[MUSIC PLAYING] Fan morning show. Sports 10, 5, 9 of the fan, fan out of spring gunning. Good Friday night. I say, yeah, great Friday. Maple Leafs find themselves now six points back of the Panthers for second in the Atlantic division after yesterday's beat down to the Washington Capitals. They're eight points back of the Bruins for top spot in the Atlantic. Two games in hand on the Bruins, one on the Panthers. The Panthers, as you astutely pointed out, also play tomorrow against a team that is desperate to get in, and more than just mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff races. It feels like-- Conceptually as well. Yeah, it feels like a two team race here. I mean, three team because I guess the fliers you throw in there, but like two of the three teams are going to get in unless you think the Islanders still have-- I mean, who can count on any of these teams? That's the thing. We need to reevaluate this because all of these teams are a good week and a half away from completely kind of tilting the mouth on this. But the Red Wings got their heads caved in by the team that's looking more and more like the real Stanley Cup favorites yesterday in the Carolina Hurricanes. They find themselves two points out of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference currently occupied by the Washington Capitals. So yeah, take this with a grain of salt. But the Red Wings need points. So they're going to be a hungry group tomorrow against the Panthers, but so are the Capitals. Yup. Yesterday, and there's only so much you can do with effort alone or impetus alone. So say the Red Wings win that game. Sure. Say the Leafs take care of business against the Sabres team that is only mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They're not making playoffs. All right, we're headed into a Monday matchup between the Leafs and Panthers where the separation is only four points with a game in hand, like you win that game in regulation. It's a two point gap between those two down the stretch. Like that's not an insane scenario that I just painted for you. No, it's not. It's just, it's infinitely more important for the Leafs to one, like find their footing, play the type of hockey you want. And two, play a strong, strong game against the Panthers. Then it's more important to send the message or show yourself you can do it. However you want to phrase that, then it is to get home ice against the Panthers. Because we've seen home ice for this team. It is this year proven to be meaningless in the playoffs at times. It is proven to be meaningless. So I think that it's more about playing the Panthers well than it is needing the two points in that game. So you can, you know, clip them and catch up to them for a second in the Atlantic. Yeah. Okay, if you're going to do that math, that would also pull the Leafs to within, then they'd be six points back to the Bruins and then they have two games in hand on Boston. Like, now we're having a very different conversation. I do think the division is done. Like I think that that is such a tough ask for them given the teams in front of them as well. But that's a very different conversation than do you want to finish first in the Atlantic? Dude, does it matter if you finish second or third? Honestly, it's a different deal if the Rangers aren't playing as well as they are. Because the Rangers are going to get the, the ultimate prize here, right? Yep. Of the last place finisher in the Eastern Conference playoff field, which no offense to our next guest, former team, Washington Capitals, seems it's like that's the, or the Red Wings or the fliers, I suppose, if they fall down that that is the, like if we were talking about that being the real prize, I'd be like, you get Mitch Marner back on the ice, right now you win some games. Yes. Doesn't feel like that's happening. It's like, oh, your prize is you get to face the dynastic lightning who are, you know, rounding back into shape with their Hall of Fame goalie. No, it's terrifying. Not, I don't want that. All right, time now for our insider brought to you by Don Valley, North Lexus, where you can expect excellence online and in the showroom, visit Don Valley North Lexus.com. Today's guests, former Jack Adams award winner, Bruce Boudreau, how's it going, Bruce? It's going up too bad right now. You know, watching a lot of hockey this week. That's great. Makes for, makes for a good day. It does. And yeah, games of importance, various importance for the two, two teams playing in yesterday's game at Scotia Bank Arena as the capital is trying to cement their playoff spot and the Leafs playing for playoff positioning. But yeah, one team missing a bunch of players in the Leafs looked like the superior bunch against the Capitals team. I guess, you know, maybe let's start with the Capitals who, man, I've been making fun of a couple of times because the Leafs now have swept the season series and you look at their goal differential. It is seriously negative. Are you surprised that the caps were in this position given the roster, given the season that they've had, that they might be a playoff team? Not really. I mean, I've watched the caps a lot this year. As a matter of fact, I was in BC last night doing the game. And the one thing you learn after you're watching them is how resilient they are. Every time you think they're done and again, they didn't look great last night and then, but they'd won the three previous games against good teams. And it's just the third team that just never quips. I mean, the one thing I like about them, I mean, not to over talk about them is they got a lot of guys that played in their minor league club last year, that won the Calder Cup, but they're used to winning. So they never say die. And anytime you count them out, something good happens for them. I mean, now all Vescans playing like, you know, Vescan a couple of years ago, not when he was 22, but like when he was mid-30s, rather than late-30s. And I think, and Lindgren, other than last night, has been incredible in that for them. So, I mean, I think they're going to make the playoffs. I mean, I would never have thought that at Christmas, would never have thought that, you know, even in February. But to me, they look like they're going to make the playoffs. And just more because all the other teams are losing, but they've been playing pretty consistently. And nobody seems to want that eighth spot. And I don't blame them quite frankly, because they're going to hit a juggernaut when they do end up there. Yeah, what was the Darryl Sutter line on? I think it's going to be about a quick seven days or whatever it was, the line about Vegas waiting. Yeah, two weeks right now, that's it. It does kind of feel like that's what's happening. What does it mean for a team that's in a position that the Capitals are in? I suppose you could say this about the Flyers as well. I mean, if, you know, the Red Wings are able to get in or if the Sabers were, you could make the same case. What does it mean for a team like the Capitals with so many young players to get in? And even if it is just being cannon fodder for the Rangers, having the experience of one, the playoff series, it's also the push to get in there. Like how important is it for young players to have that early on in their career? The flip side of that is what's been going on in the Sabers where, you know, they have somewhat promising seasons and then ultimately they kind of find themselves in this exact spot with 10 or so games to go. How big of a leap can it be for young players' growth if they are able to get in? Well, to me, I think it's huge. I mean, to learn how to play in these games, to realize that playoff hockey is different than regular season hockey and nobody knows that any better than anybody that lives in Toronto. It's just that it's more intense. You, there's no individual goals at all. Everything is about the team and everybody has a role and you have to play that role's perfection from the goal printer on out to succeed in the playoffs. And I think that you can, as a player, you can feel the, I don't think the word is intensity, but you can feel the pressure of working for seven months and now you're here trying to win the tournament. And I think it's a big difference in the style of play. It's a big difference that you play teams repeatedly. You know, maybe seven games and potentially 14 nights and you might have played that team only twice that year or three times that year. So, I mean, it's a, I think it's a big difference. And for young players, it's a great stepping stone. And for young organizations, like that haven't made the playoffs for a while, it could be huge. Like, I mean, that's what frustrates me about the savers is, you know, I mean, they've been in this position for the last few years now. And it seems like every time they get into, into that position, you know, they fold. And I firmly believe that developing is, is all about developing on how to win. And they haven't found that way to win yet. In the tight situations, where there's pressure on you, how to make the right mistake, right calls, for example. I mean, they're playing pretty good. They finally get even close again, not taking the first, you know, three months out of it. But the other night, and then all of a sudden, they allow five goals in the first period against Ottawa, a team that they should win when it comes to this situation to even get closer. Because it certainly looks like Detroit and the Islanders and the Flyers to some degree are backing into this thing or they don't wanna win. And the, that leaves New Jersey and, Buffalo with the opportunity. So you can't afford not to take advantage of it. - Yeah, it's hilarious or maybe not hilarious, but it's disappointing maybe that we're not having a conversation about the penguins being in that mix, considering everybody backing up and them trading for Eric Carlson and not even being in the conversation as one of the also rans that have an outside chance of getting in. So yeah, the capitals have lots to play for. The Sabres, yeah, theoretically have lots to play for tomorrow as far as getting into the postseason. The Leafs like less so, but there is playoffs seeding on the line, like, when you're a head coach, I know you would never answer this publicly, right? If you're being asked, hey, how much do you care about your first round opponent? You wanna finish with as many points as possible. But is that something that's on your mind? Like, hey, given my brothers, I'd prefer to be here or there and not to say that you manipulate things in some way, but like is there, is there an opinion that won't be shared to us by Sheldon Keefe, do you think? Oh, yeah. I mean, he's privately going home and he's watching games 'cause he's not playing. I was only one game tonight, but I mean, on some nights, I think I'd rather play them than them, but he would never say that because the bottom line is it doesn't matter who we play, we've gotta beat them all, yadda yadda yadda yadda. You know, and so that's what we say. But I mean, I do think the Leafs, and whether this means anything or not, would wanna stay ahead of Tampa. I mean, they're four up on them now. They were pretty comfortable in that position before, but at the same time now, Tampa's taken off and starting to play like the Tampa, we thought that they could be again. So, but I think every team will play as high as they want to get as high in the standings as possible. I mean, it might mean an extra home date that might mean just, you know, that last change might mean something in the third period of a game, six or seven, you know? So, I mean, you wanna get to as high as you can and you never want, 'cause the minute you start saying, okay, you know, let's rest some players, let's do this, is the minute to me that you take your foot off the gas and, you know, the saying about that all the time, but when you take your foot off the gas. So, it's not a big thing, but I would be playing as hard as I can for as long as I can. - Yeah, you certainly would want that. Nobody wants to be banged up or hurt or have an illness going through the team, but it is kinda working out in a best of both worlds where Keith is really able to, I mean, he has said, they've played eight or nine blue liners in the last week and a half here. And obviously, if you were just dressing your best lineup, I mean, maybe one or two guys is filtering out, boy, you're not having a whole second half of a decore working in, so it is kind of a best of both worlds scenario, a little bit for him. - You've coached a guy down the stretch of seasons who's shooting for a milestone. You know, all players like nice round numbers. I think it's safe to say Austin Matthews was shooting for 60 last night. 10 shots on goal in a game that he was maybe not going to play in as a game time decision. You know, when it's a goal score trying to score, I don't know how much you need to worry about him pushing for that. 'Cause generally speaking, it's doing good things for your team, but do you worry at all about bad habits or cheating offensively trying to creep in to Matthews if he is kind of shooting for, you know, I was looking at it last night, like he almost won 60 over with, like he doesn't want it hanging over him. And then once that happens, we'll have 65 to talk about or whatever the next round number is. But what is it? What's the most important thing for you to see in a coach when a guy is chasing a big milestone number at the end of a season? - Well, I mean, let's face it. Like it means that what, nine or 10 games left and he's going to get it. - He's going to get it, yeah. - It's not like there's two games left and we really want this guy to get it. And all of a sudden he starts waiting at center and not coming back and doing his job type thing and getting into bad habits like that. To me, he's just leave Austin alone. He's going to probably get 65 when it's all over, but that's, and that's where it's going to be. So I mean, I don't think there's anything in his game that tells me that he's starting to be like a floater and everything else. 10 shots on goal is a heck of a game. And there was some that last night he definitely should have put in or what other nights would have gone in. But I mean, he's probably the last guy in the league team that I would worry about. I would want to be, I'd be way more worried about getting Mitch Marner back in and getting him playoff ready. That would be my main worry about the Leafs right now. Yeah, well, to that point, we're running on a runway here, what we got, 10 games left in the regular season. Apparently, he's just day to day instead of being day to day before he's day to day. So he's just day to day, which I, and again, he was ruled out for the week. I guess that includes tomorrow's game in Buffalo against the Sabres and maybe available for Monday's game against the Panthers. How many games would you like to see a pretty key contributor like Mitch Marner play if you're the Leafs before the postseason starts? I mean, he probably only needs one. But I mean, you always like to see if you can have your regular lineup and your whole lineup going in the last five games, I think that gets everybody ready. And the big thing with Mitch, to me, is once you hear it's a high ankle sprain, I knew it was going to be longer than a week. And it's those things you've got to be really careful with because if you come back too early and reheard it again, you know, then it's another six weeks. Those things are buggers. They're hard to decipher when you're going to come back 'cause you end up walking fine and then the one time you put it in the boot and you turn it the wrong way, it's terrible. So they're probably taking a little extra time with it, which I think is the right thing to do. And but when he comes back, he'll be totally ready and the team will be ready. I mean, they're slowly going to be getting healthy like all the teams, but with all the injuries, they try to make it that they're healthy for the playoffs. So at this time of year, if you get a little bump or something like that for keeping you out, they don't want to, especially if your team has made the playoffs, you know, they don't want to go into the playoffs, shorthand it. If you go a long way, you usually end up shorthand it, but you want to go in and the best position you can possibly be. - Yeah, you certainly do. You know, when Marner comes back, one of the big questions will be where do you put him? I mean, the obvious answer is, I don't know, he's the best passer on the team. Why don't you put him next to the guy who's going to score 60 goals? But Matthews has kind of found some nice chemistry with Dolmy and Bertuzzi. That would potentially allow you to spread Mitch Marner's kind of well throughout the lineup. You could maybe get the offense kind of spread across three lines. Where do you think or what do you think ultimately makes the most sense for the Leafs? Just popping Marner right back there with Matthews or allowing a line that's kind of developed something with Matthews, Bertuzzi, and Dolmy to continue to cook and maybe work Marner in somewhere else? - No, you're putting Mitch right with Austin or center between Reeves and Lombard. I mean, I'm kidding there. He's going right back on right wing with Austin Matthews. That's where he thrives. That's where Austin Matthews thrives. - Yeah. - And if you're going to win, who's going to be the guys that win it? It's going to be Matthews, Marner, Kneelander, Tavares. Those are the guys that you're going to count on, that your best players are going to be your best players come play-off time. And those are the guys you're going to need. Now, Bertuzzi's been on a really nice run the second half, and Dolmy's been doing good, whether you put him on left wing or whether you put him at center. But I got to believe your best or your best. And in my day, that would have been, okay, Lanny McDonald's out, and he's coming back, and who do you put him with? Jimmy Jones or Darryl Siddler? You put him right back with Darryl Siddler. That's where he belongs, so that's where he's going to play. - Yeah, it seems like that's the most likely scenario. Bruce, always appreciate the time. Thanks for doing this. - No problem, have a great day, guys. - Yeah, you too. Bruce Boudreau, our insider, brought to you by Dawn Valley, North Lexus, where you can expect excellence online, and in the showroom, visit dawnvalleynorthlexus.com. I think that's the most likely scenario. Talk to Anthony Petrielli yesterday, who makes a good argument, right? Like, I don't know if you message it this way. And everything's in flocks over the course of a 60-minute hockey game. But like, I would like to see a look where you have three lines where you got a member of the core four on all three of them. - Yes. - There's, okay, maybe not the most forward depth that a leaf team of this generation has ever had, because, you know, Nazim Qadri, Zach Hyman, used to play on this game. - This is true. - Those guys were good. But look at the forward, you know, one of the topics I was thinking about bringing to the table today was a little late. And I guess I am bringing it to the table right here. - And here it is, you have your hands holding it out. - Okay, if I told you, this is the forward group, like the blue line, they're doing their best, right? - Yes. - And just factually, the departure of some free agents, it's gonna have to be remade in the off-season. What I just told you is we're running it back, the forward, the entire forward group. Like, would that be devastating to you? - Not devastating. I think you'd like a little tweak here there. It's like, you know, Ryan Reeves next year. I don't know, I've had my own quibbles with it this year. - But he doesn't need to play in the postseason? - No, but I, sorry, I took that. I guess I shouldn't have taken it so directly. It's like I took that to last night's forward group. And I'm like, "Oh, Ryan." - No, no, no, the forward's under contract. Callie Yarn Croak is coming back. - Definitely then. Yeah, you're right. I mean, I still think when push comes to shove, and obviously you have to prioritize this next to other needs and paying guys, yada, yada. I do still think when push comes to shove, you would like an upgrade on your 3C. I do still think you'd like that. And I also think you're going to have to pick one of Bertuzzi and Domi. There's no way you're paying both those guys. I don't think if they both love it here, maybe for the first time in the history of mankind, someone takes less to be a leaf, it could happen. But it does seem like it'll be tough to fit both those guys back. So I think you're going to have a different look, but you're right. I don't think anyone would have a problem with it. I think the one quibble you would have is probably won an upgrade on camp, I think. But he can change our minds about that with one good series, it kind of feels that way as well. Well, and yeah, especially if he's centering a third line where all of a sudden Bobby McMahon's a real scoring threat, right? Like there's-- - Yeah, he's not a, he's not a like 35 goal scoring threat. - No, but he's a 20 goal guy. He's got Alex Kerfoot. - No, no, no. - This is what we're talking about. Like they're capable. A goal is like, is possible. - Yes, it is. - Off of his stick. And yeah, well, maybe he's not a 30 goal guy, which is like the pace he's been on recently. I don't think it's an outrageous thing to talk about him being a 20 goal guy and again, not at all. Yeah, he spent some time in the ECHL, but look at his American League numbers. This is a guy that's put the puck in the back of the net. - Well, and he's also a guy who provides more than just scoring. Like how many conversations we had about guys who it's like, if the puck's not going in, it's a very different conversation we're having. I mean, like with McMahon, he actually provides things where if the goals dry up for a 10-game spell, obviously if he's playing top six, you're not gonna love that. But if it's a kind of top nine role or a middle six role, then I think he provides enough other things. He's showing that little bit of nastiness as well. So yeah, I think McMahon is, I mean, he's a poster child for kind of found money on this team. - And now he's getting paid real money. It's our next season. - Yeah, not this year. - No. - Still making six bucks. - Yeah, that's a shame for him. - Mind me though, so you'll take it. If you wanna trade. - Wow, you divulged that you make less than Bobby McMahon's, what, the 100K this year? - Yeah, you know, I don't know what people think happens right now, but it's not that, let me tell you. (laughs) - No comment. - As mentioned earlier, yeah. Wait, just listen, be of a Bobby McMahon for shopping the same place? - This year, yeah. - Still, yeah, for sure, yeah. As mentioned earlier in the show, I already told you, as mentioned earlier in the show, I drive a Honda Civic from 100 years ago. - That's right. - Yeah, I was gonna talk about fancy cars. - Yeah, maybe. - Yeah, maybe this is subterfuge from you. - Mm. - All right, as mentioned earlier in the show, corn will be performing at Budweiser stage on Wednesday, September 25th, along with special guests, Gojira and Spirit Box. We're giving away tickets on today's show to enter for a chance to win Texas in today's code word, rock to 59590. Again, that's a rock to 59590. Giving away another pair of tickets on Monday, but if you don't win with us, make sure to secure your tickets today 10 a.m. On Ticketmaster.ca, when we come back, we will head into the weekend with your golf partner from yesterday. - Mm-hmm. - Sam McKee, of Real Kipper and Born. Next, the fan morning show continues. Ben and his brain gunning. Sports at 59590, the fan. - Diving deep into leaps, Raptors, J's and NFL. The JD Bunk is podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. - All right, it is the final segment of this program, which is the fan morning show on Sports at 59590, the fan. - As a day for felt gunning. - As a day ever felt so long by 830 in the morning to you. - I kind of disagree. 'Cause I feel like we just let a fly today. - Yeah, I don't disagree. I've had, like, I've enjoyed, I'm always weird with times on this show. I come in here sometimes, I'm like, how did we even work today? And you're like, yes, we've been working, believe me. So I don't know. My perception, this is always all over the place, but it's been a very long morning. A fun one, but a long morning. It's actually a perfect segue. I don't know. - Two and a half hours. - I don't know if he's there. - Yeah, he's there. - Okay, 'cause I had a very fun day with our next guest, but it also felt like the longest day of our lives while we were golfing. So I'll just bring 'em in now, my friend and yours. I'm just stealing your A chair right from underneath you, but I'm actually gonna give it right back to you. 'Cause I don't want any responsibilities. Sam McKee, what's up, bud? - Hey, bud. Hey, guys. Yeah, also the fact that you're talking to no one on Good Friday, that probably doesn't help. - Nobody. - Yeah. - There's literally no one at the office, no one on the road. - No, no, no. - I live right on Jane Street, and you can usually hear like the bustling of cars. It's just quiet, it's a ghost town out there. So yeah, you're talking to family and friends today. - You probably are listening. - Yeah, well, okay, we got a better shot now at 8.30. I will tell you, it's six o'clock, no chance. - Zero, not one human. - No, which is why I use that time to file a grievance for somebody parking and what I have decided is my spot in our parking lot. That was the first three minutes of the show today. - And they parked there on Good Friday? - I'm disgusting. - I'm a grinder. - I am, whoever you are, that. - Ooh, that laughs. - I better not see you in the parking garage wherever you are, stole my spot. - So it's, in that spirit, I ask you, how was your first round of golf of the year? - Yes, right. - It was great. The boys were a little hungover from the Hot Consulate there, me, more so. - Speak for yourself as a guy who hosted a three-hour radio show. - Yeah, I was. - I thought you played golf with them. - I woke up and the cold wind coming in through the little window crack in my house, like am I doing this today? And the first 10 to 15 holes was really good. But it was a grind by the end. - Had to grind to the finish line. Duffed my drive on 18. Like it was like, I got a grind to finish line. But it was spectacular to get out in March, you know, that's gravy. You get to say that you played in March this year. Love that. Played in a good course. It wasn't too wet. It was like real golf. Pilot let me down a little bit, but I really enjoyed myself with Gunner. And our new friends, Mark and Mayor. We had a blast, so it was a really good time. - No, like I texted to you, thanks for the invite. - Yeah, thanks for the invite in the last five rounds. - Yeah, five and a half, okay. I've played nine holes before and started raining the other day too, yeah. No, I've also gotten a little golf in March. There was those two days where I was like sweating. It was, the weather was so nice, but recently like it's, and yesterday it was different 'cause at least the sun was out. But that's like borderline for me, man. Like, oh my God, the wind is murder and that's like, it's like borderline. Yeah, you do wonder what you're doing out there. And I got, I got these titleist gloves from Goodwill. I started and I'm like, why did I buy these? 'Cause like if it's weather enough that I want to wear them, I probably shouldn't be golfing. We, well, I was gonna say we- - Those gloves are a soft move, buddy. - Well, buddy, you can put your hands in the front. That's the way to go. - Or just be like the biggest hard-o possible and just wear like a football hand warmer. I feel like that's a- - Titleist makes those two. - Yeah, I know they do. I, man, the problem yesterday, so again, just to make this interview completely about all of the games golf we've been playing is, so we get to 15th tee and it is a, it's like an elevated tee box, so there's just no protection from the wind. The wind kicks up, the sun went behind a cloud, and I, if you could have teleported me to the seat of my car right then and there, I would take a deal and hard-o. - Oh my god, I'm pretty. - I would think of that deal immediately. - Hey, hey, hey, sharpie. (laughing) - Again, I play pretty well. I think I have a shoot at 83. - Oh, it's fine, pretty good. - He asked and I said, I didn't know what you shot, but I said you did play pretty well, so I'm happy to hear that, buddy. - Dude, I've been all over the place. Yeah, it started my season off like mid-90s, and I was like, "80!" And then I was like, "Yeah, upper 80s." And then, yeah, again. - All over the place, over 90 lost on my play. - The forecast doesn't look great for this weekend and next week. It doesn't look so hot again, so we'll see. - I don't know, I'm trying to set a personal record for a number of rounds played in the year, so I don't know. - Wow, good start. - If you could put your mind to it, you'll do it. (laughing) - If you ignore your family enough, you can do it. - Well, here's the thing, you just shift for golf and not having to ignore your family. - Well, I know that's the thing, and I know there's gonna, so right now, it's pretty guilt-free when the kids are in school, and I can still be home in time to pick them up from school, but once school ends, at the end of June, and it's like, "Oh, hey, mother-in-law, "can you watch my kids between 10 and two? "Will I go pick off?" - And then daddy comes home and lies on the couch while he watches the kids with the biggest of air quotes. Yeah, it's like, "I'm a scumbag," but like, not that big a scumbag, I don't think. - This is my last summer of daycare, so there's no summer break for daycare, so I got to abuse the links near me this summer. - Do you want to do it like a sports adjacent topic? - No, don't worry, nothing too sports-y. Yeah, that's actually exactly what we wanted to do. - Okay, 'cause we were doing the jacket breakdown because I appreciate this, we looped Cheyenne on it as well, and you can imagine how much you love that conversation. - Yeah, I really love that. - I mean, he did weigh in on it, and he gave us some real reporting that he thinks the jacket is available if they so choose to use it. - He thinks it's in the vicinity of Tampa, he thinks. - Oh, God, what are we doing? - Okay, so George Springer hits the, I was under the impression that whoever hits the first home run is gonna kind of set the jacket tone for the year. George Springer hits the first one, no jacket. Vladihits one, and we're back to Pantomime jacket. We were also going through the Nine Man lineup yesterday and trying to discern who's a jacket guy, who's not a jacket guy, and the first two guys are pretty obvious, actually the first three guys are very obvious. George Springer jacket guy, Vlad, jacket guy, bow, not a jacket guy. Justin Turner feels like the hinge point on jacket guy, no jacket. What do you think, Justin Turner, jacket guy or not, if you had to guess? - I don't know, I don't know him well enough yet. - He's so tough, right? - I thought we said, I gotta know him well enough. I, so I didn't watch any spring training, like I set a record this year for not watching spring training. Did they do the jacket stuff during spring training? Do they do the pretend one like Vladihit yesterday? - I don't think they even did the pretend thing. The reason it's on our radar at all is 'cause Vlad brought it up in his interview with Hazel May, right? That he's like, it might become a back. - So I actually don't care what you do, like what's wrong with the high five? High fives are sick, like when you hit a home run, get the high five, all the boys is great. - Nah, all the boys do the beer bong thing with the water. - There are, I think now in the climate of the absurd stuff that people do after home runs, like the jacket's fine, but I feel like they were one of the first. - It's really tasteful actually. - You know what I mean? - In a world of technical color, with the youth running the box. - The angels had the samurai helmet, which I guess is retired. - I guess it's gonna kind of stand out. - No, no, no, no, I go the other way. It's like, still got your helmet, but Mike Trout hit a home run, I didn't check on it. But yeah, that'll be weird, eh? If you're showing it with Tawny's gone and they're like, no samurai helmet anymore. - Much like Jose Bautista's bat flip, where it set the tone for bat flips to come. The Blue Jays jacket has kind of like set the tone and made people the chains and the beer bong and whatever the hell else they do. I don't care, here's the thing, I wanna have this conversation a lot this year about flatty where we're like, is he gonna put on the jacket because he's hitting home runs again? That's what I like. And yesterday, that home run made me feel something boys, down in my plums, I was pretty fired up about that one. First game of the season is the biggest game of the year to me, there's nothing that matters more to me. The first series in general is the World Series to me. Like, I don't, I was so upset when burrios gave up that home run. - But they won that game and they won last year, it's scoring a bunch of runs again. - Scoreboards, that's the recipe. - Against the Cardinals, they lost the series. - Yeah, I remember Varshow hitting the RBI double when I was first at bat, we're like, oh yeah, we won the trade boys. And I was like, oh my God, we've never lost the trade wars. But yeah, no, that was really exciting. And I thought that the most encouraging thing outside of the offense was, I love the way burrios looked yesterday. Wow, did he look great? And I just, to me, I think they're pitching stats a little more shaky this year with injury and all that stuff. And them talking the broadcast about just always has 32 starts, just starts every game. It's so valuable. And the fact that he goes six or seven, just gives you an honest effort every time. I really, that one year for him was tough, but I love burrios, it was excellent yesterday. - Yeah, a couple of big hinge points in the game, like obviously bounces back after giving up the homer to start things, but then the fact that they go put up a pile of numbers in the top of six and then he gets into a bit of a jam, works his way out of it, like really, really nice to see. You know, you mentioned Vladi there. It's like, does there feel like a single guy that is more important for him to get off to a good start. Like, it just feels like he is such a creature of momentum. And I really, you know, Ben rightly pointed this out to me. It's like, got off to an awesome start last year and it didn't matter a lick. But it really does feel like he is the guy that is most gonna be carried by momentum one way or another. I don't know if you feel the same way, but that's kind of where I'm at with him. - This is very anecdotal. I have no idea if this is true or not, but I feel like him and the whole team with hitting and runners with runners in scoring position, if you start doing that early, it feels like it's good for the rest of the year. And if it doesn't happen early, it's bad for the rest of the year. And for them to do that yesterday and have it be that way. Like this early start of the season, like, let's just stupid saying about it, you can't win the division, but you can lose it or whatever. Just be a decent, have a decent start here. This is an insanely hard road trip to start before they come home. And yes, Vladi getting off to the start is nice, but I just looked at that road trip. I'm like, are they gonna come home? Oh, and nine, like, oh, and eight? What is it, eight game road trip? It's like, holy hell, that's a tough trip. So just survive that, get through it 500 or one game under kind of thing and then come home and go from there. But yeah, man, I like yesterday a lot. So hopefully 161 more, a lot like that. That's what I'm hoping for. - Fingers crossed. And for me too, it's the discourse, right? Like, man, if they, and through three innings, I was terrified. - Toxic, toxic Twitter, oh my God. (laughing) - People hated that team, actually, but it was like, oh my God, I was getting messages. I was like, what's happening? - I know. And your friend of mine, J.D. Bunkus, without a phone yesterday. So I had to commute again through it. - Oh my God. - To win her D body. Okay, you guys wanna know, last night. So last night, J.D. Bunkus, I'm texting with this Uber driver because he has no way of texting with Bunkus. I don't think that maybe Uber never falls Bunkus on Twitter. I don't know. Anyways, I'm lying on my couch at like 1130. Just be like, please, Uber driver please. I can barely keep my eyes open. Finally comes with the phone and drops it off at my place. Then I take it over to Bunkus, that poor guy. I fell off before I'm losing the phones the worst these days, but yeah, I was like, come on, let's go Bunk. Get it together. - All right, any other J's? - Yeah, no, no, not Leaf yet. No, come on, we can do Leaf. - Isn't it weird that Joey Vano was sitting in the stands? Like, that's not weird to you? - I mean, listen, it's on, it's on, it's on Brandon. - Okay, I don't know what he's doing, but he's pulling a Billy Koch. - Yeah, I've also read this this morning, yeah, the two of you. - Was it for the race when he was like sitting in front row? - Yeah, I just shy couldn't quite remember either, but it was like he had just gotten caught by the Blue J's. And like, I think he had a school, like a school crew, like school children that were coming to see him and instead of him playing in the game, he was cut. So he put on the opposing team's uniform, and was cheering against the Blue J's. - That's incredible. But Billy Koch had a moment, first of all, and second of all, I tried so hard to find that video, like, on the internet, and I couldn't do it. - Yeah, the Billy Koch one? - Yeah, me too, I couldn't even find the news story about it. And I was like, am I misremembering this? And it's so good that I've had two people confirm my memory on that thing. - Just I, my thing with Billy Koch is what a time it was for like the soul of the long soul patch. When Trevor Kidd also poking around the Leafs crease at that time, it was truly Johnson was an elite time for bad facial hair. It really was. I think we're all in agreement there. That's not the best look. - I've done it before. - You should bring it back, I think. - Yeah, soul patch? - Not soul patch. I did more of the chin beard, which is kind of, yeah, more of a great Johnson. - I think that's worse. Hey, that's a great poll. What's worse? Soul patch or chin beard? Great poll. - We're doing so much journalism today. We're talking about whether or not Justin Turner theoretically a jacket guy and bat and what's the worst amount of bad, or what's the worst type of bad facial hair? - Should I do eight mates next? - Yes, you should give this to the key as well. - So Sam, you're obviously watching the broadcast just a Leaf game. First time I'd ever seen the term eight mates debuted for the non-core four forwards, which I, eh, not big on. Eight mates, not for me. - Listen, I'm not gonna throw anyone at our company, great company. Roger's under the boss, but yeah, not the best. - Okay, so here's what I've come up with. Let me know if any of these job with you. - Yep. - The Forgotten Friends. - Okay, tough start. - The secondary scoundrels. - Okay, get warmer, don't mind that one. - The Ancillary Amigos. - Oh my God, Ben. - This is crazy. - Yeah, and then one of my followers with a write-in candidate, which actually is my favorite. The more four times two. - That's the more four times two. - That's so good. - That's good. I like the simple one that we use, the B team. The B team is just the five. Like it's like the A team and the B team. Like I don't know, like you guys are trying to reinvent the wheel. - That's the same. - The time simplicity is good, just the B team. - I don't know, it's a tongue. - What was the second one that you said? - The Ancillary Amigos. Oh no, the secondary scoundrels is the one you wanted, Mickey. - Yeah, I think, you know, I think if we're living in a world where our wonderful Chris Cuthbert uses one of these in a game. And like, it's a big playoff moment. Vercuzzi bangs one home, he's like, "Oh, Vercuzzi, the king of the secondary scoundrels." - Oh, that's very good. Oh, that's fair. The only way that would be more-- - The king of the B team. Secondary scoundrel hits, it hits, boys. - The only way that would be more on brand for Cuthbert is if he mixed in like the OJHL team that he flippers like, "Oh, the farmer! "Hokeville, Blaine!" Or whatever team it is up in Sudbury there. God, I love when he does that. Yeah, God, best. - Last night, Rock, boys, what a game. - I guess, the Capital Stink, you know, it rock, but the Capital Stink so bad. - Again, I know they-- - I disagree with that, Ben. I disagree, I disagree. - You just disagree with the Capital Stinking, you think they're a good team? - The Devil's. - The Devil's Stink, too. - I agree. - And they were terrible. - That was a horrible game on Tuesday. - So, and have your coach be that. Like, I've never heard him call out to Varys like that, but that was his poignant a call out as I've ever heard from him. And he went out there and played excellent, the whole team responded. That makes me feel like they actually still listen to the coach and that they still have like a chance to be really good. - Oh, yeah. - That was really important for me. Because if they went out there and laid an egg again, it's like, "Well, we're all having to," they tuned out the coach conversation and whatever. I just thought that was an important game. The cops are red hot, but they have the best car play in the league right through the last, since the all-star break. Like, that was an important win for me. And I love that game. And GEO scoring the goal by the sky. - Oh, that was great. - I was sitting on my couch crying, boys. I love that game. - Oh, that's special, really. - Yeah. - Honestly, I got distracted by so many shiny things. In today's show, I actually had one of these topics that I forgot to get to that considering the response Sheldon Keith got in that game. Like, is that a tool in his tool belt that he should have been using more often or should be using in the post-season? I mean, I would hope you don't need to get guys' attention too much in the post-season. But yeah, it was jarring to see the response. - I think he knows that this team's in a solid playoff spot. And you can't use this bullet every night. And we're getting close to playoffs here. He was clearly extremely offended by Tuesday night, like the rest of us, like he was not impressed. And he knows that he has to get his team playing well, considering who they're gonna be playing in the first round. Not playing well, playing really well, playing only to beat one of those two teams. And he saw this as an opportunity to kind of wake them up, going into next week after you play the Sabres this weekend. Your Monday night matchup is the Florida Panthers. Your Wednesday night matchup is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Like, it's a good time to kind of wake them up and get ready to rock. And by the way, you're going into those matchups with Timmons and Giardano, probably both can be playing out at Lillegrine and Edmondson are both out. Like, that's gonna be fun. But he needed to wake him up going into those games. So I liked it. I was really impressed with the response from him calling him out like that. Didn't expect it to be that good. - Yeah, I was surprised as well. I thought it'd be a night where they took care of business, but I also kind of expected more of a, and again, not to take anything away from the Leafs, but I did expect a little bit more of a push from the Capitals. But I guess that's what it looks like when just a much better team plays- - Play harder. - Play as much better and harder, yeah. Matthews, can he be a game time decision and sick all the time? - Yeah, a lot. - Ten shots, what was going on? That was as good as he just looked. I mean, we don't need to get into the, who will play with him, Marner comes back with, plenty of time for that. But it was just like, one just gush over him for a sec. - It was incredible. - It was great. I love the way he plays without Marner now. He's figured it out and he's playing like a true center. And this is something that Kipper always, you know, he brings us up at least once a week for the entire time we've been doing the show, but he's right. - Pass. - He doesn't play like the traditional center, right? Like Marner's more, plays the traditional center role in that line where he has the puck more, passes the puck more. And Matthews has really figured out that role here in the last few weeks without Marner. And he's snapping it around, boys. He's making excellent passes. And then towards the end of the game last night, he went full over. He was chasing it, which I find it's 5-1. That's okay. Like you're allowed to go out there and take some, take some shots. I'm okay with that. But the last shift, I think he had like four or five shots. He was taking fadeaway jumpers from this and inside the three-point line. It was not really great. But no, he was awesome last night and really wanted him to get 60 here. And I'm really happy that 70 seems out of the pick, out of the question so that there's not like, well, I don't want to have the conversations, boys. The last week of the season where he's on 68 and their game's been nothing and you're playing them in meaningless games because you want him to get to 68 and then he gets hurt. Or he wants him to get to 70 and he gets hurt. That part terrifies me. So I'm happy that he's kind of cooled down here. Still looks great and he'll get to 65 goals or whatever and away we go. - Oh, okay. Does 65 or 66 matter? Because that's the active record, right? OV scored 65. Does that matter? - For sure. Pass OV. Absolutely discredit OV anywhere you can. That's great for me. And then away we go. So yeah, no, it was good. I think if you can get to 66, which I mean, how many games left are there 10? - That's correct. - So we need six goals in 10 games, which is still a really hot stretch. Doesn't seem like for him, that's hard, but one hat trick and we're talking. But yeah, man, he looked awesome last night. And Craig Simpson says he always score when you're sick at the start of the broadcast. And I was like, he's going to be right here. That's a great call. And then the only good saves that Charlie Lindgren made all night were on him. You robbed him like four times. - All of the gloves, yep. - Yes. - Yeah. - It was brutal. - Yeah, it was. - Happy Friday, boys. You're done. - Yeah, I know. You're not. - You're gearing up. - I'm off today. - Oh, you're off? Okay, never mind. What am I supposed to do at four o'clock? - Oh, they're on. I'm off. - Oh, okay. - Oh, God. - There'll be so many people that are happy to like, oh, finally, the real show. We're going to do this with that other guy. (all laughing) - I know you'll be watching and listening. - Oh, yeah, for sure. - Oh, definitely. (all laughing) - Love you, bud. Take it easy. - See you, boys. - There's Sam McKee, real kipper and born, except not today. Yeah, taking good Friday off. Going to church, I imagine. - Definitely, obviously. He's going to be a scoundrel, I'm sure. - Yeah. - Exact opposite. - You know what? I think I undersold, yeah. The secondary scoundrels, 'cause it's-- - It's very good. - You know what? The part of it that I underestimated is that there are, there's some guys that fit the definition of scoundrel. - Scoundrel. - Scoundrel. - Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, being part of a group of players called scoundrels. Like, I don't think they'd be insulted by that. - No, I think they'd shake your hand and say thank you quite honestly. - Right, and like, proof of concept, like, Chris Cuthbert saying the secondary scoundrels? Yeah, that's a thing. - Let's keep speaking it into existence. - Well, as far as the votes are concerned, again, a non-scientific Twitter pool, it is coming up fourth among the four. - It's just hard to say if that's more scientific than Stackcast or not, your Twitter pool, I don't know. - Probably not. Anyways, yeah, I do like ancillary amigos, but I'm being sold more and more on secondary scoundrels. - Scoundrels. - So if you must, if we must go with any of those, it's definitely that one. - And if it's just comedy, it's the more four times, too. - Yeah, that's very funny. (laughing) - It's like, however good secondary scoundrels would sound, being said by Cuthbert. - It'd be the exact opposite for the other one, 'cause it's just very clunky, but I love it. - All right, we're headed into the weekend. Have a great weekend. - We're back on Monday. - It's been a fan morning show, Ben and his friend, Gunny, support 759 at the fan. - Good morning. 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