Real Kyper & Bourne - Reigniting an Ontario Rivalry

Episode Date: April 16, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee take a look at the Maple Leafs clinching the Atlantic Division locking up a playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, Mitch Marner notching 100 points for the first time in his NHL career and if this milestone will help him in the post-season, bottom six lines, Toronto's physicality against Ottawa, and Linus Ullmark's performances in the playoffs. Then, the guys look towards the Montreal Canadiens' chance to clinch a post-season spot against the resting Carolina Hurricanes, Darnell Nurse's one-game suspension, and fighting in the NHL. 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 affiliate.

All right, let's get right at it because it is going to be the fastest hour in hockey. It's the Real Kipper and Bourne show special one hour edition. We're live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 590, the fan, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver. This hour, I gotta get the sponsor. All right, okay. This hour of real Kiprin-Born brought to you by bet 365. What a night in the National Hockey League.

Unfortunate, Calgary is now eliminated, but Sammy doesn't care. Okay. Sammy? No, it doesn't care. So I'm like, this is a national show, Sammy, and we're gonna spread the love around. And he's like, no, just Toronto Maple Leafs. You know, I get upset with him with the jersey. If he hangs a leaf jersey on our national hour, I don't, you know, spread the love. But okay, Sammy wins today because the Leafs clinched a division

for the first time since he was let out for recess okay and we're going hard on the Leafs okay because our producer says so I don't agree with this decision but if Sam wants oh my god if I could only expose the group chat from last night yeah I'm in oh good yes but hey this is our first time we've got a pre-show meeting in four years and it was one second before we started and you're like, you know 15 minutes on the leaves 20 minutes on the lease It's not our fault that the Blue Jays played this afternoon Oh Jays and they won 11 and 8 yes 11 wins most wins in the American League by the way Vladdy first home run of the year

It's not our fault that our show got cut short. We have a massive Toronto May Police audience in Toronto. I think we've got massive fans across the country. In Hawaii, in Munich, Germany, a guy DM'd me today. All over the country, all over the world. We're going, Leif. Sorry to Canada. We're going to get all the other teams back out. Yeah, we'll give you five minutes.

Including Montreal with the big game that you like to name tonight. He's on the panel, he'll talk about it then, it's right after this. It's on TV tonight, he can talk about it then. As long as you don't pull a Sammy and say, I'm not talking Montreal, the Leafs clinched division. No, I don't think they'd let me do that, I don't think that would be okay. I did want to point out, so just to make people across the country feel better, I want to roast the Leafs for one second. Oh boy. Last night I saw on the broadcast they posted division titles in franchise history. Three. Six. Six for the Leafs? From 1932 to 1935. Oh, I thought we were going 67. Then in 1938, and then the year 2000, then 2021.

That's their six division titles franchise history hundred years. Yeah, that really sucks Well, it's not good. Yeah, it's not good which makes Sammy that much more appreciative and I don't know. Do you want to petition for a parade or anything? Here's what I'll say that the Leafs have been around for so long and I've been watching this Boston Celtics talk on Crave and it's fantastic and there's just generation after generation of greatness where it's just like you know it's I don't need to go through the names Russell to Bird to now it's incredible and it's just that should be what the Leafs are like you know it should have been when they won a lot

when there were six teams, and then they just never did again. It's like sick tradition, guys. Great job. So we'll give them credit. They did, they finally got one across the line. They clinch a division title, as Justin said, for the third time since the expansion era.

And we are now set for a battle of Ontario, which a lot of people want to see around this. Doesn't have the cache of a battle of Alberta, but in two weeks. You're so afraid of the national. Could be different. I'm not allowed to mention the battle of Alberta, Sammy. You're just, you're a different guy right now.

You usually are like, of course, our friends in Alberta and across the country. I'm very respectful. I get it. I'm not very respectful. You know, I will say I am surprised at the tone around the Battle of Ontario and what people are expecting. You know, I saw I mean, everyone I see seems to be picking sense. I saw Frank Cervelli pick the sense. I see the, you know, today, Ann Lauer had the quote or yesterday or something where he said, yeah, they haven't had a lot of success, but they have a different owner now.

You know, they're, they're feeling it. I have to say it's an easy, like if you're, if you're a hot take guy, it's the easiest pick in the world. Like it's not hard. And Lauer is the difference maker in this series. I can't say that the quote didn't catch my eye. Is he playing center or right wing on a line with Brady Kachuk, Michael Ad Lauer?

Yeah, that remains to be seen, but the exact quote was was I know we've had hard luck in the Battle of Ontario But they've got a new owner right now. All right Hey, listen this ends team has is grit is Michael and Larry are gonna be the biggest star in the next two weeks Now I hope so Some of the you know, it applies a little bit of pressure when people are expecting them to win this series or at least it should be close, right? I mean how many people have picked the Sens already? Like it just, it's just such an easy target where the Leafs have crashed out famously,

the Sens have owned the Leafs in the regular season, much like when I was a kid and then the Leafs would win in the playoffs. And it's just, it's an easy, easy target. And everyone's doing it and I hope they continue to do it. I really do. Okay, for Sammy McKee's local followers and listeners, let's listen to Craig Berube on the Battle of Ontario. Oh yeah, he's thrilled. Well, they're a good team.

They obviously have made a push this year to be where they're at. Like I said, they've got a core group of young players that have been together for a while, and they've gotten over that hump and made the playoffs. You know, they're a very good team. The goaltender, Elmark, has gotten there and he's a solid goalie, big guy in that, so they're a very good team. It'll be a battle.

I was never here for the battle on Ontario, so I can't comment on the past. He's so excited. Yeah, I don't know that that matters to him. No, I think the thing that sticks out to me that clip and listening to him post game last and we can get that some of the other clips, but I don't want to piss off national television. But he said he does his very consistent with his tone all year long. Like he never that today and never been credit never been too up never been too down

Like he barely could get out a positive thing to say about the game last night when they asked him off the top like his Consistent message all year has been a breath of fresh air and to the credit of the players over 82 games They've kind of followed this blueprint like yeah, there were some some weeks Seven days eight days nine days where they've lost three in a row, but it didn't get to five, it didn't get to seven, it didn't get to the point where people were all over them. It was minimal in terms of the setback, but they maintain this feel of we're going to

build this thing from the net on out. And they never once set fire to their own. They never created their own drama this year. You know, like that was Craig Barube. Yeah, we lost three in a row. We're okay. Yeah, we won three in a row.

We're okay. And here we sit going into game 82 tomorrow night. And it does, it feels like it's been a less eventful less stressful year, you know some of these years of Sheldon and you know just what the team had been through it felt exhausting I don't know that this year felt that way which is you know to their credit. I mean just Look at the way Last year ended and think of the feel of the Toronto made police going into the playoffs like that Awful chase for 70 trying to get Willie to a hundred points

Losing what they lose for in a road and the year Michael motto had a tweet about that. Yeah for road in the year last year It was just a bad feeling Bobby McMahon got hurt like Willie was banged up and then you flip it to this year Mitch Marner gets his hundredth point flip it to this year, Mitch Marner gets his 100th point, Neal Hader gets to 45 goals, Matthews gets his 400th, they've won four in a row, there's positive talk, different matchup in the playoffs. It's different. It's different this year.

Whether they win or lose, it's different. It's technically different. Let's go to Craig Berube on how he thinks they won the Atlantic division. You know, we had some guys, obviously this year, that have did some great things individually. You know, Willie, 45 goals, Mitch, 100 points, Austin, 400 goal. You know, we can go down the line. JT, you know, almost getting 40 goals. I mean, we had a lot of guys individually do some real good things, but, you know, the team played a real

good, strong, you know, team game throughout the season, in my opinion, defending and doing the little things right and playing for each other. And, you know, fortunately we're and you know fortunately we're you know in the position to win the division. Last night it took what the last few minutes before Mitch Marner got on the score sheet and then Austin fell into place with the 400th but it wasn't feeling very good going into Thursday night if these guys didn't hit this milestone. Yeah. To me, much more the Marner one because that one mattered and the Matthews one. Yeah, I think he's going to get it next year.

Yeah. But the Marner one was definitely like, oh, didn't want to have that conversation of like should they play him or should they not play him. So nice. And I think that's what a lot of people tweeted. I tweeted and a bunch of other people did too. Why you kind of hope there's some different vibes going forward.

And according to Sammy, we could never refer to him ever as a hundred point guy. Yes. Now he's there. But now you can. He got it. He got it. And credit to him.

I mean, he did it, the first time he ever did it was in a contract year. So that's good. Yeah. Good to him. I mean he did it the first time he ever did it was in a contract here So that's good. Yeah Well done and how many guys this year have a hundred points is he five is it five? It is guys a very difficult mark to get no career And he's only that I think I put it in here that he's only the fourth leaf to do it, right? Gilmore Sittler Matthews and yeah. Which is, again, really sad. It's sad. It's a tough franchise.

It's really. Like. And here's the crazy part, is last night should have been his fourth 100 point season. For sure. Right? Yes. Like under different circumstances,

whether it was an injury, like if you look at his numbers, how close he's come, four years, three years ago He's at 97 in just 72 games and he did 99 ones too, right and he did 99 and they sat him out Yeah, the last game and guess what if he hadn't got it last night. I had done it again It's phenomenal that the way this guy has been able to produce Year in year out. Yeah, very very good. You got a

Brube got asked kind of about him building on the hundred points and going towards the playoffs and You know if that's gonna help them or that sort of thing and this was his response to so clip three plays on martyr Well, I mean he's played really good hockey this year I mean so I don't know why he would end going into the playoffs like I don't I don't know you know the season is a season and now there's another one that's starting up you know he's just got to keep doing what he's doing you know he's done a great job of doing things for us the right way throughout the year. Penalty kill and power play, five

on five, along with everybody else. So, you know, we just got to, we got one more game and then we'll get dialed in for playoffs. I don't know how the question was framed, but I guess it was like, do you think him hitting 100 points will help him? Yeah, help the goalkeeper go into the playoffs. Maybe one of the stupidest questions of the year. Oh, that has nothing to do with anything. Why would it help him?

Like Greg said, like, so 99 or 101 or 103 is a difference. I think it's gonna make a difference for him, who's played almost 700 games in the NHL and another what, 60 in the playoffs it's gonna help him well is asking this question I think it's a fair question I mean you look at like he clearly cared about it like I haven't seen him that happy after a goal he bust his buddies in to watch his moment so this point to him after the game this is gonna help him be happier in the play I feel like

not feel frustrated not feel you know if you mentioned he got hurt or he got benched not feel ripped off He he got to where he wanted to get I think it's you're looking at a better vibe Yes, you know and now this guy He just plays he just plays every game every situation He's you never have to worry what you're gonna get out of this kid. But people would disagree with that. Yeah, I don't know, I mean we see it differently then. Yeah, for sure.

We've established that. I do not see. We've yelled at each other multiple times about it. This guy shows up and if you sit there and you say he doesn't produce in the playoffs or he's not physical enough, Yeah. He is what he is. Yeah, right. And but you don't hit him hit a milestone like a hundred points will not change this

guy. Okay. I just think that there's a it's fair to tie him reaching a regular season goal that he's never gotten to building up his confidence, have him feeling the best he's ever felt Going into the playoffs. I think it's fair to draw the two. Why don't you just ask do you think it'll help him resign? Wow, I don't think they want to ask that yeah, you could ask Rube that right. I'd be like what yeah It's that's probably in the same family of that question for me. Yeah At this point. I don't really care like I'm just really locked into the playoffs

Well, that's that's that's two weeks from now's issue. Oh, that's pessimistic. Alright, so where else do you want to go with your Maple Leafs? Okay, so now it's just on me, eh? Well, let's do the bottom six because we still don't know, they're still testing these various looks in the the bottom of the lineup Pachareti we don't know if he's in we don't know if Robertson's gonna stay in sounds like By the way last night Lawton for me best game is a maple leaf like we're seeing some signs

Starting to kind of relax and let it all hang a little bit looser So, uh, you know There's and even Robertson getting a goal that just like I feel like some of those guys that you want to have some success in the postseason, maybe you're finding it a bit. All right. Craig Berube clip six on his third line. Yeah, they've been very good together. I thought they were good in Carolina. Homer for me, you know, he's skating extremely well and so strong on pucks and getting separation and Robbie and Bobby have great speed in that line.

So like to me, they're just they're defending well. They're on top of things. They take time and space away from the other team and they're doing a good job of countering off that with their speed and creating opportunities for themselves. So they've been a good line for us and it's great to see. Buddy, Yarncroc's not gonna play in playoffs, is he? Well. He loves Holmberg.

That's, he's talking, if he's bigging up Holmberg. I don't take away Holmberg's heaviness. Yeah, so you like him. We like, Robertson's been, you know, the only dangerous threat down the lineup. Patcheretti's in, Kemp's gonna get healthy. No, I don't think Patcher air patch already said you don't a Listen even land is cog. Okay. We've talked about like it's an amazing story

Putting these guys in and obviously patch ready's not out three years, but he's out two months Just plopping a guy in the game one. But if you're going to use them, the longer you go without using them, the harder it's going to be to ever use them. I know that's not the case. That's not the case. I don't I don't think that's the case. But I don't think that I think you want to reward the guys that are healthy.

If you're in a scenario where there's a key injury or guys not playing well, then it's a different scenario. Yeah, you're paid to be ready no matter how long you've waited. But I just I don't see patch ready in game one with such a delay. And I think that I think David camps got to find himself back in the lineup to well be to where were you on camp for sure. I mean, to me, back in the lineup to well me too. Where were you on camp for sure? I mean to me back in the most essential fourth liner they have in my opinion So you got patch already out? I still think yarn crocs probably out, you know when you go through that lineup, it's Slotten's been better wrong. You're young croc would be the only one

Yeah, but that line is showing some chemistry through these I guess last three games or so Yeah, yeah with it's a good problem But it's a problem trying to figure out who's getting the first it maybe it's not Robertson game one because they want a more physical Tone setting type of game. That's probably true. Actually, I bet you it's they I bet you they skip them game one I think game one has a potential to be Thank well, I actually we have a clip from Stolarz talking about this. It's in there. I didn't put it on the lineup, but it's in there, Derek.

If you could play at Stolarz. It'll be fun for sure. I think they're a hungry team. They haven't made playoffs in a couple years here. At the end of the day, I just think we have to continue to do what we're doing right now. I think we feel good about our game. It's going to be a bloodbath. We're going to have a good game.

We're going to have a good game. We're going to have a good game. We're going to have a good game. We're going to have a good game. We're going to have a good game. We're going to have a good game. We're going to have to continue to do what we're doing right now. I think, you know, we feel good about our game and, you know, it's going to be a bloodbath, going to be a little bit of a war. So, you know, we'll be ready. At least want that.

How many stories on Hockey Night in Canada will we get from Darcy Tucker, Shane Corson, Alfredson, Chris Neil? They're all coming back to tell that story. You know what I will be doing? Eating it up. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Is that air of Leafs hockey and to have this back is fantastic and I hope it's a bloodbath I hope it's a war. I think that was favor although not for their D

I don't know I just I mean if you want Brady Kachuk to run around and act like an idiot Greg to run around act like an idiot like The Leafs have power play has to be good back team though. They're not a bloodbath team Okay, so be careful you wish for for your Leafs. Yeah, okay They're they're not they have toath team. So be careful what you wish for for your Leafs. Yeah, okay. They're not. They have to be willing to hang in there if Ottawa wants to bring it in. Hit back and they'll be able to lean, but I'm not sure how greasy this will play in

the Leafs' favor if it gets. That's all. Or else we're going to have to see a sign from the Leafs that we really haven't seen before. Yeah. I'll be curious to see if they can get bodies on Sanderson, if they can get body on Chabot. You know, that Cleven and Montepallo, there's cracks in the armor there, even though they're

big dudes. Yeah. Like it's going to be imperative to get on their defense because we know their forwards don't want to muck it up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And as far as the goaltending is concerned,'ve watched stole ours again last night where you could go Hey, Buffalo should add like four or five goals last night Yeah, stores is eight knowns last eight games three shutouts just getting better elite goaltending

Oh as good as anything we've seen absolutely. I do think it's helped that they don't allow second chances Like he faces a shot kicks it out. So maybe this is is a value question but like how much of the non second chances are is his rebound control because yeah he that when he was kind of yeah when he had his bad stretch which I mean I don't know he was a hair under 900 but like he was kicking him out a little bit more but it just feels like they're hitting them and they're not going out yeah he now so to qualify for like the same percentage leader you have to play 25 games. He's first in the NHL now 926. I think he's all this past couple of weeks. Yeah, put him up about he's a big hell of

a lot of Vasilevsky his numbers are tops in the league. Yeah, so give him credit man. I think came back from surgery like it never happened and I think if you held the a lot of the Leafs organization with the With the truth serum who they would wanted to steal the job and take the job and be starting game one I think a lot of them would have said Joseph Wall, right? Like I think yeah, he's here longer. He's paid a little bit more He seems to be the young he's the younger guys like sort of the future goalie and He seems to be the young he's the younger guys like sort of the future goalie and Storrs just kind of stole it like he really has taken it run. We do we play a Ruby on him yet? I should we did not let's let flip for please

Yeah, I've seen it for a bit now where he's just very commonnet and Like I talk about reading the play Tracking the puck and things like that. Just like in that six on five, you know, at the end they had some opportunities, but he did a good job of tracking the puck and getting in position. He's a big guy, so if he's capable of getting in position, there's not a lot of room there. So he's played big in that for me, you know, and he's done a great, both goalies have done

a great job for us all year. Yeah, there is ability to go post to post when it's across crease Or not cross crease, but even top of the circle that that that seemed past he's at both posts You know, he's challenged all over i'm telling you that you watch the conversations the ottawa senators have on On getting to fall all over getting on top of this guy. Yeah. Yeah, it's gonna be the cousins and Uh greg are gonna be trying to fall. Yeah Okay kipper leafed out. We got a lot. Hold on. Hold on Gold tending matchup with the with we're gonna have tons of time to break this down

But quickly before we have to stop talking with the lease Olmark has been brutal in the playoffs. Yeah, his not great playoff numbers yet. Not great, you say? Oh, is he quite bad? They're very bad. Yeah, he's got a lot to prove. Well, it's not good. Yeah, in 10 career playoff games, which is not zero career playoff games, he's got a

three, five, nine goals against in an eight, eight, seven save percentage. He's been putrid in the playoffs. He's going to have to come close. Those are Marc-Andre Fleury versus the Flyer numbers. Like those are really bad. He has to be the best player in this series for Ottawa to have a chance. And I think he can be that. You know, he is, we've seen him for stretches over the past month.

Look, he's got any goalie in the league. Leaves have the advantage in that. Yeah. They do. Right right which is something they have. I'll give it a coin toss for me. No way They're both been really good. Yeah, but that's not different circumstances now Like you you can sit there and and are you stolears has never faced anything like this before ever Like you've got the numbers there But people got Stolars that inexperienced and never having the pressure of a playoff

Series in his life at his age now and you can you can argue both sides of it So but there's no question Stolars probably feels a little better coming into this series than than Allmark right now And but Allmark's got a lot to prove. Yep. As ever 8.25 million a year. True true. Good to go on post leafs. I'm not the producer of the show, bud.

Well, maybe we should producer decide. Do you want to anything else you want to discuss on your Toronto Maple Leafs? I'm just really excited. I know we can tell I just I think it's Awesome and sorry to it's awesome for okay, Sammy I know but you're making me feel like I took like I said during the Don Waddell story I have an extremely guilty conscience and you're making me feel awful for being excited about the first battle of Ontario since I had An afro, So I'm really excited.

So today? I'm thrilled. No, you should, I'll show you. I'll get some pictures for everybody to show my hair. We're aware of that. But it's going to be really fun. We gave a lot of time on our national show. I don't care.

Tons. I don't care. But just for the sport, it's great that this is getting reignited because you know, everybody's sick of seeing Tampa and Toronto in the first round, Boston, Toronto, the first round, something new to Canadian teams heading it's on now we get Florida Tampa Bay, which unbelievable series I'm thrilled about that Dallas, Colorado is going to be amazing and in LA, we got some awesome first round, you know, what else is really

good for our sport a point point for the Montreal Canadiens tonight. A game that our Justin Bourne will be featuring on Sportsnet Wednesday night hockey. The man we're talking to in the pre-show, Nick Suzuki. Uh-oh. I'm looking forward to that. Did you tell him that right now I don't have you at top 25? Ah, listen, I got killed on that. Immediately after I said, that's too 25. Listen, I got killed on that. Immediately after I said that's too harsh.

Listen, I'm wrong a lot. But anyway, no, I didn't. Yeah, 15. Yeah, for sure we can go 15. Sure, 12 would be like, but yeah, we're going to ask him a little bit about... They've been cooled off a little bit. Caulfield, Suzuki. Yeah, but you know, they deserve a lot of credit and I think he deserves foremost credit of the Canadians for getting them to this point. He's had an

incredible season. Carolina is bringing nobody by the way. What can we expect out of Carolina tonight? Come on. You've got to be able to get one point out of this hockey game. Carolina's not dressing their team. Let's do game time. Okay. Game time presented by Bet365. Visit the app, PlayDustOdds, and find out why it's never ordinary at Bet365. That's 19 plus, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. So we're getting lots of the series confirmed here now.

And the only one that isn't confirmed is either the Habs or the Columbus Blue Jackets, probably the Habs. They'd never blow this, the Habs. Playing against a crappy team with no players on it that doesn't care, they'd never blow this tonight. Wow, setting them up. They, so that's the only series that isn't confirmed, but all the other ones now have lines for the series.

And since Kipper loves talking about the Leafs so much in this series, the Leafs are big favorites in their series. According to Bet365, they are minus 180 favorites, plus 150 for the Ottawa Senators on the other side and listen if you are a Ottawa Senators fan if you're a Leaf hater or you're a Leaf fan looking to do the big happiness hedge that's a pretty good number for the underdog. The other ones that have now been confirmed Vegas did I do that one yesterday?

I can't remember. Vegas in Minnesota minus 240 for the Vegas Golden Knights. The St. Louis Blues are plus 175 underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets. Jets talk, Jets are minus 210 in that series. And the Lightning and the Florida Panthers now confirmed is a toss-up. Oh really?

Minus 115, minus 105, they have no idea. So the I guess the Lightning are slight favorites in that but it's a tough one. I did on sportsnet.ca a Western Conference preview prediction sort of thing and I was looking at the Jets and the Blues. Goals for per game, goals against per game, power plays per game, or power plays, penalty kill penalty kill team save percentage in every single category The Jets are at least ten ranking spots higher than st. Louis. They are favorites Hurts bad. Yeah, they they own a

What do we make out of? the shellacking Last night for the Florida Panthers at Tampa. Hold on just before we go I'm gonna do one more thing We'll get out of this all right Then we'll hit a break and the last thing we're gonna bring up the game you're on tonight On the panel on sports at national good game nationally. This could have turned out to be not a great way we were aware Yeah, who you on the panel with today boring?

Yeah, Gaz da and Sammy cause love it you the Montreal Canadians as huge favorites would never blow this game Love it. The Montreal Canadiens, as huge favorites, would never blow this game. Minus 150. What are they doing? Minus 150, the Montreal Canadiens tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes that are bringing the B squad, plus 125.

So. Demidov is playing on a line with Patrick Laine tonight. I mean, talk about it. Back check city. I mean. Anyways, that was Game Time, presented by Bet365. Visit the app, play the stats, and find out why it's never ordinary.

At Bet365, it's never ordinary at bet three six five That's a 19 plus Ontario only please play responsibly damn it off passing line a shooting. We go Hall and oats. All right, let's take a quick break. Well that's amy Get out of his leaf mode and go big picture stuff. All right, okay. We'll talk NHL suspensions non-suspensions Okay, we'll talk NHL suspensions, non suspensions, the Kachuk brothers, which one's going to be ready to start game one and which one won't. The Kachuk! That and more when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne.

As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet365, Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, as mentioned right across our network, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadians, 7pm Puck Drop. 6.30 is our pregame show with Justin Bourne and three other guys. In my car salesman suit. That's why you're wearing that, because you have to literally sprint to get there in time. I've been tired of doing the panic change, so I pre-chained. I'm dressing like Kip now.

It's a nice suit. Who? Yeah, really sharp. You look good. Did you see on the internet, our event we did the other day? Yes. And you look like a male supermodel.

He is a hunk. And we don't adhere't have here like you're a good-looking guy. I'm a skid. He's a hunk You clean up those yeah, what's the iron jackets? Would you like to know who is not playing for the Carolina Hurricanes? No Sebastian Ajo Jackson Blake Jalen Chatfield Seth Jarvis Jordan Martin oak. Oh Jacoblaven, Jordan Stahl. Old Yvonne Demidov is going to eat them alive. How about that pig in the wagon that they pulled out a few years ago in the playoffs?

Is he dressing tonight? That is substantial. I heard that those guys aren't even in Montreal, so there's no chance of them showing up. You getting a lot of Skyler Brenda more as I mentioned before the break and there's another name that I don't know right now Here's the line. Son, of course Here's the lines from the morning skate for them Vechnikov cock in the Emmy Taylor Hall Robinson Jankowski Roslavik carry a Brenda Moore Stankoven Hall, Robinson, Jankowski, Roslavik, Carrier, Brynda Moore, Stankoven, Jost, Nadeau, Orlov Byrne, Gostisbaer, Walker, Stilman Moro, and Kutchikov in the starters crease. Not terrible.

Here's what I'll say. Still not that bad. Not that terrible. Not that bad. I tell you, you couldn't take six guys out of Leafs lineup and be okay. No point for Montreal tonight. And they missed the playoffs. This will be devastating.

But there's a number of ways for this to happen, right? You know, like they can get one point and get in. Columbus can drop a point. Columbus can even win in overtime if they don't win tonight and still get in. Columbus is... Yeah, Columbus is two points back 87 89 yes they have the same amount of regulation wins and they go Thursday correct they go tomorrow night yep tomorrow night and they wouldn't need to win in regulation yes that would put

them ahead because the Leafs have more or sorry the Habs have more regulation overtime wins but the same amount against the New York Islanders. Columbus has the Islanders in Columbus tomorrow. So yeah, go go and get your point. Caulfield Suzuki Slath, of course. Demidov New Hook Line A. Gallagher DeVorek Anderson. Heineman Evans Ermia. So it should be fun.

Fun game tonight. And we have a new pronunciation for Demidov. Yvonne. Like Yvonne Cornway. Yvonne like Yvonne corn way Yvonne on Wow He's no Ivan. He saw he looked up. He saw though the where his his number is gonna be soon He's like I had to look up there and respect Yvonne corn way Yvonne my number will be up there soon because everybody tells me how great I am. Okay Yesterday I said I thought for sure Darnell Nurse would end up with two games

for his cross check on Quentin Bynfield the other night. He just gets the one game. One game that he may not have dressed anyway. Clearly the league doesn't want to mess with a very interesting series starting in Los Angeles game one. Yeah, anything for the they cut him some slack. Thanks. On this one. Don't you think it was like a one and a half or to me? Yeah, it's a one and a half game suspension would have been perfect. But you can't do that apparently.

So make them sit out the first series like it's college football. Yeah, that's right. You can come in after that. Yeah, under normal circumstances. This is two games all day long and then over over the course of the last few years we hear all these little details on you know scenarios it was a guy could he defend himself was he vulnerable time on the clock the score there wasn't a lot of things going for Darnell nurse in this scenario. No Reasonably light suspension history the force wasn't that great telling you right now is a joke

Oh, you know, I really don't like that one. You got a miss too. You got it like it's not a one-game suspension I know like you're so you're now you're doctoring because of situation is it or is it not mm-hmm if that guy's a leaf he's kicked out of the league I'm telling you right now he's getting ten games if he's on the leaf there are two playoff series we stopped talking about the Leafs in the first block that's an instinct that is such a soft decision by the league I'm sorry that's horrible cross-checking is a common penalty in the game he drove the guys head in the ice. He can usually be penalized By the on ice officials, yeah, right the the Oilers I know some of the Jason Greger's done a lot of like work on this that there's

Way less penalties in the NHL this year and that's a significant punishment to the Oilers If you call penalties where there's penalties and we have two of the best players on earth I know their power play, you know for the years only tenth or whatever is in the league But they're a team that would benefit from the rulebook being called the way it's supposed to be called. I think it's crazy. All right. They got any shot at all without a comb back there?

Yeah, they got a shot. They do. They got the two best guys. I know, but they don't. I did my picks today. They don't play defense. I did my picks today. Already? I did. Yeah today Oh, and I did yeah Wow, and I just can't see these being anything but close games low scoring close games. The Kings are great defensively I think it's gonna be tight and in a tight game. Who do you think is gonna score those goals? Like it's not coming from Philip to know it's those guys for me. So I Can see why people are picking the Kings I can see the injuries being a major issue

and maybe some guys will be playing at 80%. It's gonna be a problem. They'll need Skinner to be good, but I just, I cannot bet against Prime McDavid against the Kings. Valid. I'd do it. Valid, but I just think that

Kings are better. You still this time of year you have to win from the net on out. I mean the Kings are better this year than they've been in years past. Darcy Kemper is gonna be on Vezna ballots. This guy, another level stuff too. How about the Dubois, was it Kemper for the Peel Dubois?

Both guys just magically got better. Worked out. Work worked out. That's a We hadn't talked about this Trennan Foreboard thing. Oh, yeah, we hadn't mentioned it supplemental discipline. That was on the weekend. I think yeah, we missed that or whatever Trennan foreboard fight good fight they go down They're both on the ground and trend gets gets up first and just pops him one, breaks his orbital bone. No supplemental discipline. Ugly scenarios.

Serious your thought on what happened. Yeah. You know, I'll say Bob McKenzie on the broadcast last night thought no suspension, they're in a fight. Didn't like it. I'm kind of with Bob a little bit on the fact that, like when you're in a fight and you're locked into this, you're in this zone and everybody's different. Everybody can still have a thought on when they wanna break up a fight

or whether or not they wanna throw the last punch. And then there's other guys that just shoot to kill. Yeah. And I can't speak for him, but a fight's a fight. And if there's a history there, do I feel like this guy's a cheap shot artist? There's so many other factors that as a viewer or a watcher, we're not privileged to know about.

And sometimes all bets are off. I'm in a fight, I'm gonna get a lick in whether or not you're vulnerable or not. It is almost a philosophical question. When's the fight over? When you both go down on the ice, is that the official end of the fight? And if not, if not, I think we've got a problem.

I think it kinda needs to be like, we're down, this thing's over. Otherwise, I think there's a a problem. I think it kind of needs to be like, all right, we're down. This thing's over. Otherwise, I think there's a lot of risk for danger. Here's a good example, you know, where people are compromised. I also think scary scene though, when they went out for for him. He's out there. I also I also think this is just a personal opinion that of course we kind of crossed a little threshold at Four Nations and the way we think about fighting look at fighting

promote fighting all of it and I think it's taking a swing back boys pendulum was always coming back not not too far Not like what I saw since the three fights in nine seconds. You're talking about public perception. I'm talking about all of it. I'm talking about what the league wants to now promote and Sportsnet's a national rights holder of the NHL hockey. They didn't shy away from showing the fights or leading it into some promotional stuff and it's taking a different feel. And I don't know if last night or this fight in particular may have kind of played into that and it's like, no, sorry, a fight's a fight.

Not encourage it, but at least not scare people off on it anymore I think it's fair to say that the league didn't have to give any supplemental discipline for all the reasons you mentioned but it's also fair to say that for the players who saw that that's a cheap shot that's a vulnerable guy that you chose to take the shot guys forget that he's carrying that rep now I'm telling you it's like it's not for everybody. And there's always a fear whether you're falling down or you're in a vulnerable position, or you're just standing up toe to toe, that some guy can cave your face in on one lick.

And it plays a factor in a lot of things on whether or not guys want to pretend to be that guy Not pretend to be that guy Intimidation of course this time of year whether or not someone wants to call a bluff not call a bluff all of it plays in but the most basic common denominator is one punch Could potentially hurt you really bad. My first fight in junior hockey, I was having a great game, two goals for assist.

My biggest game, junior B, feeling like, all right, I got to get my first fight out, you know, like really racking up. And I asked a guy to fight and he started fighting me before I thought maybe we'd have a conversation or consensus and he just decided that yeah, he was interested in that. And I got punched so hard in the nose, the first one broke my nose. I mean, I couldn't see blood through the inside of my visor. You know, and it's like, it was a lesson for future fights that it's about when you need to be prepared to fight and when it ends.

It's from the second you consider it until you're separated. Until your nose is looking the other way. Yeah Yeah, I wrote about this I think last week in my Toronto Star article about my my very first fight being in a like basic Intersquad game David Bruce second round pick of the Vancouver Canucks at the time Gave it to me really good. He gave it to me so good that he actually Called me over when we got off the ice and said come here. I'm gonna show you a few things. Oh, really? Oh, yeah Do I need to bring a pen and a notebook because I need a lot of help don't get punched in the right and

but he said the most important thing is is you got to fight with a little bit of But he said the most important thing is you got to fight with a little bit of anger and a little bit of like you got to really, really want to beat the other guy up. It's just not for looking over your shoulder and trying to appease the coach. Right. Like you have to have some real purpose. And that's why sometimes that fine line of when to stop or when to not throw the first punch, if you get more Experience at it and you stay a little calmer at times you could sit there and go okay

I'm you know, I'm not throwing this sucker punch. Mm-hmm, but sometimes you you let it go out That's crazy. Watch the end of a UFC fight and some guy gets knocked again, you know Knock the other guy down and it's clear. He's out and you know, he'll land Like he's stopped stop he's already dead like yeah I player pull I am we got some player pull all the NHL players Association pulled all their players yeah how many categories well I say shout out to I have follow who signed a three-year attention to the room peg that's Good stock. Good stock. Very deserving contract. Excellent ear. Great fit for Winnipeg. Yeah, way to go.

So there's 12 categories. Have you looked at these? I haven't. Kipper, you have? I did glance them. Glanded. So you looked. I did look. Okay. But I didn't read any of the details. Best overall goalie? Vasilevsky 30 second Shisterkin Hellebuck's three Hellebuck is three so 31 point 31 point one percent of guys think it's Vasilevsky 23.6 percent think it's Shisterkin 15 point

Six percent of guys think it's Hellebuck. That's for a guy who's gonna win three Veznas. Babrowski Hellebuck needs a 6% of guys think it's Hellebuck. That's for a guy who's gonna win three Veznas. Babrowski. Hellebuck needs a conference final or a Stanley Cup final to make him number one next year. You know what's crazy? And I'll give you guys a little preview of the show

we're doing tonight. One of the questions that we'll discuss is, Hellebuck or Carey Price better career resume? And you laugh, because you go, oh God, Carey Price. Check it out, pal. Well, Carey Price wouldn't have said that I Well worse career price went to the conference finals went to the finals like he had way bigger moments Hella, but hella buck has got there's gonna be a third Vesna. I think this yeah, okay

That's what I remember, you know numbers are better or you know comparable or better pretty much every category It's like yeah postseason. He hasn't yeah. Yeah, he hasn't price go deep once twice twice He got hurt He would have won the the year that the Rangers went and played the Kings is when who was it Oh Crieder ran him over and they were dominating the Rangers and then Marty C. Louie actually scored the overtime winner against Dustin the Karski. Okay now the Habs coach. Anyway, so that's what yeah keep going I want to hear like next the five the five top votes. That's overall forward Okay, go there. I mean

The honor Connor Nathan McKinnon Connor's 73% Nikita Kuturov Sidney Crosby Kirill Kaprizov the top five. Okay, who's missing from that Matthews? Yeah. Yeah. Okay Let's go back to your Leaf talk. Oh yeah, oh you wanna talk about the Leafs now? Oh you wanna talk about the Leafs now, eh? Has he dropped that much in perception? There is one of the categories where it's best two way forward,

where he's third or something like that. Oh, so you have look. I saw a preview that they put out. Most complete player. Most complete player. But he's three seasons. McKinnon and McDavid wouldn't fall out of a top five vote. Not in their worst year.

No. Most complete player, Sid is the number one with 33%, Barkov next with 30%, and then it's McKinnon, McDavid, Matthews, and Kopitar. They rounded out. Kopitar, still a major player. Best playmaker? Cooch. Yep.

Forty-eight point percent of the vote. McDavid next. Dry Cytle, Panarin, and Sid. So much Sid respect. If you needed one face-off win, who do you pick? Sid. Sid, yeah. Ryan O'Reilly next. Sid, yeah.

Ryan O'Reilly next. Kopitar. Great radio is I think. Jordan Stahl and Barkov is the top five for who you want to face off. Smartest overall player. Sid. Sid. Who else?

Give me five of the... Kucherov, McDavid, Barkov, Adam Fox. Adam Fox is not a dynamic player. He's smart. Had a tough year. Yeah. Best overall... He's had of a Tough year. Yeah, that's all he said a really tough year best overall skater David yeah McKinnon the car second McKinnon Quinn Hughes Jesper bra. Oh, yeah This is the one Kipper wants to make who has the best fashion sense David Pasternak is the best

And tied with Austin Matthews. Austin Matthews just not have these guys. And where's Willie's? The Leafs have two guys in this category. Great. I'll give it to Willie. They won the Balenciaga Cup. Yeah, you gotta make, it's gotta make you feel good.

Really great. Who would be a good broadcaster once they retire? The number one is Kevin Hayes, and then Ryan Strowm, Brad Marshand should be number one maroon Eric Comrie Eric Johnson and Marcus Foligno are the are the tops there. I like maroon if you've made like Millions in your career These guys make one. I like I'm only here because these guys don't want to do it. Okay, exactly Why don't you want to do it? Yeah, it gets work

It's real work You got 40 million in the bank. Oh my god 25 year old producer 25 30. Oh my god Yeah, no 25 imagine now making 50 60 million dollars your career and having Sammy produce you Yeah, I've never run an article today. I'm doing radio, I'm going to TV later. I've never once told you what to do except today. The best overall defense when you skipped over but it's McCarr.

71% of the vote, Quinn Hughes 7.44%, Victor Hedman, Roman Yossi, and again Adam Fox. Roman Yossi? Yep. Still doing that, are we? Roman. You know how to big huge Roman guy? I guess like Nashville was so out of sight out of mind this year they were irrelevant by November. He's off the charts good. He really is good. Except we don't really pay attention. Which NHL arena has the best ice? Edmonton. The Bell Center. You should have seen the ice up in Alaska, buddy. 44.96. You should see the ice at the Allen Furnerina in your own town.

Tractor on the ice. It was literally frigid. There you go. There you go. There's a player. Oh, and the which PWHL rulebook change would you like to see? So jailbreak goal was number one. So minor penalty and shorthand team scores.

What's your favorite? Jailbreak is your team is shorthanded. You score a shorthanded goal. You get your person out of the box too. It's the jailbreak is your team is short handed. You score a short handed goal. You get your person out of the box to the double reward. I hate that. It encourages you to push for. I don't like it because you did something dumb or stupid. Potentially you don't get it.

You get to feel shame for two. You don't get a mulligan and I'll take picking your playoff opponent. I'll take the three-point standings Three there three two one points. That is the one that's the best one and I don't like the picking the opponent I am well, I'm 25 Just like that That was a fast hour. I was link our apologies to Western Canada for Sammy McKee and his leaf talk, but hey listen, they won a division.

Will you put up a banner up here, Sammy? No, no. Will Sammy put one up here in the studio? You're a different guy in the Nashville hour. You're in the leaf hour, you're like, oh, the leaves, I love the leaves. You get in here, you're Mr. Western're in the leaf hour. You're like, Oh, the leaves. I love the least. You get in here. You're Mr. Western. Give me a break. Make sure you write into Sammy on your Twitter. Tell them how

much you love them back tomorrow.