Real Kyper & Bourne - Western Conference Playoffs Check-in

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Rob Brown (4:49), former NHL forward and Edmonton Oilers analyst for CHED to give his take on Edmonton's Round 1 matchup against the L.A. Kings. The guys discuss the impact of Evander Kane and John Klingberg returning to the lineup, the Oilers' early struggles, what needs to change for them to stay alive and how much credit the Kings deserve through 2 games. Then, Marty Turco (30:27), former NHL goaltender and Special Assistant to the President of the Dallas Stars, shares his thoughts on the Stars' 2-1 series lead over the Colorado Avalanche, Jamie Benn’s leadership, Jake Oettinger’s presence in net, the significance of Gabriel Landeskog’s return, and how Mikko Rantanen is adapting to his first playoff run with Dallas.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.

The Real Kipper and Bourne Show goes national. We are live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, right across your Sportsnet platforms. This hour, Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Beth 365, Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Rob Brown, former NHL'er, covers the Edmonton Oilers, analyst for Ched. I hope he's got some answers for us. Yeah, could you some? One of those days where I just feel bad.

Feel bad. Like I'm like, ah, Brownie. But want to come on? Yeah, it's not like it's not a good time to talk about your team. It's not like texting Shawnee Reynolds to come on. We're just like, jet stock. to come on Rich's like all they do is win. Yeah, you know, four games on tap in the national hockey league tonight. Scattered times again. You love this. I'm really liking this. Six 30 Eastern Tampa Bay in Florida, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa at seven

Vegas in Minnesota, nine PM and just talk against the St. Louis Blues. You love that. 9.30. At 6.30 puck drop, the chopper gets you home just in time for puck drops. So you're ready to rock. He jumps out above his house to land on the compound. And parachutes into his seat.

20. It's not quite like that. Not quite like that. Not quite like that. Sounds good though. So we left the jacket up, the leaf jacket up. So you text me at 2.30. Yeah, I forgot to text you.

To bring a jersey in. And then I sent you a picture. I was at the desk, you're like, I don't have it. And then I remembered I did put it in the car like a day and a half ago. So do you want it? Why? Oh, I brought an old

Hartford Wailer Thanks to the people at starter who sent us that sick Leafs jacket back there see this Well, it's a raffle that off Wow if you're watching if you're listening You got the board Wow That's pretty nice Hurricanes could never And it's the green and that we had a little early and then Brian Burke went to to the blue

Was it perky went to the blue? Yeah, it was Burke. Yeah. Burke's done some jersey work over the years. There you go. That's a really cool jersey. I've been begging you to bring one in. I love, there's two things I noticed about that jersey.

First of all, I love that NHL 75 logo. I think that's such a cool logo really and that's the heaviest Jersey ever Yeah, like you're just sweating buckets. What 100%? Jersey technologies really come along and it's got the fight strap right which is like I Always laughed like a velcro. Yeah, like you got some of the biggest Always laughed like Velcro. Yeah, like you got some of the biggest animals in the National Hockey League ready to rip your head off and Velcros gonna keep the jersey from you know, eventually they added the button

Michael Haley he used to he played in the NHL for some years It's on my team and he used to come over and he'd like triple wrap the strap Oh, we're on the back of the pants so the jersey was as tight as possible. Oh, it was either a lace or plastic tape. Right, you wanted the guy to grab it and there to be nothing, it just stuck to the, you know. Remember Rob Ray with, I'm getting naked in two seconds. Yeah, he had like the equivalent of these snap pants but a jersey, it just came off.

Is that when he was... Probert was like that too. When he was beating up the fan. Yeah. It's kind of a bench too. Is that when he was roper was like that when he was beating up the fan All right we're gonna welcome in Rob Brown momentarily, but I need your thoughts guys just in terms of Edmonton going into LA and essentially

Getting their lunches fed to them now pretty much everyone had their lunches fed to them in Los Angeles this year That's a the team lost five games in LA this year, but pretty disheartening to give up 12 goals I think that's you know, you never think you don't think of LA is a great offensive team. In fact, they're not a great offensive team Just four teams in the last 30 years Just four teams in the last 30 years have done that, given up 12 goals in their first two games. What? Really? That's what I put in the lineup, right? Did I do that or did you? You think I would research that? I don't know. That's from the NHL media.

That's crazy. I'm not going to sit here and say it's all Skinner's fault. It's defense, but it's he's a part of it Anyway, we're gonna get real answers from someone who knows much more than me Let's welcome in Rob Brown former National Hockey League recover the Edmonton Oilers Brownie, I don't know where you want to start in terms of Where you saw? The Kings where you saw the Oilers going into this series and where you see them now. You tell me where you want to start.

Well I think before the series started I felt the Kings were a better team than they were last year and the biggest reason is in net. Kemper the season he had he's a former Stanley Cup champion so I felt that they were a better team because of their goal tending. I was shocked at how well Kazumeko has played for them. I saw him at the end of the year. I thought that trade was just a throwaway trade at the time, but he's been fantastic. So this was a team that was going to be better. I didn't think the others were as good a team as they were that went to the Stanley Cup finals last year. I think some of the

losses over the course of the summer and certainly the loss of Ekholm before the playoff series started, I felt that, okay, the Oilers aren't quite as good as they were last year. Having said all that, I still felt the Oilers had Leon and Connor, and I thought that would be enough for this team to win the series against an L.A. King team that in the back of their minds were probably thinking, can we get over this hump? But in the first two games, I remember Drew Doughty talked before the series, said we are a very, very good defensive team, but if a team wants to run and gun,

we have the ability to score goals. And what we've seen through two games is they do. Every time the others have pushed, the Kings have found a way to answer and they're getting production all through their lineup and very rarely, and I've been now with the Oilers for 19 years and they've done all of the games that Connor and Lian have been here, very rarely can I say after a game the opposition's best players were better than the Oilers' best players.

But in game two, the Kempe, Kopitar, Kozmiko line, it wasn't even close between them and the Oilers' best players. So the LA Kings fully deserve it of the 2-0 lead to start the series. Even with it going as badly as it has, the Oilers decor is better than this. It feels like there's still steps to be taken here where you're going to get a better version of this team at home. I believe so, and I don't think it's just the decor. I mean, it's in game number one, the Kings were the better team all game long until McDavid went McDavid and ties the game up. But

the end of the game, the others give up a clear cut three on two, a turnover inside the zone, no back check, no clearing in front of the net, and it's a three on two a turnover inside the zone no back check And no clearing in front of the net and it's a three on two with a minute to go in a tight hockey game That's a defensive miscue Last night the the others pulled within three two and then Arvidsson turns the puck over in his own zone Which it happens he fanned on it puck goes into the corner He follows Kulak and so they have two guys going to one player, all of a sudden you got Kempe wide open. And Kempe is not going to miss that. And everyone can say whatever they want about goaltending. Kempe is a goal scorer. He's a shooter. He's

a shooter. He's a time in the world. That was an absolute bomb that he put past Skinner. And again, that was on the forward. The Edmonton others have just made bigger mistakes in the LA Kings, way bigger mistakes. It's on the defensive core, it's on the forwards coming back, it just over and over. And here's the play right here. It's you just, and all of a sudden they follow

and here there's Kempe. And then in front of that Emerson just standing by himself. So the mistakes are just too big. And we take a phone calls after our games here on Chad and everybody's all over Skinner. But if that's McDavid or Dry Settle picking that puck up, the expectation is those guys are gonna score. And there'd be no thought

that the goalie could actually save it. So I believe the others can and will be better on Friday. But are they good enough without Mateus at home? And early in this year, we have a podcast here and we talk about it. I said that I believe the one player the others cannot afford to get hurt long term is at home. Connor and Leon, you lose Connor for a little bit, you got Leon. You lose Leon for a little bit, you got Connor.

You lose at home, you lose Connor for a little bit, you got Leon. You lose Leon for a little bit, you got Connor. You lose Ekholm, you lose your entire defensive conscience. He's the guy that you put out on penalty kill, last minutes of period, when things are going sideways. And we've seen over the first two games with 12 goals against and five power play goals, how important Mateus Ekholm is to this team. Is it tough to judge Evander Kane and Klim Klingberg coming in now with the lack of activity prior? Is it even fair? Well, I thought Klingberg was fine. Klingberg came in, I don't think he met the expectations of what they were hoping from him. And I mean, he's been gone a long time and the number of surgeries he's went through and I don't know if his skating is where it was, you know, a few years ago. But I thought he was fine in game two.

He made the best offensive play in the entire game, setting up Leon. So I don't think there's been any issue with him. I thought he was fine and Kane. I mean, in my era, there's zero chance I'm taking 10 months off and coming into a playoff game and being effective at all. I think Kane can bring a physicality and intimidation. There might be a little rust on the hands, but he's a guy and you would know as well as I do, Kipper, when when Kane's on

the ice, if you're an opposition player, you're, you're looking, you're, you're just over the shoulder. You're like, okay, where is he? And there's a little hesitation in your play and there's a little quickness with your play simply because you know that he's going to run you over. And when he hits you, he's not hitting you to separate you from the puck. He's hitting you to inflict as much damage as possible. So I thought Kane was fine, but I think the expectation of

Kenny be the Kane that scored, you know, 15 goals or 14 goals in the playoffs. That expectation might be a little too high right now. I hated the call on him, too. Yeah. I mean, it's playoff hockey should be OK. So then I'll just add to that with the injured guys, Trent Frederick gets 10 minutes last night. Any any thoughts on the returns from him? I don't think he looks 100%. Yeah.

The first game he played for the Oilers six seconds into the game, you could see tweaked it and this was when he first came back from injury and he played seven minutes that night and he was favoring it. I've watched him in Boston. I know what he's capable of doing. He looks quiet out there. He looks a step behind and I don't think he's 100% and it's obvious. This Euler team with the injuries they have and how good Ellie is, the players that are playing, they need to be at their top

and I don't think some of the players are physically at their top right now. Rob, even with a healthy echo, we've done it. I'm sure you guys have done it. It's been questioned throughout the season. Are they deep enough on the blue line? And they had a chance to get Cam Fowler and didn't wanna give up a second round pick.

And then they obviously waited for Klingberg. But like, is it too early now to look back and question whether or not they had are people doing it now or do they wait till the end of this season potentially to wonder if if they were deep enough to begin with? Oh no they're already questioning. There's been a lot of questions been thrown out about some I mean it goes all the way back to last summer Broberg and Holloway why they weren't Signed before the offer sheets and then why one of them at least wasn't retained

Klingberg Klingberg was a Hail Mary. No one knew what you're gonna get out of them You're hopeful you would get something that's resembled what he was But you didn't know Fowler would have been a much more known commodity because you can watch them play. The Oilers on the back end aren't as good as last year. I believe CC and Broberg are losses to this team and they're trying to fill those spots. They are in the problem with a loss of Ekholm and if it's for long term with the rumors are They are one injury to a top four guy now from being catastrophic

Because this is a team that right now is relying strongly on their top four if a nurse or a boo shard or a wallman goes down Now you're bringing in a Brown who played four minutes in game one Or a stature who's not healthy and now you're elevating other players. So yeah, the depth of the Oilers defense is being tested and losing a guy that plays 24 hard minutes a night. You're I mean, you saw I mean, you've watched they've given up 12 goals in two games. They are bleeding grade A scoring chances. Skinner is taking the brunt of the blame, but this has not been a good defensive effort for the first two games. So yeah, there will be, if the Oilers do not move on past this round, this is not an easy market to play in,

to GM in, to coach in. There will be second guessing and it's already started. So is there a world here, so the Oilers are just never done. You know, we've seen them start the season three and ten and we've seen them figure it out. We saw them go down four-nothing in game one, you saw them figure it out. They just seem to be that you can't kill them easily. Is there a world where, you know, they get back home, McDavid and Dry Settle are humming, the D's a little better, get a few more saves and they can find their way back into this series well it's funny you look at the two teams that one team the others come in injured you've got all these question marks no at home there's question marks

in nets this question marks on the back end depth and then you look at LA in the season they had and everything was it was positive from their home team that wins all the time the cool tenders has he has hella buck numbers, just not as many games. Everything's working for them. Yet I couldn't bet against Connor and Leon, I couldn't bet against the Oilers. And in the game one, they're down four one at the end of the second period. And we're doing the radio broadcast.

And I'm like this, I was asked, do you think they're just trying to find momentum for game two? I'm like, no, they believe they're going to win the game. They honestly believe in that dressing. They're going to win the game. Last night when it was five two, I'm thinking LA needs another goal. If they think they're going to put this one away. Cause at five, do you think Connor and Leon score a goal? It's five three. They get a power play. Well, there's five four. Now you pull your goalie and there's no team better in the NHL at six on five than the Oilers. So, yes, I do believe the others are still in the series. Connor McDavid and Leon Drysett will win games by themselves.

Now they may have to have a five or six point night to do it, but they and they will need a goaltender to have a big game. And you can see the body language on the bench last game. It is not good, but that body language can change very, very quickly if the Oilers come out. Their team that were connering the first five or six minutes of a hockey game can have the Oilers up two nothing and have the fans in it.

That's what the Oilers need. They need their swagger back. They lost their swagger in the first two games. For those of you that are watching our show, we just showed that type of body language and it was really strong in Los Angeles, particularly around Connor and Leon, the shaking the head, you know, the turning away at times.

And I'm just wondering like, maybe I've not watched Edmonton as much as you have is it been common at times I don't recall seeing that type of body language from these guys in the past It's been a while I think the beginning of last season when they really struggled out of the gate, that body language was there because I think it was confusion. They're like, OK, wait a second, we're supposed to compete for a Stanley Cup. And it eventually caused, you know, goalie his job in the National Hockey League and a coach his job.

And then the others got their swagger back. They haven't had it this year because everything seemed to go well. And then they ran into injuries and even in injuries, they still hung around it. They're a hundred point team. Even coming into the playoffs and everything looking favorable for LA finally coming over this hump, the others still had swagger and Conor Mcdavis, you know, you guys are all talking about injuries. We're good. We're going to be fine. So any team that has 29 and 97 on it has the capability of winning any game.

And I do believe that there's still that thought in the back of the LA Kings mind, you know, until we win game four, there's always that chance. But you, you saw it, uh, you're showing it on your screen right now, Connor and Leon, the last seven minutes of the game last night, the looks on the bench and they kept going back to the bench. It was two players that looked perplexed at how are we here. The expectations were the others were going to win one if not two when they went to LA. Coming home getting hammered in game two, giving up 12 goals.

I don't think there's anyone in that dressing room that thought that could happen so how much credit is due to the Kings like the way Kempe's played I mean incredible byfields been good they they've had some really solid performances they have their harmonica team I don't know if you heard them they work they were awesome interview yeah oh that was fantastic the interview interview. It was the best part of the night, I think, for Euler fans. Well, they're the Kate Smith of the 2001. The LA Kings, last year in the playoffs, and I was really critical of their coaching staff with their penalty killing. They went with an incredibly passive penalty kill against an Oilers power play

and the Oilers power play picked them apart. You're giving Connor and Leon all the time in the world to make the perfect play and they embarrassed the Kings. This year they're aggressive. So the things that the Kings have changed, they are aggressive on the penalty kill and they will get burned for a good chance, but they're at least forcing the Oilers

to have to make quick choices and execute perfectly. And if they don't, the Oilers aren't able to create anything. So that's been a very big positive. The LA Kings changed their power play late in the season by going with five forwards. And well, from what we've seen thus far, it's working. And the best part for LA King fans is their best players have been their best players. Kempi has always lit up the Oilers and he's all world right now. Kopitar is one of my favorite players in the world to watch. He just never seems to make a mistake. And then they have all these fast, aggressive players on the wings. You got a Fogel, you got a Brown, you got a Fiala.

Err, um, you got... Oh, Moore. You got these players that just continue to push forward. They're going north. There's no east-west with this team, and I think that's what they learned playing against the Oilers in the past few years. If you are going to beat the Oilers, you have to be aggressive. So every time there is a turnover, push it forward, push it north right away, and try to catch them and forecheck the Oilers' defense. Last year, they allowed the Oilers to carry the puck out of the zone, and they all waited in the neutral zone.

Well, eventually the Oilers figured that out, and the LA Kings got nothing going offensively after that. So the LA Kings give them credit. They are playing a different style and they're playing it to a tee thus far and they have a goaltender that's making the saves he needs to make. And this is one of the things that I think was Mark Spector wrote it here. If you switch goalies after game in the first two games, Kemper played for Edmonton and Skinner played for LA, the LA Kings would probably still be up to nothing. It's just the grade A chances that the Edmonton others have given up have been too many for any goaltender to be able to keep the others

in the game. You control the middle of the ice you have a very good chance to control the the game. Kopitar, Byfield, Philippe Deneau up the middle all have contributed goals. Where is Ryan Nugent Hopkins? Well, I mean, good point. The Oilers in the third period of game one decided to go with Connor and Leon together. And we've seen in the past, they call it going nuclear here. It's hard to contain them. The problem when you do that is you now leave your second, third, and fourth lines to fend for themselves. So you need an R&H to be able to carry a line. And what's happened here in the first two games is when Connor and Leon are on the ice, they tilt the ice. But when they're not, the LA Kings, it's almost like we're survived. We just have to survive that minute with 97 and 29.

Once we survive that minute, now we go forward. And then we have three and a half minutes where we can dominate. Survive a minute, three and a half the other way. And the others need more out of other players. They need more. Adam Henrik had a great game physically, but I mean, the others aren't... Physicality isn't the problem for the others. Getting in on the forecheck, getting check getting sticks on parks creating turnovers.

So they need more out of Newton Hopkins out of Hyman out of Henry, and actually you can go through a long list when you lose when you give up 12 goals in two games. There's a lot of players that need to be better. And the thing as being here with the others now for 19 years, I've seen what they're capable of. They haven't reached their bar and haven't come close to it this year, but they need to reach it on Friday night. This is an LA King team. The odds don't go well for you if you're down three-nothing, and the LA King team will just continue to grow more and more confident.

I don't think you want to have to beat a very good LA team for four games in a row. So Friday, I mean the series is on the line. Must win Friday night game three in Edmonton. Brownie always a pleasure having you on the show, man. Thanks for doing this. My pleasure. Hopefully things go well here on Friday nights that we can do

this again next week. Yeah, thanks for your time, man. We happy to have you back. Rob Brown, former for your time man. We happy to have you back. Rob Brown. Rob Brown, former National Hockey Leaguer. It's really tough to have someone on to talk about the Oilers when things have gone not well. Right? I can't quit. We do a leave show for an hour. I can't quit them. The Oilers. I can't quit them. You just think they're not done. I love Leon and Connor as much as anybody. And I understand what they're capable of doing,

but they don't play defense. It's really hard to look at the way they've played and the way they're constructed without home and say, they're gonna be okay. It's hard to confidently say that. They can't be in two places at the same time on the ice. I mean, with the way they've played through the first two games,

Echo may be a heart candidate next year. Oh, geez. Like, I mean, in terms of importance to their team, it just, it slots everybody in. The clips of Nurse and Bouchard. It's like the way we said- Man, Nurse standing on the wrong side, you know, on the byfield goal

Such easy access to the net Bouchard let them walk down main street I was gonna say like the way the leaf said and Carlo and it made Riley better at home makes Bouchard better Yeah, so, you know when he's in he doesn't just give you one guy gives you a one and a half Yeah, you know of improvement Game time. It's game time. Oh doesn't just give you one guy gives you a one and a half. Yeah, you know of improvement. Game time. It's game time. Whoa.

Yes, it is. It's game time. Is it about bet three six five visit the app Play the stars and find out what's ever ordinary at bet three six five must be 19 plus on terror only please play responsibly as they open this up here. Interesting tonight in Ottawa. This line does it surprise you

that the Toronto May Police, with a two nothing serious lead going into their second home building in Ottawa, are a underdog tonight on the betting lines? Does that surprise you? Yes. When was the last time they won there? Been a while.

It's been a while. That'd be a factor. Yeah. Plus one 10 tonight for the Toronto May Police, plus money on a team that's up two nothing in a series. The Ottawa Senators are minus one 30. So I don't it's not that I think the Leafs are more likely to win than Ottawa, but I just don't want Ottawa at minus money. Yeah. Down to the other games on the ice tonight. One starting at six 30. The Florida Panthers in Tampa, slight underdogsdogs plus 100 plus money on the on the

On the Florida Panthers who looked really really good in game one You could do worse some plus one hand 100 on the Panthers there. No, so really in Tampa game time decision Tampa's minus 120 Vegas the series shifts to Minnesota Minnesota big underdogs on home ice against the Vegas Golden Knights plus 140 tonight. Vegas is minus 165 and the Winnipeg Jets going to St. Louis looking for a three nothing series lead minus 120

the Winnipeg Jets in St. Louis the Blues are plus 100 on the other side of the money line. So four good games tonight. Lots to be determined Looking forward to another great couch night So hard to beat any good team in the NHL four straight times very hard st. Louis Ottawa You name it Edmonton really hard to beat a team four times in a row

Anyways, that was game time was about bet three six five visit the app for latest odds to find out why it's never ordinary at bet three six five Let's be 19 plus Ontario only please play responsibly Okay, we'll take a quick break. Then we got Marty Turkle T.s. Up what's going on in Dallas of how they're doing it without the likes of Robertson and Miro Heisken in their number one defenseman. It's the old guard here. It's Ben scoring, it's Sagan with the OT winner. Before we go to break, just a little kind of question for you

that if the Oilers don't find a way to come back and make it a series. What are you getting at Mr. Caprios? Connor, needing a new contract and eligible to sign one as early as July 1st. Feeling as confident as before when they were contending for a Stanley Cup, his chances of signing, and would it alter your feeling on whether or not

Connor signs as early as July 1st? Leon signed. Leon signed and to me that is like that was the biggest thing the Oilers could do because they're a package deal and once he signs I can't see Connor leaving him at the altar being like see ya. I want to sit here and be like, you know, controversial and say like, oh yeah, like I'd love him to leave. And I would kill for him to leave, especially to Toronto, obviously. But I don't think, I don't think.

It hasn't changed my thought at all. Okay. You? You? I don't have them married like my good buddy here. I've got them walking up the aisle. I know, I know. Oh, like the priest hasn't got there yet or? Well, the ring bearer's still in the back

waiting to come down. Okay, okay. I don't think it, I think it would give him a lot to think about. Yeah, they can't go like an ugly 408. I think it's swept, then we're taught, it's a different story, but I still think, I'm such an idiot, I still think they're coming back. That's like Brownie, he was's a different story, but I still think I'm such an idiot

I still think they're coming back. That's like Brownie He was tricked by them too, I guess but I just have a hard time believing they're gonna go quietly Yeah, I don't disagree with you. I think they can they can win a game here Well, yeah back in the series. Yeah, they can win the game the game Friday Yeah but I do think it's tough when you look at the offseason had and you see Fogel blowing by your D and Olysch fans have heard that a ton. Listen, we're gonna have plenty of time to talk about this but I I do believe that if they go as

quietly as I have in the first two games then you know there's there's a lot of talk about where this team is heading and how quickly can they get back to a Stanley Cup final because As brownies as brownies said brownies said they are We all agree. They're not as good as they were last year. Definitely not I mean arvidson got a multi-year deal He's their next year arvidson has a a no move clause. Yanmarx multi-year. Oh my God. What?

We should go by the way. Okay. Okay. We'll go. Marty Turco when we return to the Real Kipper and Bourne Show. Covering the Blue Jays from an analytical perspective. Jays Talk Plus with Blake Murphy. Be sure to subscribe and download Jays Talk on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your

podcasts. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by bet three, six, five Nick Caprile, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, and now somewhere deep, deep on the 18th hole, it's bringing Marty Turco, former NHL special assistant to the president of the Dallas star. Oh my gosh. From the pro shop again. Hey, can you just turn around and buy me something real quick at the pro shop? Yeah. did you like some dratty? We've got some Peter Millar gear. Maybe some G four. Hey, hey, hey, hey, seriously though, the best part of retiring, isn't it? Where you are right now on the golf course.

I'm actually not. This is our office, which is slash little pro shop. We got guys on the simulator. I said, I saw a really famous guys in Canada. little pro shop we got guys on the simulator it's playoff time like come on I get this serious here it is it is so you know you look at the way the Dallas Stars finished the season and then the the injuries and then Colorado made all these trades and yes you guys traded for Ratanen as well but did anybody really see the fight in the Dallas Stars now to be up in this series this early?

I'd say Jim Neal, Scott Whiteanka and you know Brad Albert's I know I was no I definitely was tough to watch I mean finish seven straight losses open up with that game at home which was pretty bleak who knew I? Who knew we'd be up 2-1 with a couple over times, scrappy wins. I mean we're built like that. We, you know, we wish we had a few guys back on the lineup. I know. I'm serious. It was, I was, I was really nervous. I really don't get nervous this time of year anymore. I just really look forward to it. It's the best thing in sports ever. Our team's in it. We've had some great runs, but like I'm dead serious. I did not feel good. And it's still, it's still a little, I mean, we're going to tough

opponent. We're not playing our absolute best and we're not even close to our best. I don't think, but we're up to one and the tough building and a tough place. And they got to happen back last night. So few days off with some altitude training or, you know, whatever you call it would be beer drinking in our days, Kipper, but now it's sleep and eat and a little more training. So it should be fun Saturday night. How about the old guys? Like a pretty impressive performances from guys like Ben and Sagan.

These guys still putting in the work. They can still do it. Well, they better. They're still on some good long-term contract. Earning money. Earning money. Well, not right now. That's some good long-term card and money, um, earning money. Well, not right now. That's the best part of the playoffs, right? Guys aren't making their money.

They've already earned it. And, and I'll say this, you know, just last year, Jamie's deal, he's playing great. Um, we do have a deep team. We don't need him to play 20, 21 minutes anymore. Um, but he, yeah, I think he's because not just because he's a captain, but he's our leader on the ice in terms of effort and then, you know, putting pucks in right places finishing checks, he has a big body, but he's a great dude. And you know, saying you to come back and really play one game, you know, kind of get, you know, pushed around a little bit, but he's in there. He's in the mix. He's putting pucks in places too. And they get chance and overtime delivers the old guys. They you know, they are they are doing it and we'll need them right. We'll definitely need our younger guys to pick up the bulk of it. But it's great to see those guys

producing eating minutes and playing well. You're watching and listening to Marty Turco, former National Hockey League or Special Assistant to the president of the Dallas Stars. So you're out in dirt and you just stare down the barrel of a of a gun with McKinnon and Mccart like in your day. What was what was the comparable that you know, you just saw Two or three guys coming at you and you're like, oh my god

well to be honest like I Think just look at Colorado, you know, when I turned pro, I probably wish I had McKinnon and these guys. I mean, we, you know, my car and others, I mean, they're a great team and this stuff. I mean, you know, half breakaway, my Natchushkin put on a three deaker, but you're talking Forsberg-Sackert, one of the best duos of all time I mean of all time winners and you know they were loaded I mean you had Heyduke on the wing I mean those you know they started they started at Pepsi Center in Denver you're like oh gosh here we go and it but

it was a ton of fun it's those moments in your career you look back you're like man I was you got to play against those guys that was a a blast. You know, Detroit was heavy. They were rocking, you know, their third line when they won their first cup of the most recent era was Red Hall, Dad's Duke, and Zeta Perky. That was their third line. So there was this guys that teams were just good, you know, I'm talking pre salary cap era too, right? It was, it was that long ago. But those guys were playing, you know, at that time. So we, I had some guys that, you know, I was,

I was like, all right, this is great. I mean, I, you know, we had such, we're in the Pacific division, San Jose was always great. You know, Thornton, Chi-Chiu, who had 50 goals one year, you know, Pavelski later on, and Marlowe, you know, had Ronek for a couple of years. Those guys were just, there's a well-oiled machine. Perry, Getsloff, and Timu, Andy McDonald, and Anaheim. It was, it was always fun. I'd rather play against the good ones than teams,

you know, without it. So I think for Jake's sake, I think he also looks at the other end and says, all right, I got a rookie down there. Even though I'm young. I like my chances and I've played playing against these guys have a lot of success. So bring it on. So what have you seen out on Jerry allowed four goals on 24 shots in a five one loss in game one. And since then, how have you seen him respond? Well, I know it's not the Toronto Maybelives. So you probably didn't watch it.

He was fine and he was fine in game one. Now a couple of bicycle kicks over shoulder. He's good. He's tracking the puck. Awesome. We're fortunate to have another solid backup this year. Let him, you know, not up to 65 games this year. So he's ready. He's fortunate to have another solid backup this year, letting him, you know, not up to eat 65 games this year. So he's ready. He's ready to go. He looks fantastic. We're gonna

need him really gonna need him on Saturday, I think I think this is going to be a game where you're gonna need a goal in the first period, maybe two and possibly all three. Just to have a chance to win. So I think he's good. He's tracking it well. He's moving fantastic. He makes He makes it look easy out there. Never does too much, which is, you know, a skill set in its own. So he's good.

I'm proud of him. He's ready to rock and we need him. Probably tough, even as competitive as you may be, or the team may be, not to have a moment of appreciation for Landis Gogh. Making his return after three years gets back in there maybe you were hoping it would be three and a half years but you know still a nice moment here in the crowd last night no no that's I mean I think that's tongue-in-cheek but but I saw him

I saw him in the bathroom if it came to outside the suites. And I didn't know if he was, actually at that point, I didn't know he took a warmup. I was entertaining, doing my job. And I didn't know that at that point was in our building and I saw him and I was like, hey, you know, I don't know when you're coming back, but this is good luck, man. I can't even imagine.

That's over a thousand games, three years. You don't wish it on anybody. He's a great person, he's a great leader, champion. And we honestly, we want to plan. I'm not saying we want to plan right now, like you said, but we do. If you're gonna beat him, let's beat him at their best. And I thought he looked fantastic last night coming out,

laying the body, making plays for missing that much time off. I was really impressed. And let's see if you can continue that kind of battle tested attitude but if there's really anybody in today's game that can do it it's Gabriel and so I'm honestly I I have I can't have empathy I've never been in that position I didn't miss a game in my 30s uh other than 37 38 and 39 when I was, you know, retired, they're like, you're no longer you're no longer good. Just go play some golf. Other than those years, you know, you take your health for granted. I know he does it to see his kids

there was a really great moment. And the Colorado crowd, like always really appreciated it. And then they are good hockey fans, you know, similar to what we have here in Dallas they get it and I was glued in from the beginning I would make sure I was watching it it was because of him not just because the stars were playing it was it really was a neat moment. Got to ask you about uh Rantanen we saw a real strong play in the neutral zone that led to the the game-winning goal last night, but just the overall adjustment that he's gone through. I mean, a guy of that stature playing on multiple teams in such a short period of time can't be easy. I can't imagine either Kipper. I don't have that in my experience to really draw from it.

I played for different teams, but starting year, not mid-season, not teams I want to cup with, not teams. It's a crazy scenario, but he's, there's moments he's trying a little too hard, my opinion, just, but that's the way he plays too. Like he's sneaky, he left sticks, he gets a buck back, he's, you know, thinks offensively. You know, he's a big dude and he does a lot. He's out there a lot for us. He plays so the chemistry is tough Because he wasn't here all year in the power play You know was playing with online with Robertson for a little bit. He's not in the lineup

And so this you see some inconsistencies within his game whether he's just in the wrong spot But you can see the talent that he uses and I Can't imagine the pressure he's under he wants to win more than anybody right against that team with what transpired during the season And we want him to for Dallas we believe in the guy we locked him up for a long time for a lot of money and and so we We're gonna we're gonna need him at some point to make some plays Maybe it's only two points three points for the rest of the series but he's gonna need to do something to help us win this series and

I think he'll be a big difference maker, you know, either way But hopefully it's on the positive side for the Dow side looking forward to game for Marty go back to swinging some You know taking some good cuts again Yeah, we have a little storm today. So we had to bring it indoors skipper. I don't know if you guys are up there. You still a national where you were you playing these days? They kicked you out yet or not.

But Rosedale baby Rosedale. Oh, Rosedale. Yeah, Rosedale. We were looking at pictures of free stone. I can tell you that before we had this chat. Well, you can't find it online. It is a hidden gem. We are starting our course.

And we are, we plan the Big Boy Island course next year. We just had a couple of PGA tour guys out there and they're just ogling over it. So, you know, if you invite me back one more time this year, I'll probably get you guys a potential invite. How's that? Buddy, we're all over that. Book the flights, book the flights. We're gone.

We're not even finishing the show right now. Thanks for doing this, pal. Yeah, good seeing you guys. God, you look good, man. You can still play, maybe. Thanks, Marty, appreciate it. Tell me more, tell me more. Marty Turko, one of the greats.

I love the idea that they have some golf course that's like Freemasonry or something the Illuminati That's you in invites right now because we got Ryan Smith Oh, yeah, we got to do a US tour a golf tour I mean, that's a ultimate rich guy tour like, you know, like maybe get the private jet fly us into Utah fly I said the taxi out of it and have someone else pay for it. That seems like so are we down to Fly it to the taxi. They need to make content out of it and have someone else pay for it. That seems like...

So are we down to like a Pick'em series right now, Dallas and Colorado? I'd say that's a great way to put it because you think Colorado is the better team, right? I mean, I do. Robertson's a huge blow. How about Mason Marchman's play? One hand holds him off, has the patience to look for a play. On the game winning goal, Sammy goal Sammy short former Toronto Maple Leaf Don't love the short. I mean, I know it's he's in tight, but it's the middle of a net there

Malgan woulda Morgan. I don't think I mean yeah in the Swiss a league Not the trade. Yes, that was straight up a some archer in for yeah, straight up Morgan That's a Dubas master class right there. That's actually Hall of fame. He learned from that one of the worst learn from that. Um But I do like the play I mean you talk about moments for ranting and he just you know bullies drew in in the offensive zone Where he's trying to kind of spin it around Just wins the puck off him lifts the stick kicks, kicks it up, gets it in deep, gets an assist on the game winning goal.

That's gotta feel great for Rantan. I've had enough Rantan and Slander out there. He's so good. He's so good. He's big, he's bully, he's got a great vision, he can finish, he's gonna get 90 points next year, no problem. Can you imagine that Mitch Marder and Miko Rantan got traded for each other?

No. What a world that would have been. It would be mayhem. Mayhem. It would be take mayhem in the studio. That Mitch Martin and Miko Ran and got traded for each other No, what a world that would have been You take mayhem I don't I don't know if either team's better. I know I don't I don't know what it looks like It's just an insane. What if insane? It's our world right now around these type of players though is like they've got a physically see the numbers Or else they're just Not getting the job done or they're they're not earning their money like it's just about the numbers and when it's not I

think That play that he made in the neutral zone ain't sexy. No, right playoff hockey, but You're glad he made it and if they find a way if Dallas finds a way to beat Colorado Right and this guy's only got like two points on his seven games Yeah, three points in seven games No one's gonna feel better than this guy ranting and that he just stuck it to his old team and then you get Potentially like well you said yesterday high school is maybe not close but high skin maybe second round maybe roberts you start adding those guys into that lineup yeah no it's a good point if you pull out a hail mary series win here all

sudden it could get real tricky for the rest of the west jets and uh not the jets because all the jets do is win win win yeah they play tonight they do are you expecting them to win like they always do as i said good teams are tough to beat four times in a row. I think you know whether it's over time whether it's whatever I don't see this no team is winning by three tonight. Yeah, you know, it's close game I I don't I'm not sure I can be any more impressed on it by a team That's down to nothing than I am for st. Louis. I think St. Louis played exceptionally hard. In both games, they were awesome.

They're close. They're not better. They were better. They didn't deserve to win because Winnipeg was better, but they were good too. The one take I think I have reached is that the crowd in Winnipeg the size of the building the whiteout Elevated the look of those games to the point where it feels like it was so much better

Yes back and forth between in Washington. Oh, yeah in this different sport It felt like a different sport, but was that crowd related? Was that energy related like great question if the frenzy of that building made it feel like such a different Level I'm curious if it looks like that in st. Louis to because it did look like the best played hockey of the first round Yeah, and just the hits and that series and the first it just it really does feel probably was yeah Speaking of the Habs Habby's in trouble They were lucky to have that look as close as it was. They got leaned on last night.

Montalvo was so good. He was awesome. He gave them a chance to steal that game. Yeah, couldn't do it. Now, again, you guys know how I feel about the officiating. But Caulfield has a pretty good argument that there should have been a penalty called. Agree. On him.

Yep. This is where, you know, the officials got, there's a fine line. And we're also mentioning that tonight Toronto and Ottawa and Stoller's and Ridley Greg and the potential of things escalating there in front of the crease. But you watch, there's's gonna be an early penalty And it won't be that pretty it'll be because they're sending a message that we're not gonna have that exchange again I like that take they're gonna turn it tonight. I thought it was well officiated game to Like that but you can't you can't let that happen. You can't let it get out of hand,

and you can't give everybody a credit card now to have a whack back and forth. Right, temperature has been taken up at least since, and I think yeah, the early interest in the refs will be a no, no, no, not having one of those games. You think there was some meetings at the league about that video? 100%.

There is never not a meeting So Carolina's goalie or the devil's goalie through the same chop as Dolores did but he hit his own player. Yeah and injured his own. Yes, like Still it's not game six or seven now. We're still early enough Oh setting time they can just hey boys We let you yeah play in the sandbox there and you know, it kind of got ugly at the end But like we're gonna we're watching you now. That's that's what's happened between game two and game three in Ottawa

Zetterland has been moved up He's gonna get more opportunity Perron and cousins are in a line together with cadet in the middle That is a watch your knees really good greasy fourth line really good Keep your knees tucked Five on five. It was pretty obvious We'll see if Zetterland can bring a little pop to that that's a fast sense fans like him Uh, they've been asking for this Tampa Bay make this thing one one Hope so.

Yeah. I do. I hope so. That didn't sound very calm. I said yesterday that they're going to get swept. I would say Florida in game one shook me. It shook my belief in what I thought I knew about Florida. Fading.

Yeah. I thought they were on the way out. They had the fade going. Yeah. They were hurt. They were losing. Things were kind of... Game one, they were hurt. They were losing. Things were kind of, ah, game one. They looked so good. That pug drop is in a half an hour, seven o'clock Toronto

may police in the Ottawa senators, 9 PM Eastern Vegas and Minnesota, Winnipeg and St. Louis nine 30 Eastern. Watch them all. Sometimes they say pick your game. No, watch them all. Think you can say multi-view into your Rogers remote and watch them all at once. Really? I think that's real. I'm going to try that tonight. Okay. Except I'm just gonna watch this game.

I lied. Busy day on our show. Our thanks to Kevin BXA, who's getting ready for hockey night in Canada and their pregame show, Rob Brown and Marty Turco. Have a great night everybody. We're back tomorrow.