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Hello and welcome into Hockey Mountain High, your go-to avalanche podcast presented by Superbook Sports, JJ Juresz here, Eryfteen here to
discuss the game 6 victory that we saw from the Colorado Avalanche era. I say it that way, right, with a little
inflection in my voice, like surprise, because we finally saw the Colorado Avalanche team, I feel like we've been waiting for
this entire series and it's like, what took you guys so long? But no, good game out of the guys and a good victory to
force game 7 there in Seattle. Absolutely, they were just so, they played their game to a T, it was an absolute
clinic of a defensive effort and did you also feel like there was zero stress or panic? Because that's how it felt to me.
Yeah, I mean, I guess if you go back to game 5 and going into the locker room after that loss, there wasn't any
panic then either, right? And it's like you guys are up against it, like maybe it's time to start freaking out a little bit
and I feel like I misread that as like, all right, maybe they're not as disappointed as I think they are about maybe ending the
season, but no, that was just that even kill cool, calm and collective time to turn it on attitude that you felt to do that
throughout the team. Yeah, so something I did last week when you and I podcasted, I think it was after it was either after game
2 or game 5, I compared this to actually it was after game 5, I compared this to the Vegas series in 2021. The Avalanche one game
1, Vegas started to figure them out in game 2, the Avalanche still wanted over time and then you saw the series flip on a dime, the Avalanche could not get it back.
Vegas one game 3, game 4, brought it back to ball arena, one game 5, there wasn't a single person in that building if you remember that when they were leaving, we were like, yeah, this isn't coming back for 7.
It's absolutely not. And obviously it didn't. I think Vegas scored 6 goals in that game even, the dreadful Sam Jordan Ryan Graves series, but
I compared it to that series, the difference is, and I know this is going to sound silly, but it really is a real thing. It's something that analytics and stats can't track which I love tracking analytics and stacks. I'm a very analytical person and you know everybody knows that by now, but
they have a winning pedigree now. It doesn't stress them out because if you think about last year like
they lost game 5 to St. Louis, it went back to St. Louis for game 6, there was a little bit of stress there, but they grinded it out and JT comfort two big goals and then obviously like they had they were trailing and dare and JT comfort had to put them back in the game twice and then
Darren homeschool scored the game winner. That was like the first bit of an ease to them. That game changed a lot with their mindset, the brain, not the skill, the talent or what they could do on the ice, but in their mind, that changed a lot because Nathan
McKinnon has talked about it. We didn't even need Nathan McKinnon to talk about it to notice that when they lost game 5 with a Stanley Cup final, first thing that came to their brain was that St. Louis series.
We've done this before. We could do it again. And what they do, they did it again. They went to Tampa Bay. They wanted in six this time around. They had that same mindset, but they had it with we're not winning game six to just end the series early. We're winning St.
Louis series early. We're winning game six to keep ourselves alive and bring it back home for game seven and the way they won the game is the biggest thing for me. They didn't grind it out and struggle and have to fight back and scratch and claw in a game where Seattle was out playing them and you're like, I don't feel too confident about game seven.
We're going to step on your throats and shut you down that going into game seven. I don't know about the fans. Obviously being a fan is tough to watch a game seven or think about the idea of a game seven, but not a single person in that locker room is stressed about tomorrow.
They weren't stressed when they were down three to two and they're sure as hell not stressed now heading into a game seven.
It's not familiar to me because watching that game, they're doing a lot of the exact same things just instead of what we saw in games one through five. It was actually going right. The execution was happening. They were winning battles out of the corner and I'm in my head sitting.
Okay, what do you change to fix a four check aside from simple effort and checking. And I still don't know the answer to that but apparently Jared Benner kind of figured that out and it seems like, however he did it, whether it's motivational or a strategic tweak.
I figured out how to win those battles a little bit. So I think just simply seeing that gives me hope that it's not going to be more of the same for game seven because a, we know how game sevens are historically for Colorado Avalanche and B, we know how playing at home for some reason has been a challenge for them this season and throughout this series.
I definitely have hope. I definitely don't think it's going to be an easy one. They're going to have to dig and win those battles in the corner and fight extra hard because we know what Seattle has to bring but there's, there's a lot more faith in me now than there was I'd say 24 hours ago.
Yeah, 100%. I really genuinely thought the series was going to end in six and not to be a Debbie Downer. I think you and I do a good job of being very positive on this podcast.
And it's hard, and it's hard not to be. I mean you and I started this podcast, a season that the Aves sign, Burakovsky, Kadri and Don Square, well, acquired them in the Chushkin like, it's been a really good team since we started this podcast but yesterday it just felt like
it was the end of the season. I don't know why but the way they played coming out on the first shift they weathered a couple minutes storm of Seattle. And here's my favorite part. They finally score the first goal.
It gets waved off and two, three minutes later Seattle scores the first goal and you looked at that bench and not a single person's head was down. Nobody was upset.
And that's the part that struck me most because I texted you as soon as as soon as Seattle scored to make it one nothing when Vince done scored I texted you and said LOL dead like they're done.
But then they came out the very next shift as if like yeah we're trailing one nothing on the road on the brink of elimination and we're fine.
And the Mika Ranton scores the big goal in the final minute and the rest is history they went four to one like it was just such a such a good performance from a team that knows what it means to win now.
They know what it means to they know what it means to to play their game to find their game and to do it well. And as much as we thought game five would be that.
Okay enough is enough we got to figure this shit out. Apparently it needed to be the brink of elimination for the first time since 2021 to really be like okay, we're we're going to do this where we're not we're not letting this happen again so
that's the that's the big thing that I took away from that game was again it's not just that they want it's how they want how they played and how
he or he have despite him being good throughout the series and I know he's letting some tough goals here and there but he's really bailed out the avalanche and has been like weathering storm after storm.
He was not necessary in game six he didn't need to be his best he made one big save when it was three to one late and even then if Seattle squares three to two big deal.
He made one big save when it was three to one the ads at the empty netter he had easiest night you can have and only let in one goal.
And that's because of how good the team played in front of him or once in six games.
He's been amazing with how resilient he is right I mean that the avalanche have been giving up the first goal in every single game so far this series and you think oh no maybe here's the time where we see Alexander Gurgib have a tough night.
And then he shuts the door he might have an ugly first period and then his second and third period are phenomenal and we've seen that over and over again along with the team right you need the team in front of you to help you with the defensive side of the puck but no I think Alexander Gurgib has quietly been this team's most
consistent player I don't want to say best but the most consistent guy he's really brought an identical game every night it feels.
And they need him to be because this team you know we've said it before and let's state the obvious it's not last year's team they're not going to want to stand the cup with an eight ninety something goal that can only see from one eye like that's absolutely not going to happen this year.
They're not even going to win a first round with a goal performance like that and again no disrespect to Campra I know he was dealing with but they've needed gear G have to be the guy he is they're going to need him in game seven and and it's it's going to be a big one it's going to be a lot of fun honestly because.
Again I'm not going to pretend I know how our listeners are feeling but heading into a game seven after having won the Stanley Cup.
It feels so much more comforting for this team to say they can do this because if last year let's let's again let's go back to last year second round.
If St. Louis went to game seven you feeling confident.
I'm not because he has had a three to one series lead Nathan McKinnon scores the sickest goal finishes the hat trick they blow it Tyler Bozak scores and overtime you go back to St. Louis they win you come back here.
The I've still can't close out a series in the second round these are going into another game seven in the second round for the third time in four years and you're thinking oh boy.
But they ended in St. Louis in six games they won the cup now they're going back to that demon that is a game seven the other demon that they've had and I know I like I wrote the article today if you saw it about the history of avalanches game sevens.
I didn't go way way deep into the 90s but I just went the most previous six seven game series that they've had where they lost in 2020 in 2019 in 2014 in 2003 and 2002 the last time they won a game seven was the second round of 2002.
And a lot of people mentioned the obvious like well how could you compare the 2003 apps to 2023 it's a different generation different team of course and that's not the purpose of the article.
But the reality is Nathan McKinnon has played three game sevens he has lost every single one by one goal.
Nathan McKinnon just started his 10th year in the NHL.
That's not a good look.
It's not a good record and yes I know the 2014 avalanche are not the 2023 avalanche but the 2019 and 2020 abs sure as hell have the same a lot of the same guys the same coach the same feel the same fan base as it did in 2019 and 2020.
So, but just like you're saying though if everything feels different right I mean even though the series right now three three and Seattle has some confidence that they know how to beat the avalanche.
It still feels like the favor is in there I guess the Colorado still the favorites right everybody.
Yeah absolutely Colorado series to lose and why is that.
It's because they won last year and they get it.
It's such a silly thing to say but they get it look at the Tampa Bay Lightning they're trailing three to two to the Toronto Maple Leafs and they got the Leafs on brink of elimination somehow even though they need two games.
Because the Leafs are exercising their demons of being 0 and 11 in their last 11 close out potential games and the Tampa Bay Lightning are like yeah we've done this before we'll do it again.
Yeah it's like if you're Seattle right now it's a lot like you know those games in the regular season when you're like oh my goodness I can't believe the avalanche got it to overtime today let's let's just hope that they don't get scored on here and overtime and can maybe get it to the shootout because they've been out played.
I feel like that's the way you are feeling if you're Seattle not that you got out played but you're like oh man what's just hope that they can you know whether this storm and not let everything collapse on them because you have a very dangerous team in front of you and that mindset is big right I mean I'm not saying that Seattle
Kraken doesn't have an experienced mindset but I'm almost wondering if they were going into that game six like oh we know how to beat the avalanche let's just do what we've always done and everything's going to work out for us just great and they forget that there's a team on the other side with other
sports right so I guess just I think it's in the avalanche favor I mean even the sportsbook have the avalanche at a minus 210 right now on the money line so despite what we've seen this whole series it still seems like right now the avalanche have full control of winning this thing.
Yeah and the reality is look the aside from the mental mindset like we're not going to sit there and pretend it was just like oh yeah we've won before we'll win again they made the necessary changes and those changes paid off.
Starting with the forward lines.
I loved the idea of Jared bed nurse saying look spreading the wealth and trying to match the Kraken line for line ain't going to work.
Because even if you have me go ran and playing with com for a new year.
Meeko ran in is the best player on that second line and even if you include Seattle second line of the six players playing on both teams second line me go ran in is the best one.
But then the next three might belong to Seattle before you go back to comfort in the yellow.
So he said fuck it let's stack the line. He went back to lectin in with McKinnon and meeko and how freaking good was our tour like in yesterday.
That was the 2022 or tour like in the one that was just resilient tenacious just like a stubborn forechecker he was everything you want.
He was in group hours crease all night long late in the third period he falls over group hour in a play that even Eddie Olchick when they were looking at the rebound was like yeah he had the pots of he had the potential of escaping that and he was like
I love escaping that and he still chose to kind of make that contact because lekkenon's being the pest he knows he could be group hours helmet came off he's sitting there taking swipes at lekkenon that's a forward that knows how to get under somebody's skin.
That's that Joe Pavelski in the crease back in the day Ryan Smith even homestrum for the red wings like he's he's perfecting that before our very eyes in deciding games in a game six where group hour who's had a relatively even keeled series let's call it
in call series. He got in his grill he frustrated him to the point where groobies taken shots when did we ever see grooby taking shots at players.
Bennington skated halfway across the ice and grooby just looked at him and smirked yeah I mean that's a grooby was frustrated that's what you that's what worked for him right I mean like in in what's his skill set is getting around the net and making some noise and maybe in the first couple games he wasn't feeling quite himself working his way back from injury still because you didn't see that traffic in front of the net you didn't see any threat
to rebounds when Philip Grubauer would let him up but then in game six you saw them get back to that you saw them take the eyes away you saw guys not afraid to go straight to the front of the net and start tipping pucks so that's avalanche hockey right there right I mean you even look at our
two leckenins two goals and I know the last one was an empty net but Devontaves kale macar and then kale macar Devontaves on the assists on his two goals right I mean defensive guys chipped in big time last night again avalanche hockey it just looked like the team were used to seeing where they
they're they're playing the type of offense that they've been working on all year and didn't let their opponent get them get them away from that right I mean six defensive points last night and don't forget bow and buy rooms goal that got called back so the defense was active yesterday and I think that's just when the avalanche are doing their best defense active and guys not afraid to go to the front of the net
yeah the the line with Myers and and Malgin on it I saw them being pesky and and you know getting in the getting in the tough areas Andrew Kogliano back at center with O'Connor they were doing their thing obviously Kogliano took that hit but Jared says he's feeling good which who the hell knows what that mean at this point because Kogliano is an indestructible dude that just seems to keep coming back for more and I don't know how he does it but the second line Lars Ella at center with JT Comfer and Evan Rodriguez on the wing
there is still a lot more to be desired offensively from Mr. Ellar and I kind of hyped it up podcast after podcast after podcast and I'm kind of hoping like what Darren Helm did against St. Louis you see that from Lars Ellar tomorrow to basically say
I'm here I'm a veteran I've done this before let's win this thing in seven and you're I'm gonna do it to show you guys because Darren Helm came in as a fourth liner and said hey I've won these before I know what this is like
and scored that goal with four seconds left and you just need that little bit of a veteran mindset to do it but despite the fact that he's not pitching in offensively like that
that line was really good I love I can't stress enough how much I love what we're seeing from Evan Rodriguez this is a guy that last year in the playoffs wasn't that good and didn't make a lot of money this summer because teams didn't pay him what he thought he was going to get because of that
going into this year he knew he was going to have a bigger chance after Gabriel Landescog was basically done for the year and he's taken full advantage of it he's playing rough he's playing physical for a long time avalanche listeners think TJ
he's a guy with a rally already in 2010 this dude came out of nowhere had an exceptional series and then kind of fell off the grace of the earth I don't think that's going to happen with Rodriguez because he's already proven in years past that he's a producer and he's good at this so him playing with
his team has been awesome because that's a little bit of an offensive touch with two guys that have yet to score and they didn't score yesterday but I can see them scoring a big pesky goal here or there like I'm talking about a Lars Eller kind of kind of gold or JT even
the half because before Eric Johnson scored and that's a funny sentence Eric Johnson scored its first goal in 11 months before Eric Johnson scored the only 8 players to score for the avalanche were their top 6, so Leckenin McInan ran in
comfer playing with Nichushkin and Rodriguez those six guys and your top two defense men of Devon Taves and Kilmer car here's an easier way to say it before Eric Johnson scored the bottom two lines and the bottom two defensive pairs had zero goals
and that's not good against the crack and team that has had 14 of 19 satyrs score a goal already are you calling your shot Lars Eller goal you know I'm calling my shot I'm calling my shot Lars Eller goal but what I'm trying to say is like again the offense there's more to be desired but I really liked what Eller was doing with comfer and with Rodriguez that line seemed to gel it worked and despite how depressing it is to say it
after Nichushkin goes down Ellers the next best thing to add to the top six it's not malgan it's not Nieto and it's not number 18 because he's not playing too well right now in fact he's playing terrible but it's Lars Eller
Yeah, I'd be interested to see what kind of momentum they carry, right? I know Jared
Benner took this time to mention how there's no momentum in playoffs from game to game,
but there's gonna have to be for Colorado in order to play good because, like you're
saying, we actually saw a decent game out of the depth guys, and we've been talking for
years now about how important that is to the EVA actually success for so in order for that
to work again in game seven, they're gonna have to bring that same energy and carry that
momentum, which apparently doesn't exist. Yeah, exactly. I mean, the biggest thing for
me is like the momentum doesn't exist, but the understanding that we finally played our
game in game six does again, like game six was so different from the first five. And
in those first five, the avalanche one to one, they lost another one in overtime, you
know, in a two to two game, they lost it in overtime off power play goal for the other
team. So like they were right there in the first five games and want to with them almost
three, despite not playing that well for a lot of it. What we saw in game six was a completely
different thing. So if you're the crack and it's like, you know, if the avalanche squeezed
out a victory in game six, like they did in game two, for example, you're still feeling
good. But it's the fact that they played the way they did where you're like, yeah,
momentum doesn't carry over. But the belief in the avalanche that like, Oh yeah, we finally
figured out how to play our game against this team. It only took us six games. That's
got to be a little worrying. I'm with you. I'm with you. I guess I got to see it in action
first, right? Yes, they might have figured something out, but there's always a chance
Seattle wakes up and just shuts it right back down. Here is here's the biggest thing that
I want to mention is is yesterday, so in games one through five, the ones that Seattle was
winning and even game two included because game three, the avalanche were the better team.
Like that's the reality. They were leading six three Seattle square to late power play
goal. But for most of that game, the abs dominated. But even in that game, they always
made mistakes. The let Seattle get back into it in 19 seconds, Alexia can then be near
us in game one, turnover, Devon, Taves in game two, they, they, they had to be down two
to nothing at the first intermission before tying it up and getting the Devon Taves over
a regulation winner was seven minutes left. Every single game Seattle was playing well
and Colorado was making mistakes in game six. Seattle didn't lose the game. Colorado won
it. And what I'm trying to explain here is think back to the game. If you're a listener,
think back where there are a lot of moments in game six where Seattle was making bone-headed
mistakes, where you can look at one player on Seattle and say, God, he's losing us this
game. Like we were saying about an injured Josh Manson, who probably shouldn't have been
playing given his injury status and explains why he looks so terrible in the playoffs. Was
there a Devon, Taves bone headed turnover, which by the way, Taves was incredible in
game six. There wasn't any of that Seattle still played their game. But Colorado was
better. That's the difference between this between the first five games in game six.
But in the end, hockey is a game of bounces. Things change on a dime. Momentum doesn't
carry over the avalanche could play their best. The Kraken could play their best, but
group hour makes one or two more saves. Suddenly it's one to one. Instead of three to one,
you're an overtime. All it takes is a coin flip, a power play maybe a fortunate bounce.
You win the game. You're the Kraken. You escape ball arena with a game seven victory.
So I'm not by any means guaranteeing an avalanche victory. I am guaranteeing a large L.R. goal,
but that's the first story. I'm not by any mean by any means guaranteeing an avalanche
victory, but Seattle didn't lose game six. The avalanche wanted and all that says to
me is if the abs play their game for the second time in this series, they will win easily
for the second time in the series. Obviously game six being the other example. Well, with
a glass half empty, what I'm also hearing is that Seattle has been able to maintain a
consistent game and play a good game throughout this series. The avalanche have only been able
to do it once. So, you know, well, do with that what you will. Yeah, here's another way
to look at it. Let's fill the cup back up to three quarters. The avalanche were consistently
annoyingly inconsistent for five games and then figured it out in game six. So if it dips
back down in game seven, then we could be like, all right, the incants as an ask couldn't
figure it out. It's not like they were unbelievable in game four and then five and six were trash.
They were unbelievable in game six and all they got to do is carry that over for one
more game. And then the slate is back to zero zero. It's another team. It's a different
color jersey. And it's the Dallas stars, but you got to get there. You got to win game
seven. You can't do what the Kraken did because I genuinely believe what you said earlier
is correct. Dave Hacks those never want to play off series in the NHL. A lot of those
guys have Stanley cups, but the team as a whole as a core as a group has not done it.
Jordan Everly with the Islanders was very confident going into a, you know, serious
clinching game. Jordan Everly in Seattle, where he doesn't really know a lot of the guys outside
of playing with him the last two years, not the same. You haven't been in that playoff
battle with them. The avalanche took something from 2020 to 2021 and took 2021 to 2022 with
McKinnon with Ranton. It would land is God with cadre with Berkey with all those guys
that played together. Macar, caves. The Kraken don't have that. They went into game six.
Like you said, with this feeling of like, all we got to do is play the same game and we're
going to win without thinking like Colorado's going to come at us hard and Colorado did
in Seattle still played well, but Seattle, but Colorado just outclassed them is the best
way to put it. So going into game seven, the apps just need to not have that same mentality.
Don't go in there thinking we can just do the same thing we did and win. Go in there knowing
you need to elevate your game because the avalanches ceiling is a lot higher than Seattle's. So
get closer to that seal ceiling and you'll keep the other team behind and just hope you
don't run into a hot golly. I like your, your visualization exercise with the listeners.
I close your eyes. Close your eyes. And think about Philip group hour. Let's try it again.
I want you all to look at yourself in the mirror. Tell yourself, I'm good enough. I'm smart enough.
And gosh darn it, people like me. And this is the year that I'm winning money from Vegas.
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for terms and conditions gambling problem. Call 1-800-522-4700. That was going so well until I coughed.
I blew it. A conversation I wanted to have next, Arif, is let's, let's zero in on MECO
Rantinen. I've seen a different version of MECO Rantinen in these last couple games.
I've seen almost a fusion of MECO Rantinen and Gabriel Landeskog into the same person.
What do you think about that? I mean, not only from a leadership standpoint, but I think on ice,
you see him getting into these scraps that maybe he doesn't necessarily deserve to be in or should
be in, but he's, he's trying, he's trying to step up. He's trying to bring some physicality. He's
trying to stick up for his teammates and they know that there's a void there and MECO Rantinen,
you know, he's almost gabelandeskog's, I don't know how to say, I don't want to call him mini
me because he's huge. You know, it's bigger than Gabe. It's his little apprentice, so to speak.
So I want to just shine some light on what we've seen from MECO Rantinen in these last couple nights.
Okay, so close your eyes. No, think back. Remember we were in the press box during the regular season
and there was that day I pulled up the video of Gabe Landeskog getting into it with Milan Luchic.
And Luchic did his thing where he grabbed Gabe and he shook him a little bit,
pretty much made Gabe look like his little bitch and Landeskog kept the gloves on and said,
Nope, I'm not doing this. This guy is going to kick my ass. But the reason why Gabe was in that
situation was because he plays the game you're explaining MECO did. Nothing back to yesterday.
MECO Rantinen, who never gets into that kind of stuff, well, he does, but like in a general sense,
it's not the rest. Usually with the rest, he was going to fight five of them this year.
But think of past playoff runs. He doesn't get into a lot of that.
Yesterday, he decides to initiate with a behemoth named Will Borgen. Even his name sounds like he's
a Cyclops. And what did he do? Will Borgen the destroyer? Literally. That was good. What did he do
as soon as Will Borgen turned back around? He dropped to his knees and said, I'm I'm noping
the fuck out. Like this is not happening. What you are explaining. And I'm going to credit my
brother for that one, Rantinen said, Nope, said, Nope, the fuck out. And he just, Nope, the fuck out.
That's what he did. So Rantinen, what you are explaining, he did exactly that. He's been doing
exactly that. And that's what they need. He's realized it. You got no 91. You got no 92.
But 96 is a bigger number. And so is the dude's body that wears that jersey or something like that.
He goes a big guy. He's bigger than cadre and Gabe. He knows he needs to play with a little bit
of that because you don't want to see McKinnon play with that. McKinnon's better when he stays
away from that stuff. You know, he can get involved in it here and there. But you know,
McKinnon tried to fight Dumbo once and almost broke his trick in hand and made us all have a
heart attack in a season where the avalanche were primed for a long run and eventually wound the cup.
So seeing Miko step up like that is awesome. The other guy that's sticking up like that,
I already mentioned it. Number nine, Evan Rodriguez, he's getting it to everybody's grill. He's getting
his ass kicked out there because of Mikko's a big dude. What is number nine? But this is playoff
hockey. You gotta find a way to do it. And these guys are finding a way to do it. What we're seeing
from Miko Rantinen. And despite him becoming the world's most talented enforcer out there or,
you know, pest, he is tied with Leon Dreyseidel for the most playoff goals in a series where we
feel like the avalanche can't score goals. Miko Rantinen leads the NHL with six goals and six
games. Grandpa Dreyseidel has only played five games, but still taking a couple games to get there
too. So I mean, just goes to show what he's done the last couple games to really elevate his game.
He scored two goals in each of games three and four. He scored one in the opener. He scored one
in game six. He's had a goal in five of the six games of the series. Four of the six Jesus.
You know Evan Rodriguez wants it though, right? I mean, he got he does.
Bounced out of the first round last year. He's supposed to be the piece to fill some voids this
year. And if they were to get bounced out of the first round again, I think he would feel that a
lot personally. So he also knows that like, look, last year, like I said, he started the playoffs
on the fourth line with Teddy Blooger. And I forget who else in Pittsburgh. He got a chance to play
in the top six this year. And he knows unless he wants to take a discount, he's probably not
coming back here. Unless he ends up in another situation where it's September and he doesn't
have a contract. But I think, you know, you learned from that the first time and you take the big
deal the next time, you know, hint hint, nudge, nudge, Mr, John Klingberg, who just ended a
season with Minnesota. Same thing. You don't want to be that player two years in a row that has to
take a one year deal because you fibbed on a longer term deal. So he knows he's probably not going to
be back. But he also looks at the roster. He says exactly what you and I are saying. He says, well,
all those players are thinking, but nobody wants to say it because they're competitors.
The 2023 avalanche are struggling. They got injuries. They got adversity. Their captain hasn't
played in the Chushkin situations now going on. But they're going to come back stronger in 2024.
And he's thinking, I'm not going to be here in 2024. Let's make the most out of this and see what
we can what we can do, maybe a miracle run. Indeed, indeed, we'll see how that goes. I guess as far as
things we want to talk about from yesterday, that's about all of it. But there's still some news about
violence at Chushkin that we've yet to discuss on the podcast. You know, I know everybody's well
informed and everybody's pretty much as informed as we are. So yeah, I know we're not going to shed
any light and educate anybody on the situation. But I know there are some things you wanted to say
about it. Yeah, I mean, the obviously the news is out there now, now that the police reports have
been have been shared with media. It's always fascinating that like when you dig into these
things and you know, this is I'm not going to pretend to have like history of doing this kind
of stuff, but like you do the journalistic things, you investigate, you reach out to the police
department, to the file department, you get these documents and you're like, I got this big thing
and you post it. And you know, I may have been either the second or third person to post it,
but like 17 reporters that cover this team, people at people at news stations that are rarely in
that press box, we're doing the same digging. And it's just fascinating to see how everybody's out
for the same information. And at that point, the Seattle police department's like, all right,
we know what's going on here. It's a Colorado level and it's a bunch of people from Denver.
The information was released. And honestly, it gives you a little bit of clarity,
but it also gives you more questions and answers. There was a lot of things. If you haven't seen
it yet, you know, check out my high sports.com for my article. Kyle Fredrickson at the Colorado
Gazette did something that I didn't do, which I thought was very smart. He actually shared
the police report for full transparency so that you guys can read what I read and what the other
reporters read before writing our articles about it. So Kyle Fredrickson is a good place to go,
find his account and scroll and find that picture of the PDF document that we all received. And
it's troubling. There's a lot of questions about it. It doesn't really give any clarity.
The avalanche are not doing their best job of, you know, stepping up and stepping ahead of this.
And especially after these questions, like my least favorite thing about yesterday,
and obviously I was not in Seattle. And I wish I was because of this Neutrushkin thing is
the avalanche are facing adversity. They're down three to two. So they're defending Stanley
Cup championship run. They're playing a crack and expansion team in their second season in the NHL,
full of a bunch of second and third liners that are ultimately going to embarrass you if they
beat you in the first round, especially in six the way that the series has gone with the apps
leading two to one. And Neutrushkin is not playing because of that. And then Josh Manson is hurt and
Kilmer car is coming back from his suspension. And all of this crap is going on. And Jared
Bedner has to stand in front of media. And rightfully so media is asking these questions because
they absolutely should be asking these questions. And Jared's deflecting. He's like a ping pong
paddle just hitting it back. You ask him a question and I'm just going to wave it away.
Where is Val doesn't say? Are you yeah, just ping pong just knocking it right back. Where is Val
doesn't say? Do you expect him back doesn't say is there a timeline doesn't say just yeah,
just constantly hit forest, gump in it right back into the ping pong table. And he's not the guy
that should be doing that. And obviously he was briefed. None of us are stupid enough to think
that Jared was doing that on his own. Before going up there, he was briefed by PR. This
year, these are the questions that are going to come at you. And these are how you're going to
answer them. And he was probably briefed about that last Saturday when the actual situation happened
about a week ago right now. So it is unfortunate that that's ultimately what's happening because
as soon as this information became public, the best, most easiest thing that the avalanche could
have done was release a statement, no further comment at this time. However, you don't even
have to give full details. Just acknowledge the situation and give us a little bit more of a
clarity of why Nachushkin is not here. Is it something that's going to end up in a legal issue
for him? Because there are some things in that document that sound a little scary. Is it disciplinary?
Did he break a team rule? Because again, there are assumptions you can make from reading that
document that say maybe he broke a team rule. But there's a reason why we're all making these
predictions about it being legal or about it being related to an intoxication. It's because we don't
know because they won't get ahead of it and just give a little bit of a clarity. And Jared
Bednar has to stand there with his team down three to two on the road in a rowdy climate pledge arena
and ping pong paddle hit those questions right back at the media without answering them. And
they're dropping the ball. And I think the best way to get anything out of the avalanche at this
point is to have you write like a 17 page long tweet about how they're just dropping the ball.
Should I get Adam? Let's get it. Let's do another threat JJ. Listen up Mr. Sakic. And Chris,
I know he reads my really your real name. I know he reads my tweets but no. Today during the hockey
show Ryan, you know, because Ryan Bolding a former member of Avalanche PR had a lot of great insight
and that's kind of the way we steered the conversation right. I kind of
opened it with the exact same statement saying there's no info we're going to share here that's
going to educate you. But there's a lot of I guess behind the scenes stuff that you need to know.
So I would suggest finding that podcast. If you want to fast forward to about the 30 minute mark,
that's where that conversation begins. And Ryan Bolding says a lot of interesting things that I
necessarily didn't know. For example, the way the avalanche are designed versus other NHL teams
is that funnel of information has to lead all through Jared. When you are the head coach of
the Colorado Avalanche, you are essentially the spokesman for anything that goes on. You're not
going to talk to assistants. You're not going to talk to anybody else. So yeah, it sucks for Jared
Bednar because you could tell he's getting frustrated with it. He doesn't want to talk about it anymore.
He's like, guys, please stop asking me. I'm not going to tell you. And of course, the journalists
are saying we're going to keep asking because we want more information. And like you're saying,
it's all leading to just more people to speculate and come up with their own crazy theories. I know
I have one of my own. I know I have four. I've talked to several people that have crazy different
ones of their own. And it would just be so much more helpful if they just come out and tell us
at least a little bit of something. And I understand the privacy that Mountain Chushkin is deserved
here. I get it. But at least, and I would also understand if they come out and say, look, we just
didn't want to create more distraction during playoffs when we're trying to focus on winning.
Maybe they come out during the off season and tell us a little bit more. But I'm not holding my
breath about it. Neither am I absolutely not neither am I. The big problem that I have with this entire
thing is by thinking you're not causing a distraction, you're causing an even bigger distraction.
And Val Nachushkin deserves his privacy with this shirt because I know a lot of people are really
upset that we're digging into this. But on the other hand, there's a lot of people sitting there
saying there's no real reporters in Denver anymore because nobody asks the hard questions.
And it's like, all right, so which one is it? Because now we're teeter tottering here.
Do you want the hard questions or not? Should we do it? Should we not? And it's like,
I don't understand what the general public wants at this point. And obviously, it's just both sides
of the spectrum right now. But the biggest thing for me is, look, does Val deserve his privacy? Yeah,
sure. Of course. At the same time, he's a public figure. So what level of privacy does he deserve?
But there is a level of clarity the team can provide without impeding on that privacy.
There is. How much do you want to bet that over the summer, we find an article written in Russian
bingo that explains a lot more about what's actually going on? Yeah, because
I have a theory. And I'm not going to share any of them on here because it would be silly.
But I have a theory that makes me believe if the avalanche win game seven, we might see Nachushkin
and nobody gets your hopes up. This is just me and my stupid brain. Please do not get your hopes
up. We could see him skating at family sports. I don't know Tuesday. If they have Monday off
practice Tuesday and game one verse Dallas is Wednesday, assuming they win Sunday, we could see
him at family sports sports on Tuesday. And we all know Val doesn't talk to media. And even if
they trot him out there, he's I guess a shit. And bedner's not going to say shit. He's just going
to say vows back from his personal reasons. And the theory that I have in my mind leads to that
outcome. But I'm not stupid. I know you guys aren't stupid. Obviously talking to our listeners
close your eyes. I thought you're talking to me. I was going to go like, I don't know. A little
stupid here. But I know you guys aren't stupid. People also have theories that say has gave,
has gave him to, but has found the Chushkin played his last game with the avalanche.
But you see what's happening. There's a theory where he could be skating in 72 hours in Denver.
There's a theory where we're never going to see him again. And that speculation starts on this
side and goes all the way to this side. Because all the team needs to do is just give a little
clarity. Here's why he's gone. And he'll be back on x day or he'll be back in general.
Because what was my favorite question and answer from the gay blandest God press conference?
Not that this one makes a difference. But it was the question of, do you feel like you're ever
going to play again? And Gabe said, absolutely. Yes. No, he said, yes. Am I going to play another
game? Yes. No doubt about it in my mind. Yes. Yes. Yes. And he kept saying that.
That was enough clarity for people's minds.
Gay blandest God didn't fumble the question. He didn't will see it. He didn't even do that
thing where like he said yes, and it sounds like he's lying to him. Obviously he's not a doctor,
but to him, there's still something in his brain that says, yeah, we're going to get this figured
out and I'm going to play had he said anything else. We would all be sitting here thinking, oh,
boy, there's a big chance gay blandest God's career is over. But in my brain right now,
there's a small chance that gay blandest God's career is over because nothing about what he said
sounded like he was fibbing. And I've used this example before. My favorite thing that you told
me, you went to Darren Hellman, you asked him after he returned from his second injury, you said,
Darren, how's your body feeling? And after answering every question so fast, he took in your question,
he absorbed it and he, you know, I'm feeling great. And you're like, no, you're fucking not,
you're so not. And he's still not. We haven't seen him in a few games and he's barely out there.
And he's even when he's playing, you can tell he's like hanging by a thread literally.
But gay blandest God, the way he answered that question didn't give you those kinds of vibes.
His body language didn't give you those kinds of vibes. So all the avalanche have to do is just
give that level of clarity. I don't know if gay blandest God means he genuinely feels he's going
to play another game in October 2023 or October 2026. But I'm confident he's going to play another
any child game just based off of that. Down the Truscan situation is a little different. There isn't
as much of a question mark. If this is something legal related, yeah, maybe it could end with him
never playing in the NHL ever again. It could end with him playing in October or even playing next
week or hell even tomorrow on Sunday in game seven. But they're not giving us that clarity.
And that's why you and I have been talking about this for 10 minutes,
you know, without really sharing what some of our theories are, we all have them. And it's on the
team to do that. And especially when it became public knowledge of what this police report is,
after responsible journalism did the responsible journalistic thing of ensuring that there was a
name connected to the situation that we all heard about a week ago in Seattle.
Now the speculation is starting because we have a confirmation that the police issue at the hotel
that the avalanche was staying at is connected to the name Valeriy Nichushkin. And again, you know,
all of our personal theories can go whatever direction they want, but it feels like the
more the team stays silent, the more likely people are to think that there's some sort of
implication that they're involved in, or they're just simply trying to protect themselves. So
simply making any sort of a statement would wipe that slate clean as well.
Yeah, as long as you make it smartly, and there's a lot of smart people in that organization,
but they're choosing not to do it, it's how they do business. Ryan Bolden would know that
better than any of us, because he's been there and he's worked it. But it's not the right thing to do.
And even with that, with that hovering over the team's head, it further proves that what they did
in game six was just so good. It was so great because that was another thing that Nathan McInan
and Miko ran it and killed McCar and Devon Taves. They might have more information,
they're not going to tell us, but it's another thing hovering over them. On top of the fact that
their captain hasn't played all year, this Nichushkin thing, the injuries, everything.
With that, I guess we look to game seven and try to approach it as optimistic as we can,
right? As we end the podcast with negativity, maybe we do one more exercise. Everybody,
close your eyes, envision Kayl McCar, ripen that puck from the blue line on the power play.
It gets through hits Philip Grubauer in the chest, bounce on the ice, archery,
like an in there, puts it top cheese. And then Grubauer jumps him after because
luck and impresses him off. Now, I want you all to look in the mirror, close your eyes,
now with your eyes closed, look in the mirror. Keep them closed. Can you see your reflection?
That's the avalanche winning, this Stanley Cup again. Or just do you say that at least?
That was deep. Cool. High sports.
Make sure to catch our post game pod from game seven inside of ball arena. Of course,
Eric and I will be there as always. And we'll try to bring as much updates as we possibly can,
as many updates as we possibly can from morning skate. So if you made it this far in the
way, wait, wait, wait, wait, what one update we can get from now, Darren Helm and Josh Manson are
for sure not playing in game seven. So if you guys hear this on Saturday, just know that that
will not change Sunday. Jared confirmed that today. Another thing is I do want to address the end
of our game five podcast. We were terrible and we promised we would be better. The avalanche
were terrible. They promised they would be better. The avalanche were better. I think we were better
today. I don't know. We'll let the listeners tell us, but we did it. And now I'm going off the
rail. So please, I'm the show. Yeah, there's quite a bit of a parallel, right, of our performance so
far on the playoffs and the avalanche. Hopefully everybody brings their a game tomorrow for Sunday.
But yeah, wait, at least we had fun. I hope at least people had some fun and maybe a couple giggles
out of the end of that podcast. But yeah, if you made it this far on the podcast, bless your pretty
little heart because you're probably listening to it on a Saturday or Sunday, which I don't know
why you would waste your time with us on your weekend. But hey, I appreciate it anyway. Don't say that.
Let's make hockey for everyone's rise. And we'll see you.
Bye.
Yeah.
.