Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Sens Extend the Series

Episode Date: April 28, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators in Game 4 as the series rolls on to Toronto for Game 5. They get into the lack of urgency in the closeout game, Artem Zub's late headshot on John Tavares, the team needing more from Auston Matthews, whether they should've turned to Joseph Woll in net for Game 4 and the heightened stakes for Game 5. Later, former NHLer and host of the Coming In Hot Sens podcast Jason York (31:18) shares what changed for Ottawa on Saturday, the Senators' blue-line adjustments, and which playoff debutants have impressed so far in Round 1.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

What a weekend in the National Hockey League, which means we're right back at it on this Monday. You're ready once again for the fastest two hours in hockey. It's the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet 590, the fans, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet plus Nikiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo and Jake the Snake, Schultz. Oh my gosh, where do we begin? Also, around the league in our national hour,

we got Jets Talk. Yeah, we do. We've got Montreal Canadiens Talk. Tom Wilson Talk. We got a ton of it Sammy a ton of it In the meantime, let's focus on our leaf hour edition of our program and The Leafs do not get the sweep no brooms on the weekend which means

Game five tomorrow night JB will start with you in terms of the thought process of missing out a chance to have a week off. Yeah. Yeah. You know, the most disappointing part outside of the OT goal going in is got to be that start. Like that first period, I think they were chances were like nine to one for Ottawa. There was long stretches there where it looked like, you know, the Leafs didn't come out with the intent all this talk about can they step on the throat of an opponent and just put them

away once and for all not even a sniff of that in the first period. We guys look at me for Should we be surprised though? Because Leaves have found a way to have these peaks and valleys throughout 60 minutes for a very long period of time and yet somehow some way they've managed, especially down the stretch, to come out on top. Like this is just Greg Brooby type of hockey right now

that we watch consistently. Yeah, I'll say the should we be surprised part is yes, we should be surprised. You know, we thought we, all we've talked about is it different, right? That's the whole conversation this year. Is it different? And then we unequivocally on so many occasions said yes.

And then when it was the same, I think it was surprising. Okay, so after every Leaf game, I go on with Sportsnet Central, Ivanka and Ken Saturday night. And one of the questions came to me was, is the seed is this? Hey, don't shake your head and bury it in your hair right now They asked me if there's a seed of doubt that's been planted. So I'm asking you Sammy head of leaf Nation why you looking at me because you are leaf nation. I It would have been really nice to add one to the win ledger in

facing elimination as instead of another one in the loss ledger when facing elimination for these guys I mean. So what is it one in 11? 12. One in 12. One in 12 after Saturday. And if you go back to the 2013 series you. They're one of 13 in potential serious clinching games. Where you can move on. You really wish it was done. And like you said, the week's rest, having the ability to get a bunch of practices in, your goalie who's been injured during the year, your captain who's been, all this, a week's rest would've been fantastic. And everybody in their mother, including Kipper, wants, I can tell by looking at him, wants to push this narrative of, what'd you do?

Listen, because he's like, oh, I went on with Ken and Ivanka and they said they're gonna blow it. Are they gonna blow it, Sammy? That was their, they asked the question, I answered it. Ken and Ivanka and they said they're gonna blow it. Are they gonna blow it? That was there They asked the question. I had you related to me pal He's asking if the seed has been planted and I will say the soil has been tilled seed in

Fertilized and watered it's been planted. Yes, you can't lose four in a row without losing one Okay, sure the seeds been planted, but you have to think I am nowhere close to oh My god, I'm scared. Okay, but If they come home on Tuesday night tomorrow, I guess right and the great an extra day like thanks NHL He's really still timing for the ghosts talk for two days but if they come home and they look shaky and they lose then it's full-blown five alarm fire that's when it goes from from a little you know a little tepid towards it too I am full-on panicking I don't know if I'll

be able to watch that's what we'll get to even game six oh it'd be horrible be horrible yeah all right let's go to Craig Ruby on No, no, we're not turning the page. Okay, we're just gonna we're sprint. We're spreading it out Long from being over this Let's just get Craig Ruby's thoughts on Saturday night and the difference between winning and losing well, I think special teams We gave up a PP goal for them and a shorty against our PP but we had the opportunities with the four-minute or an overtime. Didn't get

it done. So pretty simple breakdown and I actually think there's something to it in terms of the special teams. Like you know they usually they've been scoring on their power play. They get one in overtime. They have no Tavares. It looks terrible. They hit the post. They hit the knob of Ulmer and stick on that power play. I mean, it's the margins are so thin. It's so hard. If you were to zoom out and not have the Toronto Maple Leaf involved in this series. Like there is no worries about that loss at all. They battled back twice in that game, they tied it late, defended hard, were the way better team for the majority of it, had chances in overtime, seeing eye shot from the point,

you're not gonna win three straight in overtime, blah, blah, blah, all this stuff. But the fact of the matter is, it's the Leafs. Exactly, so carry on. Berube. No, let's go to Tavares. Let's go to Tavares first, okay? Because he didn't mention the power play,

and one that did not include a familiar look of Tavares. Your thoughts on the hit, and then having him not there on the power play. Yeah. Thoughts on the hit are are it's a greasy play. He definitely tries to give him an extra pop. It hits him in the head. I don't think we're gonna start suspending people for plays like this. I don't like it at all, but I think it's at least a penalty. And unfortunately, the result of it with Tavares not on that power play

now Mitch isn't handling the puck at the top now everything is stretched back towards the blue line and Morgan's trying to figure out which flank guy to give it to nothing's downhill towards the net it just it looked so much worse the second you got away from the five man power play I do think that them giving up the short-handed goal earlier in the game makes them go to Morgan rather than say putting Bobby McMahon into bars a spot and Yeah, yeah, see that but that bothers me. Yeah, that bothers me. But uh, what did you think of the hit first? And then we'll go back. Okay, I

I You know, it was dirty play, but I'm a hockey fan. I've watched this enough. I think there's two things you can do in overtime to get a penalty, and it's shoot the puck over the glass or high stick a guy. Like, I've kind of subscribed to that. It's a bad play. Is it a penalty for sure?

But like, do I understand that it wasn't called? I do. I hate to admit that, and Leaf fans probably hate to hear it, but they don't call that stuff a lot in overtime It's it's it's very rare that a Hit like that doesn't Include more force you got him right in the button, but but he's standing still he's almost at a standstill

He just leans in the at the last second. It's not like he's he's he's skating into Tavares it's not like he's it's almost as if Tavares has no idea where he is and it almost comes off as Incidental contact almost Second you're committed to your your your spot Yeah, and you're not gonna give Tavares a free lane to go in and cut him off. Okay, and That's that's all I really saw yeah That's it. I don't agree I Tavares to me is you know skating into him Yeah, he's skating into and around him. But typically people who do when you are the puck, people can't deliver a forceful blow to your chin.

That's typically against the rules. It's a lot easier to sell it when you're kind of standing still and a guy skates into your shoulder with just the last second of, hey, listen, if he's gonna hit me, I'm gonna brace myself anyways. I get that's how Zub is playing it off, is that it's just weird just running into contact. It worked. Yeah, it did work, but it's the same thing as Bennett on Marchand the year ago where

you go, it worked. I get why it works. It doesn't make it okay or clean. No, no, no, no, for sure. For sure. Yeah. I mean, I would love it to be a penalty. I would love a fine.

I would love a mention of one of these plays. Anything. A cross check and the mouth goes unfined a elbow to the mouth on fine like you'd love a mention of it by the league but play off hockey I guess Okay, before we get into my thoughts on on the power play Just the mere fact that It really bothers me when I continue to watch guys get pulled off for concussion protocol and then I've watched hits like that in other instances in previous Stanley Cup playoffs or even regular season where a guy does not come off.

And I'm going, all right, you're in the visiting building, I don't know who the doctors are, are they independent, do they fly them in, do they live in Ottawa, are they regular contributors to the Ottawa Senators, is it a lot easier to pull a visiting player off on a protocol than it is if it was Brady Kachuk who took the same hit. Would he have been pulled off? Would he have been missing an integral part of a game that could have got you out of the first round?

I don't know the answers to that. But all I know is sometimes they disappear, sometimes they don't. It is really subjective and random and we don't have a lot of clarity as fans about what's happening. You know, is a carry a same thing. He sat on the bench after the Wilson hit for a long time and then he went. It's Tavars made it abundantly clear.

He was fine. He was pulled off today. He talked about it that I was told to get off the bench. So, like, I mean, I remember one time this year, a Holmberg He talked about it that I was told to get off the bench. Hmm, so Like I mean, I remember one time this year a Holmberg literally went face first into the boards and we came in here the next I was like, is there yes. Yeah, is there a spotter out there? Like what happens on to the snack bar? I mean listen, Kim. Honestly gonna take a leak. I gotta tell you I really wasn't thinking a whole lot about this in that way, But now I'm like, really bad.

Yeah, but now like, the way like I'm immediately pissed off. Yeah. Like, they just pulled him off for They just pulled him off. Six minutes of game time, he missed a four minute power play. I get it, I get it, like, you know, but I just, I just don't see it every time like you know, but I just I just don't see it every time you know and it's just kind of pisses me off a little bit that it's I

Don't know. I mean he was he was gone at the most important time when they needed him the most Absolutely, and it was a horrific look without him. I'm sorry. And I'm gonna get back to your point on, you know, were they gun shy about the shorthanded goal here that they put Morgan Riley? And I'm like, you can't have five forwards for over half a season and then being gun shy the one time. To me, Morgan should never have touched the light of day on that power of play.

I am bringing in a fifth forward either McMahon or patcher ready before I go to Morgan Riley on the four minute power play Yeah Why do you why so you think it was because or like you're theorizing was because they gave up the shorty and they're concerned about that No, I think it's over time. You know, they want to be more risk averseverse What do you think their reasoning was, Keper? What's your opinion on it? I'm not he could be right. Yeah, but I it's like no I mean where you are so far beyond one the shorthanded situation Feeling like you're vulnerable enough that you got to put a defenseman back there and you know stick with it

Stay with it. And if you're if it's not being risk-averse it's not the best power play option we know now that there's no solution where Morgan runs the power play and it looks like it does when Mitch is up top and we've talked about Mitchell you're long Mitch can skate backwards he can defend that might be the first time I've seen him beat so cleanly off of a chip off the boards and he could have had some help and support there, too So, you know, it's not just him So the Leafs gave up seven shorties this regular season in 82 games, which is middle of the pack You know, they're not that five forward power play didn't give up a ton of shorties. I

It was a playing not to lose sort of Decision to me in that moment. And Simmer brought it up on the broadcast and you two will know this well. The four minute versus the two minute thing, the urgency for the first half of that power play, there was none of it. Just the way like when they're on. That's how it looks when Morgan touches it, it slows down. But then when they were on, I mean through the first three games of this and even though

they got a power play goal didn't they in the games of this and even though they got a power play goal Didn't they in the in the earlier in the game? Did they score a power play goal? Racking my brain. Anyways, their power play has been excellent through four games Like it just looked so much different. There's no directness. That's not going towards the net It threw everybody off. Nobody knew what to do. It threw everybody off. I want I want Mitch up top Okay, and even the brain down down low don't look as good to me. It's yeah. Hey, so that was They're up three nothing, you know with a chance to put the series away would have liked to see them say We're really gonna try to go for it here and end this thing but we're on the road

We want to hear from Craig Brody on the zoo pit or we be or we pass that I mean he says he doesn't like it. Okay. Do you want to hear that? No. Okay. Let's hear him on the power plane overtime then. There you go. Well no I mean we had some looks. We had some good looks. I mean Matthews hit the post and it's some good looks. Didn't go in. I mean not gonna look at it too much. Didn't get a bounce. Coulda ended it, hit a post. We had a couple other good opportunities. Yeah, I mean, JT's very good on the PP for us, obviously, but we had our looks.

It's just bread and butter right now. Yeah. Tavares, as good as anybody right now. And- Needed him. Berube's not as familiar with the fact that they had some good looks Is like the mantra of this team after losing in the playoffs. That's been a thing forever And I will note just because we don't note this often enough when it happens John DeVos is their best forward in game four. I thought he skated really well. He attacked

He held on to the puck. He was having a really nice night. Great great effort on Driving it to the net on the game tying goal. Yeah by Oliver Echman Larson What a play that ended up being too Travis Green waited. Sorry those highlights. Yeah watching Matthews not put that one away in the slot Can we just and hits the knob stick on the all of recman larcen rister? I appreciate you saying Tavares was the best skater the best player but like That's where you need Austin to to carry those words. No argument. Okay, and we still see other series where top players hit levels,

where you're like your jaws dropping. Wow, factors. Just not, hey, good two-way play, good this, good that, but come on, not for the... You watched Leon last night? Dry Saddle grabbed the Oilers and willed them across the line. This guy needs to step up this time now to look. Even if you're not shooting it in the net,

you gotta look like you're the best player on the ice. How about a threat? Look like you're a threat. I mean, the thing is, they have good counting stats to the first four games of the series. Like I think they're both Producing Marner and Matthews are both producing well through through four games So it's a very easy thing to point to for a lot of fans being like, oh you're just you know

He's been good. The points have been there he's playing an elite 200 game and I'm not saying this to disagree because I totally agree and to be quite frank you you see those numbers, the one in 12 and elimination games. And I saw like a lot of the same looks that I've seen in years past. The looks on the faces, the pucks bouncing on them, like you're not shooting it in. Like, I mean, how many times I know it's hard I know it's hockey but like the puck is in the blue paint you bank it off the post you miss an overtime on the wrist on the two-on-one with Matt with with Marner I just I recognize some of the looks from Matthews and Marner in

game four you know it's I know I know I hear you it's funny Luke Fox has a tweet today where he says Maple Leafs outscoring Senators five nothing at even strength and ten to 1 in all strength when Austin Matthews on the ice in the series and it's like I know but You know, I know but Like if you watch that last game, you're like it's not No, it wasn't there. It wasn't there last night last game and and we know he has another gear We know what it looks like when he hits that other gear in one of these these games, in one of these moments, you'd like to see him have one of those games.

One of those games. And he has had those games in the playoffs for the Leafs, but it's just not when they have a chance to move on. Yeah. It really isn't. And he looks like the hurt version of Matthews, which is often this time of year we're going, is he hurt? And he didn't which is often this time of year. We're going is he hurt He didn't skate today

Didn't skate today. I'm not right. I still hurt his vocal cords after game four too because he didn't talk to the media anyways That's weird Okay Friday I threw out the thought of Joseph Wall I threw out the thought of Joseph Wall starting. No, here we go. I did.

I did. And most people told me I had to get my head examined, including you, Sammy. Oh, yeah. Me too. Maybe 100%. Sunday I got a few tweets, just not many, not a ton that said, yeah, you might have been right. You know what, though?

I'm going to push back on this because all you did was bring up a conversation which was would you, should you, let's talk about it. I don't think you ever advocated for doing it. Gun to your head, you were starting Stolarz on Saturday night. You know what, I would have needed a deeper dive into it, but I will go back to why I threw it out.

And my theory doesn't look as ridiculous today as it did Friday because they lost. And for the first time, Almark was better than Stolarz in the series. Not much. Not much. No, not much, but enough. And the one thing that I did like about the thought of it was that Stolarz is now clearly in an area he hasn't been before. He's played four games and essentially eight nights.

Right? Yep. before he's played four games and essentially eight nights. Right. Yep. And. And I think it was if there if there was one opportunity to get Joseph Wall in on on a total strength move, not a not a ricochet, not a rebound, not a our guy, our guy stunk. No goaltending controversy, no nothing. Just get in a goalie that you really believe in, get him a rep in. Yeah.

And worst case scenario is he loses that game. And you got a fresher stole ours for game five. And you still got a guy that hasn't lost. Still has confidence. You have no greater advocate or partner in this than me. I am absolutely a, you can't just run out the same guys because you won. You do what's best to win the next game to position you for the series. Totally on board. If you had rolled out Joseph Wohl in that game and he was awful. Okay, that's the gamble. That's where you just have to say if we lose it won't be

because of Joseph Wohl. Yeah. And if you really believe that then it was a bigger option for you. Yeah. I think you if you and I were on the coaching staff and sat in the office and talked about it long enough You could have talked to me into wool for sure But I just I get why 95 at least I the only coach be like And you'd have probably been right when you think about the week that he's had and And the stress and the intensity and how he's been so good all week.

The one thing that I would have guarded is that if he just starts getting a little tired. So is that what you saw on Saturday? 100%. But, Kip. He did not at the end. And I get it was a seeing eye shot there that that beat him But I can see I can see his energy and his his movements at the end

Nowhere near sharp as at the top of his game but the one thing they had going for them while making this game for decision is Multiple days between games before game five. You knew that if you played them, you were going to have more than the usual one day recovery to reset. It's still a great extra day for for Stolar's. Yeah, this extra day is big for the Leafs is big for Stolar's. Yeah, Matthews.

I'm I don't really know if he's hurt. Where's he hurt? He's hurt, but he's not. He's the only guy not skating today for rest. Yeah, so whatever okay fair enough Yeah, fair enough, but so you're right so just to confirm. Yeah before we continue. Yeah, Stoller's game five oh Yeah, okay hundred percent hundred percent now. Yeah, the windows gone. Yeah, the window was Saturday night It's not game five at home. No okay that that window took to rest them or to get Joseph wall a game in is Gone, they missed it. Yeah, you have one game here

Before as you mentioned panic mode the squeeze is on the noise is loud The media is there the sends believe you got one more crack at it and then it's you know Lucky for leaf fans, they've been excellent elimination games, so it should be no problem. But hey, you run up against it enough times, the old chipping away at the same rock thing, it cracks a little. Apparently this is uncomfortable.

I'm gonna be, you know, between now and puck drop Tuesday night, the dark arts that I am gonna be working the voodoo the curses the reverse Jinx's the dark arts are coming Sammy's got the stands a plus 900 to win the series. I do let's We haven't done this one. Have we Craig Ruby on? Failing to close it out. Don't we let's hear from the coach Probably be thinking that maybe they planted a seed of doubt in you guys being up 3-0 and now 3-1. And this team, historically the core players that have been here have had trouble closing out series.

How do you come back and say... Well, I don't think that was the case tonight. I thought our team played extremely hard, did a lot of great things. You know, we gave up four shots in two periods. I mean, I thought we defended hard, played hard, you know. I mean, you got to, you know, bounces go one way or another. I'm not, I'm not too concerned about it. I thought our team was ready to go. Did a lot of good things tonight, didn't work out. Why don't we, he a one from today as well? There's another Borubi clip and what has to change for you to close it out clip 6 do and do that one

That's good. All right. I don't think a whole lot. I mean it's there, you know, I think we've got to keep doing a lot of the same things we're doing and we make adjustments game the game and You know, I think that we can Try to generate more for sure. But at the same time, I think we're doing a lot of good things. And it's a bounce here or there. It's a different game, right? But that's the way it goes.

We've got a match desperation level here. It's going to be a hard game. They're a good team. I've said it all along. That's a good hockey team over there. So we'll be ready to go. So it's so funny, the two coaches, like I listen to Travis Green, who talked for 14 minutes today, and I was able to dig one clip out of it.

But he was just like, Lisa, good team. They're a great team. They got great players. They're a great team. They're a great team. Brewing. They're a good team. They're a great.

It's like it's a good team off. Yeah, they don't know how they're old school guys. No board material. Or they're a good team. They're good team. Say're their old-school guys. No board material or They're a good team. They're good team. Say what you got a Bueller. So It's kind of a must-win for them The Leafs yeah, oh my god. Yeah, it's not a must win or not Literally in for the series I'm talking about everything that they've built up towards, this is different, this is, right?

To carry the momentum now, it is kind of a must-win. I will say this. At home, to close out a series. I would be fully confident they could win game six if they lost game five. I would be confident they could win game seven if they lost game six. However. I think if they lose tomorrow night is coming back for game seven Of course it is. I don't however

emotional If you if you want to believe that the picture is greater than beating Ottawa in round one I do think it's a must win. I do think it's like an emotion We got that idea you want the mindset that yeah, okay We gave him one and over time, but we still are the leaf Oh different we went five bring on the wind five one five two six two nail it and all of a sudden you're like, okay Let's let these two teams beat each other up or wait. It could be a longer run We got a weekend off here

We can chill if you come out of this series after six seven games with one limb intact, you know It's that you know it's that's why it's must win you can't be that team yeah and that's that's my theory on why I feel like it's my theory because if they lose tomorrow they have lose the series they have to see that's nonsense they they need for so many reasons including the one in twelve they need tomorrow night at home Shut the door, you know and these guys Mitch Austin Willie for their career defining narratives You don't want to be the guys who are like you don't want the yeah, but after all the great things you did Yeah, but they couldn't you know, whatever put you there lock it up

No, you ever lock it up. There's some incentive for them to treat it like a must-win No doubt about that Before we go to break cuz we're gonna get to Yorkie, which would be great. Can we just talk about that? Matthew nysgall? Oh my god, oh freak Freak of nature. I mean everything on display that he does well power speed. Yeah hands. Yeah, and Then the line hasn't been great in terms of moving the puck making plays Extended zone time just it's it's a great individual effort to break it up the line You know, I'm not that far off of I'm not triggering you off like a oh to fastball. Yeah, right

I I really look at look at different things. Yeah, I don't see I don't see a I don't see a lot of Chemistry out of it. Oh look at the ink. Yeah, see ya I'm not seeing a lot of chemistry right now moving the puck this time of year It's so tight that you've got to be able to move the puck little pass little pass little gas You know, we'll get into this in our national hour but watching Edmonton when they are focused, when they are focused, like really dialed in, watch them move the puck. It's amazing. Yeah. And you don't get that out of the number one line right now out of the Leafs. No it's it's hit and miss for sure. You know they're certainly capable of it. We see it in stretches.

And last thing, just quickly before we break, Alvareckman Larson on a positive note. It's a great pass from Willie for the game tying goal, but offensive pedigrees still there. Hits that one timer offside down to a knee, hits it hard to get into the net. That's a really nice play. Really good finish. The other thing worth noting, where they give up four shots in the last two periods. I was hard on the start They did lock it down. Yeah, this D is gonna keep them in enough games to give guys chances to be star with a

Driving the offense. Yeah, right between Benoit and OEL. Yeah, like This is a this is Threatening he had another moment where he busted up the icing yes or like I'm like what is this? He had another cannon to that he unleashed at one point. It's 91 something on there feeling it. Yeah, it's a threat All right. Okay. Let's take a quick break. We'll return as a Sammy just said Jason York co-host of the coming in hot sins podcast Irregular here on the real kipper and. Up next, we get the Ottawa side. Back when we return after these words.

Everything you need to know about the Blue Jays, Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. your podcast. Welcome back to the show. Leaf Hour edition of our program. Toronto Maple Leaf set to host game five at the Scotiabank Arena against the Ottawa Senators. Here to help us tee it up. Jason York coming in hot after a big win by Ottawa Senators. New life, baby. New life. Yorkie. How are

you, man? Thanks for doing this. Hey, Kipper. I'm good. I'm good. Yeah, no, it's a sunny day here in Ottawa. I actually went and hit golf balls today for the first time. So yeah, hopefully for the sense they can they can pull one out but This series has been so tight guys like the last you look at every game even game one with the exception of I thought all right a really bad first period they Couldn't win either way. You can make an argument for that I actually thought the Leafs were the better team last game and all to a wins

Like it's just it's been a weird series. It's been very strange. So, so what is it? Does it just come down to a seeing eye shot by Sanderson in overtime? Was it the penalty kill? Was it Allmark being one, one save better than Stolarz? What was the difference for you? Hey Kipper, I think it was goaltending. I think that's the first game that you can honestly say that Omar played Stolars.

Because for me up until then, Omar's been OK, but Stolars has been all world. And last game, probably like a couple of those goals back. But hey, it's the playoffs. And it's all about goaltending. Like you might as well rename the Stanley Cup playoffs goalie because that that's pretty well every year the team that usually comes out ahead usually has the best goalie and last game yeah last game for me it was goal-tank and I thought oh Mark that was

by far his best game. How are fans feeling now how are they enjoying this? It's been a bit of a wait to get back into it here and it's the Leafs and suddenly this thing feels like, okay, you know, you got one, start chipping away, you win another, go back to Ottawa. How's the mood around Ottawa? Oh Barney, they were fired up here in Ottawa. There's somebody posted a couple videos of people leaving the rink and people dressed up in like the senators suits of armor and stuff like that was nuts. Like I think you look around the league, like look at Montreal and Winnipeg and every single rink. I don't think the game's been ever been in a better place than it is right now. The excitement, uh, like Montreal is like a soccer crowd there. It's nice. It's crazy. Ottawa, people were saying it might have been the loudest they've ever heard that rank. And I might have to agree, I was there, albeit I was up in the press box, but still it was good. The last thing people wanted

to see here, because it's been a great year for Ottawa. They made the playoffs. That was their mission. If it would have been any other team, but the Toronto Maple Leafs, I think fans would say, Hey, you know what? It's been a great season. They, even if they were lost last game, because it's Toronto, people don't want to go down to the Leafs, especially forest rates. So people were in a great mood that people were fired up. It's been a long time coming. And we'll see like where they're going back to Toronto and that's been been the analogy with this group like the guys around the room today were saying, hey, just win another game. Don't worry about winning seven games. Just it's all those old boring quotes we all hate in the media,

but that's that's the way it is, right? Just go and try and win a game five and live, live to fight another day. That's what they're gonna live by right now. You are watching and listening to Jason York, former National Hockey League co-host of the Coming In Hot Sends podcast. So Yorkie, the Senators have two $8 million defensemen in Shabbat and Sanderson. The Leafs don't have even one,

but late in the Saturday night, you could sit there and go the Leaf Blue Lines out performing or out playing maybe the Ottawa Blue Line and then Sanderson scores the game-winning goal and what do you think that does not only to the Blue Line for Ottawa? But maybe even Sanderson with confidence or momentum coming into a game five in Toronto? Yeah, it's a, you know, it's, it's funny that the playoffs skipper like Simon Benoit, yeah, I talked about all, all the defense went on that team and it's Simon Benoit. That's that's, that's been a part of overtime wins the seeing eyes shot, but that's the

playoffs reminded me of Corey cross when I was playing for the Sens and I lost to Toronto. Crosser scores a goal, but that's the playoffs, right? And you know, for Sanderson, he's a young guy. We all saw him at the Four Nations. He's, I think, Barney, I know you're a big fan. I think he's going to turn into one of the elite defensemen in the league. He's he's he's close now. But this shot, this has been something I've been noticing a lot in the series, something that Toronto has done a better job of Ottawa's defense, just getting shots through and shooting it quick. Ottawa now is getting their shots through quicker. Look at that goal.

Let's just get it through because it seems against Toronto, if you wait and wait, they stack the box and they've got four guys in there, sometimes five. And it never reaches the net. It never. And like I've been watching the missed shots in this series and all it was defense up until this point have not done a good job compared to Toronto. You got to shoot it quick. And I think Ottawa is now they've learned something here. Get it, fire it net front, ugly goals. You're not going to get, can't replay in the playoffs.

You want to Stanley Cup. How many times do you see a beautiful goal? It's dirty goals all the time. And what's amazed me with Toronto, they've totally changed their style since the Sheldon Keefe days. Like I think they set a record for, for dump ends in game one, the first 10 minutes. I'm like, is this the Toronto Maple Leafs? Dump, chase, hit, block shots, no turnovers. It's a winning recipe. I've been impressed with how they played. I give Craig Berube a lot of props.

Yorkie, you mentioned that maybe the SensD have learned to just kind of fire some pucks through here. What else have you learned about the Senators? What other players, you know, you haven't seen Batherson, Stutzla, Kichuk, you haven't seen these guys in playoff hockey yet. Is there anything so far that you're like, they've been better or worse than what I expected to see? He doesn't have the points for me, but I've been impressed with Stutzel's compete level. He's playing 200 feet, he's skating, he's hitting.

If you look at this center-race position for the Senators, to me that's the biggest difference between these two teams. You look at the experience of Matthews, Domi's got experience, Lawton's got experience, Taveras has experience. Then look at Ottawa, Stutzel first playoffs, Pinto first playoffs, Cousins first playoffs. So they're learning on the job here right now. And I think every game they get is just an opportunity for these guys to learn what it takes

to win in the playoffs. And what I've learned is Stutzel's a competitor. I've been impressed with him. I know baths with him had, bathroom had the mishap, the pizza, and then a little bit of a fly by in that one game, but he's been really good too. I've been impressed with his game, been impressed with Sanderson and you know who else I can't leave out. And I'm not surprised. Barney, I saw your tweet the other night. I love a Mario I just think this guy is such a smart player I didn't know a lot about him before he came here

but but really impressed with his game so York if if we take Stutzla out and and Brady Kachuk I think Ottawa fans would have no issues right now with what they've been able to give so far in this series, but who is the one name that you can think of upfront anyways, that you say Ottawa cannot win game five, unless this guy steps up? So we're taking to check out? Yeah, we're taking to check out. Well, I think a guy that's been quiet, oops, he's stalling. I was there with my buddies the other night. We're sitting around having a couple of old fashions talking about this

exact point. When you saw Dylan Cousins, when he came over and the immediate impact he had on this team, how well he played, he really drove that second line. I think Dylan Cousins needs to have a night. Like he's been relatively quiet so far in this series. He's a big body. He's got offense. I think if he could have his best game tonight, that would be my guy. Just cause I talked about the experience down the middle and they're learning on the job, but it would, from a Senator's perspective, he's the guy I'm looking at because he can, he's got the ability, he's got the size and he's a 200 foot player. You know, watching Cleven and Montepolo, like they might have something in these guys.

Okay. Clevin and Montepolo like they might have something these guys like yeah, it's not like they've been Spectacular, but they can hang their physical their competitive like there's not to like take away But like his play on the game-winning goal driving on the off-wing Was huge getting the puck to the net and forcing it up Was was a great play by that guy. Yeah. Travis Green was asked about him. My buddy AJ Jackeback made a point to ask about him

after the game in the scrum. And I probably left him out pointing that forgot about just, there's been some guys in the series. I think Clevens played his best hockey of the season. And I talked about some of those forwards learning on the series. I think Clevens played his best hockey of the season and I talked about some of those forwards learning on the job. Clevens got better and better every game and if you look at the Ottawa Senators top four blue line they're all good puck movers they've all got some skill but the one thing they're lacking with that top four when you think of Zub you think of Shabbat, Sanderson and Jensen you're missing that big body and Cleven to me he'll eventually be a top four when you think of zoo, you think of Shabbat, Sanderson and Jensen, you're missing that big body. And, and Cleven to me, he'll eventually be a top four. And what

he's getting right now and experience is, is helping him a ton. I agree Kipper. He made that goal. Like it was a nice pass to Bathurston, but, but Cleven, like a lot of guys eventually the Leafs were probably expecting to dump it in but he kept going kept going even almost fooled solar solar is on that back end like short side, but he's had a great series and Watch for him in the in the future guys He's gonna be a top four defenseman sooner than later just in terms of looking for guys Impact is Brady Kachuk healthy like he's been good, but I kind of thought that compared to, you know, Four Nations Brady, I thought we'd see maybe more Brady Kachukness and maybe it's coming. I think, I think he's banged up, Borny. I just, I think he's playing, I think he's playing well.

I think he's playing hard, but when I watch him, there's just something off and he's not going to admit it. A lot of guys are playing hurt right now, but to me, absolutely. It's ever since the four nations, I think he took some time off, but then the team went through a little bit of a losing skid and I think he came back a little early. It's just, it's so tough to recover, but he's gotten it out and scored the one big goal the one game to get it to overtime but yeah for sure he's banged up Jensen has missed time Ridley graham missed missed practice today he's another guy that banged up everyone's banged up at this time here but those three guys in particular i think they're dealing a little bit more than people realize i gotta ask you about Mark, I know we touched on it briefly here, but has his series now through four games

kind of mirrored his regular season where there's been peaks and valleys and then sometimes you just, the box of chocolates, man, in Forrest Gump, man, you don't know what you're gonna get really. Ha ha ha, oh I love a good Gump, Gump reference, camera. Why did you assemble that rifle so quickly? Oh my god. Let's get the best best close. I didn't like his first

period in game one. I just thought if you could look at the four games so far I think he's been fine since then. I think he's so far, I think he's been fine since then. I think he's been good. I think he's been good. But like we were talking about earlier, Stolars has been all world. And to me, that's been the difference. And like we can't forget about Charles power play. It's been ungodly.

Like it's like Mike, Mark Subard's done a great job with that unit. When that went to the four minute power play last game, poor Drake Batherson, the look on his face going to the box, he's like, what have I done? But like I said, to me, has he played to his potential as far as Omar? No, and I agree. His season, when he's on Kipper, he's one of the best in the world. But when he's not, you're going to see a few goals that you'd like back. But he hasn't played poorly, but he hasn't been the reason

that this team has been able to maybe win a couple of those overtime games. And that's the margins. The margins are so tight in the playoffs. And look around, it's always the same story. And And look around, it's always the same story. And Storrs has been, what are you, 11 in a row he had won up until the last game. It's crazy numbers. A great run. But that's, hey, that's hockey, right? The best, the guy that's the hottest,

usually that team's gonna win. We're looking forward to game five, Yorkie, and always a pleasure talking to you on our show, pal. Hey, I love the gump reference, Skipper, anytime. Thanks, York, you appreciate it. See you guys. Jason York, everybody. Yeah, the clevin move coming off the wing was great.

Couple things I didn't like it from a leaf perspective is that back pressure from Willie Nylander, I'm sorry, but don't quit on it. You quit and then you bought Clevin enough time, but if you would have forced it a little bit more into Morgan, he may have been able to cut it off before it got to the net. But it's an issue too sometimes with Morgan they're given up a little bit too much room. I thought he gave too much room to Cleven but I thought Willie could have helped Morgan out actually. Yeah. Yeah. So he was talking about Omar and that and like the you know, green talked about him a little bit today saying that he's gotten better as a series

gone on. I didn't think he was great on Saturday on Saturday at all I thought that was one of the more shaky 31 safe performances you're ever gonna see yeah the one from McMahon that's under his toe cap it's like what is he doing and Domi lets a soft wrist or go from the outside hash marks and it almost gets under his arm and goes in the knob of the stick that it hits off and he doesn't even see it before like he has the ability to make some say I mean the one that we showed there is a goal if it isn't for was it Montempaul or was it clever that knocks it in there like that's that's 100% in the net if he's not standing there I just whatever nice for patches to shoot that I do feel

Like if there's one thing that gives me great hope that they aren't gonna completely ruin my life here Is that I I don't think he can get the job done. I don't think he can get the job done. I don't think he's been very good at all. And I don't think he was particularly good Saturday night. He just was better than Stolar. He wasn't very good at all. So the Leafs D is really good.

The senators offense is average. The goal tending is not great. There are going to be chances to win this series. The shorthanded goal? Leaky. Not a Stolar's look all season long. No, you're right. Where it just kind of squeaks through him and finds a way. Yeah.

We didn't actually see the putt go in off the initial rush. It's a breakaway, but if you get that much of it, you'd like it to stay out. Yeah, no question, but it's... It's a breakaway. He stopped on many occasions this year. No fakes. No fake. No nothing straight It's like a shovel. He shoveled it through him. I do My I mean, I'm no goalie expert. I'm no Steve Ellicott, but my theory on it was that The stick lift kind of changed the speed on it He was expecting it to be a little bit harder and it kind of squeezed through I mean that's the best I got but

you'd like to save yeah like us well if you don't think you're a goalie expert I'm not now wait in our national show when I start asking you about Freddie Anderson mm-hmm I mean you don't be an expert you know you also don't talk about Freddie because he's not gonna play again no he's not gonna play yeah he's not gonna play so that's pretty much that so we've got go ahead line up change what You also don't have to talk about Freddie, because he's not going to play again. No, he's not going to play. Yeah. He's not going to play. That's pretty much that. So we've got, go ahead.

Lineup change? What do you think? They got Robertson in the stands. He's been a mainstay all season long. David Kemp, mainstay all season long. Patch Ready didn't do enough for me in game four to stay in. You're gone. Agreed.

Yeah, I would think about Nick Robertson to stay in. You're gone. Agree. Yeah, I would think about Nick Robertson coming back in. The only- Just to drive up a little bit more of a speed threat. Yep, they love, they being Craig Berube, loves his Lawton Lorenz Yarncroc line. They play more than the Domi line consistently now. So tough to see him pulling anyone off of that. I thought maybe Yarncroc for Camp, but he just really likes that line.

Yeah, I don't see Camp coming in. I probably see him in game six. Yeah, then at home at five. In game six, Sam. If there's a game, say that I didn't say you said in game six, there's a game six. You have to test the scratch and score theory. In my opinion, you have to point Nick Robertson back in. You have to just, and it's going to happen. He's going to shoot it in. The theory is too good. It's iron. You must press We didn't even talk about Montreal and

Washington Lisa. No, but we will national hour Alan May Capitals analysts will join us Talk a little Tommy Wilson No, yeah, and the hit that shook the hockey world. Back after these words, we go national. Don't go away.