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Here's Chris with your host, Julian Mackenzie.
Part of the game.
Siege.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, stave off elimination.
They were entering game four down three oh the attempt
at a comeback is on for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Don't don't mind me laughing, but it's very hard for them to do this.
If they do it, it'll be history.
It'll be historic, but it's a challenge.
It's a challenge.
It's a challenge.
But what I would say to you is what we saw in game four at least
gives you the whiff of possibility that they're up to the challenge.
Because they just spent 48 hours
being subjected to a lot of speculation from people like you
and I about who might come and go, what it might mean.
And being swept, make no mistake.
Avoiding a sweep is worth something I think in this instance.
Because they did show pushback.
They showed battle level.
They showed fight.
They want to play off game on the road the way you have to win a playoff
game on the road.
Blocking shots, not giving up too many high danger chances.
Obviously, they got a good break on the first goal.
The game goes off.
The official bounces up front to the new lander.
They found a way.
And I thought their top players played hard and showed commitment.
And I have no idea if they can repeat it one more time, two more
times or three more times.
But I think the way they won the game makes me go like, OK.
You know, they didn't go away quietly, which was obviously their goal.
And so this is not a prediction.
I have no idea what's going to happen.
Maybe the season just ends Friday night.
But they showed me enough to make me think, hey, they might have this in them.
We'll just have to see how it goes.
What did you think of how Mitch Marner played?
That's a guy we're talking about guys who were getting picked apart
in the last few days.
That's a guy who was getting picked apart for his reaction to,
you know, I'm thinking of the specific comments where you say, you know,
we don't pay attention to stuff that's going on outside and paraphrasing a little bit.
But like, that's a guy who has very much been under fire.
It feels as if almost every year when the Leafs make the playoffs, his name comes up.
What did you think of how he played?
I'll say that there's defiance in his game.
That's what I saw.
There was there was a degree of pushback.
And look at Mitch Marner is not a big guy.
What's what's made him one of the better players in the league is is
clearly his offensive gifts, his ability to see the ice.
He's so creative.
You know, he's more of a finesse and skill player than anything else.
But, you know, to play this time of year, though, you need to add a little different element,
I think.
And you saw some on this game.
You know, I think he was credited with three or four hits on the night.
Certainly was more physically engaged.
You know, it gets a goal, which, you know, I think we'll probably lift some weight off his shoulders.
It's kind of ironic, actually.
The two goals in the game by Toronto and a two on win, very tight game, are William
Melander and Mitch Marner.
And I actually think the best things those players both did had nothing to do with scoring.
You know, William Melander showed a lot more defensive awareness, maybe commitment, whatever
you want to call it.
He was he was backtracking to the neutral zone, breaking up plays.
You know, he helped ease some of the burden on the defense when we're on the ice when
he was out there playing because I think he really was showing a different level of engagement
defensively.
And I'd say, you know, Mitch Marner is always more defensively aware, but he got some of
his swagger back, Julian.
That's the way I see it.
I mean, what made games three so perplexing is just the stakes were high, right?
You're down to 0 in the series at that time.
You know, you're expecting a statement type of night from all the top players in that
moment, just given all they've put into the season, right?
They're more than 90 games in at this point.
And for the core players and the team, they're seven years in or five years in, in the case
of John Tavares, but you know, they've been here a long time.
And Mitch just looked a little lost in that game, but I like the pushback in game four.
I like seeing him like a little edgy even, you know, he's taken those glove shots at the
buzzer from Matthew Kachuk.
And then he's asked about it.
You know, him and Kachuk, of course, played for the London Knights together, former teammates,
know each other well.
Yeah, and he said that I don't give a flying, you know what the swear word is.
I just, there was a little edge there and I think that's good.
I do think it's necessary to have a different level of commitment to win the playoffs and
Mitch Varna was leading the way for the Leafs in that game.
And then of course, then he gets rewarded with a goal, a bit of a seeing eye shot from
distance.
You know, that's, that's just funny how those things kind of work out.
And I think because he's been under such pressure to produce, I really do believe the
end sports since game two of round one Julian, so I think that even just a goal that goes
in that way, it might free him up a little mentally to, to, you know, get back to doing
some of the stuff he does best.
There's been so much pressure on the core four, like that, that phrase has been used
a lot the last few days, especially once the series ended up being three oh in favor of
the Panthers and good on knee lander and Marner for those two guys just for them to score.
But that pressure obviously is not going to be alleviated.
What about for management?
What about for Kyle Dubas?
What about for for Brendan Shanahan who look, this is the first time I've seen him around
the team.
All playoffs long you've obviously been following the team.
You may have seen him in other points, but like there's like a shot that like tic-tac-toe
or there's like a gift that he put up.
And like you see guys in the, in their, in the leaf spots and like Brendan Shanahan's
kind of in this curious position where this TV is kind of blocking him.
Like there's like a weird conspiracy in my head thinking like he purposefully picked that
spot just so he can sort of be hidden.
But like I'm curious about the pressure that those two guys, Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan
are facing throughout this series because you have to think their jobs are on the line.
Well, it's immense.
And you know, I've talked to over the years to various management people in these situations.
And it's such a helpless feeling when you get into playoff series.
I mean, obviously there's things behind the scenes that they can try to help the coaching
staff.
They're another set of eyes in terms of bouncing ideas off.
Like it may be Paul Player aside here there to try to help out in that way.
But there's really objectively speaking, there's not all that much GM or team president can
do.
I wouldn't watch the games up in the press box alongside me and my colleagues.
They can't really out, you know, affect the outcome anymore than they already have by
building the team and making the decisions they did that got the Leafs to this stage.
And so I think it's got to be tough watching it.
And you know, it's funny, I've obviously crossed paths with them, you know, both in Tampa
and at the games here in South Florida.
You know, we're in the elevator together actually is kind of an awkward feeling right
after the game's three overtime loss.
Like right in the moments after you're all just jammed in the small elevator.
You know, I can only imagine what's been going through their minds.
I mean, they're as aware of this as anyone.
I mean, they don't they don't need some.
They don't need someone in the media to point out that, hey, if this doesn't work, you know,
you might not have anywhere to work yourself next year.
And you know, in the case of Kyle Dubas, of course, being an expiring contract.
I mean, I certainly think he'll have a job somewhere if not in Toronto, but you know,
it was interesting to see Shannon and I'll put it that way in the management box because
he has not been watching all the time from there.
I'm not trying to fuel speculation here, but anything because I think he I know, I
know a little bit in the talk to him in the past, he likes to watch sometimes from right
right down low at ice level.
I think he's almost maybe even a little bit superstitious about that sort of thing.
And he's been around like he's been at practice to play off.
Simon Dubas have stood together and you're talking, you know, all those sorts of things,
but to see him in there, there's not a lot of accidents.
I just wonder if, you know, maybe there's some unity there, even even the day before they
were all sitting together, they had a practice day here in Florida.
And Brendan was wearing like a leafs hoodie.
I'd never seen him.
He always looks so like perfectly put together in a suit.
You know, maybe in this, it sounds weird, but maybe when you're sort of facing elimination
when you're down, oh, three, when when kind of everything's on the line, maybe it almost
brings people closer together because you probably get a gallows humor behind the scenes
is my guess.
Probably probably some jokes about the situation.
How else do you alleviate tension, right?
And I actually think for the players now more of the management, I think having the two
days between game three and four in this series might have helped the leaves.
I mean, Morgan Riley said explicitly, he found that time helpful to sort of really work
through his thoughts and like restore belief and just, you know, kind of process where
they were at, I think.
You know, the least are probably as stunned as their fan base to find themselves down
or three, especially after finally winning a playoff series, you know, just eight, nine
days before.
And you know, that might have contributed me to get the rest of your mind and your body
a little bit before that game.
And we saw as I mentioned, like a real commitment, I think, playing the hard way to win.
And now there's no two off days.
It's going to be every other day with travel.
And so it's going to be a slog if the leaves can extend this thing out.
But yeah, I mean, it was kind of interesting to like, Sheldon Keefe's mood changed in those
days.
You know, obviously he was sort of emotional after the game's re-loss and there's an engine
attention with the questions being asked.
You know, it's not a tough time.
But then on the morning and game four, Keefe basically gave up his whole lineup, like they
didn't disguise anything the way he's kind of been doing in the playoffs.
It was almost just like this is the team that he's going to use Ryder dying with his
guys, so to speak.
And I just wonder, we'll see where this goes.
But look, they lose Friday.
Who knows what we're talking about, but it's just funny.
Like if they ever do my own comeback, I wonder if they look back on that period where everyone
kind of came closer together under like the most direct heat you could be under under
the spotlight under the media speculation.
I mean, look, we talked about it together on the previous show, Julie, but I basically
wrote a column with their season over, right?
And maybe it'll be egg on my face and a lot of others if somehow they managed to do the
impossible here.
Like if they do the impossible, I was talking about it with a few other friends yesterday,
like, I mean, that's that's something short of historic, obviously, but like, just the
thought of the Leafs, like if it gets to that point, they somehow come back from a
three oh deficit, like the core, their place in history, like, they're going to be like
remembered as like heroes in a certain sense, right?
Like that's when they'll officially get that label of truly being different.
But of course, that's putting the car before the horse at this point.
But if you're them, I think you have to embrace that.
Like, I think I wonder if they're talking about that a little bit, because it is a chance
to just sort of give a giant middle finger to anyone who's ever questioned or doubted
them, right?
And there's a lot of people in that camp.
I mean, let's face it, they've given us lots of reason to question and tell them to.
I mean, it's not as though those are made up narratives.
None of this is personal.
You know what I'm saying?
It's more that they have consistently played down to the moment and had trouble getting
through the elimination style games, but they can they can wipe away a lot of years of history.
This is one thing that they have said again, again, even the very first day trading camp.
I remember Kyle Dubas saying it's another chance to change the story, right?
If they change the story, the story has changed.
The labels that they have, the things that are written and said will all slip 180 degrees
in one day if they could ever get the job done.
And you know, I still think, look, I don't know if that the problem now, I think that
the real issue is going down Oh three is you can play a really good game and lose, right?
Like it's not that that's just the fact it's it's hockey and weird things happen.
So in some ways you've just you've just removed all your margin for error.
But I think even if they can just force it to game six, I think there's value every time
that they can show the pushback show that they care.
I mean, I didn't have a doubt of their care, but I think sometimes fans think that way.
Just because you know, I'm a little closer to it and know the guys like I see how heavily
it weighs on them when they've failed to deliver in the big moments.
Like I don't think the issue at all has been care.
It might almost be care too much at times, especially when I think of a player like Mitch
Marner, a local guy with a lot on his shoulders.
I think who puts a lot of pressure on himself, you know, some of the years maybe where he
hasn't delivered in those big moments, you just wonder almost like if he almost want
to get him on the psychologist couch a little bit, right?
And get his mind in a good spot.
That's what I liked in their game for.
I thought I thought that they had the right mindset.
They clearly played in a way that could allow them to have success.
They protected Joseph Wall, right?
We haven't even talked about the fact that they've thrown in an unproven goaltender here
through an injury to Ilya Samsonov.
And I didn't think they asked too much of them in that moment.
I mean, he was solid.
He made the saves he had to make, but it wasn't like a flurry of odd man rushes and you know,
they got hemmed in a little bit, but it wasn't like earlier in the series, you know, where
Samsonov I think at times has really been put under duress by the Panthers.
I thought the least protected a goaltender at Citrusius.
Make his first ever pro playoff game start.
He never started a playoff game in the American Hockey League.
And he handled himself well.
And now we get the chance to dream of an interesting series, but it doesn't, in my mind, it doesn't
really get interesting unless I'm getting on a plane and flying back here to Fort Lauderdale
in two days time.
Because you've been on so many of those flights, you would so love it.
I'm not going to complain.
I mean, I am living my dream, man.
These are the biggest games of the year.
I'm not one of those media guys that's bitter every time the series goes longer.
I mean, I guess that if I'm being honest, there probably have been a few instances in
my life, specific instances where I will just want it a series to end, not because I was
cheering against a particular team, but I just wanted a few days off probably.
But you know, I'm prepared to go seven in this round if that's what's in the often.
But it's going to be difficult.
And the Panthers, you know, that the Panthers have history in front of them too.
Like they've been a tremendous story, man.
Six wins in a row in the playoffs, this stuff to do, right?
And they were left for dead six weeks ago, including on this podcast.
So now they're looking at the chance, you know, they're starting to talk about, look,
we have a Stanley Cup final here.
Like this is, this is the, it's the cool part of the playoffs, right?
It happens slowly and fast at the same time.
It's kind of like an optical illusion, like it, because it is, it takes forever, right?
Like the, this series is only at two games in what?
The last like six days.
So it's playing out slowly.
They're doing the slogging through all these media availabilities and all this stuff.
But then you look around, all of a sudden you're like, oh wait, like we're one of eight
teams left.
It's going to be four before you know it.
And as we've talked to previously, I don't think there's one alpha dog out there.
I mean, might be the owners, I guess, but this, this is such a weird plot.
Let's see.
Panther series is the closest series, even though it's three one, like the games have
been four, two, three, two, three, two, and two one.
I mean, they've all been kind of one shot either way type of games.
And that's kind of the irony too, that the Panthers built a three-pping lead and that
we've been so hard on all these is it beliefs of legitimately, especially the last three
have been in the game with a chance to win it.
They had a lead in each of the last three games in the series by scoring the first goal
and the first two in game two.
So it's just kind of funny the way it's happened.
But yeah, I mean, the least I think they really want to put pressure on Florida.
I don't think pressure comes in the equation unless or until they win game five.
I think I think if you are coming back here for game six and again, because it's going
to be every other day now with, you know, three hour flights in the middle and there's
not going to be a lot of time to slow things down and and regain your bearings.
So I think that that's what the Leafs are trying to embrace is just to actually put some
pressure on the Panthers and see how they handle it.
Okay, last thing before I get to you can bet that.
Is there a scenario where during this work because we're all talking about whether or
not there's going to be big changes with the Leafs?
Is there a scenario where it doesn't happen?
Is it only applicable if they somehow come back and win it in seven?
If let's say like they force it to six, is there a possibility where damage could be
limited?
It's hard to say, you know, it's really I don't have the answer to that question.
I have to think I have to think if they get it to game seven though and you lose a game
seven if you like.
I mean, look, this the Leafs are at the results stage of their of where they're at, right?
Like it's it's not about moral victories.
It's in and they needed to win around which they did.
You know, I think not going quietly or easily against the Panthers show something.
But you know, change is inevitable anyway.
I mean, the part of the reason for the change is that it's been a number of years.
Part of the reason is there's literally contractual decisions, whether it's the fact
William Newlander can be signed to an extension or awesome Matthews in July 1st, the fact
that Cal do doesn't have a contract.
I think if they lose in this series, there's still probably some degree of change.
I don't know how deep it'll be.
I think had they been swept, had they just sort of folded last night?
I think the possibility of the likelihood of a bigger change was there because your
ownership of this team, I don't think you can watch that and feel confident in running
it all back.
But sure, it's crazy to say after all these years, but another winner to make I think
makes a big difference on how this looks, how this feels and ultimately how the decisions
won for when it comes time to make those decisions.
Okay, we're going to go to you can bet that and then we're going to touch off on the Oilers
Golden Knight series after that segment.
You can bet that with David Bastol.
Brought to you by Sports Interaction, get in the action and make a play.
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I've got another one of Dangles Doosies for you, Seach.
Matthews on Matthew, this is called.
This points goals and assists between Austin Matthews or Matthew Kachuk for game five of
the Panthers leaf series.
Matthew's the favorite at minus 133.
Actually, no, sorry, miss reading that.
Matthew Kachuk, the favorite minus 105, but Matthew's also at minus 133.
Who are you picking?
I would lean towards Austin Matthews.
I think he's actually played a little better in the series.
If you're stuck at a big game one and has been a little quieter since then, I mean, there's
not too much quiet about the way Matthew Kachuk plays.
We saw him in the scrums and the like, but hasn't really been generating a ton offensively.
I think if you look at the underlying numbers for awesome Matthews, he's been Toronto's
best player consistently.
I mean, obviously from a gaming game, I was standpoint, that doesn't always the case,
but I almost feel like he's a little bit do.
He's had some looks.
He's had some posts in the series.
I mean, hasn't scored yet in the series.
You don't find many five game stretches where he goes without a goal.
And so I would be inclined with the game being at home with the stakes for the least to say
that awesome matches is going to have his moments on Friday.
Okay, I would have gone the opposite honestly.
Feels if we're still waiting for that big game for Matthew Kachuk, but we're allowed
to we're allowed to disagree on this show every now and again.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, I'm not saying it with a ton of conviction.
I mean, but I my inclination would be awesome.
I think that he's been around it and he's just needing a breakthrough and you know, I just
watch a guy play enough games.
I'm never thinking that he's going to have 10 games where he doesn't score.
I just think it doesn't happen.
So yeah, I think I think that and the Leafs have to go win that game to that's the other
thing that stakes stakes are a little different on one side than the other.
Absolutely true.
Don't forget to check out sports interaction dot com slash SDPN for all the best odds before
game in game and the best prompts sports interaction dot com slash SDPN.
This episode of the Chris Johnston show is brought to you by Manscaped friends, family
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For those not watching on YouTube CJ is in the middle of the airport in Fort Lauderdale.
I got to say just shout out to you being you know we got to move schedules around in order
to make it work all the time for these shows but the fact that you're willing to do these
shows from the airport like thank you for you know doing that like that's really cool.
I'm getting lots of funny looks because I got like my little tripod set up here.
I've got a I've got a small camera light.
I see a few people like double taking like what's what is this guy doing?
I'm literally set up on a garbage can like on top of the garbage can.
Yeah if anyone's been to terminal to a Fort Lauderdale International Airport it is a gong
show terminal.
It's always busy.
There's not really quiet spaces.
There's not really much like food court type seating anywhere.
So I'm just I'm just literally living my living my work life here and getting some funny
looks as people go by.
Yeah literally as like you're answering questions I'm just spotting people in the background.
There was a guy in a leaf jersey who went in the I don't know what restaurants behind
you but he like went in and I'm just wondering like I wonder if he knows that Chris Johnston
is like how many feet away from him and I wonder what he'd do if he realized.
I actually got stopped twice on the concourse last night by fans of the podcast.
So yeah there's there's a lot of people repping in blue and white down here.
I don't know if there are snowboards that live down here or just flew down to the games
would have you but yeah got a couple selfies on the concourse last night the CJ show was
there's CJ show selfies with 100%ers I like it.
Justin Thomas was like the game last night too.
I didn't see him though.
The golfer?
Yep the pro golfer.
Oh yeah.
Well now that makes me now makes you wonder if Brooks kept his going to make an appearance.
Well he was in Toronto for game two.
It took some selfies with fans and it was circulating on social media.
It was there wearing a Panthers jersey.
The live golf tour has a tournament this weekend so my I don't know if you would have been able
to make yesterday's game but yeah I mean like look this we're right in golf country here
right I mean a lot of the best PJ tour players live within half an hour hour drive of the
Panthers arena so I guess it only stands to reasons they got a few fans and that score.
Makes sense.
Let's talk a little bit about another playoff series going on involving another Canadian
team.
The Edmonton Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights.
It's what you made a really great point in the last segment where that's the Leafs Panther
series is three one for Florida but the games there seem to be close whereas you have Vegas
and Edmonton where they seem to be trading these wins and I don't know if I get that
same sense of closeness and I don't get that sense of one team firmly grasping the series
over the other one team seems to generate momentum then the next team then back to one
team then to the other.
You could say that about Dallas and Seattle too but especially so in the case of Edmonton
and Vegas what do you make of that series.
I want to miss the first period of games in that series because usually after the first
period you're just watching to see what chaos is going to ensue because usually the outcome
is kind of sealed in one direction or another.
It's an interesting series you know I give the Oilers credit now.
They've taken two pretty big punches in games one and three and had to sort of answer them
and not allow a series to kind of get in a situation for example Leafs did and they've
come back strongly and really had strong openings in games two and four to even it up.
You have to like I mean the hundred percenters are low I've been back in the early start
so I'm certainly not I'm not seeing anything yet that makes me doubt or checking guess
my pick you know the fact that Lauren Buswell has left injured and giving way to Aiden Hill
and the Golden Knights net you know makes me think the Oilers got a little bit of an
opportunity there and you know I just think that they have the right they have the right
make up I mean obviously they have great players but it seems to me you're seeing the things
you want out of a playoff harden team that you know they know the importance of not letting
things get too far away from them of squandering too many opportunities and you know we'll
see what happens now with some of the potential suspensions in that series to really the two
most impactful the Fencemen Alex Patranzlo who had the big slash on the under I side
all away from the play and then you know an automatic instigator fight fighting major
went to Darnell Nerson last five minutes a game so that's supposed to be an automatic
one game suspension so perhaps both teams will be down their most important Fencemen
you know come game five but you know it's it's I'd like you know selfishly because from
an entertainment standpoint you'd like the games to be closer but no I do I do think
the Oilers have shown us something here I mean they they went down even against LA
too right like they've they just look composed in the tough moments and that's you know obviously
what you need to somehow get 16 wins in the spring and lift that cup.
Honestly just I want to focus on the the Patranzlo slash and we can get into the nurse fight
as well like I saw that slash at the end of the game and I thought okay he should at
least get a fine but there's a part of you thinking you know man you know are they good
to suspend him are they not good to suspend him it just feels as if the inconsistency with
some of the judgments being handed out this postseason I think you have every right to
wonder if they would even go so far as to do that there I mean he's gonna be in a hearing
or I mean at the time that we're getting this he's going to be in a hearing today but yeah
it just at least for me just trying to just keep stock of how all of these different punishments
have been doled out I think I'd every right to think you know hey maybe they doped to
punish him but they definitely will it seems like in this case I would be stunned if he's
not suspended at least one game I mean that's just my view of the play you know if you remember
the three game suspension Michael Bunting God in the first round for for hitting Eric
Turnak in the head I know a big part of what went into the player safety decision there
is basically he went out of his way to a player who's not in the play and injures it now in
this case it seems that Leon Drysittle came through that okay but it's hard not to view
that in the same light again it's a different type of infraction Drysittle did have the
pocket had gotten rid of it but I mean he pretends of those way well out of his way and
delivers a pretty meaty slash to an area that that could do damage to probably the best
player on the or is right now I mean Drysittle might be their MVP in the moment right and
so I don't I don't see how we would deem that not to be intense it's a injure and I just
think the league can't let that kind of stuff go because you know the consequences are evident
and the players see that that is not checked you know we're gonna have people running around
injuring others I think I think it's inevitable so I would be stunned if he's not suspended
but I've been surprised before man I think in general player safety is too lenient just
my view I'd like to see them give out longer suspensions more suspensions I think that
it would serve the sport but you know obviously George Paros and the staff he is working for
them give it a little bit differently than I do.
Absolutely I mean that's a conversation for another time when we have more time but just
generally I want to see more consistency in these punishments just if you see something
similar you look at it and you think oh this was one game for this person but for another
situation when it's happening to somebody else it's like a fine or not worth that same
punishment I find there's just too many of too many of those situations and it's just
really hard to keep up with what should be suspendable how long should be suspended for
I've put up on Twitter the wheel of justice at different points of the postseason just
the cruelly drawn wheel that's not even a proper you know anyway I don't need to describe
it too much but that's basically just what it is it's just inconsistent.
Right and part of it is look at the infractions themselves are so different at times but
I just think you definitely can have some like this was not a hockey play we would call
it right like it wasn't like he slashed him while trying to knock the puck off his stick
or in a battle and maybe just you know missed a little bit you know which is sort of what
happened like some of the cross shots we've seen in these playoffs I'm thinking there was
one by Sam Lafferty on Ross Colton I think it was just a battle that went wrong like
it wasn't like Lafferty intentionally meant to hit Colton in the head he ended up getting
a fine there and so I think that's assigned to player safety sort of shares my view but
it wasn't wasn't an intense injury I don't know how you can view this as anything other
than in a 5-1 game or whatever was at the time Alex Petrends look taking an opportunity
to try to take a chunk out of Edmonton's top player one of their top players and it's
in front of everyone and in chaos ensues I think that the league has to step in and
at least sit them down for a game.
Other than the suspensions that could be doled out just with the way that the series
has gone so far and the fact that it's still just kind of even on its head do you feel
that like I know it's not really pulling any in any other way but how do you see these
next three games going if it goes to that point because it could go seven I think it's
gonna go seven but yeah I hope that they play a 2-1 or 3-2 game at some point I'm
saying this even selfishly because they're lined up with the games I'm covering the same
night so by the time I'm getting my post game work done I get a chance to check it on the
other game and it's 4-1 it's just like oh you know this isn't that compelling to be
watching I think it's gonna I mean I would imagine I would have if you had asked me this
question before the last couple games I would have said okay it's gonna tighten up now like
you get this sort of crazy ones out of the way and now they're gonna play playoff style
hockey I guess it just depends on referee too there's a lot of power plays.
In the game 4 and obviously with Evan's power play that's that's an area where they can
cash in and put up some some regular season type of numbers but I really don't know what's
gonna happen it's been such a strange crazy series back and forth you know Vegas is a
tough place to play I know it's been the year of the road teams by and large but you know
the Golden Knights might go home and defend home ice in game 5 and then Evan's in that
situation that I've been talking about where they do seem to find a response when they
need one but eventually you want to see them get on the front foot and not put themselves
in that spot I mean I think game 5 goes kind of without say just so pivotal to set someone
up with at least two chances to close this thing out but it's it's too close teams to
the best teams in the Pacific and two teams that will probably be favored doing the cup
whoever comes out of this will enter in the next round I would think although I'll leave
that to David Bastol and the fine folks who the handicap pistons very fair point if you
can give me a quick thought on the Seattle Dallas series I just wonder if Seattle is
gonna wear down a little bit like not having gamebreakers I mean I I've spoken a lot I
really like Washington play I respect it they're relentless you know they roll you multiple
lines at you that have done damage a lot of sort of unsung type of heroes to these playoffs
but I just wonder if they're gonna have enough to get through this round you know they had
the game 5.
Okay and give me a quick thought on Carolina New Jersey the hurricanes obviously in the
driver's seat.
The hurricanes one of scouts is to have a asset like they they're not tough to play
against in the sense they're not out there good and you up but they make the game tough
right they're so good and structured defensively they're not allowing a lot you know the devils
came off that series of the Rangers where you know especially after those first two
games they really had their way offensively created a lot of chances scored a lot of goals
in a couple of games that's gone away on them and I think it's it's been difficult.
I think that one's over I don't I don't see I mean obviously mathematically it's possible
it's like anything but I just I think that the hurricanes experience and their structure
will be enough to carry them through with free chances to close it out.
Okay you don't have to be as quick with this next one but this is the first time we get
to talk about it the draft lottery goes down this week Chicago ends up with the first overall
pick so that means Connor Bernard will likely begin his career in Chicago.
What are your thoughts on that?
The Blackhawks thanks.
They did it properly.
I mean I don't know what your views I don't think I've ever really gotten into the sort
of moral views on tanking to me it's it's smart roster management when you're when you're
so far gone for being so far gone and that organization you know has stockpiled draft
picks and and you know they've ironic they won a game I believe in Pittsburgh wasn't it?
Late in the year and everyone freaked out and if they didn't win that game they don't win
the draft lottery so I mean the lottery really is a lottery and now they've now everything
changes in Chicago everything that's that's how special I think Connor Bernard is I think
it puts an onus on them to probably scale up quicker than they thought they were going
to maybe maybe one more down year one year where they're not looking to be competitive
but I don't think it's a three year window before we're talking about them potentially
pushing for playoff spot so there's a lot of work to be done but I mean another franchise
altering bounce for a franchise that's been fortunate to have you know a few high-end
players that that that panned out obviously Patrick Kane, Jonathan Taves chief among them.
I'll say it I don't you all know if you want to say it but I'll say it I I did like the
fact that Chicago got that first overall pick I get that that's how the ping pong balls
fall but I also see what the reputation's been like for Chicago we've discussed this the
situation with them over the last year and a bit to see them kind of you know rewarded
essentially with a generational player just kind of falling into their lap kind of taking
over after Taves and Kane have left the organization it didn't really sit well with me to be honest
with you and I felt very I think it sucked I'll be real it sucked I'm not gonna be one
of those people who were gonna be like oh the draft lottery was rigged and all that but
I didn't like it and I think that's it's not it is not it is not oh I know that for sure
I will say that I don't know but it's just like I don't know why it always persists maybe
it's because they do it behind closed doors but they do it with scrutinyers from every
team there they do it literally with an accounting firm conducting it it's it's not rigged sorry
I'm not pushing against you on that I just saw so much that on Twitter and stuff and I'm
like I can we can we can know it's not rigged there's there's I'm not even gonna name that
the teams in the situations but the league wouldn't have placed every one of these players
in the places they've been placed on purpose I agree with that I think a lot of that too
Kevin Weeks had the production flub where he kind of already spoiled the fact that Columbus
would draft third and I think that's that fueled some of that a bit too but no I don't
believe for a second that it's rigged but I do feel that seeing Chicago get kind of
retard even if it is just a matter of luck like that's I I I don't feel great about that
I think I've either said on this show or other show or other shows that like I don't even
feel that they should be getting that first over getting any first round picks because
of what's happened with the copy situation but I digress on that but just I just have
to put that out there I'm not necessarily a fan of of them but that's just my opinion
I don't equate the two myself but I mean let's your entitled to your opinion of course
I mean that they that no one is really left over from that era you know what I'm saying
and I mean you have to move forward I suppose but yeah I look at it's it's going to be interesting
there I mean they have so many first round picks too right that they got the two for
Brandon Haggle like they they could I think the question should be how quickly can they
like contend again I know that sounds crazy when you just saw their year but but I mean
that's you get the one guy in the middle of the ice who's a game breaker could be potentially
at some point the best player in a league and and all of a sudden we're looking at you
differently but you know we should also look at Edmonton and Toronto and all these other
places and know that one player doesn't guarantee you know there's there's seven and eight years
in with their their star players and still trying to get over that hump so last thing before
stick taps flyers officially naming Keith Jones as president of hockey operations and
they take off the interim tag from Daniel Brier so he's now full-time GM of the flyers
a quick thought there this is a general thought as opposed to specific thought on the flyers
I'm still waiting and wondering when NHL teams are going to think a little more advanced
about how they build their front offices and I want to be clear I know Keith Jones socially
I really like him like he's really a genuine he's a real one he's a genuinely good dude
very personable I'm sure he knocked out of the park in his interview because of that and
any easily lives in Philadelphia he's a flyers guy like like it's it's so it's not I don't
it's not about him for me it's more about like why are more teams not copying Tampa like
I've always wondered that for for like lack of a better word and I and it's because I
lump myself into this category it's like what are more nerds gonna run teams or and I and
I don't say that with any scorn because I think of myself sometimes now nerd is not
a bad word right is not a bad word but I mean it's more lawyers more people than MBAs with
with high-level experience running big businesses and other industries like I don't understand
the idea just in general just on the surface again not with the individuals here a rookie
president and a rookie GM at the same time doesn't make my sense to me and trust me in
my network of people I talk to this is being discussed behind the scenes in hockey too and
so it's not me taking any run at Keith Jones or Daniel Brere who I've got a lot of times
for both guys it's just it doesn't seem like an optimal way to run a big business to me
like there's there's people out there that have been GM's for 10 and 15 years that are
still at a working age like that's the person I would want at minimum in that type of role
because at least that person has an experience although they could share with Danny Brere
but here we are I just and I think a lot of teams still default to people that played
hockey and that's worked in a lot instances I mean Joe Saka because the huge hand in building
the team but one of the most recent Stanley Cup Steve Eisenman has a big hand in building
the tapet teams even though he moved on by the time they got the job done I'm not saying
that there's no role for for hockey people in the sport but I think that there should
be more rounded backgrounds in front offices just in general and I think it's inevitable
but then another year goes by this is another round of hires that are not not proving my
thesis to be correct.
Well said do you have a stick tap before we go?
You know I I'll stick to Joseph Wall just because I'm I'm such living it's so funny
in the playoffs doing like I'm living this series right every single day I'm going to
the media of L abilities I'm going to the games you know I'm really caught up in it and so
I didn't step back and take a big stick picture thought but pretty cool to see someone throw
it into the situation he was to have a good game he seems like a really mature nice kid
and so he's top of mind as we stand here so I'll stick tap him for you know that get
in total tough situation down for three and having to start your first Stanley Cup playoff
game it's I think it was his 13th or 14th ever NHL appearance you know he started this
year did this is ironic he lives in St. Louis in the off season he hit a knee injury last
summer he actually rehab last summer with Matthew Pichock also off seasons in St. Louis
but he missed training cap like it's it's pretty cool to see him put together the kind
of year he did given where it started and got a big win that he'll probably remember
the rest of his life so stick back then for a success I will give my stick tap to Golden
Knights defenseman Zack White Cloud who fortunately on ESPN an anchor made an insensitive joke
about his last name it just happens that Zack is from the CU Valley Dakota Nation and he
took the time to address that after that it's it happened and he actually forgave the
anchor and you know it's an opportunity for a lot of people to learn from those types
of situations and just want to give a stick tap to Zack for just addressing that situation
with class yeah I said some along the lines of you know people make a stick so I understand
that and I think the anchor called him gave an apology too that too so yeah these things
happen so stick taps stick taps to Joseph wall and Zack White Cloud you got a flight
to catch my man so we're gonna let you go we'll be back on Monday with another edition
of the show we'll have questions subscribe to the podcast however you consume the podcast
siege I hope you catch your flight on time buddy yeah what city wide being on Monday
I don't even can't even like ooh keep track of that I mean I guess we got to know what
happens in Friday's game but I might be right back here at the airport do it a hit with
you who knows I I bet this garbage can trademark now so I know where to go if that's if that's
the circumstances as they play out yeah get some like masking tape and just put like an
X so that way you remember the spot I'll put a CJ sign on here put a CJ sticker I have
to do that in the press room I usually leave a little CJ sign that saved my spots oh yeah
you should do that you should absolutely look this this podcast has taken over man we got
a market territory however we can exactly exactly you know what Monday I just thought
of it so game five would be Friday if there's a game six it would be Sunday so I actually
would be if this happened I would be flying home on Monday back to Toronto I literally
could do it from this garbage get again and we might be previewing game seven or maybe
we're just knee deep and talking about the offseason and what it all means that's that's
the pleasure crazy it's crazy they are insane but already Monday's episode regardless of
what happens I am excited for and it is going to be in depth it's going to be fun and there's
going to be a lot to talk about man get some rest I'm gonna try to get some rest and yeah
we'll talk to you all on Monday for CJ I'm really so long
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