Episode Transcript
[00:00:10] Speaker A: What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to the Good OL Hockey podcast. This is episode number 36.
Man, we're here. This is last two weeks of the season. Galley. Kind of crazy. We started this, I guess, 36 weeks ago.
You know, we'll go over maybe towards the end, we got to go over just our predictions and maybe watch back that first episode to see what, you know, our brains were thinking back then and how they've kind of shaped out now.
I know we trashed on both the Oilers and a little bit on the Panthers at least, just not thinking they were going to go this far, but here we go. We got it. Sandy cup final, Edmonton versus Florida, and we will get into that later. But before we do that, get. How was your weekend?
[00:00:53] Speaker B: It's a good weekend. Um, you know, didn't. Didn't do much. I don't even barely remember what I did this weekend. I know we went out on, went to end zone. Watch some hockey. Yeah, a bunch of hockey. I mean, watch both the Panthers and. And both the. Unfortunately, the Oilers advance. Yeah, some of my buddies are in town, so kicked it with them, but nice. Yeah, man, it was pretty, pretty laid back weekend for the most part. I was going to get my kitten shots on Friday, but ended up. The place was closed that we were going to go. They have very cheap vaccinations, which is kind of sketch, but I think it's.
[00:01:33] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:01:35] Speaker B: But, yeah, man. I mean, it was a good weekend, though, not gonna lie. How was your weekend, though?
[00:01:41] Speaker A: It was pretty good. Um, obviously met her, but my mom was in town for her birthday, uh, which was nice. We had a little breakfast this morning before they left, so it's been kind of a busy weekend, just in terms of, you know, I was doing stuff, but I was unable to watch the game last night because we had a birthday dinner, and I felt, you know, kind of rude if I was to pull up the game on my phone, but, yeah, I didn't watch last night's game, but obviously, we watched the Florida game, which was fun to watch.
I was kind of hoping, you know, I had some of my friends texting me throughout the game, like, what was going on with Edmonton? And, you know, obviously, which we'll get into, but they had, like, ten shots on goal at the very end of the game. I know to finish out versus Dallas is like 30, but we've seen a couple games like that where that happens. These players.
[00:02:33] Speaker B: But also side note, with the Rangers Panthers game, Cody, I think, screwed the Rangers over.
[00:02:40] Speaker A: Yes.
Yeah.
[00:02:42] Speaker B: Cody live bet the Rangers I think, like, at the beginning, five minutes of the third, we were like, oh, yeah, they're going to. They're going to come back. Then the Panthers scored 20, like a.
[00:02:54] Speaker A: Minute after he put the live bet in.
[00:02:55] Speaker B: Yeah. They ended up losing two one. So I feel like Cody didn't put that live bet in. There might be a game seven tonight with Rain.
[00:03:04] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:03:04] Speaker B: So I'm going to, I'm going to give all of that blame on Cody right there.
[00:03:07] Speaker A: Put, too. I think the whole state of New York should, um. If you guys don't know Cody, he is part of settle down. He does a podcast. This about that. Go watch that. It's a good one. Um, but Cody's known for having bad luck in sports betting. And I kind of exit on. He was like, I might live it on the Rangers. And I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, do it.
Even though I know you had your bet on it, but I wanted the series to be done for, and I kid you not. Like, yeah, a minute after he put that bet down, was it Sam Bennett or. I forget who scored, but yeah, the Panthers. Oh, it's Terrasenko. Because we were kind of talking about how he's been quiet this playoffs and then. Yeah, Lily that day, and he scores.
[00:03:51] Speaker B: So, yeah, we've been, we've been jinxing a lot of players, including the Oilers, Stuart Skinner especially. Yep.
[00:03:59] Speaker A: Yeah, it's been crazy. But, yeah, that was funny. So, New York Rangers fans, Cody voice and look him up on instagram, send him a DM, you know, blame him. He's the reason. It's his betting luck, but.
Or after that, I guess.
Yeah. Rest of the weekend really wasn't, wasn't that crazy. So, you know, pretty much just hockey filled and mom filled, so.
But you have a game tonight, don't you?
[00:04:28] Speaker B: I do have a game tonight. I have a game on Wednesday, too, but it conflicts with my advertising companies.
Kickball game, which there's only three of them total, so, I mean, it's, it's a really tough call for me. I might. Might have to skip the hockey in which it's, it's tough to my, I'm loyal, loyal to my hooligans. Right. My team. But, yeah, man, I, yeah, it's a tough call. I got two games this week and also a kickball game, so one of those games might have to hold off, unfortunately. We'll see, though. This is a hockey podcast, so we'll see if I end up. I might, might be a die hard beer leaguer and hit that Wednesday game.
[00:05:10] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:11] Speaker B: Speaking of that, we are. I'm just going to plug this one more time. I know even our fans, we're going to the draft, and we're going to the award ceremony, and it's going to be such a kick ass week, and I'm thrilled.
[00:05:21] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:22] Speaker B: There's going to be all sorts of deep dives coming in. Probably not this episode, at least.
[00:05:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:27] Speaker B: But I'm going to really start researching it a little bit more. We're going to make some mock drafts, maybe some player rankings leading up to the night of the 28th.
[00:05:38] Speaker A: I want to say yes. Friday night, the drafts. Round one. Round two's on Saturday.
Yeah. Be fun time. Less than a month away. Yeah.
[00:05:47] Speaker B: We're gonna show on Thursday, too.
[00:05:49] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, yeah. War show. Thursday.
Friday is the round one. Round two's on Saturday. Also on Saturday. I don't know if you knew this, but Conor McGregor is fighting in Vegas on Saturday when we're there.
[00:06:02] Speaker B: Yeah, that's gonna be. That's gonna be a lit time. I feel like Saturday nights gonna be, like, more of our let loose night. Have a good time, probably.
[00:06:09] Speaker A: Yeah, we're gonna be. Yeah, we'll be doing content there. So you guys will get a sneak peek of everything. A lot of it will be on our instagram, like, live as we're doing it. So go follow that. We're going to plug it again. Good old hockey podcast. We're trying to hit 500 before the end of the playoffs. I think we can do it. I think we're at, like 450 right now.
[00:06:29] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:06:29] Speaker A: So if this video gets 50 views and all 50 of you are watching and you're not following, go follow. Right now we're at 443. So at good old Hockey podcast, right underneath galley. You can find it there. But let's get into it coast to coast. We're going to kick it off coast to coast with, you know, just news around the league. Nothing too crazy as of yet, but take it off with the first one.
[00:06:51] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, in the NHL world, nothing too crazy. Besides this conference. Conference finals. I know the episode before, I mean, last week we had four coaching changes, which is fucking. That's some big news and general manager changes and whatnot. But I think the biggest thing on anyone's radars, I know there were some player signings and whatnot, but the Utah hockey team, they are supposedly going to be the Utah hockey club for the 2024 25 season. I'm a little bit bummed. I think all hockey fans are a little bit bummed that, you know, they didn't have a name going into next season. I know it would have been a really quick turnaround. I think they could have done it for how full send this whole operation has been going. I think they could have probably figured it out.
There might have been something with, with the NHL in terms of, like, they need to get a team name by x state.
[00:07:46] Speaker A: Yeah, that's a good point.
[00:07:47] Speaker B: Don't really know those details. I do know, though, on the Pat McAfee show, the owner of the Jazz, who's the owner of that NHL team in Salt Lake, he did release or he did reveal that the Yetis and the Mammoths are some of those teams. So if I were to say any of those, I think it's got to be the Yetis, the yeti, yetis, whatever it is. I just feel like that's got the most momentum, but I don't know. What's your, what's your thoughts on, on this whole breaking news, if you'd call it breaking news?
[00:08:19] Speaker A: Yeah, I think I saw that a logo was possibly leaked. Not for sure. Yeah, there was a little, like, what's it called?
[00:08:28] Speaker B: The, like, blue, blue and black white one. Yeah.
[00:08:31] Speaker A: Yeah. Kind of like, settled down blue just.
[00:08:33] Speaker B: Kind of could be their colors, you know?
[00:08:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:08:35] Speaker B: And I think. I think that would be sweet for.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: Yeah, it kind of matches settle down, too with that, like, light blue, which is kind of funny.
But I mean, in terms of the name, I get it. Like, I think it would have been awesome if they were able to get the name, you know, with, like you said, this full send thing they're doing. They were able to get that name in at the same time and get this whole thing done and so quick. Like, that would have been awesome. But I do understand it because it's like they can get the name, but then they probably have to get the logo, too. They just want to do everything right.
[00:09:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:07] Speaker A: Make sure because it's, you know, it's a franchise, it's not something light. I mean, I guess we could have looked into, like, how long it took the nights to do their whole thing because I know they did something similar with, like, voting, maybe not like a bracket like Utah did, but I think.
[00:09:23] Speaker B: The Kraken did, too. I want to say.
[00:09:24] Speaker A: Yeah, I just, I know that they had, they had more time to, like, figure everything out and with Utah, like, they have to figure out all the operations stuff and business stuff as a whole.
Yeah. You got to figure that out first, which I understand, but it would have been really sick if they were able to do it all and be like, boom, we got a team. We got a name. We got it all, this stuff. So.
[00:09:48] Speaker B: Well, I think. But, yeah, I think it's funny is they're keeping Tucson Road runners as their AHL affiliate, which is like. Yeah, it's kind of. Kind of weird. Like they steal this team from Arizona, but then their farm teams and. In Arizona. Yeah, but they said. They supposedly said that they're gonna be staying in Tucson for the. For the future.
[00:10:07] Speaker A: Yeah. But since, I mean, it's. It's tough to move a team like that, too. You have to teams at that point.
[00:10:14] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, my closing thought on, on this whole, you know, Utah hockey team, hockey club, whatever the hell it's going to be, I think this might kind of bite them in the ass. I know a lot of people have been kind of clowning on Utah as a state. Mormons, Salt Lake City. I think them not having a team is going to potentially come up with some derogatory names for them. Yeah. I feel like have been thrown around a lot, but I mean, if you don't have a. You know, if you don't have a team name, I mean, it's. It's up in the air in a way.
[00:10:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:10:45] Speaker B: You know, so I just feel like that's. That could kind of turn around and bite them in the ass.
It's gonna be interesting to see what they, they put together for their jerseys. And I'm excited for that because I don't think there's been. There hasn't been an NHL team that's just labeled hockey team, like hockey club, like, I mean, like the Washington football team or I think Cleveland. The Cleveland Indians. I don't.
[00:11:11] Speaker A: I think they were just Cleveland. They.
[00:11:13] Speaker B: I remember they did that like a transition period, though.
[00:11:16] Speaker A: I think they were still the Cleveland Indians. They just got rid of the.
What's it called? The yahoo. Whatever his name is.
[00:11:23] Speaker B: Oh, yeah.
[00:11:24] Speaker A: Chief wahoo or whatever. I think they got rid of his, like, caricature and just put like a c and they were like Cleveland branded everything.
I don't think they were like baseball team. If anything. They just were called Cleveland, which I want to transition this perfectly leads into the PWHL. They're doing the same thing with a lot of their teams. They don't really have like a name.
But that's our next segment on here. Little tidbit here. PWHL championship. The PWHL Minnesota, which again, they don't have a name yet.
They won the. What's their championship called, do you know?
[00:12:04] Speaker B: Dude, I honestly should have wrote it down, but I just know it's named after the commissioner and the owner of all the teams, because one owner owns all the teams, which is kind of interesting to me, too, but, yeah, please, next year, get some teams. Get some jerseys. Like, I feel like this. This league has the most hype behind any women's hockey league there has been yet, and I feel like they're doing a good job with it. So let's start making merch. Let's start making these players money and whatnot. I think it's kind of weird that it's named after the commissioner. I think you should honor maybe one of the best hockey players of all time, let alone women hockey players. I think the Wickenheiser Heiser cup would be sweet. Haley Wittgenheiser was a legend for Team Canada, which I like that. I know there's. I know there's a lot of american teams in this league, but, I mean, that's arguably the Gretzky of women's hockey. So I know that's a. That's probably. Some people might come at me for saying that, but.
[00:13:01] Speaker A: No, but I think that's good.
[00:13:03] Speaker B: That would be a good. Yeah.
[00:13:05] Speaker A: Yeah. It's a good, like, homage to, like, everything that's, you know, it's tough because, like, obviously the Stanley cup has so much history to it, and, you know, I think women's sports doesn't really get a whole lot of light shined on it. But, you know, if you name a cup after. After her, like, I feel like it'd be cool.
I don't really know what else.
[00:13:27] Speaker B: Shit, dude. Like, I know Queen Victoria was associated of giving the Stanley cup to Canada, so fuck it, dude. Go that same route and go. Queen Elizabeth, she just died. Like, I know Canada is part of the commonwealth. Like, Canada could totally do that. I know it's not, like, a purely canadian based team, but I don't know. I think this. This league looks good this year. I know they broke a lot of attendance records and stuff, which is a big plus. So next year, please get some damn teams. Get some sick jerseys, because right now they look like beer league jerseys. I mean, honestly, my. My beer league has. My beer league team has better jerseys than them, which is shitty to say. I mean, these are professional athletes, so.
[00:14:08] Speaker A: Yeah, that's funny. Yeah, I think, honestly, this league has a lot of potential. I think the girls in this league are amazing.
I think it's a really fun sport to watch. I didn't get to watch that game, but, you know, I've seen watch games in the past this season, so, yeah, I mean, I know we don't really ever. I don't think we've ever talked about the PWHL on this podcast yet. But, you know, maybe we can get into that next season if you guys are interested in that.
But, yeah, good for them.
Another cup win. You have anything else?
[00:14:43] Speaker B: Yeah, no, no, I was just going to lead into that.
[00:14:45] Speaker A: Do it.
[00:14:46] Speaker B: But yeah, I know the Sagna Saginaw spirit. I don't know if I'm butchering that name, which is actually a team. I think it's the only american team in the OHL right now. They actually won the Memorial cup against the London Knights. They didn't even win the OHL cup either, which is a surprise to a lot of people. But they are the first Memorial cup win for Saginaw. They won four to three. I was watching some highlights of it. They scored with 30 seconds left in the game, which is fucking incredible. It was a pretty sick goal. It was sick Selly. I feel like those are always really incredible goals. Like, I feel like one that comes to mind is like the King's goal when they score that, you know, Stanley cup clinching goal. I mean, when you. When you get those sudden death goals to. To win the ship. Yeah, it's. Yeah, it's some pretty crazy emotion you don't see in a lot of other sports. I feel like soccer, there's somewhat of that with, like, penalty kicks, but yeah, hockey, it's. It's. It's sick when there's a goal and goal to win the whole thing, but yeah, we haven't talked too much about juniors. I know there's a whole realm of hockey. We've.
[00:15:53] Speaker A: Yeah, we've. No, there is a lot out there, guys. I don't know if this is. I want to say the Windsor Spitfires are also an american team in the.
[00:16:01] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, that's true. They definitely are.
[00:16:04] Speaker A: I think there's a couple in like the Minnesota or Minnesota Michigan area, but yeah, that game was that. He was good, actually. On Friday I was out to dinner with my mom and we were at. We were at some restaurant downtown, and they didn't have the Oilers and Dallas game on that night in the bar, but they had the Saginaw game on and I was like, well, I guess I can watch this game, which it was a fun game to watch. Um, I just thought it was weird that didn't play. They didn't show NHL hockey on the tv. They had junior league hockey on the tv, which is just weird. But yeah.
[00:16:43] Speaker B: Oh, who are these? This is new NHL team. Throw it on. I was totally wrong on that. There's actually three. Erie has a team.
[00:16:51] Speaker A: Erie.
[00:16:52] Speaker B: David played for Flint Firebirds and then Saginaw spirit. So there's actually three. So.
[00:16:57] Speaker A: Okay. All.
[00:17:01] Speaker B: I think that they were a team, but they are not anymore. I guess they folded or I think they moved to. Not totally sure. But I do know there's a lot of WHL teams that are american. Yeah, I think there's five or six of them.
[00:17:18] Speaker A: I always forget that. McDavid on the Erie otters. Like, I just always assumed it was in Canada.
But then later when I found out that it was, he was in America playing the whole time, I was like, oh, that's weird. Which it's like right on the border, so it's not like he was super far. Had some Tim Hortons there, I'm sure, but yeah. All right, anything else before we jump into.
Let's get into it, conference finals review here, we got. First one we're going to do is the Rangers and Panthers. First one that ended. Panthers won four, two, six games. Obviously you heard about us talking about it earlier with the close. It was a close game six. I didn't think it was a ass kicking by any means.
Rangers scored two or they scored one at the very end. Made it pretty close.
But what do you think, like, for the Rangers, like, what do you think they struggled with the most?
[00:18:14] Speaker B: Yeah, I think the biggest thing, and I think this is what everyone's talking about, panerans abandoned Jad and crider. I know Crider had. It was kind of getting under their skin. He was. He was doing some other things besides scoring, which props to him for figuring that out.
[00:18:28] Speaker A: Yeah. Mouthpiece over the glass.
[00:18:30] Speaker B: Yeah. For those three players when they're not producing, I feel like that's going to hurt the Rangers in any. Any playoff situation. I think if this happened in round two, that the Kane's probably would have won. Who knows what happened in round one? If that happened, I don't think the Capitals would have done anything.
But, yeah, I think that was the biggest thing. I mean, crider had ten points before the series and, you know, two rounds and Zabanajet had 14. And for them to go in and, you know, barely get. I think Zabanajad ended with two points and Crider had a few points. I want to say Paneran scored one goal at the very end. I want to say was in game six. So, yeah, they struggled hard with that and I think that was literally, why they, they lost this series. I think they would have had a very good shot if not beat the Panthers if they had their best players going. And also their power play troubles went one for 15 on power plays, and that kind of attributes to, I mean, that attributes to their best players. Their best players are on the ice for that. And if they can't capitalize on these power plays, they're not going to get points. These teams aren't scoring, they're not going to win. But, I mean, what are your thoughts on, on the series and kind of how it went about. I feel like the Rangers had some steam rolling at the beginning, but they just kind of lost it when it got into games.
[00:19:50] Speaker A: Yeah, they got up, what, they lost game one and then won two games in a row. They were up to one, and I was kind of. I was a little nervous. You know, I have a future bet from the Panthers from last year to win the Stanley cup on accident. I've talked about this before, but I'm rooting for the Panthers. But they were, I mean, I think the one for 15 on power plays. One is crazy. They didn't score more than 115 power plays in six games. But also, I think Florida's penalty kill and just Florida is so dominant in so many aspects. Like, I don't think, yeah, obviously Bobrovsky played great, but, you know, I think last year he was definitely a catalyst for them and, like, kept them in a lot of those games and series. But I think now this team is like, you know, showing out for him. They're like, all right, you did great for us last year. Now we need to stick up because you. We can't expect that out of our goalie every single game.
And their defense, their four check, everything about them is like, it's crazy to watch. It's like, yeah, kind of just, they can't get that. Like, the Rangers couldn't get the puck out of the zone half the time.
[00:20:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:20:54] Speaker A: And I think that was just a part of the power play, too. They just couldn't get anything going.
[00:20:59] Speaker B: No. And I feel like they're firing on, on all cylinders. I feel like they're getting scoring from their depth. Um, you know, there's some unsung heroes. I think Sam Bennett had such a good series, which I'll get into that. I feel like little teaser right there, but it's just crazy to me. The Panthers are proven. I mean, they've beat three of the, arguably the strongest goalies in the Eastern Conference. I mean, Vasileski, first round blew past them swaim in the next round. And then, you know, this round, Shasturkin, who he's probably going to win the Vesna. So, yeah, it's. I saw that today, and I was like, holy shit. I mean, Shasturkin played on his head, though, still. I mean, 935 save percentage. He kept them in a lot of these games, too. I think without just Sterkin, they're, they might have gotten swept or this would have been over in five. I mean, Justerkin was unbelievable, and I stand by that. It's, it's pretty crazy that the Panthers were able to figure him out.
I mean, hats off to Sterkin, though. I thought he had such a good playoffs.
But you know what? At the end of the day, guys, President's trophy curse. It's real. It is real.
[00:22:07] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:07] Speaker B: So another president's trophy winner goes, goes down in the playoffs, which is tough for the Rangers because I feel like a lot of people thought this was the year they're at least going to go to the final.
[00:22:19] Speaker A: But, yeah, I think, I mean, for them, they got pretty far. I mean, to get to the Eastern Conference finals is no, no joke. I think they had the benefit of, you know, playing the Capitals first round.
I think if they were to play the Lightning like the Panthers did, I think that series would have been a little bit closer. Um, but I still think they would have done well, though. I mean, this team was great. The Panthers were just better. And that's like a theme I've been saying the past three times they've played both the Lightning, the Bruins, and now the Rangers. These Panthers team have just been, like, almost bleeding these teams out. I like to say where they take it. Yeah, the series maybe goes to six. I mean, the Lightning went to five, but if you get to, like, if you don't close out on Florida in those games that you need to close out on, they're gonna bleed you dry and they're gonna get you worn down.
Everything just goes right for them and, yeah, it's just unfortunate for them when.
[00:23:18] Speaker B: It was tied to two, that game five was so crucial, and they lost that at home and.
[00:23:23] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:23:24] Speaker B: Yeah, I feel like that was on the wall, you know?
[00:23:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:23:27] Speaker B: They could have been up three one, but, yeah, man, I mean, it's, it's tough for the Rangers. I feel for their fans. I feel, yeah. Like, they had a really strong team this year. I know that a lot of their team is going to be returning. I think the only big name I saw, capo cac Capo Caco.
[00:23:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:23:45] Speaker B: I don't even know fucking, I'm butchering that name. No, you got, everyone knows who he is, but he's at RFA this year. And then also Blake Wheeler, who kind of have a down year. Not going to lie.
[00:23:56] Speaker A: Yeah, he was injured for a little USA, so.
[00:23:58] Speaker B: Yeah, so he'll probably, those, those players will probably be out of here, but they're going to, they're going to be. Lot of these players are going to be returning. I think the Rangers are going to, you know, stick around in this conversation for a while. They have a really strong team all around and they have one of the best goalies. So Sterkin's there. I think this team is going to be making it to some more conference finals, hopefully a Stanley cup final, and maybe they'll win it. So who's, who's your series mvp for, for this series?
[00:24:23] Speaker A: Before that? I looked this up. The last team that won the president's trophy, that won the Stanley cup was eleven years ago, the Chicago Blackhawks 2013. It's been eleven years since we've had.
[00:24:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Which was a freaking, it, that was a lockout year, though, too. So it's like, does that really.
[00:24:39] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:24:40] Speaker B: Does that really count? You know?
[00:24:42] Speaker A: Yeah, good point.
[00:24:43] Speaker B: It's kind of like an asterisk.
[00:24:44] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:24:45] Speaker B: Towards that president's trophy year. Yeah, but, but, yeah, to be fair, that's, that is true.
[00:24:52] Speaker A: Still. Eleven years since anyone has ever done it. I mean, yeah, we've had some, some great teams come through with these presidents trophies, the Sharks being won in 2008 or something.
Tough year, but series MVP, you know, he's kind of been quiet. Matthew Kaczuk, I'm going to give it to him.
[00:25:13] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:25:14] Speaker A: He's been quiet. It's like a sneaky mvp. Almost like he hasn't been, you know, scoring as many goals or clutch goals like he has in the last, but he's been a point per game this entire playoffs, and I think that's really tough to do. He's, I want to say he's still fourth in points behind all the freaking Edmonton players, the power play merchants.
And I think McDavid's like ten or twelve points ahead of him now.
But Kerchuck had a great series. I think just his presence as a whole.
I think I know who your mvp is, too, and I would give it to him. But yeah, Kachuk's just a little, he was a little quiet. And I think people forget like, how much, how much power he has when he's just on your team getting in, you know, the little stuff that we don't even see the actual scorecard, dude.
[00:26:04] Speaker B: Kaczyk's such a savage. It breaks my heart that he's on.
Like, I've seen every flames fan page all over the place, just showing what our roster looked like two years ago when we. When we lost to the Oilers, and it's like, holy fuck, dude. If we had that roster still, we might have at least a Stanley cup appearance or a conference final appearance. Cause, I mean, to have Kaczakadreau, Lindholm, I mean, those three players, they were running, shit. I mean, Monahan. Sam Bennett, too, is on their team, but, yeah, leading into that, my mvp, Sam Bennett all the way, it was difficult to me to not give it to Shasturkin just because he. He did keep the Rangers in this series when their team was absolutely not giving anything to them.
[00:26:55] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:26:55] Speaker B: You know, not gonna lie, there was some good players on the. On the Rangers, too. Like, Gujarat stepped up, and then also, I think Adam Fox, too, had, like, five. Yeah, six points, but, yeah, Sam Bennett, four goals, two assists. He led the series in goals, which, in the Panthers and Rangers series, you got Bobroski and Shasturkin. I mean, to score four goals in that series is. That shows a lot. He stepped up big time. He had three goals in the last three games, too, which I think that was the biggest.
But, you know, he had that game winning goal in game five, which, like I said before, that was probably the most crucial game of the series for the Panthers.
But, yeah, it is difficult for me not to give to Shasturkin. But that being said, who's your series ghost?
[00:27:39] Speaker A: I'm going to give it. This is pretty predictable. I'm giving it to Paneran.
I mean, he had. How many points did he. I don't even know how many points he had.
[00:27:46] Speaker B: I think he had three or four points. But I want to say they. They came, like, within the last two games, and that goal, I was, like, the last goal they scored the whole season.
[00:27:56] Speaker A: Like, the goal you score, I mean, if they come back, it'd be a different story. But when you're a player, like, who he is and what he did in the regular season, too, like, I've heard talks of him being, like, fifth in voting for MVP, possibly, um, to have a season like he did and just kind of go, ghost, in this. In this series is really tough for the Rangers because, yes, they have a deep team, but you still need all those players firing, which is what Florida is doing. Like, they have these players that, you know, if someone isn't stepping up, someone else is rising up even higher. But they're all still clicking together. They're all playing well together. So, you know, I think you did to have a stronger season, but who's your ghost?
[00:28:41] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, like, like you said, just to add to that, I mean, Reinhardt, Kachuk, Bennett, Barkov, I mean, they're all firing, so, yeah, they're, they're, they got something going, but my, my ghost is a bandage. Ed. I think he's been such a good player for the Rangers his whole career. He only put up two assists the whole series.
I think this is one of the biggest series he had his whole career, too.
And, I mean, it's honestly, like, all the Rangers core, I want to give it to them, too. I mean, they just did not show up. But it could have been paneran for me, too. Could have been Zabanijad, at least Crider did a little bit, kind of, but Bolt, Zabanija, and Crider were held pointless five out of the six games. So when I. I mean, Crider is doing that, could have given it to Crider, but Zabanajad didn't. He was non existent in the series. So that's. That's my ghost.
[00:29:40] Speaker A: Yeah, no, I agree. I think overall, closing thoughts on this series, I mean, the Rangers are a good team, and they showed that in the regular season, and I don't think that they necessarily played horrible.
Like I said, the Panthers are just better, and they are hot as shit right now. They are.
[00:29:57] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:29:58] Speaker A: Just fire, and they've been doing that all playoffs, just constantly, like, breathing down these teams necks and just, like, right up on them, giving them no space to do anything, shutting down key players. You know, this is, this conversation is a lot like what we had in the Boston Florida, what's called review that we did. Boston's key players didn't show up. And, you know, maybe it's.
I think it's in part due to Florida and just how they are as a team and who they, they focus on and who they shut down.
You know, I don't. Maybe it's not necessarily the players fault. It's the.
Just how good the Panthers are. Like, I don't know why I just keep emphasizing this, is that I'm really excited to see what they do against the Oilers, how they can shut down, if they can shut down McDavid, dry Seidel and new Jahapi can keep going. But, you know, I'm, I'm curious. We're going to see, but any last thoughts before we move on?
[00:30:58] Speaker B: Yeah, no, I agree. I'm very, very curious because the Panthers have been shutting down and beating the best goalies. So, you know, are they going to be able to shut down these players, but also Stuart Skinner going to be able to withstand this team? Yeah, but we'll get into that in our, in our next review. We got the stars, Oilers, Oilers won four to two. Unfortunately, not, not very, not very happy about it. No bias. But, yeah, man, I just feel like the stars, they had such good momentum in the beginning of the series. I mean, they went up two to one, but they just blew it. I mean, they just got overpowered by the Oilers, and Stuart Skinner, really, he did stand on his head for the Oilers and, yeah, I mean, not only that, I just feel like there's a lot of things that add into the stars not fully being the team they were maybe in the first two rounds in the regular season, but they went over 14 on power plays. They didn't score a single power play goal.
But not only that, they also sucked on the penalty kill. The last two games. They, in games five and six, they let in four total goals on the power play, which you can't do that against the Oilers. But not only that. I mean, if, if the Oilers are, you know, the Oilers are going to be good on the power play. You know, if you're going against McDavid and Drysdale and Bouchard and Hymen, if those players are out there and you're a man down, there's going to be at least a few times where they do score. So, like, you, you need to be able to give that back, and I think Florida is going to have to figure that out next series big time.
But, yeah, I mean, I think there was more to, more to add to it, but I don't know. What's your thoughts on, on this series overall?
[00:32:39] Speaker A: I mean, I think it's tough. Like, I don't think this is, I don't think that the stars played as well as the Rangers did against their opposing team. You know, I don't think they did bad, and I think that last game, I mean, like we said, they, McDavid had one crazy goal that was like, what are you going to do? Like, it's Connor McDavid just doing his thing. He scored right.
I don't remember the other goal, but I think it's just, I feel bad for Dallas. They have, I feel bad, but I don't because I think they have a good future ahead of them. They have a lot of core young players that are going to be superstars.
And, you know, this year I thought was a good mix for them because they also had veterans that, you know, knew what it take to took to get far in the playoffs with, you know, like, Duchampelski. People like that, that, you know, have playoff experience.
And even Jamie Ben, too. I mean, I saw a video of him sitting in the locker room after everyone's gone, fully dressed in his suit, and he's, you know, I would be upset, too. Like, you don't your whole play out, like, NHL career is based off of this Stanley cup, and it's so, so, so hard to win. That's why we see a lot of these legendary players never win a cup because of how hard it is. Everything has to go right, and I don't think everything went right for them.
You know, having zero points from Pavelski, Duchenne, Delandria, Danov, Stankhoven and ropey hints like, you're not going to win. If you showed me that at the end, if I didn't watch any games, I would have been like, oh, yeah, they definitely lost this series, dude.
[00:34:16] Speaker B: And the Oilers got scoring from their depth. I think that was like, the biggest downfall for the stars is, like, before this series, they were getting, like, scoring from all around. Yeah, their d was pitching in, but yeah, I mean, for, like, all those players who just said that was tough for them because they relied too heavily on their, on their players, which I feel like the Oilers are classic. They classically do that. You know, the McDavid's are always leading the charge and Tristidle, which I feel like they're starting to kind of get around that, which scares me as a flames, Flames fan.
But, yeah, man. I mean, not having any points, especially from rupee hints, I mean, he's there. I want to say second line center or goals? Pardon me, goals. I know. I think he had two assists or something like that. But Pavelski and Duchenne, I mean, those are veteran players that have been to the playoffs a lot and they should be able to, you know, pitch in. So I think. I think that's, that's just tough for the stars. I think this series was just. I don't know what to say about it. I feel like so many people thought the stars were going to make it to the Stanley cup if not win. They had such a complete team, great season. It's just tough that they, they came up this short to a team that, in my opinion, is not as good as them on paper. I think a lot of people were surprised that the Oilers were able to pull this off, that some of their defensemen, like Boucher, were able to pull this off, too.
So, yeah, man, I mean, hats off to the Oilers. As tough as it says it feels as a flames fan, I mean, hats off to them. I mean, they pulled it out, and they beat a really, really good team in Dallas. So I think that just proves that, you know, the Oilers, maybe they're able to beat the Canucks. They're going to easily beat the Kings. But for them to beat the Stars.
[00:36:07] Speaker A: Is, I know, pretty good in their hats or their flowers.
[00:36:11] Speaker B: You know, I mean, my thoughts is like, shit, but I wonder if this would have happened against as probably, who knows? But I know we always like to speculate what is.
[00:36:19] Speaker A: I think also with Dallas, another point here is that they played the Knights their first round, the defending Stanley cup champion. That was a tough series. They went seven games with them, and, you know, the Oilers went seven games with the Canucks. Good team there. Right? So it's like, it. It's not only that, but then the stars also play the 2022 Stanley cup champions, the Avalanche, and, like, that's another hard series. As much as, you know, maybe it didn't go to. Did it go to seven games or.
[00:36:49] Speaker B: No, no, I think it just went to six.
[00:36:52] Speaker A: Yeah. So, I mean, again, that six games is a long series, no matter how you want to look at it. And I think, you know, I think they just.
They can do it. They can pull it out. But I'm curious what Pavelski is going to do next, because I think I saw some interviews of, like, Tyler Sagan and some of the other guys. They were just. They were getting emotional, like, you know, I think they're.
Pavelski's an assistant captain. I think they all, you know, look up to him, especially as the vet he is. He's 39 years old playing NHL hockey.
You know, I'm curious what's next for him.
[00:37:27] Speaker B: I.
[00:37:27] Speaker A: As much as I would love it, I also wouldn't love it if he came back to the Sharks. I think it'd be a cool final season, but I think he needs to go find another year.
[00:37:37] Speaker B: He's gonna win that cup.
[00:37:38] Speaker A: Yeah. You're not gonna do with us, sadly, next year.
[00:37:43] Speaker B: About the stars, I mean, I don't know. I feel like maybe he'll stay with the stars because they still have a strong roster. I think they do have a good team next year.
[00:37:49] Speaker A: They'll be back. Yeah.
[00:37:50] Speaker B: In years ahead. I mean, Andrew is an incredible goalie. I think just, the Oilers found out how to crack him, but, yeah, man, I mean, it's, it's tough for Joe Pavelski. That's, that's really tough. I mean, how many, how many seasons has he been in the league now?
I mean, close, probably close to.
[00:38:10] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't even know. He was probably, yeah, because I was, he was drafted, like, 2004, I think maybe 2005. You can look it up, but, yeah, I mean, closing thoughts on them before we get into the MVP and stuff, it's just, it's heartbreaking, in a sense, to watch some of these players that, you know, just go through all this struggle to get to the playoffs, and then it just falls through. And, like I said, it's the toughest trophy to win in sports. Everything has to go right.
I think it's the hardest trophy to win, just with everything. But. Who's your series mvp?
[00:38:50] Speaker B: My series MVP, Stuart Skinner, um, mentioned it before. Holy crap. Was I wrong about this guy? I know the whole, before the season and during the season, I'm like, this guy's trash. He's going to be the downfall, the Oilers, which, you know, I will say he hasn't had the best season, brightest times. You know, he's had some pretty low points of the season, but this series was his. I mean, he was shining in the series, .923, safe percentage point. But 1.91 goals against, I mean, that's incredible to, to go against the third best offense in the league statistically in the regular season and put up those sort of numbers as, I mean, some people would say a fringe starter, including myself. I mean, I wasn't too, like, hot on this guy, but, I mean, he only let two goals in the last two games, too. I mean, only one goal per game from, from the stars in the last two games. So in a very impressive game six, I think, like you said, the, the Oilers had ten or eleven shots, and the stars had, like, 34, I want to say, and you saved 33 of them. So, yeah, I think I was wrong about this guy, and I'm going to give him the series MVP because of it. But who's your mvp?
[00:40:00] Speaker A: Yeah, I'd ride with you on that. I think he played lights out. You could give it some of the.
[00:40:04] Speaker B: Oilers player, but no, there, it's expected for McDavid.
[00:40:08] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, if you're not a series MVP, McDavid. Yeah. To be putting up these points and carrying this team on your back like you have been the entire entire career. Like, it's expected. But Stuart Skinner, like, we said in the beginning of the season, like, you know, we didn't really think, oh, wait, I think I said Edmonton and Toronto was going to be the final at the end. Yeah, I did. Because we all clown on me because so this is a funny statistic, but November 25 in.
Yeah, this last season, the Oilers were 30th in the league overall. That's 25th. And then they hired or fired what's his name? Jay Woodcroft.
And now look at them. And I remember on the settle down awards that we did, my take for Edmonton winning the Stanley cup was a wild one at that point. It was back in December because we were like, there's no way they're going to do anything. And now look at them. You know, I fell off that bandwagon with them, but, you know, I hats off to Stuart Skinner, honestly, because he's had to. But he's got to do it again. And I will get into it later, but I don't think he's gonna do it again.
[00:41:20] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, definitely.
Yeah, man. Stuart's here. But who's your series ghost for this one? I'll get into the Stanley cup final soon.
[00:41:29] Speaker A: I'm excited to. Yeah, honestly, the ghost and I could give the ghost to any of those players I just named Pavelski, Duchenne, Du and all those guys, and I will because it's like, I feel like their main core of players just, I don't know, it just didn't, it didn't go right for them. And as it is, I think their whole team, aside from a couple players, were just ghosts in this series.
And it's tough. It's NHL playoffs. It's tough. But who's your ghost?
[00:42:01] Speaker B: Yeah, I feel bad for including dual Andrea in this. I know that. I think this is his first Stanley cup appearance, Stanley cup playoff appearance. He's like, he's like 21 or 22. So sorry. Delandria is just getting the short end of the stick on this one. But no, I'm going to save Matt Duchenne. He has a lot of playoff experience.
He's been there and he was held pointless this series. And I mean, just being that sort of veteran and he's still good. I mean, he scored 65 points in the regular season, get a very good first two rounds of this playoffs, and he was just not there at all. So I feel like that's tough. I think you could have given it to a lot of these players. I don't think Andrew played bad at all. I didn't think he played like as good as Skinner did necessarily, or even Justerkin, but, yeah, man. Matt Duchenne, zero points. That's tough in the series, and I know that former first overall pick definitely holds himself to a higher standard, so that's. That's probably my, uh, that's my pick for. For the ghost.
[00:43:04] Speaker A: All right, well, that's it. You know, we had a great. I thought it was a great third round of hockey, you know, especially seeing both these series tied at two. Two at one point. You know, it just really shows that it really wasn't out of reach for either of these teams that did lose.
But obviously, Oilers and Panthers just closed it out. But it was a close series. No, you know, sweeps. No near sweeps. Like, I thought it was a good back and forth series between both of them, but let's get into it. This is what. What we're here for. This is what we live for day and night, especially with this podcast from episode one. We've been talking about this moment right now, and we're going to talk about it. Stanley cup final preview.
Who got me fired up? Panthers versus Oilers. We got game one Saturday, June 8, I believe. Uh, don't know the time. You can look it up. You're, you know, if you want to look it up, if you care, but, uh. Yeah, game one Saturday, and it's going to be in Florida. This is the furthest travel distance ever in the Stanley cup final. It is 21, 94 miles, one way, five hour flight, and, you know, I don't think it. It'll really matter. I mean, they have that. That extra day. It's gonna be tough, though. I mean, I think last year was tough, too. I think Vegas wasn't that much different from Miami.
[00:44:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:44:29] Speaker A: But, yeah. What do you think of this preview? These two teams?
[00:44:32] Speaker B: Yeah, man. I mean, I just think it's crazy. The Panthers are able to repeat, and they have. I think they have a way stronger team this year, health wise, especially. Yeah, I mean, we. I could be wrong about that. Players could be playing injuries. Yeah. But, yeah, I do think they. They look a little bit healthier and just more complete as a team. They've been there, too, so I feel like they have that sort of advantage, and they also have, I mean, one team chemistry, but also that they got a coaching advantage. So I think going into this, Oilers are definitely underdogs. It's McDavid's first cup appearance, which is tough to say from Flames fan, and I think a stat people have been thrown around a lot. Is Florida, the state of Florida, which there is no such thing as ice. There even in the winters.
[00:45:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:45:20] Speaker B: They've sent a team five seasons in a row to the Stanley cup final, which is crazy between the Lightning and the. And the Panthers, for that to happen, that's. That's pretty damn crazy. And neither team touched the, the conference final trophy, so I think that's also something to pay attention to. No team has really maybe an advantage or disadvantage in that case, so. But what are your thoughts on this? You pumped? I know you're. I know you're riding for the Panthers.
[00:45:45] Speaker A: Yeah, I am. If I. This $10 bet that I placed almost a year ago to the day I thought was for last year, but thank God it wasn't.
I'll win, I think, 70 or $80 off of it, get that money back that I lost a year ago, could use it now. So you know what? We're going to ride with it. But I mean, I think any, you know, any money that you have on it or if you're a fan of the team or not, if you're playing Conor McDonald McDavid, you're scared shitless. And I think this Florida team is scared shitless because, you know, it doesn't matter.
It's. It's seven games, seven game series, and you have to pray to God that he's not on God mode and just going to light your team up. He is very well capable of doing that, and I think, you know, we'll get into the keys to success later, but I think that's definitely one of them for the Panthers, is to shut him down.
I think the goalie, I think there's a disadvantage of the goalie spot. I think Bobrovsky is a lot more solid.
I mean, it's not like Skinner hasn't seen a lot of shots, like, in the games that he's played, because he has.
But Florida is really good at consistently putting up at least over, like 25 shots on goal a game.
[00:46:59] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:47:00] Speaker A: But also limiting the other team to less than 1520. So I think it's going to be really interesting. I think it will come down to these goalies. If Stuart Skinner stays hot like he has been, I think it'll be a good seven game series. But the minute he breaks, I think it's series over for the Panther. For the Wheelers.
[00:47:23] Speaker B: Yeah, 100%. I think a lot's riding on, on the goal penny of the Oilers, but I mean, just some statistics. Regular season series between them. They played each other twice. Um, once in Edmonton, once in. In Florida. 1st, 1st game was in Florida. Panthers won five, three, second one was in Edmonton won five one. I think the first one was in November, and the second one was in December. So it was really early on in the season, like we said, we we, it wasn't really the Oilers team that they are now, at least more out wise. Between those two games, Rouheggy had five points and Bennett had four points, but Calvin Pickard was in that. It wasn't Stuart Skinner. So I don't think there's too much of a clear advantage, not too much to pull from at least that, that season series, but something that I'm very interested to. And, I mean, shit, I'm I'm pulling for the Panthers like no other. I do not want to see the Edmonton Oilers lift the Stanley Cup. I do.
[00:48:20] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:48:20] Speaker B: Like, I am already kind of freaking out that they're in the finals, and, yeah, if they win the Stanley cup, I'm going to be so, so butthurt. And I know I've been getting come out about, like, everything from Oilers fans, and I do not want to see you guys on the Stanley cup at all, so please don't have it happen. But there's a lot of records on the line. I was thinking maybe McDavid's close to the points record, but he's going to have to score. I think it's 16 points to even tie Gretzky's record. I think Gretzky's records, 47 points. He's at 31 right now, which 16 points. And, I mean, if this game goes, if it goes to seven, it's not out of the picture for McDavid, but it would be pretty difficult from his end to do.
But Zach Hyman is the closest, I think, to any record.
He's sitting at 14 goals right now, and to break that, he's got to get to 19 or past 19. So I think that he can do that. I think he should be able to at least tie it, depending on how many games the series go to. But both Yari Curry and Reggie each hold that one. But then also, Bouchard has 27 points, and the single playoff season record is 37 by Paul Coffey, so. Which I believe he was with the Oilers, too. Two Oilers defensemen just attack on points.
[00:49:44] Speaker A: From, who was probably, Paul Coffey was probably playing with Wayne Gresky when he broke that record, and now Evan Bouchard is playing with the next Wayne Gretzky, so. Yeah.
[00:49:54] Speaker B: Yeah. And I feel like he's. That that could totally be realistic, too. I mean, ten points for Boucher? That's not totally out of the question. He's been averaging around there, so it's gonna be interesting to see if those happen. I think the Oilers are going to have to make this a long series, but, yeah, we can. I mean, any, do you have anything to add on that? Are you ready to jump in the keys to success?
[00:50:17] Speaker A: I think we're good. Let's jump into it.
[00:50:19] Speaker B: Yeah. Major key, as DJ Khaled would see, so.
But, yeah, for the Oilers, we'll start off. I think we've been talking about this. They need the machine that their team is of, Drystetl, McDavid, Bouchard, Hymen. They need that to keep going. If one of those players falls out or if they don't be this high offensive team like they've been all season and playoffs, like, if the Panthers are able to shut that down, the wheelers are screwed. Like, and not only that, I mean, I know that we both mentioned this in the beginning, too, of this conversation. Stuart Skinner needs to have another incredible series like he did the previous series. I mean, that last series was, it was honestly changed my mind about Stuart Skinner. I have a lot more respect and props to him now, but, yeah, he needs to have these series of his life, of his career. Yeah, we'll see that. And I do think that the Oilers need to continue capitalizing this kind of goes back to my first point, but they need to keep capitalizing on special teams. They're leading the league, and I believe the power, power play and penalty kill, I know for sure. Penalty kill at 93.9%, and then the power play at 37.3%, 37% of their freaking power plays are going in. That just shows how good their power play is. So they need to continue doing those things. And honestly, I hate to say it, if they can do all three of these things, it's going to be a tough series for Florida. But I don't know. What's your, what's your keys to success?
[00:51:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, I think you hit that nail on the head. Um, I think if one of these things goes wrong, though, I think that is going to swing the other way.
[00:52:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:52:04] Speaker A: If you throw out any of those, if you throw out the penalty power play, they're done. They're not going to. Like, a lot of their goals come from the power play, and it's been like that last two years. McDavid is power play merchant himself, and same with Zach Hyman. Um, you know, but it's part of the game. So, like, I'm not criticizing him for scoring in that way, but if Florida can do what they did to the Rangers on the power play, I think it's done for the Oilers. If Stuart Skinner doesn't have a great series, it's done for the Oilers. And I think if dry saddle McDavid or hymen, if one of those things goes wrong, they're done. I think Panthers are going to take it easy, but if they can keep all three of those things tight and together, I think it's going to be a good series. I don't think that it's for sure going to be the Oilers to win. I think it'll go to seven.
If all three of those things happen in the Oilers, have a very good chance of winning that game seven, but one of those things fails. I think it's over. It's over. We can look back on this in two weeks when the series is all said and done, which is actually really sad to say out loud that the NHL is going to be done in about two weeks.
[00:53:10] Speaker B: But, you know, could be June 24, which is three, four days before the draft.
[00:53:17] Speaker A: Wait, that's the last day, dude.
[00:53:19] Speaker B: That's the potential game. Seven day is June 24.
[00:53:23] Speaker A: Oh, my God.
[00:53:24] Speaker B: Yeah. Because this starts on June 8. June 8. I mean, yeah, this is. I think it's very crazy how, how late this season is going. Um, and I know I mentioned it before, I mean, one, there's large dip travel distance, but any major injuries could carry over into next season from either of these teams, so.
[00:53:43] Speaker A: True. Yeah.
[00:53:43] Speaker B: Um, yeah, it's for the Oilers. Yeah, for the Oilers. I kind of hope it doesn't go, like, seven games. That would be a really quick turnaround of a lot of different shit that we have to do, but, yeah, man. I mean, I think those, all three of those points are huge for the Oilers, and they need to keep their scoring up. I think that's their biggest thing. I think they can maybe get bias skinners not having the best games, maybe here and there, but, yeah, their scoring just needs to be there. If the Panthers shut that down, they're screwed. But to segue to that, what are the Panthers keys to success?
[00:54:19] Speaker A: I mean, I think it's almost opposite of what the oil. Like, they. I think they need to keep a lot of, you know, I think every key that the Oilers have, I think the Panthers need to capitalize on as well. But, I mean, I think the biggest one is shutting down their offense, and I think they have a very good chance of doing that with their four check and their style of play. I think they have a very good shot at that I think, I don't know if maybe they just weren't able to get in the Rangers head, but being able to be the pest that they are, they need to do that a little bit more, especially against the Oilers. Frustrate them because, you know, anything that you do, if you're doing something and you're frustrated, you're going to do it bad. Whether it's, you know, doing work, like, literally, just like all of us normal people having a job, if you're frustrated with your job, you're not going to do a good job.
So I think that's a big key for them. Um, you know, I think Florida's all around play needs to keep it up with their deep, deep players like Rodriguez, Teresenko, Sam Bennett as well. He needs to have a great series. And, no, they can't take 15 penalties again because, yeah, you know, if they can shut down their power play, sure. But if they, they just need to be really tight on that. And I think it's easier said than done is to stay on the cup finals and you're going for everything. It's tough to just say, hey, don't take penalties, or it's easier said than done. But I'm serious. Like, this team is really good on power play, and, you know, I think their coach, I think he's a stellar coach, and I think he can. We'll see how he does against their power play if he sets up some kind of scheme to offset what they do.
I really hope that does happen. I want my $70, but do you have any other keys to success for the Panthers?
[00:56:09] Speaker B: No, and I feel like, you know, they, they need, they do not need to take any penalties against this team or else the Oilers actually do have a chance. And it scares me because the Panthers are leading the playoffs and penalty minutes, which, who knows? Maybe if some other teams were up there, they wouldn't.
But they do kind of have that reputation of being a team that's not afraid to brawl, which I feel like that's good for them, but could also. It's a double edged sword, so it depends on how they use it. But the one thing I know I, one player I love and kind of despise of sometimes because he loved the plane, is Kacruck. Matthew Kachuk is such a big part in how Florida plays that pest game. He needs to get under Edmonton skin. He needs to get under McDavid skin dry style, and he did such a good job with that when he was on the flames. He's going to get predicting it right now. He's getting booed every single game. Every time he such touches the puck in Edmonton, he's going to get booze. And I know he's going to love it. He.
So, I mean, I just love Matthew Kachuck as a player, and I love that he's able to use that and use it to his advantage.
But that, with that. That being said, too, about Edmonton's crowd, I think that they need at least one. At least one. It would be really good if they got two wins at home. I think they need to take advantage of this home. Home ice advantage.
[00:57:30] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:57:30] Speaker B: Because Edmonton's, I think we saw, especially in the conference finals, it is a fucking loud arena. It's a diehard hockey city.
[00:57:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:57:40] Speaker B: And, you know, not only that, Florida needs to take advantage of that playoff experience. They went to the finals last year, and this team just. I was thinking about it today. I was researching these things. I mean, this team reminds me, the 0708 pens when they went to the cup finals, that, that year against Detroit, and then the next year, they went against Detroit again and won. I just see that, and I really hope that happens because, please, hockey gods, please don't have the Oilers win or my life as a Calgary Flames fan is going to be horrible, and I don't think I can say anything. I think all Flames fans are going to be in despair to see the Oilers win. And I think even then making the finals, I'm kind of like, oh, my gosh.
[00:58:28] Speaker A: But, yeah.
[00:58:29] Speaker B: Anything more else before we get into predictions, though?
[00:58:32] Speaker A: I mean, first thing, I'm.
I'm so excited for this. I think this is such a beautiful, beautiful playoff matchup in the Stanley cup finals. I mean, yeah, I think Dallas would have been a good matchup, too. It would be hard for me on who to pick to root for. Cause I'd, you know, love Joe Pavelski to win a cup, but I also want my $70, and, you know, I do like the Panthers. I like how they play. They're a fun team to watch. They're so fun to just root for. They're a team that, you know, comes from when they're at their worst, or people think that they have no chance, they're able to do it. And I think that they're out for blood this year, and I think that's what's going to hold back the Oilers is they don't have that. They've never been here, I don't think. Well, some of the players have, but, you know, their core players have never played in a Stanley cup final game.
[00:59:26] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:59:26] Speaker A: And I think it's going to be really interesting to watch, and, you know, I think McDavid's going to kind of play. I don't really know how the whole NHL feels about this. Who's rooting for who?
Everyone watching. Like, if you guys have a prediction or anything, let us know down below, because I'm just curious. Like, I don't really know. I feel like last year everyone was kind of rooting for Florida. Everyone hated Vegas, and Florida was a little bit of a Cinderella story. But I feel like Florida has ruffled some feathers. This, this playoffs with some of these teams and just getting them, you know, Boston fans obviously hate the Panthers, you know, but all these. I don't know. We'll see how it lines up.
[01:00:06] Speaker B: But also, one thing to add into this I don't think a lot of people are talking about is Corey Perry. This is his fifth finals appearance.
[01:00:15] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. True.
[01:00:17] Speaker B: In the past. In the past four years. Um, yeah. Or no. Pardon me? In the past five years, this is going to be his fourth time going. So, like, four out of the past five years, Corey Perry has made the Stanley cup final. Damn, that's. That's pretty impressive. Um, he, he won with Tampa Bay.
[01:00:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[01:00:37] Speaker B: He won with Tampa Bay in 2022, but that was, that was the only time he did end up winning.
[01:00:44] Speaker A: So why do you want the Ducks?
[01:00:46] Speaker B: Yeah, he did win with the Ducks, too, but that was back in zero, six or seven, so, yeah, that was. But so out of the five times he's made or.
Yeah, out of the five times or four times he's made it, not including this one, he's won two of them, but we'll see if this.
If you can take it. We'll see if Corey Perry is the, the major key to success.
[01:01:08] Speaker A: But to think where he was, too, in the beginning of the season, dude, I know with Chicago as a whole, aside from all the drama that happened just with Chicago and being like, oh, well, I'm just bedard's mentor, and then the whole stuff breaks out being a douchebag, and whatever he did, I don't even know what he did exactly, but all that stuff happened. Then he got let. Let go, and then he got taken on to the Oilers. And I remember we were kind of clowning because we're like, oh, he's on the Oilers. Like, what's he going to do with them? Probably nothing. And now he's in the Stanley cup final, and we're sitting on our arses at home talking to a camera. So I think it's funny to see how far he came this season or just, like, the position he was able to, to get into. But, yeah. Let's jump into predictions. Let's see.
Oh, before that, I think my bracket is still in contention if, if the panthers win, but I could be wrong. Haven't checked. Um, which we'll have to do next episode is maybe break down the brackets, see how everyone did. But, yeah, let's get into predictions. What do you think? What's happening?
[01:02:13] Speaker B: Ah, so my prediction for the Stalin cup final is completely wrong. I think I said Rangers versus, uh, stars. So, like, something in me wants to say the Oilers are gonna win because I'm kind of have, I feel like I kind of have that Cody curse on me.
[01:02:31] Speaker A: Cody curse right now.
[01:02:32] Speaker B: Yeah. With, especially with the finals matchup. But, oh, this is tough for me to say, but I do think the Panthers are going to take this. I think the Panthers are going to take this in six. I think that they are going to possibly take two games at home, and then I think the Oilers will probably take one of those, game three and four. But then I just think that they're going to figure out a way to get under their skin. They're going to figure out a way to shut down McDavid and dry style in hymen and Boucher. Holy shit. We got so many people.
But I do think this is going to go to five or six. I'd say six.
I do think the Oilers might have one last gasp game, five overtime winner. But then I do think that they're going to capitalize and win, and the Panthers are going to get a. The Panthers are going to get the Stanley cup for two. I think Chuck's going to get a Stanley cup, but that's my prediction. What about you?
[01:03:29] Speaker A: Yeah, I think, honestly, either way this goes, we'll put it put, like, fandoms aside.
Looking at this, as a hockey fan in general, I think either side wins this game, wins this series, is going to be great for hockey. I think this is a beautiful, beautiful story to tell, and I think it could have been with the stars, too.
Yeah, we got a canadian yeah, we got a canadian team in the final. The face of the league, potentially getting his first Stanley Cup, I think would be massive for the game of hockey. Just, I can just see him now lifting that cup as much as I don't want to see it, I think it'd be huge. But then on the flip side, too, with Florida, like, they are a team that I think, you know, people rooted for last year to, you know, go far after they came back on Boston, but, you know, I think it's gonna be beautiful. However this ends, I think it's gonna be beautiful. But now putting my biased hat on, I'm gonna say I want. I want, personally, Florida to win in five so they can win at home, because I think it'd be cool for their ten fans to watch them lift the Stanley cup.
It just kind of sucks because I feel like, well, I guess we got Vegas at home, but, like, before that, we didn't really get a whole lot of home victories.
Avalanche, did they win at home or on the road?
I think it was on the road.
[01:04:48] Speaker B: Yeah. I want to say I can't remember off the top.
[01:04:53] Speaker A: Yeah. But regardless, like, I think a Stanley cup, it was away. Stanley cup victory at home is always just, like, so cool to watch.
So I think the Panthers are going to win in five. I think so. I think, honestly, like we said, I think that they're going to shut down the Oilers power play.
I don't think that the Oilers power play is going to be as effective as it has been in the west. I think Florida is going to be on their shit, and I think it's going to go to five games because that's the only way the Oilers can score. So, you know, we'll probably make a clip of this, and I'll go on instagram, and if the Oilers win, we're going to have our fucking heads at the stake.
[01:05:33] Speaker B: Yeah, but especially with all this stuff behind me.
[01:05:38] Speaker A: Yep, exactly. I've got the Sharks cup hidden right there and right there, too, so they might know our biases, but in all honesty, no matter who wins, I think it's going to be a good series and good, like, end of the year fireworks. I mean, I think, personally, probably for you, it would really suck, just like it did for me last year with the Knights winning, but, I mean, I think it was overall good for the game to grow in Vegas. But, you know, I think Florida getting another the state of Florida, first of all, having five teams five years in a row, the 2020s in the east has been dominated by the state of Florida, which is crazy. But, yeah, I'm really excited. That's all I can really say. And I think we're ready on Saturday for that game one, in terms of, you know, our recording stuff.
We'll be back next Wednesday. We'll probably just recap the first two games and go from there because we'll see where, you know, this series is that if we need to have an emergency pod next week, we, we will do so if it's like three one or something like that, but we'll see. So, yeah, yeah. For future stuff. I mean, like I said, we've got, hopefully if we can get to it, some draft episodes.
If not two, we can kind of mix it in with the Stanley cup talk. Yeah.
You know, on top of everything and then the draft less than a, less than a month away. So. So if you're watching this and you're not subscribed, subscribe to us because we're going to have some funny, fun content in Las Vegas at the sphere. The draft where we're going.
[01:07:12] Speaker B: Sin City, baby.
[01:07:13] Speaker A: Yeah. Sin City. We're going to be going to the awards, hopefully. We haven't bought our tickets yet for that, but we will be at the draft and everything around there and just the hockey weekend in general, which I'm really excited for. But anything else galley before we get out of here?
[01:07:26] Speaker B: No, I'm excited for this. It's a good end of the season, regular season, playoff season.
I'm stoked for the draft. I'm stoked to talk to you guys about the draft, give out some mock drafts. Hopefully again, leg is the flames. Please don't get take before nine.
But yeah, man, I'm excited for the future and excited for this next couple weeks. It sucks we have to wait all the way till Saturday. Like, yeah, we have this whole freaking.
[01:07:52] Speaker A: Week to just talk about, just sit.
[01:07:54] Speaker B: Around, which, which, which sucks. But hey, we'll be getting lots of clips out and we'll, we'll be create some discussions. Yeah, yeah, we're gonna be stoked to talk to you guys next time.
[01:08:03] Speaker A: So, yeah, we will.
[01:08:04] Speaker B: Thank you for watching. Listening.
[01:08:06] Speaker A: Thank you guys for listening. Go follow us on Instagram. Follow us on wherever you're listening to this Spotify wherever at Good Hockey podcast. Go follow us on Instagram. Trying to hit 500 yet again. But that being said, maybe next episode will be at 500 and yeah, we'll see you guys next week.
