The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Live From the CTC ft. Ian Mendes & Nick Alberga

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

Ian Mendes and Nick Alberga join Jeff Marek live from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa to tee up Game 3 of the Battle of Ontario. Reacting to Gabriel Landeskog's return to the NHL, the Dallas Stars taking a 2-1 series lead, the Edmonton Oilers dropping another one to the Los Angeles Kings, the Capitals taking a 2-0 series lead over Montreal, and teeing up tonight's games...Shout out to our sponsors!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼JP Wisers: https://www.jpwisers.com/👍🏼Ninja Kitchen Canada: https://www.ninjakitchen.ca/products/ninja-crispi-4-in-1-portable-glass-air-fryer-cooking-system-zidFN101CGY?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=olv&utm_campaign=25Q2-Crispi&utm_content=en👍🏼RVezy: https://www.rvezy.com/owner?utm_source=cross-channel&utm_medium=multi-media&utm_campaign=canadian+hostsReach 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/@Flames_Nation🚨 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-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Stylish selections and design assistance to help you every step of the way. Transform your living space today with Cozy. Visit Cozy.ca, C-O-Z-E-Y.ca, the home of possibilities made easy. Okay, here we go. We are live to my immediate left, your right. Ian Mendes, if you're watching this on YouTube. We're going to get to Ian here in a couple of moments. We have communications for the Ottawa Senators. We are at the Canadian Tire Centre in advance of Game 3, the McLeaps facing off against the Ottawa Senators. Zach, we have very important guests today and we

can't keep them waiting. So let's get right to our Daily Outline of the show today. Daily Outline, powered by FanDuel, make every moment more with North America's number one sports book. These are our partners. These are our presenters. FanDuel. Coming up on the program today, we have, if I can look over this light that's right in front of me here, Ian Mendez is here at a couple of moments. Nick Albrega will be aboard. We'll talk about the Battle of Ontario and the return of Gabriel Landis, we should probably park a little bit of time as well to talk about the Edmonton Oilers and what happened last night. In the meantime, our, our feature guest, it's going to be a lot of fun.

It's, it's a little bit different than someone that's very comfortable in front of a microphone or behind a microphone, I suppose. The VP of communications for the Ottawa senators, the great as we used to always describe you in media. Yes. The great Ian Mendez. First of all, thanks so much for stopping by. I know it's a busy day. Yeah, but it's great to be here. Great to have you guys in Ottawa. And I love you know, when I looked at the lineup there. Yeah, it looks like almost like a baseball lineup. You got me in

the leadoff spot. You're we just need to get on base. You got to get you on base. Yeah. Hey, you know what, just get on first and steal second, get a runner scoring position. That's your job, Mendez. Okay. So as the VP of communications, first of all, before I get to what a normal day

looks like for you and then what a game day looks like for you, I think people will be curious about that. How's it been working on this side? Because for the longest time it was, you know, the editorial, Ian Mendez, radio, television, writing for the athletic. How has the transition been?

It's been a real, I think back, and I took this job, Jeff, in August. Whiplash, it's probably the best phrase. I can't believe, like, you know, to go from here to there, it's quite the case of whiplash. But it's gotten more and of whiplash. Yeah. But it's gotten more and more comfortable as the years unfold. It's such a great group to work with.

You know, starts from the top with Michael L. Howard. I know you had him on the pod a couple weeks ago. But he sets the tone. Steve Stales has been great. Travis Green has been great. And it helped I had a bit of a like professional relationship with the players, right? Having covered them. So that part of it is helped. I think finally now, when people

see me, they don't, they don't think of me as a reporter, although it was funny. I met Scotiabank Arena the other night in Toronto, and a fan recognized me, a Leafs fan and said, boy, you must be having a lot of fun covering this series. And so I had to tell him, actually, I'm not I'm working for the team. And he's like, Oh, that makes sense. He's like, because I have a little senators lapel. And he's like, Yeah, I was wondering why the senators reporter had a senators pin. I was like, Okay, so that was pretty good.

What is the you know, whenever you know, I think that I have an idea of what your job entails. And I'm sure you had an idea of what the position entailed. But then you get there. And there's like, Oh, I didn't know it was like this. Yeah, I didn't know it was like this. I didn't know there was that. Like, what were your moments where you went,

I thought I had a handle on what this thing was back when I was on the other side, but now that I'm here, I didn't know we had to do all this as well. You know, and the thing I, what people may not know, Jeff, is when I started in this industry, it was actually in this same position or same role.

I started in the comms department of the Ottawa Sen senators 25 years ago, playing the Leafs in the first round. So the deja vu is kind of eerie. But like, I'll tell you the thing that is tough and it's not fun, but I knew about it is, let's say the team loses, lose tough stretch, you've got to go to behind the curtain

and you got to grab a guy and say, hey, they want you. That, it's not fun, it's not enviable. Or, you know, but it's helped, I think. Myself and Sylvain Saint Laurent who's a long time reporter here, we're kind of leading the comms department. What really helps is because we've been reporters, Jeff, like we know, or I think we can anticipate

the questions that are coming and that part's helped. So we'll sit down with Travis Green, Steve Stales, sometimes Brady Kaczak, whenever they're gonna meet with the media, here's the five or six questions you're gonna get, let's run it through, let's do a dry run. So you'll prep like key people in the organization for like, okay, this is what you can expect.

Yeah, absolutely. That's part of the job, I think, that hockey fans sort of don't have an understanding. We always hear things like, oh, Sidney Crosby's a media coach since he was 14 years old, but we don't really know what that means. But you'll sit down with GMs, presidents, owners, and players and say, look, you have to expect this.

Yeah, and I think it's just about preparing them so that we've all been at press conferences where a question comes in, it's really out of left field. And the person who's receiving the question is kind of thrown off. And your job now in the PR side is, you don't want that moment for the person that you have up there, whether it's a player,

the coach, general manager, so you try and prep them. You know, one of the things that, you know, one of the things, whenever I talk to, like I do a lot of stuff where I'll talk to young hockey players before the draft, that are with various agencies, and one of the things that I'll tell them, you know, when you're talking to media, you know, say a person's name back,

understand who all the key players are in your market. Like, is this some of the things that you do as well for the, like new kids that come in, like rookies that come into the Ottawa centers, you kind of pull them aside and say, this is the lay of the land. This is what this person is like. This is what that person's like. This is this person's editorial perspective. Like, do you do things like that? Are you suggesting that we gave a scouting report on the media and we

told them who to trust and not to trust? Yeah. Don't share too much with this guy. Maybe this guy's good. Yeah. Would you do that? I wouldn't say that we went in and said, don't share too much with this guy. Maybe this guy's good. Yeah, yeah.

Would you do that? I wouldn't say that we went in and said, hey, watch out for this person or that person. But more just like these are the names in the marketplace. Yeah, for sure. And I think you want, I think our key, but like, Brady Kachak is unbelievable. Like I knew on the other side of the fence, well, this guy is really great.

He's great to deal with. Now being on the inside and understanding how much he knows the market, knows what's being said about him. I think fans are going to get a real kick out of this, Jeff, because Amazon is here following him. They're with him today. And I think when this comes out in September, it's going to be really fascinating. But he's been a guy that he's he's uber aware of the market. Like he knows for sure the writers and the reporters and the yeah, yeah. And he has like, on a first name basis with a lot of guys. I mean, you're on this side of it before for a long time, too. And there's

just like relationships that you that you build up. I'm really curious. And I think our listeners slash viewers would really find this interesting. Walk us through a day and how different is, and I know that that thing never turns off. Yeah. And I know that the ringer's gotta be on loud even if it's 2.30 in the morning and you get a call,

you gotta be on. But walk us through like whatever a normal day means for Ian Mendez. And you know what, Jeff, like I don't know that there is a normal day but I think that's what I wanted when I took this opportunity in the summer was, I just wanted a new challenge, something different,

something that wasn't repetitive and it's not repetitive. And a day like today, I'm trying to think of, like it's hard to describe, but you're running around doing things like, we have a ceremonial ribbon cutting before the game with the mayor of Ottawa. You know, and you know, you're, you're planning the logistics for that. And, you know, but you're also working with Travis green this morning about the media.

And like I said, we've got Amazon here. There's not a typical day, but like usually I'll come in at eight 30 in the morning, but I won't leave till about say an hour, hour and a half after the game. So you're here till like 11 p.m. And just the amount of stuff that comes across your desk is fun, like if anybody is thinking about getting into a career in sports, I highly recommend comms because it's just something different every day.

And you're sort of touching every aspect of the organization. Tickets, marketing, dealing with the players, hockey operations, all of that. You know, that's one of the things I Tickets, marketing, dealing with the players, hockey operations, all of that. You know, that's one of the things I wanted to get to here with you as well. Like I've always, and we were just talking a little bit about this off air, like how much the media landscape has completely changed. Even to set a show like this once upon a time was inconceivable. Yet here I am doing this show. You've seen so much change,

you've seen so much come and go. I have a hard time offering advice to young people now because the industry is changing so rapidly. All I can say is like, listen, when I first started, there were no such thing as podcasts. You had to go and work at a very small market and hope you got a break and send out demos over and over and over again.

Now all the tools are there. But for some of the ones who get into comms, how do you do it? Boy, it's, it's, you make such a great point. Cause when I broke in, I graduated from Carleton in the late nineties, the journalism program. And back then the path was, you know, you would start out, uh, you know, you gotta go to like Lloyd Minster and you gotta work. And then maybe they'll notice you and then you'll go to Regina and then from Regina, maybe you can get yourself to, you know, just work your way up. Um, and, and that's really not the case now. And that's what's devastating about,

not to get too deep into the weeds about journalism, but that's what's devastating. I think about losing that local journalism in these types of markets because where are young people going to sort of cut their teeth, right, when it comes to reporting? So the one thing I always say, and I'm fortunate enough to teach journalism class at Carleton, is I try and tell the students like, look, the appetite for content hasn't changed. In fact, I think you would agree with me. You could argue it's gone up in the last 25 years. The appetite, the mechanism of delivery is what's changed. And like you said, imagine five years ago

saying that you'd be doing a podcast. You wouldn't have envisioned it, but yet here you are. And so all the tools are there for anyone that wants to start a career, can do it. And I always say to younger people getting into the business, like if no one's listening, or if no one's watching when you start, that's a good thing. Yeah. Make all of your mistakes.

Get it all out of the way. No one's listening. Like, Oh, why would I do a podcast? No one will listen. Good. You'll learn your voice. You'll learn how you talk yourself into corners. You'll learn your crutch words and all of that.

And you'll do it when the stakes are really, really low. It's your boom goes the dynamite moment out of the way. Right. Let me ask about a couple of people in your organization and how they are to deal with. You mentioned Travis Green. I got a real soft spot for Travis Green. I really, really like Travis Green. Probably the best poker player, I believe,

in the NHL as well. He's notorious. What's he like to deal with? You must like the coach, Travis Green. It's great because I wish, and I say this to him all the time because we'll go into his room and we'll say okay here's the six or seven questions we think you're going to get and a lot of times he'll give a biting sarcastic funny answer he'll

joke around then he gets out of the podium and he's you know fairly straightforward and sometimes we'll say to him how come this Travis doesn't come out to play more often right like the guy that's in the room but he is you know Jeff I think he's exactly what the program here in Ottawa needed. Like I think where the guys were at in the rebuild, they needed someone who was, he was firm, but he also understands the modern athlete. And I think he understands the, the role of the media and he understands that it's an obligation for him to do, but he's, great communicator. A great example is the other night, Drake Batherson had a tough go in the overtime. Travis had a couple of conversations with him

to make sure his head was right and where he was at. I'm not sure, so I think he's got a little bit, I'm sure he's taken some Pat Quinn, right? He had Pat in the early 2000s, and you think of some of the coaches that he would have had with Al Arbor a little bit, and Millbury, and you know, you go through, but he's a great communicator.

And I wasn't sure, that was the question I had about him. Is he a great communicator? He's a phenomenal communicator. You know, one of the things, I was interested in you mentioning Pat Quinn too, and the influence, and you still see it in the NHL now, and you mentioned Travis Green. One of the things that I always,

I always admired about Quinn was when the game was on, he would let players have it. But the minute the whistle went and the potential for the camera being squarely pointed at Pat Quinn, silence. Standing, stately, not a word. The puck would drop and then he'd get right back in and rip on his guys.

He was one of those, like he was one of those guys that was like kind of ahead of his time. Like he understood media. He understood like how television worked and when the potential for him to be caught in a moment that he doesn't want to be caught in was in front of him and there.

Like I think that Quinn was one of the most interesting coaches that we've ever seen in the NHL. Well, and I think we saw it and I covered it in those early 2000s Battle of Ontario. Like he, the juxtaposition between Pat Quinn and Jacques Martin couldn't have been greater, right? Because Jacques was very reserved and quiet and capital P professional. And Pat was emotional and fiery and could really sort of poke the bear but he knew when to poke the bear. Yeah. And boy I think back to some of those early 2000s things and I think... So what jumps out at you? I mean you've

been part of this rivalry from the guys. It's funny I walked down the hallways and look at... I was stunned and just like stopped looking at Daniel Alfredson with his Calder Trophy and how young and fresh faced like little Daniel Alfredson. And then you look at him at the end of the career and you realize like how much the game takes out of you. And then, but looking at Alfredson like that. But like, when you look at this rivalry,

Toronto and Ottawa, like what are the moments that you take away? I mean, there's some of the obvious ones, but other like personal ones for you, they go like, you know what, there was this moment that I recall with half ladder hosts or whomever. Well, I think the one that your listeners and viewers would think of the most is Alfredson Tucker 2002 game five, because it's a tied series. And it's a tied game with a minute

and change to go and you know if you go back and watch the replays of that you think how is that not a penalty right like I mean seriously like it is but it's this sort of firecracker moment and then you come back to Ottawa and the senators have them two nothing in game six and you think I'll never forget. So I was covering that series for Sportsnet at the time and Peter Labardius is covering the series with me and Ottawa makes it two nothing and Labardius just kind of elbows me in the ribs

and says, pack your bags, you're going to Carolina. And I thought, that's a little premature there, Lou. And sure enough, Ricard Persson hits Domi, two power play goals. Alex McGillney, I think, had the winner and the rest is history. But like that's what you want. And the other night, I thought the game too. It had a little bit of that, the old vibes of the only thing, you know, you're thinking like you think that to me as well, vintage Bob Cole.

That was Bob Cole. I know some of the calls weren't great for Ottawa fans, but like the Steve Thomas overtime goal in 2000. I think that's peak Bob Cole. That was Bob Cole. I know some of the calls weren't great for Ottawa fans, but like the Steve Thomas overtime goal in 2000. I think that's peak Bob Cole. You know, he was the, uh, the great line. I can't remember who said it, but someone made the point that you could be at any place in your house with the television on in the living room and just hearing Bob Cole's pitch. Yeah, his cadence, you knew. You could tell, well, okay, something important is happening.

Get out of the kitchen or wherever you are and get to the living room. And he would work at so many different levels. Just like, just a brilliant, brilliant broadcast. Yeah. Probably the best we've ever had. Yeah, and I think about all those battles on Ontario's and they were all called by Bob and then Harry

nailed it all the color, I think for all of them. Yeah, it's great. And it just takes you back to a different era. And what's exciting is now you think to yourself a brand new generation. There's people who weren't even old enough to remember that are now experiencing the Battle of Ontario. It's great.

Let me, I got a couple more here. I do want to ask you about Michael Landlower, but you mentioned kids and I'm always wondering about the next generation of fan and the next generation of season ticket holders. And it's really important to have a lot of young people because one day they're gonna be the ones that have had that experience

and they're gonna be in a position that they'll buy season tickets. Like, how does the organizing, I guess maybe the question is, how sensitive are the Ottawa senators to making sure that bluntly there are kids in the building? Yeah, that's a great point, right? Because when you grow up in the shadow,

as we have, as this organization has, in the shadow of two of the most iconic franchises in sports, it's hard to pluck that generational fandom from a Toronto or a Montreal fan. You know this, if someone's grandparent was a Leafs fan and the parent was a Leafs fan, there's a good chance the kid's gonna be a Leafs fan. the parent was a Leafs fan, there's a good chance the kid's going to be a Leafs fan. So it's, we have to be like cycle breakers here and that's hard to do because it's not

just, you know, average NHL teams. These are iconic, original six teams. So if you watch our games though, now it's a younger vibe. Absolutely. The crowd is younger. The demographic is younger. And now think about this too. If you were, you you were 10 years old when Daniel Alfredson scored in 2007 to put this team in the cup, you're now almost 30. And chances are you might be in an economic bracket where I can afford season tickets.

And so we're starting to get there, but it takes time when you're, we're always gonna be the little sibling to the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. We get that, but it takes time. Uh, Michael and Laura, let me end here on Michael. So I got to know him when he was involved in junior hockey with the Hamilton Bulldogs, um, Belford before that.

What did you know about and Laura before you took the job? What do you know about him now? I'll tell you, I'll be real transparent, Jeff. When I was weighing, do I take this? Do I not take this job? What do you know about him? Now? I'll tell you, I'll be real transparent, Jeff. When I was weighing, do I take this? Do I not take this job? What do I do? Because I was so happy at the athletic. I loved it there. It was one of the toughest decisions I made. But a big part of it was, boy, the couple of times I've interviewed Michael Landlower and chatted with him, I really liked him. I really like what he's about. And so I can say now with a hundred percent certainty

that the Michael Landlower I knew before taking the job and the Michael Landlower I know now, it's the same guy. And I've said to him sometimes, like, how are you, like, you're like the most normal billionaire. Not that I know- He's a down to earth billionaire. Not that I- Other jacket and jeans.

Yeah, but he's so normal and great. You know what the one thing? Fantastic sense of humor. Like cutting, funny, sharp, and sometimes that humor leaks out in public and he makes some jokes or whatever. But fantastic sense of humor. But just the most grounded individual that you could think of. Wonderful guy. Ian, I know you're busy. Thanks for taking time. Really appreciate it. Thanks for having me.

Game tonight. Yes. And and the rest of the series and all right. Best of luck to your team. Hey, great having you here. Thanks so much for having us. All right. Ian Mendez is the VP of Communications for the Ottawa Senators. He joins us on the sheet. Mother's Day is coming up. Make sure you're calling your mother, but doing a little more for someone so important is never a bad idea. Get your mom an Aura digital picture frame. Photos and videos are a great way for mom to share and relive great memories.

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Max Patcheready is aboard. We're going to shuffle chairs here in a second and bring aboard Nick Elbergia in a couple of moments. Here, a couple of things from last night. Good on the Dallas Stars. I really did not think that the Dallas Stars had that game in them. As you've heard me say before, I cheer for people I don't cheer so much for teams. I was really happy for Tyler Sagan. Not just what he's been through this season with the injury, but what he's been through in his career. Really happy it was him at the end of all of it. Two to one is the final there.

Dallas takes a two to one series lead. The Kings handed to the Oilers by a final score of six to Adrian Kempi with a pair of goals. Vander Kane makes his return. Chris Drury, by the way, with an extension. For the New York Rangers today, Montreal down 2-0 to the Washington Capitals. Are you setting up a printer?

Because the one thing that we know about Nick Alberga is he travels with a printer. And for that, I love him. This is, this segment is a presentation of JP Wizers. JP Wizers, proudly Canadian, celebrates the moment with limited edition Stanley Cup bottle, the perfect match for you and your game night crew because the playoffs are best enjoyed

with great whiskey and good company. Now you and your friends can lift the Stanley Cup bottle for Canada with JP Wizers official whiskey of the NHL. For 165 years, JP Weiser's has been woven into the fabric of Canadian celebrations, bringing people together to raise the glass to the passion and pride that fuel Canada's game. From Leafs morning take the one and only with a printer in hand or in tow. I'm taking heat for this. Why?

I don't know why you're taking so much heat for the printer. Nick Alberg joins me on the program here. I don't know why, first of all, I'm impressed at the level of professionalism and a little embarrassed of myself. I was supposed to be like his 30 year veteran. You bring a printer on the road. Buddy, this is not my first rodeo, I think is the line,

but yeah, getting a lot of heat and then the next thing I know, your producer, Zach Phillips, bombarding me with emails about printing stuff off for you. So yeah, it's true. First thing I said to you, Hey man, talk to Zach and print out some of my promos for me. Um, okay. So the big news around Leafland in advance of game three here, um, Robertson out, Patcher

ready in, and like this is why they brought Patcher ready in, in the first place. Regular season is a regular season, but this is is why patch already is a member of the maple. It's exactly it right and taking nothing away from Nick Robertson I just don't know the fit was there. I was joking with Rosie on today's show it all but guarantees when Nick Robertson returns he'll score goal so like if you're the leaves you're like we got a goal coming our way when Nick Robertson comes back in the lineup but I think and maybe you can speak to this like the road aspect of this series and I think the matchup game will be very, very intriguing.

I still wonder from the Max Domi standpoint, I know he scores the winner last game, but that line hasn't been particularly good. But I think from a physical standpoint, it makes a lot of sense to insert Patcha Ready. The only thing I wonder about his age, he hasn't played since February 8th, but I know he's been ready to play this game at least. Yeah, I mean, the thing about Patcha Ready 2 is, I mean, I always love players that have sort of evolved their game throughout their careers. And maybe the best example or maybe the one you could look at and say, even though they're similar players in one sense, but they are very different. I look at how Gary Roberts changed his game. You know, Gary Roberts came into the NHL and you know, the story at the combine, you know, couldn't do a chin-up. And then he turned into like

a beast by the time, you know, after the injury and he went to Carolina and became like the poster boy for physical fitness and rough and rough play. And I kind of like a Max Patchard. I mean, Patchard, he came in as a goalscorer, right? And now he's the the finisher check guy and plaster guys along the boards. And The offense is still there, not like it used to be, but when you want a shot of physicality in this lineup, it's no surprise that this is a guy that Craig Brube is going to lean on. I think he deserves a lot of credit because I, for one, had been vouching since the rumors of the PTO came out in training camp.

I thought he'd provide a secondary punch. I didn't really think about what he would mean physically. I think he'd provide like a secondary punch. I didn't really think about what he would mean physically. And I think the player deserves a lot of credit. We've been wondering all season long the dynamics of that conversation with Tree Living, with Borubi, when they wondered about the fit for Max Patchouretti. But I think that's the aspect I've been blown away by is like he's their heaviest player up front in terms of physicality. And I think we'll bring a different sort of factor to this series that we really haven't seen. I think Otto has been right on par, I think, with the Leafs physical wise. And I think he's a different type of player

than a Nick Robertson. But I think to your point, it's never too bad to have that sort of box check, but also the fact that he's a veteran. He's been there before a former captain of the Montreal Canadians and has scored goals. And he wears a number 67, Jeff. I love that. Robert Schveela, I believe would have been the last before patch ready to wear the tour. The 67. I did love Robert Schveela.

Um, let me ask you about Max Domi, uh, biggest goal of his career. Patch ready. No, uh, Max Domi. Domi, I was going to say Brandon Cosen. Did he wear 67 too? Oh, did he? I think that could be a question. Domi? Yeah, I honestly felt genuinely great for him. It has been a difficult year for Max Domi. I've been a big backer of Max Domi. I think he is a proven playoff performer, a second half performer.

I think he deserves a lot of credit for fine tuning his game. If you noticed a lot in the video in the morning skates, he's always out there with the skills coach and working and even getting on that line with John Tavares late in the season, just going through his reps. And I think it just speaks to the magnitude of the situation too. Like he's a homegrown product. I think you factor that in who his father is by far. I think the biggest goal of his career was just so massive considering.

And again, we're always thinking about the media standpoint. They surrender the losing goal in that game. What's the conversation? Are the Leafs doing it again? Right. So that was a massive goal. Uh, it really was. And a lot of that was enabled by Simon Benoit. Um, the rush, first of all of that was enabled by Simon Benoit. The rush, first of all, that was a surprise. Great little drop pass. You know, Ian just mentioned Harry Neal a couple of seconds ago, and I always think

of the great Harry Neal line about drop passes. There's only two places you should ever make drop passes, at home and on the road. But there it was, great drop pass to Max Domi under the blue line. But that's, but that screen, that jumping screen by Benoit. I mean, how many guys have you seen that would make that play, make that drop and peel off the other way to get back to position? He sticks with it and he goes in front of the net and there's a jumping screen which allows Max Domi to make that perfect shot inside the, inside the post. Look, I don't want to start a war with the calculator community, but Brad Tree Living

has done an exceptional, exceptional job with this team. I know he's not going to win the GM of the Year award. I think Chris McFarland or Chris Patrick, one of the Chris's I think is good for that award. Brian McClellan should, and he's not even a GM. You're right. He was the one that brought all those players in. Exactly.

But I think when you look at the additions the Maple Leafs have made, even the Benoit move last year, right? Where like they add this guy, he's a depth blue liner. I still remember vividly me and Rosie put together like a quick three minute piece or whatever on Benoit. And I'm like, well, he's got veteran experience. He's a big body. He's played in Anaheim, D factory, and he's getting a new lease on life.

Like you never know what's going to work out in your wildest dreams. I think if you're the Maple Leafs and you signed the guy, there's no way you expect him playing in a Stanley Cup playoff game But I think he deserves a lot of credit There's been so many guys on this roster Merrick that I feel have elevated their place substantially the last little while the blue lines interesting I always think back to what Tom watt Said about the blue line that he always liked. He described it like this thing. He said, my blue line, for my blue line, what I want is virile, agile, hostile, dancing bears. That's what I want my blue line to be. Virile, mobile, hostile, dancing bears.

So, I worked with our mutual friend, Gord Stelick, as you know, doing the least broadcast for the last, for a for a couple of years. And I still have Marty Marincin, PTS. My apologies to Marty Marincin listens, watches this wonderful podcast, but that, that was the state of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Justin halls of the world. It's just night and day. And I think they use maybe Vegas as a model. You look at all those trees in Vegas and I was like that when

they won the cup. Exactly. Tampa. Yeah. Like I just think that is what you need to be successful in the playoffs. And again, in short order, they've reimagined their blue line is what I'm looking at here. Even the Carlo edition. We all saw the viral clip. Rosa was in the washroom. Hilarious when it goes down. But the Carlo pick up has been so monumental, I think, for this team and the body of work, just helping a Morgan Raleigh who has struggled to find that D partner outside of say a Luke Shen a couple years back.

And I think it just slotted everybody in a perfect position, but that's the biggest difference I noticed. Maybe they can't move the puck as effectively, but they're so big and hard to play against is important here. The thing we know about Barube is he likes his defensemen around the net and you know, this is to be blunt, this has hurt Morgan Riley.

Like Morgan Riley, we don't see him skate the puck out. We don't see him pass the puck out. We don't see him starting rushes anymore and that's always been his game. Morgan Riley's got to skate. But that's the way Craig Barube wants his defense. He wants the defense around the net and wants to move in the puck.

Puck goes in, puck goes out. Very simple defense. And I think you're right, like, you don't win Stanley Cups unless you can defend. Yeah. That is the one constant through all of it. You don't need an $11 million goal tender, but you need to have a blue line that can defend.

They don't mess around either. Like, I think, and we were joking about this the other day, how many flip outs there are. like the Jason Stradwick special and I just I love strutty right now He's just killing it with his media game, but just off the glass off the glass flip it out It's just like really Dory for the old folks. Yeah, there you go name was flipper But you really different mentality right and taking nothing away from Sheldon Keefe great excellent coach I just think their style their brand is just so much different, but that's what I've noticed from the blue line Like when they get in trouble is when they're trying to do too much in their D zone now

They just simplify the game and I think the whole Mo if you will is getting the puck to the big boys And if you notice the D are just really quick and getting the puck out of the zone And that's a big difference because puck possession was the name of the game when it came to the blue line under Keith. Um, what have you learned about this team in the first couple of games against the Ottawa Senators? Now again, like, they're not playing Florida, they're not playing Tampa, playing the Ottawa Senators, a wild card team here. Can you really, it's going to sound so insulting, but how much can you glean

from how different this team is right now after a couple of games against Ottawa? Well, I know there's a, there's a give and take and there's a war in the market too, in terms of, you know, a lot of people like the previous administration. People like this administration. I do think it's different because I've sat through losses to Columbus. I was the least radio host. I saw them lose to the Montreal Canadians. I lost them. They lost to Boston.

They lost to Tampa. So I think it's significant that they're actually, they're up in a series to nothing for the first time since 2002. Like think about that, comprehend that. And so I'm not discrediting the opponent. I know you're not either. I think Ottawa is a very good team and they got a good goalie and good players, but they're rather green and we expected this. But there's been other scenarios where the Maple Leafs have just looked like the far superior team,

AKA Columbus. I know the different dynamics of the pandemic and the bubble, but they've been the better team before and haven't, you know, risen to the occasion, if you will. I think the biggest word I would use to break down the first two games is preparation. Even in what the players have been saying through the media, like even Max, and he hates talking about himself, Domi. But even he scores that goal and I'm in the conference room after and he's talking and he just doesn't want to talk about the significance. You know he's Jack, like he's Ty Domi's kid. I'm sure he dreamed about that a billion times in his career, scoring the OT winners,

Scotiabank Arena, there's a roar in the crowd. And all they can do is talk about game three. There is a level of professionalism to this team where I think for the first time, at least since I've been covering them, they're actually thinking long game where there's actually a Stanley Cup to be won and not a series to be won. They're very focused, very driven. I expect a very motivated Ottawa Senators team playing with desperation. I love how you and Ian were talking about Greeny and Travis Green.

I have a bit of a relationship with him. I think he's done a great job with his team, so I expect the very best out of the sentence, but I do see a very prepared Maple Leafs team in the way they structure their game plans right now. How do you beat the Maple Leafs? You watch this team in and out every game, any minute, every minute. Like how do you beat the Maple Leafs? You make them get uncomfortable, but like they, I think Ottawa's given them too much time and space. Like it's really unique in the way I look at this series is a lot of

the chaos for the Maple Leafs has come in the dirty areas where in the past it's been very perimeter. Like I've been saying this all series and it's only two games and I know Ottawa had a really good second period, but in essence it reminds me of those old like Leafs Bruins series, but it's like a role reversal where the Leafs are the Bruins seem to be the dictator and the Senators seem like the team that can't push through. I think goaltending is big too, but I think just getting to those dirty areas and not giving the time and space and discipline. Like if you keep, and again, that's been a prevailing story too. We talk about it all the time, the Leafs were 1 for 21 on the power play against Boston last year and now all

of a sudden through two games they're 4 for 7. So it's pretty simple. And I think honestly, Ottawa's done a really good job five on five. So if they stay out of the box, they'll have a good shot. Dr. Justin Marchegiani We're looking for tonight. We'll wrap up on that one. Dr. Justin Marchegiani Couple X-Factor things. I'm looking for a signature Austin Matthews performance. I know. Dr. Justin Marchegiani I've had him before in Ottawa. Dr. Justin Marchegiani Exactly. I mean, you look to the first

game of his career scores four times in that one. But he's just had a weird year. And maybe it's hard to say or easy to say that after a 69 goal campaign, but I think a signature Matthews performance, I would go a long way and like killer instinct is so big right now. You have Ottawa on the ropes. This building is going to be buzzing. Leafs Nation travels well. And so I want to look at Matthews and be like, okay, you have three apples in the series.

I can't stand when people compare him to Philippe Deneau. I love Philippe Deneau. He's a great player, but Auston Matthews, the highest paid player in the NHL right now. Put your big boy pants up. Do your thing. Score some goals and will your team to victory here. Who's the home team tonight? Ottawa. I expect maybe 70-30. How about you? I don't know. I, anytime that I put a number on it, I always have people saying like, don't be surprised. Don't be surprised. These fans will get in the building. That will be something special. But if you're Ottawa, you just play your game.

Another guy I would look at, I think depth scoring has been a big story for me in this series. Like anytime it's not the Fantastic Five, coined by David Amber, by the way, who was the guest on East morning take last week. Great dude. But any like they got rally two goals. OEL scores the first goal of the series. Like you're getting guys and contributions from guys that are not your big boys. And that's a long way.

So that brings me to Bob McMahon. Um, I think he's at an up and down season when he's hot, he's hot when he's not, he's not 13 game goal this show. Bob McMahon, if they can get something out of him, and we just talked about this new found third line, Max Patchouretti with McMahon and Domi. If they can get one, the bottom six in general, I think has been a monumental part to the two nothing series lead. The Lawton line is pretty much the third line at this point in time, but they're coming

at, for the most part, because again, they had their blips in game too, but they're coming at in waves, in the Senators in waves, and I think that's a big story too. See what happens tonight. Prinzerman. Thank you for having me, Jeff. Thanks bud, bud. You, uh, good to have someone on the team that's responsible. I got a lot of heat.

I got a lot of heat. We talked about this on Least Morning Take, Rosie called me a serial killer. Now all of a sudden- For bringing about this on Least Morning Take. Rosie called me a serial killer. Now, all of a sudden, ever— Dr. Justin Marchegiani... For bringing a printer on the road? Dr. Justin Marchegiani... Yeah. And I said, hey, like, we gotta— we gotta break this down, because it's over some

cocktails last night. Nick Corolle, Armand Delich and Company, all on location here in Kanata. And we discussed the printer situation, and I said, hey, like, how do you guys feel about that? Because I was having issues trying to set this thing up. And next thing you know, everybody's asking for a print. So I was, I got two, I'm holding them right now. I'm a glorified runner now.

Congratulations on the promotion. Thanks for having me. Nick Albrega from Lease Morning Take here on the sheet. Uh, I want to remind you, your motor home or travel trailer, is it just great for getaways? It's a moneymaker on wheels. Most RVs sit parked in the driveway. With RV-EZ, you can rent out your motorhome

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R-V-E-Z-Y.com. RVeasy, rent your RV, make money easy. Zach Phillips, our producer is aboard. How was Greta last night? Two nights ago last night night was rest night. Cause you're back there tonight, right? Yeah, we're going back tonight. We're doing some man on the street interviews.

I was telling you before, I'm like, I'm a little bit nervous. Like I don't really get nervous going on shows and stuff. I feel like I've got enough reps under my belt that that's out of the way. Doing man on the street, in the back of my mind, I'm like, I'm gonna ask stupid questions this is not gonna be funny like I gotta figure this out

that's where you get great answers though don't be don't be embarrassed to ask dumb questions I've done on my entire career that's where you get great answers by so yeah but that's what we're doing so we're going to Maple Leaf Square for a pregame Vic and I that's gonna wheel around do some man on the street and then after we're doing the postgame show I credit tonight. I'm excited. Hey, anything- I'm excited. The buzz around the city is there. I was gonna say like your maple leaves are in Ottawa. We're here for game three. What's the buzz back home though? It's good. I mean like one of the things is the weather

changes at this time of the year and I feel like every year right as it's getting warmer that's when the leaves are out. So then it just, it, uh, cuts down right away. And all of a sudden, like, you know, you're not seeing the people walk around in leafs, jerseys and shorts and t-shirts and stuff anymore. You are right now. Like I go to the grocery store and that's what people are wearing.

Leafs, hats, jerseys, hoodies. Like people are excited about this as this is going on. It feels like there's some good energy that's going on. Greta Bar the other night right after during the postgame, people filled in with jerseys and hoodies come in there to celebrate after and hang out. Like it's a good vibe right now. It's exciting. There's some, there's some buzz in the air here, Jeff.

A lot about here in Ottawa as well. Today and tomorrow, the show here at the Canadian Tire Center. Game three tonight, Toronto Police facing off against the Ottawa Senators. Time now for the Crispy inbox presented by the Ninja Crispy 4-in-1 portable glass air fryer. Get ready to get hungry. Look at this. Meet the first of its kind. portable glass air fryer. Get ready to get hungry. Look at this.

Meet the first of its kind. The Ninja Crispy Portable Cooking System. The power of a full-sized air fryer in the palm of your hand. So you can cook big or small batches. Just prep it, crisp it, serve it, and store it all in one. All right. The inbox, the sheet at the nationnetwork.com. That's the way to get in. What do we have in the crispy inbox today, Zach? Yeah, so we have a two part question. This one actually ended up coming in

after the Patrick interview is inspired in that one. So the first part of it, it says, good morning, Jeff. For the Department of Player Safety, have they ever had or willing to have a Lady Bing winner as part of the team? This would give a great perspective from the other side. And if you want to just start there on that one, the Lady Bing as Department of Player Safety.

I know that generally we look at the DOPS and we see like, to be blunt, tough players, right? Brendan Shanahan was that combination of skilled and tough even before it was called the Department of Player Safety, Brian Burke was the sheriff and had that title. We look at Stefan Kintel, we look at George Paros. So that's kind of the face of the Department of Player Safety, but you know, it's not as if

the department is exclusive to tough hockey players. I mean, Ray Whitney is a big part of the DOPS. Ryan Getzlaff now is a big part of the Department of Player Safety. So I think that they like having a combination or a mix of different types of players who see the game and play the game from different perspectives. So I don't think that it's, you know, no lady bingers allowed. You have to have like, you know, 20 goals and 200 pims every season, but that's, that's not the case.

There's a, there's an open door policy there for, for players that's put the accent on skill as opposed to toughness. The second part of this, I do want to read. I think it's more fun and it'll be a quicker answer. I think I know what the answer will be. And again, this comes from Dan Robinson. So thank you, Dan. But he says, now for the all-star idea, which has been shared before. Make the fastest skater players versus officials. Some of those linesmen can fly down the ice. I don't know about doing players versus officials.

They are fast. But I mean, the, the, the officiating, the, the skating level of officials that they look for, they want players with D1 experience, minor pro experience, or, or played in Europe. Like that's like the level of skater that we're, we're talking about here. Some of them are excellent. Some of them are really strong too. That's another thing. The days of the referee with the boiler

sort of waddling around the ice, those days are gone. These guys, they put in the hours in the gym. These guys are torn up like bad report cards, just like the players are, because you need to be able to move out there. You need to be able to move quickly. So I don't know that it would be interesting to have them skate against players because I think just bluntly the players would dust them.

I do like the idea though of having officials do something at the skills competition. And probably skating is the obvious one. I think that would be interesting. Skating not just forwards but backwards as well. But you know me, I've always been curious about who's the fastest backwards skater in the NHL. If that could do with the players, why not do it with the officials?

But yeah, I would like to get the, I'd like to see the officials involved in some capacity. Having said that, there's not a chance it's gonna happen. I've asked about it before, no way, no how. Not gonna happen. I don't think the officials wanna do it. They don't wanna break. I just thought about it, like you wanna get really stupid,

but it could be funny is like a test where it's like it knocks people out at a time, survivor style, where they start in the position where they drop the puck, so they're squatting. It's like a wall squat essentially, but just in open ice, and then the last person standing in that wins that challenge, and then you go to the next one and you have to have your arm up until you can't anymore,

and then the last person with their arm up wins the challenge. Just keep going like official base stuff. By the way, on on delayed penalties, are you allowed to to change arms? I feel I've thought about that. I was watching last night in the Colorado Dallas game. There was an extended call. It wasn't like that long, but it was long enough where I was like, I don't think I would

be able to have my arm up anymore. Like you imagine he's got his arm up and then he puts it down and everyone's like, oh, oh, oh, he's changed his mind. The other arm goes up and is back. It would be interesting, but it would be like, what you're presenting here is like the idea of like for a skills competition,

which official can hold their arm in the air the longest? Like on a scale of boredom for a skills competition, who's watching that? I understand what you're getting at, but like who's watching that, Zach? What's that? So like Nikita Kucherov is doing his passing challenge, which was so riveting the last time,

and they're doing it on the side. So there's like a side corner picture and picture cam of Kucherov doing his passing and then with their arms up at the same time. Cause then it's like, oh wow, this event sucks, but hey, that rough dropped out. And then. I admire your creativity.

I just don't know how you would execute that to make it sound anywhere near interesting. Oh no, it's really not really only to me. I could I could be wrong. I could be wrong. Games on the horizon. We are in Ottawa. One remind you, as always, the sheet is powered by FanDuel, home of the same game Parlay. Make every moment more on FanDuel. FanDuel, proud to connect fans to the major sports moments that matter to them. And Zach, tonight we have a few games to go over here.

Let me find my tab and here we go. Thankfully, there are no 11 o'clock starts for our friends in Eastern time zone. We have the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Man, that was a statement game two nights ago by the Florida Panthers. I expect a strong response from the hometown Tampa Bay Lightning tonight. We've pretty much spent the entire show talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. Tonight, that series, to love the Maple Leafs look to take a commanding three nothing lead. By the way, as an aside, just asking Albregades a second ago, who is the home team tonight?

What do you think the split is here at the Canadian Tire Center? I think Sens fans did a really good job of keeping Leafs away from the initial tickets. So I was thinking a little more towards the 70-30 like Nick said, the longer that it's gone on and the results of the first two games, I wonder if it pushes more in favor of Leafs fans and you get closer to a 60-40. To nothing you can make a lot of money, Leafs fans are prepared to pay a lot of money for hockey tickets. It's an interesting.

And as stupid as this is, Jeff, I think Leafs fans want to maybe the way to put it is embarrassed sends fans to an extent here where it's like we showed up our building so they'll buy up those tickets like crazy. 100% this is like you know Islanders Rangers right Islanders Rangers Rangers Devils take your pick Edmonton Calgary Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wildbats series is tied up at ones as venue shifts to the Excel Energy Center. Um, was asking this yesterday. I'll ask it to you as well, maybe rhetorically, because you know, the

answer I have to say is yes. Um, we're going to award the Consmite trophy after two games. Does it go to Karel Kaprizov? Yes, it goes to Karel Kaprizov? Yes it goes to Karel Kaprizov. That's it's that simple for me. I think he's been unbelievable so far. I think he's the reason that that series is tied right now. It's 1-1 so it's not like this thing has gone the distance here but I think it's I think it's because of Kaprizov and I think if the Wilds win this

It's going to be solely because of Kirill Kaprizov or not solely but it's going to be majority because of Kirill Kaprizov You know what though man Matt Boldy looks really good Boldy looks excellent. Boldy's like that and and it's almost if Minnesota's feels like they're playing with house money Because next year they get their real money and they get, you know, cap space to actually spend on players. This is like, this is the one year before the explosion that will be the Minnesota Wild. We'll see what Bill Garron does with all that cap space and all that money.

Winnipeg Jets lead the St. Louis Blues to love, but the venue shifts to the Enterprise Center, Robert Thomas, and his lovely set of teeth. No one has teeth whiter than Robert Thomas. It's the Blues and the Jets. I have a hard time believing, Zach, that St. Louis won't have some type of response down to nothing but back in their own building.

It was good seeing Jimmy Snuggeroot get his first goal the other day. I think that if, let's say St. Louis only gets one, I think it's this one here tonight. They go back, got the building behind you. I don't think that they've been out of these games either, or undeserving participants in them at all. So I feel like they get this one here tonight against the Jets. I feel confident in them. Yeah. So I feel like they get this one here tonight against the Jets.

There's the four. When a pick looks good, like Colby Colen was making this point the other day, like they don't stray from their system. Like they are just relentless out there. They have the system, they have their way to play, and they don't stray from it at all. It is clinical the way Scott or Anil has this team playing. Zach, I want to mention and welcome in a new sponsor here and partner on the program. Our friends at Budweiser are aboard for the playoffs. Budweiser is encouraging Buds to make time for playoffs. Not excuses. Every goal, every check, every win is better enjoyed with your Buds. Phone a Bud, text a bud, ping a bud,

and call out their excuses for bailing on the playoffs. After all, the playoffs are the most wonderful time of the year. Make them count. When it's springtime, it's go time. Pleasure to welcome aboard Budweiser here to the sheet. As we wrap up here at the Canadian Tire Center, anything I know you're excited about doing streeters, is there any, as you were just saying a second ago, like asking weird questions of people on the street and getting goofy answers, what are you gonna ask people tonight?

I'm really curious, because I haven't done streeters since I started in the industry in the mid-90s. What are you gonna do for streeters? Okay, so Vic and I were thinking we start with, maybe we'll workshop this a little bit. If you've got any ideas, tell me how dumb this is. But we start with favorite moments of the Battle of Ontario. If people have any memories, that kind of stuff. Icebreaker, let's start there.

Let's see where it's at. That we can maybe start to roll into. Everyone's going to say Darcy Tucker jumps in the bench. Darcy Tucker jumps in the bench. Everybody's going gonna say. That's kind of my expectation there as well. I think then we roll into kind of this series and where we're at with predictions

for how this series goes, predictions for the game tonight. And then I don't really know, that's kind of as far as we've gotten. So we were gonna talk like 20 minutes and figure out the rest. Like a true professional. Well, we'll make it up when we get there. All right. So we look forward to that. And don't forget, game three tonight.

The sheet is in Canada. Least Morning Take is in Canadaata, home of this intriguing series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. If you're watching on YouTube, thank you for the attention. If you're in the chat, thank you for being a participant in this broadcast. Wanna thank our guest today, Ian Mendez. Trust me, on a day like this,

regular game days are busy enough for the VP of Communications for any team, but a playoff day is completely different and chaotic. So I want to thank Ian Mendez specifically, the VP of Communications for the Ottawa Senators for kicking off the show today and Nick Albergah from Leafs' morning take. I am off to do the coming in hot show as we get set for game three tonight between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs here in Canada. Thanks for being part of it. A pleasure to have you aboard today.

Again, the show returns tomorrow at 1 o'clock. So special 1 o'clock shows today and tomorrow and then we'll return on Monday to our regularity schedule of 3 p.m. Eastern. But again 1 p.m. Eastern tomorrow the Sheik's. Guests will be dependent, I think, on who wins the game tonight. There's a clue. Thanks so much for joining me from the Canadian Tire Center.

Jeff Merrick signing off. We're back tomorrow, 1 Eastern. Every day this week, every day this month I can't get out my head, lost all ambitions day to day Guess I can call it a ride I went to the dark man, he tried to give me little medicine I'm like, nah man, that's fine I'm not against those methods putting you It's me, myself and how this gon' be fixing my mind

I do want the back end I turn down the music I do want the back end I turn down the music It's enough, enough, better than you sometimes lose it Helping on the days that went wrong