Real Kyper & Bourne - Vally's View: Balancing Workload in the Final Stretch

Episode Date: March 25, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Steve Valiquette (4:58) – analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG, CEO of Clear Sight Analytics – to chat about Thatcher Demko's return in net for the Vancouver Canucks against Jacob Markström, how Canucks balance Demko's starts in hopes to sneak into the Wild Card, which team has the toughest decision on which one of their goaltenders play in game one. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee weigh in on Jakob Chychrun's extension with the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders’ disallowed goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets.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.

Welcome into the national hour. The real Kipper and born show that Kipper is Justin born Sammy McKee. We are live on sports at six 15 Vancouver sports at 916 Calgary this hour of real kipper and born brought to you by bet 365 Four games on tap last night none bigger than the Vancouver Canucks and the New Jersey Devils a match and This thing just got kept getting better and better as the game went later and later and I and better as the game went later and later. And I, to this day, still do not like three on three hockey. I don't.

But that was kind of fun to watch. Yeah. I tell you what, the Vancouver Canucks just feel like a team destined to make the playoffs by one point. Like Besser blowing that heater by Bennington, you know, them scraping back last night to get to OT and then get the extra point like Besser blowing that heater by Bennington you know them scrape scraping back last night to get to OT and then get the extra point like they are it's fighting they're all gonna be tough oh it's tough but I mean hey tough they're

they're scrapping it out boy I watching the third period and the end of the second of that came I was trapped in Amazon trapped in Amazon couldn't get out of Amazon oh you got in the old Amazon, trapped in Amazon. Couldn't get out of Amazon. Oh, you got in the old Amazon trap. You're like, I'm gonna toggle, but I can't. You got the pinwheel? No, I just, no, I can't get out. Wait for us to exit.

But I want, no, but I wanna flick. No, there's no flicking. I know, so I was locked in, just stuck in there watching. Did you order any Lego or anything? Oh no, I just watched. I recently ordered Lego. But I will say, watching Quinn Hughes is the best thing I think in the NHL like he is out of this world Good, you almost played 32 minutes last night and six shots, you know Canucks fans were listening like oh, yeah

What do you watch it's nice being on the East Coast so I can watch the third period of his games And not just the first period and a half for me. He may have won the MVP last night I mean what a show he's unbelievable even the the game-tying goal Like the way he's able to kind of straddle the blue line and then put the puck in no bomb Just get it to the net. There's so much havoc there. The brusk is there Garland's there that suitor who's been so good for them He did all that himself. Yeah, It's two points because of him. Yeah. He twist the game into knots, man. And then in overtime, they just like go behind the net until he's ready to come on again. Like they just

like take it behind their own net. Is three on three breakaway? Yeah, he just blew by everyone. Like he looked like McDavid. He skated through and took his shot on goal like it was McDavid. Like the college kids that comes back in summer and plays with his beer hockey buddies. That's the closest anyone has ever looked for me. Well. As close to a McDavid skate through the neutral zone into the zone.

Let me tell you something. The new fastest skater in the NHL, number one, Quinn Hughes, with a top speed in miles per hour of 24.56 miles per hour in a burst. That's now ahead of Natchez and all the other guys that you think of as fast. Was that last night? It actually wasn't. I think it was the game prior where he also skated

through the entire team, but he is hitting these new highs that even he hasn't hit before. He was well rested. Like I thought he was supposed to be hurt or. I think it's a wrist or a finger. 70%. I think the injury is. But you don't think of him.

As fast. As a burner. When I first heard that I was like, well, he's a lateral guy. He's a shifty guy. He's not top speed fast. No, he's top speed. I saw that Yeah, he's my own eyes He didn't need oh, yeah I I just I really enjoyed that hockey game last night and boy Markstrom after the lecker Mackey lecarum a key care Mackey just Fires one into a wide open that I don't know what Markstrom thought he was going to do, but he just explodes the stick, goes flying off the ice.

Devils, bad vibes after that one. Yeah, they're on the bad vibes. Robo Washington Capitals had a dollar bill taped to the jersey of Jacob Chickren today. Who just made, yeah, that's a good vibes team. They're having fun out there. Tomorrow on the national hour, let's rank the vibes team. Vibes, all vibes he team. They're having fun. It's more on the national hour. Let's rank the vibes team vibes all the times

He leaves not great Bob Sammy pointed out to me earlier in the show. It's Tuesday not Friday Which means Steve Alick gets gonna join us analysts for the New York Rangers on MSG CEO of clear site analytics Will crunch a few numbers. I'm sure over the next 15-20 minutes but I want to get into them a little bit about Markstrom last night off of giving up the shootout winner. Yeah, we're also going to ask him about Merzlikin who's a dirty cheater. We got a ton for you. Let's welcome him in Steve Alliquette.

How are you buddy? Very good boys. Just got here in time. The train was delayed, but I'm here Awesome. What are we sporting on the top of your head right now? What do you got for us up there? Oh, this is just a hat from Snowbird Alta Snowbird. It's in Utah skiing destination I don't know you guys don't see me on weekends because I'm usually skiing We got invited by Ryan Smith the owner of Utah,, you know, to ski and golf and do whatever we want. Yeah, I'm pushing pretty hard to get out there myself.

Yeah, I'm pretty close to those guys. So I'm working on it as well. All right. All right. So city trip last night, Vancouver and New Jersey. I want to stay with that a little bit because we saw Demko come back. I mean, at some times I watched last night and I'm like, I'm not sure how strong he looks or how fast he's able to get up.

And then late in the game, he's looking like every bit the superstar goaltender that he is. And then on the other side, I see Markstrom with the reaction of giving up the the shootout winner And I hated it. Valley. Yeah, absolutely hated that emotion from a guy who's supposed to be Your rock back there You know first on demko I'm watching the game from the lens of is he gonna move well enough out there to be able to play through a playoff series? the lens of is he going to move well enough out there to be able to play through a playoff series?

Goal number two, if you remember, it went off the back wall and then he didn't go for it. You guys remember that? Well, you know that that to me, it's always one of those like, did you not go for it because that was a decision? You know, you've got either a mental block. You're not confident that you can get there or you gave up on it. But for those three reasons, I'm out. you know, it's like Shark Tank style.

And so, you know, look, I think everything hinges on him being at his best by the time he got to overtime and he made that split save post to post. That's the first time I'm saying to myself, all right, you know, it's not physical. So what happened earlier in the game to get you to that point? I think it's a mental block a little bit for him to get through. I'm telling you when this guy is at his best over the last four years. He's a top-five goalie, but he still doesn't look all the way

right for me. He was better with his feet under him. You could see he wasn't getting too wide, but I still thought there was a lot of robotic even lethargic movement in him after saves. And I think that sometimes if you're not paying attention to he and Markstrom the way not not to say the way I do as an arrogant way to say it, it's just actually the way I watch hockey, it's like watching it through a straw, there's a

lot going on around the goalie. But my main focus since I was seven years old is just looking at the goalie. And I'm sure you guys are looking at many other things that I'm not seeing. And when I'm watching Markstrom right now, it's funny because I texted a goalie coach friend of mine before the game. Somebody on the social side in New Jersey sent out a picture of him and his stance for pregame skate at 1030 in the morning. And I told that NHL goalie coach, I said, I would have ran down the stairs to tackle that guy because it wasn't a good luck.

It looked like Mark Sturm right now is sitting in a chair when he's in his goalie stance. And I want to explain why that's a problem when you're in your stance and you're sitting as if you're in a chair You have to get out of that seated position to make your save So you can imagine that a low blocker shot you're not making it from down there You've got to get yourself up to proper elevation and then track down So it's to say there's a massive delay in his movements The shots that are coming at net for him right now guys, you can see it if you just press

pause before the shots taken. He's making himself really small and he's sitting and that's why he's been so leaky since the four seasons. Haha, Kipper four seasons. I've heard you say that a few times. Thank you buddy. Thank you buddy. Thank you. Thank you. I got it. So he's given up two goals in the six hole, three goals in the seven hole.

So that's between the arms, six under the glove, two under the blocker. Any goalie coach will tell you that when pucks are coming through you, it's because you don't have your posture. You don't have your elevation. You're getting low and wide. And that's why pucks are going through a really big goalie. The goal that he gets beat on in the shootout that he breaks his stick on press pause. As you see the player coming towards net on him, he got himself six foot five and he got

himself that small. It's almost that reaction afterwards. was on him That was him being so frustrated with not feeling his game right now Mm-hmm. Yeah, so for on the other end of the that rink there with the Canucks guys It's gonna you've been on lankan in as a pot a potential breakout guy at the start of this year You put him as one of the guys who could end up looking really good What are the Canucks do as they you know they're on the in this fight for a playoff hunt if Demko can go would you be playing Demko ahead of Lanken who's played 10 of the last 11? Yeah Lanken's last game he was awful it was against the right who was that against the Rangers and he I guess I heard

afterwards he may have had the flu. So that probably explains that. And I don't know if you guys heard that as well, but if you can get Demco healthy, he's the guy, no questions asked. Maybe, just maybe after that over time, he's passed that block. Like I didn't have a lot of injuries guys. I had a MCL once, I came back, I told you guys

when I got stepped on by the skate, but there is scar tissue that breaks away that sometimes you feel like when you're in your butterfly as the scar tissue breaks away that you're re-injuring yourself. And there is that mechanism that just sort of stops you in your tracks a little bit. And again, to me, he's just not moving right now. Demco's not moving where I would want to see him if I was going to start him to start a series. But that's not even the conversation we're having right now. It's really who's going to be the horse to get us in. And it's just game by game. And it's funny that you go around the league right now. This

is one of those years where it's fluid and net. There are a lot of questions for who's going to play. And I think it boils down to this schedule that we're in right now. Guys haven't had enough practice. Their practice reps have been bad and in most cases, not at all. You know, like the Rangers get blown out against Calgary, Toronto, they don't even have skates the next day. Only have practice the next day because, you know, Lavielet's saying, look, we're in a schedule stretch here of seven games over 15 days. And he's like, I can't even, I can't do it, you know, let's say and look, we're in a schedule stretch here of seven games over 15 days and he's like, I can't even I can't do it, you know, and that's how bad it is. And I think one of my favorite sayings guys and Benoit

Allaire, our goalie coach used to say this to Henrik and I all the time coming off of a day off. Don't judge yourself. Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't talk yourself into a slump because you're coming off of a day off and I'd always say to myself like what does that mean? It's one day off. Well, there's no way there's that much of an impact because timing gets off a little bit Yo, yo ma the world's most famous cellist famously not once said he said yeah, are you familiar with them born? Oh, of course

No, no, no, I mean I am familiar with him I couldn't I don't like have him on my playlist or anything, but No clue over here. No clue. Okay. Well greatest quote of all time He said when I miss one day of practice I notice if I miss two days of practice My wife notices if I miss three or more days of practice the world notices and right now I'm not seeing goaltending. we've seen the safe percentage come down. I'm not seeing great goaltending in most nets most nights right now. I'm seeing everybody either losing their net, like non stop losing their net like as if

they're prep school goalies, which is alarming because NHL goalies born, you typically don't see a goal going in because they've lost their net. And I'm seeing a lot of guys getting stuck on angle, a lot of guys deep and more importantly, and this is probably most important, bad posture, getting too wide, getting too low, sinking, making yourself look small. I've never seen it this bad right now.

It's a really tough stretch. Sit up, man, you're hunching. Yeah, there's better posture. I feel the same way. There you go. Sit up, man, you're hunching. Yeah, there's better posture. I feel the same way. There you go.

Valley, in terms of now playoffs, with the top two teams right now with the toughest decision on who to start in that game one belong to say the Toronto Maple Leafs and maybe Carolina, is there anyone else that you can think of out there? Yeah, I've got my list right here. And you you know it's neat because we're getting to that stage where you know We might be locking into teams and matchups and we're looking at the first round and the NHL I don't know if you guys saw it, but yesterday they put out if it was you know first day of the playoffs

These are the matchups So I just went that way through the list because it makes the most sense and it held today So if you're looking at the Vegas Minnesota series for sure Hill Gustafson, Gustafson, if you want to talk about a guy that's actually held his crap together the entire season. It's him. He has great posture. I was watching he versus Ottinger last night. I can't even believe Ottinger. It doesn't even look like Ottinger. He is at least a foot or two outside his base with his feet. He is way out. And I said he makes me

nervous. He makes me so nervous. And you know what, I actually think it's past that I think that if I'm in management in Dallas, I'm really pausing with a little patience here and just leaning towards the Smith without without question. Wow, miss had an awesome year. And like we, we saw this with Washington. They started group hour. They went to Hopi. They probably knew all along Hopi was going to be the guy, but you know what? It probably lit a fire under Hopi that year too, when Washington won, you know, so I think there's something there too. I

wouldn't be surprised in game one if they go to Smith and especially because we talked about how Colorado, one of the best rush teams, no question hands down. So it's a matchup for the Smith over Ottinger. I don't like Ottinger at all right now. And I've always been a huge fan. Just lost his game. Doesn't have it right now. Just the way it is. I think it's going to be interesting too. If St. Louis is the team that gets in between Bennington and Hofer, like there's something there too. Hofer's been playing really well, sneaking good. You can't not start Bennington, the gold medalist hero. Just hear me out here.

This is fluid. It's week to week, it's week to week. And not a bad idea once again, light a fire under a guy. I think Bennington, didn't he play well angry at the four nations? Yes, absolutely. Yeah. That's how he plays the guy.

He tries to manufacture it. That's why he's always in the middle of it. That's why he's always trying to pick a fight through the laws of the season. I've always believed this about him. He needs to get pissed off. He plays better angry, plays better channeling that emotion. And what would piss him off more than to play Hofer in the first second game and then Benner sitting there and then all of a sudden he comes in and lights it up. I can see a scenario like that happening.

Yeah, Bobrovsky for sure. And it's going to be Ottawa. So Bobrovsky versus Dr. Season off. It's going to be Ottawa. Hold on now. Thompson for sure against Montembeau. If it's going to be Washington, Montreal and you know, it's it's getting really close here and I think it's going to be Anderson if they start with the conversation. Kachekov Anderson against whether it's going to be Markstrom or Allen and who you should go with at least from what I'm watching. I would go Anderson and Allen if it was Devils and Carolina right now.

But I'm telling you I'm watching this every week right now. And I'm just going to stay focused on our guys bringing their feet under them. Are they carrying posture? It's really fascinating. I had a really cool conversation with another goalie coach this week, we were talking about I actually heard the segment. So he called me. And he said to me said, I like the part where you said, how you can tell if a guy's ready for playoffs if they have their patience based on pressing pause

and seeing the puck halfway between the shooter's blade and reaching the goalie and the goalie still standing there in posture. And Borny I sent you that text. Jari pitcher Jari one that that Borny that is the opposite of posture, right? ugly. Sweet, right. So low, like, you don't even have a shot. So what that that morning that is the opposite of posture right ugly he's right so low like you never shot so what he said which I thought was fascinating he said we're

doing a lot of work with studying baseball batters versus hockey goalies the only 2 positions that really receive the ball or the puck baseball batters if you're seeing a successful batter that isn't going early or isn't late, you will see the ball halfway between the pitcher's hand where it exited and the batter's hands are quiet. They're silent. They haven't moved. The lower half can move, but the hands haven't moved yet. If the hands go early, then he's early. And if the hands are late, meaning the ball is between the pitcher and past that midway point, then they know they're late. But I

thought that was pretty interesting because it relates to the goalie. It's the same thing. It's the only position like you can say goalie is the same as quarterback or pitcher. And it's not because quarterbacks drive the play. pitchers drive the play, right goalies receive the play. A batter is receiving the ball. So I thought that was interesting. So I'm looking at everything that way. Now let's get to stole ours.

Okay, because I think this is a matter of getting him all the way together. And I'm talking about go back to the Colorado game. I sent a tweet today because the last time I did this, somebody in the switchboard was able to put that on the screen. Oh yeah. I wonder if we have that golden touch right now. I'm wondering. So the reason why I sent it was because I took all the stats and I, you know what, Sammy?

I heard Sammy say, I think we're being too hard on Stolarz. This guy's been great all year. I don't want to, I guess. Correct. Right, Sammy? But you know what? It's, it's's not it's not like Sammy's incorrect. He just doesn't know. All right, and I'm gonna explain that happens a lot.

Welcome to my world. You know, here's the thing. Goals that are being scored every night in the NHL. It's very difficult for the common fan to say good goal bad goal. Very subjective. Right? So I came armed with some stats here. The shot that beats stole ours in that game on the power play, Nathan McKinnon, right-handed shooter walking into what is not the slot area. He shoots it before the slot area That shot clear-sighted that sequence we have tracked 984 of them this year all situations 26 goals have been scored

2.6 percent chance that puck goes in the net. All right So when we're coming and we're trying to arrive at expectations for our goalies I'm telling you it's a bad goal because everybody else is stopping it consistently. Now, I also went to look at it with time and space because in that particular instance, he had time and space. Time and space, same sequence, same location, same handedness, 214 shots,

11 goals with time and space for a 5.1% Okay, so he goes up to 5 but remember and McKinnon's got nine of them. Yeah Well, that was the funny thing kipper because the first thing I looked at was on that particular night It was two Saturdays ago. Did anybody else score from there? And those were the other two screenshots It was actually stem coast twice one was a three on two Which you can see the goalies laid out and the other one was the exact same shot on the powerplay. Stamco's beat Soda Bloom five hole. Now, interesting. The next interesting thing I thought was, well, then let's look at it on

the powerplay 3.7% chance with time and space on the powerplay 7.1% chance. So if you remember the conversation we've had in the past, where the best goalies in the NHL, they're all league average on the high danger, one every three, just like clockwork, everybody. If you're better than the average guy, you are really overshooting on the mid-danger chances. We're much better.

We got the pit valley. There you go, so that's Stam Kosis, there you go, five on four, same location as the one that McKinnon scored on Stolarz. And the funny thing that I kind of arrived at myself after looking at this was that if goals went in from here with regularity, with a lot of regularity, hockey would be a 17 to 15 sport.

Like that would be the score every day. Yeah, your lacrosse scores at that point. Right, Borny? So this is the expectation. I'm saying that when you're watching the game, Sammy, and you see one of these clear view shots from here off this angle, that your goalie's got to stop that for you. Because, as I've said many times, you have a bad goal at one end and there's not one at the other, you're going to lose. And in the playoffs, when the margins get thin and the stakes get high, you're in trouble. So as far as Stolar's total goals against since the four nations, lost my piece of paper, got a lot going on here.

It's been rather high though. Too much mid-nate danger, too many low danger compared to the rest of the league. He's actually in the bottom five and he's in the bottom five with like you are Kiev and guys that you don't want him to be there with So it's hard to see right Sammy. Like it's hard to say I don't want to overreact and be too hard on him Oh, there's a McKenna one. Yeah From that angle, I see no net Right and and the thing is is that he can be out a little bit further and he didn't go down early, but what he did do is he went down in neutral and he didn't track towards the release.

And I just, I know Stolarz, this guy's making that save 10 times out of 10 when he's at his best. And until he's doing that at his best, and you leave it here right now because this, I'll explain a drill that you can use for your goalies to get them really good at this because I use this in the warm up all summer. You put a puck right where McKinnon is about to release it, you have a player that skates around the top of the circle, and then skates down and shoots that puck that stationary puck. And the first three are five hole. So the goalie gets his timing, he

goes down really hard, and then it pitches him forward. And then you can move if there's a rebound. then the second group of three the shooter shoots anywhere shoot the score and guys we do this every morning nobody ever scores on that drill you don't score right that's why we do it right it's the point helps the goalie get their patience and timing before practice begins that goal to me is a practice warm-up goal all right I know you're chomping at the bit of disallowed goal late in the island, ripped off your islanders a point.

Yeah, well, you know, we're talking about all the margins and playoffs and what it's going to be. These goals that get called back are going to play a part in the post-seasons. You know, Merzlikens gets a little bump from Palmieri. You can debate about where the contact is. You can debate about was there time to reset, Islanders fans are mad, other people are mad, everyone's mad. What are your thoughts on that goal and what we can do? Teams I root for from childhood Leafs. Yeah. First Pro team, Islanders, Rangers. I mean that's who I want to see do well. Awesome. So I was probably as

pissed off as Paul Mary last time. That was a joke, right? I really like it No, I didn't like it at all It was it was awful and not take and take away my bias that I do want the Islanders to win that game last night Here's the thing In I'll just use Henrik Lundquist as an example because we talked about this all the time He and I hate the fact that Merzlikens is down in the reverse VH when that puck is in the corner before it passes to the point on that goal. Henrik would have played it on his feet. The puck would have

advanced to the point. And this is a rule in goaltending if you push with your right leg, you stop with your left. So had Henrik been in that his right skate never would have gotten near Palmeri because he would have been in his crease where he should be. You want to be deep there anyway. If you ever watched Merzlikin's enough, he's always out at the top of the pain. He's always getting into crap.

He's always getting tied up by his own man sometimes or the opposition, but it hurts your overall game over the course of a year. It does hurt your safe percentage. The idea on that play is to play on the old crease line that line across the imaginary line Across the middle of the crease that was 85 86 is when the NHL adopted the arc Furthermore if you are in the reverse like he was a lot of guys play it like that That's fine when that comes out to the point You typically track your head on that puck and then you actually get separation with your right skate off the post you're able

to advance and you're still stopping with your left skate again doing it that way you wouldn't even get near Palmeri the way that he did it was he got up with his it's a me my opinion incorrect leg and then he pushes off his left skate but stops with his right but his right is you know, there's a lot of pad overhang there and that's sort of in Palmeri space. You can't really get a good scope of it on camera. But that's Paul Mary's path to the front of the net. Then the second part is,

okay, fine, little bit of touch contact, not a lot. But I counted just shy of a full second, which is enough time to get into a full set after the contact, as incidental as it was. So what is the deal? The skates are out but his ass is in. I thought that I thought that the initial contact kipper from Mersleek ins if you had a goalie ex goalie in the

situation room. I think they would have really put their reputation on that on the line there and said, you know what now this is this is wrong. He's outside he's he's got his skate and pad on the outside. And the initial contact was enough time for him to get full setup. Yeah, I see him with his arm touching Paul Mary at full extension and Palmieri is good two feet away from him as the puck's being shot. So no, for many reasons. I don't like that goal at all. It really pissed me off. I hate it.

I always say to people to like, there's not like good goals and bad goals. There's just goals and we're putting a grocery stick somewhere in the middle and some of them are going to be close. That one is close. I get it, but it is frustrating. I'm pretty close to saying it's as good as it's going to get. I really am. Like at the end of the day, if you're in the blue paint as a skater, you totally

run the risk of the day if you're in the blue paint as a skater you totally run the risk of No goal if your feet are out Now you've got a chance to save yourself, but I don't know where this one stands to be honest with you Just didn't like it. I didn't like it. Even if it was me. I didn't like it We listen goalies are great actors. Okay, I've cheated every way you can possibly imagine Any contact felt these guys are going down. All right Yeah, and you know when it comes to equipment you should have seen me in Sudbury guys I put player elbow pads in the inside of my hip pants

Okay, so if you were shooting through my six or seven all I just like my hip like I had player elbow pads Okay shooting through my six or seven all I just like my hip like I had player elbow pads okay that's amazing seriously the boys used to call me hippo hips and I had players elbow pads like I did anything I always they were taking gear out of me all the time I never really got what was the rumor was it Belfort that had like strings from his hip to his gloves got snow so he opened up he had like shoulder pads yeah I worked somebody wooden shoulder pads with the islanders born in. I was all over him for it because he ruined it for all of us. Yeah, the only problem is getting caught. Right.

Before we let you go, we were talking earlier in our leaf hour about Scotty Lawton going up against his former team and particularly John Tortorella. Is this something that can help this guy or not you know what it's funny because it helps me coming on your show because I listened to your show so when I'm listening as I'm walking because I really don't run anymore but I walk I am hearing your conversation about Lawton seems to be a tortorella player. Why would they trade him?

They're rebuilding and I get that. But what I remember is in the locker room before a game in Carolina, our first round pick, he was a 19th overall pick, Lori Korpakowski, Torz yells across the room because he's at the dry erase and his dry erase board marker just dries out and he leans over He says Corpi pass me a dry erase Corpi we're in the media guys before the game. He goes get it yourself Gomer leans over to me goes traded He'd gone he was gone. And I'm even thinking of I don't know if I've ever told you guys this my first

year pro I played for John Brophy. Okay, this guy was Gordon Stelix. You're not that old was Jim, dude. Okay. This guy didn't even call me by my name. Kepperell. He just called me Golar. And if I let in a couple in a row and practice, he just told me to go in the corner and like the guys are shooting on an empty net and there's times during practice where there's two empty nets. So anyway, completely old school guy, we used to have hoodie and the blowfishes tour bus when we would take our long bus trips in the East Coast. Like what? Okay, sure. Yeah, it was the best. It was awesome. So we have a toilet in the back, but we also have one up front where John Brophy is now I walked up to the front

because the one in the back is either plugged or guys are in there and there was a kid on our team. He was our tough guy. Jeff Corbett was our name. He was a big part of our team. He was a glue guy, won a championship and Brophy says to him, Hey Corby, why aren't you in the best? Why aren't you in the best? Why aren't you in the back of the bus with the rest of the idiots drinking beer and watching porno and brofies like dead serious. This kid, Jeff Corbett, Corby goes, because it makes your hair turn white and your nose turn red table and start strangling this kid.

This is our tough guy, right? Same thing. Traded. God. So I'm always like, unless we're in the room, you don't always know why guys are getting traded. I don't know. That is so, so true. Oh yeah. That's wonderful. I don't know a better way to end the show. I think that's wonderful.

We got torts and hoody. What else do you need? And I wore a hat for Sammy because I don't want him to be alone and getting chirped up. I love it. Thank you, man. You're a snowbird yourself. Valley, excellent stuff, man. Thanks for joining us.

All right, boys. Take care. Wish me luck. We got a 1030 start tonight. The Kings, brutal. 1 a.m. postgame. Good luck. Hang in there.

We got that one Thursday when the Leafs play the Sharks. So we feel your pain. A lot of coffee, my friend. A lot of coffee. All right. See you fellas. Steve All lot of your pain friend lot of coffee. All right, see if Ellis Steve Aliquette CEO clear site analytics and of course covering the New York Rangers for MSG Strangling from coaches. There's some of those stories out there about my era

70% of the coaches 70% of the coaches could have been in jail. Yeah, I definitely during playing junior hockey had my coach stick under my throat pinned against the glass back in the day. Good times. Charges for sure. Maybe not jail time, but charges. Ed made me a man. We'll do game therapy.

We'll talk a little bit more about that goaltender interference after the break, but we'll do game time quickly here before we head to break. It's game time. I bet three, six, five. Visit the app, Flee to Stodd's and find out why it's never ordinary. Bet three, six, five. That's been a P plus. On Terra only.

Please play responsibly. So, talking about the Leafs and Fires a lot tonight. One's eventually got to go in for Scott Martin, right? Yes, it does. And it feels like he's getting a little bit more opportunity tonight. One's eventually got to go in for Scott Lotton, right? Yes, it does. And it feels like he's getting a little bit more opportunity tonight. Playing on the third line and more of an offensive minded first third line with Domi and Robertson. I think tonight he shoots one in the net. Okay. And you're getting a pretty good number on bet three, six, five for it plus six 50 for a goal. Give me a Scott Lotton anytime goal. And guess what boys are going to come in tomorrow. We're going to talk about it for a goal. Give me a Scott Lawton Anytime goal and guess what boys are gonna come in tomorrow. We're gonna talk about it for 15 minutes

About the goal that he scores tonight another Atlantic Division game here Ottawa Senators in Buffalo to take on the Sabres and Speaking of anytime goal scorers Give me a Dylan Cousins anytime goal against the Buffalo Sabres because they're tortured fan base Who has now missed 14 straight playoff appearances? This is another little twist of the knife coming in with a hot

Sens team and Dylan Cousins coming in gonna score a goal tonight at plus 240 So there's my other little pick for tonight Hey like you do a lot of like leafy moping stuff in our first hour like the Sabres fans. Good Lord Yeah, but you still even have to invest. Yeah, you're just checked out I mean, they're like what's Josh Allen having for breakfast? That's what you're talking about They're really good game in Winnipeg tonight the two best teams in the league Washington Capitals visiting the Winnipeg Jets the Jets are big favorites in that games minus 150 Washington you could do worse in plus 125 for

The only team in the league that's clinched a playoff spot. Is that correct of the Jets now clinched play? I was right anyways and Big one for the flames they host the crack and coming off their East Coast road trip still looking for that last playoff spot They're a minus 140 favorite over the Kraken. And that was Game Time presented by bet365. Visit the app for the saw to find out why it's ever ordinary. Bet365 must be 19 plus. Ontario only.

Please play responsibly. Okay, we'll take a quick break. When we return, we'll get into a few news and notes, including a massive signing. There's a very rich NHL defenseman. And we'll tell you who it is after the break. Hope it's me. You're watching and listening to Real Kipper and Bourne. 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.

Hey, Kipper, it's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. A reminder of this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet 365. Going into break, we talked about a Jacob Chickren. The same Jacob Chickren that Ottawa traded for From Arizona only to move on 72

Million good for him man. That is a large number and well-earned by the way because a large number and well earned by the way, because timing's everything in life, man. Not only does he have a great year, but the team has an unbelievable year. Everything's just lined up. He is the heir apparent to John Carlson, who I'm not retiring anytime soon, but he's got just the one year left on his deal, if I'm not retiring anytime soon, but he's got just the one year left on his deal if I'm not mistaken and

Chikkun now becomes a must for Washington to get under contract Yeah, he sure did and to his credit goal leaders among D It's McCarr Wurzinski and then then Jacob Chickerton was 18 goals in 65 games. He is plus 24 which is extremely good as you know, so yeah, he's having a great year You just dream of a contract here like this one. It all went right. I mean it's not like he wasn't gonna get paid Yeah, he was a he was a ufa right at the end of this year So like regardless of if he had a good year or not He would have got a pretty good contract at the end

But I don't know if it would have been at 72 million. I think that's where money's going I think you would I think you would have gotten north of nine I think on the on the open market. Yeah on the open market. I think with I think with the cap going up and The need for this position it is still underserved for 32 teams to have a guy that can log the type of minutes that he logs and to provide Offense and Being a threat out there. Thank it is really hard if you look down and we had a

pretty in-depth conversation in our first hour on our Leaf edition of our program about Morgan Riley and how the look and the feel of the Toronto Maple Leafs would be much different if you had more of a producer like Chickrin than right now Morgan Riley. The other thing is like, you know, I think that the NHL is too quick to give guys eight years. They're too quick to say, we think that he's going to be good for this long because they're always trying to lower the AAV.

Not Chickren. Chickren is 26 years old. And if you've ever seen any videos or interviews of this guy, he's a health freak. I saw Dylan Strom saying that he's trying to eliminate lights in his house in favor of beeswax candles Because he's on this healthy, you know, be different. Yeah, I'm just saying like if you've seen him with his shirt off What's the name? What's the name of the? Lawyer from Better Call Saul that like had no all goodman. No, there's like the there's like the senior Lawyer that has like no lights and like he had to like

But I mean he's a hell my point is he's 26 he's a health freak he's ripped he's six to whatever You're gonna get good performance for a lot of years out of this guy. Yeah, good. He's comfortable good. He's scoring I think this deal is gonna look like a bargain. I agree It's usually guys 29 30 that you got a flirt with what's it gonna look like at 36 37? 38 that's not 33 or whatever it is another eight or another 12 if he produces

Yeah, I mean how also how old will he be when that this one ends? 34 yeah, I mean eight at that point seems far-fetched, but I mean that's eight years from now If any of us I mean I'm not engaging in this fantasy. Yeah, I don't know six years He could sign 40 years. Who knows that the CBA is by then. I have no idea. We'll talk about it We'll talk about it. Yeah, we will I'll be long gone Did you want to talk any more about the Golden we have that we have the walk lab. Yeah, let's listen to because Patrick had some very strong words for the the offices of Toronto. Mm-hmm

Paul Mary was out of the crease and We tipped it in and I think their goalie pushed him away at the same time. So but that's how I see it. And if, if Toronto is afraid to overturn calls made by the referee, we don't need Toronto. I don't actually understand what that is. Is that a threat? I don't understand what that means. You don't actually understand what that is that a threat. I don't understand what that means. You don't have a choice

well, he's just saying that Let's get rid of that and let's just go back to the officials. Yeah, that's how I took it Okay, I thought it was like maybe we need to play so well that we don't involve Toronto so that it's not this no I got we don't need drawn. Let's leave it to the referees. I think it's funny how Toronto has become a Representative the way that like Ottawa means government. Yeah, it's like Toronto now means like the rules That looks like every gold-tenner appearance it gets called it runs into a guy disagree No, like I mean this one he's outside. I hate them all and like just gates

He skates into him, he hits him, the guy he can't reset goes in. It's like they call golden interference like that every night. Did he skate through his creased? I don't know. No. Ever. It just looks exactly the same as every other one to me.

No, and like I am of the mind that it's close, but I do think that, you know, there's both hands on the push. There is time in my opinion for him to get back set. But you talk to a lot of goalies. Valley said it, and people, other goalies my Twitter mentions say goalies are incentivized to find contact at the top of their crease.

And they're really good actors, as Valley said. You know, and you get a piece, and then you still get a chance to make the save, and if you don't, you have an out. Yeah, here's what I'll say. I think it's a total hero call by the ref to call that Nicole interference I don't understand like if you're the ref and you see that Are they allowed to make no call like let's take a look at this

No, cuz to me the okay, so he has to call one where they are to me the idea that courage to do that You have to overturn that as a no-goal call. Yeah, you can't definitively overturn it No, but like I think if I, that's a goal. Yeah, it was a goal and then let's go look and see if it's not a goal. But like for him to so definitively cross that off to me on the ice is the hero call. But upon review, it looks like a lot of them they call back every night. I actually think that refs are getting better at this with off-sides calls. Like I think their area on the side side Suzuki scored one against the Islanders

Where he was offside in the end? But the ref called it onside because I think that's just to make sure that's the right thing to do They don't then they're in charge of making the wrong call. Absolutely. They're rather we can get it right later It's right, you know, let's at least play this out and then I get that right. Yeah, I get that The one thing that went through my mind the moment I saw the goal disallowed was what would have happened if that was late in the third period against Canada and the US? And how that would have just, I don't know, I mean, based on where we were politically. Oh my God.

I'm like. It'd be the first ever storms the ice. The crowd is on the ice. The band is on the field. Which secondary was, well, what happens in the playoffs to decide whether a team advances or not advances or wins a cup or not wins a cup but I went Canada USA horrible bring back the foot in the crease it is looming that's where we're

at something that's we're not there no we'll never be there again but it but it is something that looms but again I tried to make this point of valley that these plays with contact exist on a spectrum and when you say we're going to drop a grocery stick in or whatever and separate them into good goal bad goal a lot of them are going to be right here they're going to be really close like maybe 50 50 and so we kind of are accepting of that or should be accepting of that oh i don't think there's ever ever going to be a level of acceptance it's just like now you're just kind of numb to it. Yeah.

Same difference, maybe. And a shame for the Islanders who've lost a couple of points. There's actually one against Montreal, similar to that, where they were on the wrong end of it. But man, it is, I don't know, the Islanders, it just feels like how I said Vancouver's finding a way. The Islanders feel like they're finding the opposite They're finding way not right do it. Yeah, anyways all right Oilers no McDavid or dry side all for three games this week

And I was just looking at their schedule and it really sucks that they don't have a David or dry so this week because tomorrow night marquee matchup between them and the Dallas Stars rematch of the Western Conference Finals and Then Saturday night battle of Alberta. No Mr. Battle of Alberta sucks, you know, they're just not a great team to watch those two I mean, they're not but they're still battling new Noo's is now the man who don't sell me new. Yeah, I'm just telling you that's all that's what they have I know he's fine. I'm not dialing in for the new He's a good player wrong with the new he's fine. He might be the most Drake in Ottawa

We got the new janette. He might be the most undial in for a bull player in the league like he's Responsible smart. Yeah patient. Yes had a very good at a chill career career first over honor and Leon get a good rest You think that's part of it all of it They won't be available for any of the three games this week Mcdavid appeared I tweak something lower body to believe they're hurt and I do believe that there's a reason like there's a legitimate reason they're not just resting them but Was the stat the other day that they that they're responsible for something like 35% of every goal scored for Edmonton?

Sounds right. That seems really light to me. You thought it was higher? I bet they're in on over half. It's not half, is it? I just would think that they would be involved. Yeah, that's probably ridiculous. But it almost feels like it.

They're in a divisional dogfight a like they're tied with LA right now LA has one more game in hand, but they're only five back of Vegas like there What did Doug McLean say if Edmonton plays LA they lose in the first round? He suggested it was possible. LA's They're coming on. LA's been smoking teams They put up a couple of touchdowns in their last two games and then the winner of that division You know likely gets Minnesota which no offense to Minnesota, but they've been rotten since I don't know the new year Waste eight days Vegas Minnesota waste eight days for Minnesota. Yeah, absolutely

Could be one of the best hockey lines in history also because it was Darrell Sutter just like, if matter of fact, just had it ready to go. Waste eight days. A waste of eight days. That's all that was. So it's one thing to say it, but then it happens. Happens.

That was delightful. So I've been right about it. Ovi tonight, back at it. Give us the breakdown. How many games left? How many does he need? He needs seven. Seven to pass, six to tie.

And they have 12 games left. Are you handicapping those odds? Let's look at their opponents, shall we, folks? Well if I'm not mistaken, I feel like he would have maybe his most goals against the Thrasher's Jets franchise. If I quickly look that up. That's who they got tonight. Yeah, they're in Winnipeg tonight, which because people are debating on what kind of welcome they'll have.

Two interesting things. Oh yeah. Right. A high Ukrainian population. Oh, a hundred thousand, I think. Over a hundred thousand is in Winnipeg. I got a pro- tattoo shout out jetstock Of the 12 Capitals games left only four are against playoff teams eight are against non

Playoff teams they end the season Columbus Columbus Islanders Pittsburgh. So he's got some softer teams to jump all over Here's a question. Here's a big question. His numbers are absurd. Hold on let me ask my big question. 102 points they are in the lead by greatest 12 points up in their division. Would you not want to rest a 38 year old 39 year old before the playoffs if you're trying to win the Stanley Cup? Should Alex Ovechkin be playing and risking injury game against the Islanders and Penguins to finish the season when your spots locked up yes and who's gonna tell her that carbs our boy Carvery carbs we like carbs but even he

doesn't have the stones to do that so they shouldn't prioritize winning the Stanley Cup for Alex Ovechkin's personal Yeah, this is this is all about the chase buddy. I thought you were a team guy I am I thought no you you're not you're not you're about the name on the back I'm just telling you that this thing is way too big way too big and all your friends talking about it? Like who knows?

Like, no. Some people are saying you shouldn't try to score now and empty net goals. I'm like, we can all have a heart attack and die right now. Okay, all of us. It would be crazy if we all did it at the same time. I don't want to live without any of you guys, so let's do it. I don't like the odds. Like my cats?

The odds are against that happening. But as long as it's out there. Okay. Don't. I'm with you. Get there. Get there as fast as you can. But I am dead serious that they are the best team in the NHL this year.

Are they? What is a priority? I think the way he plays, he rests on the ice. I think he's going to set the hits record in the lead. He skates when he wants to skate. He stops when he wants to stop Or like he can do whatever he wants. He's fine in 74 career games against the Winnipeg Jets and what would be the Atlanta Thrasher's he has 56 goals in second 56 goals in 45 74 game.

Enjoy your game tonight. Thanks for the heads up. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check.

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