Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Round 1 Re-Leaf

Episode Date: May 2, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators in Game 6 as they close out their first-round series and move on to face the Florida Panthers in Round 2. They discuss Craig Berube's business-like approach, Max Pacioretty's meaningful impact, the core's performance and the near lineup mix-up with the Nylander brothers. Then, they look ahead to Round 2 and debate who should start in net for Game 1. Later, they answer your calls and questions on a playoff-winning edition of The Leafs Line!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Boy do we love Fridays. Fridays are a great day here on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet 590, the fans, Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet plus Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo, Jake the Snake Schultz with you for the next two hours. Usually we dedicate this Friday as Off the Rails Friday, but we will call it Back on the Rails Friday for our boy Sammy McKee. Well said. Who is back on the rails. I'm back.

Yeah, it's just. Yeah. Over just overwhelming relief. Yeah. Like that is, I mean, there's a lot of joy, there's a lot of happiness, there's a lot of emotions that you feel after your favorite team wins a playoff series. But what was lurking around the corner

to just have it look like that and have it be done with? Relief. And I'm sure all my Leaf fan brothers and sisters are feeling the exact same thing today. Thank God they did it, relief. You know, you're maybe one of the not a loves to win guy, but a hates to lose guy. I do hate to lose.

But I just, I will talk a lot about everything that happened in the game last night, but that was a great moment for a lot of Leaf Nation. It just great game, intense, and the right team came out on top for a lot of Leaf fans. I'm just very relieved and very happy. And I'm thankful so many people reached out to me. I can't imagine. I got people reaching out to me about you.

People were genuinely worried about me after yesterday, and I think it's fair listening back to some of the stuff I said and I just appreciate people caring about me. Thank you no way shape or form do we promote smoking on this show? Did you have your? Celebrated I did art. I did have a victory dart. Yes At least talk with my great friends JD and Justin. What are we going to do next round with this guy? Just one around. That's it.

I don't need one. Just one around. If that's it, maybe just two, maybe two for the next round by the end of it. I have a pack that's sitting away and when they win another round, if they win another round considering who the next matchup is, it'll be one more dart. Last night game six play out the way We've kind of envisioned it throughout the regular season and Yeah style of play to a t last night. I mean it played out almost exactly how we said it would could should

You know that the leaf's defense is very good and should keep the opposing team's number down and away from their net. The goaltender can make enough saves and that should keep them in the game long enough that a couple of their guys can shoot a couple in and that ended up being exactly what happened. Nylander ends up with two and one for three on his birthday, which is pretty cool. Almost didn't get in the lineup after that little lineup snafu Matthews and Marner get a point and everyone's record improves to two and 13 in those 15 elimination game. All right, let's take it right off the bat with Craig Bruby and his thoughts. Overview of the game.

I thought loved our start. They made a pretty good push in the second I thought but overall I thought it was a solid game by everybody. I think our captain led us the way. There you go. Berube, straight off a peloton for that interview or? Well. He was fired up.

I watched the little state controlled media, the propaganda, the leaf after and he was pretty fired up in the room Yeah, really, you know just highlighting not like too fired up not over the top But really highlighting all the stuff that happened for them to get there So we probably came straight off that little out of breath. Yeah, but there you go. Awesome. It is It's clear that he wants to dictate The vibe right I think he set the tone even going into game six there's a lot of we'll get into this what I'm sure that he described to his team as

The outside noise, but we're gonna stay calm cool and collected here whether we win this thing in Four or five six or seven games is almost irrelevant. The bottom line is we just win. And I think we kind of heard that from some of the players after that. There was no panic in here and the vibe is led by Craig. Yeah. And you know, one of the quotes that he gave us yesterday was all I hear around here is core core core But it's not about the core. It's about team and that's something I wrote about today for a sportsnet.ca was just That's him alleviating whatever past pressure they've felt. Yeah Yeah

And like trying to separate it from the team a and team B that we've highlighted for so many years you get Big blocks from Lawton Domi has another moment patch already shoots one in the net You know Ben wah and so many guys who you wouldn't have expected to be important We're really important for the Leafs in the series in the end and they ended up being not just a team with the more elite Talent, but the more complete team tops of of autumn, I think, when it all shook out. You know, I guess it's, I feel like I'm bringing up Sheldon Keefe a lot in this. Well, he was here for a lot of years where the hurt happened.

What you reference to the differences between Berube and the previous coach, and I think Sheldon Keefe probably would have made some lineup changes going into that game, into game six. If they had gone up three nothing and they lost two in a row and they were facing all the stuff, I'm sure that he would have made some changes.

And he probably would have been okay, rightfully so, we would have been okay with it. But the veteran coach who's trying not to let things get in the way, he's trying to have a sense of calm, leaves the veteran in there, not only leaves Pat Ready in there, elevates him, and he has the puck land on his stick in the slot and he shoots it in. That's a credit to the

coach. It just is. You can't take anything away from Brubé on that. That's an unbelievable moment for the coach. It is. And for the team, it was also an unbelievable moment that they haven't had. They're in control of the game until they're not in control of the game. And it was a bad goal. It was a bad goal late in the third period that had a lot of people going, Oh, here we go. And to come back on that goal and that play and not take it into overtime and and close it out was a Big moment for the hockey club. Mm-hmm like that

that shows part of the poise that shows part of the we're not gonna find a way to lose this and You know It was a bad goal on Stoller's sure we just don't see those type of goals go in all year and again Maybe it's the fact that He's a little tired maybe but he went down way too early sunken shoulders stick down left all of the upstairs open and That's that's the goal that if if Ottawa takes to game seven here

We're leading talking about the goal that if Ottawa takes to game seven here, we're leading talking about Joseph Wall starting. Yeah, and that, you know, I had nightmares of the way that Boston ended up almost blowing their series and they went away from Allmark and went to Swamen in game seven and is it too late at that point? It would have been a tough call what to do at that point.

I do wanna add to the idea of giving Ruby credit because I thought McMahon was awesome in the game. He was all over the puck on the four check. I, you know, I do my little notes as I write at least five or six times. I have, you know, 74 FC arrow up as in like good four check. He was on the puck, turning over pucks elevates him and Patcher Eddie doesn't pout, you know,

keeps playing when he gets on the third line. And Borubi shows the confidence to play his third line in a moment like that where suddenly it's two two with five six minutes left Domi line goes out in the regular shift and showing that faith in these guys they got rewarded for it. Alright let's go to Craig Borubi on sticking with Max Patcheretti. Just just how happy are you that you stuck with Max Petruetti and what do you think that moment means for him? Well, it's a lot. I mean, that's a huge goal, obviously.

And, you know, I thought, you know, he had some opportunities early. He hit the post there in the first maybe, you know, that, you know, had a nice play on Willie's goal with a good stick broke a play up um, you know, I was you know, he he did a real good job for us and veteran guys been around playing a lot of playoff games, so He came through tonight for us God that post he hit in the first period felt. Yeah nightmare waiting. Yeah, you know what also You know what also felt like a nightmare was his

Is icing the bad icing? Oh, I did I put that in our group chat. I know I hated that no He made a horrific pass that led to a necessary icing Yeah, that led to Morgan Riley taking a penalty Riley Benoit Don't mean their worst five defensive guys were out there for that. Yeah. The worst, but way more pros than that moment, right? Throughout the hockey game. Yeah, that's it. I mean, he's-

I blocked that one out, I forgot. That was bad. That one I thought for sure. He certainly earned his right to start, but there's also that at times, he's not quick-footed. At times it could look like he's caught a little flat-footed. That's the danger sometimes.

But as far as in those key moments on where to kind of wait for a pass, he's as good as anybody. You know, on the Leaf roster, it just needs the one moment and he got it. Yeah, he's got a quote where he says basically that he thinks slower players have more success in playoffs. He's like, because they're used to not having time and space and he's like, so for someone like him, this game is kind of like.

It worked at least for one moment for him. Yeah, it did. We actually have a couple of quotes from him. We got them on his potential retirement and his goal, which way Let's honestly they're both pretty great. Let's just go back to back play his first one. They're the shorter one, but heartfelt it means a lot, you know you you keep playing because you want to pitch in and No, obviously when you're sitting down the team's winning it's you're happy for them, but you want to be a part of it and

Just thankful for the opportunity. Yeah. Next one, please. Yeah. I've had a lot of conversations with people in my family and others. And I thought that I was done playing a number of times. And everyone always supported me to keep going. But my story is just one of many, and it's one that's public. So it's one that's talked about but a lot of resilient guys and in this organization been through a lot as well, so Guys like that motivate me to keep going

That's and he's been a frontline player for the majority of his career Successful guy USA hockey all of it not easy probably come to Toronto on a PTO Mm-hmm, right for the chance to hang on one more time Yeah And you know this guy has such a history of scoring goals Jonah Siegel has an article today and he mentions from 2012 to 2017, most goals in the NHL, it's Ovi Pavelski, Crosby, Kane, Patioretti, fifth.

And I think this is his fourth goal that clinched a series. Is that right? Like he's- He's at 82 playoff games. I think before we kind of move the conversation to other parts of this game, you gotta give Domi a ton of credit for this play. If you're watching right now in sports

If you're watching YouTube after Great decision to rip it Hard shot that Homer Omar can't handle gets behind the net wins a puck battle gets it out in front of the net on Patch ready state you got to give him credit two huge plays in this series over time winner and the set and Holmberg a great Screen in that series Holmberg's on for okay. Go ahead goals four and none against I'll tell you where the biggest credit comes from Jake McCabe who made a 45 foot pass on that play to Domi because Who's 33 Matt Matt and Palo? Paulo like

Cost him the game Go watch him pinch up a little bit. Did you know that G like in no man's land? Yeah, where are you going? Well, this is the thing if some inexperienced did show up in this series for Ottawa here it is So right here gets his first touch below the hash 33 always over by the door one. He's predicting a chip It's a it's a 90 foot two on one How do you tie the game up have your building? electric and then give up a 200 foot two on one with one pass. Yeah, man, Paul and Cleven out there right after the goal

You're right and kind of guessing on what to your point. Like what is that his fifth fourth career playoff game? Oh, yeah. Yeah, so like what does he know no no that's true you know that's just part of the learning curve for this team. Oh he's tight to patch already. Yes where are you going buddy? That's a two-on-one right there that cost your team being eliminated but I'm not gonna hang it on that but that play doesn't get your team a chance to go to game seven. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's a big moment for sure. I was good catch kept.

So in saying that, you got to still give Ottawa credit. Like I think everybody's looking at that roster and you look at that nucleus and it's 23 years of age. Like Stutzla is 23 years. He's not 27 28 That guy's got some serious upside now for the next two or three years I think he's got a point season before he's ready to carry a team Yeah, did you hear what okay?

So we talked about Ottawa a little bit here but did you at Perron said after the game about them because It seems obvious now that they're gonna be a good playoff team or whatever he kind of talked about that after there did I put that clip in there also is Pinto Greg and Batherson are legit so they they have those are all good second-line players for me. Batherson did not have a series. No but he his upsides there like you can see good

Batherson is very good. Just can we listen to what Perron said because it's interesting talking about the next step play the front crazy thing It's not gonna get easier next year is gonna get harder to get back in the same position I think if we asked the team over there, that's what they would tell you So it's you make one step and then the next step is a little bit even harder to to win one round and went to Around all that so but I'm proud of these guys the way we work all year to get better and put ourselves in this situation. You think it's linear?

It's never. It's often not linear. They're the Leafs of maybe seven years ago, right? Six years ago where you're like okay there's gonna be these guys are the future of the team here for years they're gonna be here for years and it's gonna get better and they're gonna get stronger and then they're gonna be 27 28 29 and then where are you there's no guarantees no i just thought that was interesting right no guarantees and i also feel like their elite talent ceiling is just lower than the Leafs. Yeah undeniably

You know don't have a heart trophy winner type over there But Sanderson now could be legit top six defensemen in the league absolutely true. We're talking about a superstar here That's true a potential future Norris trophy winner, which the Leafs have never had. That's a good point, too Yeah, I think these are all good points because the divisions getting tougher Montreal thinks they're gonna be in it for the long haul like lots of teams now are like oh we found it. So Borny you mentioned they're the elite talent of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Massive moment for them last night. Talk about Matthews, talk about Marner, talk about Willie. How would you grade the game kipper Borny for the stars? Go ahead kip. I'll let you

They led yeah for me they had a presence their compete was there Sometimes people will sit there and go like unless they're scoring three or four points a game you know, it's It's either a success or failure and that's not the case man. It's Getting over the hump. It's either a success or failure. And that's not the case, man. It's getting over the hump, it's having a presence, leading with compete. They had a large penalty kill, one where they ragged the puck

and barely let Ottawa touch it. That in the third too was a big kill, yeah. All of them for me are passing grade. Now, do people expect more, want more? You know, are we sitting here saying that they didn't get the job done or they didn't have a great look or? No, no, I was just wondering how you thought of the game. And I think it's fair, I want your opinion

if they did or didn't, you know? I don't care what people say. Yeah. I'll look at, from Matthews to the 20th guy, and I'll say, guys, congrats, man, that was good enough to beat the Ottawa Senators, right? But I will not sit here and tell you that what I saw over six games will be good enough

to beat the Florida Panthers. They need to get better. Another level. They need another level? Yep. And starting in game one, they need to get better as the series progresses. Unless Florida falls off the face of the earth here

with their play and how they finished a very good Tampa Bay Lightning, you guys are in for something that you never saw remotely in series one. So that's to me now next level stuff for all of them starting with Matthews and Marner and Neal. But I think, I mean, I'll let you get in here, but you have to pass the first test

to graduate to the second test here. And the first test has been impossible for them. So I don't think, like I don't think they were breathtaking by any stretch last night, but Matthews ends up with points, Marner ends up with points, Willie has three points. They contributed, they're on the score sheet, they win the game. That's gotta be a good mental block.

You play to win the game. You win, and they had points, and they contributed. Of course what you're saying makes sense, but in the grand picture here, this was their weakest opponent that they faced their whole careers in the playoffs. They earned that right. Absolutely. And they earned it with a regular season.

But the real test will come Monday. Game one. Yeah. You know, for me, I thought that they did not play bad. You know, like I'm sitting here and I nothing today is like, yeah, I thought Marner is bad. I didn't think he was bad. I thought he was good. I thought he's fine Saving Matthews Matthews for me He shot that one in the net and I thought maybe this will loosen him up, you know, maybe free him and it didn't it still seemed Both those guys to me

Don't skate as much as they usually do in the offensive zone. It's a little more stationary I still think they made good plays They set people up. That's great. You know, they're told to get pucks in deep and yeah pucks to the net It's but kill in the first games I felt like yeah, you saw a bit more movement a bit more creation the changeover I think to Barube style play from Sheldon has also had an effect on them, especially Matthews. It seems to me that Matthews has been the most affected out of less puck possession

or less feel of doing your own thing. But I will say Willie is like, so if Marner and Matthews are in this range of good, you know, pretty good to good, they're kind of right in there for me. Willie is like this. And in these games, it's nice to have a guy who can get to the top part He hits those high notes for me where he's skating and using his edges He often looks like the most threatening guy if I were another fan watching the Leafs in those games I'd be like, oh no for sure because he can do that stuff and then You know, I think after he got his first goal, he turned three pucks over in

a shift. He got stuck out there. It must have been a minute and a half. He actually bent over at one point. And it was just like, you know, you get a little bit of both, but it's nice to have a guy who can hit the highs. Did you want to hear the Rubé talk about Matthews quickly before we? Does he say anything?

Yeah, yeah, he talks about it. I mean, we were talking about the captain. I thought we should maybe talk about it. We don't have to. We don't want to, but. Just play it. Let's go ahead. Good. Good five on Matthews What got thick and competitiveness the whole game high-end I Don't know what his face-off percentages right now, but it was high I don't I didn't see him lose too many draws starts there and just

heavy physical work, competing, touched all areas of the game for us tonight in a good way. PK, power play, obviously he scored a big goal. So like I said, he led the way. There you go. And also have the coach want to support his. Yep, he's pumping his tires up, right as he should I guess, you know for sure but like there will be a big difference now between

Cousins Pinto and Stutzla then Barkov Bennett and Lundell like this is yeah. Okay. Now we find out Austin if if if if you're ready for the challenge. But people get to enjoy this, Kipper. We can look ahead, I understand they're in deep, but it's the Battle of Ontario, tons of people said that the Leafs were gonna get upset by the Ottawa Centers.

No, no, no, not a ton. Yes, they did, yes, they did. But not a ton, Sammy. No, you're not letting people enjoy this. But they beat the Ottawa Centers, but they're gonna get smoked by the Panthers're not letting people enjoy this. But they beat the Ottawa Senators, but they're going to get smoked by the Panthers. People are excited about this. Your bar is so low right now. Yeah, everybody's is. It's the Leafs. Not everybody's is. Not everybody's bar is as low as yours. Enjoy it. Yes. They knocked off a wild card team when they won

the division. That's so many people were saying they're gonna upset the leaves. They're gonna upset the leaves They own the leafs in the regular season. The playoffs start now they to Justin's point They earned the easy tap-in. Yes. Okay, they got it. Yes, but stop with the enjoyment, you know, I Will tell you this I'll tell you how you're wrong and I'm right. Okay. Yeah go back a few years ago when they eliminated Tampa Bay and look at the celebration from Dubas to Sheldon to the players on the ice. I'm glad you brought this I know I wanted to I know I I know it was a

Overtime goal was it was an overtime. It was turn around Go watch the celebration last night after eliminating Ottawa nothing nothing Zippo another Hey, we just did what we were supposed to do nobody Hooping and holla nothing. Okay Nothing. Yeah. Yeah Go downtown last night. I was born and raised in this town. I can't ever recall a Leafs advancing in the playoffs without thousands of honking horns

and flag waving. No, I didn't hear anything. You were downtown. You were tucked into your mansion uptown. Nothing like compared to the past. Nothing. You know why? Because they did what they were supposed to do, Sammy. So stop acting like they didn't.

But they did do it. But the thing is, they've been supposed to do this. They've been supposed to do this? Yeah, you're on the right track. Sure, thank you. For nine years. And they've done it once. saw when they put the hoop on the holo and when you do it work, it's almost English There's a variation of English It's like the Charlie Brown teacher when you do it

So little yes, my bar is low. Yes But when you beat the Ottawa Senators who is a division rival and they're never lost and their fans are ever lost Yeah, but their fans are in your kitchen. They're talking about all this they're gonna blow at the least are gonna blow it They're in your kitchen. Blah blah. Listen. Listen. Listen, you're it's enjoyable You are you are both right because you're going at it from two totally different points of views and goals for the team Sam your worst nightmare was waking up today or on Monday, humiliated. Humiliation is not even a big enough word.

Perfect word. Humiliation isn't strong enough. You were scared of being humiliated. Of course. And now you're past that. Yes. And you have won a Stanley Cup and are thinking about how does that happen? What do you have won a Stanley Cup and are thinking about how do you make how does that happen?

Well, what do you have to do to do that? So yeah, you're trying to not you're in here Yeah, he's trying to be right and you're both accomplishing your goals. So you you know, you're relief you're not elated. You're not Just relieved I did hack a battery that you haven't been humiliated. Correct. Correct. And that's just good enough. That's great. That's great. Listen, I got a weekend off where I can dream

about the Leafs winning the Cup now, boys. Great. I can dream about it. No, no, no, no, I want you focused on ways that you think that the Leafs can beat Florida. That Barkov and Bennett are skating in warmup and they're not looking and they bonk heads and they're both out for the series with concussion That's how I think they can win that would not hurt

Anyways good yelling. Do we do we really think that Willie Nylander was close to not playing last night? What happened? You know, I I personally as the video coach was involved in this sort of stuff I don't really understand what's happened here. Okay to my knowledge is that Line up line up cards. Yeah, who's playing and who's not? Get set after warm-up, right? You don't do it before warm-up I do it after warm-up because you want to make sure everybody's Nobody you're starting nobody stepped on a puck and on a puck and you might have an extra body.

You got to know who's in and who's out. So they went in and in the past, I think you write it down on a sheet. Now they use the computers. Yes, so it's like a drop down menu. So they go and put Kneelander in. The first one that comes up is A KneeLander, not W KneeLander. So they pressed a KneeLander. And whether it went through, whether it started with one of the assistant coaches, Mike Van Ryan, or it ended up with Borubi, somebody entered the somebody pressed the entered button,

right? And now it's gone to the league. Now the question is, is who found it? You know, last night, our Elliott Friedman. Yeah, our Elliott Friedman, I think reported that maybe it was an NHL official linesman or something. mean sorry the Jordan bean hero I'm not sure where this story goes to be honest with you because I didn't it wasn't listening that closely last night on TV Whether it was an Ottawa official an NHL official now the leaf version was we knew it was wrong the moment We pressed it. Oh, okay. And they went out and they made it clear to everybody, we've got the wrong knee lander on the sheet, and fix it.

Yeah, not a huge deal. That's what happened. So I don't think it was like up until 10 seconds before puck drop. The linesman saved the day. Somebody saved the day. It just, it just. It is very unlikely.

Do you guys wanna hear the rubay talk about it or no? That they would, yeah, sure. Okay, clip two please there. Well, you're on the sheet there and it's like, you know, the normal names are up there, but when you call guys up, they're all on there and I got confused, so I'm like what the hell and so told the officials It's Willie not Alex

And it got switched over but I don't think he was ever close to Potentially. Yeah, we need to drop to do that. By the way, what the hell and it's Willie So, I mean anyways it made for an interesting topic. But it is funny with him having two and one in the end. By the way, we did the Leafs talk yesterday and you talked about that Willie shot and you liked his placement or whatever. All marks no good, guys.

It's a foot inside the post at least. You cannot be clean in a game that you need to be pretty darn close to perfect. Willy rules, but like, Omar was trying to give it away last night. The one he gave to Domi who banked it off the inside of the post. The amount of times this guy, he's a circus. Yes. I don't know, you know, they're betting on him with that core the next few years. And that goal, I mean mean the Matthews goals brutal

Like it's just he doesn't have his post. He just couldn't find it. He's looking around. He just couldn't find but I mean I'm no goal-attending coach, but shouldn't you have your skate on the? Seal to the net in that situation. I Told you guys I got Joseph Wall starting game one. You still do. I still do you don't even know what day the series I'm gonna Monday the series is starting Monday. Yeah, I still do. You don't even know what day the series starts. Monday. The series is starting Monday. Have they announced that? This is just, you got the Greek title, Hattros Patros Matros, the league schedule guy.

Drastically changes in their decision making. Washington and Carolina on Sunday, Leafs in Florida on Monday. I just, I think it's a nice, I think it's a perfect game to just give Stollers a little bit of a regroup. And you put in a really good goalie who's got a ton of energy right now. So I think it would make more sense for them

to start on Tuesday, because then you get hockey night in Canada Tuesday Thursday Saturday No, Wednesday if they go Monday, and I'm saying I think it should be Tuesday Thursday Saturday. Oh To start the schedule. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, just to line it up so they get the Saturday But if it is Monday Tuesday, like this is a pretty good break for him, right? It's uh, you know that gives him Friday, Saturday, Sunday. That one day might matter. I just how do you go away from the guy who just won six, you know, won four. I just like Joseph Wall.

I don't think he's going to come in and blow the game. Oh, I don't either. I have no concern. I don't envision Stoller's playing every game in the playoffs I never did did you guys know but I do think I mean you don't think if you were the head coach You wouldn't go away from him here for real Storrs. Yeah, I don't like his last two or three games. Yeah, listen He's been he's given up a mediocre goal in about four straight games, but I think you give him the chance again He won you the series see how it looks and if you know you want to go to wall game to cool

Okay, I mean, there's no complete right or wrong for me. I'm not arguing it I just I've just got a hunch that this guy needs a little bit of a reset That's all and you have a very good goalie We come on we've seen Pickard. we've seen all these different kind of guys come in and out. It's hard for one guy now. It's very stressful week for him that he's never had before. Yeah.

Okay. He's never been down this path before. He's never played more before. Didn't like the Perron goal. I'm sorry. I didn't like it. But there's, there's good saves though. Yesterday, there's two ways to look at this because you definitely have a point like there's a

Argument clearly if the coaching staff sits together and has a 30-minute meeting about this There's clearly an argument to have wall start game one but The guy just you know, he was the winning goalie for the series He played every game you're going into a second round series against his former team We're like this guy has got you a first round win I know and then listen, but then you're probably gonna be right if he's no good in game one Then you can come in here and be like they should have started wall. I said they should have started

There's not There's no we'll see you all in this year's no crystal ball. There's no Necessarily you're right and I'm wrong or I'm right or I'm wrong and you're right It's just I think if you're gonna make a change, I like making it on a strength preemptives Right. I do too. It's it's like if so Lars can enjoy that game if Stoller's has a bad game, it's because Somehow some way he's either convinced or someone's convinced that you let us down in game one and we're going to wall so your your point of of usually it's I want to reward someone for being that's not the

case here it's we're giving you a break you did fantastic we're gonna give you a little bit of a break here in game one. We're gonna go to Joseph Wall Stay ready. We're gonna need both of you. Here's your rest without the mental anguish and you just You and also listen We've heard this from goalies. They love their backups. They get along with their backups, but they still compete against each other Tell stole ours that this guy is a good goalie too, and you gotta stay on top of your game, or else this guy's gonna come in and take your net.

It's gotta still feel like wall's a bit of an option for them here. It's not your net because you beat a wild card team in six games. Huge risk for Borubi to put wall in game one. Because if they put wall in game one and he's brutal, they lose. Then it's, then what?

Then what? I'm past, I have no, I have no reason to think he's gonna be brutal. Well, none. I mean, but he could be. If he's had bad knees. If he could be, I will wear that. As a coach, I will wear that.

My mistake. But good coaches bet on their horses. For sure. I'm just saying it's a risk. Like I don't think Joseph Wall sucks, I think he's a good goalie. But you're right, he was a risk. It's a risk every time you leave your house.

Yeah. Right. Anyways, all right. But I mean, you think, what do you think he will do? I think the largest plays for sure. Kipper? I threw out Joseph Wall in game four.

Yeah, no, but what do you think Ruben is? I think he's too safe. He'll play Stoller's. Yeah, agreed, correct. Okay. You made me cut this Brady Kachak clip. I came in here and I talked about it. And you made me cut it and I listened to it.

So, we have listened to it. So Okay, so we have to play barely talk before the show, but you tell me that Brady Kachuk has a very emotional Clip for Kipper's Clipper and you're like, I don't want to play it. I'm like no play it. No, I don't want to play it Why don't you want to play it Sammy? Cuz I'll make fun of him And I'm like he didn't want to make fun of Brady Kachak. He had a very serious... And I'm like, you're playing it!

Play the clip, play the clip Derek. Brady Kachak, play the clip. Well, I'm in... Just the character we have in this room. First and foremost, I knew it all along, but... It's a battle back, and even battle back in this game and I mean I don't just I don't know it's it's tough to swallow but the other day it's to see this city see this fan base and really wanted to do it for them and I mean they came out and did their job and it's gonna be a long couple

months here. But I know myself and this rest of the group here, it's gonna come with a lot of fire next year. Okay, not gonna make fun of him. I'm gonna say honestly, I mean, it's a little comical when he starts getting choked up. But here's what you're brutal. Here's what I'll say. Hear me out. Hear me out. Like a brutal a brutal leaf and I'm a natural the natural reaction is a little chuckle But that guy's a dog that guy cares more than maybe any guy in the league very passionate very authentic Can't fake it and if some of the Leafs stars are half of that

They might have gone a little further in some of these playoff series But I played with teammates that have one foot out the door going to the world championship guys guys this guy's crying Yeah, and he was unbelievable last night and it hurt and he got better and better playing hurt I'm just really happy I don't have to watch him in game seven in Toronto because he was getting better every game He's got a brother buddy. That's coming right in your face. My Getting rid of a kachuk. I know. I know. Brady is...

Oh my God. What am I going to do with this guy? He seems like a grown child. You know, like he... I don't mean that about the crying thing. I just mean like he loves the game unequivocally and that's what he cares about and he is who he is. All right.

We got a Leaf Line, Sammy. Do you have any any golf? Yeah, we'll do it on the leaf line. We're good. OK, the phone and start dialing. There you go. Leaf line next with our boy, Sammy, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program.

Thank you, Brielle, Sammy McKee, and a mouthful of chocolate, Justin, for it. You usually flip me one of those things. You know, I was late today. I was running around. I'm... My apologies, pal. Get you the next break. Next commercial break. All right, Sammy, what are our loyal followers

and listeners and watchers saying on our Leafline? The Leafline is brought to you by Musco... Muskoka Bay Res... Okay, let's start that over. The Leafline is brought to you by Muskoka Bay Resort, a top- 10 ranked Canadian course part of the freed golf network Okay, let's get her going Let's start let's start with

Courtney in Toronto So, okay like I released them last night, I really could not relax until the final seconds of the game. And I don't think that I need to tell you guys how traumatized we all are from past experience. But of course, not being able to close out the series in four or five felt like I put a big scary cloud over last night, to put it mildly. But we did it.

And we have something to cheer for. I've had a good sleep, the sun is shining in Toronto and now I feel like a new woman with a little bit of perspective. And so here's what I've been thinking. Do you think that the scare of losing games four and five might have actually been a good thing for us in the long run heading into round two? Like maybe we needed to feel that pressure and get a bit of fear to get sharper and tougher. And so my question is, could those losses actually help us be more battle-tested against Florida and knock on wood in future rounds

too? Am I crazy in thinking that this might actually be a better outcome in the long run than having swept Ottawa? Is this just classic leaf span coping? I don't know. I would love your thoughts. Before I go, quick shout out to my husband Jake and my mom, Linda, who listen to you guys every single day. Kipper and Bourne and of course, Sammy are always a topic at Sunday dinner at Linda's every single week. We love what you guys are doing. Keep up the great work. Okay. Love you. Bye. Wow. Courtney, question. Yeah. Really good question. I think it is a very good question and

She's right Everyone's been traumatized and our leaders sitting across from us. Mm-hmm the trauma leader I do I Get what she's saying and I don't know What the right answer is to that. I do believe that lessons and messages from game to game, from a series, the highs, the lows, there's something that you can pull out of that for sure. Maybe it was a nice little wake up call for a couple of games for this hockey club.

But I know that, I hope they know what I think we know is that they need to get better quickly here to go up against Florida. And I think maybe those two games might have been the wake-up call that Courtney's talking about. Well, and I actually think that she's onto something there. Sometimes in life, you only appreciate things and have gratitude for them when you've almost lost them and you've been pulled back from the edge. And if you're the Leafs, I think really easy now to look at it and say, we have a real opportunity here. Like you've, they had to feel what it was going to feel like that, that nightmare, that near death experience last night. And now it's like new life, and they know what it's like. Remember last time they went into Florida two years ago?

Everyone was like, they've slayed the first round dragon. Now they're gonna play free. Home ice advantage, and they just got mopped. And I think now that experience combined with this threat should be a little bit of like, okay, fresh start, but we gotta dig in from puck drop, because I think it's gonna be a little bit of like, okay, fresh start, but we got to dig in from puck drop because it's going to be, I think it's going to be a good series.

I think just to extend on that a little bit too, is that the one thing I still think that some of the players can work on a little bit is just the humbleness of identifying, and it goes back to Craig Simpson too, just identify when you're not at the top of your game and you're not when you need to be better and even last night listening to

Austin Matthews who's the captain and the leader and you know the he talks about the outside noise and we don't want to listen to the outside noise and They love saying buddy. Listen, they got to shut that down Totally telling you right now. Oh, do we agree? And even if they are correct Even if they truly feel that way and you feel like it's you versus the outside noise and you got a rally your all Yourselves all together do it. Just stop with the noise that you think is out there, and it is, but you can't, don't bring it up, don't identify it, Mitch Marner's been guilty of it

over the past couple of seasons, where it's you guys and us and you guys, no division. What they should have just said instead of outside noise is we're really happy for our fans. Bring them in. Like, include them. Totally can't. Like, you can't do this without them.

Okay? And yes, they've been hard on you in the past. And yes, the noise is true. Just stop bringing it up. And you know what I think really validates your point and then brings it from a place of I Guess experience is look at what you do for a living I know I do it too, but you've been doing this for a long time and How many times do people online is anyone ever mean to you Kip?

Do you ever get a mean tweet like lots like that is constantly every single day every single day But if it made you come in here and go, I know people are gonna think this is mean, but you know, or whatever, like you just keep doing your thing and that's all that matters. That's all you can do. You've had a lot of great takes in the show, that may be my favorite take.

But you know, when Austin utters about the outside noise, it's like he doesn't believe it, it's unjustified, it's like, you't believe it. It's unjustified. It's like right, you know We we we believe in ourselves and it's like it would be nice every once in a while say hey listen We hear it and you guys are right And and we're just glad that we could we were able to do it for you guys and we're gonna give it our best and let's Let's do this as a city as a team as a community And we're gonna give it our best and let's let's do this as a city as a team as a community

Bring them back buddy bring them back. It isn't us version with the city wants to cheer Courtney. Good question I took up the whole segment. Uh, let's go to Alex from Whitby Got a bit of her dick mint last night Went to a movie instead of seeing the game big leaf fan But I could not stand to watch them lose or potentially lose I'm kind of a family boat I didn't want to change the day on it but want to know if I'm still considered a fan considering I knew they'd be playing more games depending on how it went cheers guys big fan of the show big fan of leaf stock go Leafs go so Alex is the second person that told me

they didn't watch last night. I've heard from someone else too. I, one of my dear, dear friends Dave, texted me after Patrick Reddy scored, he said, I'm taking the dog for a walk. He couldn't even watch the end of the game. He's like, I'm taking the dog for a walk, I'm not watching the end of the game.

That's real trauma. I honestly, I envy that. I envy that. Like I would, if I didn't have to do post-game talk with of this I might have gone to a movie last night for sure turn the phone off I just pretend it doesn't exist. Yeah Like that you are that's a real offense. What would you guys see this the Titanic level of care? Pretty good. No, it's a pretty good joke. Let's go to Mark in Collingwood

pretty good joke. Let's go to Mark in Collingwood. It's a great day here in Ontario and I think we all owe an apology to a lifelong leaf, a playoff dog, an absolute stud. I'm talking about we Willie Nylander. Oh, he doesn't back check. He doesn't hit. He didn't skate hard when I wanted him to. You know what he did do? Put the puck in the net a whole bunch in big games. The guy shows up when it counts counts even when it doesn't look like we wanted to so happy birthday to the most clutch leaf of the Matthews era you in round two Get our really Willie showed up. Yeah clutch clutch Let's try to see ever is just like yep Let's try to sneak one more quick one find another guy that wanted an empty net goal harder than that

I mean end the game of course yeah, but the series away. Yeah, but it was nice. It was nice to see heck of a play Let's go to can't remember us bird brain. Let's go to Mike in Toronto Hey boys what a win last night. It's Mike from Toronto I just wanted to let you guys know I clear big win like that you got to change the name to the Sammy McKee show baby what I want to know though is what are we gonna do different this year against Florida now that we have a better defense and a better goalie is that all it's gonna take or the big guy's gonna have to step up all the best guys see in the second round I I have such a bird I can't remember what

any one of these things. But, uh... Sammy McKeesho. Nah. That's never gonna happen. Why would you put that in? I forgot! I forgot! I forgot! Listen, you don't have to answer that. I forgot. I literally have never brought it up. I forgot.

Our contracts will eventually expire. They won't want us back Yeah, and I'll be at the beer store serving you guys and we're good to go. You can run That's true. Ah I don't think well, I'm trying to think of these if let's go to Andrew. Hold on. His question was about Oh, yeah, right to do against Florida, right, right You know better defense Do you how do you want to handicap that series, Kip? They got a shot? Listen, this is sport.

A couple of suspensions. Babowski goes south a little bit. You got to rattle their chain early in this series and show everybody. I don't see them being swept. I don't see it. That's good. I don't see five. I see six or seven

I think the Leafs will find ways to To win a couple of hockey games here. I don't have them coming out of the series I have Florida as the favorite, but how do you get out of this? Matthews Marner Nylander have to have the series of their life. They will Not only will they be challenged, I'm telling you right now between Bennett, Marshand and a few others, they are targeting Matthews, Marner and Nylander.

Okay, they're coming. Kachuk, they're all coming. And they will be tested like they've never been tested before at this point of their careers. And I hope they're ready. Bob was a 901 save percentage just like stole ours in round one you know he can run hot and cold you'd need a little bit of help there I think the Leafs do defend extremely well I think the games will be close. And the Leafs line was brought to you by Muskoka Bay Resort a top-10 ranked Canadian course part of

the Freed Golf Network. And a reminder to golf fans out there, Sportsnet and Muskoka Bay Resort have come together with an amazing contest. Text the word Muskoka 59590 for your chance to golf at one of Canada's top 10 ranked golf courses with a night in an incredible three bedroom villa for you and your friends.

Just text Muskoka to 59590 for your chance to win. Visit sports.ca slash 590contest for more details. And you can take the three of us for your fourth. Yes. Nice job, Sammy. All right. Take a little bit of a break here. We return from our NHL president,

GM and head coach, Doug McLean. He's on the rails with Sammy. In the first hour, it's back off with Mac don't go away national show coming up next