What the heck is happening? The Devils have strung together 2 in a row after skating the Jets into the ground. Are we FINALLY going to see the NJ team we've been waiting for all year? With 12 games left, will they pull off a miracle?
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[00:00:00] Always. Yeah. That's alright. Yeah. Yeah. That's alright. Yeah. That's alright. Yeah.
[00:00:16] It is running pretty fast if we know anyone. That's nice. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:00:19] Yeah. That is so cool. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That is so cool when you go. Yeah.
[00:00:24] champion of the New Jersey Devils.
[00:00:26] You're listening, The Uncle Puckers,
[00:00:29] New Jersey Devils podcast with Chris Dan Bobby and Tony,
[00:00:33] The Uncle Puckers.
[00:00:34] Let's go Devils!
[00:00:37] Guys, what are we doing?
[00:00:39] Right?
[00:00:40] Like seriously, what are we doing?
[00:00:42] Just changing things up for a little bit.
[00:00:44] This is so okay, we're the Uncle Puckers
[00:00:47] and we just finished watching The Devils dominate.
[00:00:52] The Winnipeg Jets, the first place Winnipeg Jets.
[00:00:55] And we also didn't even speak about the game
[00:00:58] where we just completely walked up on the Pittsburgh
[00:01:01] Penguin.
[00:01:02] So this is two in a row.
[00:01:04] There's so much to talk about.
[00:01:06] I don't even know where to begin, but this is so fun
[00:01:11] and so frustrating all at the same time.
[00:01:13] Yes, that's the ball.
[00:01:15] So all I have to say is this is just infuriating right now.
[00:01:21] Take out on a week earlier, dude.
[00:01:22] That's all that's the minimum you had to fucking do.
[00:01:26] But yeah, give me your thoughts guys.
[00:01:28] Yeah, I mean, they've been a pleasure to watch
[00:01:31] last few games.
[00:01:32] Living up to the potential that we believed in all year
[00:01:35] that made it, made us think we were crazy at times.
[00:01:37] Like where is this potential?
[00:01:40] You'd see them play a good game and then a couple
[00:01:42] bad games.
[00:01:43] And there's just a couple of performances
[00:01:45] they put together makes you think that hey, you know what?
[00:01:49] They could do something, you know, crazy here and run
[00:01:54] the rest of the games close to running the rest of the games
[00:01:56] and maybe make their way into the playoffs.
[00:01:58] And if they did, how exciting would that be?
[00:02:00] So as long as we can mathematically dream
[00:02:03] and they're playing well, you might as well enjoy it
[00:02:05] for the right because I get the whole frustration thing too
[00:02:08] because there's already just like, whoa, I just need to interrupt.
[00:02:12] I'm sorry, but the hurricanes just beat the flyers
[00:02:15] and over time so we collected one point on the flyers tonight.
[00:02:20] All right, so I'm sorry, Dan.
[00:02:21] There's that.
[00:02:22] You know, and whatever the race shakes out to be,
[00:02:25] it's really beyond anybody's control at this point.
[00:02:28] I do like what the devils are doing now
[00:02:30] and if they finish out this season and don't make it,
[00:02:33] it's really gonna, you know, both piss us off.
[00:02:36] But it will also, you know, let every devils fan know
[00:02:41] that yeah, this is what you've been waiting for all year
[00:02:43] and it's a shame that it didn't, it took so long to come out,
[00:02:46] but I think that, you know, this was a growth process
[00:02:50] to kind of some extent had to happen.
[00:02:52] The late moves by the front office didn't help
[00:02:56] and so whatever, you know, I'm just enjoying it
[00:02:58] for what we got right now.
[00:02:59] Stellar goal tending, everybody pitching in,
[00:03:02] what a strong game from every single guy on that ice.
[00:03:06] It was a pleasure watch.
[00:03:08] Yeah, I mean nobody took a shift off.
[00:03:10] It was just for Brad, the last two games
[00:03:13] have been skating his ass off.
[00:03:15] Yep, can't find the back of the net, but that'll come.
[00:03:18] Jack just showing up tonight, Niko's showing up tonight,
[00:03:22] Timo, you know, showing up tonight
[00:03:24] which we have to talk a little bit about him
[00:03:26] and the nickname and I think that Sal's gonna try
[00:03:28] and give him now.
[00:03:30] This is really bad.
[00:03:31] I don't know if you guys stayed for like five,
[00:03:34] five 10 seconds after the final whistle.
[00:03:37] No, I missed that.
[00:03:38] What is Sal calling him now?
[00:03:40] Okay, well, we all, you know,
[00:03:42] we know that McLeod is persona non grata on this show,
[00:03:46] but we all remember motor Mike terrible nickname.
[00:03:49] That was a bad nickname that Sal tried to get to stick.
[00:03:54] Well, apparently Timo now is Mr. March madness.
[00:03:58] He referred to him as Mr. March madness.
[00:04:02] Well, we just stop the greatest picks on this March madness.
[00:04:06] He's talking about his basketball picks, right?
[00:04:08] College basketball.
[00:04:10] Well, that's what he's, yeah,
[00:04:12] he's the most man.
[00:04:13] Mr. March.
[00:04:14] The good news is you have to do it.
[00:04:16] Even 10 days.
[00:04:17] No, we have this March madness.
[00:04:19] 10 days and that's gone.
[00:04:20] Yeah, I really hope it's gone now.
[00:04:23] Oh, yeah, that's good.
[00:04:25] Sal's got a lot of qualities.
[00:04:26] That's not making up names is not one of them.
[00:04:29] Bobby, how do you three games ago look like the worst team
[00:04:33] in the NHL and lose to the Phoenix Coyotes
[00:04:36] and then these last two games look like the devils
[00:04:39] that we all were waiting for for the entirety of this season
[00:04:43] has this had.
[00:04:43] Yeah, I don't know.
[00:04:44] I mean, let's call this what it was, right?
[00:04:46] The broadcast was saying everyone's saying
[00:04:48] this is legit their best game of the year.
[00:04:51] To come out they just played solid all around.
[00:04:53] They adjusted to the game in front of them.
[00:04:55] They didn't just do with maybe their game plan was
[00:04:59] whatever.
[00:05:00] They were just over the place.
[00:05:01] They had snarled, they had grit.
[00:05:02] They destroyed the special teams battle, right?
[00:05:04] Three power play goals, four penalty kills.
[00:05:07] I think it kind of legitimized the season.
[00:05:09] And it's not all on Jake Allen.
[00:05:11] It goes to show you how time we save at the right time,
[00:05:14] what that can do for a full game, right?
[00:05:16] This was a team effort no doubt about it.
[00:05:18] Time to say any first goal.
[00:05:21] Yeah, the first goal so important.
[00:05:24] It is huge and I think this was only our ninth time.
[00:05:27] I think I wrote that down at least three or six one
[00:05:29] and one and one.
[00:05:30] Is that right?
[00:05:30] That means ninth time.
[00:05:31] This would be our ninth time.
[00:05:33] That's, I hope I didn't get that wrong,
[00:05:35] but that would be very depressing.
[00:05:37] But what I thought was awesome about this is if there
[00:05:39] was 336 left in the third period when Jake Allen made a
[00:05:43] terrific save coming across the crease right as Dano was
[00:05:46] talking about how a timely save anywhere in the game can
[00:05:50] basically put this in.
[00:05:51] Now that game would have stood, you know, wouldn't have
[00:05:53] been a tying goal or anything like that.
[00:05:56] He was looting to earlier saves and then on key,
[00:05:59] Allen just slides across.
[00:06:00] Rob's it was beautiful.
[00:06:02] I just thought that was so funny that with three minutes left
[00:06:04] you still had that kind of, you know, focus.
[00:06:08] Make sure that doesn't go in.
[00:06:09] We don't want this to be a three two game now where they're
[00:06:11] going to pull the goalie and make it a stressful situation.
[00:06:14] So huge save that might go kind of unnoticed in the long run.
[00:06:19] Very very disciplined too.
[00:06:20] The team was very disciplined about not getting out of
[00:06:22] position.
[00:06:24] You know, they didn't let him have too many Iman rushes.
[00:06:26] You could blame one at the end of the very long time
[00:06:30] in the zone that they ended up, you know, basically
[00:06:33] let him break away walk in was the only goal for
[00:06:35] one of them.
[00:06:36] And that was the only time I could think of that they really
[00:06:39] let odd man chances come in.
[00:06:41] That's very significant.
[00:06:43] I mean, on both ends even there when you know,
[00:06:46] they've been getting pinned all year in their defensive zone.
[00:06:50] They can't get the puck out.
[00:06:51] They did the one time they ended up scoring,
[00:06:53] but that was pretty much the only time where they were
[00:06:55] hemmed and they were able to forward check tonight
[00:06:57] and get the puck out.
[00:06:58] They were using their speed and they were getting the puck
[00:07:00] up their stick fast.
[00:07:02] And they, you know, too much too many times this year
[00:07:05] they're dilly dallying around behind the net and
[00:07:07] they're not making the quick decisions.
[00:07:09] And, you know, the defensive mindset seems to have
[00:07:13] completely shifted these last two games.
[00:07:15] And offensive cycling, you know, you see that in the power
[00:07:18] point movement on the power play.
[00:07:20] Shooting it.
[00:07:21] Shooting and movement.
[00:07:22] These guys are cycling all over the place.
[00:07:24] You don't even know, you know, they're not staying in
[00:07:26] the same spot like they were all year.
[00:07:28] They're moving around.
[00:07:29] They're making a little bit more down the power play.
[00:07:31] They got the forwards moving.
[00:07:32] They got a shot from the point anytime there.
[00:07:34] It's even close to being there, which I love that strategy
[00:07:37] just five power play goals in the last two games.
[00:07:39] Like that's what you should have been doing all year.
[00:07:41] And you know, it's interesting because outside of Jack
[00:07:45] having on Jack like spurts and I still believe this
[00:07:48] mostly because he was hurt for recovering.
[00:07:51] If you look at recovering from Linda getting fired
[00:07:53] or better, maybe he's just overpaid.
[00:07:55] Has he come to his acceptance now?
[00:07:57] And he's just ready to play hockey.
[00:07:59] Maybe that's it.
[00:08:01] He's clear his conscious is clear.
[00:08:02] He's ready to go out and play hockey.
[00:08:03] But when you look at, there's two players in particular
[00:08:06] that have really kind of turned around.
[00:08:09] He knows the obvious one, right?
[00:08:11] Without a doubt.
[00:08:12] 11 goals and 11.
[00:08:13] And Mr. March Madness.
[00:08:14] A Mr. March Madness.
[00:08:15] I'm sorry, I stay corrected.
[00:08:17] What the other guy I mentioned at the last show
[00:08:19] who's getting a little bit of swagger
[00:08:20] and can he use the same word today, Dawson Mercer.
[00:08:23] Dude, yeah, these two guys are going that weren't going
[00:08:26] at all all year and we're getting results.
[00:08:29] Great game today.
[00:08:31] It's ass off.
[00:08:33] He was always on the, just hound in the puck.
[00:08:36] I mean, that's what you want.
[00:08:37] You know, it's a good game too
[00:08:38] when you don't have to say like, wow,
[00:08:40] Curtis Lazar worked so hard because he did.
[00:08:42] But why was he like the only guy doing that?
[00:08:45] That's it.
[00:08:45] It didn't stand out as the only work hard
[00:08:47] and got, you know, guy working hard on the contract.
[00:08:49] Seriously, these two games, like this game,
[00:08:52] the only, I have one complaint.
[00:08:53] I mean, well, really, too, McDermott,
[00:08:56] you have to just relax with the penalties.
[00:08:58] He got on the ice right before,
[00:09:01] I'm saying it was maybe about three seconds
[00:09:03] before he took that penalty and I'm talking to my wife
[00:09:06] and I'm like, all right, buddy,
[00:09:08] just don't take a fucking penalty
[00:09:09] and seriously, three seconds later is in the box
[00:09:11] and he cannot be doing that every time he's on the ice.
[00:09:14] And the other thing that you gotta clean up
[00:09:16] is Brennan Smith got a little ahead of himself
[00:09:18] with that cross check to the face.
[00:09:19] Like, that's a late penalty.
[00:09:23] Yeah, that could have hurt me.
[00:09:24] Yeah, and I think, you know,
[00:09:25] the devils of any other time this year
[00:09:28] are rather than tonight for some reason.
[00:09:29] It would have hurt, but tonight they were,
[00:09:32] it was like watching last year.
[00:09:34] It was exactly-
[00:09:35] I definitely think the goal-tending
[00:09:35] has helped given the team confidence
[00:09:37] to play better defense.
[00:09:39] I mean, one way you would look at it and go,
[00:09:42] shouldn't they play better defense
[00:09:43] when they don't have confidence in their goalie?
[00:09:45] Well, it doesn't work like that.
[00:09:46] And, you know, they're having confidence in their goalie
[00:09:50] for whatever reason is really helping out
[00:09:52] their team defense too.
[00:09:54] And, you know, I think I've fell into,
[00:09:55] you know, probably what a lot of people do
[00:09:57] when it comes to goal-tending kind of like, you know,
[00:09:59] that doesn't matter if they can play,
[00:10:01] you just kind of throw them in without it really putting
[00:10:03] into consideration like what a veteran goal-tender like Jake
[00:10:06] Allen can also bring the team other than just being
[00:10:09] a guy in there to stop the pucks.
[00:10:12] Like he's been there.
[00:10:13] He's done everything when it comes to this team.
[00:10:15] He's probably the most experienced player.
[00:10:17] Very calming influence.
[00:10:18] Yes, very important position.
[00:10:20] And, you know, and I'm sure in the back of his head,
[00:10:22] I'm sure his foremost focus is just going out there,
[00:10:25] playing the best he can and helping this team anyway.
[00:10:27] I can, but I'm sure somewhere in the back of his head
[00:10:29] he's thinking if I can bring this team to play off.
[00:10:32] So, and I can have one last big run as a number one.
[00:10:35] Like, how would that be pretty stupid?
[00:10:37] We talked a lot about resets.
[00:10:38] We mentioned it for the all-star break.
[00:10:40] Sometimes you just need the end of the year.
[00:10:42] Sometimes you just need to stop and start again.
[00:10:44] Jake came out and basically said it.
[00:10:46] He's like, I feel rejuvenated coming in
[00:10:48] before even play the game.
[00:10:50] Coming to this team.
[00:10:51] He's like, there's something about it.
[00:10:52] Like he's doing exactly what you're saying.
[00:10:54] He's, he wants to take this opportunity and say,
[00:10:57] maybe we can get this miracle done.
[00:11:00] Man, it would be a miracle though, isn't it?
[00:11:02] Well, it's going to take just about a miracle.
[00:11:03] It will.
[00:11:04] Yeah.
[00:11:06] Man, I mean, the flyers have a tough schedule coming up.
[00:11:09] They're next three are against, I think,
[00:11:11] Boston Panthers Rangers.
[00:11:13] They did just play Carolina really good,
[00:11:15] but maybe they can drop two of those.
[00:11:19] You know, one of those is.
[00:11:20] We have those teams ahead in our schedule again too.
[00:11:22] So, you know what?
[00:11:24] I look at the way we played tonight.
[00:11:26] If they can seriously string this together.
[00:11:29] Well, that's a big question.
[00:11:30] That's one of the best teams in the league.
[00:11:32] That's what we were expecting all year.
[00:11:34] And three games ago, seriously,
[00:11:36] we were dissecting this team down to its core.
[00:11:38] Like, what is wrong with this fricking team?
[00:11:40] And then they go out.
[00:11:42] They play maybe that game in Vegas was like,
[00:11:45] that was the model.
[00:11:47] Maybe that was a blueprint, right?
[00:11:48] We were playing hard, but you got goalie
[00:11:50] and you couldn't really get anything behind them.
[00:11:52] But you still played a good game
[00:11:54] and carried over into Pittsburgh
[00:11:55] where you just put up five goals.
[00:11:57] It's going to make any team confident in today, man.
[00:12:00] What a fricking game.
[00:12:00] What's impressive about today and lately,
[00:12:03] and like you said,
[00:12:04] even going back to that Vegas game for the loss.
[00:12:06] And so every part of the game was better today.
[00:12:11] It was like, okay, today we got our power play going
[00:12:13] and now we're still working like power play
[00:12:14] apparently kill five on five adjusting hard on the boards
[00:12:17] and being created like it was all there.
[00:12:19] Like you said, it felt like last year.
[00:12:20] It just felt like a team that could take any of the best teams
[00:12:24] and just push them to the side.
[00:12:26] All four of our lines tonight,
[00:12:27] even a little bit of ice time that fourth line got.
[00:12:29] But I thought all four of our lines tonight contributed
[00:12:32] and played really, really good.
[00:12:33] And if you can have that where you know,
[00:12:35] you're going to get your timely goals here and there
[00:12:38] from the mergers and pelots and hollas
[00:12:40] and then Jack, Nico and Timo tonight.
[00:12:42] That was our core tonight.
[00:12:43] They just beat the best team.
[00:12:46] One of the best teams in the league
[00:12:47] and that was our core just doing it all.
[00:12:50] I can't express enough how much I love watching
[00:12:53] this version of Timo Meyer.
[00:12:55] The being the power forward
[00:12:56] that he's supposed to be just hard on the boards,
[00:12:58] hard on everybody, just making things happen
[00:13:00] like that reverse check that kind of led
[00:13:01] through the penalty.
[00:13:02] Like, I mean, this is everything we want to see
[00:13:05] from this guy.
[00:13:06] And you know, it doesn't make you wonder for a year.
[00:13:09] You know, what exactly was holding him back all this time?
[00:13:13] It definitely seems fairly quenched
[00:13:15] and until with Lindy going, but what was it exactly
[00:13:17] that Lindy was doing?
[00:13:18] How is he using him that just was not working
[00:13:21] to get Timo to play the level we've seen
[00:13:23] and play at these last few games this last month?
[00:13:26] I think a little bit.
[00:13:27] I mean, I don't know.
[00:13:29] I'm not in the dressing room.
[00:13:30] But from what you can see like,
[00:13:32] and you know, we can go back to the Pittsburgh game.
[00:13:35] We'll talk about Alex Holtz for a second
[00:13:37] because I think it has a lot to do with guys like Timo Meyer too.
[00:13:40] Like Lindy Ruff, I don't think really.
[00:13:45] I think Lindy Ruff had in his head
[00:13:47] like how he expected everybody to play in the spots
[00:13:51] he put them regardless of whether or not it was the right spots.
[00:13:54] I think that was a big part of it.
[00:13:56] But I just think there was some disconnect.
[00:13:58] These guys didn't like to play for Lindy.
[00:14:00] We didn't see a game like this all year.
[00:14:03] And I know a lot of there are a few different phases
[00:14:06] and stuff, but for some reason,
[00:14:07] I don't know what the difference is.
[00:14:09] We had a couple other games where we said
[00:14:11] it was their best game of the year,
[00:14:12] but in retrospect to this point.
[00:14:14] We said that about a game they lost.
[00:14:16] Yeah, this was definitely their best.
[00:14:18] I think it's probably a combination of things.
[00:14:21] I think it's part of what you said
[00:14:22] and one thing we've been saying all year
[00:14:24] is for some of these athletes,
[00:14:26] if they don't clearly understand their role.
[00:14:30] Here's a guy who's been a top performer
[00:14:32] at every level of his professional
[00:14:34] and non-professional hockey career.
[00:14:37] And now you're okay,
[00:14:38] you'll put me on a third line for a game
[00:14:40] because we're matching or doing whatever,
[00:14:41] but when you're kind of constantly there
[00:14:43] and then your own personal results aren't coming around
[00:14:46] and then you're still not going to do it.
[00:14:47] Yeah, and then you're not getting another opportunity
[00:14:49] to step it up.
[00:14:50] You're not getting thrown on the first power play.
[00:14:52] Like I don't know,
[00:14:53] part of what's got to be mental like you said.
[00:14:54] I'm on the room either.
[00:14:55] That was what I was on the topops all year saying
[00:14:58] you're misusing Timo Meyer, like bottom line.
[00:15:00] Whatever it is, whatever you have to do
[00:15:01] to get your $9 million dollar, your player going,
[00:15:04] you do it, that's your job.
[00:15:06] Lindy just, yeah, it seemed to not like his game,
[00:15:09] not like anything about it.
[00:15:10] Lindy was very, it seems very rough
[00:15:13] on everybody about mistakes.
[00:15:15] And I think that that instead of kind of,
[00:15:17] like you saw it with the Pittsburgh game,
[00:15:19] I texted you guys the first period at games
[00:15:22] saying Alex Holt's having a tough game man.
[00:15:25] He's, you know, and then third period,
[00:15:28] it was prevalent they were talking about it.
[00:15:30] He made that bad pass,
[00:15:31] which thank goodness Jake Allen made that save
[00:15:33] because I don't think any of our other goal
[00:15:36] always make that save any other game without Allen.
[00:15:38] That's in the back of the way.
[00:15:39] But the point is, you know,
[00:15:42] does Lindy rough bench him right after that
[00:15:44] when he makes that mistake?
[00:15:46] Probably.
[00:15:46] Probably.
[00:15:47] Yeah, he does.
[00:15:48] And he definitely isn't up on the top six with Jack
[00:15:52] as you know, this is how you get,
[00:15:54] okay, you're gonna make some defensive mistakes
[00:15:57] every young player does
[00:15:58] and they talked about it ad nauseam in the broadcast
[00:16:01] but Lindy wasn't doing that
[00:16:02] where he wasn't giving these guys
[00:16:04] just another shot to go out there and make up for it.
[00:16:07] They were being punished constantly.
[00:16:08] Let's dissect that just a little bit more
[00:16:10] because earlier in his tenure with the Devils,
[00:16:12] it's exactly what Lindy would do.
[00:16:14] He would allow for the mistakes
[00:16:15] because we had a very young team
[00:16:17] and everything was getting better.
[00:16:18] So at what point did the expectations play
[00:16:22] into Lindy's mind where it started really giving him anxiety
[00:16:26] and he maybe overcoach.
[00:16:28] He kind of left from what he used to do.
[00:16:30] Kind of used to be that guy who said,
[00:16:32] all right, I'm slapping it back.
[00:16:33] He can go back out.
[00:16:34] Yeah, definitely didn't do it would hold.
[00:16:36] So was it the pressure?
[00:16:38] Was it a change in his mindset?
[00:16:41] Did he really just not like hope?
[00:16:42] It's like I really would love to know.
[00:16:43] What's he going, CNIL?
[00:16:45] I don't know.
[00:16:46] These are all valid questions.
[00:16:48] I have no idea what Lindy wrote.
[00:16:50] I mean, it's so thinking about the potential
[00:16:54] that is on this team
[00:16:55] and you saw it in full bloom tonight
[00:16:57] and when you think about how Tom Fitzgerald
[00:17:01] completely fucked up the trade deadline
[00:17:03] and how Lindy Ruff just refused to try anything
[00:17:07] to make this team any better.
[00:17:09] How many times on this show did we say,
[00:17:11] if you don't make any changes,
[00:17:13] you're going to keep losing games
[00:17:15] and then when they finally made the changes,
[00:17:17] they turn into, I know it's only two games.
[00:17:20] I get it.
[00:17:21] They can go and get their asses kicked by the islanders
[00:17:23] but it kind of feels like they're not gonna, right?
[00:17:26] It does kind of feel that way.
[00:17:28] And we've been optimistic before
[00:17:30] but it's structure of play that's leading us
[00:17:32] to say this now and again,
[00:17:33] it's the improvements in all the zones
[00:17:37] that you just, you can't feel like
[00:17:39] they're gonna forget this tomorrow
[00:17:42] and lay an egg on Saturday.
[00:17:44] Like it just doesn't feel that way.
[00:17:45] I said the islanders are meant to be a senator, Saturday.
[00:17:47] So what do you guys think with Golden and Dan?
[00:17:50] Who do you ask for that?
[00:17:51] You know, you got the senators
[00:17:52] and the islanders back to back.
[00:17:54] Cochraneen has not played well.
[00:17:58] But we know he can and if you give him,
[00:18:00] I think a defensive effort like this,
[00:18:02] I think he can do pretty well.
[00:18:03] I thought he was pretty good in his first effort
[00:18:05] with the doubles.
[00:18:06] Yeah, so what do we expect to learn
[00:18:08] a little bit on that loss too?
[00:18:09] I mean, a lot of wide open slot shots.
[00:18:12] I know he's always gotta make the saves.
[00:18:13] We've been saying that all year but
[00:18:14] it wasn't a perfect game by the team.
[00:18:16] I think maybe play Cochraneen against the senators.
[00:18:19] I said I'm thinking and you know,
[00:18:20] you save for the, you know,
[00:18:22] the vision of the visual game.
[00:18:24] I mean, yeah, exactly for save islanders.
[00:18:27] It makes you sense the rest.
[00:18:28] The only other thought process is super hot,
[00:18:31] get a whim or you can get a win,
[00:18:33] which would be Alan Saturday,
[00:18:35] but it does make sense to rest Tim.
[00:18:38] He hasn't played a lot.
[00:18:39] That was why he got rested the last time, right?
[00:18:41] So yeah, save him for the islanders
[00:18:43] and hopefully it still means something.
[00:18:45] I refuse to look at the standings
[00:18:47] if we win the next two and make it four in a row,
[00:18:49] I'll take a brief look.
[00:18:51] Yeah, I almost don't even, I mean,
[00:18:53] well, anybody who wants to do the math on this
[00:18:56] and go for it,
[00:18:57] I don't hold anything against you.
[00:18:59] But at this point, I look at the season going,
[00:19:02] I'm just watching and enjoying what we got
[00:19:05] because I know it's still like a single digit.
[00:19:09] Yeah, I say that yet after every win,
[00:19:11] I'm looking because it's like,
[00:19:13] okay, when we lose,
[00:19:15] I'm just like forget it, I don't care.
[00:19:16] But after every win,
[00:19:17] I'm getting into the chase.
[00:19:19] So here's the thing.
[00:19:20] I know how many points back we are.
[00:19:23] Well, what I'm not dialing in on
[00:19:26] is the fact that like what I glanced at today
[00:19:29] and so all the outgars have two less games play than us.
[00:19:31] So the math seems easy,
[00:19:33] but then when you look at the leapfrogging
[00:19:35] of the teams who have played this game,
[00:19:37] I don't get it all that right now.
[00:19:38] What do you think is the easiest path though?
[00:19:40] Win all your games.
[00:19:41] Win out?
[00:19:42] No, no, no, no, I mean a wild card
[00:19:44] is it still the flyers like we talked about?
[00:19:47] What do you think is our best chance to play?
[00:19:51] You're making me look now.
[00:19:52] Now look, and this will be the last time we talk about
[00:19:56] the players' savings until the last game of the season
[00:20:00] or until we're in a playoffs spot.
[00:20:02] No, I get it.
[00:20:03] If we get close,
[00:20:04] if we string like five, six more wins together,
[00:20:06] you're gonna be looking.
[00:20:07] Everyone's gonna be looking.
[00:20:09] Not even that many.
[00:20:10] It's now, I just feel like,
[00:20:12] I'm not even a bother.
[00:20:14] But it is what...
[00:20:16] I'm just, you know, now that I am looking,
[00:20:18] it's just really pissing me off because I'm looking.
[00:20:20] We've played 70 games still of the flyers.
[00:20:23] They have 35 wins, we have 34.
[00:20:25] We're only one win less
[00:20:27] and there are seven points up on us
[00:20:29] with all those extra charity points
[00:20:30] in the overtime losses.
[00:20:31] Damn it.
[00:20:32] I have to say something.
[00:20:34] I honestly think that we need to get rid of this loser point.
[00:20:38] Like I don't even care if you went
[00:20:40] with three points for regulation win,
[00:20:42] two points for an over a three on three win
[00:20:45] and two points for that one point for a shootout win.
[00:20:48] Like I'd be fine with that.
[00:20:49] As long as if you lost that game, you don't get shit.
[00:20:52] You should not get did least squat for losing again.
[00:20:55] I mean we would be far above the Islanders
[00:20:59] in the big, big, big team over time lost points.
[00:21:02] Right.
[00:21:03] Well the whole logic was that teams would not play
[00:21:05] for the win if they had a tie
[00:21:08] and they didn't want to drop that point.
[00:21:11] And so if you give them that,
[00:21:15] when the game, you don't get the point,
[00:21:19] I don't know.
[00:21:20] Is it gonna make it that much?
[00:21:22] I was never a big fan of the rules we get with.
[00:21:24] I didn't think I really was gonna change
[00:21:25] the way teams played too much.
[00:21:27] I have very fond memories
[00:21:29] of overtime in the 90s
[00:21:31] when it was just winner lose.
[00:21:33] You know what I mean?
[00:21:34] Like I don't recall that being a problem.
[00:21:36] I mean I just think a participation point
[00:21:38] is bullshit with guys
[00:21:39] that get paid millions of dollars to play a game.
[00:21:41] It's not like little kids out there
[00:21:43] and they should get it.
[00:21:44] You shouldn't get a point
[00:21:45] because you played hard for 60 minutes, I'm sorry.
[00:21:47] Take it away.
[00:21:48] Well let's imagine that a devil's advocate
[00:21:50] point of view here, three on three.
[00:21:53] If you got good puck handlers
[00:21:55] but the coach tells them look,
[00:21:57] we're getting through this with a point
[00:22:00] and that's all there is to it.
[00:22:02] So do not go in the offensive zone.
[00:22:04] Just play three corners, you know,
[00:22:07] and just pass the puck around.
[00:22:09] That makes it really boring overtime.
[00:22:10] And that was all the good.
[00:22:12] No, I get you.
[00:22:14] They have the point.
[00:22:15] That's what they say at the end of the third period.
[00:22:16] Right.
[00:22:17] I mean that's what they do now.
[00:22:18] Right.
[00:22:19] But like let's say we take that point away.
[00:22:22] You know, yeah.
[00:22:23] Now they have to actually play
[00:22:24] if they want to get two points.
[00:22:25] If you do it the way I just said it,
[00:22:27] which of course is probably not like them but.
[00:22:29] Exactly.
[00:22:30] I like doing away with that
[00:22:32] and then I still go back
[00:22:34] to making a 10 minute overtime.
[00:22:36] That's fine.
[00:22:37] Because what I don't like too is like two points
[00:22:41] or zero points based on the shootout.
[00:22:44] Yeah, it makes a shootout even stumber,
[00:22:47] even more annoying when you go the distance
[00:22:50] and lose on a shootout.
[00:22:51] It's like, oh, you know.
[00:22:52] Then whatever you do with the overtime,
[00:22:55] I mean 10 minutes you are still going to have games
[00:22:57] where your goal is not scored.
[00:22:58] You are still going to have games
[00:22:59] where goalies are just going to be on top of their shit.
[00:23:02] And so what do you do after that?
[00:23:03] If you want to just eliminate a shootout,
[00:23:05] what do you do after 10 minutes?
[00:23:07] Go back to your actual tie.
[00:23:10] Okay, so how do you do it then?
[00:23:13] It's just two points for a win
[00:23:15] and then if it's a tie after a 10 minute overtime
[00:23:18] and two points go to an overtime winner
[00:23:20] or do you not do a pointee?
[00:23:21] I would go back to the old way yet.
[00:23:23] You win over time and get your reward
[00:23:25] after regulation.
[00:23:27] You go into overtime
[00:23:28] and you're playing for two points.
[00:23:29] If through a 10 minute overtime
[00:23:31] nobody scores each team gets a point.
[00:23:33] That's what I would do.
[00:23:34] I could love that.
[00:23:35] Especially the 10 minute overtime
[00:23:36] because that's literally a good thing
[00:23:37] about it.
[00:23:38] It never bothered me, but they're going to complain
[00:23:39] that people don't want to watch
[00:23:41] two and a half hours of a game
[00:23:44] and then a tie.
[00:23:45] That's what the NHL is concerning.
[00:23:47] No, you give me 10 minutes
[00:23:48] of three on three overtime.
[00:23:50] I don't think I'm complaining
[00:23:51] that it was a tie.
[00:23:52] I know who's complaining about ties.
[00:23:54] NHL was.
[00:23:55] You know that that was their whole thing
[00:23:57] that they were not trained in.
[00:23:59] No ties.
[00:24:00] No ties then they would have now
[00:24:03] because it was five on five back then
[00:24:05] for five minutes.
[00:24:05] You're doing three on three for 10 minutes.
[00:24:08] I would be a big.
[00:24:09] It would be point below,
[00:24:11] you know a below one percent of games
[00:24:14] would end in a shootout or tie that.
[00:24:16] I'd probably go more like at least 75%.
[00:24:19] Or if you want to go crazy with it too,
[00:24:21] you say you got three on three
[00:24:23] and you're only allowed three players
[00:24:26] or maybe for the first five minutes
[00:24:28] three have to play and then you got your next three.
[00:24:31] And only in case of injury can you swap them out.
[00:24:33] Which means you need the same three.
[00:24:35] You're going to get scoring.
[00:24:38] Yeah, I like that.
[00:24:39] I mean it's kind of interesting
[00:24:40] because in a way you kind of like
[00:24:42] you get to pick your favorite players
[00:24:45] like you do in a shootout.
[00:24:46] But HL, yeah.
[00:24:48] I don't know.
[00:24:49] I would like that better than going
[00:24:51] to a shootout decision.
[00:24:52] Is that make the three on three
[00:24:55] a little bit more assured
[00:24:57] that you're going to get a goal.
[00:24:58] I know we make it 10 minutes.
[00:24:59] Make it you got five minutes at the first three
[00:25:02] five minutes for the second three.
[00:25:04] How about overtime with the lights off
[00:25:06] in the stadium of the dark puck
[00:25:08] and the glow in the dark nets?
[00:25:10] I like it.
[00:25:11] We should try it.
[00:25:12] Yeah, just get what's his name from total recall.
[00:25:16] Oh, you know what they should do
[00:25:17] they should do with the throwout.
[00:25:18] Kids league to get more touches.
[00:25:21] He doesn't put the ice running man.
[00:25:23] We go out of here.
[00:25:24] Sorry we're talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger.
[00:25:26] I don't blame me.
[00:25:27] He's awesome.
[00:25:29] Flip the ice to go half ice instead.
[00:25:31] Just three out three or the other way.
[00:25:32] She's right center ice put the goalie nets
[00:25:35] on the board that way.
[00:25:36] It's the goalie net all the way.
[00:25:37] You know, you just just tight little space
[00:25:38] and you'll get score more quick.
[00:25:40] No, you won't.
[00:25:41] And the bigger the ice actually
[00:25:43] favorites.
[00:25:44] I know but it's fun to watch.
[00:25:45] Yeah.
[00:25:46] You know, how come they don't move
[00:25:48] that the bench is two opposite sides?
[00:25:51] Like why are the benches
[00:25:52] they should be facing each other?
[00:25:54] What?
[00:25:55] You mean the other side?
[00:25:56] Other side by the right.
[00:25:57] Yeah, opposite side of the ring.
[00:25:58] Like why don't they switch it?
[00:25:59] Why do you want them facing each other?
[00:26:01] I'm just wondering.
[00:26:02] They're next to each other.
[00:26:02] Right there.
[00:26:03] You know, like them next to each other?
[00:26:04] No.
[00:26:05] I wouldn't be on the opposite side.
[00:26:07] Don't you like when they lean over
[00:26:08] and start yelling at each other?
[00:26:09] That's fun.
[00:26:10] But now Bryce is there.
[00:26:12] So I'm afraid he's going to get punched.
[00:26:14] I'm hoping.
[00:26:15] I don't know.
[00:26:15] I mean because the reason you know
[00:26:17] why they have it that way, right?
[00:26:18] It's just because of old TV.
[00:26:20] They only had like the one camera
[00:26:21] so they had to show both benches.
[00:26:23] So that's why benches are like that.
[00:26:24] So I'm just saying it takes away
[00:26:27] that second, you know, if you're home
[00:26:29] that long change in the game.
[00:26:30] And here I thought that was actually part of the game.
[00:26:33] The design of the benches so that the changes would be.
[00:26:35] They never show you that TV angle from the opposite side.
[00:26:38] You never there's no, the name put on it.
[00:26:40] I don't even sit on that side and let it be known.
[00:26:42] I say it to you, Reena.
[00:26:42] I want to see the devil's emblem facing me.
[00:26:45] Okay.
[00:26:46] Gotcha.
[00:26:47] I think about how the experience would be so different
[00:26:48] if there were cameras on the other side
[00:26:50] because there'd have to be to show the other bench.
[00:26:52] It'd be insane, Bob.
[00:26:53] You'd mind to go on.
[00:26:54] We'd be way too much cameras
[00:26:54] and they'll be zooming around and drones
[00:26:56] and be fucking annoying.
[00:26:58] A few years ago,
[00:26:59] and they're with your Google glasses
[00:27:00] and you get the logo whatever way you want.
[00:27:02] Now it's like when football breaks
[00:27:04] through that camera on the cable or whatever
[00:27:06] and you just start zooming all around.
[00:27:08] That's extremely annoying.
[00:27:09] See what's next?
[00:27:10] Blue glowing pucks.
[00:27:12] I mean, come on.
[00:27:13] I don't know.
[00:27:14] The old school kids probably aren't
[00:27:15] going to remember the glowing pucks.
[00:27:16] Fox track.
[00:27:17] Fox track.
[00:27:18] Fox track.
[00:27:19] That was in all-star game in what, 1994 maybe?
[00:27:23] I was definitely up in Providence
[00:27:25] so that's when it started.
[00:27:26] They do some shit in the playoffs too.
[00:27:28] Yeah, they did.
[00:27:29] A whole year like you.
[00:27:30] It was only on Fox though.
[00:27:31] It was only the Fox tracks.
[00:27:32] It was the Fox tracks.
[00:27:33] Right?
[00:27:34] Okay.
[00:27:34] That's what it was called.
[00:27:35] The Fox track.
[00:27:36] Yeah.
[00:27:36] And it was that blue line with trails so long
[00:27:39] you wouldn't be able to follow the plague
[00:27:40] because your eyes would still be at the beginning
[00:27:42] of the trail.
[00:27:43] And it would stay there.
[00:27:44] Yeah.
[00:27:45] It'd stay on your screen.
[00:27:45] And what was supposed to be like
[00:27:47] if a slap shot was over like 50 miles an hour.
[00:27:50] They just made it up shit.
[00:27:52] Yeah, they made it up.
[00:27:53] They would do it on passes.
[00:27:54] There'd be a fucking tail.
[00:27:55] Or a comment tail or whatever.
[00:27:57] It was really the worst idea ever.
[00:27:58] Supposed to help you follow the game
[00:28:00] because the logic was that
[00:28:02] the average person couldn't actually
[00:28:04] follow that small puck on small TV
[00:28:06] going from player to player.
[00:28:07] Oh yeah.
[00:28:08] So they give you the trail lines.
[00:28:09] Thank God now everybody's got like 54 TVs
[00:28:12] or whatever, but not sure.
[00:28:14] I was able to follow the puck way better
[00:28:15] before the light show.
[00:28:18] I have to say though, I remember
[00:28:19] the first game I ever watched in HD.
[00:28:21] I was blown away.
[00:28:23] I was like, this is the most amazing thing ever.
[00:28:26] Because I had a big TV and had my apartment
[00:28:29] and there were no it was an HD TV,
[00:28:32] but there was like no HD channels available.
[00:28:34] And I remember when MSG finally put out of the age
[00:28:37] and I set out a big old chair in my living room.
[00:28:40] I sat down on all comfy watch.
[00:28:42] I was blown away.
[00:28:43] I felt like I was at the game.
[00:28:44] I was like the best day of my life.
[00:28:45] Dude, I got to tell you, when I came out here,
[00:28:48] yeah, HD was not as prevalent as it is now,
[00:28:51] but not only that, even as it did become
[00:28:53] more readily available,
[00:28:55] the package through cable, like through Comcast
[00:28:57] was standard definition.
[00:28:59] That's for like the first 10 years I lived out here.
[00:29:01] So every now and then the devs will get a national game
[00:29:03] and I would finally see it on HD
[00:29:05] and like blown away.
[00:29:07] Cause I hated it otherwise.
[00:29:09] And it was Johnny who one day said he bought it
[00:29:11] like on the internet, the packs on the internet
[00:29:13] and I was like, no way that's gonna be good.
[00:29:14] You know how slow is that gonna be?
[00:29:16] It's gonna break down and pause.
[00:29:17] And he's like, no, look,
[00:29:19] let me show me and I was like, okay.
[00:29:21] My TNL won't be able to handle it.
[00:29:23] Oh God, my dial up.
[00:29:26] Yeah.
[00:29:27] And so we got the Ottawa Senators next.
[00:29:30] Brady could chuck coming to town, not coming to the dummies.
[00:29:34] No, no, no, no.
[00:29:36] I know.
[00:29:36] I just really want them on this team.
[00:29:38] But I'll tell you that like where was,
[00:29:41] this is just mind blowing to me what they did tonight.
[00:29:44] I mean, they were so good.
[00:29:46] And we, you know, we texted,
[00:29:47] we were texting a little bit before this game
[00:29:49] and I think we all kind of had a pretty good feeling
[00:29:51] about this game, you know.
[00:29:53] I was close, I said to nothing.
[00:29:55] Yeah.
[00:29:56] And I remember, you know,
[00:29:57] I could see the shutout.
[00:29:59] Winnipeg does not score a lot of goals.
[00:30:00] I said I believe they were gonna play much better
[00:30:03] but I thought they could lose this game
[00:30:05] because it is Winnipeg.
[00:30:06] Oh man.
[00:30:07] I mean, this is,
[00:30:08] and this is the thing that kind of feel good about
[00:30:11] is this was one of our tougher games left.
[00:30:14] So, you know, our schedule,
[00:30:16] I know every game's gonna be difficult
[00:30:18] but as far as standings go if you're looking at that,
[00:30:21] like I don't expect out of what it would be to push over.
[00:30:23] They're gonna be a really hard game to win.
[00:30:25] I don't expect the Islanders to be a pushover.
[00:30:28] That's a must win.
[00:30:29] You gotta put them behind you and leave them there
[00:30:33] and that can be done on Sunday.
[00:30:35] So this is gonna be fun.
[00:30:37] Definitely.
[00:30:38] Hope so.
[00:30:41] We know that tonight the devil's moved pretty fast
[00:30:43] boys and girls.
[00:30:44] They did.
[00:30:46] But you can score faster than anything happening at the rock
[00:30:50] and this week new customers, I'm telling you now.
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[00:31:01] Okay.
[00:31:02] What do you think, Dan?
[00:31:04] You gotta go put what I was a go again, tell me.
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[00:32:01] the crown is yours.
[00:32:03] Dan, you want to talk about Andrew Burnett?
[00:32:07] Well I was looking at how well he's done with Nashville.
[00:32:12] I know he's there with very trots
[00:32:15] and but he has done very well
[00:32:18] and he's getting a lot of credit for his impact on that team.
[00:32:22] And it makes you wonder like what was Fitzgerald thinking?
[00:32:26] Now that we see that extra year for Lindy
[00:32:28] was really not the right move.
[00:32:30] I mean, that's just that you can say that
[00:32:32] for as a fact right now.
[00:32:34] Yeah, yeah.
[00:32:35] Yeah, you know, remember let's go back two years.
[00:32:39] We were looking at Lindy going,
[00:32:41] I don't know if you're the guy for this team.
[00:32:43] Not last year to be four last year,
[00:32:46] last year began.
[00:32:48] We were comforted by the move that he made and getting for net
[00:32:52] and then it was just kind of thought like,
[00:32:57] okay, he's gonna be taken over the reins.
[00:32:59] Devils had a good year so hopefully they know what they're doing
[00:33:05] with why they brought this guy on.
[00:33:08] But apparently they didn't have any long-term plans for him.
[00:33:12] They signed Lindy and they let him walk.
[00:33:16] And just looking at back on that move now,
[00:33:21] it's not looking good for Fitzgerald.
[00:33:22] I think that was a big reason we could point to our season
[00:33:26] not going the way it did last year
[00:33:28] is the lack of edge brunt.
[00:33:30] It's kind of funny because Bobby you just said
[00:33:33] Lindy Ruff went from one coaching style last year
[00:33:39] to a completely different coaching style this year.
[00:33:41] What happened?
[00:33:42] We often wondered last year,
[00:33:43] how much of this magic that this Devils team is doing this year
[00:33:47] is on Andrew Burnett and how much is really on Lindy Ruff?
[00:33:50] And then you're 100% right?
[00:33:52] I think it's, you can really just look at actual evidence now
[00:33:56] and say this was Andrew Burnett last year
[00:33:59] that kind of waved the magic wand.
[00:34:01] Lindy without him before was not doing that great
[00:34:04] with the Devils, he was doing okay but not great.
[00:34:08] And then Andrew Burnett comes in,
[00:34:10] they have a fantastic year and G,
[00:34:14] something seems missing this year.
[00:34:15] Oh yeah, maybe it's Andrew Burnett.
[00:34:17] I mean, so whatever, that ship is sailed
[00:34:20] I'm not saying we're the only ones going back.
[00:34:22] That's for sure.
[00:34:23] Yeah, it looks like it really does
[00:34:25] and if I'm Fitzgerald I'm thinking
[00:34:27] that's where I fucked up, that's really where I fucked up.
[00:34:29] And we said it when he was,
[00:34:32] we knew he wanted to get a head coaching job.
[00:34:34] I mean, I know Dan, you and I after last year were like
[00:34:37] the house of time to bring Bruno and the team kind of has,
[00:34:40] they've kind of grown up, they matured.
[00:34:42] Let's get Bruno Ed as the head coach,
[00:34:44] move on from Lindy Ruff, they're giving me extension.
[00:34:46] At that time, you know that Andrew Burnett
[00:34:49] wants a head coaching job.
[00:34:51] Whatever you had to pay him in, just say,
[00:34:53] give us the one more year, stay around, stick around.
[00:34:56] Was it only one?
[00:34:57] I thought the extension might have been even more than one.
[00:35:00] Well, you're right.
[00:35:01] Oh, no, I'm saying to Burnett.
[00:35:03] I'm saying that what he said to him,
[00:35:04] like I'll pay you, like meet him in the middle
[00:35:06] and we'll keep, we want to keep Lindy for one more year.
[00:35:09] You're the guy, we want you, you're the future.
[00:35:12] This team's going to be around for a lot longer than one year.
[00:35:14] It's your team.
[00:35:16] But, you know, I could see how that would have been
[00:35:18] a better middle ground.
[00:35:19] Instead it was like, well, fuck it,
[00:35:21] we got Lindy and Lindy wants to side for more years.
[00:35:23] So that's all we need.
[00:35:24] And, you know, Lindy, the age gap and everything else
[00:35:28] I think was filled in really nicely.
[00:35:29] I think we talked about this as a possibility.
[00:35:32] We have no way of knowing this that he was maybe
[00:35:35] translating some of what Lindy wanted to those players
[00:35:39] making them be an a great lieutenant for his general
[00:35:43] or whatever you want to call it.
[00:35:44] But he had a great effect.
[00:35:45] And that was missed this year, which is weird
[00:35:48] because Travis Green is now, I think,
[00:35:50] having better results.
[00:35:52] He was not that quick.
[00:35:54] It was on, you know, did Andrew Burnett have more leash
[00:35:57] than Travis Green this year?
[00:35:58] I don't know.
[00:35:59] You know, because it seems like Travis Green,
[00:36:03] he made a lot of tweaks right off the bat,
[00:36:05] but now they're starting to pay off.
[00:36:06] And, you know, why was, I mean,
[00:36:09] it's just happening.
[00:36:10] Did he just know what to say to the players
[00:36:13] the right way, the right time,
[00:36:15] like pulls them off to the side after and talks to them?
[00:36:18] I think that, you know, with Fitzgerald,
[00:36:21] I think it's easy for us to look at it and say
[00:36:24] the blueprint was that Ruff's going to be here
[00:36:27] for a little bit of time.
[00:36:28] He's an older coach and then he'll be supplanted.
[00:36:32] But I think where that went wrong
[00:36:33] is the same thing that we've touched on this year
[00:36:36] with how Fitzgerald approached the season
[00:36:39] and the trade deadline.
[00:36:40] I think the reason that the extension went to Ruff,
[00:36:43] which again, I believe was more than a year.
[00:36:44] I think it was like at least two years.
[00:36:47] Yeah, you're right.
[00:36:49] Was the same thing.
[00:36:50] I think that's the beginning of Fitzgerald
[00:36:52] being a victim of his own success.
[00:36:55] And that's why he hastily went off
[00:36:57] and gave him two or three years kind of losing sight
[00:37:00] of maybe what the big picture,
[00:37:01] if that's what the big picture was, I don't know.
[00:37:03] But it does kind of, when you look at it now,
[00:37:05] it's kind of all right, you went and signed Ruff
[00:37:07] to a couple extra years and you went through this year,
[00:37:09] you kind of sat in her hands, everything came and went.
[00:37:13] So I think that was kind of the beginning of,
[00:37:15] again, everything was going so right.
[00:37:18] So right, it felt like he had the magic touch.
[00:37:20] Yeah, whatever I do is gonna work out.
[00:37:21] This guy just gave us a 112 point season.
[00:37:24] He deserves, I believe he deserves to come back.
[00:37:26] For sure I did.
[00:37:27] The record breaking season,
[00:37:28] I don't know that I would have extended him
[00:37:30] when I didn't need to.
[00:37:31] He's still got another year.
[00:37:32] I would have just maybe left it at that
[00:37:34] but I'm not a general manager.
[00:37:35] But I think that's the beginning of what started this domino
[00:37:39] for this year for Fitzgerald.
[00:37:41] And like I said, I think he's a smart guy
[00:37:42] and he's gonna learn from his mistakes.
[00:37:45] I hope he's gonna be hungry.
[00:37:46] Yeah, I'm trying to remember how I felt
[00:37:49] when Lindy got the extension.
[00:37:50] I'm almost positive I was kind of like,
[00:37:52] yeah, I'm not a giant fan of it
[00:37:54] but totally understood it and it's kind of a good thing.
[00:37:56] You understood it but I think I recall you saying
[00:37:59] at that very moment that we're gonna lose Bruno now
[00:38:03] because you're like, why would you stick around?
[00:38:06] Yeah, I think that was a mistake.
[00:38:08] What are they on a 14 game win streak right now?
[00:38:11] 14 game win streak.
[00:38:13] I mean, one of the, he beat our 13 game win streak last year.
[00:38:16] Yeah, it sure did.
[00:38:17] And you know, he's tied to two winning streak.
[00:38:21] Yeah, two winning streak in two years like that.
[00:38:23] That's he's tied to that.
[00:38:24] And then go to year before
[00:38:26] when he took the Florida Panthers as an interim coach
[00:38:29] to do the present trophy.
[00:38:31] I mean, this guy touches gold.
[00:38:32] We let him walk out the door.
[00:38:34] It was really ashamed to let him go.
[00:38:36] I mean, we put the team in Travis Green's hands
[00:38:40] and so far, so good.
[00:38:41] I'm not knocking him at all.
[00:38:43] But even today if you had to make the move,
[00:38:45] I think he'd be like, yeah, no, no, let me have that guy.
[00:38:47] Why why we let him walk?
[00:38:48] I don't know.
[00:38:50] And you know, there's more to it.
[00:38:52] I don't know.
[00:38:53] It better not be because of some DOI in Florida
[00:38:55] knowing that he had no problem
[00:38:57] waiting for the other shoe to drop with McLeod.
[00:39:00] Good point, especially when the DOI was in a golf cart.
[00:39:02] I mean, that's a real car.
[00:39:04] It's not real.
[00:39:05] You hit him on a bike.
[00:39:06] I've heard.
[00:39:07] You just have all the DOIs in Florida though.
[00:39:09] Yeah, I don't understand why you should be allowed.
[00:39:11] You thought you were supposed to drink
[00:39:13] when you're on golf carts, you're a gated community.
[00:39:15] I think when he's on the highway,
[00:39:16] he's supposed to be on an interstate.
[00:39:17] He was on I-95.
[00:39:20] He was.
[00:39:22] Well, that's not true.
[00:39:26] Now, I don't know what happened there with that.
[00:39:28] But it went down a lot.
[00:39:29] It's too bad we didn't.
[00:39:30] He got drunk and did something stupid.
[00:39:32] And raise your hand if that's happening.
[00:39:34] Right.
[00:39:35] Right.
[00:39:36] All right.
[00:39:37] Listen, I mean, I don't know what else
[00:39:40] what more we can really tackle tonight.
[00:39:42] I mean, this was amazing and it was fun to watch.
[00:39:44] But let's just...
[00:39:46] Well, what do you think the magic number is before
[00:39:48] Devils fans just start believing?
[00:39:52] What would it take from you?
[00:39:54] How many more wins do we need before you go?
[00:40:00] All right, there's a really good chance.
[00:40:02] We could do this.
[00:40:04] These last five, six games, you're saying eight.
[00:40:07] And of the next 13 or how many games in a row do I start?
[00:40:12] Like we're already at two in a row.
[00:40:14] If they get to six in a row, I think I'm starting to get
[00:40:17] an excited.
[00:40:18] That's one thing because normally you should be thrilled
[00:40:20] about four in a row or even five in a row.
[00:40:22] Of course.
[00:40:23] But with the math that is up against us,
[00:40:26] we'd be up when they got six in a row.
[00:40:27] So to do six, we've got the two we've already done.
[00:40:30] Then we'd have to beat the senators and the islanders
[00:40:32] and back-to-back Toronto Maple Leafs
[00:40:35] and then Buffalo.
[00:40:36] And that would bring us into April
[00:40:38] and the sixth win would have to be against the penguins
[00:40:42] who we do very well against before we played the Rangers.
[00:40:46] I thought the sixth win would've been the one against
[00:40:49] before the Buffalo game, no?
[00:40:52] That's what you say.
[00:40:54] Yeah, one, two.
[00:40:56] Otto would be three here before.
[00:40:58] Toronto would be five Buffalo.
[00:41:00] So the sixth game win streak would be we beat Buffalo.
[00:41:03] Right.
[00:41:04] And then we play Pittsburgh.
[00:41:05] So that's a seven game win streak.
[00:41:07] Then we got the rain.
[00:41:08] And then we have to beat, we owe them a beating.
[00:41:11] That's how litify a game.
[00:41:13] That's how litify a game.
[00:41:14] I play off.
[00:41:15] We solidify a playoff birth by going eight in a row
[00:41:18] and beating the shed out of the Rangers.
[00:41:20] That sounds about right.
[00:41:21] As that game not only puts us solidly in third place,
[00:41:25] it knocks Carolina up to one and the Rangers down
[00:41:29] to second where we will have a two, three matchup
[00:41:34] repeat then last year.
[00:41:35] I would love that.
[00:41:36] It'd be great.
[00:41:37] That's our Cinderella story that we're hoping for.
[00:41:40] At this point.
[00:41:41] Yeah, it's a lot more than, yeah, it's the rescinder
[00:41:44] relevance, Rapunzel, it's no way.
[00:41:46] It's every other Disney princess kind of rolled into one.
[00:41:48] That's what we need.
[00:41:50] That's how much help we need.
[00:41:51] It's in contact.
[00:41:52] But I mean, man, I know they're going to lose more.
[00:41:56] I just hope that they don't lose a whole lot more
[00:41:58] because if they play like this, man,
[00:41:59] they can make it fun.
[00:42:00] And I said it, man, out of every team before them
[00:42:03] and I think everybody agrees the devil's
[00:42:05] and I've said, thought this all year,
[00:42:06] like they're better than every team above them.
[00:42:09] They just haven't played it.
[00:42:11] That's so frustrating.
[00:42:13] I don't know if anybody expected Winnipeg to get,
[00:42:16] I don't know if anybody's kicked a shit out
[00:42:18] of Winnipeg and skated them into the ground
[00:42:20] the way we did tonight.
[00:42:21] I don't want to do that.
[00:42:23] I don't want to do that.
[00:42:24] But with that record and how good they are,
[00:42:26] how many teams have really done that this year?
[00:42:28] I mean, you know what I'm hopeful for as a franchise,
[00:42:31] they finally like really realized
[00:42:34] if we're not going to build around a goalie
[00:42:37] matter to cost, build around a goalie
[00:42:39] then don't even bother.
[00:42:41] Because it can tore Pito your whole season.
[00:42:43] Like obviously didn't see this coming.
[00:42:45] I thought that our team was going
[00:42:47] to be good enough to get into playoffs
[00:42:49] even if they had questionable goal tending.
[00:42:51] And if we got to the trade deadline
[00:42:53] and didn't improve on questionable goal tending
[00:42:55] that didn't look super hot,
[00:42:57] then we would have problems in the playoffs.
[00:42:59] I know it was far worse than that.
[00:43:01] Basically the goal tending question,
[00:43:03] never being answered as nearly if not
[00:43:06] and totally cost some even making the playoffs.
[00:43:09] You're 100% right?
[00:43:10] So hopefully this franchise takes
[00:43:11] to do more focused direction
[00:43:14] on getting great goal tending.
[00:43:17] Well, you know, we talk about Mark,
[00:43:20] Storm, and Soros and all these names, right?
[00:43:22] And all those are trades
[00:43:23] but they did mention on this broadcast, right?
[00:43:25] Versoult is a free agent after this.
[00:43:28] He looks sharp, dude.
[00:43:29] That guy is amazing goalie.
[00:43:33] And he's 29, he's not young,
[00:43:36] but as goalies he is kind of young
[00:43:39] and he's never been a number one.
[00:43:41] So if you're gonna get a guy like Lorraine Versoult
[00:43:43] and bring him in as a number one,
[00:43:46] what better guy to have behind him than Jake Aaron?
[00:43:48] I know.
[00:43:49] Like that can be and you can just sign him.
[00:43:51] You don't have to be afraid.
[00:43:52] I hope that that's what they're looking at doing
[00:43:54] and realizing, you know, we do have a damn good team here.
[00:43:57] We just need to get solid goal tending.
[00:43:59] What would you be happy with Versoult?
[00:44:02] I mean, I want to see who else is available.
[00:44:04] I get it because there's lots of guys out there
[00:44:07] but I think I would be.
[00:44:08] I mean, he's got a lot of,
[00:44:11] I like the veteranness of having a goal tender
[00:44:14] who's been there before too.
[00:44:15] What do you think about it?
[00:44:16] I think you guys have an all wrong.
[00:44:17] I have a no kindness actually.
[00:44:18] I've got a no go up.
[00:44:19] And I think that Versoult was doing just fine.
[00:44:22] So I think what they should do
[00:44:23] is the gesture just hold on to him
[00:44:25] and just give us Calibok and we'll just call it even.
[00:44:28] Jenna's just gonna give it to us?
[00:44:29] Wow, I mean, we'll trade, we'll give him some, you know.
[00:44:31] I like to play in that.
[00:44:32] I like to trade for Versoult.
[00:44:34] We don't have to trade around.
[00:44:35] We have driven.
[00:44:37] Come on, you know.
[00:44:39] Yes, this is true but they both have the same number of cups.
[00:44:42] Yeah, this is very true.
[00:44:44] And if you're going to run Jake Allen as a backup,
[00:44:47] I think having a guy who you're going to give the keys to
[00:44:51] to a really good car who has never started before,
[00:44:53] I think having, I don't think you could have a better backup.
[00:44:56] I mean the little bit that I've seen of Jake Allen
[00:44:58] like I'm annoyed this guy hasn't been on us
[00:45:00] our team all year.
[00:45:02] Yeah, just looks like a professional goalie.
[00:45:05] Forget about the fact of what he's done right now
[00:45:07] is goals against average and all that
[00:45:09] might not be sustainable long term.
[00:45:12] He's gonna let up three eventually
[00:45:14] but he looks like a professional goalie
[00:45:17] that actually gives you a chance to win.
[00:45:18] Right, that's exactly what he is.
[00:45:20] That's it, like it's.
[00:45:22] Like that's that and if that seriously is the least
[00:45:25] that this team needed this year then.
[00:45:27] Yeah, third round pick.
[00:45:29] Yeah, I mean seriously,
[00:45:30] even when you were still finagling the fucking marks
[00:45:33] from deal, why did you not pull?
[00:45:34] Could have run three goalie system for a month
[00:45:37] while you're figuring it out.
[00:45:38] Just to get the guy down here,
[00:45:40] just as your plan B in case everything else goes sideways
[00:45:43] which it did, you know, that's just a shame.
[00:45:46] What a shame because I really hate
[00:45:48] for it has to be a lost season.
[00:45:50] Because I would love it to be a fucking playoff run.
[00:45:53] I mean, especially when you see how good of a quality team
[00:45:56] they can be, you know?
[00:45:58] I mean, that's the thing and for the fans
[00:46:00] like going through what we all went through this year,
[00:46:02] I mean let's end it on a high note
[00:46:03] with a nice good playoff run.
[00:46:05] Yeah, listen, we don't,
[00:46:07] you don't wanna look too far ahead right
[00:46:09] but when you really do look at the end of the schedule
[00:46:12] and you see two teams sitting there
[00:46:14] and it's the flyers and the islanders.
[00:46:17] Like you gotta start using your imagination
[00:46:19] like, holy shit if we could pull this off up until that point.
[00:46:21] If that game against the flyers means like
[00:46:24] we leapfrog them.
[00:46:25] You're not gonna do that.
[00:46:26] You're not gonna do that.
[00:46:27] How awesome is that?
[00:46:28] That's a playoff game in itself.
[00:46:29] Absolutely.
[00:46:31] Before we do want it, before we wrap it up
[00:46:33] I do wanna give a shout out.
[00:46:34] We got a message from a listener
[00:46:38] and her Twitter handle is at NJ Dezels with a D.
[00:46:43] A Z.
[00:46:44] So NJDEZILS.
[00:46:45] It does, it does.
[00:46:46] The Dezels.
[00:46:47] So she has won the Upper Deck every year.
[00:46:53] They hold an annual NHL Most Enthusiastic Fan Award
[00:46:57] and she won the individual team round
[00:47:00] and now she represents the New Jersey Devils
[00:47:02] against the rest of the league
[00:47:04] and it's all by voting.
[00:47:06] So you can go to upperdeck.com
[00:47:08] and look for the NHL fan and vote
[00:47:13] for NJDEZels.
[00:47:18] And you can find her on her Twitter handle.
[00:47:19] She has all that information.
[00:47:20] So a shout out to her.
[00:47:21] Thank you so much for listening.
[00:47:23] Thank you.
[00:47:23] What is her stick?
[00:47:24] What does she do?
[00:47:25] You know how there was the,
[00:47:27] we had what's his name.
[00:47:28] You could just call it the letters.
[00:47:30] Right?
[00:47:30] Yeah.
[00:47:31] Well I saw her, this was just today
[00:47:35] so I didn't really get a chance to...
[00:47:37] Was she like picking signs?
[00:47:38] She makes signs maybe?
[00:47:39] She has this big thing here,
[00:47:40] like a big little blurb about
[00:47:43] when she was at the stadium series
[00:47:45] and all kinds of stuff.
[00:47:47] So she's a huge fan
[00:47:48] and she's representing Devils
[00:47:51] so we all got to look out for each other.
[00:47:52] So she needs a...
[00:47:53] She needs a medical puckers sticker
[00:47:54] or to put on one of her signs or something.
[00:47:57] Yeah, you've got to get her on.
[00:47:58] She's got a sticker or work.
[00:47:59] So does it give you a lucky?
[00:48:00] It's the address.
[00:48:01] You know, throw us your address
[00:48:02] and we will send you an Uncle Puckers sticker
[00:48:04] but good luck and keep us posted
[00:48:05] on how this works.
[00:48:07] You know, and we would...
[00:48:08] Yes, so we'd go on and vote for her.
[00:48:09] Yeah, well we'll definitely go on and vote.
[00:48:11] You have to go to Upper Deck to vote.
[00:48:13] I think they used to be able to do it
[00:48:15] on Twitter or whatever but now you actually have to go
[00:48:18] to the Upper Deck site
[00:48:19] and you guys can find that information
[00:48:21] vote for Des for the New Jersey Devils
[00:48:23] and we're gonna wrap it up.
[00:48:24] We'll be back probably Sunday
[00:48:26] so we will have two more games to talk about.
[00:48:29] Hopefully that'll be two more wins,
[00:48:31] be five more power play goals
[00:48:33] and it'll be four more points.
[00:48:35] That's the game plan, Bob, yes?
[00:48:37] Yeah, let's just also mention
[00:48:39] that we're trying to maybe unpack something
[00:48:41] where we're gonna get some listeners involved
[00:48:42] in the Pucker predictions.
[00:48:44] Oh, yes.
[00:48:45] We're gonna look to find a way
[00:48:46] to maybe add that to the website,
[00:48:47] the UnclePuckers.com.
[00:48:50] We haven't really fully figured it out yet.
[00:48:52] This is something Chris thought would be a good idea
[00:48:54] if each week we kind of take one person
[00:48:56] who's got a prediction they can add it
[00:48:59] so now there'll be five of us doing it.
[00:49:00] So if anybody's interested, let us know you are.
[00:49:03] Just send us a new guest pot.
[00:49:04] You can find the ex or our website
[00:49:07] and just let us know if it's something to industry
[00:49:08] before we start to figure out exactly how to do this.
[00:49:11] We think it'd be really cool to get a good perspective
[00:49:14] on some of our predictions.
[00:49:15] Yeah, it'll be our guest Pucker predictor
[00:49:18] and every week.
[00:49:18] And then so it'll be me versus Bob
[00:49:21] versus Dan versus Tony versus the listeners.
[00:49:22] You guys can all roll your points in together
[00:49:25] and we see who wins.
[00:49:26] So that could be one of those listeners.
[00:49:28] And then when the listeners win,
[00:49:29] they get to replace the number of two.
[00:49:32] That, yeah, well I like that.
[00:49:34] So they become a new host.
[00:49:35] They become the new host.
[00:49:36] Yeah, you boot out who's over in number four.
[00:49:38] Like I know you get the listeners, not a host.
[00:49:40] Exactly.
[00:49:41] I love it.
[00:49:42] So within four seasons, it's a brand new cast.
[00:49:45] It's, you know, perhaps perhaps
[00:49:48] maybe we just rotate the fourth guy out of the cast.
[00:49:50] I like it.
[00:49:51] I like it.
[00:49:52] All right, well wherever you're listening to us,
[00:49:54] I like if I start review a positive comment.
[00:49:58] Subscription to download helps us out.
[00:50:00] Thoughts and prayers.
[00:50:01] Thoughts and prayers.
[00:50:02] Or should it be?
[00:50:03] It's Tony.
[00:50:05] It's just Catholic prayers though.
[00:50:06] I don't help you.
[00:50:06] It helps us to you.
[00:50:10] And that note for Dan and Bobby on Chris,
[00:50:12] we are the partners we'll see when we see it.
[00:50:15] What was that?
[00:50:15] I thought it is.
[00:50:16] I thought we were.
[00:50:24] I told you.
[00:50:25] That's my Saturday show.
[00:50:26] I don't know why we got a planet.
[00:50:28] Fair enough.
[00:50:30] It's over, Jenny.
[00:50:32] It's over.