Real Kyper & Bourne - Pressure to Perform with Former Canadien Kirk Muller

Episode Date: May 11, 2026

Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada's Gary Galley (6:42) joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to chat about Carolina Hurricanes sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers, Jackson Blake's stardom, how the Canes can stay focused with a long layoff before the Conference Finals, how the Montreal Canadiens have found success against the Buffalo Sabres, and the Colorado Avalanche's adjustments ahead of Game 4 vs. the Minnesota Wild. Then, former Montreal Canadien Kirk Muller (28:26) joins the guys to chat about bringing out the torch before Habs vs. Sabres, the physicality in the series, the pressure to perform in big markets, and working with Alexander Ovechkin as the current assistant coach for the Washington Capitals.  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.

All right, let's get her going, coast to coast. It's the Real Kipper and Bourne show. Live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary and streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. If you can't catch us live, check out Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Nick Kippreels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, this hour of Real Kippenborn, brought to by Bet365. In a few minutes, Gary Galley, former national hockey leaguer, does a great job all season long. Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada. His series got cut pretty short by Carolina.

He gets some time to join us. Carolina's doing some pasting. Yeah. Yeah. 10 days off potentially for them. 11. Is that right? Yeah.

Does that kind of... Is that part for the course? First round, always shot out of a cannon. Second round. Nah. You're talking about the NHL in general? The NHL in general. I kind of think you're bang on.

I think there's a long... of, hey, we got these great matchups in round one and round two. I don't know. I still think we got to go back to just one V8. Yeah, I think you'd rather have the better teams to move on. I think you'd rather have the better series closer to the championship series as opposed to the start of it being really good. We're without the Dallas stars in round two.

But we're watching the Flyers get swept. Flyers feel really good about getting swept day in the second round. They love their year. They love it. They were so happy to just get it over with in the second round. and beat the penguins in a playoffs series. Nobody expected us. No.

And everything looks better, right? They got young guys that are going to be better. Like they made the playoffs, beat Pittsburgh. They just feel later. Thank you. Thank you for you. Yeah, sure. That's the goalie.

It's fine. Maybe. I mean, I don't want to be this guy, but like, could you see them not being in the playoffs next year? 100%. Like, I don't know. They had a good year. I don't know.

Some good players. Yeah, like there's plenty of teams coming in that. Metro and New Jersey should be better, Islanders should be better, Columbus should be better, it's going to be tough. Habs look good, boys. Yeah. Are you feeling you okay? Yeah.

Cool, Collieield was fascinating, I thought, last night. He had some real frustration. He missed that bunny on the doorstep. He got smashed, too, just before his goal. Yeah. And he just kept getting chances. Stuck with it. He has no problem getting into the areas, eh?

The dirty areas. Not the biggest guy in the world, and he, gets bounced around a little bit. But he finds, here it is right here. Look at Hudson on this play. And he goes right back. Right back into the area. I mean, you could have put that one home there, Cap.

Hey, don't understand how tough that shot is. That's in his feet. You got to get there. A lot of guys this time of year kind of shy away from that area. Right after he shanked that one on the back door. Oh, go ahead. I was just saying that, this is no gimmie this puck that comes inside his feet. He has just pull his stick in and it's, it's a game.

Oh, he's missed a couple in his feet. It is in the middle of his stance, though. Lane Hudson dances the whole team. That's not easy. Sorry, Hudson for me was the best player on the ice last night. I thought he was on the... Just dances. Just unbelievable.

Head up. Seeing everything. I just can't believe there's so many teams that pass on it. How do you get a guy like that in the second round? It's unbelievable, man. I don't know. And it's crazy, too, because Buffalo's supposed to have the D that are going to make all the difference for them.

And Hudson looks like the best one. It just seems to that power play probably at the seven minute mark, I think it was 4-2 at the time. And Buffalo's snapping it around. And they can't find a shooting lane. Montreal will not give them clear access. And then if you try it through the seams, there's Gully to poke the puck out.

Love Gully. And then Malenstein is basically like, If we can't find a seam, I'm creating a rip. He just went 1995. That was just like, as a two-minute minor. Is that what it ended up being? The world. Did you say got his money's worth?

He got a $3,000 fine, got a two-minute minor. I mean, that is the ultimate minus for a situation. That is a blue light special at Kmart or whatever was back in the day. I can't believe how hard he hit him. That was as bad a run as you're going to say. Can you imagine trying to hurt a goal? No. No.

You've never done anything like that. I need a big knucklehead like Chris Bronger just to nudge me first. Standing still, standing still. I wouldn't take that run. I saw Buffalo fans being like Bull Duke or whoever was like, took him into the goalie. And it's like he could have veered off left at any time. Even me.

Put your left blinker on it any time. The world's chief Habs hater. I can't even get down. And then Jack I went full WWE. Speaking of money's worth. Same thing as Maloney's. is Malenstein. But also good value because

Carrick's important. He's a good player for Buffalo. Do you think it was like could have been suspended? I thought it was no. No, I mean neither. No. Listen, that's. Who's a leaf?

That's lifetime. I didn't like it. Well spent. Lifetime ban for a leaf. But yeah, good. It's. Lifetime ban. That's where you're, it's perfect.

Now you're under their skin. They got to come back and do something to you. It's perfect. And John, by Malinstein. Not so much Malinstein. season, but maybe Jack Eye. Yeah.

Right? Like, you get that last shot in on a guy, like, Garrett, too. They got to answer that next game. I'm not sure. He's the toughest guy. He's the toughest guy.

He's the toughest guy. I'm not sure that the Montreal Canadians can't win the Stanley Cup. Like, they have every piece where you're like, yeah, they got guys who can defend. They got guys you can, you know, body slam guys. It's their foot soldiers, too. Yeah.

Right? All of a sudden. Down the lineup, they got Doc and New Hook and all these guys chipping in. puck in the net and they're buzzing like crazy anderson had a great first series i don't know if he's been and they got a goalie that uh we'll ask kirk muller but kind of feeling a little bit Patrick wash oh he's got the confidence no no it feels like he's a rookie and he plays the haves it's it's you're not even halfway through and it could go sour but up until now he's he's got he's got some magic going

for him he's just a goofy goalie i like that he's got some real confident personality They are believing in him And a guy that we believe in all the time Gary Gally joins us Gals what's going on my friend Hey getting some rats You know we're the sweep crew We go in we sweep it up and we leave

It's to sit it up Um Sweeps aren't supposed to happen We're in the world of parody now And um you know You're not supposed to You're not supposed to do that anymore Like what goes on in the

second round that we don't really see in the first? You know, the year itself was so exciting and everything was so tight that I think we fooled ourselves into thinking that the playoffs were going to be exactly the same for everybody. But it wasn't for the LA Kings, it wasn't

for the Ottawa Senators, it wasn't for the Philadelphia Flyers, teams that I think are on the lower parts of getting into the playoffs and playing. And I think people not realizing how talented and strong and hardened the Carolina Hurricanes are.

I think we all knew they're a good team. We all know they had some playoff experience. They made some additions that have really slid in there nicely. Keandre Miller, Nicola Eilers, like, and Freddy's being Freddie. You know, I mean, that is the main, I mean, it's the story. I mean, the story is that they've learned a ton from their failures, but Frederick Anderson has just been on another planet. When you pitch 950 and 960 saves percentages, your opponent's got to beat you one nothing.

Like, it just doesn't happen. And if not for Allmark, that would have been a thrashing probably versus Ottawa. Because Allmark pitched some really good numbers, and I think it would even been worse. For Philadelphia, Vladar was good. I thought he was really good, but he wasn't great. And they're a young team, very young team, second youngest team in the league. Did they give up? No, they didn't.

Because if you give up there, you've got a face talk going into the room. You don't want to do that. You know, it's just like, that guy ain't going to give up. You're not going to give up. And they didn't. And their fans appreciated it. And they gave them a real warm send-off and appreciated their effort. But they just didn't have enough.

Carolina has way too much. You know, I look at that Carolina team and talk about they have too much. Some of the guys are just so undervalued around the league. Like, does anyone know who Jackson Blake is? like this guy was a really good player for them, 30 goal score, and like it feels like when you talk about good players in the league, his name never comes up. Taylor Hall has become this well-rounded guy,

and obviously Stankhoven has kind of come into his own. That line in itself is, I don't think, appreciated around the NHL. You're right. I mean, I know Jackson, I played with his dad, Jason, so I certainly knew who Jackson was. And when he came into the league and, you know, his dad was talented, and the kid is really, really sharp, and he gets it, and he's quick and he's got a high hockey IQ.

So you put him on a line with good players like Stan Covey and Hall. And, you know, Hall is a bit of a, having a bit of a renaissance, you know? You know, like I heard the stories that they talked to Eisenman and said, you know, you're not going to lead the league in scoring. You're not going to lead the playoffs in scoring, but you're going to have a chance to win a Stanley Cup because you have to play a certain way. And I heard the same thing with Madonna with the Hitchcock. You know, you have to play a certain way to win a cup.

You can't not play all the way in. Remember Eichol when Vegas won it, the 200-foot game? You know, he figured it out. Smart guy, figured it out really quick. And I would say the same thing for Taylor Hall. He's figured out that if he wants to win a Stanley Cup and he's a big part of it, he could be a big part of it. He has to encapsulate what that means. And that means full contact, every shift.

That means going into the dirty areas, be hard to play against, be productive, be a good leader. I mean, he's doing all of those things, which is really fun. to see. But when I left that second series, guys, I think a lot of people don't realize how good they're dear. Yeah. They, everyone is, you know, stankovin, the goals, everyone's looking at all this stuff. But slave ends up beast. He is an absolute beast. And Kandre Miller, having him in there, another big body down low, Walker has been fantastic. Got to give my shout out to my BG kid, but he's been absolutely fantastic. Gossip looks really good.

Like, you look at that whole defense corps and they're at Chatfield. I mean, this is a guy's blue collar, man. He just goes out there and does it all. And it's really interesting that no one really talks about their deed. They're penalty killing. I mean, I've not seen a team hold the blue line on a penalty kill with that slingshot power play that comes flying with all that speed for them to not give an inch. crossing that line and just suffocate the power play

as it comes in is incredible to watch. And of course, you can't doubt that with Rod Brindamore. I mean, I played with Rod. Fantastic penalty killer, sharp guy. So I understand the pressure. Pressure, pressure, pressure everywhere. Time and space dissipates fast with that team. So whoever's going to play them next,

you better be ready because there is not a lot of time in space. You're watching and listening to Gary Galley, former National Hockey League, color analyst for SportsNet Hockey Night in Canada. So I don't have to worry about your like 10 or 11 days off. I'm sure you're just fine with them. Plenty things to do. Eat, drink.

But what's it like for Carolina right now? What was the longest gals you went, you know, in a series? We had 10 or 11 days in New York between the islanders, I think, in Washington. We went into Washington in the conference finals and swept them in 19. 90, 91. And Edmonton... I was against me. Yeah, yeah.

Thanks for that. Edmonton went six against Chicago, and we had, I think it was almost 11 days, it was 10 or 11 days. And I remember, like, the first game against Edmonton was a triple overtimer. And, you know,

and Kleema scored that overtime goal. You know, had not a shift in two periods. The skates were untied. He jumps over the bow. boards and you know it's the overtime goal and I really think that whoever won that game that night all that momentum was going to have a really good chance to win the cup and it didn't go our way and we ended up losing in five but that's a long break it's a really long break and they've already

had a long break but they've handled it really well everything this team does they seem to handle really well and rod explained it one night and when I was listening to his press conference it was sort of like not every game is the same in the playoffs every game is very very game is very very very different and adds little nuances to it. How your team adjusts to those little things is the key to winning. And every time a game, you know, it's an overtime game. They're down a goal, they're up a goal. It's a different way that a team will play.

They play the same way. They're very comfortable in their own skin. Down a goal, not a problem. Up a goal, not a problem. They just keep playing the same way. It's a formula they believe will take them to the promise land and they're not going to change it. They'll go down, fighting that way. I do believe when the conference finals starts,

now there will be a little more pressure on them. Getting through the first two is expected, and they did it in flying colors. But they've not got through the conference finals, and it's really stung them. So if they get into a conference final series, and maybe come out of the gate a bit rusty and someone gets them down a game,

then we're going to find out a little bit of anxiety on the Carolina and see how they handle it. Always challenging, too, for coaching, coaching staff to keep players engaged for those 11 days, meetings, video obviously, you still don't know your opponent. But even to go out there and battle or have some friendly scrimaging

and just don't be the guy that hurts Brian Leach in 1994, you know, with 11 days off. That's all I was my biggest worry is I accidentally hurt one of these guys. Wrap them up and bubble wrap. You know those big, big soccer ball things they put on the end absorb or something.

You let them escape, but you put one of those around them, but yeah, I mean, I obviously think, you know, Rod's going to give this team two or three days off and they're going to get a break. And as you know, this isn't like green light to go out and, you know, and really hoop it up

and whatever. This is about rest and getting yourself recharge and energized for the next round. It's like when I watch, I watch Utah and Vegas, and it's the same similar to Washington and Montreal last year in the first round. Washington got through, but Montreal took a good bite out of them. You know, they really did.

And Washington was an older team, and Montreal really, you know, was their front and center. Utah took a good bite out of Vegas. And I think the series that goes longer may benefit a young team with great legs and a lot of enthusiasm and can score. So, you know, that says this series moves along. the older guys, the bumps and bruises, as you guys know, they don't go away as quickly as the younger guys. So that's going to be interesting finish there. You know, I'm curious to see who has the best chance to beat Carolina

if they get there, obviously Montreal, up quite a bit in the series. I mean, what are your thoughts on the HAB so far and what they could potentially do to a Hurricanes team? Oh, boy, you know what? Both those teams offer up a challenge. I think more of a challenge than Ottawa and Philadelphia offered. I think there's more meat on the bone there

from one through four lines. I think their defense, their structure. I think there's a lot of things that are better. I think the goaltending is going to be really solid if you hit Montreal. Dobish is like, he's in another planet. I mean, this kid looks calm. He looks like Carrie Price in there.

I mean, it's just wonderful to see. You know, Lion has really been a good goalie for the Sabres all year long. Their goaltending has been fantastic. So you're going to get good goal-tending. I think you're going to get a team a little more structure. And I think a team that's been firing out all cylinders in these playoffs and knowing the feeling of winning and losing and making adjustments to change things around. And that's the thing, you know, like Anaheim makes a bunch of adjustments

and they come out and they win a game. Minnesota makes some adjustments. Like in the playoffs, it's about the adjustments that you make and the success that you can get out of those adjustments. And sometimes it's just inserting someone new in the lineup. sometimes it's just changing a bit of your structure. But at the end of the day, I think both are going to provide more of a challenge.

If you're asking me which one's going to give them more of a fight, I think it's too hard to tell right now. I still think this Montreal Buffalo series is going to be a 6-7 and I don't think it's going anywhere soon. And the foot soldiers on Montreal, because at the end of the day, you're not riding the offense of a Suzuki or a Cole Cawfield right now, the likes of New Hook, right?

TechCIA. They're really getting it done, gals, for Montreal. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think that your expectation in the playoffs is that your horses will run and do all your damage. Well, sometimes good defensive lines shut down, good offensive forwards, and sometimes the number one lines get neutralized,

and then you count on a stankovine line to light it up, right? And you count on stall to go out and have a monstrous game three where he's just chucking people around and wins a power play face off, supposed to get off the ice, get stuck out there, scores. Then he throws a pass,

backhand saucer through a guy's leg in Chatfield for a one-timer. I mean, that's Jordan Stahl. You expect Jordan Stahl to do a lot of things in a game for you, but those aren't the things you're expecting, but those are the things that Rod Brindamore love to see him get some credit for, because he really loves him as a player

and he knows what he gets from. So it's the same thing with Montreal. You know, you've got to get stuff out of those other guys. How about Kirby Doc? Like when he missed that guy on that goal in Tampa Bay, the crowd cheered him when he came on the ice. It could have went the other way easily. But they just cheered him on.

He comes out, gets a goal, and all of a sudden he's back in the game here. He's ready to go and he's chipping in. All these little things count. They all count in getting you where you want to go. So just take you out west for a quick second. You got some time now you're not doing serious. you must be watching hockey in the evenings, gal.

So I assume you've seen what's going on on the other side. Colorado seems like the fave there. But Minnesota got them last game. You think the wild they're still hanging around? I think that the game tonight, obviously, it's not rocket science, right? They've got to win that game tonight. You know, you can't go back to Colorado, you know, down three to one. So you gave them a spanking, right?

this is a team that was 11, 3, and 2 after a loss in the regular season. This is a team that Jared Bednar is going to get ramped up to another level that they weren't at the other night. So if you're Minnesota, know that game 4 is going to be a lot tougher to win than game 3, and you're going to have to be even sharper and even better. So, you know, it can be done. I mean, it can be done in order to plant the seat of doubt in an opponent's head. it doesn't happen in one shift or one period. You got to win a game.

Then you win another game. And then all of a sudden, the seeds of doubt and then frustration, those things can start to come along. Now we got a goaltending change possibly correct. So if there's a goetting change for Colorado, you know, what happens if a few go in quick, you know, like it could be a rough night again. But I personally think this is going to be a really tight game tonight,

really, really tight. And where it falls, it's going to be hard to tell. but I do really think that the avalanche at the end of the day will put their foot on a gas pedal here and I think they're going to be tough to beat. Gals, enjoy the rest of the time off, my friend. You look like you're in couch mode right now. Yeah, teed it up this morning.

Nice. Heat it up, swung, yep, nice out. So it was good stuff. Good. Got home for Mother's Day. Who would have thought that? You know, normally I'm sending flowers from the road. You know, I get a chance to be home, so it was nice.

awesome stuff man really appreciate your time thanks for doing this thanks guys always a pleasure thanks guys appreciate it Gary Galley who calls a great game he does and he's not getting to call him any games right now yeah that ended quick he gets paid per series probably not hey probably not per game how that works probably fine with what's happening right now

got to play golf home in time for Mother's Day yeah yeah good stuff um quick one on Colorado mini I was surprised that many took it to him like that. I didn't see that coming. But we'll see tonight. They're changing goalies.

They're going to go to the other wood. I don't know if they should be... I agree. Feels quick. A little overreaction? Yes. Pretty good. Yeah.

There's something to be said, though, that you've gone all season long and you've kind of relied on both of them. You've got to... There's a whole energy behind it. If you do not believe in your second guy, I think it hurts the ball club. Well, and I think I saw someone say, well, he hasn't played in a month. And it's like, well, if you don't put him in now, then, you know, when you need him in the third round or something, it's going to be longer.

Like, get him in, get him involved. He's been involved all year. Is that the same conversation for Lyon? I think so. Like, you claim to be a true tandem. You've been happy with everyone. Yeah. They pulled the trigger really quick on Ukepeka Lukinen.

I think he's just had back-to-back games where tons of pucks have entered the net. Too many bucks. A lot of pucks going in. Your job, keep them out. I think it's early enough in the series you can make that switch too. You do? I do, yeah.

I do. Game four in that building, putting in buddy who let in a flipper from the halfway line in the second game? Who amongst us hasn't left a flipper? But. Okay.

Blind, I think, could use a break. Mentally. Yeah. What did he say he was? He was something blog. Oh, amorphous blob, I believe you said. All right.

Still don't know what he means by that. Game time? It's game time. It's presented by Bet365. An official partner of the NHL must be 19 plus. Ontario only, please play responsibly. One game on the ice tonight, like we were talking about. The Minnesota Wild are underdogs tonight.

Plus 125 in the money line. Colorado, minus 150 tonight. So they're expecting a bounce back effort. from the... I like mini there. In mini? It's not the worst number for sure. I was just trying to quickly pull up the cons

my thoughts here because I have a great idea for any Lee fan listening to this. Oh, no. I've been partial to a happiness hedge in the past and there are two excellent spots for one here. To be clear for those people who don't know, the idea behind the happiness head is that you're betting... Incentivizing heartbreak.

You're betting on the thing you don't want to happen happening. Yes. So if it happens, you get paid. And if it doesn't, you're happy anyway. So it's great. But why don't you go with being happy and saving the money? Yeah. What do you mean?

And just don't make a bet. Well, then I'm sad and I don't have any money for it. You know, like if the thing you don't want to happen happens, then you just get no money, let me get some money while you're just... Here's why I bring it up. Mitch Marner, what do you think his number is for Kahn Smyth? He's...

Plus 1,200. It's plus 1,800. Plus 1,800 for Mitch Marner to win the Kahn Smyth. Great number for a leaf fan if you're terrified. of that. Frederick Anderson. He's five to one. Second favorite. Five to one. Nathan McKinnon is the favorite at three to one. There's Dobish. Dobish is

22 to one. Do you guys see the Nathan McKinnon swimming in the pool with flippers and goggles? Was that real? Yeah, it was real. Was that real? Are we sure it wasn't AI? I saw a thing saying that it was real. However, that also could have been not real. I don't trust anything. Internet is a dangerous

place. I didn't see it. What is it? Like someone just had from the 18th floor of a hotel that looked like. Nathan McKinnon was swimming with actual flippers and like scuba in like the pool at the hotel. It was like, what is happening here? Is he looking for some kale pasta on the bottom or something? I don't know. We got to verify that.

I have nothing to add to that. That's your homework. Okay. I will know by the time we're back after the break. That was game time presented by Bet365. An official partner of the NHL must be 19 plus, Ontario only. please pay responsibly. And a reminder,

this hour of Real Kipper I'm Born is brought to you by Bet365. Nathan McKinnon flippers? Is Avalanche star Nathan McKinnon a psychopath for wearing flippers and goggles in the hotel pool? I'll do some reading.

You guys do the show for a minute. Is that clode that's reporting that? Or Chachutee? No one knows. All right. All right. Let's take a quick break here. Yeah, let's do it.

Or you want to get in a few. No, we got to go. We got to go. Kirk Muller. Yeah, we got Kirk Muller. But we, yeah. We got Kirk Muller. All right.

Yeah, that's cool. Former National Hockey League or Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadians. Torchman is next when we return. It's a real Kippenborn. 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.

Welcome back to the program. Nickypryos, Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee. Time now for the Accura Performance Matchup to 2026 Accura MDX Precisely, premium Looking at the only game on tap tonight Makes me sad

We're in one game at night territory Yeah It always just happened so fast It does Quinn Hughes Has 39 points in 39 games played in the playoffs Wow Needs one assist to tie Evan Bouchard

for the third most by a defenseman through 40 career playoff games. Brian Leach and Bobby Orr share the lead with 35. Jeez, that is some list. Pretty good. Brian Leach and Brian Leach and Bobby Orr, two good players. Nathan McKinnon can tie Nikita Kuthorov, Leon Dreisidal, and Sidney Crosby, all with six for third most five-game playoff point streaks amongst active players. The others are Miko Ranton, Afghani Malkin, as you would probably imagine.

And the last thing I'll bring up in this game tonight, Creole Caprisov can become the third fastest player outside of North America to 20 playoff goals. The only others to reach that plateau in less than 35 games are Ovi and Yari Curry. So some good, some good company as well there. So it should be a good one tonight. Colorado is switching goal tenders for this game tonight. One of the woods going to the other wood.

So it's going to be a good one. Watch it on Sportsnet and CBC tonight. 8 p.m. I think. Yeah. We can handle that. That's one game territory. I know that truly starts to feel. Anyways, that was the Accura Performance Matchup,

the 2026 Accura MDX, precisely premium. Okay, let's go right into Kirk Muller. Yeah. Stanley Cup champion, former Montreal Canadian, and torch carrier of last night. Molly, I'm not sure if it was a Leslie Nelson movie Police Squad or the naked gun where he accidentally like falls and he torches the whole curtains

and the whole room's on fire. That didn't run by your mind at all that you tripping, set the place blazing. It was windy out. I started outside. I was worried about the torch burning out before I even went in there. You got a bit lighter to get it going again.

The bit later. Yeah, exactly. What was that like? What would you ever compare anything like that to? You've taken many warmups during the standards, Cup playoffs in that city, but what did that feel like? Kipper, you know what? Honestly, it was, it was epic. I mean, I felt like a gladiator going out into the Coliseum, but a friendlier crowd,

you know? It was like right there, I felt like a bride going out and was like I had 21,000 people at my wedding. They wanted me to go a certain pace and I was like, the guy said, hey, well, you move a little quicker? Now, it was like right there where you see it, like, you walk out right there, and all of a sudden you just start seeing the people and the lights and the noise. And it's just, it's, it was just like deafening, you know.

And everyone in Montreal now wears a red, you know, a jersey. And it's just pure red. They got the towels flying in the air and sold out. It was just, it was just emotionally. It was just, I can't explain it. It was just so exciting. That's awesome. That looked really cool.

I'm sure you can't help but root for Montreal this year. Do you like their chances? You like their makeup this year compared to some of the teams that you played on there? You know what they have? Well, the guys in Washington last year, we played them in the playoffs. And you can see it. And Keper, you know this. You just have to go through it.

You know, you have a young group of guys and the experience. of the playoffs, whether you go one round, two rounds. And, you know, I think they learned a lot from last year, and they're carrying it into this year. But what I see is a really cohesive group. You know, they're playing for each other. You see Caulfield, you know, hasn't scored lately until last night. But, you know, they're still feeding them passes.

There's still the goal. We believe in you. And, you know, you're seeing them stick up for each other. And it's a hard team not to cheer for it because they just look like a group that's playing for each other. It's all about the team. And it's all about timing. They're really coming together and they're playing good hockey.

And Molly, a goalie that they believe in. And we just had Gary Galley on earlier in the program. And he said, yeah, it feels like a carry price. And when you guys won in 93, you, of course, had Patrick Gaw. And just in terms of having a guy that kind of feels that something special is going on in that? Yeah, and again, you know this. Like, when you can play and not be afraid to make mistakes and because you got so much trust in your goaltender, it is amazing.

I mean, it gives you so much more freedom. And just think of the star goalies like that. You just mentioned, like, you know, Price when he was there. And Patrick, that had, you know, an opportunity to play with, obviously. And Eddie Belfour in Dallas, we went to the finals. These guys, you know, they give you that freedom, you know, to, hey, I turn it over, man, you save me, you know, and trust me that happened a lot of times.

And but, you know, and it gives you that comfort zone. And tight games and playoffs, one goal games, over times and all that, you're like, you don't have to worry about that. You just play and it brings out the confidence in any hockey team, and that's what's going on there with Montreal. What do you think of the, some of the rough stuff at the end of the game? Like, do you think there is some value in tone setting and this sort of like back and forth that happens when the,

score gets out of hand? Yeah, it's still a game of intimidation. Yeah. I mean, you know what? It's, you know, it's the biggest thing is discipline, you know, and, and you pick your spots. And there's times when teams are playing, it's five and five, you got nothing going. You're trying to create a little havoc, try to create four and four hockey to open it up.

So, you know, it's sometimes it's calculated, you know, and then later on the game, it's sort of like, hey, you know, we got to show that, you know, we're in this, this fight. We're not, and we're not going down. We might lose the game and all that. But again, it's emotion and all that. It's just the biggest thing is just key times. You've got to know when to push the buttons, you know, go a little, you know, a little edgier, create some of that stuff.

Because these both teams, hey, give Buffalo credit to. They've had a heck of a year. And this is going to be, this series is not over. It's tight. They got a lot of good hockey players. And, you know, they're going to show that, hey, we're going to compete. Just the, it's two good hockey teams going at it right now. you're watching and listening to kirk muller former national hockey leaguer of course stanley club champion with the montreal canadians

mully a lot of talk about uh pressure to perform this time of year uh you certainly had the uh distinct pleasure of playing in top markets like both montreal and toronto um also lesser right in another markets like New Jersey, but, you know, what's it feel like for a Cole Coffield to kind of be snake-bitten a little bit and trying to hang in there? And is there a comparison to experiencing that in Montreal compared to somewhere else? And you coached Ovi in Washington and we had a pretty heated discussion on Mitch Marner about, oh, yeah, no pressure now in Vegas. He's looking like a rock star.

And I'm like, please tell me it doesn't work. that way, does it? You know what? Hey, some people can play in certain markets and some people, you know, just, you'll do well in others, you know, and let's be honest, there's certain markets, obviously, that are more, a lot more pressure, a lot of pressure from whether it's media or from the fans. Great example was last night, you know, I'm sitting there at the game and you just know, let's just say the power play and you know they've had meetings and they've talked about moving

the puck around and you see a lot of the power plays versus these. diamonds these days and you've got to find it you're really trying to find a two-on-one advantage somewhere and then you're also got to you know you know move the puck quick all this all the scenarios that you talk about on a power play and you can see last night with what you're at the beginning they're moving the puck around they're doing everything you know that they've talked about it and they're meeting and you got 21,000 of people yelling shoot you know and they're like wait a minute we just had a 10 minute meeting on what we're supposed to do when you guys relax you know and that's the type of pressure you know that you're you're you're

face you know it's it's it's it's you have to witness it and be out there in those scenarios and go man they're we're in our own rink in the pressure like shoot the pocket I'm like no I'm being told to you know make a low play um those like it's you just gotta go through it and it's a young team

he's a young player I mean I think early in my career in Jersey you know my first couple playoffs were I wouldn't say the best you know and and all of a sudden you realize hey what am I doing just play the game just it's the same thing just the fans are louder things get tightened up a little bit more.

But at the end of the day, you've got to trust your preparation, your game plan, and just play the game. And, you know, he gets that one last night, and now you know how it works for goal scores, right? He's probably going to get on a tier now. But it is a thing. The pressure of some of these markets and the fans and everything, your expectations, you know, rise. And you just got to pull it back down and just be even key. and just play the game. So, Kirk, you've been with Washington.

And have you been involved in the power play with Ovi there? Has that been part of your, I'm just curious because I genuinely want to know what it's like working with Ovi in the power play. It's a unique animal, right? Yeah. Well, you know what? I've never seen, like, I've been really fortunate, like, you know, play with some players that can score goals like Brad Hall.

I mean, you know, coaching Terra Sanko, just, you know, thinking of players that have these, you know, gifted, you know, shots to be able to score goals. I've never seen a guy score goals where it comes off his stick, like, oh, and, you know, and he lived in that one spot for so long. We all know the spot off the dot there, and you moved it around. But, you know, where he's, you know, score a lot of his goals now is moving around to different locations.

He scored a lot of goals this year, quite honestly, around the net. And, you know, moving into that area. And he's a big body. When he gets in there, he's hard to push off. So, you know, he's adopted in that way. But, you know, again, you know, the PKs have changed. You know, like I mentioned earlier, there's more diamonds now. You know, it's not the pressure in certain scenarios.

So you got to adopt with the power plays as well. Is it a lot harder to score? I mean, we opened up the game in so many ways, Mully, in the last 20 years. And yet we're still kind of pulling teeth to find 50 goals scorers. Is it just the constant? change of philosophy as a coaching staff to always be on the defense? I think, I think the, you look at like, say, last night's game, I mean, it's all about, you know, pace and speed. Like, you know, like, I was sitting with Guy Carverill last night.

He goes, you imagine when we won in 93, we were talking about how we could slow the game down, you know, the hooking and the whole thing. You know what I mean? You know, we play L.A. in the finals. It's like, oh, my God, you play against Wayne Gretzky. Like, what are we going to do? And so, you know, the game was evolved that way. Now you look at it, like last night's game, I mean, two teams that are really good at scoring on the rush. It's up and down hockey.

It's, you know, it's, and what teams are taught is, you know, today is taking time and space away. And, you know, teams are really good with their sticks. There's less physical, you know, contact hitting. But, you know, they're just taught so much and so well these days on angles and sticks and taking time away. so guys have to make plays so fast. To me, a lot of it is that a lot of the guys today, they get skate, the game's fascinating, but it's a matter, can I make the plays as fast as the game has evolved?

And I think it hasn't at all at sometimes, and that's where, you know, you see turnovers in that. But goaltending is the biggest. You know, they're so good right now. They're so big. They're so athletic. And, you know, you see a lot of goals now. You see a lot of preaching instead.

It used to be like get in front of the net and getting screening goalies, which is huge. and you can see it in this series. But the backdoor top-ins, and Sydney Crosby is a great example. This is a big area. You see it in Buffalo's Power Play. They set a guy right to the post and stands there and looks for Top-ins. Because right now, you give a goalie the chance to see a puck straight on.

Very, very hard opportunity to score on them these days. So I think it's the pace of the game. It's how well they're taught in its goal-tending. That's really created a tough to score goals. So you've been coaching for 20 years now, you know, head coach, assistant, associate. Do you still love it? Is this the, you're going to do it again?

Yeah, what's the story? What's going on? I'm digging. Give us the scoop. Yeah, you know what? I'm back in Kingston right now, so it's nice. I got back to the lake and obviously earlier than open, but it is nice getting back here.

And I'm just going to use May to sit back and, you know, evaluate some things. it's a lot of work. You've got to have a lot of passion for it. And for that reason, I got to really sit here and go, hey, do I want to, you know, commit all that energy and time and everything? And if at the end of the month I do, then great. If not, I think I'm very comfortable going, hey, I want to move on and, you know,

explore, you know, other opportunities. And so I'm just really taking May to kind of kick back and just reflect on everything. That sounds awesome. And make some decisions later on. So we got Steve Alicat on Tuesdays. We got Doug McLean on Fridays. We got an open spot. Wednesday, Thursdays.

What do you like for your regular? Special teams analysis. Yeah. Hey, I'm around. You know what? I'm just kind of hanging back here at the lake here. So it's, you know, it's funny. Like two weeks ago I was down in Washington, D.C.

Like, you know, five-minute walk to the monument and the white house and all that. That's basically where I live. And now I'm out of the country. There you go. All different lifestyle. Hey, on your way out of town. down. Did OV, you know, give you the little heads up. I'm coming back next year. He is not told anybody. Like, is the closest friends on the team. There is not one person that is like even said like I know what I can't say. He has really kept it tight. I, I, I, you know, I guess. He's coming back.

My guess. My guess is he'll come back. There you go. That's why that's my guess, but like I'm, I'm guessing. We know. We know. Mully. great catching up with you all the best whatever you know your future brings you and happy to have you on any time here pal yeah thanks for having me great spending time of you guys and enjoy the show so uh i'll be around okay sounds good i appreciate that thanks so much that is a great kirk muller i was a big fan good stuff yeah he's so many people big fans yeah he's an awesome player great career the right mix of like edges talent, right? Like that kind of Owen-Nolan-y type to me.

1349 regular season games, 127 playoff games, 69 points and 127 playoff games. Nice. Yeah, really good. He's a really nice. 10 goals. I'm not mistaken, he was one of those

kind of under, special underage guys. So he played junior A hockey at like 15. And he was, he was like, he's the first pick overall. And he was, other year except the one with, I think, Mario.

Yeah. Mario. That was his draft year, I think. Yeah, it was. Wow, what a top four for friends of the show. Merrill, Luke, Kirk Muller, Eddie O, and Al-I Afraidy was a top four. All right. All right.

Good luck. Oh, yeah. Good luck. Trying to see if there's any other names of this draft. That was it. Not a bad draft. Gary Roberts is on that, in that draft. Was he 12th?

He was 12th. And you were 13th? Oh, I was... I believe he wrote a book. I know how I know he was 12? How's that? I read it in the Toronto Sun the next day. Is that right?

Yeah, that's the only way we found out. That's the way we found out. Yeah, nothing wrong with that. You know who leads that draft class in points? It's Mary Louvre. The second guy was drafted in the ninth round. Luke Robitai. Marky.

Yeah. Also, friend of the show. Yeah. Brett Hall third in points and then Kirkcaller. That was when. like Luke had to convince the security guard to let him on the floor because he just got drafted.

That's actually one of the funniest stories that were told in our show about the pin. Remember? They have nothing to give the players. And he said, somebody took a pin off and gave it to Luke. 2.99. Man, what a draft is this?

The highest scoring left winger in history. Interesting graph. Did you want to talk about, I know you don't love the World Championships, Kipper, but. Oh, I want a quick conversation on the captaincy. That's what I was going to bring. Yeah.

How do we feel about Celebrini getting the captaincy as like you're going to be a future captain. These guys have had their time captain versus why don't you just watch and let these guys who are captains learn from them? There's definitely a statement there.

See, he's special. I agree. I think there's special circumstances. I'm not going to sit there and go, he's just another 19 year old who, this guy's earned everything he's been given. He's earned it all. Totally.

So, yeah, I mean, I haven't studied the roster, but it's okay. John Tavaris is there. And he's a real pro. Ryan O'Reilly's a real pro. They're grooming him. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. I got no problem with it.

Like, it's great. I get the idea. He's going to be involved in Olympic teams and international teams. and he's a star in the league. There's no doubt about it. I just don't really think it's necessary. Like Ryan O'Reilly's want to stay on the Cup.

He's a great pro. He's kind of the consummate captainly guy. He feels like, yeah, you want to give him an A and let him watch O'Reilly. But that's neither here nor there. It's just surprising, right, to see a 19-year-old kid get it when there are current captains in the league on the roster.

I mean, Mark Sheifley's there, if I'm not mistaken, they've got some good pros around. This is an interesting team. Give me some of the roster? I don't even know. Want me to name some dudes for you? Name some dudes. We can do some dude naming here.

Frazier Minton. Hold the phone, really? John Tavares, Ryan O'Reilly, Dylan Holloway, Maclin Celellan, Emmett Finney, Mark Schifley, Morgan Riley, Gabriel Valardi, Parker Watherspoon, Zach White Cloud, Darnell Nurse, Dylan Cousins, Evan Bouchard, Robert Thomas.

Dude, this team is awesome. Connor Brown, Matt Barzel, Sam Dickinson, Denton, Matajek, and Dylan. And Dylan DeMello. Guaranteed gold. Last week I skated with Connor Brown. Oh, did you?

Really? How's he moving out there? Pretty good? Like a gazillion miles an hour. Oh, my God. It was like. He's a beauty. I love him. I still got windburn.

I wish he was so late. Good golfer. Is he free agent? No, he just signed a long-term deal with New Jersey. I was hoping they could bring him home. No. But the goalies are impressive to be out there with him. That's awesome.

Cam Talbot, Jet Grieves and Jack and Ivanovik, the guy that was the goalie for the World Juniors. Shout out to Jeff Skinner, too. He comes out. He's another, he's another, yeah, he's not,

I'm sure in that settings. Yeah. And I'm like, get me off the ice. Two of the best skaters in the league. I'm going to hurt somebody. Have a turn. Have a turn.

Like, where is my line, my line mates Justin Bourne and Sammy McKee? Oh, buddy. I would be my nightmare. Can I use the last two minutes to address a serious,

a Canadian crisis? This goaltending thing is a real crisis. Oh. Like the Olympics, we started an 870 goaltender, right? So I currently am doing, like my son plays U11 hockey next year. We're doing like evaluations this past weekend. There is no goalies, no one goaltends. We are talking families into converting their kids into goalies

because there's not like not two per team. Families are smart. No one wants to do it. Who would want to do it? And no one wants to play defense either. Everyone wants to be McKinnon, Crosby, Celebrini. They all want to play center. Hopefully Schaefer now.

People will see Schaefer light it up. Maybe. Maybe McCar. But I'm telling you. 40 or 50 years, we could just watch NHL hockey with a tutor shooter. Just a piece of plastic. Well, that's always been my take that. We would take that.

My take has always been hockey would be so much better, but just boards with four holes in it. Well, and take away the bottom ones. You got to shoot it in the top two corners. Top two corners. It's like, that's the true evaluation of who's a good team. But, like, it is, I truly think that we need to have some sort of of like we need a superstar goalie to show other goalies the kids that like being goalies

is awesome you get your painted helmet you get to be the dude oh god it's just may tag may tag repair man i mean who would want to be it's it's it's the nightmare job it's more expensive it's more pressure you're a night watchman and ever in canada all everyone's parents are like you're not being goalie not being a goal everyone's parents are telling their kids that and so i think it's going to be a problem for us for years to come well my boy carter july George played for the attack for a while. He was Team Canada's going. Maybe he can get it going. I don't know. Like, we're not going to not have goalies. Well, have guys

who put on the pads. But, like, watching the Americans turn them through the NPD or whatever their programs. Well, could we just get one of those Russian boys to switch? Sure. They have like 10 of them. Offer some citizenship packages. Please. One game on top.

Let's go. Let's go. And the Minnesota Wild. Everything gets started. 8 p.m. Sportsnet, CBC and Tampa Bay, Ray's in your Blue Jays. Big series for the But he can flatty hit a home run. Nine extra base hit. Nine extra base hits all year.

What is going on? It only makes a hundred million a year. Our thanks to Gary Galley and Kirk Muller. Enjoy your night. If you get a chance, give us a rating and review.