The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Cole Caufield Notches 50 Goals ft. Marco D'Amico

Episode Date: April 10, 2026

Jeff Marek is joined by Marco D'Amico on today’s episode of The Sheet to break down a historic night for Cole Caufield. Caufield reaches the 50-goal mark, becoming the first player for the Montreal Canadiens to score 50 in a season since Stephane Richer did it back in the 1989-90 season, a milestone that further cements Caufield as one of the league’s premier young goal scorers. Marek and D’Amico discuss the reaction inside the Canadiens locker room, including praise from Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson, while also highlighting the quietly excellent seasons from Suzuki and Slafkovsky that have helped drive Montreal’s push late in the year. From Caufield’s historic accomplishment to the Canadiens’ playoff hopes, the guys also examine what lies ahead for Montreal and how a potential first-round matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning could shape up if the Canadiens secure a postseason berth.#TheSheet #JeffMarek #MarcoDAmico #MontrealCanadiens #GoHabsGo #ColeCaufield #NickSuzuki #JurajSlafkovsky #LaneHutson #NHL #StanleyCupPlayoffs #TampaBayLightning #Hockey #DailyFaceoffLeave a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheSheetEmail us: [e-mail] TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼 Ninja: https://www.sharkninja.ca/ninja-crispi-pro-6-in-1-countertop-glass-air-fryer-rose-quartz/AS101CRS.html?utm_source=Meta&utm_medium=Paid+Social&utm_campaign=H1NinjaCrispi&utm_content=NinjaEN&dwvar_AS101CRS_color=cdb9b8Reach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Okay, here we go. Welcome to the, well, welcome to the end of the week. Welcome back to the program. This is, of course, the sheet for this Friday, April the 10th. Glad to have you aboard. You know, part of the show is really going to feel and sound and look like a Montreal-Canadian's appreciation show, and why not? And for those of you who say, oh, I don't like it when two great teams face off against each other in the opening round, who's not putting their hands up for seven games of Montreal and Tampa? Who's not putting their hands up for seven games of Dallas and Minnesota, both games, we got to enjoy last night. But before we get to talking about the Montreal Canadiens here, one thing that I did want to point out and at least recognize. First of all, congratulations to a couple of teams. One, the Pittsburgh Penguins for making it into the playoffs. This has been something that nobody saw coming. Congratulations to the players.

Congratulations to Dan Muson, the coaching staff. Kyle Dubus and the management staff, fans certainly. thrilled that the Pittsburgh Penguins have qualified for the postseason. So congratulations, they're all around. We've talked plenty about the Pittsburgh Penguins. One team that we should acknowledge as well that we haven't spent too much time on. And we did talk about the Zamboni yesterday. And that is the Utah Mammoth.

Congratulations. The Utah Mammoth qualifies for the postseason. And one of the people that I thought about right away, because this, as we all know, used to be the Arizona slash Phoenix Coyotes. I thought about a lot of the great people that worked either for or worked around the coyotes for a number of years. And there have been some great people in and around the Coyotes organization, many of them still with the Utah Mammoth.

And one of the people that I thought about was Craig Morgan, who editorially always, you know, kept this team alive and front and center and would, you know, dig behind headlines for stories, gave fans a different view of an NHL team, specifically, obviously, the coyotes and sort of unraveled how things work. People like Craig Morgan are really important, especially for younger hockey teams with new fans coming to the team. And this is what Craig said. This is his Twitter X feed. I covered this team for so long, wondering if I'd ever see a model for sustainable success built. It's a bummer not to be able to cross. I'd chronicle it in depth, but I love my new life.

More important, I'm happy for so many people in this organization. They deserve this. They earned it. Classy from Craig Morgan, someone who was always a delight to talk to about the coyotes and make no mistake about it. There will be another team, another NHL team in Arizona. We all know what the hurdles are, but when the time is right, the NHL is very much committed to going back.

Anyhow, congratulations to the Utah Mammoth. And for all you old fans of the Arizona Coyotes, we see you. Coming up here on the program, The Blueprint is powered by Fandwell. Download the app today and play your game on Fandwell. There's going to be a lot about the Montreal Canadiens. And so when it comes to the haves, it's going to get a little bit mushy with history and experience

and Saturday night and the Bell Center and cold play and the hair on your arms going up and all that kind of stuff. Marco D'Amico from RG Media is going to be stopping by the program here in a couple of moments. We'll talk about Cole Cawfield, great cutaway to his dad last night. He gets 50 goals first time since Stefan Rischet. We'll talk about Slavkovsky and Suzuki and Hudson and maybe a playoff preview we saw yesterday between the Montrachnese and the Tampa Bay Lightning. And again, we'll talk a little bit more about Utah and Pittsburgh clinching

and a couple of more things on the agenda here. here that aren't on the blueprints that we will get to as well. In the meantime, what a wonderful night it was at the Bell Center yesterday. Fans are always full of value and the team was as well. Marco DiMiko joins me now, a senior editor for RG Media. Marco, first of all, thanks so much for stopping by. Can you sort of paint the picture of Montreal last night and paint the picture of Montreal this morning?

What's a, I would say, almost circus like last night in terms of just the way that that everybody was both elated, entertained, and excited. You know, everyone, I felt like the whole city was willing Cole Cawfield to that 50th goal. When it finally happened, it was almost poetic. You know, you would have assumed that he would have scored before. He picks the goalie that's likely going to win the Vezna to line up his 50th goal of the season, because that's just Cole Cawfield. And, you know, again, the building just erupting in the way that, you know,

you couldn't even hear Michelle Laquois announce Cole Cawfield's goal because it was just being drowned out by the fans. And I think this morning, you know, although all eyes are on Cole Cawfield, there's obviously questions about Michael Hage

and when he's going to sign now that his season's over, so there's a lot of questions on that. But I think there's just a realization of the journey that Cole Cawfield has been on being that top talent that slid all the way to 15 in the 2019 draft to now being able to look at, you know, the last seven years and say, it was all worth it. It was a gift, right?

That was a, that was a complete gift to the Montreal Canadians at that position at that. That would have been the Vancouver draft that, that he fell to the Montreal Canadians at that position. You know, it's always awkward, you know, that sometimes like that final push. And for Cole Cofield, it was, you know, those final few games and the frustration and gripping the stick. And I thought it was, bluntly, I thought it was pretty funny. when he was asked after the game,

you know, what do you want to say to the Montreal Canadians fans here cheering wildly and says, sorry it took so long, which is, listen, man,

like that's, that's, that's some awesome stuff. Like, another great chapter in Montreal, Canadian's lore. How do you think he's been,

like, the last little while? Like, we really started to see some frustration. It's almost if, you know, he scored last night with that wrist shot on Vasilevsky

and, like, it wasn't like, you know, a monkey off the back. It was like a gorilla off the back for Cole coffee. I watched this. Like, Oh, thank God he did it.

Now we'll wait for Suzuki in 100. But your thoughts on his feeling when he finally got the 50? Yeah, I mean, those around Cole Cofield felt like, you know, it was starting to weigh on him to a degree. But not to the point where he started getting down on himself, not to the point where it kind of became a problem. No, it was more he didn't want to be a distraction to the team, you know, and I think you kind of saw it on the ice last couple of games prior to, you know,

Slavkovsky, no. looking a completely wide open Nick Suzuki to try and find a double covered Cole Cawfield. It's just that kind of dynamic and he just felt like he didn't want to be the focal point anymore when it came to this chase and I totally understand him. You know, was there frustration? Absolutely. I mean, there was significant frustration.

He got robbed quite a few times in the last couple of games before he was able to sink one past Vasilevsky last night. But I think that passion is what makes him perfect for this. market because not many types of people can play in Montreal and be a star player and withstand that kind of pressure because they're scoring 50 goals and then there's scoring 50 goals in Montreal when it hasn't been done in 36 years like I haven't been alive since Stefan Rish 8 scored 51 goals in 1990s so he was good Marco I was alive he was really good he's really good player sorry about the job no but like I understand like the gravity of it too like that's

And that's the thing about Montreal, and everyone that's played there will talk about it. And generally in positive terms. But the one thing that I've always felt about Montreal specifically, like I always make the joke that there is no original six. There's an original one. The Montreal, Canadians, everybody else is an expansion team. But it's true. You go back to 1917. Like it's the original one.

And there is a history that comes along obviously with that. And sometimes and the fans carry it. Some of the players carry it coaching staff, but make no mistake about it. Like when you walk into that building, there is the weight of history. You know, there's the ghosts of the forum that, like all of that stuff. Like, I'm a sucker for all that shit. I love it. I think it's fantastic.

And I think it's folly for us to think that players don't, in some regard and in some way, feel the same thing. I don't know that Cole Coffield cannot feel that kind of, I wouldn't say pressure, but at least that kind of weight when you have you know a Steve shut in the Canadians alumni section

or you have you know like comparisons to Stefan Rishi or you know you have a Bob Ganey who captained teams that had 260 goals scores on them at certain moments like there is so much history there and I feel like

the benefit is that he's not the only one chasing history and I think that helped a lot in that sense. Nick Suzuki, we could talk about him and probably will and he's chasing his own thing. But just as a captain for a second,

Nick Suzuki just being that shoulder for Cole Cofield because they're both chasing something. And one still has a little bit of chasing to do. But when you look at how this young team and core has been kind of put together, it gives you those vibes from those 70

dynasty teams, not necessarily because they're going to be as good, but because they're as tight. And I think that's what allows them to overcome. some of these, I guess, heavy moments because with history comes a lot of expectation. And if you were able to meet that expectation, it takes an army to get that kind of a player to that point. And that's exactly what this team is doing. You know, it's interesting you mentioned Steve Schutt now. One of the great goal scores of the 1970s, but interestingly enough, he had the 60 goal season.

And then, like, you know, there's a lot in the 47 and a 45, but he never got 50. He had like that one season where it really popped and he got 60. when you look at Cole Coughfield and the way that he scores goals. Like when I look at like smaller players, and Alex De Brinkett went through this as well. Yep. You know, you look at their history. And until they get to the NHL,

they've always had the ability to find ice and a lot of it around and open so they can get the shot off. That changes in the NHL. And all of a sudden, oh man, this used to work when I was, you know, playing at the program. Like I could get the shot off. Now in the NHL, I'm having a really hard time.

But obviously, he's figured it out. And specifically on Saturday nights, I want to ask you about that in a second here. But when you see Cole Cawfield score 50, unlike Steve's shot in the 70s, I don't look at Cawfield and say, okay, you know what? That's the ceiling for Cole Coughfield. Because I think what we've seen is a guy, and you've been right there to document all of it, a guy that game in, game out, has spent all this time figuring out how can I get to a spot where I have enough time to get this shot off.

All I need to do is get this shot off. To me, it doesn't look like this is just going to be like a one and done for Cole Coffield. It's sustainable and ethical offense, and I think a lot of that comes down to the work in the video room that's been done by Martin Saint-Louis in the coaching staff, helping him not only be just a high-octane offense kind of player, which he most certainly was in the program with 72 goals in his draft year. I think what you're seeing from Cole is that if he hadn't improved his two-way game,

if he hadn't increased the intensity of his forecheck, if he hadn't added the layers in his game in the neutral zone that allowed him to cause all those turnovers to then bring the puck back up the other way, I still think we'd be talking about a 40-goal score and not a 50 goal score because those defensive layers not only help him produce offense off the rush because they're going back on the counterattack, they're helping him find confidence in being able to put himself out there in the defensive zone and go back the other way with it. We've seen him do it a couple times this season.

And that's what makes him part of one of the best five-on-five lines in hockey. It's not simply just because he can bury them more than the opposition. It's because he's burying them in spite of the opposition because he's shutting them down because of the details in his game. And that to me is sustainable long term. None of his 50 goals in an empty net. all of those, like, what, 28 of those goals are game winners or go-ahead game, go-ahead goals.

So it's very sustainable and it comes at the most important times. And I feel like when you have a player like that, that's not only found the soft ice, but is making that soft ice for himself. That is where you see the makings of a goal score, sorry, that could be in the

running for the Boris Richard Rocket Trophy yearly. You know, it's interesting. You mentioned Marty St. Louis, turning a since he a 40-goal score into a 50-goal score. That's ripped right out of the pages of Scottie Bowman in the 70s. Like, Scottie Bowman would always talk about, you know, if you're a head coach, you have a 40-goal score.

It's not your job to turn him into a two-way guy or turn him into a defensive player to, quote-unquote, round out the game. But offense can start with defense. He would always say, you have a 40-goal score. Your job as a coach is to turn him into a 50-goal score. You have a 50-goal score. It's your job to turn that guy into a 60-goal score. Like to me, Marty St. Louis is one of the most fascinating coaches in the entire.

or NHL. Because as much as he is at new school and make no mistake about it, he is, I hear you talk about him. And the first thing that pops in my mind was like somewhere from like that glory era of the 1970s with the Montreal Canadians in Scotty Bowman.

What do you take away from either conversations, experiences, or just, you know, watching how Marty St. Louis is around this team and how he handles one of the most important franchises in the NHL? Yeah, there's definitely that new school ability. I mean, he gives players,

agency in how they're treated and how they're coached. And I think that's very much a new age kind of blend. But at the same time, he does also come from the church of Tortorella in terms of being able to have that old school tie to the way that hockey was played and an understanding to the way that hockey was played so that he can bring about a more nuanced approach to his coaching style where there are heavy expectations. And he's not going to take anything less than what he's looking for. and he's going to be building towards what he wants those players to be,

but at the same time having that personal approach and being able to bring his experiences as a guy that everybody else doubted in his own developmental path to the conversation. And I think that in and of itself brings about a different layer of respect from the players. They feed off that and that experience, that leadership, especially early on in that rebuild,

was so clutch for them to be able to find their confidence in their identity. What you're seeing right now is simply just natural extension of what he laid the groundwork for. And now those players are rising up to seize those opportunities, be Caulfield, Suzuki, Hudson, Slifkovsky, the list is long. Let me get to Suzuki here. So the old saying, sometimes the biggest fortune is not getting what you want. And I go back to Montreal and Vegas looking to make the Max Patcher-ready deal.

And Montreal is saying, well, take the Cody Glass kid and Vegas saying, nah, can I interest you in something in a size three, Nick Suzuki instead, which of course turned out to be. Again, we talk about luck and Cole Coffeyo falling to 15. Luck is always part of it. We don't like to talk about it because we want to pretend that we understand everything. You can quantify everything. But what a stroke of luck for the Montreal Canadians,

not getting what they wanted for Max Patcheretti. Sometimes the best trades you make are the ones you don't make at all. And sometimes it's the trades that are afforded to you as a counter. So I think, you know, with Nick, I go back to his own. sound days. It was all just a player that was the smartest guy on the ice. And it was projectable that he was going to be an impact player in the NHL. But I don't think anybody had on their bingo card that he'd be scratching 100 right now. And that's a testament to him.

That's a testament to his detail. That's a testament to the confidence that he's built. And I felt like every single stage of his career, he's simply just surpassed the expectation. Like there was a significant conversation coming out of junior, whether he would be a center, or a winger. And we fast forward now, what, eight years? And the conversation is, is he the high-end runaway Selke winner this season? And so, like, it's a completely different dynamic. He is.

And I think so, too. Like, if I had a vote, Jeff, like, he would be the Selky winner for me. And I would wonder what Nick Suzuki's point totals could be if he wasn't tasked with being the team's shut. down center as well at the same time. Like it's the same thing with Barkov, you know, a couple of years ago, went as Florida was taken off. So I'm glad you mentioned the Owen Sound, OHL team, the attack.

So there was a teammate of Nick Suzuki's on Owen Sound, a guy that named him of Brady Lyle. Okay, so they're buddies. And so Brady is in the, the, was in the Boston Bruins organization after junior. And he's playing at Providence. Now, the one thing that all of our viewers and listeners need to know is Nick Suzuki, loves Patrice Bergeron, players like that, and Bergeron specifically.

And so Brady Lyle is playing for Providence, and he takes number 37. And apparently Nick called him up and essentially said, like, what are you, you cannot be in the Bruins where in Providence wearing Patrice Bergeron's number. Like, you need to, like he carries with him, one, he's an outstanding player,

but he carries with him a sort of sense of what's right and what's wrong. Like you cannot be in that. organization wearing 37. That is reserved for Patrice Berger. I don't care if you're playing in Providence. You do not wear 37. It's like James Higgins, right?

Boston Bruins. Like, oh, I like number four. I've worn four. Yeah, you ain't going to put on number four in Boston kid. Tough luck. But I mean, that Nick Suzuki story, I'm sure Marco resonates with you. Absolutely. And I think whenever you talk to Nick, like the most by the book kind of, you know, dedication to the game, but a respect for what came before him. Like the conversation that he has about the legends that have come and gone,

you know, I think back to the Gila Fleur Memorial Night and how he really took that seriously and having all those alumni present and showing up and being there. And rather, you know, I go back to that night, who had himself a game that night was one Patrice Bergerald. You know, so like it was, it goes to show you the passing down of that series. seriousness, that passing down of that appreciation. And you look at Nick today in terms of what he means to the Canadians, and very much there's that reciprocal relationship now with the players that have come before

where he understands the gravity of being the Montreal Canadiens captain, so much so and done to such a high degree that it was one of the main points that Doug Armstrong and Team Canada used to justify selection was there is nothing more pressure cooking like than being the captain of the Montreal Canadians. And so utilizing that and making sure that he understood that history was big for this team. The fact that he's moved on now to be that kind of a player as big or as impactful as Bergeron was for the Bruins is a testament to his work, ethic, and ability. Okay, Mark, let me tell you a little bit something about myself. So every time I fly to Montreal, every time I travel to Montreal, I get off the plane and I always say one thing to myself.

I'm going to see, I'm going to try to see how deep I can get into the province only speaking French. Seumont-in-in-franca. She can't a little, but a bit. A little bit, a little. And I've never made it from the airport to the Sheraton. There's always, like, the Uber, like, halfway through,

it's like, okay, let's just quit with the act. Like, let's just get, and I've never been able to make. So let me ask you this. How is next French coming along? Because mine, I've never made it from the airport to the hotel. could Nick Suzuki make it from the airport to the hotel? I think Nick Suzuki is a very reserved individual, so he's never going to be exuberant with his French,

but he can get by. He can definitely get by. He could get from the airport to the hotel then, unlike me. I'm sure. I'm sure. I feel like Nick Suzuki can get from the airport to his hotel in any country in the world, just because we'll figure it out. Just because he's smart.

When it comes to the Montreal Canadians, first of all, Like I've always told people, like, the one experience everybody has to have is Saturday night Bell Center. The lights go dark, cold play, ghost of the forum, like all, like, you have to have it, even just thinking about it. I just get like that. Oh, it's like that, that shiver that you only get in, in Montreal. But it's more than just that for me. It's like, it's the one place in the National Hockey League where, like, when I'm there, I wake up and I'll, you know, go to the gym and I'll go have a, you know, breakfast in old Montreal, the cobblestone streets. and every cafe, every restaurant,

everybody's talking about the game. It's like that whole city revolves around that game on Saturday night. It's not like just hockey fans are building to, you know, 7 o'clock Eastern on a Saturday night. It's the whole city. It's all the conversations. I remember Colby Armstrong told me a great story once. He was, when he was playing with the habs.

Finished practice on a Saturday morning. And he was walking, walking to his apartment. and he walks by a cafe in Jean Belvo's holding court, and Belvo, like, wraps on the window and gives him the come on in. And normally, Colby's got to, like, go home and have some lunch and have a nap and all that. And he's like, Mr. Belvo, just like, is it saying come sit and join us and have coffee? And he said that he sat there, like all morning, into the afternoon, called his dad. Colby was a huge Montraulton Canadiens fan growing up.

And he said it was just like it was the coolest thing in the last. world. That was his like quintessential. I've just had the Montreal experience. I remember when I was doing a ringside for hockey night back in 2009, I think it was. And I was waiting outside the Habs room for André Markov to do a walkoff. And Monsieur Madame Belvoir were coming down, as you know, they would leave and come down and go to concession. And Mr. Belvoir approached and I said, uh, salue Monsieur Belvoir. And he said, salue, Jeff. And I went, oh, how does you know my name? And like that was my like, holy smokes, Jean Bell. And that was like that like that's it.

If I died right there, happy. Yep. Because Jean Bell, like that to me is like the, for me, like from my experience, like the quintessential Montreal experience. What is it now? Like is there like a Montreal Canadiens experience that can, I don't know, rival like Salue Jeff or, you know, Bellevaux wrapping at the window to get Colby to come in and have some pancakes and coffee after escape?

Like, what is it? What is it now? Running into Lane Hudson and Ivan Demidov at the local rink. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Back in the day, it was the gravitas of the person. And I feel like there was a 30-year split where I don't feel like it had the same jive. It wasn't the same culture. And I feel like now is a return to basics where they're bridging back to the past.

And, you know, Yvonne Quar and Y.A., just now. absolute gentleman to be around that team was fantastic, continues to be fantastic, love having them around. I feel like Patrice Breesbaugh with the alumni organization has done a really good job getting close to the team. But I think credit to the Young Corps has not made any effort whatsoever to stay away from fans.

Quite the opposite. They jump in headfirst to be part of this city. Ivan Demydov spent the entire summer in Montreal trying to get to know the place. He didn't take a skates off. I kept hearing like Demidoff hasn't taken his skates off all summer. Like every day he's skating. Has not.

I haven't, both Hudson brothers confirmed that I've been to meet off is unfortunately the kind of guy that you have to lock the gym on. Yeah, like his skates were wet all summers. Like get them, get them up, but Hudson's the same way. And listen.

Yeah, those guys are incredible. and I think it's the personability combined with their work ethic that make them so relatable and when they're out in public like I've run into both when they're out in public they're just average guys

that you can stop, have a conversation with and I think unlike maybe other markets they ooze the passion for this game and in a city where hockey is religion that is basically

preaching to the choir and fans just buy right into that. And it's a testament to them and it's a testament to the humanity that they bring to this team. And it's one of the aspects that Kent Hughes specifically identified when they began the process of rebuilding as players that would fit within the cultural fabric of this city. One more player that I don't want to ask you about expectations. I don't let you get on with what I'm sure is a busy afternoon. Mark Bergerna used to have the great saying.

He would say, there are players that get you there. and there are players that get you through. Josh Anderson. Josh is such a case study of a hockey player. I mean, this is the kind of player that you won't notice for the first five minutes and then boom, massive hit off the forecheck, scrum ensues, and he just pulls the entire team right into the fight with one hit. Sometimes on the bench, as we saw last year.

I was, you see like that happened right to. below me as I sat in the press box and I was just like yeah fantastic but it's you need those kinds of players you know whether or not you fans will look at the contract that's fine but in like nobody gets paid in the playoffs

what what happens you have this guy that can change a shift a period a game the momentum of of a potentially of a series and you saw last night against Tampa like no nonsense kind of player as Tampa playing that line and playing along that line of discipline,

well, you have unique players that are able to fight back, but fight back in a way where they too are towing that line. And I think Josh Anderson does that really well. And when you bring that physicality, that forecheck, and we talk about adding layers to a game, like Marti Saint-Louis took a mostly offensive power forward and turned him into a two-way player that has consistently played on the PK. You add the physical elements,

you add the ability to defend his teammates, and that's valuable in a bottom six. especially with a younger team that's inexperienced, that you're going to be able to kind of elevate in the next couple of years and gain that experience to be a perennial cup contender. What is, I'll end on this one with you, Marco. What is expectations for Montreal in the postseason? Like last year was like, okay, we got here.

So what is it now? Like you let your sort of dreams carry away and say, oh, Montreal, Colorado final, and maybe they wear the Fleur de Lee. in the first game and it's the old Habs and the Nords and Slaeger and Hamel and four-hour games. And like, what's expectation from Montreal this year? I'll just say that if that ever happens, Jeff, I feel bad for the referees, but you don't have to make that call. They're going to have eight officials on the ice, never mind four.

You're going to need VAR, AI, and eight officials on the ice. What I would say, I think, expectations wise, this team is good enough to match up against any other team in the playoffs. in a seven game series, I find in the East. I don't think that's an outlandish take to make. They've had a good record against most of them. Buffalo being maybe the one they had the most difficulty with, but I feel like, you know, everyone's kind of human right now in terms of their ability.

So I think winning around... I don't think Buffalo wants Montreal, just by the way. I don't think Buffalo wants Montreal at this point. They don't want that speed. They don't want that speed. That's it. And so I think winning around is very possible. I think getting the conference final is a possibility.

I think at that point, the inexperience of the team, maybe the physical impact of the series. We sometimes take that for granted. May slow them down, but this is a resilient team. So I don't hold anything against them, or I don't think that anything is impossible, but this team is a team that has consistently surpassed expectations.

So fans may say winning around and then the rest is gravy, I say this is a team that can win around and could come out of the Atlantic Division in the conference finals. Fantastic. Thank you so much for this. Thanks for taking time. I really appreciate it. It was, first of all,

like Tampa's fascinating to me. I mentioned this on social media last night. Like Tampa just hates everybody. It doesn't matter like what team. But Tampa just, they are equal opportunity haters. They hate everybody. And it always makes for wonderful games.

So if these two teams meet up, let's just hope that it is seven games, because I'll take seven games to what we saw last night any day of the week. Marco, thank you so much for this. Merci, Monscha. We'll talk again soon. Gros-plezine. Thank you so much and have a great day.

There is. So that was an interesting conversation about a team that, like, I could see the Montreal Canadians going far. I could also see, like, let's say they face off against Tampa. I think we could all see the Montreal Canadians losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning or even the Buffalo Sabres. Like, everybody in that division can beat everybody else. I know everyone's going Gaga for the Central and Dowell. Dallas, Minnesota. Based on what we saw last night, that's going to be a banger of a matchup and it should be. But opening round, the Atlantic's going to be good too. And based on what we saw last night and not just like for all the extracurriculars and all that and point,

running the goalie and fun stuff. But because these are two really evenly match teams and Tampa will do whatever it takes to win a hockey game. As we've seen, thanks to Marco Damico for stopping by from our G media for stopping by the program today. Zach, anything tickling your chin from last night? I know, not your team. Yeah, not my team.

Comma again. That was something to watch. I think that one of the most enjoyable parts of last night and seeing Caulfield score that goal was the reaction in the Bell Center. I've said it before on the show. I've never been and never got to see anything,

and you have continued to remind me and reiterating how amazing it is. It's the best. It is the best experience in hockey. You've heard me say the cliche before. And even just like, and if you can ever get there for a ceremony, again, only two places in the world, they do it properly. Buckingham Palace and the Bell Center. That's it. Everybody else messes ceremonies up.

Those are the only two places they do them properly. Buckingham Palace, the Bell Center. That's it. And again, it wasn't a ceremony, but the reception that Caulfield received. It's only what I saw on TV and on clicks and stuff, but you can feel the emotion. And you talked about the cutaway to his dad, the cuts to his teammates. You know, at one point there, they were showing the coaches and Marty St. Louis and everybody smiling on the bench and stuff.

Like it was just awesome. The feeling that you could tell was, and the emotion that was taking place in the Bell Center. Like that was spectacular to see and witness last night. As much as it's kind of like, as a Leafs fan, I don't want it to happen because you know you're looking at it being like, no, we've got the 50 goals score. Sometimes you've got to just tip your cap and say, okay, that was awesome.

Yeah, that really was. You have a quick thought on the Pittsburgh Penguins here too? Like, let's not give them like the short end of the stick here. Like Pittsburgh, nobody, like, at the beginning of the season, like, oh, yeah, we can see the Montrakeen is getting back in the playoffs. Nobody saw this one coming, man. Nobody saw this one coming, especially with that, with all due respect, especially with that blue line. Especially with that, first of all. Dan Mues is done here.

It's special. What's that saying you say about the well-produced show? You want to say that one for people here? There's nothing like a well-produced show, and this is nothing like a well-produced show. Okay, that is correct because I realized as the show went on that I forgot to grab, or as you asked me that question, the video montage that the Pittsburgh Penguins tweeted out saying that everybody doubted them. That was unbelievable. So I wanted to show that one out first. And then also that was a bad job on my behalf as the producer of the show, not having that video ready.

So hand up accountability. That's on me. We'll take a little out of your envelope this week then, Zach. Yeah, exactly. The dinners are on me when we go to BC. All right. That's right. The bill comes and I'm tying my shoes.

Here we go. Right over to Zach. The one thing, aside from team construction and what Caldupus has done to get this team into a position to be in the playoffs, the one note was what Josh Yohey had put out about Sidney Crosby. And he said one of the motivational factors that he's had over the last little while was hearing the Pittsburgh crowd when him, Malkin, and Lattang step back on the ice for a playoff game again. And I thought that was just a cool, cool thing to think about because

Crosby's not a guy who's just going to say that for the sake of saying that. If he's saying that, he probably was really genuinely using that as a motivational piece in the back of his mind. And it's something that is going to be exciting. I've spent the last couple of days watching Flyers fans tweet out videos of, you know, back in the day when they were on like versus TV and stuff and what their, what the series were like and what the fans in Philly were like. And then it kind of evolved into Penguins fans and what it was like in their playoff runs when they were a serious contender. Some of these cities, it is going to be truly awesome to watch back in the playoffs again

and the fan reception. And it just kind of, that comment from Crosby made. and you realize what we've been missing and what a guy like that has been missing in his career the last couple of years. Yeah, you know, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, the one thing, and everybody's going to have their own memories of the meetings between the two,

but the one that stands out for many was, it was weird, there was one, the series where Max Talbot fought Dan Carcillo got his clock clean, but it changed the momentum when the Pittsburgh Penguins ended up winning, just because Max Talbot, like, What is Max Talbot doing fighting Dan Carcillo?

Oh, my, and he took a beating. It was bad, but it turned everything around because, like, wow, Max is fighting like this against Dan Carcillo. Battle of Pennsylvania, Keystone State. Yeah. Look, man, I know everyone squawks about the playoffs, so we don't like it, but you don't want to see Montreal Tampa in the first round? You don't want to see Dallas, Minnesota in the first round? You don't want to see Pittsburgh, Philadelphia in the first round? I don't know.

Like, listen, I know I sit. in a position where I don't care who wins the cup. I'm happy for your team if they win the cup and that's awesome and that's a lot of fun. I don't care who wins the Stanley Cup. I just want to watch great hockey games, which is why the first round is always like, that's my Stanley Cup. The first round of the playoff. By the time you get to the Stanley Cup,

the hockey isn't as good. It's just more dramatic because the stakes are higher and everybody's that much closer to getting their name scribbled on the Stanley Cup. I get it. I understand it. But I just want to watch great hockey games, and I get that in the first round. That's why I don't squawk about this format. Minnesota, Dallas, one of them has to go home after the first round.

Cool. Don't care. Because I'm going to see some really good hockey in the first round. Is it fair? I don't know. To me, fair is not a word. Look, your argument I can at least entertain. Wish saying he wants a play-in round, I want to have zero part of.

So let's just, let me just be clear on that. Yours I understand. I get what you're saying. I'd rather have a one through weight personally, but I don't know. I'm not going to throw a fit over the way it is, because I get what you're saying. That first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is always the best.

It's so freaking good. No other sport compares. Not that I'm a huge basketball guy, but I understand the first round of the NBA playoffs is kind of a laffer. It's kind of a you don't need to worry. watch this. It's kind of a joke. Hockey's the exact

opposite. And I understand that, of course, it gets more dramatic as the play, as the quality of play lessons throughout the playoffs. That's just natural attrition. But that first round,

man, is super special. You have a thought on Utah? I know I kind of made Utah all about the Arizona Coyotes, and I don't want to give them the short end of this stick here at all. I congratulations to Utah. This has been building

through the Arizona Coyotes organization with all these plays. I felt really. really, really good for, you know, players like Clayton Keller, for example. I feel really good for Bill Armstrong, you know, who was with both. And don't forget, too, when ownership came in and the team went from Arizona to Utah, there were no, there's like, is Bill still going to have a job here? Or is, you know, a new owner or wants to bring in his own guy?

I was happy for Andre Tourney as well. Like, a lot of good, a lot of good people in that organization and a lot of them have their roots going back, obviously, to the Arizona Coyotes. You have a thought on any of that one? the one thing that I was really happy for in all of this is just, this is going to come across as a shot at Arizona, and I guess in a way it is Phoenix, Arizona, the transition of that organization into Utah,

but it was the commitment to taking your organization to the next level and having it pay off. Ryan Smith, I think it was like earlier this week, I talked about how cool it is to see his personal investment, and how much he cares about this organization, the city, the fan base. But when we had Bill Armstrong on earlier in the season, he's the one who told us, he's like,

we have a video room here that's basically more expensive than our, like, our dressing room when we were in Arizona. And certainly at Mullet. Yeah. To see that where they're putting this financial investment in. And beyond that, Jeff, like, taking shots, being willing to go out and get guys and build a team and spend money, going out and acquiring J.J. Peturka and taking risks where it's not just becoming,

you know, for lack of better term, like a farm system or a breeding ground for other teams where it's like, hey, we'll take on your Pavaldatsu contracts and we'll eat that one. And then you get these players because ultimately they're not going to want to play here because they're not going to be competitive. And then they go on and have success elsewhere. like how many guys could you say at that point have played through there they're ultimately now deciding we're going to go and we're going to do this we're going to try to become a real team we're going to try to become a competitive team to see it actually pay off is just a nice moment where it's like

all right that's a building block because if they miss the other part of it is hey we're taking steps but like not quite there and it's it's you feel good but yeah not to the same extent so here becomes the question then if you could choose any first home game, the opening round to be part of, to be in the building. My answer is Buffalo. I mean, my real answer is always Montreal because

there's nothing like the Montreal experience. But my answer is the Buffalo Sabres. For some, it'll be Pittsburgh because of the Crosby, Malk, and Latang, example that you raised. For some, it might be, they finally got there, Utah. Mammoth, who would it be for you? For me, it's Sabers.

Give me swords. So, Buffalo is probably Buffalo is probably number one If I were to rank them here I think I'd go Buffalo 1 I probably put There's no guarantee they get in

And they wouldn't have Well they're in their first home game back Philly number two Because I think those people Jeff I say this in the best They're insane They're insane They're insane

They're insane They're insane Yeah and that would be a speck Well no No, I say that the best way possible. I think that people of Philly, I think people of Philly would find that endearing. But, you know, like that environment would be unreal.

That would be number two. And then what would number three? Number three, Utah would be pretty cool. I got to get you to Montreal, man. Once you go. Well, you'll just want to keep going back. But Montreal was in the playoffs last year. So they did get that pop last year.

Not to say that they won't have it this year. that first-time teams, I guess, more so is what I'm looking at. Teams that haven't done it in a bit or, you know, ever. And if you're going to consider Utah a first-time franchise, which it's not, but you know what I mean? Utah clinches a playoff spot before anybody in the Pacific does. You tell me who the favorite in that opening round is going to be. The West is interesting right now.

I don't know. I was watching that Seattle Vegas game pretty closely last night. I told you yesterday. Seattle is competing for the Leafs for a top five spot, and they're also in the playoff picture potentially. Make it. Make that. Make it make sense?

Make sense. Yeah. I'm sorry. Make it make sense. All right. This segment, a presentation of the Ninja Crispy pro countert top glass air fryer. Shark Ninja is elevating the air fryer experience. The Ninja Krispy Pro is a family size cooking system. These are nice pictures. That comes with a six quart, two and a half quart glassware, storage lids, crisper plates, and modular base for any occasion. Look, there's more.

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or go to shark ninja.ca. Before we get to your shine, before we get to your spotlight, we are finally getting out. This has been like the weird, I didn't think we'd be here right now. I know, right, when it's you and me, they cross our fingers.

So we will do Shirefew. shows Monday and Tuesday from Colonna because tomorrow we are flying to Colonna and then driving to Penticton to do interviews and features and game day experiences with both the Penticton Vs and the

Colonna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. So we'll be gone for a few days. We're back home Wednesday morning, right? We got Red Eye. So back Wednesday morning. So you can have your last show

for your leafies. That'll be a banger. That'll be a banger, Zach. And we will be doing shows from Cologne. Are we doing it from the rink, by the way? Yes, we are. We had a full day of planning and meetings and stuff yesterday. You know what it was great about that for me?

I didn't have to be at the meeting. You didn't have to worry about it. You just show up, look pretty, and continue to fool everybody. Oh, every day. Yeah. That's what I do. Where's my makeup? And who made this coffee?

I want to talk about this coffee. So very much looking for it. Have you been to Colonna before? Never been to BC. Come on. I've never been to, well, St. John, so we've talked about this. I've been in Calgary twice. Yeah.

Once for Stampede, once for a hockey tournament. And then the first time I had gone anywhere outside of Ontario, aside from those two Calgary trips, was when we went to, St. John. So now this will be my first time in BC. We're going to the Okanagan. You will not want to leave. It's one of the most beautiful places in all of Canada. I mean, I love British. My sister lives on the island. She's in Duncan. And every time I go and I take the ferry back to the mainland, I always say to myself, like, why would you ever leave? Like my sister, for example, like after she graduated, she went to

to bishops. She came back to Toronto, worked like one year on Bay Street, and then gone to BC, never came back. Yeah. She'd come back to visit, but like,

why would you leave? Like, honestly, you'll, you'll get used like waking up and seeing a beautiful mountains, beautiful scenery, all of it.

It's really, the weather's really nice. Honestly, Zach, like, you're going to be like, uh, I know we just got this new place,

honey, but, uh, you want to like, go, check out Okanagan and B. see? It's gorgeous, man. I can't wait to get back. It's one of the most beautiful places, one of the most beautiful areas in our country. So, wow, you've never been. Hey, all right.

First timer. Here we go. Excit. The sheet is powered by Fanduel. Get ready, Zach. Play your game with Fanduel. It's the NHL season, and Fandul is your home for all the action on the ice. From Blue Line to Batslip, we've got you covered all season with unique promos, live offerings, and more features to let you play your game. Miss Puck Drop, no sweat with a live same game parlay. village your bets up until the final buzzer. Download fan dual sports book today and play your game.

Please play responsibly 19 plus and physically located in Ontario. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or the gambling of someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario at 1-866-531-2,600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. End the week for a sack. End the week. So a reminder, no games tonight for everybody. So these are for tomorrow. Just keep that back your mind here.

Nothing going on tonight. And these odds are subject to change. Let me just get that out there first. I don't know, Jeff, if you, I know you're not a golfer, but I don't know if you have any interest in turning on golf and watching it at all, but the Masters are on right now.

My oldest was watching the Masters yesterday. Like, how bored it are you? Do you want to go sort your sock drawer instead? No, you want to watch a Masters, okay? I love watching golf on TV. I love the Masters. I think part of it is because I love playing. And especially at this time, it's like I've spent so long not playing.

And now watching this is a treat to me. And, you know, I've been spending basically yesterday into today with just it on on a separate screen throughout the day as I've been working. And I keep watching these guys hit nasty shots at the Masters. And every time it makes you say, holy cow. And I can't wait to get out there myself. but I have to keep reminding myself that I can't do what they are. Sometimes you just need to leave it to the pros. Watching these guys hit naz-tie shots at the Masters makes you say,

holy cow, I can't wait to get out myself, but I can't do what they are. Need to leave it to the pros. Wow, Frankie Nazar Eastern Cow and Andrewsley. $25 wins you $261. And is that a $40 or 04? $0,000, sorry, $0,000, yeah. And 40 cents.

Well done. You got us there. Next thing, you and I are hopping on a bird tomorrow morning and getting to Colonna and driving to Penticton. I can't wait until we get there. So it's going to be fun. We can be able to watch a couple of playoff games. It's going to be a lot of fun.

And the show will return on Monday from Colona. So check that. Shoot some nice. visual. It gets some good like B-roll. It's like some scenics outside. You can... Oh, we've got a plan. Oh, do you? Okay. Oh, yeah. Maybe I'll just shut up then and let you guys do all the heavy lifting.

And I'll treat the vacation like a spa. Thanks for joining us here once again on the sheet. Glad to have you aboard. If you've, if you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, thank you. If you're watching us on our stream at YouTube, thank you very much. If you have subscribed, we appreciate it. If you have not yet, please consider doing so. Oh, and thanks to Marco D'Amico for stopping by the program today. I talked to us about Le Gloria, Les Zabitans de Morial,

the Montreal, Canadians. Big one last night for Cole Cofield, finding the back of the net for the 50th time this season. Thanks for joining us today. We're back Monday from Colonna, British Columbia for the Sheets at 1 o'clock Easter. Have a great weekend. We'll talk to me.