Real Kyper & Bourne - Vally's View: Goaltending Towards the Postseason

Episode Date: March 11, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Steve Valiquette (4:47) – analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG and CEO of Clear Sight Analytics -- to chat about how the Ottawa Senators' playoff hopes hinge on Linus Ullmark, whether Sergei Bobrovsky can replicate another successful Stanley Cup run, Anthony Stolarz's dip in performance, which goaltender in the East can push their team through the post-season and the difficulties of having a groin injury as a netminder. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam discuss Rasmus Dahlin refuting a rumour about wanting out of Buffalo.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 back to the program. It's our national hour where Sammy came this close to being fined capitals. Why not switching over panic panic. Switching over. Panic. Panic. Wish we could show the people our wardrobe over there of jerseys. OK, like you went watching the Capitals. It's I haven't had it up. I don't think for sure. Hanged it. Air. Hang it. Air. Obviously, we get the great chase going on. Can't pay attention.

He just scored another empty netter. This is a big jersey. What is that? Like a hundred empty netters. He said has so many this year. It's got to be a third of his goal He's trying to pass a goalie few times. Oh to be fair boys there's some people that have a problem with him breaking the record only on empty netters, but Give the Washington Capitals credit for putting them in a position where they have to pull their goal Yeah, they win all the time.

They win all the time. They're protecting leads and they put a bad defensive player out there in those spots because he can shoot. In today's world where it doesn't matter whether you're up one, two or three or four goals, you're still going to pull the goalie. It's still weird to me to see a team just not quietly go away with like it's it's over two teams scored an empty net goal it's over no not anymore two teams the nhl have a uh a 700 winning percentage or higher washington and winnebago there you go just our jet stock really

good still we are glad everybody's aboard for the next hour. We are live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet 365. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Steve Valakett for his Tuesday contribution to our show. New York Ranger Analyst for MSG,

CEO Clear Sight Analytics always does a great job plenty to get into in terms of the goalies and what we saw out of Almark last night for the Ottawa Senators and it seemed like that was the type of role he was on prior to disappearing just before Four Nations tournament. Ottawa gets that out of him. It's a lock. I said to Sammy before the show, they paid him what? Eight million bucks this year, right?

I think he got the same contract as Swainman. Yeah. So 8.25. Yeah. So you got 8.25. Yeah, so you got 8.25. He makes 50 save last night or whatever the number ends up being, and they win a game against someone competing for playoffs.

If they get in, by a point, if last night is the difference and it's on the back of Allmark playing that well, he paid for himself. You know what I mean? Like you could justify that for sure. He did enough to justify that contract. But didn't you say he's hurting hurt? Well, he wasn't to justify that contract, but didn't say he's hurt and hurt

Well, he wasn't at practice today. They called up that what's the oh you're making this up. No, that's real No, what's the their Merlin in or whatever they called him up? Marilion they called him up, so I don't know Just dr. Day off not season out you don't take one of the pills at the end of the game No, just dr. Day off not season out. He don't take one in the pills at the end of the game He may just need to take a knee for a minute here Anyways, hopefully he's alright because yes, they like you said that team who weren't very good for most of that game They got filled in by the Red Wings Had a chance to watch a lot of it because the Leafs game didn't start till midnight

but if they get that goal pending, and that team with those forwards, and they got some good young, they're not an easy out for anybody in the playoffs. Good series. No, you're right, by the way, the Red Wings are cooked. Coming up on the Red Wings' Playdirs,

Carolina, Vegas, Washington, Vegas, Utah, Colorado. So I got this DM to me yesterday, so I'm gonna totally throw my boy Troy under there the bus if this is wrong But he said he's a Red Wings guy does photography for the team and he texts me this and said that That the three seasons in a row With a six plus game losing streak to end March Or to start March ended the last three February's in a playoff spot just to blow it So at the end of February three straight years six plus game losing streaks

They continue to just get not very good draft picks So and if you're wrong on that they've had they've been very unlucky if you're wrong on that Troy Not on you not my fault, and it does seem like Dylan's Dylan cousins has a nice feel what a start as a as a behind Stutla and between Pinto yeah, Danny shoots went in and Brady's excited. The team wins and the crowd's electric and they cheer for him. Great start for Cousins.

Okay, it's also a great start to our show. Having our next guest, Steve Ellicott join us as we talk off the top Ottawa Senators and Al Mark. And I thought these guys were pulling my leg that he, I don't know, might've disappeared today at practice. Sammy, what, just a day off, right? Is that what they're calling it?

Yeah, I don't know. I haven't heard from him, but he was not on the ice. Regardless Valley. It seems like it's a no brainer for the Ottawa senators. If this guy can stay healthy and perform like he did last night, they will be in the playoffs. Well, if we can count on that, you know, I think this guy could go missing at any moment. Apparently. Yeah, I'm still, I'm not buying, I'm not buying.

I wanna buy on Ottawa because I think they've played a great brand of hockey, they've defended well enough to be able to be in. That was the one thing that stood out with this club since the very beginning of the season. They've defended better than everybody that is beneath them in the standings, they should be there. But they haven't had the quality of consistency and net. And they've had big performances. But you know how it is, guys, you

can't be a starting goalie in the NHL. If you can't play a consistent brand, if you can't stay healthy, if you can't be a starting goalie in the NHL if you can't play a consistent brand if you can't stay healthy if You can't be counted on I Hope it was that is that a Sammy rumor? He just read that on Twitter because I mean I can't take another one of these this has been bothering me all year. Uh Yeah, he was not a practice today and they called up Maryland, so I don't know what I mean, maybe they're just giving them a full day Off. I don't know what that maybe there's giving a full day off I don't know if you're so supporting the

who you can see who comes to the area yeah yeah like that's that's where we're at too which is certain to hurt me a little bit right like the Rangers have their biggest game of the season on Sunday against Columbus and they don't place a sturgeon in a back-to-back because starting goalies just don't

play back right now It's ridiculous. Hey, you should see Hendrix record He played 85 back-to-backs the second game of his back-to-back his career safe percent. It was 927 Oh my god, is that real? Yeah, like a guy born. He's a free He would carry us into the playoffs first four years that he was here just carried us and you know what that does for the room You know, it does it it does a lot and so that one I don't like it and and you've got to be there in the big games I don't care if you're told you're not playing Hank would have Strangled the coach. Yeah, he would have gone carlisimo on him if if if he wasn't starting that game

I've seen it, you know, I've been at this morning stretch and Hank would give me the hairy eyeball How about that this Rangers team in general this year? So they got 18 games left They're currently two points out of a playoff spot. I got them with a pretty tough schedule remaining more games away than home I think they're only playing for non playoff teams left like 14 playoff teams What do you make of their odds Valley? Well, I think I said a while ago 20% and I'm still there, you know I was wavering last week off the shutout shut out against Nash Yeah, Nashville and the Islanders and I was you know, what these get the reason why it was because they were defending

Against Ottawa they gave up 13 high danger chances the Ottawa. They gave up 13 high danger chances the night before they gave up 13 high danger chances. It guys, it's, it's simple math. They go in one every three times. You're giving them four goals right off the bat when you get up and it doesn't like high danger chances guys, they don't discriminate. Like it doesn't matter what goal is in the net. You've got to have a super hot night to outperform 13 great days. And that's the funny thing about it. It's like, I've said this to you guys before. It's, it's bizarre, but when you look at the NHL, it's like NHL goalies, they just stop high dangers the same. Like it's all everybody's one out of three, one out of three. And the big difference is, you know, I'm watching Anderson the other night. And

you guys see the end of his game, they're up three nothing, he gives up a bad goal from a dead angle. And then he passes it to a guy. It's like three to like, what's going on? You know, that's the difference. Because the guys that are going to push through and have a great playoff, they never allow the low danger, like they don't go in. And the mid danger, they perform over league average. So on mid danger chances, you perform over, you're at league average on the highs and the lows never go in. And that's what

you need from your goal tending. And, you know, I, again, I just think it's, it's bizarre to me that you don't see Shasturkin in the biggest game of the year You know, I don't know. I just stuff bothers me tough tough loss quickly just before we do some context on the Olmork thing they're playing in the second half of back-to-back tonight on the road So potentially just leaving Emma home after saving 50 bucks Maybe that was a got that DM to me from Andrew So but this does go with what Valley's saying about bubble wrapping everyone Just some context of the conversation. I want to go to the game and watch come on. Anyway

so Does that leave? Columbus wide open Saying and you want to be a part of it You don't want to miss any moments The room is running itself right now If you're a good team, the room runs itself. And I'm hopeful that the teams that we see in the playoffs

this year that are performing at the highest level are commensurate with that thought so that it's still a little old school there. And we're not getting ahead of ourselves by bubble wrapping. So you watch Columbus against the Rangers. Does that leave their spot open now for the taking? Well, with the Rangers not being able to take it, you're saying Yeah. Yeah, I mean, is Columbus a legit here for Columbus? Yeah. Geez, you know, Kipper, it's it's been a it's been a season

here. And there were like eight players in the lineup Sunday that weren't in the lineup for hope opening night, you know, like that's how much change there's been. And, but, you know, when I see this team leave a little bit on the table and sacrifice for the, for the team and not have so much risk, they can perform. They, they, they have plenty of offense. Their problem is not offense. Their problem is defense and defense to me starts with caring to play defense and I'm still not seeing it where the guys on this team are are all in to to get a win looking around this

Eastern Conference. The Leafs may very well end up in a two three match up with with someone could be Florida. Tell us about Bobrovsky, a guy who seems to have high ceiling, low floor and tough to know what you're going to get at any given time. Yeah, you know what, Borny? This is not something we talked about, but you know, it's something that's on my radar, which is what does it take for an NHL goalie to go on a run, right? Because we've seen Bobrovsky do it twice where he's especially two years ago where he had a

very mediocre, below subpar season. And last year, he really had one of his better regular season. So it was, you know, a little more on brand with him having a good postseason. So what did he do last year that set him apart in the post season? It goes back to your comment a few weeks ago, horses for courses, because if you know how to insulate your goalie against his weaknesses, then you can allow him to believe and have confidence in his own game to grow and play at a high level. Last year in the playoffs, the Brodsky, he was five goals above league average on broken

plays, screens, rebounds, everything around the net. He had a really good playoff. And I think a big part of that was because Florida, they changed the way they were playing and they were the 32nd best team off the rush. So they didn't go off the rush and allow rush back against them. And that's funny to me because it was two years, or was it maybe three years earlier when they won the president's trophy, they were the best rush team in the league.

So they went from the best rush offense to the trade with Hubert O., et cetera, Weger, and then they brought it back, and they decided that they were not going to play off the rush any longer. But they were also relying on playing in their D zone because they loved their size with their D and they shut it down in zone. They played dots down really strong

and then insulated Bobrovsky with net front. So he goes out and he performs and he can see through screens and he's the highest performing goalie in those conditions. And I go to Aiden Hill the year before too. Aiden Hill is a really good off the rush goalie when there's a lot of time and space taken away. And if you have a back check that works like Vegas did when they won 16 breakaways face, no goals, east to west in the playoffs, 21 east to west chances face just four goals. But it's not, it's not time and space. And there's a big difference there because, you know,

we've talked about this, the factors that go into what enhances a scoring chance. If you can play tight, if you can defend, and that's again, the biggest difference I have here covering the Rangers, it's they are the worst defensive team in the league. And you know, it's like, we've got Winnipeg tonight. So I'm pulling this one just as a comparable getting ready for the game slot area chances against with time and space. So slot area chances where guys have in time and space guys, it's a stick length of room where a player can't move a left right or, or advanced towards the goalie. When that's taken away as Winnipeg does, you've got the best defensive team in the league that insulates for their goalie. But the bottom

five teams that not doing that well this year, Pittsburgh, Anaheim Rangers, Nashville, San Jose. And it's like, you know what it's like guys, you live in that neighborhood, you've got no shot. And that's why 20% chance for the Rangers to make the playoffs in my opinion, unless they and I think you can do it. I think you can tighten it up if you're not cheating too much. And you've got a strong F3 and everybody is checking with their legs and they've got good sticks and they're covering for one another.

You're watching and listening to Steve Valiquette, analyst for the New York Rangers, MSG, Clear Sight Analytics. One more in the east before we switch it to the west conference here and that is that we believe that the Leafs, if they can avoid Bobrovsky or Vasilevsky in the first round, they're gonna catch up to them, which leaves Stolarz and Wohl. There seems to be a little bit of a dip in their play lately. Is it nonconcerning only when you consider

how high they set the bar throughout the regular season? You know what, Kepra, I was really surprised. The scoring chances weren't that heavy in quality in favor of Colorado the other night when they beat up on Stolarz. Two of his goals were low danger. And here's the thing, big goalies, right? It's neat that we're on camera

because you can see my posture here, but tracking towards the puck to make a save so you can do it consistently. It's almost like imagining that my necktie here is driving towards the puck. And you saw Stolarz he got beat over his chicken wing twice. And what he was doing was he was in neutral. And he was just throwing it at it like this. And he wasn't getting any, getting any range up because he wasn't tracking towards the release. Now what I saw in that game with him and in the two previous games as well,

he's getting himself into trouble because he's getting wide before the shot. And when he gets wide, his shoulders come down and then he ends up playing in neutral and he's getting wide before the shot. And when he gets wide, his shoulders come down and then he ends up playing in neutral and he's not tracking towards where the puck is being released from. So he's not, he's not bringing the center of it is gravity towards the release. And even a big goalie can play small that way. And you end up going down into your butterfly prematurely when you're moving side to side when you get too wide because you're on your inside edges of your skates. And the only thing you can do when the puck carrier

is coming and approaching you is go down in the butterfly or try and slide across in the butterfly. You no longer can arrive on your feet. And Stolar's for the first half of the season before his injury, and even when he first came back. I thought he was really strong with it his feet under him being able to beat the pass on his feet holding his edges being able to have a big body posture and then tracking

towards the release but right now he's not getting access to those parks because he's getting too wide before the shot. That's interesting stuff Valley. You know looking at play. we're about a month from playoffs, five weeks from playoffs, and everyone's talking about two really loaded divisions where the Atlantic could be like Florida, Tampa Bay, or, you know, could be Colorado, Dallas, but that leaves two other divisions with softer paths. And I wonder if there's a goalie in either the metro or the

Pacific so I'm looking at Washington Carolina New Jersey and the Pacific you got color or who is it LA Edmonton is there a goalie that can take a team on a run that maybe we're not seeing not thinking of you know I I would say I would say out East when I look out, who am I thinking about? I'm thinking, uh, well, it was on the tip of my mind there. Um, out East. What repeat those teams again? You got Carolina, New Jersey, Washington, Washington. I was going to say Logan Thompson, because he's still playing at a high level and he hasn't dropped like since January 1st Logan Thompson is still in the league like top five where a lot of guys have come down like hellebux actually dropped a 13th and

Since January 1st, so since January 1st the top goalies right now Performing and you know, you'd like to say that looking forward you can expect them to perform at a high level in the playoffs It's Dustin Wolff's actually number one since January 1st. So if we were talking about some steam on trophies, if Celebrini wasn't killing it, I'd be looking at Wolf for the Calder. He should certainly be up for the Vezna. But Vasilevski's there as well.

So keep that in mind for the East. So Logan Thompson, Vasilevsky, but out West hell box kind of taking a step back in the instance about January the first. But you know, I don't think that there's anybody that I would say that I because I when I watch often drew lately, he to me looks like his feet are off. And sometimes it's, you can see it in the toe caps, especially with the camera view from behind the net. When you watch a replay, you can see their toe caps sometimes shift and it's they're losing their squareness. Mackenzie

Blackwood, even then the leaf game, I thought he lost his net and on the Marter goal, I thought he lost his net on one of the other goals where, you know, he's he's on it, but then he takes an extra step. And we're talking about fraction of an inch because the puck it's three inches in diameter. And if you take that extra step, you lose it. But Ottinger, if he and Blackwood, we're going to go head to head in a series. I think it's a coin flip. I don't feel like anybody has a real advantage. So we ran in a side in Dallas and Brock Nelson aside in Colorado.

It's it's the goalies that will decide or if they're canceling each other out, it'll be this. Who do you who has the edge now as we match them up? Let me just say for Dallas, We sure about a decor of labushkin CC Bichelle Dumba like I know they have Harley and maybe high skin comes back But oh no, that's a big maybe I was gonna is it oh Yeah, no kidding. I thought he was gonna be back. No, it's questionable if he's gonna be back For the first round. He may he may not make that first round. Big round. Big round. Yes. Yeah. Look, I think

that if there's one thing I can lean on right now, it's that you need to have a D that is if you're going to like I'd rather my team not play off the rush. Honestly, I'd rather my team not play off the rush to risk bringing it back the other way. That's where I'm at with that. I want to defend. I want to allow them to enforce them to dump it into my zone. We'll get back quick.

We'll support. We'll move it out. And I think that if I have to defend in my own zone, I can sort much better. It's an easier save for my goalie. And I think that teams that are willing to pack it in and not risk things offensively to be able to not have that transition against them have the greatest level of, I think, certainty that I would probably at least bet with. I don't want to buy. I wouldn't, I would try and encourage every team that

is going to play in the playoffs this year Defense first and I know that we've been saying that for 20 years and it just I've I've never seen offense beat defense Just the way it is and that's about insulating the goalie And I'm mad. It's a very specific question that I gave you no heads up on but the Leafs ad Brandon Carlo They haven't had you know a guy who kind of fit their puzzle piece this year. Did you like the ad of Carlo on the back end? Do the Leafs have a better decor

than they've had in years past? Oh, 10 times, 10 times. You know, like every, through the whole season, forget about what's happened in the last couple of weeks, but over the course of this season, this has been the easiest environment for the Toronto goalies over the era of Matthews Marner, Tavares, Nylander. It's been the best

insulation. And there was one year probably three years ago, maybe maybe it was three years ago that was close. But this is a well defending team from at least structure wise in front and big size with Carlo tougher guys been through it. Look, I think that sometimes these big D guys, they're more comfortable in the playoffs than the regular season. Regular seasons too loose for them sometimes. So I think the tighter it gets, the more the rink shrinks. It's better for better for the goalies because they have cleaner reads and better for the D because they typically have less distance to Travel if everybody packs it in but I do like the Leafs defending I do

Speaking of which Wednesday night key matchup on our network here at sportsnet Calgary and Vancouver Where do you see this storyline going? Especially in net clearly? Calgary a lot more you know with with wolf they're comfortable but where is Vancouver on in your mind holding on to the season and even the future of Demko yeah like so Demko I don't know how I'd feel if I saw my partner get five year contract at the dollar and term, it would make me feel a little uneasy about my future there. Demco's injury right now it's a groin. And the thing

about the groin injury guys is there are two different types of groin injuries. There's one where it's from a reach. But oftentimes when you're coming back from another injury, or in training camp, it's actually a pull. Because every shot you take in practice, and oftentimes, it's a lot, you break down during practice. And when you're in your butterfly, one leg comes up first, and the other one gets sucked in. And to me, this would happen oftentimes in training camp just from not taking enough butterflies during the summer. But you're

always sucking that leg up when you get back up to your feet, even if it's not urgency or it's required quickness, it's really just the idea of getting back up to your feet. Every time you go down, we had a clock on this back in our ranger days guys. We were doing about 300 Butterflies every practice so go down to your knees 300 times and then stand up and suck that right leg in Yeah, you end up tearing your your groin and that was always my biggest concern starting a season Was my groin just to get enough reps where it was going to stretch and heal without a severe terror. Icing and getting into the cold tub. I've said this to you guys before.

If you're a soft tissue to me, it's not something that should be happening in 2025. Soft tissue, that's on the athlete from not taking care of themselves through hydration, rest and recovery. So for Demko, hey, you know, this is, this is another hurdle for him in a season where as of today, Vancouver's out. And the reason why Calgary is in is because of Dustin Wolf. Like this guy, every one-on-one I was just, I was just doing a breakaway project on him yesterday. He had 22 breakaways and three goals against January 1st. Yeah. You know, because like he gets these one-on-ones

and he's such a great skater that he can challenge and take away the shot. And every time he finishes on his one on ones, he finishes above his post. So his pad, try try deking a goalie and elevating it on the goaltender when their pad is finishing in front of the post, you can't get vertical angle. So he's got great, you know, look, he doesn't have great size. But this guy has said this since October best skater I've seen best skater I've seen a lot easier to get up from a butterfly when you're 511 instead of six whatever you are Valley

Well, yeah me and what about stole ours to yeah, is he 240? You know, I'm at my all-time high rate now I thought that I could get away with having three to four IPA's while skiing Barely fit into my suit. I feel like a welcoming mat from a golf course right now. You know, I was going to ask you, one of my peak resentments as a player was trying to get better as a shooter in practice and goalies who won't go down, right? They're not trying because, but you guys are going down 300 times of practice. Like, I don't know what the solution for this is, but I hated that you could just kind of zip it on the ice and the goalie's like, I'm not going to try on that one. No. Yeah. So, you know, a couple of things,

Borny, if you were a great shooter, you wouldn't have been on my standup list, but I certainly good to know. Good to know you had a standup list that hurts. And most goalies do. Okay. So, and I think that this is the scary thing about being a backup because I went long when I my final exit meeting with the Rangers, it was like, thank you for your service. It's read its course. We didn't play enough. You know, it's on us. And I'm like, Oh, great.

That's it. But the issue was, if you are a backup goalie, and you're playing 12 to even 20 games, but you're practicing every day, guess what you're trying to do? You're trying to impress your coach. I got torts over there in a track suit that doesn't want to see any pucks get by me. So if born he's a low blocker shooter, all I'm thinking about is preparing as you get to 20 feet from me for a low blocker shot. And it's, it's a problem. Like I said that to Callahan before I said it to Dubinsky and those guys will be like, yeah, well Valley guess what?

In a game I'm shooting there. So I've got to practice my shot. That's my shot. Yeah. You know, and I'm like, oh, it's not great for me because now I'm thinking about where you're shooting. And as I said earlier about tracking, like tracking guys, you've got to see the goalie really angle in to his save if it's if it's in neutral

the guy's useless like a big goalie small and You're not really tracking off release and through release and rebound if you know where everybody's shooting So that that goes both ways that conversation boring The Valley cover enough for Winnipeg for you to qualify for just talk just talk. We did just talk Yes, well like I wanted to get into Jets talk if we still got time. Yeah, I know we Okay, it's when it's long. Goodbye. Okay. Yeah, go ahead We done I hate long guys give the jet some love here

All right, because I thought you guys you know know, over the year listening to you guys, you don't talk about the Jets enough. I don't know. Sammy's fault. He hates Winnipeg. He said it out loud. Son, this. All right, so power play. I did a lot of work on this today preparing for our show tonight, which was kind of neat because they've got the best setup in the NHL. Last year, it was Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay with Stamcoast and Kucherov dot and dot, right? So they've got the best setup

because they have 45 goals coming out of their setup on the power play on 207 chances, which is by far and away the best shooting percentage. Nobody's even close. That's a plus 14 out of their setup. So really, if you want to beat the Winnipeg Jets, just don't let them set up. Honestly, they're not going to try you off the rush. Just don't let them set up. Be very aggressive and spent over an hour looking at this. And I was pretty fascinated with this guy, Gabe Lardi, because he's the bumper guy and he's obviously typically going to be there as the safety of decoy, etc. But this guy's moving sticks. He's really good at moving sticks and moving bodies so that shifely

and Connor can zip it dot to dot on their one timers. And I thought that was really interesting. And EELers he makes great goal line plays as a one on one guy. And the interesting thing about it's really a pick your poison power play. EELers and Connor over the last four years, they are two of the highest rated clear sighted shot shooters. So walking in on the goalie and beating clean. So when you're up against their power play and they have clean looks,

you really have to honor them. And in doing that and trying to get in lanes and block shots, you ultimately can give up the East to West pass. Uh, shyfully is the fourth best passer in the NHL from below the goal line and dead angles this year. And that's why that's really helping all of their movement down low and across. So again, if they take away the East to West, they can get back to the point Morrissey as a quarterback. Vlarity is not afraid to screen. Shifely is not afraid to screen. To me, that is the best. Well, it is the best powerplay. It's it's the top ranked powerplay right now. But it's

the best predictive going forward strong powerplay. Fantastic process matches the results. That's great. Yeah, that's taking just talk to another talk. Just need this audio. Team. Last thing on Hellebuck. The reason why this guy is number one for the Vez and again, it's it's the defense guys They expect the goals against a five on five first off the rush fourth, you know Against in the D zone seventh while it's down. They've got a great this is born

I remember you saying this two months ago. You could see the Winnipeg Jets winning the Stanley Cup I can see this Stanley Cup going to Winnipeg. Woo, buddy. Fantastic way. That's talking Jets. To take Jets talk to another level. David Amber too. Yeah.

Coming back to Canada with the Cup Amber. Oh, God. Valley has always bringing the heat. Thanks for doing this, pal. Thanks so much, Valley. Have a great night calling Jets Rangers tonight. Good stuff. All right. Steve Valakett. Jets talk, man. It's getting real. Jets Rangers tonight It's not right Steve Alicat Jets talk man's getting real just you know

Is this a year and weird D core wins the cup or is it just gonna end up being Vegas? We're like, oh defense still really matters because I told you that Dallas lineup like there's 4d where you're like, I don't see C. Labushkin Bichelle Dumba like it's not electric. You know the Jets have Shannon Fleury as a third pair, Pionk Sandberg, Demello Morrissey. Like it's not. It's good. It's good. He just said they're excellent. But it's not. What you think of is like you know when Colorado won it was unbelievable. But they're it's not the sexiest but it's get it's get the job done because it's disciplined and it's consistent and

they're standing in the right place and their sticks are in the right place and they're not cheating okay and they're not losing position or or Devin Taves Kailh McCarr Ryan Lindgren Josh Mansonon, Sam Gerrard, and Sam Malinsky, you know, end up winning again. Yeah. You know, in a group, we're like, oh. That's why we play the games. Game time?

Correct. It's game time. Presented by VET 365. Visit the app, Play This Dodged, and find out why it's never ordinary. VET 365, BuzzFeed 19+, Ontario Only. Please play responsibly. Good one on our network tonight. The Florida Panthers are in Boston take on the Bruins

I guess it's in theory a good one you know the Boston doesn't look quite as like they used to and one of their their captain now plays the other team and There's four points out of playoffs never an acts like they're you know, San Jose to be honest boys seeing March and skating around wearing the Panthers and taking line rushes with, who was it? Barkov and Verhagen. Oh my God, this is the thing, hey? It's jarring. But don't you like that it probably hurts the Bruins fans?

It has to hurt. Oh yeah, they'll be really hurt when they get to cheer for him beating the Leafs again. Yeah, that's true. Anyways, so that one on our network tonight, the Boston Bruins are big underdogs, plus 175. The Florida Panthers minus 210 at the TD Garden. And later on in the network as well,

Washington Capitals in Anaheim to take on the Ducks. And you may ask me why I am talking about this game. Well, first of all, it's on our network. And second of all, Alexander Ovechkin, the great chase. He might get eight tonight. He is in single digits of the all-time goalie. Nine away. It's heating up now.

Do you remember the Ovech trick commercials? No. It was a triple hat trick. It was like a Ovech trick. That was like the gag. I don't remember that. He could get one of those to win the record. So it's real now.

Anyways, I gotta feel any score tonight. Don't know what's gonna be on a goalie. Don't know if you can bet on that or not, but it's plus 110 for Alexander Ovechkin the best odds in the game to get a goal They know if they're up which they probably will be duck suck He's gonna get out there plus 110 for an Alexander Ovechkin anytime goal tonight here Well, there's also another way he may get it. He has 17 goals this season How many empty netters how many of them are empty netters 17? He's got more than 17 goals this season. How many empty netters? How many of them are empty netters?

17, he's got more than 17 goals. Does he? I think he has 17 empty netters. Oh, no, no, no. Oh, Vetchkin, all right, how many's he have this year? Whatever, how many empty netters do you think he has? 17, because you said it by accident. No, not 17.

No, no, I wanna say six. 10? 10. No, he has eight empty net goals this season. 33 goals this year, that's right. 17 assists. Oh! 33 goals, eight empty net goals this season 33 goals this year. That's right. Yeah, 17 assists. Oh 33 goals eight empty netter Just

in Single-handedly put the record next year And I think like I think if I'm just quickly pulling it up here you can bet on him still not to get the record this Year, what are those odds? So career goal, yeah I'm looking it up here. Alexander Ovechkin to score 895 goal not to happen in the 24-25 regular season is plus 165. So that's not good is it?

No it's not that juice for me. Then you can go and look at the schedule and against Columbus against New York against Carolina Where it falls in the schedule, but if you don't think it's gonna happen You can still get plus money on that and that might change tonight if it's a couple calls anyways That was game time Is it about 365 visit the outflay to size and find out why it's ever ordinary bet 365 must be plus Ontario only Please play responsibly you know that Capitals team I think a lot of people myself obviously included have been skeptical of how good they really are

Right. I bought in months ago. You did a I did well the thing that they really have going for them their path in that metro is Just way softer than some of these other paths. They're gonna get Columbus or, you know, Ottawa. I'm with a lot of, I think Jim Ralph and our first hour, I'm not even sure it was in Valley moments ago. It's just, it's too hard to tell now that if you got a Columbus and they're coming in with some momentum, it's just not a given anymore. Not a given, Kip. We'd rather play them in Florida or Tampa.

I get it. I get it. I get that part, but there's ways of these type of teams now that can come in and get hot at the right time and find themselves in a conference final. And it's not just get hot at the right time. And this is kind of what I was asking Valley about.

Let's say you're a team who doesn't think you're very good in the metro your Carolina your New Jersey The other teams are struggling to like New Jersey is decimated by injuries, but because no one's good behind them They're gonna finish in that two three spot Carolina could beat them with Stankhoven, you know, and all of a sudden, you know There's some weak teams. No, I definitely have for some teams to be like, oh we actually did Okay, didn't think we were that good. Definitely see that. It's there for you. Okay, we're gonna take a quick break.

Nice job, Sammy, and when we return, we'll get into a few news and notes, including. Darlene. Wow, you just gave away. You said you needed me to carry you today, you're tired. You weren't spitting it out. All right, our good buddy here at Sportsnet shows up every once in a while, Paul Bissonnette. Kind of ticked off the Buffalo Sabres captain.

With a truth bomb. We'll get into that when we return to Real Kipper & Bourne. and the NFL, the JD Bunkus podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. All right, so what did Biznasty say that's got the Buffalo Sabres up in arms? Let's find out, Sammy.

He was, I listened to the clip from his wildly popular Spit and Chip Clips podcast and he said that Rasmus Dallin had a face-to-face meeting with the general manager of the Buffalo Sabres, Kevin Adams. And I quote, if you don't turn this around, I am gonzo. That's what this... And then he proceeded to sing at the end of it, a song I'm blanking on right now. But hey, goodbye. And it's na na na na. Thank you. Bye.

Okay. Do you really see now? What's going on with you? Is this the na na na na? What are you saying there Tom Petty? I'm smart enough to not try.

Do you really see Rasmus now? Marching into Kevin Adams office and saying do you know who I think I am right now? I'm Rasmus Dallin Who's played less than 500 games and has? zero games and has zero playoff games in his career. Hey Kip, not sure if you've been paying attention to the league, but guys get 10 Schmill before the... Rasmus makes 11. He's the captain. Check out the Ottawa Senators and some of theirs guys. If that was true, I couldn't have... I couldn't kick him

out of my office fast enough. If that's true true what if he does it um they're Can't see it. I'm sorry. I'm not calling business report inaccurate I have no idea I Just can't see that 51 points in 55 games this year hit a 73 points season never seen the light of day in the playoffs Yeah, do you want to hear from him? Yes, because he responded to this we have two separate clips 73 points, he's never seen the light of day in the playoffs. Yeah. Do you want to hear from him? Yes.

Cause he responded to this. We have two separate clips. So we'll play the first one, then react. Then we'll play the second one. So go, you play the first one for us, Austin. Clip one. There's a clip circulating on social media from the Spitting Chicklets podcast that said,

if you guys don't figure this out soon, you want to be moved. Is that accurate? Who? Paul Bissonnette. Who wants to be moved? soon. You want to be moved. Is that accurate? Who? Paul Bissonnette. Who wants to be moved? You. I want to be moved?

You said you asked, but you told Adams. That I want to be gone from Buffalo? No, that's, I don't know what he's talking about. I have never said I want out of here. I'm not happy where we at. I don't want to lose.'t want to lose. I we have to get better. I've never said I want to I want out of here. I thought that was pretty clear.

Is that it? What did I want out? I mean, we're not very good. What do you think? Who's lying? I'll put a second clip and then we'll and we'll go on from there. Okay, clip Okay, please I mean we have to do a lot of stiff a lot of stuff But you know it takes it takes everyday work you gotta do hard work every day and You know, we had we had a really good discussion. We were very honest with each other

Stuff has to change that's that's that's how it is. I absolutely hate losing. I don't think that's a part of who I want to be. Stuff has to change. So you would definitely say that that podcast from Bissonette is false. I just don't even, that's just, that bugs me actually. I get pissed off by that. I haven't even mentioned the word leave, so yeah, that's just how it is. I mean, you've said many times you're in this for the long haul.

That's good, you can cut it out. I never said I wanted to leave, I said I wanted to go. Oh, I said Gonzo. Gonzo, hearing that clip, the... There's no question, there was a meeting, there's no question he's frustrated, there's no question he'd like to see some changes. I think that goes with any top player on any team,

on any given conversation. And captains have access to those people. I totally believe this. Oh, and I do too. But I don't think, you know, he says, we have to do this, we have to do that. He's stopping short of saying or, or else. If you remember, it's always sunny, the implication.

The implication is there. We have to. I doubt he said it. There's no question that. But there's a lingering or else. There's a world where Buffalo is very well acquainted with Jack Eichel and those type of conversations, I'm sure, went on and poof, he's in Vegas.

So. They just did it literally, not even a week ago with Cousins. So. Already scored for Ottawa, by the way. in Vegas, so. They just did it literally, not even a week ago, with Cousins. Already scored for Ottawa, by the way. There is a world where Biz knows where these conversations can happen here, but I cannot see, I cannot see at this point of the season that I'm gonna address that we need to make changes.

That conversation, if you told me that conversation happened July, middle of July at the draft, I go, yeah, I could see that. But for him to do it now or a week ago or two weeks ago at this point of the season that's over. It's not a it's not a In-season conversation you're gonna have about your future to me To me, I don't buy it. That's all. Yeah, fair enough I I mean you acknowledge that they had a conversation whether he directly said it or not. I think the implication it's

They're on notice that he wants to be a winner. It's funny. I was thinking like oh my god, Bill Simmons used to do this this Column called the trade value list. He still does it a little bit in the NBA and I was thinking to myself Oh, where would Rasmus Dallin be in that like it feels like he'd be really high for captain point-per-game But man, he already makes 11 million dollars. I know That is a huge contract for a defenseman Like you think of all the prim is he the highest paid defense in the league like up there Like think of all the premier guy like my car doesn't make close to that and might make more Doubt he makes a ton. Oh, does he 11? It's just

Yeah, that's it. That's a big ticket as a reminder this our real kipper and born brought to you by bet 365 Speaking of those Sabres big win against the Edmonton Oilers. Yes, by the way, the Sabres decor makes 32.5 million. I wonder if any other decor makes that early to what place were they in 32nd 32 or 32 sorry yes to beat the Oilers why they're still got some concerns yeah yeah I was reading a little bit didn't look good on the first goal I believe yeah yeah what a tough one on Bouchard there at the end. You know Thompson makes a great play. Skinner's not to blame for that one. But you know this Oilers

roster has a couple holes. They have the highest of highs and they have some soft spots. It kind of depends on matchups they draw. I think has kind of looked good and from what I've seen he can skate he handles the puck He can make a smooth a great pass heads up passes like There is some value there. It should settle in nicely here can I ask you because I'm starting to get the feeling here that The switch I feel like they can flip it. Yeah, I really absolutely. I really do think that there's a bit of a malaise here and there's enough that we've

seen them have success in the playoffs. They've gone deep enough. They went last year the seventh, but even before that they're winning rounds. I just feel like it's a natural progression for a team that's in a bit of a rut before they know what's about to come. They know probably who they're going to play in the first round. I do think there's a bit of a rut before they know what's about to come. They know probably who they're gonna play in the first round. I do think there's a bit of a malaise and I do think that they're gonna flip the switch. LA.

I do. Right? Yeah, I mean, they'll just get their first round by like every year. Yeah, the Kings gotta be like, come on, come on. Oh, it's coming again. But it was Brownie who came on with us, Rob Brown, who we love from Edmonton, and said the one year that Edmonton finally got Dallas

in those years and they played every single year, it may happen eventually, but I just, I think they're gonna flip the switch and they're gonna be dominant again in the playoffs. I really do. Yeah, they got that high end offense and I don't mind Kulak Bouchard, Nurse Wallman, that's your Emerson. Wallman's a good pickup.

Emerson's a group and great. Yeah, Ekholm's been banged up, so. I do have confidence in them to to flip it So there all right. I was in a boiler stock. Well, there's Canucks talk we do positive. Yeah, good news coming back soon Possibly maybe he's progressing and he could surprise us any time when he's ready to go I'm not saying he's gonna be in the lineup tomorrow. It's coming. I just whatever you We know what it is. Oblique. Oblique injury. You need the summer to get that thing right back to

yeah. Injured Feb 22nd hurt again against Seattle on March 1st in these missed last three games. Oblique is one that like, I think I can, I think it's okay. Oh no, no, no. It's just, that's why I had it. I had it. Shut me down. Here's what I'll say. This is a cross sport reference, which our listeners always love. Brett Laurie always used to get Oblique for the Jays. Maybe like in spring training Oblique and then you'd see him in like July. So they take time, you know? It shut down my chance at a 20 goal

300 and 25 penalty minute season How only would have been a handful of guys that have 20 and 300 is crazy. I know stupid old week Paul Got me All right, just like that, two hours gone and we've solved nothing. Not a thing. Not a thing.

Alright, thanks to Jim Ralph in the first hour and then Steve Alequette at the top of the hour. Enjoy your games tonight. If you get a chance, give us a rating and review. Follow us on YouTube. We're back tomorrow. Real Kipper and Born.