[MUSIC] Fan morning show sports at 5.9 in the fan, Ben and his friend got in game six tonight. What was the percentage you said that Bruins fans thought that they were gonna lose the series in seven games? This wasn't me, this was McKee and I forgot what it was as well. But, and I actually heard him, I was listening to him, he was a shock, he was listening to Kipperman born yesterday. I heard a reference in there and I forgot it both times, I heard it so I got nothing for you. But the Bruins fans are nervous, is what you're trying to say. >> Okay, but like, let's compare it. >> Yeah. >> Compare it can trust. We only know the sense. >> There was not good at this in English, but we'll try now when sports is the topic as opposed to some novel. >> We can only judge what this city is feeling. I think we have fingers on the pulse. >> Yeah, right. >> Right there. >> We interact. I think we know we see even like the non sports people in the hallways. >> Boy do we, and I have, I'll just be honest out there with it, I have car flags on my car. So I'm getting honked at and I forgot to have them on all the time. >> Well, what's wrong, I'm in the living and then I got a thumbs up and I'm like, oh right. So I'm extra on the pulse. >> Who do you think, which fan base is more nervous headed into tonight's game six? >> Boston, I think Leaf fans are to a certain extent resigned of what could potentially happen. I don't think anybody is going into the game with it, but I think that go back to Saturday. After that, I think there is a certain element of resignation of, all right man, like this is going to be how it ends to this team, of course. I don't think that that doesn't mean there's not a nervous energy in the fan base. There's not people who have hope. I think all that exists, but I just think that they've been down this road so many times. Matthews, he's going to play, he's not going to play again, I think not, but we shall see. I think there is an element of resignation with Boston. This is all still new to them. They're still in their losing game sevens infancy. >> I think you're right. And I think it continues into game seven, even if there is one on Saturday, that there's still a like, oh my God, they could pull it off, but like nobody, because if they win tonight, there is not a soul in this country that thinks they're winning game seven. >> Of course not. >> I mean, they won't. But same thing that you said, the resignation still exists on Saturday and like anything outside of the negative result is like, my God, it's like found money. >> Totally. >> I also think what's impacting that feeling, and it's so embarrassing, but like they actually did win around last year. It's not just about, come on, can you win around in this generation of Leafs team like that, that bridges crossed and even if they win game seven, they're facing what I think is probably the betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup in the second round, and the team that just took them to the woodshed in five games last year in the Florida Panthers. I can't help but think that the fact that they're like the lowest bar that you could ever jump over was jumped over last year in a six game series where they were largely outplayed. But one scoreboard against the Tampa Bay Lightning that happened, that that's in your rearview mirror, that that's not a thing that is part of the discussion anymore. So I do think that's impacting the stress level in tonight's game and a potential game seven. >> Yeah, you're right. I honestly hadn't tied the two together at all because I just thought it was so removed and it's the smallest of bars. But yeah, I do think there's an element that because they were able to clear it, there is a little, a little less life and death. And I also again, I'll just like pay, say it again, you can only have so much expectations for your team if Austin Matthews isn't playing in the game. So not say they can't win, but it does just, it gives you like, it's the out. You go, ah, didn't have Matthews. So it's not as painful when they like, this was a full fledged team that lost to Boston. >> We'll see. >> Maybe they'll have Austin Matthews for tonight's game six, suck to a man who would have good information on that. It's a rental of what TVA supports. How's it going? >> I'm pretty good. Thanks for having me, guys. >> Yeah. Thanks for doing it. I'm going to travel for you back to Toronto after game five, the other night in Boston. I know you were, you were there for the eight minute skate that Austin Matthews had before game five. And I know he was on the ice yesterday and I know nobody really knows, but man, what is your sense about Austin Matthews availability for tonight's game six? >> Well, the fact that he, you know, he's catered for 30 minutes yesterday is a really good sign, right? When you think about it, and you hope that, you know, when he's waking up this morning, he's feeling good. And if it's the case, there's a chance that he'll play the game tonight. If it's not the case, well, obviously, it's going to be the same scenario that we had in Boston for game five. So I'm hopeful, to be honest with you, because the fact that he's catered a little bit like you mentioned on Tuesday that he's catered for 30 minutes yesterday, at least he's on the ice, okay? And I'm sure that he was pushing way harder yesterday. So we'll see if he's on the ice this morning for morning skate, it's going to be a really good sign for this organization. And as much as you look at the way the Maple Leafs played the Tuesday, the way out him, the reality is he's the MVP of this team. So he needs, he needs to be in the lineup to help this team win a big game. And I think the Maple Leafs are a better team win without him, obviously. So we'll see how things are going to turn out. But I am convinced that Austin Matthews will try really, really hard to be in the lineup tonight. That's, that's wonderful news to a lot of people. And again, we will wait and see. And yeah, it's funny. I both knew he was on the ice for longer, but we figured you would have the more or less exact time as well. He was out there. Then the eight minutes it was two, two days ago, you've covered a ton of series, Ren. Can you remember offhand, whether it be just how odd the injury is this one, throw in the William Neelander of it all, to also just a player with such import, you know, I'm not going to say they're having been important players. I mean, God, John Tavar has missed an entire first round series for this team against the Canadians. I mean, I just can't remember in kind of recent NHL history, and I'm sure there's an obvious one I'm missing. Maybe it's Tavares, but such an important player. We've seen players miss some time, but not an MVP, not a rocket guy like this. I can't remember such an impactful injury in, especially an early round postseason. Yeah. In early rounds, the one that I remember, obviously, because I'm spending a lot of time with the Montreal Canadiens, is when Carey Price was injured in the East Conference final, that was in 2014. So that was 10 years ago, a knee injury that totally killed the Canadiens' chances to go in the Stanley Cup final. And I believe the Kings were a better team than the Rangers at the time. So that was really, really hard, because last time the Montreal Canadiens went to the Stanley Cup final, it was the cupboard year. I mean, it's okay, but it was not what we're used to, actually, when you look at playoffs. And you look at the Price back then with the Canadiens, and you look now, William the Lander, to start that playoff series, next man up on the injury list is Austin Matthews. I mean, it's a killer. It's a killer. But let's be honest here, you've seen a lot of, you've probably seen the Maple Leafs played all the games in the last 10 seasons, right? You've seen them play in the playoffs. Where do you rank what they did on Tuesday night, the way they played personally? If it's not my number one, you know, I think the Maple Leafs played their best game ever in the playoffs in the last 10 years. That's my me saying it, but I don't know about you guys. No, I mean, there's probably one or two that you could hold up and say this was better, but stakes not having Matthews back against the wall. All of it. Yeah, no. And as they played in an elimination game, like they started game six. All right. But like, yeah, the Eley Samsonov had to steal that game in overtime against the lightning last season. They staved off elimination in game four against the Panthers and then lost in game five in an elimination game. I can't remember a game as impressive as the 60 plus minutes in game five in Boston. And so much of that on the strength of the goaltender, how much does that change everything that Joseph Wallace emerged as this guy who might be getting in the heads of the Boston Bruins. I'm not surprised because of what happened last year, right? Remember he was in, he had the experience, it didn't work out exactly the way you wanted. I'm pretty sure, right? But he had the experience. The nerves, I'm pretty sure were there before game five, but at least he knows what it is to play in the playoffs. And you know, to make those key saves and to help your team winning playoffs games. And I think the way Joseph played the biggest difference between wall and obviously Samsonov is that wall when he's playing in the PK, on the PK, he's got a better safe percentage than Samsonov and it shows during last game. So he's a better PK goaltender than Samsonov is. That's the big difference. That's why he's there. And I felt like he gave a lot of confidence to his teammates all night long. That said that he made on Charlie coil in overtime was one of the best saves I've seen in a while, but he was so well positioned that it was really tough for coil to just core on it, but still, it was a non believable save at a key moment because otherwise we're not talking about the Maple Leafs today playing a game. We're talking about what's next with the Toronto Maple Leafs. So I mean, I think Joseph is easy Jeremy Swamin yet? No. Can he be? We'll see. Yeah, it's certainly there for him and, you know, it's funny how much you start to believe the things you hear, right? Because everything we've heard about Joe Wall, I mean, not so much from when he was drafted because he was a third round pick. There's some pedigree there, but it's not like he was a, you know, a first round goalie or anything like that. But everything we've heard is that he's been able to stay so calm and the moment never gets too big for him. And, you know, that sounds like a nice thing to hear about a guy, but you can only test that so much in a December game or a January game or even, you know, a February game where they throw them out there against Boston to see it kind of come through in these moments. It's encouraging. And, you know, I think with goal tenders, it's just a certain amount of, well, you build up a body of work and then everyone just trusts you as well, right? Yeah, it's only right, but I'm going to tell you one thing. So it's morning skate of game three here in Toronto, 10 30 in the morning. And you should have seen the save that he was doing at morning skate. The split, he was, he was just unbelievable. And I saw him after practice. I said, my God, man, you made some unbelievable saves here. The split at 10 30 in the morning. That's a great way to wake up and he was, he was laughing about it a little bit. But what I saw is a goalie in a game that he's not going to play, that he was, he was impressive. I was like, wow, and I know it's a morning skate. But I, but I, it's been, you know, goal is at morning skates sometime, even if they're to back up, they're not going to throw their body around and make sure that and test their groin to make sure that everything's okay at 10 30 in the morning. You know what I mean? Mm hmm. Yeah. No, I hear you. So the Leafs are also trying to snap a six game hold on just so we're clear. There's no time a day. I want to be doing the splits or testing my coin and that matter. It doesn't matter. AMPM. I'm out on that. Yeah. I'm out too. I can't at any point in, in the day. Yeah. Anyways, the, the home losing streak in the postseason is six, ran it if it's seven. The off season starts tomorrow. Do you have a theory on this thing? I mean, yeah, you, you know, the pressure that exists for teams playing in a hockey mad city like Toronto or Montreal. And I don't think anybody can argue with the fans at the beginning of, of Saturday's game four, but then we're presented with that garbage through 40 minutes. I think they responded as, as anybody who's watched the last decade of Leafs postseason hockey would. Um, do you have a theory as to why this, this they haven't been able to win a home postseason game since game two against the lightning last year and, and, and I remember Paul Maurice using it just before the start of that playoff series saying, you know, we're happy to play in Toronto. You know, we know that this building is a top building for, for the visiting team. Yeah. For the home team and it was, it was open about it. And because he's seen it before, and obviously he's seen it in that second round last year. And I'm pretty sure the Boston Bruins are seeing it right now. You know, every time I'm, I'm going to the Scotiabank Arena, I think this is one of the best ranked in the league, I'm not seeing it because I'm in Toronto. I like, I like the way, I like the buzz in the building, but, and you know what, I think the fans are doing a good job. The difference is I think that when we're in the playoffs and you're going in a building, fans are bringing it to another level, okay? And probably the other level here is not the equivalent of the Bell Centre or even in Carolina or elsewhere around the league, the MSG. And that's probably why people are talking about, you know, the, the building and how it is during the playoffs and it can, it can turn ugly. I've seen teams losing to nothing in a game in the playoffs. And before the, you know, the puck drop of a, of a period, you have the fans standing up, standing up and clapping and pushing the own team to, to win that game. That's not something we're seeing here, okay? Hopefully one day it's going to be, we're going to see it, but, but it needs to be part of the culture and there's a fan culture and it needs, the unique, they need to bring it. And some fans are trying to bring it because I'm here, I'm there, I'm listening. There's some part of the building who are trying to, to, to start something, but the other part is not doing it. What can I say? That's the reality and I'm sure that the day the fans will understand that it's not because it's to nothing ruined tonight, that it's the end of the game. You can turn that game just by pushing them and reacting when there's a long call or reacting when there's a call. You have to push the, you have to push the referees and they're all going to say, Oh, no, that's not the way it works. Well, guess what? Yes, it is because they're all human and I've seen referees during the playoffs, if they're hearing something, I'm going to raise my hand. Man, I've seen it in Boston, like this is more came-ups than it is crowd, but I've seen Boston put a call on a jumbotron while the refs are having a, a little pow wow and I know they're not supposed to look up there, but it's only human nature and you're getting booed by 20,000 people. Yeah. And you know, the thing everybody goes back to is, you know, the kind of best leaf crowds of, I don't know, like the last, this century, basically, everyone goes back to O2 and the run they made to a conference final, not lost on me that it was in a conference final. You show these people that winning is possible even when you're losing. And I do think you kind of get more of those now. We're going to talk about anxious crowds. Leafs have to win tonight to make this happen. What's that building going to be like in Boston? They know what happened last year. They would be staring down the barrel of back-to-back game seven losses if I have to talk about how the leaf crowd is going to be. And we should because it's going to be a topic. Let's talk about what that crowd could be like in TD Garden for a game seven. I'd imagine pretty, pretty nervous. Pretty nervous. And that's, that's a nightmare if it happens for a Boston Bruins. I'm telling you, because pressure is pressure, I believe even if we're in Toronto tonight, I believe and, and the Leafs are back against the wall. I believe the pressure is on the Boston Bruins. If they lose tonight, even if they don't, even if they're saying that it's, it was last year, it's different group, different scenarios. It's not, it's not really different. You were winning three-one. And if you don't win tonight, you're going back home for game seven, exactly like last year versus the Panthers. I'm telling you, if it happens, I know the building in Boston will be great, but let's say it's one, let's say it's one nothing quickly, like it was one nothing quickly in game five, how people are going to react. So it's going to be really important for that crowd to react the right way, to push the Boston Bruins. I know it's a great crowd, but, but there'll be a lot of people nervous. And I think what's more important, it's not who's, if the crowd is nervous, it's if the players are nervous. So, so for me, the team that wins tonight game, obviously the Boston Bruins are going to win it. But let's say, let's say it's the Maple Leafs who wins it tonight, I don't know, it's going to be tough to tell the rest of the world that the Boston Bruins don't have any pressure to win tonight. They'll have tons of pressure to win it. Yeah. But like a team under that pressure in game five, at least for the opening 20 minutes of that hockey game. So we could have a pretty significant coaching vacancy this offseason, I think even Sheldon Keith understands that the parameters of this first round series against the Boston Bruins. Broad Brendan Moore still coaching in this postseason, like there's these reports that are bubbling up that that extension maybe hasn't actually been signed. I mean, there's a John Cooper thing about him having one year left on his deal. How much does everybody just, you know, watch, how much will those guys be intently watching tonight's game and wondering about this offseason? Probably all of them. But the question is, you know, this Rob Brenner Moore story is not going away. And I remember in March, in a March at the Bell Center, I went on air saying that there's an issue here and there's a chance that Rob Brenner Moore's not going to be back next season. And people were like, well, we're talking about that's possible. Well, it looks like more and more it is possible. And I believe that, you know, the fact that it went really public in the last 24 to 48 hours, I'm pretty sure that the phone lines are working right now between him, between Greta Moore, probably his agent and ownership to resolve that matter before the start of the, you know, that next series versus the New York Rangers, because you're telling me that you're going to go in New York, in New York, with all the media there questioning, is he going to come back? What's going on with the hurricanes? And you think it's not going to be a distraction? That contract needs to be signed before, otherwise it's going to be a huge distraction for that team. And I think that for your hurricanes, you know, Rob Brenner Moore's the clue that minute that he's gone, I think that there's a lot of people who are going to say, well, I want out too. Yeah. So, so this is a really unique situation here. I believe that Rob Brenner Moore wants to stay in Carolina, but he wants to stay on his own turn and he deserves it. Yeah. So, we'll see how things are going to evolve. But if there's no contract signed before the first game against the New York Rangers, uh-oh. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, and the dollar figure just feels like it's going up each passing day, and especially if the Maple Leafs lose tonight, and that is hanging in the balance. Reynolds, always a pleasure, man. Thanks so much. All right. Enjoy the game tonight. It's got a great one. It will. Either way. So, yeah. Uh, Reynolds Labua, TVA Sports, you won't, might run into Reynolds Labua. Yeah, I was going to say, get to shake his hand, maybe, say I'm Brent. Okay. Okay. Great. Congrats to you. Yeah. Congrats to your parents for making that. Oh, God. Yeah. The Rod Brenner Moore, there would be a catharsis there, the guy that, boy, who doesn't remember the video of Rod in the dressing room after the David Ayers game and congratulating David Ayers on what was an incredible performance, and boy, those 15 minutes are certainly up. Uh, they were quickly for Mr. Ayers. Yeah. But yeah, to have that. No, no, no. Quick. Not quick enough. Linger too long to, in commercials on this station, ridiculous. I mean, I know. Take the money. I do the same thing. Of course. Like the team that employed you. So, yeah. The feeds. Yada yada. I'm not still upset about it at all as you could tell. Of course. Now, if you're Rod Brenner Moore, you're a man and it's your agent, I guess you got a thank you're like, well done. Not signing that contract. I don't know if it was him or if it was the team that you, for whatever reason, the negotiation broke down because I thought we were already talking about a five year extension being signed by Rod Brenner Moore. I thought so too. And the idea it's like, well, we better wait. The team might go win a cup and then we should sign them out of it. Curious. I mean, good job understanding this moment in NHL history and the job that changed the entire NHL head coaching landscape when they signed Mike Babcock to that record setting deal. Yep. That there could be another opening here and it's just money and unencumbered by the salary cap. Even if they're paying children key for another three years or whatever it is. And the other, the other thing that has to go into this as well and you know, this is, this is more about the coaching fraternity that it is about Brenda Moore. One of these guys, it for the good of the coaching fraternity has to ring the bell. Like I understand John Cooper is, you know, safe and happy and Tampa or whatever. Okay. I get it. Understand Rod Brenner Moore likes being in Carolina. I get it. Okay. But at a certain point in time, you're not going to be able to ring the bell away and I don't know. Because he's had so much success there, but not the same way and not that there's been more success in Toronto, but nobody's going to open the, the checkbook the way they would you'd imagine. If I'm John Cooper, I'm not signing for a dollar less than Mike Babcock got as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Why would you? You've accomplished more? Of course. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was a Olympic gold medal. But yeah. Well, yeah. Nobody. Uh, I don't know. It was Babs who coached that like fake World Cup of hockey against team Europe. That's right. Well, he'll have one in, he'll have one in. He'll have a silver in a couple of months when America beats us with the four nations. All right. First things for us. Game six. Pain here. First. Uh, as mentioned earlier in the show, Bernanke, ladies, the big racket will be performing sobe stadium on June 27th, we're giving away tickets and if we're a chance to win, text in today's code word, the big racket to 59590 again. That's the big racket to 59590. When we come back, Lugastic, former NHLer currently sports an analyst next as the fan morning show continues. Ben and his sprint gunning sports at 590 the fan covering the blue Jays from an analytical perspective. Jay's talk plus with Blake Murphy. Be sure to subscribe and download Jay's talk on Apple Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts fan morning show sports at 590 the fan Ben and his sprint gunning Leafs, Bruins game six tonight after eight o'clock sports net CBC Sportsnet 360 everywhere. Socked a Luke Gastic sports net analyst. How's it going? Luke. Good. How you doing today? We're doing all right. Okay. Let me ask you this. Yeah. Out of the gates. Okay. Home losing streak, again, seven and the season's over. If you just like in their most honest moment, like you just ask these leaf suppliers, obviously we'd never get this on record, but like you're like, okay, here's the thing. We can do this thing where we're like, we fake that there's something wrong with Scotia Bank arena. Like it's gotta be fumigated today. We can't play in that building tonight. We can't play anywhere near Toronto, so there'll be no leaf fans in the building. We can play on the moon, we can play game six on the moon, or you can play in normal circumstances at home. What do you think those players would take? Oh, I think they're still playing at home. All right. On it. Yeah. I think they're still playing at home. Honestly, I know we had the whole conversation last time I was on with you guys about the home building and everything like I was in the building on Saturday night. It was absolutely electric. Yeah, it absolutely was, it felt like that I had like I didn't been to a game in a while. I had like full chills in my body. I was up in the Reds kind of behind the leaf net and just, you know, when they came flying out and even like when Neil and her touched a puck for the first time, like the crowd went nuts and they're chanting willy and it was just like it was the coolest atmosphere honestly. And then it just it went downhill so fast. And I love how you had that kind of chicken and the egg conversation last time because my goodness, did I start agreeing with you during the game when it was just like, man, now I see why it's so quiet sometimes. It was just, and I know I'm going back to games with this lifeless effort, but we're heading home tonight. So hopefully they can feed off it because I truly have no theories as to why I have a couple ideas, but no, no plausible theories as to why it's not getting down at home. Okay, I got to ask you this question because like I, I've, I've been of the, the mind that I think most people have been when it comes to the Scotia Bank arena crowds where it's like, yeah, I mean, well, that's not the hardest hardcore leaf fans that are there because it's, it's hard to afford a ticket. I'd never heard this thing that apparently is a reality and, and I did JD bonkers you showed last week and like a lot of people are texting in this experience and you were there. So you can tell me this. People in the lower bowl that actually gets shouted down when they're too loud or standing up when they're not, they're not cheering something actively. Like when you are proactive as a fan making noise or standing up that there are people who are like, sit down. You're in my way. Like, did you see any of that being at the game on Saturday? No, I didn't see any of that. I actually saw the opposite, but yeah, I mean, I was up, I would think I was second row of the Reds and we had people in our section that were screaming at our section to be louder. Okay. So I almost saw the, I saw the exact opposite. I hadn't seen anything like that. I will say that no, I was more on the side of, of people wanting to be loud, but man, it was so funny. There were still the, the occasional, you know, gentleman or two, I'll say I walked up into the Scotia club and there's people eating prime rib dinners during the game. I don't know anything going on. I was dying. Yeah. Stop. I love this. Hey, I'm like, well, I didn't even know that say that he couldn't even know a game was going on. Honestly. Couldn't have even cared last. It's remarkable. It's like you go to dinner anywhere. I'm sure it's good there. Don't be wrong, but I mean, you know, a lot of nice day coasters in, in the city. Yeah, the crowd stuff is, is, I mean, I've made my stance on it pretty clear. It's that you give these people some to be excited about. It's going to happen. Yeah, when you lose, when you lose 80 or last nine home games in the playoffs, it's going to get a little nervous. But if you come out and forget the start of Saturday's game, but go back to the start of Tuesday's, if you have a period that is like that first period in Boston, if you have that tonight at home, that building will be ready to explode and it does feel like it all just kind of comes back to that. And obviously, you know, Boston wasn't at their best in that first period. I imagine they'll have more push back tonight. But if the Leafs can bring 80% of what they took in that first period to Boston into the first period tonight, it feels like we're having a completely different conversation. 100%. And that starts with your top guys, like the amount of, you know, momentum and energy that's gained from those guys going full tilt and having a period like that. It just, it sends, it sends it through the locker room. And even me as like a fourth liner that that was like nights like that, where, you know, your top guys are absolutely buzzing around the ice, like I personally just fed off that energy. And I think that's what has to happen most of the time versus foremost is your best players have to be your best players. And I thought Mitchie and domes and bird all did a great job of that early. That was a crazy disappointing start from Boston. If you're looking at it from from their side, but I give a lot of credit to the Leafs and pouncing on it, because I think it just, you know, it, it's, it allows everyone to kind of just feed off that. So there's so many moments in, in a game and this is any game, but it just gets amplified so much more in the playoffs that can kind of swing momentum one way or another. I mean, you kill off a penalty. The score is still the exact same, but sometimes it feels like you've just scored two goals in that building. I mean, how many times have we, we've seen that conversely the other team you pay close attention to the Oilers, well, they did it with their penalty kill last night as well. But when you're, when you're just ripping it up on the power play, it's tenfold, right? The team, you know, Boston takes a penalty. All of a sudden the building gets buzzing and, you know, don't get me wrong. We love a Jake McCabe goal or somebody greasy. But when it's one of your big boys doing it and it looks a little pretty on the power play, it just kind of injects life into the game, into the building. How much has that been kind of what's hampered the, the Leafs as well here? I mean, you talk about the big boys. They want to shine at five on five. No one's going to complain about that, but man, the, the lack of anything on the power plays has kind of killed this team. And if we're going to talk about momentum, it's kind of been a momentum suck at times for them in the series as well. Oh, it's just been so deflating. And I did a thing on TV the other night doing jets abs. The, I mean, there's direct correlation right now in the NHL playoffs with the top power plays and the success that that team has, the top power plays in hockey now have all either moved on or up in their series. That's Colorado, Boston, Edmonton and New York. Um, the teams, you know, not coincidentally that are not performing on the power play are either down in their series or have lost. And this oiler power play is probably the most exciting thing in hockey right now. It's a well oiled machine. It is honestly hockey, poetry, emotion, watching those guys enter through the zone. Um, you know, and all the options they have, but Toronto has personnel that can do that. And I just, it was, I felt like it was last week. I was sitting here saying the same things with you guys that they haven't made the adjustments. And it's still the same thing time after time. And it can honestly deflate you. It really can when it's just you're a man up. This should be a great opportunity to capitalize. And I really hope that they can figure this out. And in short time, it would just give them so much more of a boost. If they could even get one, you know, one momentum swing off it with a goal or something like that, it would be absolutely huge. Hey, they've scored one power play goal in the series. They got their one. Oh, I just mean next game. I know, I'm just kidding that. Yeah, no, it's been embarrassing the power play. So, uh, hey, Bruins are really good penalty killing team. No question. They were a top 10 unit during the regular season. The Los Angeles Kings were the second best penalty killing team during the regular season. And the oilers just cut through them like they were nothing. Is it fair to say that like a good power play will beat a good penalty kill every time? It should, it should. And any power play that has Conor McDavid to will, will do that to you. He's probably the best in the world at adjustments like we just talked about. It's kind of dealer's choice for him. If he sees plays that they're taking away or they're pre scouting, he just has this ability to cut through penalty kills and basically do whatever he wants. He has the options there, but it should always be the power play. And it's basically Boston is just so good. They're so good at it. It's basically just outworking the other. It's there. They're four on five. It's, it's honestly every shot that's taken, if there's a rebound, they're winning the race to the loose puck. They're getting clears. Uh, LA just, they overthought it. And I think that's what is getting some teams into trouble, especially against the oilers is they had this kind of diamond formation where it's not like this box where you're cutting the ice in half. It's, it's kind of a one three that they play, but they just collapse it down. And everything they tried was just not working, but they were almost trying to outsmart the oiler, oiler PP, but it should always definitely be the power play. It's honestly a privilege to be on that thing. And it should be hard work a lot of the time. And, um, yeah, we're not seeing a ton from it. Nope. And now there's an excuse. There's no Austin Matthews, but he was there for the entirety of the season, especially the last two months where it was one of the worst in all of the NHL. Okay. So like obviously the solution would be to just be better on special teams. That hasn't happened now. We have a pretty large sample of that just not happening. So secondarily to that, would you do, is it like in this team's best interest to like, even if it means being less physical, do whatever it takes to stay out of the box, to just like try and play as much of this game at five on five and might work for them. Honestly, five on five, their numbers are good. And yeah, I think that's the biggest thing first and foremost is, yeah, you can't be killing penalties. I keep equating this back to LA. LA just decided to keep taking penalties last night. If Toronto wants to do that, they're not going to have any chance. Um, keep it five on five as long as you possibly can allow all your guys to get into the game, start rolling four lines. Um, very curious to see what the lineup is tonight and see if, um, see if Austin's going. I didn't love the lineup changes from a couple nights ago, taking do or out. He put Robertson on the fourth line. I thought Sheldon's maybe overthinking it a little bit. I actually don't even like when he has last change at home. Cause I think he starts thinking too much, but it looks like Montgomery on this other side has been doing the same thing, overthinking things a little bit. So long story short, the more five on five hockey, the better for this team right now. Yeah, man. You want to talk about lineup changes like the doer one. I didn't like it. They didn't lose that game cause Connor do it and play in it, but I certainly didn't, didn't like it. I agree with you there and Montgomery. He's kind of taken some heat for some of what he's been doing. You know, we talk all the time, but players happen to make adjustments in series. And, you know, I know Sheldon Keith, like he understands what it means to coach at home. But do you think there's any element of reflection there? And I don't even know what it means. If it's just consciously chasing live matchups last, but this team has, has lost every playoff game for six in a row now. It's eight of their last nine at home. Do you think there's some element of kind of self reflection happening there that going, yeah, OK, this is the adjustment I need to make. And maybe it's just to do a little less and not chase matchups. I wonder if also, you know, obviously Austin Matthews playing or not as a big impact in this game. But if Matthews isn't there, I wonder if it also kind of makes you chase it a little less. Cause all your lines are, you know, to a certain extent, more kind of even when you don't have a de facto number one. Cause it's Matthews line. How do you think Sheldon Keith can kind of make adjustments heading into this? Yeah, honestly, just keep it simple. That's the biggest thing for me is, I mean, you mentioned the Robertson one. So we're seeing coaches, especially in this playoff, Sheldon is one of them who are doing just classic overthinking where they're either up in a series and they decide to make small changes. And it hasn't worked for them. So the situation that he has with Robertson is he puts him in and he puts him in on the fourth line in a checking role, which I don't love. So Winnipeg was going through the same thing with Colper Fett. He bonus didn't want to put him in on the bottom six, but he didn't want to mess up his top six. So he just decided to keep him out of the lineup till game five elimination game. And I thought he was outstanding. And same thing with Jimmy Montgomery, right? He wants to tweak this thing a little bit after a really good game that they play Saturday night. He takes feature out, you know, he puts in Grizz Lake with Witherspoon. So now you have two left shots on your bottom pair and they were actually so bad that he split up in overtime. And he has Grizz Lake playing with McAvoy. So they can have their left, right still didn't work out well for them. I'm just leave goodbye to Mr. Grizz Lake on his way to the net in overtime. Exactly. And honestly, like I'm fairly biased towards this, but I was a guy who was in and out of the lineup a lot. And I just am very much on the mindset that if you win a hockey game, the last change is possible. I mean, I would be rolling the same line up going back in if you win a hockey game. I even knew that sitting in the press box, like if we had cleaned up two games in a row, I just kept going well. I'm not going to next game and I just think coaches are overthinking it a little bit. And I do think Sheldon falls into that fault just maybe a little bit. If there's a huge monumental add to a lineup like in Austin Matthews, of course, you change the lineup and put them back in. But when you're just dissecting it and micromanaging little changes like that, I think that's a moment for self reflection where you're like, hey, maybe I should just keep things simple here and go with what's worked. Was there some self reflection for Mitch Marner after the glove throw in the second period on Saturday? Score is the goal in the third period to make it a game for a moment before William Neelander takes the penalty and then is really, really good on a top line that was really, really good and scored the only goal in the regulation 60. Where are you on Mitch Marner? Well, it was much better the other night. I'll say that man watching Saturday. That was it was just a tough watch and Mitch, he caught the brunt of it, I would say, but there were a number of players from top to bottom that could have gotten it. And I understand he takes it because of the salary he makes and the expectations that fall on his shoulders. But I did think much better the other night. I don't know if it's a home and on the road thing, it seems like we're falling into that a bit with him too. I do think he has gotten it pretty hard because, like I said, I think there's a number of other players that do need to step up that third, our third line. I just called it our let's call it our well done. Oh boy, go leave, go. We're going to play this on Edmonton radio. And we'll call it all our third line has to be much better. But you know what, I look for Mitchie tonight. This is this is a huge, huge game for him. I think it's gotten bigger and bigger as the playoffs have gone on. Didn't play well at home, obviously on Saturday, gets better a couple of nights ago. But tonight's the night where I think a lot falls on his shoulders. And you know, I'm just excited for tonight to see not just the effort, but to see the way these guys come out. And kind of just what happens. Yeah, I'm I'm ecstatic. I can't I can't wait as well. You mentioned Marner. Do you think this feels like a nuts thing to say? And I know they haven't been playing together. So maybe it's not as tied as it once was. But do you think for a one off game, you can get a better version of Mitch Marner when he's not playing alongside a, you know, be it a 47 gold man in John Tavares or a 60 nearly 70 gold man in Matthews where he just kind of plays Mitch Marner hockey as opposed to looking for Matthews. I mean, the whole team was guilty of that down the stretch, trying to get him to 70. And it feels like even once the playoffs started, everyone is just so deferential to him. And I get it. He's Austin Matthews. You should be to a certain extent, but Mitch Marner shouldn't be deferring to anybody when he's out there. And I do just wonder, you know, obviously the Leafs are better off with Matthews playing if he can go. But I do wonder if you get a little bit more free version of Marner, if he's not constantly shoulder checking for where's 34. 100% and he's played so well with domes. So I don't know what the lineup looks like when he comes back in, but you're pretty, you know, on the money there when he plays with Austin and and with JT, I think he almost just tries to do too much. And I'm not one to tell Mitch Marner how to play hockey or approach the game, but the simplicity in his game, when he keeps it simple, that's when you see his best hockey. He hasn't played well with John, he's played better with Austin and probably the best with domes. So I would be doing everything in my power if I'm shelled into maybe keep him with Max and see if you can get something out of those two because it clearly just isn't working with Johnny. And that's OK, right? You're just you're not going to have chemistry with every single guy in your team. Sometimes it doesn't work, but I do think it's it's almost Mitch to a fault is just trying to do too much. I think he feels the weight of this team and carries it on his shoulders a little bit too much at times and just he tries to do too much when it's just let's dumb it down a bit. Let's keep it a little simpler and see if that works for you. Are you going to be in the building tonight? I am not going to be in the. Unfortunately, I am rather superstitious, too. Yeah, I mean, you're bad luck. No, I wore my hat for Tuesday today, Luke, so I am not going to be back in there. Actually have a big charity draft tonight for an Alzheimer's Pro Am. So we got the draft tonight for for the tournament on Friday and Saturday. Time to ex-leafs involved in this one. So that'll be cool. We're up at a big a big ballroom or something in Vaughan. So we'll definitely have the game on, but I'm over one. So I'm going to stay away for the time being. Yeah, Brent and I are 0 for 0 in the postseason. We'll be in the building tonight. So yeah, I mean, blame us, I suppose. They don't win. Ben, not me. No, Ben, blame us. You guys are bringing the good vibes, sorry. A lot of this. Luke, always a pleasure. Thanks, man. All right. Thanks, guys. Luke, Gazdick. Our Luke Gazdick. Yeah, he's ours. That's right. We, we, me, you and Luke Gazdick. OK, I love that guy. Honestly, it's like we at him in studio. If you think it was like deadline day or whatever, it's like it's just, you know, you just collect with some people. I love Gazdick coming on the show. OK, I have a hypothetical for you, which I think is really good. Well, then, no, no, no, no. Let's let everyone sit on this for another minute or two. You think it's really good? No, I think it's a really interesting. Oh, OK. So after Saturday's game, Leafs players say the thing that you have to say after being boot off the ice over 40 minutes and after 60 minutes, like, yeah, that's well within their rights to boot. I don't think they said explicitly we deserved booing. I don't have to because I'm sure and they actually the opposite, like Sheldon keeps like, I don't think there was anything wrong with the effort, right? But they did say booing not a problem. Yeah. Was it a problem? I like, did it impact their performance? Does the fan angst when it's vocalized? Does it impact the play on the ice? I think it's fair to wonder if after that game. Yes. John Tavares, Mitch Marner, William Neelander said explicitly, here's the thing. It really does affect us. Like there can be a tremendous advantage to us, even when we're playing poorly, just believe in us enough that we're going to come back in the game and that we're doing our best. If you just never boo and just cheer your guts out, there is that like it's an impactful thing. I'm admitting it. We hear it. It changes what happens on the ice. Does that change the fan reaction to this team? Does that have a tangible effect on the home crowd at Scotia Bank Arena? I think it would give them the boost that they got to start that Saturday game anyways, where they go, all right, we are here. Win us over and maybe it gives you a little extra leg. But guess what? If that game would have trended that way and, okay. But that's what you're saying. Like if you're John Tavares and like, this is your tack, you're like, I know, but at a certain point in time, somebody sitting there going, I paid $500 for this. My beer cost me $600. This is overwhelming. Even if you know that it's like the players are telling you, you have an impact on the game. Even if it's like against every fiber of your being to cheer for a garbage experience that's cost as much as it has and there's been as much disappointment over the last decade as possible. That doesn't change it. If you're like, oh man, the power is kind of in my hands. And I'm not saying it is. And they would never say this. But like if that was made explicitly clear, I think it would buy you a lot of extra lives. Like, I don't know that we're a cat and you're getting all the way up to nine. I think it would buy you more goodwill. But at a certain point in time, people can only take so much. And especially in the playoffs, I think you would completely change the talent. Like whining for sure. Yes. Well, that's the other thing is now I have to ask you this hypothetical. What's your move, Mitch Marner from it? Who would be the funniest player to hear that? Oh my God. Mitch Marner. No, no, like that's why you have to remove him from it. It's like the Gretzky points and assists. It's unfair. You just take them out of fantasy leagues. If Austin Matthews is playing, he would be the most legit guy to do it, right? I actually think Morgan Riley is the one who like, because he is heart and soul. Yeah. One in one A. Yeah. Yeah. No, no, who would be the funniest? Funniest? Boy. I don't know. Somebody. You know who would be really funny? Because there's two guys and it's for opposite. So you can never see it. It's like Domie if he was just like, guys, we get so sad. And I don't know why. But it would very much make me laugh if that was like a Tyler Bertuzzi thing, because it just seems like he would have... That's just tough. Very little time for somebody else needing a safe space. And him coming out there going, I need Biden. I mean, Sheldon Keith would be pretty funny if he was that'd be hilarious. But yeah, like obviously goes outside. The funniest one would be Mitch Marner. Oh my God. This is a good hypothetical. That's great. No, good job. You sold it? You really needed to bring it? You brought it. Good job. Thank you. All right. You all bring it tonight. Yeah. Or else. I don't know. What else do you think? Yeah, exactly. All right. Game six tonight. This has been the fan morning show. Ben Anis, Frank Gunning, Sport 759, the fan. Good morning. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] (dramatic music)
