Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Must-Win Matchup Against the Sabres

Episode Date: January 27, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee get set for the Toronto Maple Leafs' critical matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. They discuss the stakes and what to expect from the team on the high-pressure stage before chatting about Darryl Sittler's address to the Leafs on the night they honour the anniversary of his 10-point game. Later, MSG analyst Rob Ray (29:00) joins the show to share a Buffalo POV of the contest, what's behind the Sabres' surge this season, Jarmo Kekäläinen's immediate impact, where the organisation is on a potential Alex Tuch extension, and Josh Doan's development.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.

Game day on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. Season 5. Live on SportsNet 360. 590, the fan in Toronto. Streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. And Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube with the best chat going. Yes, absolutely. I didn't say line.

Nope. Did you catch that, Sammy? Sounded so much better. So modern. It sounded so much better. Nick Kiprio is Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee. Jake the Snake Shultz, Derek Brandeo, and Ethan Jaja.

Have you noticed the lineups beefier than it used to be? A little beefier. What does that mean? I think Jaws doing his thing. Jha rule. I love it. Absolutely love it. Toronto Maple Leafs on our Leaf Hour edition, 30 games left in the National

Hockey League season. 30 games. Including five. I'm going to get close to golf season, boys. We're almost there. including five before the Olympic break. None more important than tonight against arrival in the Atlantic Division and a team that you are chasing

for a playoff spot, the Buffalo Sabres. In about 30 minutes, we'll welcome in Rob Ray, former National Hockey Leagueer. Does a terrific job covering the Sabres for MSG. We'll join us. Feeling a lot better about the team he covered. than and perhaps, I don't know, 15 years. It's been some time.

I will say I have pushed back against you clowns and your must-win games. We have arrived at the first one of the season. The first of five? This is the first of 30. This is a must-win hockey game tonight. We put the standings up for you there. Thank you guys for doing that.

Six points back. God, those are awful-looking standings. Awful. I actually, I posted a year ago what the standings were and they're almost the exact flip. It was like Toronto, Florida, probably. Ottawa would have been there. Ottawa, yeah.

A ton we can get into, but let's start with Craig Barubi on the matchup against the Sabres tonight on our first Kippers Clipper. I mean, it's a huge game, obviously. We know that. All of them are. I mean, no different from the Colorado game,

but, you know, heading out in the road here tonight, be nice to get two points and head out in the road with some confidence here. and getting into Seattle. I know everyone's done this bit, but I thought Steve Dangled did it extremely well yesterday. He made the point that, like, every game is no big deal. It's just like the Colorado game.

That one, he said it's a very big game. I'll give him credit. But typically, the hand-waving way of every game is just another game. You just want the stakes to be like, we need tonight. Don't you? We need this. This is huge. This is a four-point game in the division.

team we're chasing, huge game. If we lose this tonight, we're selling at the deadline. Biggest game ever. Huge. You're never going to get that. I know. No. But, you know, it's no different than Colorado.

Yeah, it's very different. You're not chasing Colorado. I think there's such a fine line between... Am I doing semantics now? Just too hard on them. Selling it, overselling it. Players have to come in, in all honesty, with the same.

mentality of process and just it's cliche in all of it but next man up next shift don't look yeah I know but it's it's boring and it's not good residue though this is Mitch game residue that that's coming out of me here yeah right where I know because another game because of Vegas and Colorado was so underwhelming for for any Lee fan that you don't want to see it tonight right Yeah, it does feel like you want to put your thumb on the scale somehow and be like, boys, big one. Yeah, and I mean, yesterday at practice, we didn't get to a ton of clips yesterday because we were yelling at each other and I was reading for my manifesto. But he did allude to the fact that he had a meeting with his leadership group, whatever that sort of means. I don't know who would be in that.

I guess it's the guys with the A's and some of the senior players and the captain. and he just was like, you know, this is a big stretch before heading into the break, wanted to, I guess, emphasize that. This was after Colorado? Yeah, yeah, this was yesterday. He had a meeting with the leadership corps. So we'll see they respond, but yeah.

What would you have expected out of Perubi in that meeting? Well, I think your first job is just to bring awareness of the stakes. And then I think it's to interview them a little bit and get their feeling of where are we at in there? What's going on in the room? How do you feel like we're coming up short here? You know, get some sense for, what am I missing? What about you?

Yeah. Yeah, we better get our asses going on us. We're all corned beef. That would have been my message. The shortest meeting ever. Yeah. It's now or never. Wake up.

Like, let's, this game on Tuesday night when they would have been talking about it, It's going to define maybe how the rest of this season goes off the ice. And I know that seems, you know, like, hyperbole, but, I mean, if they lose in regulation tonight, there'll be what, eight points back of Buffalo? Eight points back with 29 games to go. They have 66% of their schedule from now on is on the road. They play good teams on the road.

They've been one of the worst teams on the road. They've been bad on the road. Like, you know, and it's just another game where you're falling five, six, maybe that makes you eight points out of a wild card spot. Let's listen to Craig Bruby talk about what he would like to see tonight and the need to improve. Clip three. Well, you know, kind of a little bit all different, but I didn't like our start against Vegas. You know, I thought we're a little bit slow.

They dictated how the game was going to be played. I didn't feel that in Colorado. I thought we made two mistakes with the puck and that cost us. Odd band rushes. You know, limit the odd man rushes. You know, if we do a good job of that, gives ourselves a better opportunity, right?

And tonight, this is a good rush team too. We all know that. They got talent and skill on the back end, especially. You know, we can't be giving up odd man rushes. That's just too easy. Can't give up the first two goals either. Yeah, I think a little bit of pressure on the goaltender tonight that you might need some saves.

right, that's just the reality of playing good teams and the team not having all the horses. God, they missed TANF. Yeah, you know, I think you can say all these things and you can talk about, you know, competing and having your leadership group come together and talk about how important these games are. It's kind of a moot point if you're not that good.

Right? Like, I'm sure there's lots of teams over the last four or five years that have had their, coach have meetings with their leadership group being like, hey, we got to be better. The playoffs are going to slip away and then you go out and lose because you're just not that good. I have made this point many times. And I love that point.

It's like not a moral failing if you just don't have the horse. It's not the losing. It's how you lose and how you look going down. At this point we're there. That's been an on and off again issue for this club all season long is that you think that you're going to get a certain look. And it's okay to fall a goal or two. short, but

when it looks like they don't have it, it looks like, you know, you're mailing it in. Yeah. That's the issue. That's not where I thought you were going with that mailing, but you're licking the, was that looking the envelope? Yeah, look at the envelope.

Okay. That's, that's the problem on many nights. Yeah. And that's the one that really hits a nerve with the leaf fans. Yeah. It's a curious thing, you know, like if they lost all the time and they just went out fighting, Leifes fans happy with that? Like, I don't know. I get the point that there needs to be pushed back competitiveness,

lose a close game, play good D, all that sort of stuff. But it does feel going into tonight against Buffalo just on the heels of this stretch. It's like, I don't, I don't know. Like, how do you feel good about the Leafs right now? It's bad vibe city. Yeah, I think this has a chance. I mean, This is a serious allegation to throw out there. But tonight has a waffle night potential, I think. Yeah. I think the feeling around the team and just sort of the conversation around this team, if it, if they go down a couple early and they're not looking like they're too invested

and it's, it's got booze raining early. It's got some, it's got some serious bad potential tonight. Let go, my ego. Yeah. Last night before last game. A lot of pressure on the goalie. You come out and you come out with all. gusto in the world and have a couple go under his armpit.

I take it we're all okay with Joseph Wall starting tonight. Yeah, definitely. It's a right answer. Let's have a listen on the head coach on his starting goalie tonight, clip four. Joseph tonight? Yes. How easy was that decision? Well, I really liked the way he played last game.

So I think he's played pretty well, you know, since he's been back. And giving us an opportunity most nights to win hockey games. Yeah. Everything's positive. He really likes how he played against Colorado. Yeah, that's what he said. I thought he was, I mean, he made a couple going. He made some good saves later in the game, but it was, I mean, it was over already.

Didn't like the Brock for school. Well, not really. You know, it's not like it kissed the post and in or anything. Under his glove. Hit the camera in the middle of the net. Right. The drury one, too. I understand it's an unscreenshot, but it's like, you know, there's some expectations to make good saves.

Yeah. on unscreenshots. Outside of that, I think yarn croaks coming out. No, he's in. He's in? He's in. Quillin out.

Quillin out. So there was a conversation before the Colorado Avalanche game boys that, you know, Berube alluded to the fact that they wanted to get some more speed in there, get some more young legs in there, so they put in Quill and played him for five minutes

and then yanked them out. One of those minutes was after the empty netter, too. Oh, boy. This is the only issue I have with. watching these guys go in and out. Okay. Is that you never really give it an honest look to make an assessment of what you have. Like Quillen, and I'm not even sure what type of pro he's going to be,

but it completely feels like he's the next. Steve's. He's the next. Brazo. Brazo. He's the next something where it's like, you never. gave yourself a chance to leave them alone for like three weeks or four weeks

and someone else is going to see all the work that you've done on Holmberg who by the way is on a heck of a line in Tampa Bay right now who's he playing with? He's playing with Sorrelli and

he's one of the top lines for your expected goals number. Yeah, his expected goals against even when he was at the Leafs like he no offense but his defensive stuff was unbelievable Like as good as it. Okay. We're planning for homie.

I'm not sure anyone has been more aggressively right on Holmberg than Kipper Hat. Yeah. With the, with the, what was it the offer sheet? How do you let him go for nothing, though? I'm just saying. It just feels like, like, Quillen will be the next one. That someone's going to see value in him because you didn't have the patience to leave him in. And it's, it's hard.

It is. I mean, it's the worst feeling to come in, to come in every day and not know where your jersey is in the lineup. League-wise. So Quillen is 23 years old. He's 23. He'll turn 24 next month. He's 6 foot 205.

You know, in NCAA in his third year there, he had 46 points in 39 games. That's really good numbers in college hockey. You know, he's done decent with the Marley's in the American League, you know, almost 20 goals last year. I just, you're right. This feels like the type of guy where it's like, do we have Bobby McMahon in our hands? Can we find out? And I don't even necessarily think it's like, like,

what you're, why they're where they're at, by the way. We're just spitball in there. But what you're alluding to is not just about Quillan, but the general idea of a lot of the guys that they haven't necessarily given a proper opportunity to and have gone on to other places and flourished. And the problem isn't even losing those guys.

It's that to replace them, you've spent assets. So you went and got Scott Lawton, who's like a slightly better version of, you know, one of these guys. Holmberg. Sure. Yeah, he's a slightly better Holmberg. And it cost you a lot to get them. And you have to pay whoever you think it is, whether it's Domi or Dakota Joshua or these guys who aren't doing much more than these guys are costing you assets and money. It's also the time that you put into them.

Yeah. Right? That you've wasted on developing others. Yeah. And it's just a, it's just digging new holes and plugging them and digging them and plugging them. You never get anywhere. So anyway, it is a frustrating thing. I'd like to see more Jacob Quillan, but you know what's going to happen?

You've got 11 days at the trade deadline. The least are going in one or two directions. If it's one direction, you won't see him at all. And if it's the other, you're going to see him every night. It's just so funny. You mentioned Tampa and I was just looking to see who Holmberg was playing with. He's been on a line, I mean, according to Daily Faceoff, with his Agamist, Gerrigensen, Andy Gord and Ponce Holmberg.

Oh, Gord. Not Sorali Gord. My apologies. Gord's awesome. Yeah. But it's just, I look at this roster and, you know, the coaching, coaching matters. Like, this team has been decimated by injuries. People talk about the man games loss for Toronto.

Yeah. I mean, I don't know if you've looked at their decor recently if you're listening to this as a Leaf fan. But the top pair is J.J. Mosier and Darren Radish and Maxime Groshev, Chernack, Declin, Carlisle, Maxwell Crozier, like, Yeah, yeah. Not exactly household names. No. It's Benoit Myers,

Mermis, it's the same thing. It's their guys. Yeah. So I don't know what that says, but. Mermis, by the way, on waivers today. I imagine he'll get some games in the American League.

I am curious if he gets claimed. I thought he was really good when he played for the Leafs. Just hopefully they don't have pro scouts that saw him chuck him with that Jack Eye kid. Hopefully they don't have pro scouts who saw that game

because he might get claimed just off that. Oh, yeah. Jeez. I thought about that. Tonight my child. childhood idol will be honored tonight for a 50th anniversary of 10 point night. Of course, we're talking about Daryl Siller. Sprague Clegghorn.

Oh, I only remember his night, February 7th, I think. Sounds right, yep. Because of Sittler's 10 point night, my buddy Elvis's birthday. Okay. Really? Yeah. That's cool. So this is the closest, right, without any more home games before the Olympic break.

they're going to honor him tonight for 50 years. And he spoke to the team. Sittler spoke to the team. Yeah. Him and Tiger Williams. Tiger Williams. I would have loved to been in there for tigers. Two cents.

Is this not the most insane thing ever? They're like, yeah. Ovechkin came back and talked to the capitals. It was him and, you know, like, what an obscure second person to have with him. He's part of that. Oh, my, I can't think of a better guy to. Talk to this team tonight before the Buffalo Sabres. It just seems, I didn't realize they were pals or that closely affiliated.

All right. We got some sound from head coach, Perubi, on it. Yeah, I thought it was actually really interesting what he said. Play the clip there about what they said to the team, Derek. You know, I just think, you know, the pride of the Leafs and the organization and what is it expected, the standard here and stuff like that. Not that they're not trying to hold that up. But a little bit of juice this morning with that,

having Darrell and Tiger come in and speak a little bit to the team, I think is always good. Okay, so. What it means to be a leaf stuff there is very interesting to me. So, of course, every team, including the Leafs, like just push out all this content, right? These players can't come out of a practice dressing room without having a camera shoved in their face

on what their favorite color is. Yeah, I mean, it's not just at least to do that. Every team does that. And I, you hate it. I just, I can't swipe fast enough. To listen to Tiger Williams and Sittler talk to those guys today, that's the content I want out. But it's also the content you push back against them putting out. That's supposed to be for them in the room.

Yes, you're right. You're right. It's like you want to be in there, but you don't want it out there. Yeah. So I don't want it out there, but I would have liked to have been invited to it. You could. You could probably pull that. straight to make that happen.

Most of us could. No, no. But yeah, that's the one I would have liked. Those guys played the game so hard. And Sittler is regarded as one of the best leafs in history. I don't know. And of course, he was the first leaf to score 100 points, the 10 point night. Very talented, very gifted.

But I don't even know if people really appreciated how tough he was. Really? And what he was willing to do and the guys that he would fight if he had to. But he did not give an inch to his opponents, including the Broad Street bullies when they were like criminals. I guess that's why he's still hanging around with Tiger Williams. He's pumped to have that guy by his side.

Yeah. In his 117.17 point year in 77, 78, he had 100 Pems too. Yeah. So it's like he was, I mean, I've been lucky enough to go to the cons my dinner a few years with the fan. Like they always have a table. I always love going hearing people talk. And I can't remember how many years ago now it was

that Daryl Sittler had like he was being honored as like the honored guest there. And he did a, I don't know, maybe a 20 minute speech on just like what it meant being a leaf. And I walked out of there. I was like, I got to paint my face. Like I was like, I was about to cry halfway through it. Like he's a very emotional speaker

when it comes to Leaves, loves the Leafs. So I think the best spokesperson totally. For the Toronto Maple Leafs in history. or the guy. And I never saw him play one game. Good for him to get in that room. And maybe that's something he should do at the start of the year with each leaf team.

Particularly when there's a bunch of new guys. He does a lot. He does. He's around and he does a lot. The players have access to him, including Austin Matthews, as a former captain and a guy that took over recently last season, captaincy. And I don't know. I mean, my understanding is they've had a few people work with Austin on the captaincy,

including Darrell, of course, and Wendell and outside influences as well. Whether you think it's helped or not is in the eye of the beholder. But it does happen, Sammy. Darryl's right there. No, I mean, I just, I never saw the guy play one game. Yeah.

And I truly love him. We got Simone Benoit on him too. Great clip. Play the clip. I'm excited to hear it. From Simone Benwant, Sittler. Yeah, it was cool. I mean, how many players did 10 points in one game?

I don't even have 10 points this year. So, uh... I don't even have 10 points. I just love that. So much better at the accent. So funny. I just love it. It's like, it's crazy.

Creske, Lemieux, uh, Crosby, all these... McDavid. There's one or two with nine points, I think? No. No, nobody with nine. Everybody with eight. Yeah, the closest, most recent one,

was Sam Gagne. Sam Gagne. Sunstrom, maybe in Jersey. I don't know. Swamy Sampsonite? Do you think? No. Patrick Sandstrom. I don't know.

I could be totally wrong on that. I think it's probably never going to be broken. I don't know, man. I agree. I agree. Well, that's the only guy where you're like, some nights when he's on and the other team's bad, it feels like every time he touches the puck,

it could be a point. Could there be a night where they're playing the Jets after the trade deadline? you've traded good players, that's a bad team to pick maybe, but like... Well, I just, I mean, I watched that game on Saturday night against who they play on Saturday, or Washington. Unbelievable game. Our trust...

He was unreal. And it was just, he only had five points. Like, how much crazier do you have to be... Right. Our trusted research team upstairs. Okay, trusted, yep. 13 guys have scored eight points. 13.

That's a lot. His points is so many. What's the most you ever had in a game? I had a six-point junior game, and it felt like... I mean, you scored 60. I was, I thought I had a hat trick against Glenn Healy when I played with the Washington Capitals. So that would have been three points. But I shot a puck into Joe Rieke's head.

But in junior, you never had like a crazy number? Six, yeah. Six. That's a lot. But even mine was like, I think it might have been like five assists or something. Like how many, Sittler scored six goals? Six and four. Ten's insane.

You know, it was an empty netter? So, get them all on goalies? Well, I mean, it was the score of 12, 4 at that point. I'm not sure they were falling the goalie. 11 guys, including Gretzky twice in Mario as well.

Yeah. All right. Our thanks to a Derek. Derrick. Add a boy. No, Zaja up there? What's going on up there, Zaja? I think they collectively pulled it together.

Oh, okay. Anything on Buffalo before we get to Rob Raub. You guys want to add? Did you, I'm surprised that you, haven't brought up the Matthews stuff, there was that article that, you know, we gave him a hard time for not talking on the Mitch day. Yeah. And there was an article that says he wasn't asked by media that day.

I don't care. Yeah. No, I don't care that he wasn't asked. Okay? Yeah. And why wasn't he asked? Well, that's, it's the most, it's the biggest, most emotional game of the year. You're telling me in a market full of hundreds of media people,

not one guy asked. You're really telling me that? Well, yeah, that's the, Jonas Siegel wrote that in the athletic today. The concept was that the Marner Presser was announced at whatever, 2.30 in the morning for 1045. 1045 was when the Leafs skate and media had to pick between Marner and the Leafs skate. And so everyone picked Marner.

and so there's only a person or two hanging around and no one talk to Matt. You guys know how I felt off the original interview Austin had with Mark Masters in Vegas a week before. Oh, we know. Yeah, and what did I tell you?

I told you Mark and everyone else will be too scared now to ask him about Mitch Marner. Is that what happened? They all got intimidated because of what he said the week before. Well, they weren't there in the morning. But the fact that he wasn't requested post-game, apparently, is particularly confusing.

Me and Borny had a discussion before he got here, Kipper, if people actually care about this. And I don't know if this is a media thing that people care about. Right. If they really do care about. But the thing I would say in the pushback to the post-game is that, you know, you've been playing in this market now for eight years. You know the way this works. You've had enough experience with this that,

without being asked, you should probably, you know, make yourself available. Even if you, like, you know, like he knows. But it sounds like he was available. But do you, I mean, do you physically walk out and be like at your stall?

You don't, you used to. I'm going to tell you, in my world, the morning of a skate, everything was done at your stall. And the guys would move around freely and it'd be like, hey, you got two seconds,

yeah, you got, and now, It's everybody goes backstage and they have a podium. And then they pick two or three people. They bring them out. Like a mixed zone. The media requests. I think they said it was four guys possibly,

something like that. Four guys post game, maybe less, two in the morning, three in the morning. So a guy like Mark Messier, my day would just walk back to a stall, check on his skate,

look around the room, and people would freely, right go up to them right so now because it's outside that's not that's not that's not but just you got a PR department yeah their job is to make sure that people are satisfied or you know you're you're you're the guy that has to read the room how do you have Mitch marner coming to town and you don't have your number one spokesperson out there. Tell me how that can happen. How can you go, let's get Lotton out there instead?

Because here's what I think they actually want. They want no bad press. They don't want what you're talking about. The goal is no bad press. And so where would you be scared of bad press? Well, you got bad press for saying he didn't want to talk about Mitch and that's where it can happen. Just talk to them and have a game plan on the message that you want to send on this particular day.

And by the way, saying that you've had it with is not coming out of your mouth today. So let's talk about what is positive, what's good, what can get us out as quickly as possible in and out without you being affected. Yeah. That's what a PR department's supposed to do. Yeah. You know, I think media is in a tough spot there where they were like, you got to go to Mitch. Mitch is back in town. You can't miss that opportunity.

Yes. So it's. And these are what we've seen all season long are self-inflicted wounds. I do absolve. I would, having read that article by Jonas, I would absolve the morning stuff a lot more in terms of the understanding why he wasn't speaking in the morning. But post-game, I still think he should be out there. Even if he's not requested.

Yeah. It's a spot where the captain should probably speak. Thank you. That's how I feel about it. Number one spokesperson. This is it. I'm just, I can't, I'm looking at the schedule for tonight. And there's a bunch of Atlantic teams that play non-Atlantic opponents.

Like, for example, Montreal plays Vegas. Florida plays Utah. Boston plays Nashville. They all got to lose. If they all, like, if they all win and the least lose. Yeah, well, the, The other thing can happen, too. I know, but it has a little like, I'm just saying.

It is a huge night in the Atlantic Division tonight because they're not playing each other. Right? Like, it's not like they're all playing each other. And at one point, they can get some regulation losses tonight. The Stanley plate look a little better tomorrow. All righty. Sam. Yeah.

It's a big game until the next one. Well, this is massive, man. This is the biggest. Okay. Want to take a quick break? Yeah, yeah. Let's break and then we'll call Rob Ray. Rob Ray next on the Buffalo Sabres.

when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Dive deep into Toronto Sports and the NFL. The J.D. Bunkus podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. The Kippreels, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. All right, we got Rob Razor Ray on.

Now, just before we get to him, I was watching the Buffalo Sabres, demolish your New York Islanders. So it's towards the end of the game. And Rob Ray had a little message for Toronto. Let's have a listen. Okay. Can't wait to get to Toronto, Dan.

Listen to all the whining. Well, got to win the game, right? But still. Razor. Razor. Gentlemen, how are we doing? Hey, clearly you've been listening to our show when you mentioned the whining.

Well, no, I think we live close enough. You just walk outside your door and you can hear it all the way in Boston. You don't have to listen to TV or radio. You just walk outside and you can see it. It's a big dark cloud over the city here. So I would think that it feels good after all those years of missing out and looking like there was just no light at the end of the tunnel outside of even the Toronto market.

It just must feel good that the pride is back in this organization. Yeah, you know, it's great going to the rink and seeing the fans excited again. And, you know, around town, people talking about it in a positive way other than asking what's going on. And, you know, and lots of the players, too, you know, for years, you just seen these guys walk around with their heads hanging. And, you know, they weren't having fun. And it was like, you guys are missing out on so much. So now they're having a lot of fun. It's a tight group of guys that really enjoy each other.

And they're making up for it. So it's great all around. And for our job, it makes it so much. I don't have to lie near as much anymore. That's awesome. Well, so maybe you can give us sort of your zoomed out view of how this has happened. What's different about this year's Buffalo Sabres? Well, obviously not a good start to the season.

and they were kind of picking up where they left off. But we went on a 14-day trip, six games. We started in Philly, Winnipeg, Calgary, and they lost all three of the first three of the road trip. And I give the credit to the guys because they hit a point where it was this, enough was enough. They got together. They were like, you know, what are we doing here type thing?

And so they kind of, you know, change the tone and change the attitude and change the approach. everything that you'd need to do to get yourself rolling. And from that point on, they've been fabulous. And it doesn't matter who's in or out and injuries. The guys have stepped in, they played well, they picked up. Goaltending has been great. A lot of guys that in the last few years that you're hoping to take in the next step hadn't done it.

And now they're starting to. So it just makes it so much easier for them at home. You're listening to Rob Ray, former national hockey leaguer, Buffalo Sabre, and now analysts for MSG. So Razor, this is all on the heels of Kevin Adams losing his job. In hindsight, fair, not fair. Well, who am I to say if it's fair or not fair?

But, you know, that happened that trip as well. All that started coming out during when we were starting that trip. And so that was hanging over the guy's heads as well. And I think the big reason for them kind of when they got together It was like, we can't let this drag us down anymore. We can't let whatever going on outside this room. And I think that was a big indicator. But when Yarmal came in, like, he's a guy that he's been here since the beginning of the year.

And he's been in the back, he's been on all the trips, watching, listening, doing what he has to do. And so he's got a good handle on it. And he more or less come in and said to these guys that, you know, we're not doing this. You're going to do this or you're not going to be here, just kind of lay down the groundwork. it resonated with the guys and they were like, okay, let's go. So, you know, it was very simple. It wasn't that big of a deal,

but it was very simple, but he's kind of, you know, put his mark on the group and let them know what he wants and they've carried the torch from there. One of the things I think a lot of us thought would happen with this Sabre's team after some of their drafts

is that their decor would be exceptional. And it's like you can figure out a lot of problems if you have a good decor. Dahlene, Byram, Power, now Kesselring. Samuelson, where are we with this group? Have they kind of got to where we thought they eventually would? Yeah, yeah. And some of those guys were like going power and Samuison, two guys that, you know,

they had a tough start to their career. Sammy had a great start year. And then he kind of, you know, kind of struggled a little bit from there. But the two of these guys, like, like when he has Samuison right now, he's a plus 25. He leads our team by a mile. And he's brought a physical side to his game. he stops plays quick, he's moving to play quick.

You know, all the things that he struggled with a little bit previous, he's doing it exceptionally now. And night to night, you know, if you're going to, I know you got dolls, you got Byron back there, but Samerson could be your MVP on the back end because not only big goals in overtime, killing penalties, he's been a beast. So he's done a really good job and, you know, in power.

This guy was, he's got a ton of talent. He skates so well. He moves the puck. He's so skilled. You know, it was just the little details, clearing the front of the net, leaning on guys a little bit more, you know, closing gaps a little bit. And he's been awesome at it lately. And, you know, you're kind of seeing what they hopefully projected when they drafted them.

So I think that comes with confidence. And, you know, the team playing better. So, you know, you gain a little more confidence in play. So it's been a big part. And even the guys that aren't in, like even Timons did an awesome job for us at the beginning of the year, block a shot, killing penalty. He's got a broken leg right now, so he's yet to come in. But we had two kids come in.

Metsa and Bryson, when we were short-handed, and they've been awesome. You know, Metsi can't take out of the lineup. He's playing that good now. So, you know, call up an older guy from Ratch. So anybody, when they went down, this guy stepped in and done a really, really good job for us. Razor, where's things with Alex Tuck, a pending UFA here, and a local favorite. And under different circumstances,

might be a distraction, but it doesn't appear that way. Where is this heading? Well, you know, hey, if they sign them, that's awesome because he's a huge part of the team. And he's a guy that carries a lot of cloud in there, and he's a guy who we always talk about being local, wants to be there from there,

his favorite fan growing up, all that kind of thing. So yeah, he's a big part of this team. And he's one of the leaders they lean on, and he's on and off the ice. It's been awesome for this group. So where it is, I think that's probably yet to be determined. You know, I know they're constantly working on things and trying to work something out. And I don't know if you'd believe everything you hear that goes out there, but they are doing an honest effort of trying to come up with something.

And so, you know, hopefully he stays. But who knows? So one of the nice surprises when he's in is Josh Norris. It's just so unfortunate with the injury stuff. But man, when he's in, it really gives you this vision of like what the Sabres could look like if he can find a way to play. Well, I think when Josh comes in, you notice you can kind of spread the offense out across your lines a little bit more. And when he's in, the power play clicks as well. Him and Zucker have been two big pieces of our power play this year.

And that if they're going to pick one thing in our group right now, that needs improvement or, you know, it's got to get better is your power play. You know, it'll go two or three games and score, you know, five goals, and then it'll go four or five games without, you know, scoring a goal or even getting a really good look. So, yeah, he's a big part of that. And when he's not in the lineup, that side of the game struggles. But, you know, unfortunate for him.

But the thing is, I think they're looking at it now that hopefully you can find your way into the playoffs here. So get him as much rest and get him as health. as healthy as possible to, you know, for the stretch run or, you know, if you do find your way into the playoffs. So I don't think they're rushing this guy one bit to try to get him back in because they know how important it is and they want to make sure he's ready to go when the time comes. It sounds like Ukulpeka.

I love that name. Yep. Yeah. Is in that tonight? Alex Alex Lyon has gone on this winning streak. Devin Levi isn't with the team, but a few years ago was like this guy was going to be the goalie of the future here. Where is it all balanced out for you this season in that? Well, we've carried three goaltenders for, you know, a long time and there's always been a lot of question about it.

And, you know, there was even a little bit this year, you know, whether it's the right thing to do. But our guys have played in that awesome this year. They've been great, but we've had the injuries. You know, Colton Ellis was over a while with concussion. Alice Lyons had banged up. Ooku has been banged up. So it's kind of been a blessing for them, having three goaltenders, and all three guys playing as well as they have.

You know, there's not one night you're going in, and goaltending is at the top of your list of question. But Uppy, he's the kind of guy, he's good when he's put under pressure. He's a confidence goal. He's a goalie that, you know, the more he plays, the better he actually gets. Alex Lyon has been a guy that even when they weren't playing well at the beginning of the year, he was giving our team a chance every night, and he's been spectacular. And as a person, as a player, he's spit in here so good, and guys love him.

And Colton Ellis, they got him off waivers from St. Louis, and, you know, the games he's played, he's played very well. And he's a much younger guy, so, you know, you know, Yarmos said there was a decision. he was going to have to make when he first came in. But, you know, I think just when there's constant injuries with everybody that hasn't had to do that, and fortunately, you've had the three of them. There's not one of them that you would go into a game and think, oh, my gosh, this guy's in. We've got to buckle down a little bit.

Now, they've all played unbelievable. And their numbers are off the charts, too. You know, just talking about things that have sort of helped this thing get in the right direction. I'm thinking seven months ago, the Sabres trade, Peturca, they get back, Don and Kesselring. and I know Kesselring was hurt for a lot of the early part of the season, but Donne has one more point than Paturka this season, and the rest just looks like gravy. Yeah, Josh Donne's been a blessing for this team.

I don't know if you guys have ever met this guy, but like his father, smile in his face all the time, happy to be there, hardest working guy out there. You know, he can do anything. He's good on the walls. You know, he can mock it up if he has to. He's been in a fight this year. He's, you know, scoring goals.

playing on the top line, power play, everything. He has stepped in and he's been, if you traded him for Petirka, we won the trade. Yeah. And you got Kessling on top of it. And he's been fabulous as well when he's been in the lineup. So, no, donor's awesome. This guy is, he's such a nice guy and puts it out there every night that,

and, you know, I can honestly say there's not a guy in that room right now that guys might look at and go, oh, he's a little bit of a dick. nobody and that was gone in that trade. I can't even say that about this room. No, I can't do it with the people I work with either. I don't like many of them. Hey, Razor, one more for me before we let you go, okay? I look at the career PIMS in the NHL history.

You are sixth. Craig Barubi is seventh. I would imagine you had a few battles with him, but you never messed him up like a piece of gym equipment just did this week. He's had a tough year. I got hitting the head two years in a row sitting in between the benches with a puck and I'd never

got that much damage. So yeah, he's had a hard year. He's paying a huge price for being in the bottom of the standings. I feel bad for him. But just another example of how tough we were. Yeah, it's a different game, man. Oh, don't end it like that.

What? Yeah, don't remind us. Don't remind us what it is today. It's not, like, we played through injuries. We played through stuff like you because you were so afraid to lose your spot in the lineup. And, you know, that was just the environment you kind of came up through. And, you know, you didn't want to let anybody know that you might have been weak or feeling bad or hurt or anything like that. So you just kept plugging the way.

It's not like that anymore. there's when there's any little thing wrong with you man it's a that's four to six days you know and if there's anything worse than that it's you know take the next couple three weeks off and just make sure you're ready to go so yeah that it is a little different but i think there's a smarter than us that's all bad because they are smarter or not and they're going to feel a hell of a lot better when they're 50 and 60 years old than we do so i i'm credit for that a rate Razor, Kipper took a puck to the chops the other day and morning. Morning before our show, he still came in, eight stitches in his chin, swollen lip.

He's still battling it out. You got it. I got hit so hard the second time. I couldn't even see straight. I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I'm like, I can't leave. I can't leave because I'm never going to hear the end of it if I walk out this bench to go get fixed up in there. So it was little ego gets involved with that too.

Yeah, that's funny. Razor, great catching up with. you enjoy your call tonight. I really appreciate you stopping by. Guys, any time. And I feel bad for you guys having to do this each day. Well, thanks, Phil. Appreciate it.

If you need any pointers on how to deal with a 14-year skid, give me a call. But I will tell you to eventually start wearing on you emotionally. And it'll start to affect your hair. It'll start to affect your weight. a lot of different things. So just get ready for it. Oh, my goodness.

See, that's why we got to help the Leafs get in the playoffs. We got to do our best, boys. Rob Ray. Take care. Thanks, man. We got a 14-year drought coming here? Oh, my God. That's red meat for Sabres fans.

Good for him. Good on them, though. Like, come on. Absolutely. It's a great hockey market. Okay, they love their sports. We've seen that. Unfortunately, Bill's,

fans aren't feeling it right now, but good on the Sabres for picking up the attention. Hey, if they're going to beat up in the lease for the next couple of years, maybe we'll change our tune. But for now, it's just good to see all those people have stuck with them. They've always kind of, regardless of how bad they've been, it's always been a tough game for the lease. Like, they have lost some bad ones to them over the years. You mentioned the battles with Barubei.

In 91, 92, the Sabres roster included Rob Ray, Brad May, and Gordonley on it. All three guys over 300 pims. Oh. But I had to go into the odd. Yeah. No, thank you. Okay. Who's going to cave me in tonight?

Oof. Rob is on a short list of people. I fought razor. I should have brought this up. I blew out my knee in Hershey's training camp and spent five and a half months rehabilitating. So now I've gone from September to middle of February. It's Hershey versus Rochester.

my first game back and I I go after Rob Ray just to show the flyers that I'm back maybe I'm relevant I'm ready to go that's really stupid ballsy was what I was going to say

really dumb and I was never I was never in that I was never in Rob Ray's class Barubi's class Tidomi's class Marty McSore I had no business yeah but you just named four of the most terrifying guys in the history of the league. I was going to say he's in the short list of people that looking at,

it's like never fighting him. But to his point, you are fighting for like a spot. Yeah. And you're scared that if you don't do it, someone else is going to be willing to go out there and do whatever it takes to win. Your fear of your career and future is greater than your fear of that short-term physical pain. But I had it this week with my stitches. I'm like, do I let Gunner come in here and steal my job? Gunner's, by the way, gutter has like fresh twins. Yeah, yeah. Congrats to Gunner. There's no shot he was coming in.

No. Fresh ones. Bill and Roaring. Gunner would give up his twins for the day to come and steal my chair. I don't know if Samantha, his wife would. It's a doggie doggy dog world, man. We're wearing milkbone underwear. I think one of the great all-time clips in the history of sports

is the fan on the ice in Buffalo and then going past the bench. And Rob Ray. Just rushed by the official? No, Rob Ray grabbing on and filling him in it. And then I don't know who was afterwards like, oh, he stood in there for six or seven good ones. He didn't stand anywhere. He got held in there. Is that not like an international incident today?

Oh my God. That is like that is truly, that's on the news in Australia. It's very funny though. I will say this. There was an era there. The domy, the guy in the box. What's the lawsuit tie? There's the guy who jumps next, gets drilled by the official.

Hockey people made it very clear in that era that if you come in with the animals, you are eligible to be eaten. And then if you will go out. the animals go outside the cage. You can beat somebody with a shoe. I was allowed to. I would say, enjoy the glass separation. It's there to keep you safe from the animals. That is so cool. That's great. That's great. 354 for Brad May.

Oh, sorry, 309 for Brad May. 354 for Rob Ray and 305 for Gordon. What year? 92, 93. 91.992. Yeah, I fought that Gordonley, too. Another guy had no business. Tiger Williams. PMC, yeah, most of all time? He's number one?

Oh, yeah, he's number one. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and he spoke to the team today. He was always a sweet man to our family. Yeah, Tiger Williams has... His wife Brenda, too. 3,9606 penalty minutes in his career. 3,900?

Yes. They couldn't get to 4,000? Yeah. I wonder if I had 200 in my life. And one of my favorite things to say is, how was there enough ice time? But in one year, he had 19 goals, 31 assists, and 351. penalty minutes. Yeah. That's remarkable. Okay, give me a thought on tonight before we break

off our Leaf Edition and go national. When you buy, lose your sell. Like if Austin doesn't score two, where's it coming from? That's a great question. You know, 34. Time to drag. That's a lot of pressure. Drag that, yeah. Sometimes

there's pressure in sports. Yeah, I hear you. You know, drag the team, get Willie back. Trade for Luke Shen and all your problems are solved. So Marat 8th today. tweeting that he could see Shen going to Toronto. That'll do it. That'll do the trick. I don't know how much time we have left.

The last time they traded for him. It was three years ago. Yeah, and he filled a need, right? Yes. I don't know. I don't see the same need this time around. Is he going to take Troy Statcher's minutes? I sure hope not.

All right, thanks. It's a penalty minute king. Rob Ray, top six in history. And also does a nice job articulating. It's going on with the Buffalo Sabres. Enjoying giving it to these fans. Don't go away. When we come up next in our national hour,

it is Valley Time. Steve Valliquette, analyst with the Rangers and CEO of ClearSight Analytics. Always fun with Valley. Coming up.