The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Oilers and Bruins Stay Alive & Sean Walker Joins the Show ft. Brian Burke

Episode Date: April 29, 2026

The playoff intensity is hitting another level on today’s episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek, as he’s joined by longtime NHL executive Brian Burke to break down a massive night across the league. The Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins both keep their seasons alive with clutch performances, while the Minnesota Wild surge ahead in their series against the Dallas Stars. Plus, a look ahead to Game 5 between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, and whether the Philadelphia Flyers can close things out against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Later, we air a must-watch pre-recorded interview with Sean Walker of the Carolina Hurricanes, as he reflects on their first-round victory, weighs in on his controversial hit involving Ridly Greig, and shares insight into the mindset inside a playoff locker room. Don’t miss this loaded playoff edition of The Sheet—subscribe and stay locked in for daily NHL coverage.#TheSheet #NHL #StanleyCupPlayoffs #Hockey #JeffMarek #BrianBurke #SeanWalker #Oilers #Bruins #Wild #Stars #Canadiens #Lightning #Flyers #Penguins #Hurricanes #RidlyGreig #PlayoffHockey #NHLPlayoffs #HockeyTalkSHOUTOUT 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.

The Boston Bruins still very much in it. The Edmonton Oilers, as banged up as they may be, still very much in this one. Welcome once again to the sheet, Jeff Merrick along with you. This is Wednesday, April the 29th and more playoff action to discuss with you. And a very interesting Brady Kachuk press conference today. We'll get to that here in a couple of moments. Glad to have you aboard today. Should be another action-packed one.

And here's why. The Blueprint, powered by Fandul, download the app today and play your game on Fanduel. We're going to kick off the program as we normally do on, as we like to call it, civilian Wednesdays. Brian Burke is standing by. We'll talk about the various series around the NHL with Berkey and also get his thoughts on the passing of John Garrett's. Edmonton, Boston, still around, playoff, look around as well with Brian Burke. Then you'll hear towards the bottom of the hour from Carolina defenseman Sean Walker.

Yes, we talk about, and we recorded the interview this morning around 930 Eastern. He does talk about the Ridley Greg incidents, both him getting punched and then him returning the favor with a body check, which he took a two-minute boarding penalty for. We'll talk about sweeps

and we'll talk about playoff physicality. We have a lot to get to on the program today, so without further, as we like to say, ado, we'll bring on Brian Burke, former NHL executive and one of the top commentators on the sport and has been for a number of years. First of all, Berkey, thanks so much

for stopping by again for Civil. Villain Wednesdays. And before we get going on all the talk about the playoffs, and I do want to get your thoughts on Brady Kachuk as well. The passing of John Garrett hit everybody really hard. Yesterday when we found out the news, I know that you knew John quite well. Your thoughts on the passing of the man they called Cheech, a wonderful goaltender, a great broadcaster,

and is anyone who knows him a friend to everybody who met him? Yeah, a big loss. I'm not sure what to say. I first met John Garrett in 1983. I was practicing while I was new in the agent business. I went to the All-Star game in 1983. I met John Garrett. He could not have been nicer to me.

I was nobody back that. I wasn't an ex-player. I was an agent just getting started. No one knew why I was. He treated me like he'd known me for 10 years. I was so impressed. And, of course, my two tours of duty, working in Vancouver. I got to hang around with Cheats a lot.

what a good guy what a great broadcaster but even better person I'm so sad today he was scheduled to work last night that's how sudden it was he's um

you know as I said on the show yesterday Burke and I think you can echo this as well you know you have people in your life that you wish that everybody could meet like there are some people that we all have that we want no one to meet but like John Garrett was the guy that you're like this I want everybody in the world to meet this guy.

That's what John Garrett was like to me. We would have, man, I think he would really enjoy the conversations. We would have about the WHA and his time with the Toros and the Bulls and the Whalers, etc. And into the NHL with the Nordiques and the Vancouver Canucks, etc. He was just a guy that just loved to be around and loved people and loved conversations. And again, he was someone, Berkey, that I wanted every single person that I know to meet. I wish I had known that phrase. I wish I'll remember it now for someone as rare as John.

That's someone I wish that everyone had had a chance to meet because that's what he was. Yeah. He was great for the game. Goalies have made such an insignificant impact, and disproportionate impact on the game. Goalies as commentators. That's what they contributed as athletes is way more,

I'm getting this all wrong. He's contributed with the goalies have contributed way more as commentators. commentators than they did as players. He just started that trend. Absolutely. And again, our condolences to the family and the friends and anyone that ever came across John Garrett because if you met him once, you love them forever.

Condolences here. To the games last night, Brian, I'll be honest with you. I thought the Boston Bruins were walking into the end of their season yesterday, watching the game in Boston and seeing how Jeremy Swayman went at his team, which just collapsed in front of them. Like the game on the weekend, they were just awful. Like there's no way to sugarcoat it. The sabres go up three to one.

And I thought yesterday was going to be a sort of coronation for the Buffalo Sabres. It started out, by the way, it started out beautifully. You know, one of the things, not that I'm a huge anthem guy, I'm really not. But I do love Buffalo because there's a lot of Canadians that are. season ticket holders. Canadians have always gone to Buffalo Sabres games going back to 1970 when they came in. But when the audience had to carry O Canada and they did it without missing a beat,

even big, you know, cynical anthem guy, Jeff Merrick went like, that's really, really cool. So kudos. We'll start there, Berkey. Kudos to all those Sabres fans that carried the Canadian National Anthem. Only one market that could do that, that was Buffalo. It was very touching, very stirring. I was watching the game live.

It was very stirring. I kept wondering what's going on with the microphone, and I realized they didn't need a microphone. Those were Canadian and American fans singing the Canadian National Anthem. I had goosebumps. It was a beautiful moment. And that was probably the highlight

for Buffalo Sabres fans in this one. Even like, I don't know how many games you can look at and say, yeah, you know, the turning point was the anthem, but it really was because that was the high spot for Buffalo Sabers fans. They really, we'll give you a second here, Bruey, they really came out there. And I know they're a young team and it's their first time, their first kick at it. But, Berkey, am I wrong in saying they looked like a team that didn't know how to close a series?

Because that's what it looked like to me. They looked so, I wrote down tentative, cautious, afraid. They looked afraid to make mistakes. They look tentative on not knowing how to close the deal. deal off now to win a game. It was embarrassing how slowly they started. I left my phone on Jeff. I'm sorry.

Nah, no problem. It's okay. Middle of the afternoon, don't worry. But there's more important calls you're going to get than the conversations you're going to have with me. So if you want to just take the call and wander off, I'm not going to be offended. I know who calls you on a regular basis.

I've worked with you for long enough, and they're much more important than I am. But you know what? At the same time, it wasn't as if the Boston Bruins went there and mauled the Buffalo Sabers. Like, I know we're making a lot about the David Pasternak goal that had clinched it, and it was gorgeous.

It was a beautiful goal by Pasternak. But it wasn't as if, like, this was a Picasso at all by either team. Like, I thought both teams were equally average in this game. How did you see it? I thought it was the worst day of hockey we've had since the playoffs began. All three games were just average. I thought Boston was tentative. I said the Buffalo was tentative.

Boston wasn't much better. Great pass to spring pass. Wonderful play. Great winning goal. But a tepid hockey game. I thought the next two games weren't much better. So now we have the Boston Bruins back in this series, or are they back in this series? Like, I want to get to Edmonton here a couple of seconds because they just did something similar with the Anaheim Ducks.

And Edmonton's really banged up. But do you look at last night's game and really say that, Boston is back in this one, or are they delaying the inevitable? I think they're back in because they're home for game six. That makes it all the difference in the world. I think they'll win game six. Now I believe there'll be a game seven on Sunday, which I will attend. But I'm not sure he's going to win that.

If it goes to seven, certainly Buffalo is looking for momentum. Boston's got the momentum at that point if it goes to seven. But I think there's a real good chance Buffalo loses game six, so there is a game seven. You want to talk about pressure and you want to talk about nerves for a young hockey team. The game that you could be going to

game seven between the swords and the bees, that one could be a doozy. Edmonton, Anaheim, again, to your point, not a great game. Dostal gets chased, whoso comes in, but it was a game that Edmonton had to have

or we'd be having a much different conversation about the Oilers than we're having today. Ricky, the point that I've been bringing up from pretty much the beginning of this series is Edmonton is, and I know as a manager you're going to say, every team gets hurt, but they look like not hurt, like bordering on injured.

Like all of them, like McDavid, certainly. We wonder about the ankle. You wonder about the hand. You wonder if there's like a flu going through the dressing room. Leon is not himself. Zach Hyman is significantly dinged up as well. When you look at Edmonton right now, First of all, good on them for the win.

They needed that, obviously. I just can't help but looking at Edmonton and saying, this hill is still steep. And I know they're up against a team that hasn't had, you know, the playoffs in front of them for a number of years. But this hill is still steep for a really banged up Oilers team. You've seen all four goalies. That's what struck me about this series.

All four goalies. How many times you see all four goalies in the first four game? Not very often. You know why? Because it means they suck. at different points. They're not good enough. You see, in all four goals,

that's all I need to tell you about this series. And Edmonton looks banged up to me, but they look determined too. And Anaheim has to learn how to put teams away. It's the young team. They haven't figured it out yet, looking at it last night. They had a very poor start.

See, I thought this was going to be like the veterans game for the Anaheim ducks. I really did. Like, it's been about, you know, Carlson's been fantastic, and Jackson Lecombe has been great, cutter Gochee. It's been about the kids so far for Anaheim,

but I thought in like their first close-out opportunity, this one was going to be all about the veteran players, getting it done. But even that wasn't there for Anaheim yesterday, Berkey. No, no Star Power showed up. Flash is late in the game. It was already three-nothing before everyone paid attention. So, no, they looked young and they looked at an experience,

and they looked not ready to win. Now they got to go back and close it out six. If they don't go out on six, they're going to have trouble closing it out at all in everything. So here's my question. I'm new to hockey, Berkey, so you're going to have to fill me in on this, whether this is a bad thing and if indeed how bad

it is. So 187 minutes and 53 seconds. That's how long it's been since the Dallas stars have scored a five-on-five goal. Again, I'm new to hockey. Is that bad for Dallas? Is that is that a bad stat? Is that, is that a, is that a, is that a bad

stat. I'm new. If your power place going great, which theirs is, it's not bad. It's not good either. I saw it was funny. The other team's even talking to them about it. Yeah, I know. It's one of those things you can't kind of figure

out. Like, it's not as if Dallas doesn't have firepower, but I think it's, to be honest, I think it's more of a comment on Minnesota, obviously. Just how good a job they're doing five-on-five shutting down the Dallas stars. Yeah, and the powerplace saving Dallas, obviously.

It's red hot. That's the reason why was it, well, who's the player made fun of him? What's that? One of the player, Minnesota players made fun of their five-on-five. I can't recall, sorry. I don't know which player it was. I thought it was a

ten-in-a-game also. I thought both teams looked afraid to forfeit that to win. Yeah. It looked tenured to me. It was not good hockey. I'm looking forward to tomorrow or tonight. Tonight should be fun. We got haves and bullets. We got Penguins and Flyers could be a close out there. Mammoth and Golden Knights, they're not at the twos as well.

Before we get to tonight's matchups, I'm curious your thoughts on all of them. Brady Kachuk today talked about how all the trade talk around him. And this is like right away, like the minute that Carolina swept Ottawa, right away, social media is on fire with, oh, they have to move Brady Kachuk. They have to do something, they have to do something different here. He's got, they need a new, they need a new look. They couldn't score. He didn't score, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And today Brady Kachuk said this whole thing is becoming a distraction for him.

Do you have a thought on, you know, if you're Steve Steyos, what do you do here with Brady Kachuk? Well, at some point, he's got to sit down and talk to Brad. I know Stevie. Steve he played for me. I gave him his first job in hockey working in Toronto. And Steve Stahos is a real good guy. He's got to sit down and talk to Brady and find out what he wants to do long term because he can't

be surprised by it. Ratchelotin was not surprised by if Brady or Matthew gave an honest stance right up front and he had to do and he moved him. That may be what happens here, but I think Brady's a really good Ottawa senator but it might be time to move on now. What do you make of Ottawa right now?

Like, I mean, the roster's not perfect, obviously, although we just saw four incredible games by Lina Sallmark. Like, I don't think Lina Sautomark has strung together, there are four games like that since he turned pro in the NHL. He was tremendous. 932 save percentage in those games. Just awesome. But they couldn't score.

Brady Kachuk couldn't find the back of the net. Tim Stutzelow go right down the line. I know it's tough when you lose your first pair. Sanderson and Zub, not available by the end, but if you're the Ottawa senators, you're Steve Stales, are you aggressive in the off season?

What do you do? I don't think anyone beats a team without their two best defense, but I don't think anyone can. So I don't think Ottawa losing it. any big surprise. I think they drew the wrong team. Carolina was going to beat whoever they played that round.

It didn't matter. I thought Lena Smallmark was brilliant. I thought Ottawa was really good. They're going the right way. And I want to do this as a setback, but they got swept. They got swept by a better team, and despite great goaltending. So I think they're going the right way. They've got to figure out Brady, figure out where they go from there.

But they're going the right way. They're moving the right direction. And they'll face off, the Carolina Hurricanes will. Hurricanes will face off against the winner of the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers series. The one thing that I think we're all wondering about here is, are the Pittsburgh Penguins going to do to the Philadelphia Flyers, what the Philadelphia Flyers did to the Boston Bruins in 2010? Coming back, down three bagel to win the series.

If you believe in momentum, it is on Pittsburgh's side. There is an air of nostalgia around this series as Crosby wakes up as Chris LaTang starts to play the best hockey he's played this season so far. Where are you at on this one in advance of tonight's matchup? Well, all the math says no, they're not going to do it. No one's going to come back from three nothing. All the math is staggering. It's not one. It's not 10 or 12 teams have done, four teams have done in 100 years.

so it's pretty rare it's almost non-existent I don't think it's going to happen I wouldn't bet money on it but if you have to bet on the penguins if they have to I don't bet you know that I don't like betting but you have to make a prediction I predict Pittsburgh here

might be able to do this the one teams of all teams that haven't Archer's 104 series right yeah and then four teams come back four it's like the 42 leaps

the 75 Islanders and then the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and then the San Jose Sharks. And the fact that you can list them all over a hundred years is pretty good evidence. That's not going to happen. But if it does, then that's another feather in Sidney Crosby's cap that he was able to add a fifth to that impressive list. Artur Shilov's played really well here too. We should point that out.

Do you have a thought on Porter Martone through all of this? He's one of the sort of emerging young stars here for the Philadelphia Flyers first round draft pick last year. It was around this time last year he was playing in the OHL for James Richmond and the Brampton Steelheads, one year Michigan State, and now he's kind of become a phenomenon amongst Philadelphia Flyers fans. You have a thought here? Yeah, he's become the poster board for guys that played in the CHL and went to the NCAA for one year at Michigan State. good for him. He's a good player. I like him. I like his attitude. I think he's an arrogant kid the right way.

He can score goals. He's played two good programs in Brampton and at Michigan State. But let's hold our breath on the college kids. Let's see how fast he comes along. I love him so far. Yeah, he looks really good. Habs and Bolts. This series has been awesome, full value. We look at the series that is delivering game in and game out. one of the things we were discussing yesterday is how much the Hegel fight with Slavkovsky quieted down. You're a Slavkovsky, and this is after his hat trick game and he's full of moxie and vigor.

And Hegel just has, like I'm always impressed, and Brendan Shanahan was like this, I'm always impressed at players who know when to do it and when to make it and when it's right for their team to do it. You know what I'm talking about, right? brick, like their timing is perfect to do things. And that's Brandon Hagle, who I would submit has been the best player in the playoffs so far. I would agree. I think sensing the moment is what I would call it.

Like reading the room and sensing when is the best time. Right now, we need a fight. Okay, I'll fight. I might not win the fight, but I'm going to fight. We need a goal. I'll score the goal. We need someone to make a great play. I'll make a great play.

We need someone to kill a penalty to block a shot. Okay, I'll block a shot. This kid is unbelievable. A sense of timing is impactful, and its ability to deliver in the moment is unmatched right now. Where do you see Montreal and their state of, you know, where they're at on their winning cycle here? I think they're still young.

I think they're still fighting. Oh, yeah. The Tampa team that knows how to win against the team that's trying to figure it out. That's always difficult. But the lessons you learn on the fly, if you're a young team, are lasting lessons that are really important. lessons. It doesn't take

mind or you want to turn from green and ass the yellow and a series like this.

And we're seeing it in front of our very eyes. The mammoth and the Vegas

Golden Knights seem to have not played at all because of all the long breaks in between

games, but this is a series that's that's nodded at twos and this is that

it's weird because technically we still think about the Vegas Golden Knights as an expansion team

but they're not. They never behave like an expansion team from day one. And these

young kids, You talk about green bananas here, Berkey, like the Utah Mammoth are still full of them. How do you see this series? Well, the proof of their youth is that they score goals in bunches, not to use the banana analogy again. The way they score goals quickly, when they score three goals, it was about four minutes the other night. They came back to three, nothing. Their ability to run it up in a hurry is amazing to me to watch because you can't teach that. You can't defend it.

that well. These teams get on a roll and score two, three goals before the coach's even called timeout. Yeah. So it's really cool. It's really a neat thing about their attack is that it's so coordinated quickly. You have a thought on the owner there, Ryan Smith, who seems to just be hitting so many great notes. The most recent one is, of course, the, you know, Vegas Golden Knights fans bring back your Vegas jerseys and we'll exchange them for a Utah jersey. He's a guy that gives away tickets on his personal Twitter account that's out there in the

crowd and you know i would say to myself like there's a reason why this owner was fast tracked into the nchl you know how ownership works like the commissioner has like a stable of owners that are ready to get involved in the process but it seemed as if here ryan smith they really wanted in the n hl new school owner deep pockets owns an NBA team etc you can see why they wanted this guy in the nchel quick yeah there's something there's something special about this guy it looks like i'm going to withhold judgment see how it goes when they start to get better. The test for a new owner is not how he is when they get going.

It's where they have some adversity. I always hold judgment till then. For now, I'd say straight A is not everything. Even the price of their concessions is great. They've done almost everything right. They really have. And right away, like you saw how quickly they put together a practice facility, like everything in service of the player right now,

Ryan Smith is all about it with this team. Do you have any thoughts on the latest rumors in Toronto? John Chica and Matt Sundeen seem to be the leading candidates for the next management group for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Do you have a thought on that possible combination here? No. No thought. Do you like the fact that Matt's is back? I love Matt's.

I like John Chikka. They're both good guys. I'm not sure what's happening here. So no, I don't have a coming on. Nashville, anything? I have a sense of that one. No. All right.

How about Patrick Burke interviewing for the Vancouver Canucks gig? Well, I could talk about that. I knew I'd get you somehow, Berkey. I don't like talking about stuff that's in flux. And stuff is not clear. They're talking about qualified people. National, I've heard all the people who've got out of Herbred and Shannon. I wasn't in there early.

They've got their choice of some qualified people. but I know Patrick is was interviewed in Vancouver I'm very proud of my son he's a great kid hope he gets a job somewhere that he likes Absolutely Okay listen on that

We'll let you go I hope that we'll be seeing you in Buffalo For game seven Because there's nothing like I'll be there I'm 37 I got my tickets He's all set to go Berkey as always a pleasure

Thanks again for Listen you named it Civilian Wednesdays This one's all about you Thanks as always for stopping by pal Thanks, Jeff. There is a great Brian Burke here on Civilian Wednesdays, and oh, I can talk about,

how about that one? Hey, Zach, I can talk about that. I'll talk about Patrick all day long. He, we should, I love that. Perky's the past. Perky's, I love that guy. He, I should say, one other thing about Patrick,

really early in Nashville's process. He did talk to, he did talk to the National Predators as well. I don't know who else, but Rick Dollywall and Elliot, at both putting out today that Patrick interviewed with the Vancouver Canucks for the big chair, and that's probably something that's on the horizon for Patrick. At some point, at some point in his career, and he's interviewed with teams previous to that as well.

Not all the names get out, much to our chagrin, but he has interviewed in various places before. And he's, like, his reputation around NHL teams and around the, he works the Department of Player Safety, as we all know. He does a lot around the All-Star game. and with the NHL. Geez, I don't even know how many years. It seems like forever. Well thought of.

Well thought of around the league. We'll see what happens with the career of Patrick Burke. So that's an interesting one there. Anything jumping out of you from last night or from the Berkey conversation or what we're about to hear from Sean Walker? Well, first of all, I love the Berkey answer. No. No. I'll talk about that one.

I'll talk about Patrick, sure. I want to point something out. And it's rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but I was watching it live and I picked up on it and went to watch it on video to make sure it happened. It was the Pasternak OT goal. And it's not the past, Jeff. It's not the goal. Just wait and watch for anybody who's watching on YouTube right now.

What happens after he scores the goal straight to the corner and then about a good five to seven seconds, screaming at this Buffalo Sabres fan in the corner who was giving him. to double bird I love this so much because two different things I guess three different things one the Sabres fan and the fans that's what you're supposed to do it's it's a sport you're supposed to get fired up and passionate and angry and frustrated and all that stuff and show that emotion to the fact that it was pastor neck embracing the moment and giving it back to the guy staring directly at him and three just the fact that this is playoff

off hockey. You know, you're going to hear it from Sean Walker coming up about the intensity and the physicality of the playoffs. And he talks about his incident with Ridley Greg. And like, that's the player's side of things. But fans get that much more emotional and fired up when playoffs come around too. And they're allowed to show it. And having a back and forth, I think, is the best thing for the game. You missed one thing. Okay. What jersey was a guy wearing? Isn't he wearing the black and red The black and red ones? What was the number in name bar?

Oh, I don't know. Hold on. Have a look. Have a look. Have a look. It's awesome. It's so good. Who is this?

Number 10. Was on our program. Not too long ago. Who is that? Number 10, Buffalo Savers. On our program. It was on our program. Did the show from his car.

his family may or may not be my neighbors can see Jane and John's backyard from mine Cairic Cairic Cairc Cairc Cic yes yes That's perfect Oh my God I didn't even think

I was trying to think in the realm of like older players Who were on the team Is that Joe Bear Perot jersey? No no no no Brad May No no I thought you were going to be like Look who it is

It's a Barnaby jersey or something It's actually Matthew Barnaby Yeah, it's him. He's on the glass. Double birds, a pastor doc. Yeah, it's the same character. I thought that was a really nice touch there too. I thought that moment is awesome.

That was really, really good. Anything from last night, like the hockey, like, Berkey's right. The hockey wasn't great last night. Hockey's been amazing so far in this first round. Can't all be hits. Last night wasn't one of them. Tonight should be a banger.

Anytime you get Tampa and Montreal going, it's going to be a banger. That should be fun. Yeah, well, I mean, I'm hoping. I thought both of those games that we watched last night were going to be bangers between Buffalo and Boston. And I mean, if you consider what the final score was, I guess, sure, it's a banger. Like, it's an elimination game that went to OT, but the hockey itself. The Oilers game.

I was finishing up the Savers. I'm sitting here doing work. I've got it on the TV. I'm finishing up. That's Savers Bruins game. Okay, O.T's over. Let's flip over, see what's happening. Whoa, and Billy Huso's in that.

Like, oh, there's those style making the skate of shame. And okay, here comes Billy Huso. And it never really felt like that was going to have any type of comeback. Because, you know, my girlfriend's checking in on these things too. Oh, is Edmonton winning? Oh, do you think the Ducks can come back? A tune in. I'm looking.

I watched for like four or five minutes after, and I was like, no. They will not be coming back in this game. Unfortunately, for Anaheim and their fans, they will not be pushing back. hopefully better games tonight and maybe Dallas can score at 5 on 5 in game 6 on Friday. Bruce, Bruce Levine is tracking that, by the way, radio analysts for the Dallas Stars, who's, who's exceptional. I love Bruce. He's fantastic and she's got it, she's got to 387 minutes and 53 seconds.

Good line by Birky 2. No 5 on 5. Well, if you're scoring on the power play, it's not bad, but it's not good. Going 183 minutes with that's going a 5-on-5 goal. Survey says, not good. Yeah, exactly. Games tonight. Much Rock Canadian is facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning,

the Utah Mammoth taken on the Golden Knights. Both those series knotted up at twos, and also the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. Flyers looking to close out, and the Pittsburgh Penguins looking to take this thing to a game seven. Can they actually do this? We'll find out starting this evening. The winner.

I would just say on that quickly, if you are a Flyers fan and you are facing a game seven against Sidney Crosby, Kenny Malkin, Chris LaTang, it's stealing a term from Overdrive and Ben Kindle, the underpants cam on the underpants cam on Flyers fans. No kidding. It is scarce. You're going to be going through numerous pairs of those Haynes or Saxons. underwear, whatever, just don't wear anything light-colored if you're going into game seven as a flyers. Yes, that's right.

Well, the winner of that series will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina Hurricanes went golfing yesterday. But today, back at it at practice and before the practice, I had a chance to sit down with Sean Walker, defenseman. You may remember him from such punches in the face as I'm being held, but that ain't going to stop Ridley, Greg. is Sean Walker, the Carolina Hurricanes from this morning. First of all, Sean, thanks so much for stopping by today. I know it's a busy time after a relaxing Monday, a rare off day.

First of all, you got playoff face. How's your nose? Start there. Yeah, nose is good. Again, kind of comes with the job. So especially playoffs, you're going to get a little more nicks and bruises, but it's all good. It's like I mentioned, you have playoffs. face and usually you know by the end of a by the end of a series you get sort of like the the big

reveal i've got this i've got that and you're right this was a rough one i don't know that that anybody had on their bingo card that carolina ottawa was going to be that kind of series first of all a sweep second of all that rough did any of this like anything in the in the series surprise you um i mean personally i don't think i was surprised i think i could see how a lot of people outside looking in would feel that way. But I mean, obviously right from the start of the series, drop of the puck with both our captains square enough, kind of set the tone.

And I think from there on, everyone just kind of bought in that we knew Ottawa was going to try and be really physical. And I think we did a great job of stepping up and matching that, if not exceeding it on our end. Well, that was great. I think that's been a knock on our team, obviously before I even got here that don't step up to the physical play. but I think we did a great job of that this series.

And yeah, it was definitely a tough series. A lot of physicality, a lot of stuff after the whistles, but it's playoff hockey. So it's kind of what you expect. I expect the answer to be yes to this, but are series like that fun to play in? Yeah, they're definitely fun. I mean, you know, you grow up wanting to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs

and the intensity and the physicality. And, I mean, we're all there doing anything we can to win. And so if it's taking a couple of extra licks or making a big hit, whatever it may be, it's fun for sure. And to get, again, the fans in it when you're in these buildings, you make a big hit or whatever it may be. And the place gets rock and it's definitely exciting. Okay. Tell us about your big hit then because I looked at that one and I said, Walker just said, F and I'm going for it. Did it feel that way?

My hit on. On Ridley, Greg. That went on Ottawa? Yeah. Yeah, you know, I saw the puck coming. So I think you see that hit probably 10 times a game. And maybe the situation might have been a little different. It had not been after what had transpired already.

But, yeah, you know, everyone's playing hard. Maybe it was a little bit on the side, some would say. But, you know, I think I would make that hit again. What happened on the bench when Clevin caught Nikitian? Yeah, I mean, tempers are obviously going to rise in a situation like that. You don't want to see anyone get hit like that, whether it's clean or not. Obviously, first and foremost, everyone's just concerned about your player and how he's feeling. But yeah, after that, you know, they're trying to step up their physical play and set the tone

and maybe take some energy away from us. And luckily, we had a lot of guys that stepped up and matched that. Again, you don't want to see anyone hurt. But at the same time, once a hit like that has happened, you've got to step up and give it back if you can cleanly and just keep battling. So, again, I think our team did a great job of kind of staying even keel. Yeah, some guys were barking and letting them know that that's not going to fly

and everyone better keep their head up. But at the end of the day, I think we did a great job just to stay in and being focused on our game. The one thing, and you already mentioned this, like, the one thing about this year's edition of the Carolina Hurricanes is, like, there's push back physically, whether it's you. And listen, there were plenty of, I mean, you were on the ice, you couldn't see it. But, like, on television, every time it got rough, there was a cutaway to Nick DeLoree, who's like, at some point, like his eyes are rolling back in his head, like a shark. And, you know, wires are crossing. and everyone's like, okay, so now care, not just like, stall and

Kachuk, like that sets a tone for the entire series, but just having someone like the Lurier on the bench, like I think about the Panthers series last year, and like the Panthers do this to everybody, and all the teams sort of learned their lesson after going through the Florida Panthers. Do you think the team

that we see now is a reflection of what happened with the hurricanes against Florida last year? Yeah, a little bit. Again, during that Florida a series. I don't think anyone was back and down or anything, but they're definitely one of the best teams that taking it to the line without crossing and baiting guys in and maybe on the line of being dirty, but not getting not getting penalized. And it's great. That's playoff hockey. You've got to

try and get under people's skin. So I think our team has realized that that's something that has to be part of our game. Everyone's trying to do it. And again, having someone like Nick Deloree on our team is awesome. It's great to see the way that he can kind of control a situation. Obviously, the level he's at with his certain skill set is special. You know, not a lot of people want to deal with that. So to have him there is definitely a nice deterrent for sure. What was Handshake Alley like in this one?

I'm always curious about, and especially that game four, as we've been talking about, It was just so rough. I know players say that they drop it for the handshakes and that's it. But I also know the players take numbers and things do carry over. But what was the handshakes like after game four? Yeah, I think for the most part, it was pretty standard. Personally, with what happened in the game, I was a little cold to most people. Anyone in particular?

But yeah, you know, I think. I'd say 95% of our team, you know, it's the greatest respect in hockey or any sport. After going to war for four games, you shake hands. It is what it is, but yeah, happy to move on. You've played for Rad Breddemor for a couple of seasons now. I've always looked at the Carolina Hurricanes and said, and I intend this as a compliment, not everyone can play there. Like you have to have certain abilities to be able to play the way that Rod Brindamor wants you to play.

Like A, you have to be athletic, like wildly athletic. And B, you really have to be able to think. And that's not everybody. Like that's a lot of players that look around the NHL and say like, good player, but he couldn't play for Carolina. When you look around your room and you see the players that excel with your team, like what are all the things that they have in common? Essentially what I'm saying is, John, like, what do you have in common? with other players that allows you guys to be the Carolina Hurricanes. Yeah, I think, you know, I think you spoke there, the athletic part about our team.

You know, it really helps that Rod's probably one of the fittest guys in the room. So, you know, our level is there and you don't want to get out worked by Rod in the gym. So that's something that I think stands out right away. You know, everyone comes in insane shape here. And it's fun to be a part of a team that just works so hard. And then going forward, I think when you look at our team, I think a big thing is like the work ethic. Even if your brain's not working that night or whatever the situation may be, our team just works so hard. We might not have our best nightmaking plays or executing on the power play or whatever, but we're going to work.

And that's really hard to play against. So I could see where some guys struggle with it. I mean, it's a go, go, go. and there's no breasts on the ice anywhere for anyone. But I think as you guys have seen, when everyone's buying in and doing it the way we want to, it can be pretty successful. I want to ask you about Jacob Slavin.

One of my favorite things to do when I watch Carolina Hurricanes games is trying to watch players put the puck under his stick, which just doesn't happen. It's always hilarious. What do you see? I mean, you're a defenseman. What do you see when you watch Jacob Slavin? I think one of my favorite things about Carolina Hurricanes hockey games is watching Jacob Slavin.

He's unbelievable. And I know he's starting to get the credit now with the Four Nations and the Olympics, and people are realizing how easy it is for him to just shut down top guys night in night out. But the way he thinks the game, his size, his reach, his abilities is just, I really do think it's unmatched. I think he's the best defensive defenseman in the league. I don't know. Like you watch it every night and I still don't fully understand

like he's got everyone fooled. He bates them. He makes them do things that they normally wouldn't do. I get it. It probably is because it's him. Like they're like, hey, well, I got to do something different and it just plays right into exactly what he wants. He's such an anchor there for us on the back.

And I'm sure he saw some of the numbers, the amount that he penalty killed, his time on ice every night. it's really unbelievable and I think anybody trying to get better as a defenseman should just watch the way he plays the game he does it honest, works hard

super skilled such a great leader for us and again like watching him every night my favorite thing to do for sure he's special and you're right like he's like a Kucharoff is like this magician that like gets everyone to bite on everything

it's incredible to watch and I watch and he's sort of similar that he sort of tricks people into doing things that they don't want to do. And he's like, Sean, he's so calm. That's the thing. Like, dude, this is the, this is the NHL. You're not supposed to be this calm. This is the best league in the world.

How are you so calm? It's just the Sunday stroll for him. Just chilling. And just whack him pucks like nothing. Best stick in the league by far. Yeah, it's amazing. You mentioned penalty kill there. And I want to circle back to game four.

And I can't tell you. So I'm sitting there and I'm watching the game. And I'm like, that's a penalty that Carolina can kill us. off. Like, you know, there's some penalties like, yeah, we got this. We're going to kill this one, right? As opposed to some other penalties, like, oh, man, this is going to, oh, why'd you take that?

Like, I looked at so many of those penalties in game four and said, Carolina's going to kill this off. Dick, you know, you kind of know what I'm getting at here. Like, there are just somewhere emotionally, you're like, no, man, we're killing this thing. 100%. And again, I think the way the series went in general, the way we were killing from the start, definitely gave us that level of confidence to begin with. but that level was that game was obviously intense.

We had a lot of stuff go on and transpire and some penalties that maybe you don't want to take, but we understood. So it is what it is. And our guys went out there and we had the utmost confidence. I mean, I don't know how many five on threes they had. It feels like we've had more five on three in that series than we had all year. But again, we just, you know, when we have guys playing the way they are and buying into the way we want to kill,

it honestly, it seemed easy for mostly guys out there. And again, I think they maybe scored two goals on 20 attempts or whatever it was throughout the whole series. And that's huge for a team. I think you can go out there and, you know, you don't want to be so worried about taking a penalty. And like, then you're hesitant on plays and stuff. You got to just go play and whatever happens happens and have the confident in your team that, you know, if that does go down, that you'll be able to kill it for sure.

What makes Stankhoven Hall and Blake work? Like, that was the best line in that series, one of the best lines so far in the playoffs. What makes that thing click? And by the way, Taylor Hall's having a great second act in his career, man. He really is.

Unbelievable. Yeah. I think all three players are just, you know, they work their ass off and they have such a high level of skill. I think you watch how many pucks they get back even you know they're not the biggest guys with with uh blaker and stank and

they probably get the most puck's back on our team so they're hounding the puck night in night out they have such a high level of skill you know the stuff blaker does with the puck is just his mind blowing really um and then i think halsey's really the glue in that that group like he he's older he's mature he's been around he knows certain things aren't going to work aren't going to work. And again, he's, he's really found his rhythm with those guys and the confidence they have on making plays and being a driving force for our team really right now has been awesome to watch. And, you know, stank, the goals he's scoring are huge for us, especially in that series where every game was one goal games almost. For those guys to get us going pretty much every night

has been awesome and really looking forward to see what they're going to do the rest of the way. I just love how Hall just understands every, I mean, he's, He's been in the league. He drafted in 2010. Like, he's been around for a long time and had a lot of success, including a hard trophy. I just love, like, how he understands, like, the moment. And when he scored that goal and did, like, the ear cup to the crowd, I'm just like, oh, man.

Like, just understand the moment perfectly. I was like, do you think that's got to be, like, one of your favorite goals with the emotion, like, what the game meant? And he said, yeah, he was like. Like honestly, like that might be one of my favorites. The way that he was getting booed every time he touched the puck, right? Yeah. Oh, yeah.

And score the first goal of the game in a series clinching game was awesome. I couldn't imagine if that was at home. The roof would have popped off. It would have been insane. It was awesome. Yeah, it was great. Place would have gone great. How much are you watching Pittsburgh and Philadelphia right now?

Are you glued to it or are you just like, yeah, you know, it doesn't matter. Doesn't matter who we get. We know these teams. Yeah, I mean, for me personally, I try to, you know, I definitely check in on everything. I'm not sitting there watching every series. If their game's on, I'll flick it on. But at the end of the day, even this next series, whether it's Pitt or Philly or whoever it is, the rest of the way down the way, it really doesn't matter to us.

Again, the way we play the game is we want to dictate it with our style, do what we're going to do, and see how teams react. So, yeah, we know them. but not enough. We played them a bunch during the regular season, so I know what to expect. Obviously, playoffs is a little different and things get ramped up. But again, no matter what they're going to do, we're going to dictate our will onto the game and hopefully it goes in our favor. Okay, a couple of memory lane questions here for you. Then we'll let you get out with your day. So tell me who said this. You should ask Sean, which is better, winning around in the Stanley Cup

playoffs or winning a playoff game on a Friday. night at the Georgina Ice Palace with the Georgina Ice Junior C team. First of all, who said that? Oh, wow. So, I mean, you might have given it away. I'm wondering if that was Aaron. That's Aaron Ambrose. Very good. All right. You got it. It's okay. Like, yeah, so she obviously knows my history, but yeah, I played Junior C for my hometown team. And I was only 17, 18 at the time, played for my home team. And I was only 17, 18 at the time, playing for my hometown team and playing junior C is definitely an interesting time. It's the jungle.

They called the jungle. They called the jungle for a reason, John. It was the jungle, but you know what? Like, that was so huge for my development and, like, got me to work. Like, that was the start of me, like, really starting to grow and mature as a player. So it was the jungle, but it was an amazing time. I wouldn't change it for the world. Well, like your journey, like, we'll end on this.

Like your journey is a fascinating one. For those that don't know your story, I mean, you go into your last year of Bowling Green, you don't have an advisor slash agent, Cam Stewart's a buddy, a family friend, I believe, or a friend of someone in your family. He hooks you up with Rob Blake. He went to Bowling Green, Los Angeles,

and into Ontario. In a couple of years, you're in the NHL and you're never back in the American League. Like, it really has been, like, when you look at all the stories around the NHL, your path is one of the most unique ones. Do you ever look back and say, wow, this has been a weird, this has been a weird career.

Yeah, I mean, I think because I did it, and that was the only way I knew, that to me, it was just like that's how I was going to get there. But obviously being here now, seeing how 99% of the guys get to the NHL, yeah, it was definitely the longer road and maybe got into the league later than I would have liked. But at the same time, if I would have came into the league when I was 8th, I would have been out of the league by the time I was 19. So it was great. It was great for me developing the relationships,

even just the person, the man I am now. All those steps on my journey to get to the NHL were really pivotal and make me the player in person I am for sure. What a thoughtful answer. You're a thoughtful guy and an excellent hockey player. Thanks so much for this. And I always see that Carolina Hurricanes have some of the best personalities in the game, whether it's Martinuk, whether it's Jarvis,

whether it's Hall. and you, Sean Walker. Thanks so much for stopping by. Thanks for stopping by today. Really appreciate it. Thanks, man. Appreciate it. There is Sean Walker, Carolina Hurricanes,

excellent defender, paired with K. Andre Miller, and excellent interview. As you just heard as well, I know you were getting the soap and warm water feeling when you heard I'm talking about Georgina and playing Junior C, Zach, right? That's the one thing you're going to pull out of that interview.

Oh, yeah, he played the jungle, Junior C. The Georgina? Ice, man. Yeah, buddy. What an organization. That's funny that Aaron made sure to have you ask that question. Texted me this one. And he knew right away, right away.

That's Ambrose. And who asked it. I thought that was pretty funny. But yeah, very good interview. Sean Walker was excellent. Yeah, he's really good. And thanks to the Carolina Hurricanes and the great Mike Sundheim for making him available to us today. On a day where they're skating.

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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 1-866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. Well, Jeff, it took a little while for Pittsburgh to get going in this. I was excited to see what the Penguins look like when they got back to play off hockey

and it didn't start great for them. Down 3-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers, it felt like Sidney Crosby might achieve something he's not familiar with, but now he's got an opportunity to achieve a different feat that he has never accomplished before. So now that the pens have shaken off the playoff Rust, Kooch, you imagine if they complete the comeback, I think it would be cool. Do you got to get an idea here? So what was the first part again? Because you got a Kucharoff in there and you got Brian Rust.

No, you got Brian Rust. You got Nikita Kuturoff. Who's the third? What do you got as the third in there? Let's have the big reveal. I think it would be cool. Lee. Of course.

For Vegas and Utah. Brian Rust, Nikita Kuturoff, Logan Kooley. $5 wins, $129 smackers. And 64 cents. Brian Russ, Nikita Kuturoff, and Logan Kooley. Up for grabs tonight with the

the three on the table. Okay, quick programming note. Tomorrow, we're going to be in Everett. That's what we're doing the show from. I'm going to be in Everett for a couple of days, even though they've already swept the Penticton vs. Again, congratulations to Fred Harbison and that alleged expansion team and what they're able to accomplish this season in the Western Hockey League. And now the Everett Silver Tips await the winners. This would be for the Western Hockey League final. winners of the Prince Albert Medicine Hat series there.

So we'll see what happens. In the meantime, we're going to be an effort for a couple of days. I think I might be going to a Mariners game on Friday night, too. They're playing the Royals. Oh, I know. Looking forward to that one. Looking forward to getting to everything.

Josh Naylor, Pimp a home run again. I don't know if you saw that video. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's pretty good, eh? Walking back, throwing the bat up. Yeah, that's pretty good. Mrs. Saga's own, baby.

Mrs. Saga's own. Let's go. So that's going to be the next couple of days of programming here. We're working on a whopper of a guest, hoping that comes through in the next couple of days. So stay tuned to your socials for that announcement. Do you have a final thought on today's program before we wrap it up here today? Zacharoo? You want to play one quick game here I've thought of?

You know the show, is it real or is it cake? No. Is it real or is it cake? It's a TV show where they make items. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes, yes, yes. I am familiar with that.

Yes, I'm going to play this one. I'm going to tune it towards you. No boy. We'll see. You bear with me. Is it real or is it space cake? Okay, so we're hearing all this about Matt Sundeen and coming to the Toronto. Is it real or is it space cake?

Where did you get that one from? John Chico would be the GM and Matt's would potentially be a president or VP, however he chooses to make his role. He would need to fill out his staff, Jeff Merrick, with other hockey minds to build this organization back into what it was in 1960s, where it was a powerhouse of an organization. Punch Himlock is no longer with us. Who do they have from the 60s they can bring along? I don't think Dave Keon's too warm of the idea of coming back either.

There's a guy who's done some TV, who's brought up. Yes. Some thoughts about Matt's has thoughts on the team. He's got some ideas and he seems to know what Matt's thinks about this team and what they need to do going forward. He's been pretty outspoken about it. He's a guy who has not really declined the idea of being in an NHL front office. In fact, right here on this show, Jeff Merrick brought up the idea of him being in an NHL front office. They played together in Toronto.

Could we see a Mike Johnson, Matt Sunni, John Chica combination in Toronto? Or am I eating space? I don't think you're eating space cake on this one. This is one of your ideas you are not eating space cake on. I think that there, I think eventually, I mean, wasn't he on with Albergistan that he's thought about it and considered it and it would be a, a welcome challenge for him? Like anybody that, anybody that listens to or watches Mike Johnson looks at him and says, he can do more than what he's doing right now.

Like people that watch me or listen to me goes like, yeah, this is probably all this guy can do. That's it. If it doesn't have this, like... It's tapped out. That's it. Like, that's, that, this is all that he can do. And really, that's not even much. But you look at MJ and it's like, that guy can do so much more, too.

Not that he doesn't like broadcasting. He likes it. And he's excellent at. He's one of the best in the industry, full stop. Last call. All of it. But I could, I could definitely see that. Like, we're all sort of drawing out,

trying to draw out clues from what Keith, or how Keith Pelly has been speaking about. So, no, I don't think you're eating space cake on this one. Let me go one more for you. Okay. I do believe that Matt Sundeen, and maybe to your point, MJ, I don't think Matt's is the only Leaf alumni that's going to be involved in this new incarnation of whatever it is. And I don't know what the roles would be, but I believe that there is going to be a position for Gary Roberts and Tidomi through all of this as well. Again, not saying that these are any like decision-making power,

but I do think as part of this next wave of whatever Leafs management structure looks like, and I don't know, there would be management roles for Gary Roberts or Ty Domey, but I do believe that somehow those two players as well will be part of this equation in some capacity. Okay. You think that space cake? Do you think that space cake? No, no, no.

I'm glad I dug that. All right, perfect. That's what that's what it sounds like. Anyway, all right, I'm off to the airport, bud. In Everett for a couple of days, Seattle on Friday to take in the Mariners and the Royals. But programs will come to you from Everett here in the next couple of days. So again, thanks to the Carolina Hurricanes for making Sean Walker available. And thanks to Brian Burke for making himself available here on Civilian Wednesdays.

Thanks to everybody in the chat. Thanks to everybody listening or watching. If you have subscribed to our daily face-off YouTube channel, we thank you. All of us here. If you haven't, please consider doing so. Again, back tomorrow, 1 o'clock Eastern, 10 Pacific, I still remember, Zach, for the sheet right here on our daily face-off YouTube channel. Thanks for joining me today. We'll talk tomorrow.

Enjoy the games.