chasing the goals for just it elevates the temperature. They don't want him to get it against them.

That's fair. We do not agree. A feel of importance. We don't know what lineups we're going to still see here. So we got to get to that. You know, outside of Austin chasing 70, I don't expect much of a combative environment. I don't know. Really?

You think Florida tries to stuff the Leafs? I just think that you're about to play them in four days, five days. You're onto something here. You know, they know what's at stake. Austin Matthews, know is on a historic pace going for 70 they know we want 70 they want him to play to me it's more can we hurt these guys before we play him absolutely

like we remember we said that last game the game last year against Tampa wasn't going to do anything and then there was a hoot nanny if if I don't think Sam Bennett and Matt Kachuk based on what I saw Saturday night were against New Jersey I don't get the sense and Matt Kachuk are going to be looking to. Based on what I saw Saturday night, we're against New Jersey. I don't get the sense the Leafs are heading into that.

If it does break out to that, it'll be because Florida provoked them. Yeah, for sure. Right. I mean. Right. The Leafs want to skate through that game with blinders on. They don't want any of it. But they don't want that.

I don't know. I don't know. I cannot seeida going after them physically i can't believe you're saying that no that's crazy yeah i've just watched florida enough to say either they're they're hurting a little bit they're off but they they've they took their foot off the pedal here in the last couple of weeks now they're now it's because it's toronto they're going to just they're going to go after them or are they going to keep their powder dry until game one no i think it's should we we'll see who starts we'll see what kind of lineup florida has guys

yeah well if they want to sit if i want to sit bennett out in that game be fine that would be best case yeah that's the one guy that i worry about in a game that's meaningless um should we break now let's hit a break. I also, after break, want to hear, Sheldon does have a quote on the goaltending plan, which I do want to hear. It's a short one. Is it? We can play it right now.

Sure, let's do it. Waller goal tomorrow, and then we'll take it from there. Okay, thank you. Here you go, bud. Which means? Info I wanted. Let's just get through tomorrow night. All right, we'll take a quick break. break when we come back still plenty more to get into as the toronto maple leafs get ready

for the stanley cup playoff starting saturday did i get you guys excited yes back after these words in-depth blue jays coverage with an analytical twist jay's talk plus with blake murphy be sure to subscribe and download Jay's Talk on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, games on top in the National Hockey League. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne,

Sammy McKee. It's the real Kipper and Bourne show. So it's likely that the Leafs will face the Florida Panthers. But Boston versus Washington tonight would go a long way to deciding that. Capitals stink. You give them no shot tonight? They're not beating anyone. I don't know.

No? Are the Bruins going to throw it? Would you be thrilled if somehow the Leafs ended up with Boston? No. Honestly, I think I've made this point to you guys before and I think a lot of Leaf fans feel the same way. You're ready for Florida I just don't want to watch a game in that building

in Boston. I don't need those colors. I don't need those players I don't need that I don't need that You've been ruined I've had too many bad nights in that building I don't need those players. I don't need that. I don't need that. You've been ruined. That's why. Oh, my.

I've had too many bad nights at that building. Too many bad nights, boys. Okay. Any meat on the bone left for you on Samsonov in terms of, like, we went to break, and, you know, the one thing that I said off air to you guys is that perhaps it's it was less about wall and samsonov coming to this conclusion and more of samsonov and listen i don't want to take anything away from a guy that worked his ass off since he came back after all-star break and put up some very good numbers. He's been awesome for a long time. He has.

But can he be awesome when it matters most? Yeah. That's all. He was last year in the first round. And then he went away. You know, I don't remember exactly why it happened that they decided Samsonov. We're definitely going with him.

But starting at the end of March, Samsonov played on the 28th, theth april 1st 3rd 6th 8th 11th and 13th i think over that time wool has played twice so they just made the decision at some point we're going with samsonov and i think there is a big picture conversation to be had about should they have done that like should joseph wool be sitting there as the defined backup who's played twice in a number of weeks here when you don't know about this guy may that end up looking bad i gotta think one very solid start tomorrow night for joseph wall would make people feel a lot better that that's why i'm not more curious anyway well i'm not in full panic mode here over

the goaltending because i do think Joe Wall is pretty good. And I think that he's been working his way back from an injury. And like Borny just laid out there, he hasn't had a ton of opportunity to really, like it feels like they gave him those two games right off the hop against the Bruins like we've talked about. They didn't like the results and they kind of went away from him a bit.

Going back to that list of Samsonov games, he's played twice. He played against Tampa Bay and had a tough night and then had a good game against the Devils in a win. And he played, didn't he play Carolina in the second half of back to back and he was good to feel like that? Really good. Yeah.

He was a 953. That was March 24th. But I, I, I do think that there's a really good goalie in there. And when, when all said and done in the big games in the first round, he could in that if he started game two or whatever i wouldn't feel any different than i would feel exactly going into samson off game one i feel the same you're not sure but you're hopeful both guys could give you a hell of a game you can anybody can but yeah kipper they don't have they don't have for any of them it's, but can you do it on Saturday or Sunday? Sorokin ain't walking through that door, pal.

Like, it's like there's only a number of guys that are actually really good. Tiger shot 72 and 82. Back-to-back days this week. Oh, my God. You can be either guy. Yeah. I don't know. I don't want to derail this, but that was so painful for me to watch.

I had to stop watching Tiger. I had to stop watching him. Stop watching Tiger. He birdied five on Saturday, and I thought he to stop watching Tiger. I had to stop watching. He birdied five on Saturday, and I thought he was winning the Masters. And then he shot 42. I know. The shit was like, oh, boy.

Sort of like your Leaf takes. Yeah. Don't age great. Yeah. Kind of like all my takes. Okay. Maybe it doesn't come down to goaltending. Maybe it comes down to defense.

And how do you feel about the Leaf blue line going into the last week? Can't break the puck out. What's crazy is going into Florida this Tuesday night, they have their lineup right now. They got Brody out. They got Riley Lubushkin, Benoit McCabe, Edmondson Lilligren. We've had this conversation, though, right, about potentially him coming out for game one?

I mean, you definitely had to get Lilligren in again. So it may not be, hey, this is how we see it going, but we just have to get Lilligren going here because he almost died again the other day. You kind of see where that's at. So, I mean, yeah, we got to keep an eye on that. That's the debate. And then is Jake McCabe okay?

Jake McCabe. He took a shot to this region of his. Oh, my gosh. I think I texted you guys. He's going to be the first guy with cauliflower nose. I don't, I'm not sure we got a great replay of it to see definitively where it went. Not so much here or here. There's a picture.

It's like through his nose area and eye. What is his nose made of at this point? As long as there's no crack or orbital bone or cheekbone or jaw. Like that was the biggest fear. That's what I thought when it happened i thought it was orbital bone he's irreplaceable on the leaves yeah yes because he does so much well so just to go back to the brody thing and having this look like this right now with with him on the outside looking in are you like i know you've been talking about it and this has been something that you

have wanted them to do, but do you really think that he is potentially on the outside looking in when we're talking Saturday night against the Panthers? Is this a real possibility? Yeah, I do. That's crazy. I think he's tentative going back for the puck. He's indecisive. He's unsure.

What game did we do last week? Who'd they play? Jersey on Thursday night? He's unsure. And I just. What game did we do last week? Who'd they play? Jersey on Thursday night? He was awful. Yeah. He'd been good the game before that. First Jersey game. You know, the three-on-three where it's just one of the worst clears.

What was that? That you can. I don't know what he was. What angle he thought the puck would somehow get out. I don't know what angle he thought the puck would somehow get out. I don't know. It was just kind of a feel like a panic reaction for a guy that's played so many games and should be a lot more composed. You know what I'm not sure of?

I'm not sure that Labushkin's going to play every game. You know, the same way with Lilligren on that right side. Like, I could see him coming out for Brody a game or two. Has he disappointed you? I don't think he's been as good. He was great at the start of his time here. First month was really good. But lately, he's been just not.

He's been fine. I don't think he's been bad. Gets beat clean. And you're playing him with Morgan Riley. So expectations are a little bit different. It's just seems like it's porous. And you're playing him with Morgan Riley, so expectations are a little bit different. It just seems like it's porous, the defense, is the way I can describe it.

Yeah. I did an article last week with Andrew Brewer. We did a chat on defensive zone schemes and who uses what. When the Leafs are in the D zone, among the 16 teams in playoffs, they're fourth best at limiting shots from the slot against when they're in the D zone. They give up some because their forwards don't defend. They give up some rush opportunities. But once they're actually in the D zone, they're okay.

It's just they do pinch up, right? And that's where they get caught. It just seems like the puck gets back on the blue line. Teams have time to go D to D and put it through a seam. And it just seems like once it's in there, if it's in there longer than five seconds, it's going to be 15 seconds. It's going to be.

That's where Edmondson and Labushkin are supposed to help. They're supposed to be stoppers, right? Stop the puck, stop the bodies, and let people come in and dig it out. And I guess because Edmondson alluded to the fact that he would have played through whatever was ailing him when he missed those games he missed his saturday night but this is something you brought up when they acquired him borny as a worry and it's kind of wrote raised its ugly head pretty quick yeah that he's gets banged up quite a bit well and i actually

wonder if you don't play him tomorrow night and wednesday just because you have to get used to partners and you know like all the guys on the ice that was one of the problem i think with past leafs teams as new guys came in you didn't feel that chemistry he's only played eight games as a toronto maple leaf at this point and everyone's talking about yeah wow everyone's talking about the great game he played against the oilers but been seven others yeah the other thing too with him i think you got to just manage his minutes too i don't think he's in a position anymore to play 24 minutes a night maybe some nights you're gonna have to ask him in these playoffs but but then it doesn't lend well for sustainability but that's when you go through this lineup and go who's gonna play 25 because

you're gonna play games that go to overtime whatever and it's riley mccabe mccabe those are the two men has to be there you know lilligran you hope lilligant can get to a point where you can play 23 minutes don't trust that let's listen to keith tell us about jake mccabe status and his broken face he's in the mix and everything that's going on and uh doesn't give much for free and in that case obviously he's putting himself in harm's way. And when you do that, bad things can happen, unfortunately. But thrilled that he seems to be okay. But, yeah, just another example. I don't know how many stitches that face has taken this season,

but it's been a lot. And I don't know if they've been able to talk him into putting on a full shield or not, but certainly didn't in practice. But, yeah, he just keeps on going. If he didn't put a full cage on when his nose was literally falling off, I don't think he's going to be putting one on for a bruise on his face. I love this guy. Special teams.

Power play. Looked better on Saturday. Better look, Kip? Yes. Yeah. Thought they actually scored a couple real power play goals. Like Matthews' flip.

It's the first time they had him on the flank, on the other flank for a while, which is nice to see. Yeah, Marner's warming up now. He is. Which is a great sign. I thought he was really good.

Turns out he helps. The power play. Yes. Yeah. Penalty kill. Still a concern. Yeah. Youalty kill. Still a concern. Yeah. You know, it is.

You know, I highlighted that broadcast we did on Thursday. The reason they had been so much better in the PK of late was Samsonov being better. So, when he's not better. It's the whole game now. To be honest. If you go back and you see some of the wins the Leafs had in the last month, it's coming off them seeing bad goaltending.

Like, they were scoring four and five on 20 shots as well. So it's kind of a – it flips sometimes. And no matter sometimes what you have in front, if you have that one goalie that's going to have an off night, you're going to lose on any given night. And I'm watching Colorado the last, what, 10 games? Gorgiev, like, buddy, make a save. Yeah, Winnipeg has to be loving that.

Holy. I do think that this Leafs-Florida series, which is all but inevitable here, a lot of it could come down to how well Bobrovsky plays and can the Leafs finish. Bobrovsky was on fire in the second round last year. Yeah, he was. But the Leafs create offense as well as any team in the league.

I don't know where they are, if they're first or second, but you had some of Megan Chigas. Let me pull up Megan's chart here again. It's very good. In, as I pull it up, in goals, four per game, they're second in the league, 3.65. Expected goals for 3.24, second in the league. Scoring chances per game, 17.75 second in the league.

Slot shots per game, second in the league. Inner slot shots, second in the league. They get chances. They create an absolute ton. And the other team has the best defense in the league which it's going to come down to can they put the chances they do get away what's easier putting really really good defense or really good offense what's easier i think they're both i think they're both really hard yeah but so that's no defense is easier than scoring goals i think

commitment to defense is hard and scoring goals is. I've always looked at offense as like, you know, or defense as like, the burden of proof is on the offense. The burden of doing something. Like, if nothing happens, we're winning. So for defense, you get to just kind of poke and push and keep to the outside, and you got to do something about it.

And that's tough. So they need to finish chances they do get. Any concerns on 88? Nylander. No, I mean, he's not going to get to 100 now. He's at 96 still, right? He's four points shy. Come on.

That guy, you know how talented that guy is? He doesn't care about 70. Holy, he was fired away. Four points could happen. That's true. I shouldn't say that. I was thinking it was one game. He doesn't look like remotely the guy that we saw for predominantly,

what, 50, 60 games. There has been a drop off a little bit. When he's gone, he's gone, right? Meaningless games. Yeah. The exact same thing happened last year. You know, we could be sitting here. Do you feel like, are you worried?

No, I don't know. I mean, at the end of the day, it's 16 and 34, and he seems to mop up a lot in the playoffs. If they see some tight checking, he'll find a way. He's just, he's too good. I want that for him. But I don't know whether or not, you know, he's overly thrilled, you know, the last little while playing with Holmberg.

Well, why would you be? Yeah. And I think that a big part of. What? I know he's rich and he makes a lot of money, but, like, he's still a guy. He wants to play with the sick players on the team. He's one of the best players. But I'm sick of, like, didn't you play pro hockey? Like, when do we put the team he's one of the best players but i'm sick of like didn't you play pro hockey

like when just when do we put the team first when do we not care about i'm sorry these aren't your favorite guys like they're not children they're grown men trying to win a stanley cup there go play with i'm sure some great guys in your team played sounds good you didn't play with any coaches that enforced that? But also played with incredibly selfish guys, too. I'm sure I know that exists, too. But I don't think they need to be pandered to. Yeah, I know.

And I also, I don't think Willie's that guy either. I mean, do we have anything other than raw speculation that he's not happy with playing with these guys? Raw speculation. Raw speculation. You know, it's just like, playing with these guys. Raw speculation. Raw speculation. You know, it's just like, I don't know. I don't. He hasn't shot it in the net for a little bit.

He's a little soft on the penalty kill too, which I didn't like. Oh, I didn't notice that. Which one am I thinking of? First one? It was with him and Labushkin were twisted. It was a play off the wall. Yeah. They were both Twittered along in circles.

I think you're right. It was just a play off the wall. I am curious to know Twittered along in circles. I think you're right. It was just a play off the wall. I'm curious to know how often they'll roll him out there in playoffs on the PK. Like, I know you're looking at... I hope not a ton. Well, Yarncroft. Doer, Kampf, Yarncroft, Marner, you know, like, Willie's third pair. Yarncroft's going to have to be huge coming in out of the bullpen.

Hope he's on the treadmill or something. Tough cardio. He's played one game in the past two months. He's on the treadmill or something. Tough cardio. He's played one game in the past two months. He's been out a long time. Yeah. You know, out, back for a moment, out again. So tough to have that game cardio up. And you hope that John's feeling good now.

I thought his legs have been pretty good the last two weeks. So what do you think for him the last couple games? Sit one out? I think Sheldon's point is that if guys are hurt, they can't sit guys out. Yeah. Listen, I would have liked him to sit game 60 out or somewhere around there. I don't know if it's going to happen.

I do think you'll see Gregor have a 20-minute game on Wednesday. You know, like a couple of guys like that. Doer. Yeah. They're like, we're going to roll you out a lot. Which is good for those guys. Yep. Get some reps in there and you're good to go.

Last thing we have a clip on is the Leafs' success on the road where they're going to start. They've been better there than at home in playoffs by a great distance. Keeper's fair topic. Let's go to... It's hard. It's always such a hard thing to put your finger on why that is. We just know that it has been a thing.

We've performed well. I think our mindset's been good on the road and maybe not as good at home. Maybe there's different reasons for that i don't know what what you would uh really be able to grab onto there what uh i do know we're confident wherever we're wherever we play um you know that we can have success if we get to our game and we seem to have been able to get to our game more consistently on the road this season. To that end, wherever the games may be played,

we'll be confident going in with that being the case. Just knowing that we have to have our game in order no matter what building it's in. Great answer. Want to hear what he actually should say? Because there's no pressure on the road, and no one expects anything of us on the road,

and we can play on the road. There's a lot of people that expect the leafs to win in the first round okay they're looking at one right there yeah like there is no option they got to come out they got to win so anyway which way you want to start on the home on the road at. Make sure you win four out of seven if you have to. Okay, Brian Burke in studio when we return. Unreal Kipper and Bourne. Don't go away.