The rainy day mirrored Dale's mood as we discussed the Leafs' heartbreaking game 7 loss to the Bruins. The Oilers move past the Kings in 5, but were they as good as the results?  What's next for the teams that lost and who will win the next round?    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player  Ron Stackhouse 

Series Updates

EAST

BOS 4 TOR 3

Gut wrenching loss

Injuries brutal for Leafs - Woll, Matthews, Marner, Nylander 

All the same storylines - will anyone be moved? 

NYR 4 WAS 0 

No surprise really.  

CAR 4 NYI 1

Islanders are interesting - mediocrity defined

Will Lamoriello stick around? Will they bring in someone as a successor? 

FLA 4 TBL 1

Florida overwhelmed TBL

Possession stats much better

Goaltending big story

TBL - wiil Stamkos stay? Milt Schmidt?

Guess the 5th 

Connections  Last Week - Dallas, Columbus, Minnesota, Washington  - all have stars in their logos

This week  Wayne Gretzky, Larry Robinson, Mark Messier, Patrick Roy

WEST

Oilers 4 Kings 1

McDavid - 11 Assists

Skinner strong

Favourable calls by refs - what is going on?

All power play 45% 9 G in 5 games!- were not impressive at 5v5

5v5 - GF 50% and xGF favoured Kings

Pierre-Luc Dubois - $8.5MM through 2030-31  - good luck buying that out. 

Questions about moves at GM?  Thoughts? 

COL 4 WPG 1

Jets - Bowness back? any changes?

VAN 4 NSH 2

All Canadian quarter final

Arturs Silovs - comes in from out of nowhere and plays .938 SV% and a shutout in Game 6. 

Tight series - Total goals 13-12 for Canucks

5v5 Total Goals 8-7 

NSH - exceeded expectations

VGK 3 v DAL 3

Game 7 - go STARS 

Crazy Stat

ROUND 2 Matchups - 

VAN v EDM  Dale EDM 5  Mike EDM 6

COL v ?  Dale DAL 7  Mike COL 6

FLA v BOS  Dale FLA 6  Mike FLA 6

CAR v NYR  Dale CAR 7 Mike NYR 6 

DOPeS - took the playoffs off - have set an out of office message that says “Player X has been fined for actions in Team X game.”

 

Dale tells stories about Korea and regrets some of his predictions as we review each series and the storylines.  Will the Leafs bounce back from 3-1? What is going on with Connor Hellebuyck?    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player - Sami Kapanen -

Kapanen - 06-07 Flyers Scottie Upshall -> 11-12 Panthers Shawn Mattias -> 15-16 Leafs Hyman 

News

Playoff Summary 

FLA 3 TBL 1    Mike - FLA (6)  Dale TBL (7)

Florida carrying play - 3 FLA wins were tight games 

Will Lightning go out this easy? 

BOS 3 TOR 1  Mike TOR (7) Dale TOR (6)

PP  Goals Bruins - 6  Leafs 1 

5v5 Leafs have better stats - Shots 92-76, xGF 54% 

Leafs were 2nd in Goals scored in reg season - 3.69/G  

Leafs have to bounce back - don’t they? If not, is Keefe gone? What players? 

CAR 3 NYI 1  Mike CAR (5)  Dale NYI (4)  

Carolina better stats but every game very tight - all one goal games if take away empty net goals

Hearing Brindamour in trouble if Hurricanes don’t have a big playoff

NYR 3 WAS 0  Mike NYR (4)  Dale WSH (7) 

Results not surprising but stats a bit surprising

WAS outshooting, out chancing at 5v5 

NYR - 2 SH Goals 

Game 2 - 4 PP goals and 1 SH 

VGK 2 DAL 1 Mike DAL (5) Dale DAL (5) 

Dallas been much better stats-wise. Out scoring at 5v5 6-4 but down in series. 

Should be able to come back

EDM 2 LAK 1 Mike EDM (6) Dale EDM (7) 

Edmonton have been better team but let foot off gas in game 2.

Relying too heavily on Power Play 

COL 2 WPG 1  Mike WPG (7) Dale WPG (6)

Hellebuyck hasn’t been stellar - 15G in 3 games

Avs taking it to them stats wise - unless Hellebuyck can turn it around, Jets will go out quickly 

VAN 2 NAS 1  Mike VAN (6) Dale Van (4) 

Very tight series - Canucks scraping by - can they survive wiithout Demko? 

Guesss the 5th

 

Connections - Last episode - Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Keane, Claude Lemieux Mark Recchi

THIS WEEK - Dallas, Columbus, Minnesota, Washington 

Arizona moving - Dale's thoughts

Lindy Ruff - back to Buffalo

Crazy Stat 

DOPeS - nothing to report but should Rempe hit have been reviewed? 2 min for interference - van Reimsdyk injured 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JP9PSS_pjQ

Find out who will win this year's Stanley Cup by listening to this episode. With Dale in Korea, Mike goes solo and reviews both of our brackets. Also, the Coyotes finally give up the ghost and move to Utah.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Wade Redden

News

Arizona moves to Utah

$1.2B  To Ryan Smith - $200M to owners, for relocation

Name - Stormin’ Mormons?

Utah takes over all hockey ops and Meruelo maintains business operations in Arizona in attempt to get arena built and get an expansion franchise

Meruelo has 5 years to get this done or his provision expires

Impact of Marty Walsh to force NHL’s hand? 

Playoffs Preview / Predictions

1. Leafs vs Bruins
2. Islanders vs Hurricanes
3. Lightning vs Panthers
4. Capitals vs Rangers
5. Jets vs Avalanche
6. Canucks vs Predators
7. Stars vs Knights
8. Oilers vs Kings

 

CEO of one of our favourite websites eliteprospects.com Peter Sibner joins us to discuss the lead up to the playoffs and who to watch for.  It was a fun conversation and Peter gave us some great insights.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Players Wayne Merrick and Pierre Mondou

Feedback Arvids - What 2 Latvians to win cup in last 30 years. 

Interview: Peter Sibner - Elite Prospects President ESMG, North America

Guess the 5th

Connections - Last week: Rick Nash, Corey Stillman, Justin Braun, Riley Stillman,

This week: What connects Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Keane, Claude Lemieux and Mark Recchi

Playoff Races

West is done - just a matter of whether Oilers play VGK or LAK

Flyers fall out in tight race in East

Hot/Not - 

Atlantic - TBL 7-2-1 / FLA - Panthers limping in while Lightning ramping up - BOS/TBL will be tough

Metro - NYR 8-2-0 / PHI - 2-5-3

Central - DAL 9-1-0 / WPG  4-5-1 - 

Pacific - LAK 7-3-0 / CGY 2-8-0  - Flames are tough to figure.   Sharks - -136 goal diff   

Worst in history  

74-75 Capitals - -265

93-94 Sens - -196

92-93 Sharks -196

72-73 Isles - -177

75-76 Caps - 170 

Will probably end up around -145  - 73-74 golden Seals area

Crazy Stat

DOPeS - Hartman 3 games for throwing stick on ice after OT loss. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/minnesota-wild-ryan-hartman-suspended-three-games

Interesting in comparison with Guehle 1 gamer 

As the season winds down, players are hitting big milestones. Zack Hyman and Sam Reinhart hit 50G, Matthews hits 60G and McDavid tops 120 pts for 3rd straight year. We look at the playoff races and there is a new edition of Connections for listeners.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Jerry Korab -> Zack Hyman

Korab 83-84 Sabres Dave Andreychuk -> 05-06 Lightning Paul Ranger -> 13-14 Leafs Nazem Kadri -> 2015-16 Leafs Hyman

News

Wild pull goalie in OT again but lose

Milestone watches

McDavid - 95 Assists - going to hit 100

If he stays on pace will get to 110, 4 short of Mario’s best at 114 

Gretzky’s record - 163!

3rd 120pt season in a row. 1st since Gretzky. He did it 13 times in a row - would have had 14 or 15 - thanks Gary Suter

Jonathan Quick - most wins for US goalie - 392 - passed Ryan Miller

Art Ross

MacKinnon 127

Kucherov 126

McDavid 125

Rocket Richard

Matthews - 60G 

Reinhart and Hyman hit 50 

MacKinnon and Pastrnak - 45 

Rookies - 

Bedard 21-35-56  in 59 GP

Marco Rossi MIN - 20 G

Tyson Foerster PHI - 19G 

Goalies

Going to hit 60GP 

Saros 58 GP 

Georgieve 57 GP

Hellebuyck 54 GP

Skinner 53 GP 

Andrew Berkshire on Twitter about Zack Hyman hitting 50

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/analyst-gets-absolutely-roasted-for-insanely-rich-take-on-hyman

Guess the 5th

Connections - Last week - Staal, Poddubny, Delvecchio, Fogolin - Solution: All From Thunder Bay 

This Week - Cory Stillman, Justin Braun, Rick Nash, Riley Stillman 

Playoff Picture

Teams Clinched this week:

Boston, Florida, Carolina, New York Rangers, Dallas, Vancouver

Wild Card Races 

Hot/Not

Atlantic TBL 8-1-1 / DET  3-5-2

Metro CAR  8-1-1 / NYI 2-7-1

Central COL 8-1-1 / WPG 3-6-1 

Pacific VGK,EDM 7-2-1 / ANA, SJS 1-8-1 

Crazy Stat

DOPeS 

Guhle - 1 game from slashing from the bench - not a hard slash but a bit surprised they didn’t come down harder on him for this

The NHL GMs met this week and have provided some ideas for rule changes. Zach Hyman is getting close to 50 goals and Connor McDavid could well hit 100 Assists.  We also have a look at the playoff races.   Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

 

 

Title Player Curtis Joseph - 454 Wins 

Feedback 

Trent Buhler - @oldtimetablehockey on Insta - Makes incredible diaoramas of hockey scenes

News

Chris Simon dies by suicide at 52

Marner injury -  Leafs messed this up - why not have it happen before deadline and leave him out until playoffs. High ankle sprain - trouble?

Bettman statement on Chris Simon

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/bettman-responds-to-simons-tragic-passing-after-his-family-blame~2888770

Board of Governor’s Meetings

1. LTIR - not on agenda but discussed, Daly asked Exec oommittee to come back if they believe change neededf
2. Rule changes - 
   1. Can’t sit with leg over board for line change
   2. If goalie removed by concussion spotter, spare goalie gets warm up
   3. Coach challenge - can challenge any high stick - before had to be double minor or major
   4. Coach challenge - puck over glass - challenge if deflected - need to get right because if wrong go 2 men down
   5. Reviewed 3 on 3 but are content

Zach Hyman at 48 goals 

McDavid 14 Assists away from 100 with 15 games to go.  Been done 13 times, by 3 players. 

Matthews 5 point game 57 G with 14 to play - prob not going to make 70, what do you think he will hit?

Will teams “load manage” players heading to end of season?

Guess the 5th

Connections - Last week - Johnson, Gelinas, Tardif, Carson - all part of Gretzky trade

Alex Delvecchio, Eric Staal, Walt Poddubny, Lee Fogolin

Playoff races

Washington on fire - could catch Philly - Tortorella healthy scratches Couurier? 

Philly not likely to get caught by Isles or Devils. 

St Louis, Minnesota chasing Nashville, Vegas , LA 

Hot / Not

Atlantic - TBL 7-2-1 / DET 3-7-0 

Metroo - CAR 8-1-1 / PIT 3-6-1 

Central - COL 9-1-0 / CHI 4-6-0 

Pacific - EDM 7-1-2 / SJS 1-8-1 

DOPeS - Tom Wilson attempts decaptiation - 6 games 

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/washington-capitals-forward-tom-wilson-suspended-6-games-for-high-sticking

Is it enough?  

Kulikov 2 games check to head

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/panthers-dmitry-kulikov-suspended-two-games-for-illegal-check-to-head 

Dale and Mike return from sun vacations to breakdown and discuss the big trade deadline deals and then look to the playoff races. Have the Oilers and Leafs done enough? Also, the DOPeS have been busy and we ask - did they create this mess?     Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Banter -Vacations

Title Player Charlie Huddy 

News 

1. Trade Deadline 

Biggest Stories

Vegas - Huge haul

1. Tomas Hertl, 2025 3rd, 2027 3rd for David Edstrom, 2025 1st rnd pick  - SJS retains $1.3875
2. Noah Hanifin, - 3 way deal with CGY, PHI - Hanifin cap hit ends at $1.2375 - 
3. Anthony Mantha  from WSH for 2024 2nd, 2026 4th 

Conveniently Mark Stone $9.5MM on LTIR out - will he be back for playoffs?

Friedge says SJS NOW fully rebuilding?????  

Leafs quiet  -Joel Edmundson for 2024 3rd, 2025 5th  $875 retained

Oilers - Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick from Ducks for 2024 1st, 2025 5th, 2025 4th - 3 way with TB to retain salary

Troy Stecher from AZ for 2027 4th 

Solid pick ups 

 

Carolina 

Kuznetsov from Washington for 2025 3rd - Kuz had been in minors 

Guentzel from Pitt for Bunting, 3 AHL players, 2024 2nd, 2024 5th 

Dubas getting picks to do a rebuild 

Sabres / Avalanche - Byram for Middlestadt - was surprised

1. Coyotes Arena - Coyotes to bid on land in North Phoenix - auction starts at 68.5 milliion.  Has to be the last chance. - Auction in 10 weeks
2. Tortorella - gets ejected and initially won’t leave bench Fun full explanation here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqdGemIZbA8   2 games and $25,000 fine
3. Crosby moving? - seems to be lots of speculation all of a sudden
4. Wild Pull goalie in OT and win - if they lost, would lose OT point - did you know that? 

 

Guess the 5th 

Connections - previous -Gretzky, Ovechkin, Lemieux, Hull 

Hot / Not  - Full Standings with Current playoff positions 

Atlantic - FLA 8-2-0 / DET 3-7-0

Metro - NYR,CAR 6-3-1 / PIT 3-6-1 

EAST Wildcard  Race 

Central - NSH 8-0-2 / CHI 3-5-2 

Pacific - EDM 7-2-1 / SJS 1-7-2 - Vegas 3-6-1 

West Wildcard

Point of year when bad teams get REALLY bad - but no one is tanking

ANA 3-7-0

SJS 1-7-2

CHI 3-5-2

OTT 3-6-1 

Crazy Stat

DOPeS

Matt Rempe 4 games - https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/rangers-rempe-suspended-four-games-for-elbowing-devils-siegenthaler

 

Parker Kelly 2 games https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/parker-kelly-of-ottawa-senators-suspended-two-games-by-player-safety

 

Pospisil 3 games - https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/flames-martin-pospisil-suspended-three-games-for-boarding

 

Lots of dirty stuff going on - is league clamping down or are players playing on edge because of lack of consistencies

Auston Matthews passes 50 goals and on pace for 75. Are the Vancouver Canucks for real?  We assess it in our Team of the Week segment.     Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Derek Sanderson - Connect to Jaromir Jagr

News

Matthews past 50! On pace for 75 - truly remarkable

Jagr sweater retirement - came out for the warmup 

Kekalainen fired - finally - 410-362-97 record in 869

11 years

Jackets 18-28-10 this year - last in Metro, 29th in league

Tilman Fertitta - owner of Houston Rockets is in talks to get an NHL franchise.  

Are Jets in trouble? 

Trade deadline looming - 

Guess the 5th

Connections - What do Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull and Alexander Ovechkin have in common?

Team of the Week - Vancouver Canucks - 

 

82 PTS (1) .683 PTS % (4)

GF% 59.44 (2)  SF% 49.15 (19th) xGF 51.04 (13th) 

SH% 11.69 (1) 

SV% 92.29 (7) 

PDO 1.04 

PP 22.8 (11) 

PK 78.95 (19) 

Points

JT Miller 29 - 50 - 79

E Pettersson 29-45-74

Hughes 12-58-70

Boeser 33-27-60 

Goalies

Demko 44 GP .917  GSAA 17.3 (2) 

DeSmith 17 GP .894 -4.6

 

 Hot / Not

Atlantic FLA, TOR 8-2-0 / MTL 3-6-1 - Florida pouring it on

Metropolitan NYR 9-10 / NYI 3-4-3

Central - MIN 6-3-1 / ARI 0-9-1 

Pacific - LAK 6-3-1 / 4-5-1  A lot of middling performances 

Crazy Stat

DOPes Rielly ended up with 5 games - Leafs appeal, Bettman upholds

 

Dale is away but Mike has a great chat with Al Mitchell from Sports 1440 Radio in Edmonton. We discuss the state of the Oilers, and the Pacific division. Mike tested Al's draft knowledge in Guess the 5th.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

 

Title Player Dan Maloney 

News

Oilers winning streak ends with loss to Vegas - good game, had a playoff feel

Al Mitchell from Edmonton Sports 1440 

Guess the 5th - Who are the 5 players drafted in 2015 with the most NHL Games Played?

Hot / Not 

Atlantic DET 7-2-1 / MTL 4-4-2 - worst team at .500 

Metro CAR 7-3-0 / NJD, WSH, CBJ 3-6-1 

Central DAL 7-2-1 / CHI 2-7-1

Pacific EDM 8-2-0 / SEA 3-6-1 

 

DOPeS - Dillon Jets - 3 games - 

Nikita Zadorov - 2 games for hit on Lucas Raymond 

Rielly - 6 games? Seemed a lot like Perron

Dale and Mike are thrilled to speak with retired NHL linesman Vaughan Rody. He gave us some great stories and fascinating insights into the life of an NHL official. The All Star Game happened this weekend and it wasn't a complete fiasco, so that's a step forward for the league.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Randy Burridge  

News

Trades:

Lindholm to Vancouver

Monahan to Winnipeg

All Star Game - Skills was an improvement - was fun and interesting and they were actually trying

3 Hours? WAAAAY too long - no need for bands 

Does the $1,000,000 prize make it more interesting for fans?

PWHL game was fun - skill is impressive - 

Draft feedback

All Star Skills competition - Steve Mayer - been Chief Content Officer for 7 years and this was most input from player - doesn’t speak well of him imo

3 on 3 main event.... meh

All Star Announcements - NHL Players in Olympics!!

4 nations faceoff - replaces all star next year

World Junior Charges - 

All players officially named - 

Michael McLeod has 2 charges

Dillon Dube

Alex Formenton

Cal Foote

Carter Hart

Vaughan Rody Interview - 20 years - 1228 regular season games / 19 playoff games

https://nhlofficials.com/nhl-officials/current/vaughan-rody/ - Read the bio - had some serious injuries

Connections: 

Guess the 5th 

Mike watched 1967 Habs vs Leafs on Youtube and was fascinated

AT THE ALLSTAR BREAK - 

Playoff picture

East - by P% wildcard teams are TBL / PHI

West - by P% wildcard teams are LAK / STL

ATLANTIC - 1st Bos / Last Ottawa Predictions - Leafs / Canadiens 

METRO  -  1st NYR / Last CBJ Predictions - Rangers / Flyers

CENTRAL - 1st WPG (Pts%) / Last CHI Predictions - Avalanche / Blackhawks - very tight

PACIFIC - 1st VAN / Last SJS Predictions - Oilers / Sharks

Player Stats - 

Kuvherov, MackInnon, Pastrnak, Miller

Goalies - league average save % .899!!

Swayman, Hellebuyck, Daccord, Demko, Ingram, Jarry

Crazy Stat 

DOPeS - Trouba 2 games for elbowing

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/new-york-rangers-defenseman-jacob-trouba-suspended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We welcome back Jeff from Meat and Potatoes: A Flyers Podcast (formerly Broadstreet Bully Podcast) to give us the update on the Flyers season and the Cutter Gauthier situation. The Oilers run the table in January and extend their winning streak to 16 games.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player - Blaine Stoughton - 

News

• Is Oiler streak extended to 16. One away from Penguins record of 17 from 92-93. 

World Junior 2018 Team - 5 players are to surrender to police 

London Police will have a press conference on Feb 5. 

Friedman stressed how they were told to be very careful as anyone linking the players publicly before charges laid would likely be sued

• Utah - Ryan Smith requests NHL open expansion process

Arizona supposed to have plan by end of January - coincidence? 

• Borje - not great TV but fun to see the story
• Zach Parise signs with Avalanche after being off all year so far

Connections - Congrats to Cody Trafford for the first correct guess on Last Week's contest

This week: What do Valtteri Filppula, Pavel Datsyuk, Jonathan Toews, and Mats Naslund have in common?

INTERVIEW - JEFF FROM MEAT AND POTATOES: A FLYERS PODCAST 

• Jeff does a guest version of Guess the 5th

What’s the Call? 

Last week discussed Oilers got 2 min penalty and Kraken 5 min and Oilers received 3 min PP. 

Table 15, Rule 19. Example 19. 

Table has 32 examples of who serves what in different penalty situations. 

Proposed Rule changes - no more coincidental penalties? Why not get rid of the rule? 

These charts from Moneypuck.com are pretty cool. https://moneypuck.com/standings.htm

DOPeS - Brendan Gallagher hit - 5 games https://www.nhl.com/video/topic/player-safety/gallagher-suspended-five-games-6345655846112 - 

William Lockwood - 3 games for hit on Fleury - https://scoutingtherefs.com/2024/01/43464/panthers-lockwood-suspended-for-goaltender-interference-on-wilds-fleury/

Listened to Agent Provocateur episode about a DOPeS Hearing. - kept calling them Department of Player Suspensions. Called it a Kangaroo court.