Up next in 10
Ryan Gilbert and Jacob Russell dive into the key matchups in the Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins playoff series.
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0:11
Hello and welcome to Broad Street
0:14
Hockey. I am your host Ryan Gilbert.
0:17
Joining me today is Jacob Russell. Here
0:20
today to to start kind of our Flyers
0:23
Penguins playoff preview series. I did a
0:26
podcast on Tuesday with Steve Jako. Just
0:28
kind of doing like a little vibe check
0:30
on how we're feeling going into the
0:31
series. But we were able to celebrate
0:33
Tuesday night. Had had the big win with
0:35
the kids leading leading the way.
0:37
Obviously celebrated Monday night as
0:39
well. But this is our last day we can
0:41
really celebrate a little bit before
0:43
before looking ahead to to the to the
0:45
playoff series against the Penguins.
0:47
Don't have any schedule yet exactly, so
0:50
we can still speculate about that. But
0:52
we know we know the matchups. We know we
0:54
know it's Flyers Penguins. Jacob, for
0:57
first of all, how are you feeling after?
0:59
They did it. We don't have to think
1:00
about a Garnet Hathaway missing the
1:02
empty net. They did it. They're in the
1:03
playoffs.
1:04
>> I'm so happy for Garn for Gart Gard
1:08
angry. Um getting that one off his
1:11
conscience. He'll never have to think
1:12
about that ever again his entire life.
1:14
Um yeah, it's great. It's awesome. Um to
1:17
actually see a team who
1:20
>> they fought the entire way. There was
1:22
never really, and I released something
1:24
today on on bsh.com
1:26
about this specific topic, they didn't
1:29
have like that 10ame heater where
1:31
everything went right. You know, they
1:33
didn't get the bounces every time. They
1:35
didn't have um a three for five power
1:39
play game or anything thrown in there.
1:41
They had to work for everything they
1:43
got. they had to fashion these, you
1:45
know, three-game win streaks and and
1:47
duct tape them together around like
1:50
actual losses to the Islanders and to
1:52
Detroit and to uh the Capitals even,
1:55
right? Um but they were able to win
1:58
those games
2:01
that came after the big ones that they
2:03
lost. So, when they lose the Blue
2:05
Jackets, they go on a three-game win
2:06
streak out in the West Coast or
2:08
something. uh and and it kind of
2:10
nullifies, you know, the the the big
2:13
loss. Um and that that resilience is
2:16
what I'm going to remember the most
2:17
about the regular season of this team.
2:19
And you know, they've they've gotten a
2:21
shot in the arm here with Martone, with
2:23
the return of Forester to where they
2:25
look like they're playing their best
2:26
hockey. And you see it even against, you
2:28
know, a Montreal team that had Slowski,
2:31
that had Suzuki, that had Cfield, that
2:32
had Lane Hudson in the lineup, etc.,
2:35
etc.
2:37
You saw it out there. You know, a young
2:40
team with what I was calling uh bump who
2:44
was bump bump bump and Martone. Who was
2:46
centering that line? Barkley
2:48
and Martone. Bump Barky and Martone. Uh
2:50
the the Calder Cup winning line right
2:53
there would absolutely run the show in
2:56
the AHL. And they're doing in the NHL
2:58
now. Like it's it's fascinating. It's
3:00
awesome to see. And since it's so it's
3:02
such a youthful group of guys, it makes
3:05
it even more exciting because it feels
3:07
like, you know, the start of something
3:09
rather than a bunch of old dudes just
3:11
scraping together one last ride, which
3:13
is what we're going up against.
3:15
>> Absolutely. Like you you you feel good
3:18
for KKNY. KKNY was so pumped up after
3:20
the win on on Monday night. uh
3:22
Couttoriier as well, Sanheim, all these
3:25
veterans that have been through it that
3:26
were 2021 for the for the Travis's last
3:30
time the Flyers hosted a playoff game. A
3:33
long time ago, the grizzled veteran now
3:35
>> and yeah, the Flyers, what their longest
3:37
point streak was like this sixgame point
3:39
streak they had a few weeks ago.
3:41
>> Their biggest wins were that that 7-3
3:43
win in Colorado, 7-1 in Winnipeg on
3:46
Saturday against a Jets team that still
3:48
had something to play for last night.
3:50
The Canadians still had something to
3:51
play for. They probably weren't going to
3:53
get more points than the Lightning were
3:55
going to tonight against whichever I
3:57
think they're playing the Red Wings or
3:58
something. No, the Rangers. They're
3:59
playing the Rangers tonight. So, they
4:01
weren't going to get a home ice anyway,
4:02
but like to see the Flyers go out there.
4:04
Sam Harrison put up a great game because
4:06
you might need Sam Harrison in the
4:08
playoffs. Lad might tweak something.
4:09
Might just get a blowout down early, go
4:11
for a goalie change for momentum. So,
4:13
the Flyers really are playing their best
4:15
hockey at the right time. And yeah, a
4:18
lot of it is just Marton and Forester
4:20
coming back, but everybody is is playing
4:23
well right now. Like there's no one that
4:24
I'm nervous about going out there and
4:26
like, oh, what what's going to happen
4:27
with with with this matchup with these
4:30
guys on the ice. It's there's four
4:32
lines, there's three defensive pairs
4:33
that you can really you can really trust
4:35
and aren't scared of when when they go
4:37
out there.
4:38
>> It it's not even that like any of them
4:40
are particularly elite, right? It's
4:42
just, you know, like you said, four
4:44
lines of reliable Ford options where you
4:47
can get a lot of sparks randomly out of
4:49
nowhere from guys like Tippet, guys like
4:52
Forester, guys like Marton, um, Kenkne,
4:55
Zegris, like there's a lot of little
4:57
spots here and there where um, you can
5:00
isolate matchups and those offensive
5:03
players can get rolling. Um, it doesn't
5:05
take much for Owen Tippet to just fly
5:06
through the entire team. He's done it
5:08
like three times uh in it seems like in
5:11
the last you know two weeks even. Um but
5:14
just even going back to the end of the
5:16
year um the biggest games of the year,
5:20
the biggest stretch of their season and
5:23
they went nine and three over their last
5:25
12. I mean, there's not a big, you know,
5:28
winning streak in there. It's on a five,
5:30
six game win streak in there, but that's
5:32
about as good of hockey as you can play
5:35
in that high pressure situation for a
5:37
young team. And it gives you confidence,
5:39
you know, even with how they've played,
5:42
which isn't necessarily runand gun. It's
5:44
not like a young Ducks team who's going
5:46
to go outscore you. Um, it's a very
5:48
sustainable way to play and win playoff
5:51
games. Uh it's not a veteranladen team,
5:54
but the way they did it down the
5:56
stretch, the way they were able to, you
5:58
know, turn their fate around and surpass
6:01
teams who faltered like the Islanders,
6:02
like the Blue Jackets, you know, Rick
6:04
Bonus is losing his goddamn mind.
6:07
And and you know, the Capitals fail to
6:09
get Obie into the playoffs and miss out
6:11
on the Penguins uh Capitals series that
6:14
I know everyone in their fan base, Annin
6:16
and
6:17
>> you know, that whole organization
6:18
definitely wanted, right? So all these
6:20
teams, all the teams they played even
6:22
recently, they've had something to play
6:24
for. It's not it's not been easy.
6:26
Everything's come at a cost and and they
6:29
were able to not only, you know, stay
6:32
healthy and and despite, you know, being
6:35
having some knocks, having some some uh
6:37
wear and tear on, you know, Zegris, guys
6:39
like Tippet getting hitting the balls
6:42
directly in the jock was not good. you
6:45
try to avoid that, but he's just out
6:47
there next shift. You know, he's back in
6:49
the game, right? And, you know, they've
6:51
shown an incre incredible amount of
6:53
toughness and and resilience uh
6:56
throughout this stretch that like Yeah,
6:58
you you feel good about what you
7:00
watched, even if it didn't necessarily
7:03
go their way. Yeah, I think you still
7:05
would have felt positive in some some
7:07
sense. Yeah, we I mean we talked about
7:09
it on a few of the post games we did the
7:11
6-4 loss in Washington where it was just
7:13
special teams kind of did them in there,
7:15
but yeah, Flyers right now cherry
7:17
picking here since their second game
7:19
after the Olympics they were uh 186 and
7:23
one goal differential of 82-60
7:26
there. Just just some solid hockey for
7:27
the Flyers and uh since March 3rd the
7:30
Penguins 1010 and three goal
7:32
differential of uh 94 and 95 against.
7:36
So, uh, negative five there. Lost their
7:38
last three games to go into the
7:40
playoffs. They didn't have anything to
7:41
play for. But, I mean, what they
7:43
finished with the same points as the
7:44
Flyers. Flyers just don't have home ice
7:46
advantage due to the tiebreaker there.
7:49
And, uh, our sponsor over at FanDuel has
7:52
the odds for this series with the
7:53
Penguins at minus 142 and the
7:56
Philadelphia Flyers there plus 118.
7:58
Certainly not not a huge favorites there
8:00
for the Penguins. This is this is this
8:02
is a series where I almost like having
8:05
to go on the road first because the
8:06
pressure is on the Penguins. If you
8:08
steal one in Pittsburgh, you can come
8:10
back home, win both of them, go up 3-1
8:12
or maybe even sweep this team. This
8:15
team's playing with house money. They're
8:16
playing loose. What? What? Jacob,
8:19
>> nothing. Nothing. Hey, I'm good. No, I'm
8:22
with you. I'm with you. I'm with you.
8:23
No, I'm with you. Kind of. I can't if I
8:26
see a sweep coming that would be that
8:28
would be a different a different sort of
8:30
euphoria. But um I I I agree though like
8:34
you go on the road um from what we've
8:36
seen with this team it's just an
8:39
annoying team to play on the road. It's
8:41
just they're they're stingy. They're not
8:44
going to give in. They're going to get a
8:46
couple of greasy goals here and there,
8:48
but they're not going to give up a ton
8:50
of, you know,
8:53
like totally uh sustained pressure in
8:56
their in their own zone. It just doesn't
8:57
happen that much uh against the Flyers.
8:59
And when it does, it's all on the
9:01
outside. It's all on the perimeter,
9:03
right? Um, and with Dan Viddar and Net,
9:06
and that's something we want to talk
9:07
about too,
9:08
>> with Dan Vladar and Net who looks like
9:11
he's been more than capable of stopping
9:13
the shots that do get through. Um, it's
9:15
just it's going to be an annoying team
9:17
to play. And it's funny how fast it it
9:20
the season can change. Um, where now
9:23
you're talking about looking at the
9:25
teams you play in the playoffs and and
9:26
seeing a path forward to beating them.
9:29
Um but yeah, like this is going to be a
9:32
difficult team to to beat four times in
9:34
a short span.
9:36
>> Yeah, and you mentioned it there. We do
9:37
want to get it into some of the key
9:39
matchups for this series here. And
9:42
obviously the biggest matchup, the
9:43
biggest position for any series is there
9:46
in between the pipes. And yeah, Dan
9:48
Ladar, I mean, Dan Larar versus Steuart
9:50
Skinner for the Penguins. Steuart
9:53
Skinner obviously has some playoff
9:55
experience. Not sure if that's going to
9:57
be helpful or hurtful.
9:59
>> He has some experiences in the playoffs.
10:01
>> He does have he's played in the playoffs
10:03
before, Jacob. He's played in the
10:04
playoffs before. I don't know.
10:06
>> He is his own experience in his in in
10:08
and of himself.
10:09
>> Yeah. Has Dan Larar made any starts in
10:11
the playoffs before? Maybe like a maybe
10:12
like some mopup duty when he was
10:14
>> I thought he did with the Flames? I
10:16
could just be lying. Uh I'll look it up,
10:18
but continue.
10:19
>> I got his hockey reference up right
10:20
here. Um I don't think he's played in
10:23
the playoffs before. He played one game
10:25
in Boston in 2020. Um allowed three
10:28
goals on 15 shots in 28 minutes and then
10:32
made uh all stopped all seven shots he
10:34
faced in uh one period of action for
10:36
Calgary in 2022. So has not made a
10:38
playoff start in his career which uh
10:41
will be the first one coming up this
10:42
weekend.
10:43
Yeah, I mean again he's shown that in
10:47
pressure pack moments like every game
10:49
that he started especially when Ersen
10:51
was terrible um every game that he
10:53
started has been a
10:56
you know very important game basically
10:58
since the start of the season because if
11:02
they got a bad Dan Vladar game on a
11:04
backtoback where
11:07
January Samuel Er was going to be in net
11:10
after on the second game. Like that's
11:13
almost two losses in a row guaranteed at
11:15
a certain point for this team. So he's
11:17
been playing in big games the entire
11:18
year. Um on the side of the Penguins,
11:23
>> I don't really know. It's going to be
11:24
Calavs. I think Seav's played more this
11:27
year or it be See or or Skinner? I mean,
11:30
I guess you can't really tell yet, but
11:33
I'd assume it'd be Sheilovs. I I
11:35
>> You think so? You think she loves will
11:36
start?
11:38
>> I are. They really gonna start Steuart
11:40
Skinner in the playoffs.
11:42
I think so. I mean, I know Seavs had
11:44
what he won the Calder Cup last year
11:46
with Abbertford, I believe, organization
11:49
there.
11:50
>> He's very good. I I do like I like Seavs
11:52
more than Skinner as a
11:54
>> as a goalender.
11:56
>> Um but I don't know. I mean, he does
11:59
Skinner does have some experience and
12:01
pedigree. The only problem is it's
12:03
largely negative.
12:05
>> Yeah, but it is largely negative also
12:07
with a bad defense in front of him. And
12:09
Kyle Dubis has done Kyle Dubis has done
12:12
a great job of adding in some depth guys
12:15
for the Penguins, finding guys that you
12:17
know picking up off the scrap cape much
12:18
like
12:19
>> Danny Breier has done for the Flyers.
12:21
And Dan Muse has been a great coach
12:24
there for the Penguins as well. He's
12:25
going to be in the Jack Adams um
12:27
conversation there. But yeah, Cobav this
12:30
year uh started 38 games, 887 save
12:34
percentage. Skinner started 27 for the
12:37
Penguins since being acquired 8.85 save
12:40
percentage uh here on evolving hockey.
12:43
Steuart Skinner with the Penguins
12:45
negative 7.66 goals save above average
12:48
and CEOs uh negative 9.51 and Dan Ladar
12:52
plus 12.56 that is uh via evolving
12:55
hockey at all strengths there. So,
12:58
Flyers have the goalie advantage here in
13:01
the playoff series, which is not
13:03
something I thought we would ever be
13:05
able to say.
13:06
>> Yeah, it feels like we were talking
13:07
about this uh briefly before we started,
13:10
but when was it even the case the last
13:12
time it was the case? Like, who was it?
13:14
Was it like
13:16
Steve Mason? We were thinking about
13:18
Steve Mason, but Steve Mason played
13:20
Henrik Lungquist. And Henrik Lungquist
13:22
obviously
13:23
>> um no offense to Steve, better than
13:25
Steve Mason at that time. Yeah.
13:27
>> Um, so yeah, it's it's it's a new sort
13:31
of scenario for the Flyers after a lot
13:34
of turmoil at the position, especially
13:35
over that playoff drought. You got a guy
13:38
in Vadar who is a, for my money, at
13:41
least a top 15 goalie in the league
13:44
right now. Um, a lot of his numbers I
13:48
would say
13:50
are even deflated somewhat because I
13:53
don't think the Flyers, like the raw
13:54
numbers, I don't think the Flyers allow
13:56
as many shots as some other teams. And I
13:58
think if Ladar got a bigger workload,
14:00
he'd have some more games where he's
14:03
really, you know, has a goddy save total
14:05
and gets like allows two on 35 shots or
14:08
whatever. Um, but the Flyers, you know,
14:10
when they allow chances or they allow
14:13
shots on goal or shots that aren't on
14:16
that are unblocked, a lot of times
14:18
they're very quality chances. Um, teams
14:21
breaking them down or like as we said in
14:23
the past too, um, on on the power play,
14:26
right? Uh, the even strength say
14:28
percentage for LAR is is sterling. I
14:30
think it's above 910 or it was above
14:32
910. It's in that range. It's in the 910
14:35
range. And that's something that's going
14:38
to be really important in playoff time
14:40
as well because, you know, the the you
14:42
would assume the trend over the last few
14:45
few years or decades has been that there
14:48
are less penalties called in in the
14:50
playoffs. Um so I don't think there's
14:52
going to be as many tickytac stick
14:54
penalties. Uh
14:55
>> there usually are early early on in the
14:58
series. They they call it kind of tight.
14:59
They call it tight. There's a lot of
15:00
power plays early on. It loosens up as
15:02
it goes along. I'm seeing here though,
15:04
Evolving Hockey, uh, five on five saped
15:06
for Dan Larard. 926.
15:08
>> Oh, okay.
15:09
>> Which is the leader in the league among
15:11
goalies that played more than five
15:13
games. You had Dylan Garland, Matt
15:15
Murray, and Trent Miner above him. You
15:18
have LDAR at 926, Wedgewood 925. Uh, let
15:22
me see what Let me see what Skinner.
15:24
>> Yeah, I was really underelling him, I
15:25
think. Yeah, I was thinking about it and
15:27
yeah, he he his just regular save
15:29
percentage is like 9008. So,
15:31
>> yeah. Yeah, Skinner 9005 at at five on
15:34
five there with the Penguins. So, yeah.
15:36
Yeah, 926 is an insane insane number for
15:40
Dan Ladar at five on five. And I saw
15:42
someone said something about like Dan
15:44
Ladar should get heart trophy votes.
15:46
Like I think like there was like an
15:48
insider that said it on some podcast. I
15:50
don't know if we shared that.
15:52
>> I gotta go on that pod. I like what
15:55
they're I like what sort of white mind
15:57
frame they're in.
15:59
>> Yeah. Um Yeah. I don't know where I saw
16:01
that, but I I think I saw I saw that
16:03
somewhere to be like
16:06
>> I mean, hey, listen, if we're talking
16:07
about, you know, the most valuable
16:09
player, Dan Vadar has changed like it
16:13
would not have been remotely possible to
16:15
make the playoffs.
16:16
>> I'm seeing it here on on Broadstreet
16:17
Hockey.com
16:19
uh on Tuesday's episode of the sheet
16:22
with with Jeff Merrick. Jeff Merrick put
16:23
up the concept of some unspoken rules.
16:26
uh and him and Greg Washinsky talked
16:28
about what they thought about Dan Larard
16:30
in the heart trophy race and like yeah
16:32
if you're just going by most valuable to
16:34
his team the Flyers are not in the
16:36
playoffs without Dan Larard but that's
16:37
not how they vote. He'll get some
16:39
downvote ballots maybe but but Stu
16:42
Skinner certainly is not getting any any
16:44
talk there or or Arc
16:46
>> No, we're not having the Arthur Sheil's
16:48
uh for heart trophy uh conversations
16:51
right now. So there that basically tells
16:54
you the story. Uh, and with Vladar, you
16:57
just I think there's in in the playoffs
17:00
especially, and we've seen it with
17:02
Skinner, I think this was largely
17:03
Skinner's problem um more so than even
17:06
the defense uh in Edmonton
17:10
when you like if game one the Flyers go
17:12
out and score three in the first and
17:14
we're in this is like great good
17:16
universe, everyone's thumbs up universe,
17:19
pray on this to happen, the guy, whoever
17:22
is in the net for the Penguins
17:24
immediately is thrown into doubt whether
17:27
or not they're going to stay in the net.
17:28
Right. Dan Var gives up three in the
17:30
first.
17:31
>> Bad. Don't like that. Dan,
17:34
>> that's a thumbs down. You know,
17:36
>> Dan Vardar gives up three in the first.
17:38
He's going to probably come out for the
17:40
second and he's definitely he's going to
17:41
play the second game, right? So, the
17:43
there is that sort of security with
17:45
Larars's number one, you know, spot. And
17:48
I don't Yeah, I I don't even know what
17:49
the Penguins are going to play to be
17:50
honest with you, right? Like I really
17:52
>> they they have to start with Skinner. I
17:54
I I'm not I I I
17:55
>> guess but I
17:57
>> Yeah, but yeah, coming into the series
17:59
like I think it's more likely the
18:01
Penguins use both of their goalies in
18:03
the Flyers because like you said like
18:04
Lar maybe he'll get pulled early or like
18:06
a mercy pull or something here or there
18:08
if there's a few power play goals but
18:10
you're not being like oh should we go
18:12
back to Lar or like no like Eri
18:14
unfortunately lost all his confidence in
18:17
January that that few weeks he had there
18:20
he had a great few weeks to end the
18:22
season you know maybe Rick Tocket and
18:23
the guys believe in him. But I think
18:25
yeah, whether it is even Var or Eri, I
18:28
think they're both better than Stu
18:29
Skinner and Art Cabs at this point. And
18:32
I think a sevengame series benefits the
18:36
Flyers cuz like I don't know, you can
18:38
say say what you will about Rick Taken
18:40
as a head coach, but like he has a good
18:41
defensive system. He can make
18:43
adjustments and like he can take away
18:47
half the ice. That's why Dan Larard
18:48
doesn't get too many shots on goal
18:50
against because they take away half the
18:52
ice. to take away the shooting lanes.
18:54
So, it it's so it's so topsyturvy to be
18:57
confident in the goalending going into a
18:59
playoff series against the Penguins.
19:02
>> Yeah. And like even you said against the
19:04
Penguins, right? It's it's been Murray
19:06
and Flurry for as long as we can
19:08
remember, right? So, those were pretty
19:10
two pretty solid goalenders. But yeah,
19:12
there's
19:14
it's it's going to be strange to see
19:18
either of those guys start a playoff
19:20
series. With Skinner, it's mostly
19:23
because of his past in playoff series.
19:26
And with COVIDs, it's like, do you
19:28
really want this guy to be the guy? It's
19:30
not like he had sterling numbers this
19:31
year. I think he was pretty good. I
19:33
think a lot of, you know, the save
19:34
percentage numbers were pretty bad this
19:36
year. Like Sam Erson has an 870. That's
19:38
that's pretty brutal. Um, but
19:42
at the same time, I don't think you want
19:43
Arthur CEOs to be the guy who's, you
19:46
know, got Crosby's last run in his
19:48
hands, right? Um, so it's it's a weird
19:52
situation for the Penguins, but for the
19:53
Flyers, yeah, that is one less thing you
19:55
have to worry about um right now is the
19:58
goalending. And I think just to touch on
20:01
Ursen quickly, um, obviously you don't
20:03
want him in there, but I think he's with
20:05
this end stretched to the season here, I
20:07
think he's gotten like to the point
20:08
where it's not catastrophic if he was in
20:10
the net. I could see a world where Ersen
20:12
was okay. Um, if he had to be, um,
20:16
obviously you don't want you don't want
20:18
that to happen, but if it had to, I
20:20
think he's regained at least some trust.
20:23
>> Yeah, as you were saying that, I was
20:24
already pulling up his his game log. um
20:27
since the Olympic break he has made uh
20:30
nine appearances. A few of those were in
20:33
relief I believe but uh only 16 goals
20:35
against on 165
20:38
um 165 whatever 912 state percentage on
20:43
181 shots there 6 and3 result six in one
20:46
decision. So, two of those were in
20:48
relief. And like I'm looking now on
20:50
NHL.com um since the Olympic break, the
20:54
best state percentages, and like Erison
20:57
Harrison's right up there. He's 16th
20:58
overall, which includes guys, three or
21:01
four guys that have only played a game
21:02
or two. Like, he's he's he's been he's
21:04
been good. He's he's been good. It's not
21:06
even solid. It's not even that he's
21:08
slightly redeeming himself. He has been
21:10
good to the point where even if the even
21:13
if the Flyers starting goalender goes
21:15
down, there's some confidence in in
21:17
their backup. Like what what world are
21:20
we live? This is a double thumbs up at
21:22
university right right here, Jacob.
21:24
>> Oh, that's funny. Uh yeah, like no, you
21:26
know, it's that's the thing. It's it's
21:29
weird because I you'll have to have some
21:31
conversations about Ursen in the off
21:33
seasonason. And that's funny because he
21:34
has a 312 goals against in 870, but
21:37
you'll have to have some conversation
21:39
because I don't hate I I don't hate him
21:42
as a backup. If he's just strictly the
21:44
backup, if Dan Vadar can be a starting
21:46
goalie, which I mean he's played he
21:49
started 51 games this year. I mean, so I
21:51
there's that that is proof enough for me
21:53
that he can at least do it or at least
21:55
do it, you know, to an average level.
21:58
Um, and and Ursen is the backup, you
22:02
know, while Zagen, Bjnison, etc. are
22:06
still trying to kind of get their feet
22:09
wet in in the pro game. I I think it
22:11
makes sense, right? And, you know,
22:14
hopefully it doesn't have to come to
22:15
that. Hopefully Dan doesn't take another
22:17
shot off the head. Well, he's going to
22:20
he's going to
22:20
>> add his tally. He's getting run into
22:23
last against Carolina, too. He just he's
22:26
in the middle of it. He's just in the
22:27
thick of it. But like I don't know. He's
22:29
uh I think he's also one of those guys,
22:31
too, who who leads from the back.
22:34
>> Um as a goalie, he seems to be really
22:36
wellliked in the room. He seems to be
22:38
really energetic. Uh he's really
22:40
embraced the spotlight. And I think
22:41
that's what you kind of need to do as as
22:43
a starting goalie. And I I feel a lot of
22:45
confidence in him going in the series,
22:47
which is great to say. and hopefully,
22:50
you know, he he can come out hot and and
22:53
you steal the first game in in
22:54
Pittsburgh.
22:56
>> Yeah, I'm just looking at some of these
22:57
goalie stats since the uh Olympic break.
23:00
Samuel Erison, 1.99 goals against
23:02
average. Only only five goalies had a
23:04
goals against average under uh two in
23:07
that span among goalies that played at
23:09
least five games.
23:10
>> How many games was that? That was like
23:12
nine.
23:13
>> Harrison played nine games, seven
23:14
starts, 61 and0 in in those starts
23:17
there. uh even had an assist in in that
23:19
span. So yeah, if Eri has to go in there
23:22
at any point, it's no longer like, "Oh
23:24
my god, what are we going to do?" It's
23:25
okay. This is when he thrives. He
23:27
thrives as the backup when people are
23:29
doubting him when he's in a role he's
23:31
not supposed to be. Like when he's
23:32
actually stepping up and not a starter
23:34
for the whole year, which
23:37
I'm I'm I'm just going to keep saying.
23:39
I'm baffled that that the Flyers have
23:40
such an advantage in the uh in the
23:42
goalie department.
23:44
>> Well, yeah. You better you better get
23:45
used to it, buddy. I hope so. I I hope
23:48
so. I could definitely
23:50
>> We could listen, we could we've seen
23:53
some goalending performances happen that
23:55
are not necessarily ideal. So, that
23:57
could always happen, but right now I
23:59
feel very confident. And honestly, both
24:01
of the guys that are that are going to
24:04
be the tandem for at least four games
24:07
here.
24:07
>> Mhm. Yeah. So, goalie matchup there
24:09
favors the Flyers. It's uh it's
24:11
shocking, but the Flyers do at least
24:13
have one advantage in this series, but
24:16
that's just one of the few key matchups
24:18
to watch in this one. Um, another one,
24:22
whenever you're playing the Penguins the
24:23
past what, 20 years now, Sydney Crosby,
24:27
Evan Malcin, yeah, Jacob Russell doesn't
24:30
remember a time when Sydney Crosby was
24:31
not tormenting him and the Flyers here.
24:34
But we were talking about a little
24:35
before the show like the Flyers, what we
24:37
were have been complaining about all
24:39
season long, not having enough offensive
24:42
talent at center until Trevor Zaggers
24:44
here took over is going to be beneficial
24:46
here in the playoffs because you have
24:48
Shan Couttori as the fourthline center
24:50
can be a shutdown guy. You have no you
24:52
have Noah Kates can be a shutdown guy on
24:55
the third line. Christian D'vorak even
24:57
on the second line with with Kenkne a
24:59
good two-way player. Arton's made some
25:00
good defensive plays like and even if
25:03
you have to go if you get if Zegris gets
25:05
caught out there he has Forester with
25:07
him he has Tippet with him who's killed
25:09
some penalties like the Flyers have four
25:11
well-rounded lines right now at least
25:14
defensively you can rely on all these
25:15
guys if they get caught out there after
25:17
an icing
25:19
>> yeah and I think especially with the
25:23
transition of Zegris into a center it
25:26
really opens up the possibility ility of
25:29
like finding soft spots in the Penguins
25:32
lineup. So like you're going to have
25:34
D'vorak and Kates and Couturier if you
25:37
you probably won't play that fourth line
25:39
too often against like a Malcin or a
25:41
Crosby, but you can definitely mix them
25:43
in. And if you can try and throw out,
25:47
you know, the Zegris line against the
25:50
the Penguins third or fourth line,
25:52
that's when you start to get the
25:53
matchups that are that could be
25:54
advantageous for you. And I think with
25:56
just how the Rick Tocket Flyers have
25:59
played, with just how stingy they've
26:01
been, um, against even some of the best
26:03
teams in the league at times, um, you
26:06
know, that Dallas game comes to mind as
26:08
well, right? Um,
26:11
I I think there's a decent chance that
26:12
they can really put a damper on the
26:16
Penguins offense. It's not like it's
26:18
just two guys, right? Like Ricard
26:19
Raquel, Anthony Mantha, they've looked
26:22
very good. Brian Rust will always be
26:24
riding shotgun. He's one of the Pascal
26:26
Dewee uh lineage, the blood lineage
26:29
through uh Connor Sheiri and uh and
26:32
Chris Kunis.
26:33
>> Chris Kunis in there. Yeah, they got uh
26:35
Igor Chinov was a great pickup from the
26:37
Blue Jackets.
26:38
>> Very solid pickup. He's turned his game
26:39
around.
26:40
>> Never mind Carlson on the back end. I'll
26:43
never be not afraid of Eric Carlson. One
26:45
of my favorite defenseman unfortunately
26:47
had to go to the Penguins, but
26:49
>> Latag is still hanging out back there.
26:51
>> He's up there. He's skating. Yeah,
26:53
>> he's alive.
26:54
>> Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, the Penguins I
26:57
mean the Penguins definitely have more
26:58
top end talent than the Flyers. And like
27:00
after the Red Wings game, I was saying
27:03
this is how the Flyers would lose that
27:04
they they they give up special teams,
27:06
they give up power play goals, they give
27:08
up a hat-tick to Larkin or Crosby or
27:11
Malcolm in this case, and they can't get
27:13
anything going themselves. But you just
27:15
spoke about it, the Flyers not allowing
27:17
much. Uh they finished this season with
27:19
the third lowest expected goals against
27:21
per 60 at five on five uh per natural
27:24
stat there at 2.38
27:26
and uh since the Olympic break uh five
27:29
on five score and venue adjusted the
27:32
second lowest 1.92 goals against
27:34
expected goals against per 60. So
27:36
they've really locked things down
27:38
defensively and I think a lot of that is
27:40
due to the centers. But if if you had
27:44
your choice and also what do you think
27:46
Rick Tockett is going to do for for line
27:48
matchups? Obviously he'll have two games
27:51
in the books to look at before coming
27:53
back home, but what line matchups do you
27:56
think you would try to chase on the road
27:58
or try to definitely take advantage of
27:59
at home? I I think in the case of
28:02
talking, um
28:05
I feel like starting with D'vorak versus
28:08
Crosby is is going to be what he does um
28:13
primarily as the primary matchup just
28:15
because I think he has that sort of
28:17
familiarity with D'vorak and he seems to
28:19
really like like him and and frankly
28:22
D'vorak has been you know the team's
28:23
best center as before Ziggress is a
28:26
center. I don't know where how you want
28:27
to quantify that, but for that role, it
28:29
makes it makes the most sense to have
28:31
D'vorak there. And, you know, there is
28:33
even a world where that line could, you
28:35
know, turn around and go put some
28:37
pressure on the other way, right? It's
28:38
not as if this is, you know, um, prime
28:41
Sydney Crosby anymore. Still an elite
28:43
elite player, but it's not a guy who is
28:46
going to single-handedly
28:48
take over the game, right? You're going
28:50
to have to he's going to have to have
28:52
guys um in the corners digging out pucks
28:55
for him. He's obviously in there as
28:57
well. I'm not saying he's not getting in
28:58
the corner. It's Sydney Crosby for God's
29:00
sakes. But the the whole line has to
29:04
work more effectively as a unit than it
29:06
than it may have in the past, right? And
29:08
I think that the Flyers can disrupt
29:09
that. I think just the ability of them
29:12
to clear the net front and keep
29:15
everything to the outside. I can see a
29:17
world where they just really nullify a
29:19
lot of what what the Penguins can do
29:21
offensively. And from what I've seen
29:24
from D'vorak this season, he's just had
29:26
such a great year as the sort of middle
29:31
six archetypical, you know, two-way guy.
29:34
>> Um, it's about as good of a year as
29:37
Christian D'vorak can ever imagine
29:38
having, right? Um, you know, maybe if
29:42
you set a couple extra, you know, Hail
29:44
Marys at night, you could get up to 60
29:46
points, but I that's just wishful
29:48
thinking. but he looks like he has the
29:50
capability to at least hang with a guy
29:52
like Crosby or Malcolm and then once
29:54
after you get beyond those sorts of
29:57
players, it it starts to thin out and I
29:59
think the you know Kate's Mechov
30:03
combination that we've seen as sort of
30:04
the third line as of recent um with a
30:07
rotating winger um that probably to be
30:10
determined it probably end up being
30:11
Barky if I had to guess. uh all of the
30:14
face daily faceoff is all screwed up now
30:16
because everybody is everybody everybody
30:19
played nobody last night. So there's you
30:22
know we're just going off of what we've
30:24
seen in the past. So, it'll probably be
30:25
Barky um on that left side. And I think
30:28
that that line, the Kates, Mishkov,
30:30
Barky line, if the other ones can sort
30:33
of nullify Crosby, Malcolin, they have a
30:36
really good lane to sort of push the
30:38
offensive tempo against, you know, a
30:41
line that isn't necessarily as prolific
30:44
as them at their best.
30:47
>> Yeah, I I do. I think D'Vorak is
30:48
probably the best matchup to to look go
30:50
out there against Crosby. start or start
30:53
the D'vorak line. I could see Takit
30:55
starting the Couttoriier line and seeing
30:57
what Pittsburgh tries to match up. But I
30:59
don't know if I necessarily trust
31:01
Couttoriier and and Hatheraway and uh
31:03
Glenn Denning against that top line.
31:05
They kind of got caved in against the
31:07
Hurricanes in their most recent um
31:10
important game there. Yeah, we don't
31:11
have daily face off to look at, but I
31:13
have up the uh money puck most common
31:15
lines for the Penguins. Uh they had
31:17
Rust, Crosby, Raquel, uh Conor Der,
31:20
Blake Lazot, and No Aar Achari. I think
31:22
that's their that has to be their fourth
31:24
line. That their fourth line, you think?
31:26
>> I would assume that's their fourth line.
31:27
Yeah, I would hope so.
31:28
>> Yeah. Uh Malcin, Novak, and Ginov there.
31:31
That's been playing well together. And
31:32
then Mantha, Ben Kindle has been very
31:34
good. And uh
31:36
>> Oh my god, I love Ben. So like that
31:39
that's a good third line there with
31:41
Mantha, Kendall, and Brazo that they can
31:42
they can bruise around a little bit. Um,
31:46
I have been thinking about like if not
31:49
even necessarily if the Flyers if things
31:51
go topsy turvy and the Flyers go down
31:53
10, two nothing, whatever, but like
31:56
would you consider mixing up the third
31:58
line? Like would you because I I don't
32:00
know if Tockett is going to trust Mechov
32:02
defensively in the playoffs. So
32:05
>> but Mechov is going so so well right
32:08
now. Got up to 51 points, 20 goals last
32:10
night, thriving on the right side. Like
32:13
I almost wonder if Tocket would consider
32:16
move like especially at home like
32:18
loading up like a like a Mitchov
32:20
Ziggress Conknney type line or Mitchkov
32:23
Ziggress tippet type line and go
32:25
Forester Barky Kates as a third line
32:28
like try to try to get that that
32:29
Forester Kates Brink line type of thing
32:32
going there to be a shutdown line. Then
32:35
you can use Couttoriier against the
32:36
Malcin line and you have your top two
32:39
lines to just go offense against the
32:41
bottom six.
32:43
>> Yeah, I don't know if I love um the idea
32:47
of Couturier versus Malcin as like a
32:50
concept and I don't think you really
32:52
need to load up um a Zegris line like
32:56
that, you know, like I think the way
32:58
that it's been going as of recent with
33:00
the Zegris line with Zegris Forcer
33:02
Tippet, right? that's been the trio most
33:05
most used.
33:06
>> Um, I think that's been going well
33:08
enough and is sufficiently like
33:10
>> loaded up to the point where you don't
33:13
need to change it. I do understand
33:15
though the point of like if you get
33:17
something that was akin to the Forester
33:19
Kates's Brink line going on the third
33:21
line that can turn into a really um a
33:25
really difficult kind of nut to crack
33:27
for the offensive uh the any sort of
33:30
offensive player on the other side of
33:31
the ice, right? just because of the way
33:32
Kates and Forester have sort of played
33:35
together um both ways. But I I yeah I I
33:39
think it's going to be more so Couturier
33:41
like that fourth line
33:44
kind of mixing in. And yeah, if they get
33:47
out to a a slow start in the series,
33:49
you're going to have I mean I don't know
33:51
if Nikita Gbankin will be ready. Uh Carl
33:54
Grundstrom could come in. You know,
33:57
again, I' I've said it a couple
33:58
different times. um he's not been a guy
34:02
who's played bad enough to necessarily
34:04
be permanently kicked out of the lineup
34:06
or anything. He's been perfectly fine.
34:08
He's been good even in stretches. It's
34:10
just that there's been more interesting
34:12
sorts of players um that kind of took
34:15
over his role over over time, right? And
34:17
Glenn Denning is a good player to have
34:19
in the playoffs just for faceoffs and
34:20
things like that. So, I think he'll be
34:21
on the lineup uh pretty indefinitely.
34:24
But yeah, you can you can make that
34:26
switch at third left wing that we've
34:28
been talking about a lot over this year.
34:30
You know, it could be Bump, could be
34:32
Barky, could be Grunchstrom, you know,
34:34
uh and and if Gorbankin is ready, it
34:36
could be all of those guys technically,
34:38
but I like Barky to start. I think Barky
34:41
makes the most sense. Um I don't know. I
34:45
I I still like the sort of Barky Kate
34:47
Mishkov line as a concept. I understand
34:50
it's probably not great defensively. Um,
34:53
and if you want to maximize Kates as a
34:55
defensive asset, I guess, yeah, it would
34:57
make more sense to to put Forester with
35:00
him. I just like Tyo playing playing
35:02
with Ziggress um as as his winger as
35:05
well at the same time if you're going to
35:06
play Zaggress at center, which it seems
35:08
like would make the most sense now.
35:10
>> Yeah, Tyo with Ziggress. That's that's a
35:12
good duo there. You have the defensive
35:13
acumen of Forester and obviously the
35:16
shot in his his offensive game there.
35:18
It's just that the third line becomes so
35:20
important in the playoffs. Obviously,
35:22
you need your top guys to to perform,
35:24
but that third line can really be a
35:26
difference maker for whatever team there
35:28
in the playoffs. And yeah, I just worry
35:30
about like Barky, Kates, and Mechoff. We
35:32
just went over the Penguins line. Like
35:34
if that line gets matched matched up
35:35
against that that Kindle, Mantha, and
35:38
Brazil line, that's a bruising line that
35:40
can probably do some damage against
35:42
against Barky and Mitchkov. So, it's
35:44
going to be interesting to see how they
35:46
match up. But yeah, they have three
35:49
lines you trust against them. Even if
35:50
even if they go toe-to-toe, Ziggurus
35:52
against Crosby, I don't hate that
35:54
either. There's not a matchup that that
35:56
you that you are are anxious about out
35:58
there like like they they have been they
36:01
have been clicking and I don't
36:02
necessarily want to break up that top
36:05
six because those two lines have been
36:07
car they carry this team to the playoffs
36:09
and and they're legit two good top lines
36:12
in the NHL. They're not they're not
36:14
elite, but they're two good top six
36:16
lines for the Flyers to have. So, I I
36:19
can't imagine they'll make any changes
36:20
early on, but I do wonder how uh how
36:23
Rick Tocket will get if they uh they
36:26
come out slow. Yeah, if they come out
36:28
slow, we'll see uh if he if he throws a
36:30
wrench to things.
36:31
>> Yeah, but I'd say on the flip side, the
36:35
defense is pretty much set in stone,
36:36
right? You don't expect any Noah Jules
36:38
sightings?
36:40
>> No, I I do I do expect Noah Jules to get
36:42
in a game. I really do. I I just Rick
36:44
Taki is not He's not going to be able to
36:46
help himself. I just don't think he
36:47
will.
36:47
>> I don't know. He hasn't really played
36:49
all that often. I mean, he played last
36:51
night, but that's a different story. Um
36:54
I don't know. I just Maybe he gets into
36:56
one, but I think I think it's pretty
36:58
much set in stone now. I think he likes
36:59
the six that he has right now.
37:02
>> Yeah, Jules played the meaningless last
37:04
game of the season. Played 10 minutes um
37:07
at on Long Island there and that
37:09
back-to-back win before that played on
37:11
March 24th. So, Emil Andre really has
37:14
kind of solidified himself in that uh
37:17
that third pair with no with Nick Cer.
37:20
And yeah, the defense does does look
37:22
set. Uh Risto, we're getting playoff
37:25
Risto in there. He's been playing his
37:27
best as well recently. Uh Travis
37:29
Sanheim, can't say enough good things
37:32
about him as as a top pair defenseman
37:34
for this team. And then you have Dale
37:36
York. like this is I think this is going
37:37
to be a big okay put up or shut up time
37:40
for those two because Cam York has
37:42
definitely been up and down at times
37:44
this season. Hasn't really stood out too
37:46
much one way or the other. I'd say
37:48
probably his negatives stand out more
37:50
than the positives just because that's
37:51
how the human mind works. But like
37:54
that's a solid second pair and like
37:56
there's no there's no Andrew McDonald or
38:00
Hal Gil out there or Pava Kubina out
38:03
there that that you're that you're
38:04
worried about either. Yeah, it it does
38:07
seem like they've got six serviceable
38:10
defenseman um right now. And I'm looking
38:13
at who the Penguins have. Weatherspoon,
38:17
Carlson, Riley Sheay, Chris Latang. Um
38:21
and then you got Connor Clifton mixing
38:23
in with Brett Kulak and Sam Gerard. And
38:26
I just Is it crazy to say that the
38:29
Flyers have the advantage there, too? I
38:32
don't know.
38:33
I mean, I don't really
38:35
>> I don't think so.
38:36
>> I don't really love that unit uh that uh
38:40
that unit of six there.
38:42
>> Do they have any uh Olympic medalists on
38:44
that on that unit? We got two on the top
38:46
pair.
38:47
>> Yeah,
38:47
>> got two on the top pair with the with
38:49
Fristo and Santa. No, I I Yeah, you're
38:52
saying those names and I'm like, how how
38:53
is this team How is this team doing
38:55
this? Um they traded Koulak, right? Or
38:58
did they trade for Koulak?
39:01
I I don't remember to be honest. I don't
39:04
remember any. I do I I've never been a
39:06
Brett Kool-A.
39:06
>> I think they got Gerard for Kulak from
39:10
um
39:11
>> Yeah. No. So they I they they
39:13
>> they traded for Kulak from Koulak then
39:17
flipped him for for Sam Gerard. So So
39:19
yeah, it's it's uh Carlson Wtherspoon
39:21
has been
39:22
>> they're constant over almost 1100
39:25
minutes together. Uh Shay Latang 571 and
39:29
then you got Gerard Latang in there.
39:31
Ryan Graves, is he still around with
39:33
with Connor Clifton? Like yeah, the the
39:35
Flyers can can take advantage of
39:36
whatever third pair those Penguins throw
39:38
out there.
39:39
>> Yeah, it feels like the depth isn't
39:41
there and you got to wonder how much
39:43
juice like guys like Eric Carlson and
39:45
and Latang at this point have left in
39:48
the season. I mean,
39:49
>> there's a lot of hard miles on those
39:51
bodies.
39:52
>> Uh and the Flyers don't necessarily have
39:54
that. Like even Risto, he's played a
39:56
long time, but as we said, he's not
39:57
really he's never been to the playoffs.
39:59
And I don't feel like he's really been a
40:01
guy who,
40:02
you know, outside he's he's been injured
40:04
a lot, but it's been a lot of really
40:06
like specific and random things. And
40:09
he's had a lot of time off. He looks
40:11
pretty spry and ready to go. Same with
40:13
Sanheim. He doesn't look tired after
40:15
this long year of him playing a lot of
40:17
minutes in the Olympics and and in the
40:19
regular season. But yeah, it just looks
40:22
like, you know, they're going to have,
40:25
again, it's another situation where
40:26
they're not going to have the top end
40:28
talent, but when you look as a totality,
40:31
um, this team has been, you know, that
40:33
that defense has been pretty good, and
40:36
the team being so good defensively is
40:38
credit to not only the structure, but
40:40
the guys who have to play that structure
40:42
and execute it properly, and they've
40:44
done it really well. And I think talk
40:46
it, you know, maybe Jules does get in on
40:49
a road game. I I just I don't even see
40:52
it really though. I just I just really I
40:54
don't see it at this point. I just don't
40:55
think that it's going to necessarily
40:57
happen. I think he likes his six and
40:59
they are, you know, realistically not
41:01
huge, but the Penguins, Eric Carlson and
41:05
Latang are not really bruisers or by any
41:07
stretch of the imagination, right? Like
41:09
there's not a massive decor on that side
41:11
either, right? So, you know, there there
41:14
are certain things that I I think at
41:16
this point
41:18
it might just be what it is on on
41:20
defense unless there's an injury that
41:22
arises.
41:24
>> Yeah, I I hope so there because yeah,
41:26
the Flyers do have a solid six. Um and
41:30
something you touched on at the top of
41:31
this this whole thing was that, you
41:32
know, the Flyers haven't gotten too high
41:34
or too low all season long. They had
41:36
that long losing streak in January, but
41:39
like even game to game, they don't get
41:40
too high or too low. They they lose to
41:42
the Red Wings, get blown out by the Red
41:44
Wings, come home come home and get a big
41:45
win. So, like I feel like that's going
41:47
to be that's going to be big for this
41:49
team in the playoffs. They've gone
41:52
through some adversity back in January.
41:54
They've bounced back from some losses
41:56
that looked like they they may have
41:58
ended their playoff hopes or could have
42:00
ended their playoff hopes in the past
42:02
few weeks. And this team is it's just up
42:05
and coming. It's it's the upand
42:06
cominging young buck team against the
42:08
the the old guys just trying to hang on
42:11
with Crosby and Malcolm potentially his
42:13
last year and Pittsburgh and Latang and
42:15
Carlson. Um
42:18
but but the the I think the most besides
42:20
goending, goending obviously the most
42:22
important, but special teams is what's
42:25
going to be uh secondary there to to to
42:27
make or break this series for the Flyers
42:30
because we all we all know the Flyers
42:31
special teams have been uh quite bad
42:34
this season. Power play 15.7%
42:37
last in the league. Penalty kill uh
42:40
77.6%
42:42
which is the 11th worst. Uh Penguins
42:45
though seventh best power play at 24% um
42:48
and seventh best penalty kill at 81.4%.
42:51
So that is the one area where the
42:54
Penguins have a clear advantage over the
42:57
Flyers. And we know things can get crazy
43:00
in a Flyers Penguin series.
43:02
>> Yeah. And this is it almost to me it's
43:05
at the point where like that's just an
43:07
advertisement for having to stay
43:10
um disciplined because I don't think it
43:13
feels like the penalty kill's gotten
43:14
worse as the team has gotten better. It
43:16
doesn't feel like the penalty kill has
43:17
been very good for like the past couple
43:18
of months um and the power play as we
43:22
know it has turned up a little bit
43:24
heading in heading into the end of the
43:26
season right when when arrived and when
43:28
Forester came back there was a bit of a
43:30
a pulse there. I think there was like uh
43:33
until the Habs game, there was like an
43:36
eightgame stretch or a two week stretch
43:39
where the Flyers were um at like 20 some
43:42
uh 23% or something around that.
43:44
>> Seven for 28 since uh that game in
43:46
Detroit, which was that that was that
43:48
that was Marton's debut, right? No, the
43:49
Martins debut came out after that. Yeah.
43:51
>> Yeah, that was the Forester that was the
43:52
Forester comeback game where he scored
43:54
>> for Yes. Yeah. So So yeah, that was
43:57
Yeah. Seven for 28. If you can get to
43:59
25% in the playoffs,
44:00
>> that's perfectly fine. That's perfectly
44:02
fine.
44:02
>> Perfectly happy. Yeah.
44:03
>> But you got to stay out of the box at
44:04
the same time because like Yeah.
44:06
>> Eric Carlson, Chris Latang, Malcin
44:09
Crosby, no matter how old they get,
44:11
that's the one thing that will probably
44:12
never leave them. They Eric Carlson
44:14
probably quarterback a power play when
44:16
he's 50, right? So there's, you know,
44:18
there's going to be a lot and that's to
44:21
say nothing of like the Kindles and the
44:23
Manthas and Raquel and Chinov, right?
44:28
if they get opportunities, they're going
44:29
to score. That is just kind of the long
44:31
and short of it. Um, I like the Flyers
44:34
penalty kill in theory, but it just
44:36
hasn't been great. Um, they have the
44:38
guys who should be able to kind of keep
44:40
it together and and
44:43
be at least a decent mid-tier penalty
44:46
kill. Maybe it's just the fact that they
44:48
don't necessarily have that massive guy.
44:49
He clears the front of the net. Risto
44:51
kind of does it, but not really. Nick
44:53
Cer tries really hard, but again, he's
44:55
not huge. Yeah,
44:56
>> he just tries his ass off. And I have
44:58
nothing bad to say about Nick Cer, but
45:01
unfortunately he is about as tall as I
45:03
am. Um, and
45:06
yeah, the the
45:08
whole emphasis is going to have to be on
45:10
just staying out of the box. Uh, it's
45:12
going to be hard as you said, like guys
45:14
like Mishkov, guys like Marton, guys
45:15
like Rebankin again if he came back,
45:18
Zris Kney, they're just going to be just
45:21
absolute [Β __Β ] to play against every
45:23
time they're out there. And I think the
45:25
referees know that. Uh I think they have
45:27
a longer leash for that in the playoffs
45:29
as they should. But yeah, you're going
45:32
to have to stay out of the box, not take
45:33
any stupid penalties because they will
45:34
burn you. Like it's not even a question.
45:36
They will burn you.
45:38
>> Yeah, Penguins since the uh Olympic
45:41
break here 18 for 85 on the power play.
45:45
And that includes an 0 for five stretch
45:47
in the last four games where they
45:48
probably haven't had their top unit out
45:50
there. So what's that? That's 18 18 for
45:53
80 which is 22.5%. So the Flyers have I
45:56
mean more recently have a decent
45:59
but it's yeah it's you we saw how the
46:03
Red Wings were like all right we can do
46:04
this against the Flyers and they
46:06
completely picked apart the picked apart
46:08
the Flyers penalty kill. So um I don't
46:10
doubt that the Penguins are video
46:12
scouting that. Um yeah
46:14
>> so it's it's going to be tough. It's
46:16
going to be tough. that that is the one
46:18
thing where if the Flyers lose, it's
46:20
going to be special teams. Special teams
46:21
is their one Achilles heel
46:24
in in this series.
46:26
>> Uh yeah, and you look at it, especially
46:28
those Detroit games. Um I'm glad you
46:30
brought those up. When they were on the
46:33
penalty kill against Detroit, it looked
46:34
like Detroit could get whatever they
46:36
want. If you could unlock the Flyers
46:38
penalty kill to that extent in a playoff
46:40
series with which like you're gonna play
46:42
the team over and over again, you're
46:44
gonna have a chance to look at it and
46:46
>> and really diagnose it and figure out
46:48
where the weak points are and how you
46:50
can manipulate it. And I'm sure that Dan
46:51
Muse and
46:52
>> Crosby and Malcin and Latang and and
46:55
Eric Carlson have the sufficient hockey
46:58
knowledge to figure that out if you give
46:59
it enough shots give them enough shots
47:01
at it right and and get your tendencies
47:03
down and really start to pick you apart.
47:06
Um, yeah, I think it's it's going to be
47:08
huge just to try and limit the damage as
47:11
much as you can and
47:15
over as long as the series goes, you
47:17
would assume that uh the Penguins will
47:20
will be able if they get chance after
47:22
chance, we'll be able to break you down.
47:24
Um, and then that's just an over
47:26
reliance on Var and you just got to kind
47:29
of hope that he's able to bail you out,
47:30
which to an extent is a lot of what a
47:32
penalty kill is. But yeah, you know, you
47:35
can't you can't take any stupid
47:37
penalties and give them more chances
47:38
than they're already going to get.
47:41
>> Yeah. Yeah. Looking at the Flyers games
47:43
against the Penguins this season, um
47:45
October 28th, win in a shootout, Flyers
47:47
were one for four, Penguins 0 for four
47:49
on the power play. Then December 1st,
47:52
that game back from a four-game road
47:54
trip. Flyers 1 for seven. That's the
47:56
Forester injury game. Penguins three for
47:58
four. Uh 5-1 Penguins win there. Then
48:02
you got uh January 15th back toback
48:04
after playing at Buffalo the night
48:05
before. Lose 6-3 0 for four on the power
48:08
play. Penguins go three for four. And
48:10
then in their final meeting in
48:12
Pittsburgh on March 7th, Flyers 0 for
48:15
two, Penguins one for six in the
48:17
shootout win. So the Flyers only really
48:20
have a chance against the Penguins if
48:22
they either stay out of the box or
48:24
somehow kill off five penalties, which
48:26
they can do. They've shown they can do
48:27
that at times, but it's not a recipe
48:30
that you want to uh you want to rely on.
48:33
>> Yeah. And it's it's going to be tough.
48:36
It's going to be very enticing to like
48:39
take the extra shot, especially as this
48:41
series grows uh on and on and on, right?
48:44
Uh but they're just going to they're
48:47
just going to have to not do it. And
48:48
there's been some really boneheaded
48:49
mistakes. um whether it's puck over
48:52
glass, some stick penalties like
48:54
Ziggress and Mishkov, uh when they're
48:56
playing bad, which they haven't been
48:58
over the last couple of weeks, but when
48:59
they are playing poorly, it's a lot of
49:02
those weird, you know, one-handed
49:03
slashes and and trips in the in the
49:06
neutral zone that really get them.
49:08
>> Um so, it's got to be buttoned up, it's
49:10
got to be clean, and it's it's got to be
49:12
good because if you give them the
49:13
chances, it's going to be so tough to
49:14
beat them. Yeah, I I just looking here
49:17
on evolving hockey uh goalie save
49:19
percentage on the penalty kill um or
49:22
goal save above average. Ladar has the
49:25
fourth worst at 7.5 goal save above
49:28
expected uh negative 2.95. So that's
49:31
also sixth worst there. So that is some
49:32
something the Flyers have to Dan Vladar
49:35
has to clean up. But Steu Skinner uh
49:36
ninth worst goal save above expected
49:39
short-handed as well at negative 2.08
49:42
there. So, um, could see some power play
49:44
goals in this one. Marton does totally
49:47
change the Flyers power play from a
49:49
comment from Nick Hatfield. 9681 there.
49:52
Also ask if thinks Coots can keep up
49:54
with Crosby. I think this this is the
49:56
one area where you might see Couttoriier
49:59
against Crosby is on special teams here.
50:02
And that's something where I think
50:04
Couttoriier has really embraced his role
50:06
on special teams as the fourth liner, as
50:09
penalty kill specialist, using his body
50:11
more. So, I do think that is where we
50:14
could see that match up.
50:16
>> Part of me really wants to believe that
50:18
this is where you can finally get Coots
50:21
to just he just it just clicks again.
50:24
Like he he like sees the Penguins on the
50:28
ice and it like it's like a um a sleeper
50:31
agent and he just he just snaps back
50:33
into it and he's like, "Oh my god." Um I
50:36
don't think he can keep up with Crosby,
50:38
right? Like I don't think he can go
50:39
stride for stride for him obviously
50:40
anymore. Uh, but I think there is a role
50:44
for him to play against against Sid. Um,
50:47
it's hard for him to kind of keep up.
50:50
You know, it just the agility of Crosby
50:52
is still so good even at his at his
50:54
advanced age that like I don't know if
50:57
Coots can check him in the Done, in the
51:00
neutral zone, you know, really at all.
51:02
And I don't think you're expecting him
51:03
to score um especially with his
51:05
linemates against Crosby, but there is
51:08
going to be a role for him. um as sort
51:12
of
51:14
the stop gap shutdown guy. Like you
51:16
can't play D'vorak and Kates every shift
51:18
against those guys. I just I just don't
51:20
think it's feasible. And talk likes that
51:22
fourth line. The fourth lines played
51:25
like they deserve more minutes. Um and
51:28
you're going to go into the playoffs.
51:29
Those guys, you know, Glen Denning,
51:31
Couturier, and and Haway, if that is the
51:34
three that ends up uh starting the
51:36
playoffs, which it's going to be.
51:38
>> Yeah. Um, those guys are all they they
51:41
are not going to be stunned or afraid of
51:43
whatever they see out there. They have
51:45
seen it all in their travels. They've
51:47
played on a ton of different teams, a
51:49
ton of different playoff teams. And
51:51
yeah, I think they're ready for it. And
51:53
I think there is even if Coots can't
51:55
keep up, he is going to have to
51:57
contribute in a way that is meaningful
52:01
to withholding, you know, Crosby from
52:04
just passing it around to the fast guys
52:07
and letting them just pick pick the
52:10
Flyers apart through the neutral zone,
52:12
right? Um so we'll have to see, but but
52:15
Coots is trending upwards and I think
52:17
he's going to get more playing time than
52:19
maybe even we think right now. I think
52:22
there's just something about Coots in
52:24
the playoffs that that is enticing,
52:26
especially to a coach, and I don't even
52:28
blame him. Um, so we'll see what
52:30
happens. I I don't think he'll move from
52:31
the fourth line. I think he's probably
52:33
>> probably locked into the fourth line
52:35
now. Um, but it it's going to be
52:37
interesting to see just how much he can
52:39
give uh on the penalty kill and and how
52:42
much he can actually how many shifts he
52:44
can actually get at five on five.
52:45
>> Yeah, Couttori is going to see the
52:47
Penguins against him. He's going to he's
52:49
going to be ready to go. his last
52:50
playoff game against the Penguins on a
52:52
torn MCL hat-tick and two assists in the
52:55
uh the game six loss in 2018. So, I
52:57
mean, you have the 2012 success as well
53:00
against the Penguins. I wonder if could
53:02
could we get a shot with Teray hat-tick
53:03
in this series? Could he could he keep
53:05
it going?
53:06
>> I you know, I was actually at that game.
53:08
Um that was one of the only times. Yeah.
53:10
So, I the twice did I go to Pennsylvania
53:13
for a game. one the the first time was
53:16
the Mike Richards the shift game where
53:18
he crashes into Hak and scores and they
53:22
win the they go to the cup final.
53:24
>> Um and the other one was I went to two
53:28
games. I went to the OT winning game
53:31
where Coots is on one knee and scores
53:34
like an absolute muffin and I don't know
53:37
if it was Matt Murray. I think it was
53:38
Matt Murray but he scores uh in in
53:40
Pittsburgh and then they go back to
53:42
Philly. I went to that game too. I went
53:44
they went back to Philly and Gudas and
53:46
Manning just absolutely just made an
53:48
absolute farce of that game. I I don't
53:50
know if it was both Gudas and Manning. I
53:51
think it was definitely Gudas. I
53:53
remember Gudas had just a nightmare of a
53:55
game. There was a beer thrown on the ice
53:58
that missed the goalender by not a lot.
54:02
Uh and two guys in Joel Emb jerseys just
54:04
started killing each other in the crowd
54:07
like just haymakers. And I was very
54:09
confused because it was very cold
54:12
>> and it was obviously not basketball.
54:14
>> Obviously not though. But yeah, I mean
54:16
if you're going to be down here and go
54:17
in PA, might as well make the road trip.
54:19
And it is a it's a longer drive than
54:21
people think between uh and Pittsburgh.
54:23
It's a boring It's a boring drive.
54:24
>> It is a very boring. It is almost a
54:27
haunting drive
54:29
>> uh of how lame it is. Um the turnpike at
54:32
night is terrifying. I hate that.
54:34
>> That's terrible.
54:35
>> It It really is, Sarah. that.
54:38
>> Um, but yeah, like that's what we
54:40
remember Coots for, right? He has those
54:42
moments. Um, and 2012, you know, it may
54:45
have been 14 years ago, but like, hey,
54:48
it happened. It existed.
54:50
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, go So, goending,
54:53
we good for the Flyers. Flyers have the
54:54
check mark on goalending. Defense,
54:57
probably the Flyers. We talk we talk
54:59
through it. I mean, slight lean to the
55:00
Flyers. Maybe not like a full full check
55:02
mark, like a tick over there. I think
55:04
the Penguins have a a higher chance of
55:07
like putting up more points from
55:09
defenseman, but I think as a whole, I'd
55:11
rather have the Flyers. They more of a
55:13
playoff decor at this point, I would
55:15
think.
55:17
>> Yeah, I I I I think so. And then
55:20
forwards, it's probably still the
55:22
Penguins. The Penguins have
55:23
>> It's got to be Penguins. Yeah. Like that
55:25
that's the one area where the Flyers
55:27
have to
55:28
>> grind it out, not allow a ton of
55:30
chances. Make the right play. Get the
55:33
pucks in deep. get the puck out of the
55:34
zone at the blue line, get the red line,
55:36
don't ice it, make those smart plays,
55:38
which I think Rick Tocket has been um
55:41
implementing into their minds all season
55:43
long since training camp. So hopefully
55:46
uh this Rick Tocket hockey can continue
55:48
to uh find some some success for the
55:50
Flyers.
55:51
>> Yeah. And I mean, if you wanted to touch
55:53
on the coaching matchup, I mean, Dan
55:54
Muse and Rick Tocket, how about the
55:56
seasons they've both had? Um you know,
55:59
it didn't necessarily look great the
56:01
entire year. I know Muse even started
56:03
with some weird sort of, you know,
56:06
energy with his his reign beginning and,
56:09
you know, talk obviously had his bumps
56:11
in the road uh uh throughout the season,
56:14
but you know, where these teams have
56:16
ended up, I mean, you know, the Flyers
56:19
barely at 100 points and the Penguins
56:22
looking like they're going to be able to
56:24
at least maximize whatever is left of
56:26
Crosby, Malcolm, Latang, Carlson, where
56:28
as you know, even before Dubis got here,
56:32
uh got there, they uh were kind of stuck
56:36
in in in limbo there and it looked like
56:38
they were just going to waste out, you
56:39
know, they're going to do the Golden
56:40
State Warriors with Steph Curry and just
56:41
I don't know why I use so many
56:42
basketball analogies. I don't even like
56:44
basketball that much, but they were
56:46
going to do the Golden State and just
56:47
kind of waste the rest of the careers of
56:49
those two guys. But they were able to,
56:52
you know, find a way to be the second
56:54
best team in the metro, uh, with, you
56:57
know, not a bunch of great teams in the
56:59
metro, but a bunch of teams that look
57:00
like on paper they had similar rosters,
57:02
too. So,
57:04
>> um, even without Crosby for for a bit of
57:06
time there right after the Olympics,
57:08
Muse is able to to steer the ship and it
57:10
should be a really interesting coaching
57:12
matchup for two guys who, you know, talk
57:14
it with playoff experience. Muse
57:16
obviously not with uh with his you know
57:19
recent promotion. Um but yeah, I think
57:22
it's going to be really interesting to
57:24
see how the series changes as it goes
57:25
along because I think there's going to
57:27
be a lot of matchup flips. There's going
57:29
to be a lot of might be some line
57:31
changes, you know, by the time we go
57:33
back to Philly. Yeah.
57:34
>> Um one way or the other. So, I think
57:36
it'll be interesting to watch. Um but I
57:38
I don't think you can call it one way or
57:40
the other when you go to coaching. I
57:42
think both these guys have done very
57:43
well with the the rosters that they've
57:46
had and the limitations that they put on
57:48
them.
57:49
>> Yeah. I mean, yeah, I wonder if the MUS
57:51
maybe goes to to load up Malcolm with
57:53
Crosby together. I don't know if that's
57:55
something they do very often, but that
57:56
could be advantageous going against
57:58
going against the Flyers who, you know,
58:00
don't have that that really top pair,
58:02
topline guy, shutdown pair. Maybe if the
58:05
Penguins go to that, we see like a
58:07
Forester Kates connect like some sort of
58:10
weird just full-on shutdown line on the
58:12
third line.
58:13
>> But looking back at at Rick Tockett's um
58:16
last playoff series uh with the Canucks,
58:19
they lost in seven in the second round
58:20
to the Oilers,
58:22
>> but uh first round after winning the
58:24
Pacific Division. Very lowscoring games
58:26
there against the Predators. 4-2 win,
58:28
4-1 loss, 2-1 win, 4-3 overtime win, 2-1
58:32
loss, and then a one- nothing loss
58:34
there. Or one nothing win to get one
58:37
nothing win.
58:38
>> Yeah. So, I I can't imagine we see those
58:41
scores in this uh this Rick Tocket uh
58:44
opening round of the playoffs, but um
58:47
yeah, Rick Tocket has had some success,
58:50
had success as an assistant in
58:52
Pittsburgh, so a revenge revenge series
58:55
for him as well.
58:56
>> Yeah. to some extent it will be. But
58:59
yeah, you see even with talk it's past
59:02
um how this is is going to go. If the
59:04
Flyers really want to win, uh it's
59:06
probably going to be a couple moments
59:09
here and there, but a lot of just
59:11
stingy, stagnant play um in the Dzone
59:16
trying to just clog up the neutral zone
59:18
and keep from the Penguins really
59:19
getting set up in in the Flyers own end.
59:21
I think that's where the Penguins will
59:23
really be able to uh expose the Flyers
59:25
if they're able to do it is is off, you
59:28
know, those extended plays in their
59:30
zone. Um with Crosby sort of pinging it
59:32
around, you know, the the passing
59:35
ability of Latang and Carlson. Another
59:37
thing that lasts for for quite a long
59:38
time. They've got some snipers and guys
59:40
who can get uh lost in the shuffle like
59:43
Ricard Raquel for a really long time. I
59:45
feel like he just never got the credit
59:47
uh of how good of a player he's been for
59:49
like the past damn near a decade. I
59:51
would assume at this point, you know,
59:53
he's been very good with even when he
59:55
was with Anaheim and you know, those
59:57
types of guys are the guys who who swing
59:59
playoff series. So, uh, the the Flyers
1:00:02
are going to have to really play a
1:00:03
stingy game defensively and I think they
1:00:05
are, credit to them, capable of doing
1:00:07
that. They've done it a lot throughout
1:00:09
the year. Um, and even against the Habs
1:00:11
last night with a a shell of a team.
1:00:14
>> Um, that's a really impressive win. Like
1:00:17
the Habs were trying. They pulled the
1:00:19
goalie late. They tried to score. They
1:00:22
tried to win that hockey game. And, you
1:00:24
know, a team full of scratches and AHL
1:00:29
call-ups. Uh, along with, you know, the
1:00:32
the most um, you know, I guess highline
1:00:36
players were like Bump and Barky and
1:00:38
Marton who just got here this season or
1:00:41
if not two weeks ago.
1:00:43
>> So, yeah, it's it's going to be
1:00:45
interesting. I think I think the Flyers
1:00:48
the Flyers style, how they play is going
1:00:50
to be what what frustrates the Penguins
1:00:52
if this is going to go the Flyers way.
1:00:55
Um I I do see a path to that happening,
1:00:57
too. I think it's not a bad matchup, and
1:01:00
I think Tocket is going to have enough
1:01:03
pieces on the on the board to kind of
1:01:05
make the moves that he needs to um sort
1:01:08
of nullify the Penguins if if things
1:01:10
start to to turn the wrong way.
1:01:13
>> Yeah. No, I'm glad you brought up that
1:01:14
that c that uh Canadians game on Tuesday
1:01:16
night because I was thinking the same
1:01:18
thing about the Hurricanes the night
1:01:19
before how they had a bunch of scratches
1:01:21
but because they're so well structured
1:01:23
they still like 70 shot attempts and
1:01:26
then you know Rick Tocket Rick Tocket
1:01:28
well structured team against a Habs team
1:01:30
that had everything to play for and you
1:01:32
know they completely completely shut
1:01:34
them down there. So yeah that that's a
1:01:35
that's a good point there as well. So
1:01:38
yeah it should be it should be a good
1:01:40
series. It should be a fun time and it's
1:01:42
not just like, okay, we're in, let's
1:01:44
hope we win a game. It's we're in let's
1:01:46
hope we win a round and then the
1:01:48
Hurricanes are chokers. You never know
1:01:50
what could happen here.
1:01:51
>> You can talk yourselves. The Eastern
1:01:52
Conference is so great because you can
1:01:54
talk yourselves into a lot of things
1:01:56
when you get going. If you get hot in
1:01:58
the East, like even in the West, I feel
1:02:00
like if you won the first round, you're
1:02:02
like, "Okay, we'll play Colorado and
1:02:03
we'll play Edmonton. We'll get
1:02:05
>> get our [Β __Β ] whacked." I I can see the
1:02:07
Flyers going up against the Hurricanes
1:02:08
and just we blink and it's 2-2 and we're
1:02:12
going back to Philly for a second game
1:02:14
and it's like what? How did we even get
1:02:15
here? But obviously I'm thinking myself
1:02:17
I'm I'm getting way too ahead of myself.
1:02:19
Um it should be a really fun series.
1:02:21
It's much better when the Flyers are in
1:02:23
the playoffs. Um it's just more
1:02:25
interesting. It it's, you know, I I
1:02:28
understand how people want may have
1:02:30
wanted the Capitals uh Penguins series,
1:02:34
but you know, this is this is one of the
1:02:36
pinnacle rivalries in the sport. Uh a
1:02:38
lot of them have lost their juice over
1:02:40
the years. Um Toronto and the Habs, you
1:02:43
know, always alternate with when they're
1:02:45
good and bad, so they're never really
1:02:47
playing, you know, great games except
1:02:49
for when there's nobody in the arena. um
1:02:52
you know there's there's a certain
1:02:53
amount of of
1:02:56
rivalries where the teams sort of
1:02:58
alternate too much to to really make it
1:03:00
matter um these days and Oilers and
1:03:03
Flames I would put in that category as
1:03:05
well. Um but the Flyers and Penguins
1:03:07
both have a shot at this one. And while
1:03:10
the Penguins should be slight favorites,
1:03:12
they do have the the best talent. They
1:03:15
have guys who have pedigree. They have
1:03:17
guys who have done a lot in this league.
1:03:19
the Flyers ceiling is not I don't think
1:03:22
we've seen it yet. I think there is
1:03:24
still room for them to grow and whether
1:03:25
or not that happens this year or next.
1:03:28
Um if it is able to happen this year,
1:03:30
it's going to be really hard to beat
1:03:31
them four times uh in a playoff series.
1:03:34
>> Yeah, Crosby M Crosby Ovie would have
1:03:36
been great, but Penguins would have won
1:03:38
that easily in five. They may have
1:03:40
>> It feels like it. It feels like it.
1:03:41
Capitals don't have it. But like
1:03:43
Penguins, Flyers, like people are people
1:03:45
are going to as soon as that first game
1:03:47
they drop the puck on the first game,
1:03:48
people are going to remember how how
1:03:50
intense this rivalry is just across the
1:03:52
nation, not even like in in the region,
1:03:53
across the nation, internationally up
1:03:56
there in u in Canada. Um so yeah, but I
1:04:00
I kind of want to dive deeper into this
1:04:01
some other time, but is this the best
1:04:03
series of the first round? Like just
1:04:05
rivalry-wise? Um, you have you have
1:04:08
Stars Wild. That's probably the next
1:04:11
best one arguably. That's the that's the
1:04:13
best one. That's probably the best one
1:04:14
in terms of power.
1:04:15
>> That's a very good hockey like that'll
1:04:17
be very good for the neutral. I'm I'm
1:04:19
really down for that. Yeah. But I don't
1:04:21
think it's like a rivalry thing
1:04:23
necessarily.
1:04:24
>> Oh, you got the North Stars and stuff.
1:04:26
People
1:04:26
>> I don't think people really remember
1:04:28
that.
1:04:29
>> Um, yeah.
1:04:30
>> On a national level, I don't know how
1:04:31
many people remember the Minnesota North
1:04:33
Stars. No, but like
1:04:35
>> a really casual draw. For me it's cool.
1:04:37
Yeah, for me it's cool. For the sickos.
1:04:39
Yeah, it's cool. But
1:04:40
>> yeah, like in the East you got Kane
1:04:42
Senators. Who really cares?
1:04:44
>> That is a brutal one.
1:04:45
>> You got Sabres Bruins. I guess that
1:04:49
could be fun.
1:04:50
>> I feel like the Sabres win that. That's
1:04:51
that's what I my
1:04:52
>> You got uh Lightning against Canadians.
1:04:54
Martin St. Louis against his old team
1:04:56
could be could could be kind of
1:04:58
interesting there. But on a team basis,
1:05:00
I I think
1:05:01
>> obviously we're biased a little bit.
1:05:03
Avalanche Kings is some garbage.
1:05:05
>> Well, we might get Oilers Kings again
1:05:07
depending on what happens on uh on
1:05:08
Wednesday night.
1:05:10
>> Oh, yeah. No, it's not. It's not set in
1:05:12
stone.
1:05:12
>> Not like that. Nonetheless, it's not
1:05:13
set. No,
1:05:15
>> Oilers Kings is I do not want to see
1:05:17
that again either. Honestly, Oilers
1:05:19
Ducks isn't interesting to me. I guess
1:05:22
Wagon that's going to be seven six games
1:05:24
back and forth.
1:05:24
>> Yeah, I guess Fire Wagon, but it's not
1:05:26
going to look aesthetically pleasing
1:05:29
necessarily uh to the trained eye.
1:05:32
There's gonna be a lot of giveaways I
1:05:34
feel like. Uh, and then Golden Knights
1:05:36
Mammoth right now. Again, I think that
1:05:38
can that can change still as well. I
1:05:40
think the Mammoth
1:05:41
>> that one's I think Mammoth.
1:05:43
>> Mammoth are locked in to wild card one
1:05:45
because they have the tiebreaker over
1:05:47
>> Oh, yeah. The tiebreaker. Yeah. So, it's
1:05:49
two points, but it's the
1:05:50
>> So, yeah, it'll be it'll be whoever wins
1:05:52
the West or the Pacific, which should be
1:05:54
the Golden Knights against the Mammoth.
1:05:55
That That's a fun That's a fun series.
1:05:57
That's a fun series for for hockey
1:05:59
sickos like us, but not for
1:06:00
>> Yeah. Again, I don't know who's staying
1:06:02
up.
1:06:02
>> Yeah. Who signed up for 11 11 p.m. puck
1:06:05
drop for for Vegas Mammoth? Like,
1:06:07
>> yeah, that might be a tough draw. Like,
1:06:09
yeah, if you're if you're talking about
1:06:10
just mainstream national uh interest. I
1:06:13
feel like the Flyers Penguins, that's
1:06:15
that's a series that, you know, when I
1:06:17
was in high school, you know, that was
1:06:19
like uh better than the cup finals that
1:06:22
happened that year, right? like they
1:06:24
were like eight to five games with
1:06:27
fights and just the crowds were the
1:06:29
crowds I they've never been matched I
1:06:31
don't think by
1:06:33
>> really uh any anything since especially
1:06:35
even even in Pittsburgh I think even
1:06:37
Penguins fans would say the same um you
1:06:39
know you just
1:06:41
>> even even those like
1:06:44
>> runs they had later the Penguins runs
1:06:47
and even against the Capitals and stuff
1:06:48
like there is um I I think more of the
1:06:52
Crosbykin stuff kind grew to be like a
1:06:54
mutual respect. I think the Penguins and
1:06:57
Flyers thing is still rooted in like
1:06:59
anger and like
1:07:01
>> wanting to prove one is better than the
1:07:03
other, which a lot of this the
1:07:05
interstate rivalries um just in sports
1:07:09
in general, but like you don't think of
1:07:11
the Islanders and the Rangers
1:07:12
necessarily like that anymore. I mean, I
1:07:14
guess there is a bit of it, but it's not
1:07:16
to the same extent, right?
1:07:17
>> No, no, it's No, it's not. And yeah, we
1:07:20
could go on for for hours on this. so
1:07:23
much to talk about
1:07:24
>> and there and there will be. So, make
1:07:25
sure you uh check out the Broad Street
1:07:26
Hockey YouTube channel, Broad Street
1:07:28
Hockey podcast feed or wherever you
1:07:30
listen to your podcasts. Um, check us
1:07:32
out on Instagram, bro Hockey, of course,
1:07:36
uh, Twitter, Blue Sky, the website.
1:07:38
Everyone's killing it there. U, so yeah,
1:07:41
keep it keep it locked here. We'll have
1:07:42
something uh coming probably every day
1:07:45
this week. We have we have a lot of lot
1:07:46
of content coming up leading up to game
1:07:49
one, which is likely Saturday. It seems
1:07:51
like it'll be Saturday based on uh what
1:07:53
TV schedules are out there so far. Um so
1:07:57
yeah, we'll see that. Once again, thanks
1:07:58
for sponsors at FanDuel. You have the
1:08:00
Flyers 20 to1 to win the Eastern
1:08:02
Conference there. Uh only only above the
1:08:05
Bruins in the East, but um if they get
1:08:07
past the Penguins, Damar could turn it
1:08:09
into a brick wall. Anything can happen
1:08:10
there.
1:08:11
>> There you never know until it happens.
1:08:13
>> Yeah. Jacob, any any final thoughts here
1:08:15
you want you want to get out? It's just
1:08:17
great to, you know, see the fan base
1:08:19
start to get engaged again. The past two
1:08:22
weeks been really fun. Um, even just the
1:08:24
watching the games, watching the arena,
1:08:26
watching the crowd, and
1:08:28
>> it it seems like everyone's got some
1:08:30
positive feelings here. The team has
1:08:32
rightfully earned back a lot of trust in
1:08:34
in how they play um and the way that
1:08:37
they play. And uh it it's going to be
1:08:39
great to see, you know, however it goes.
1:08:41
Uh another battle of Pennsylvania.
1:08:43
>> Yeah. Yeah. We're we're we're back.
1:08:45
really psyched.
1:08:46
>> Really psyched out, man.
1:08:48
>> All right, until next time. Thanks for
1:08:51
watching.