Pucker Down!

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[00:00:31] And take two.

[00:00:33] Welcome, everybody, to the Uncle Pucker New Jersey Devil Podcast.

[00:00:38] Do not adjust your dial.

[00:00:40] This is a different voice introducing the show for the first time in over three years

[00:00:44] as Pucker Chris has decided to call out last minute.

[00:00:48] It's Bobby here with you with Tony and Dan.

[00:00:51] How's it going, boys?

[00:00:52] What's up, Bobby?

[00:00:54] Feels a little weird, doesn't it?

[00:00:56] It does.

[00:00:57] No papa Pucker Smurf, as we call him.

[00:00:59] He runs this thing, man.

[00:01:02] It's, you know.

[00:01:03] Three years solid.

[00:01:04] He sets his schedule.

[00:01:05] He keeps us moving.

[00:01:06] But he's also vulnerable to a little cold.

[00:01:10] Chris had a sneeze today.

[00:01:11] Had to rush him.

[00:01:12] Wanted to go to the emergency room.

[00:01:14] But, you know, that was going to be closed.

[00:01:15] So he is checking himself into Community Memorial Hospital in case his cold gets too big.

[00:01:19] So if you care enough for Pucker Chris, you go ahead and send flowers and cards for care of Pucker Chris to a Community Memorial Hospital.

[00:01:27] That's the big mistake.

[00:01:28] That is the worst hospital in New Jersey.

[00:01:30] One thing I do...

[00:01:31] You don't want to go to that hospital.

[00:01:33] It is really the worst hospital.

[00:01:36] Well, that's where he's going to be, checking on his sniffles.

[00:01:39] So if anybody cares enough...

[00:01:40] I'm going to come out with two amputated wounds.

[00:01:42] Pucker Chris.

[00:01:43] They fuck up a lot.

[00:01:44] Remove a couple of fingers.

[00:01:45] If you don't have any money or you don't have the time, just, you know, email us your concerns and we'll forward that on to Chris.

[00:01:53] He actually did call out for the first time, like we said, in three years.

[00:01:56] He's always run the admin of this.

[00:01:58] He's always been the first one to introduce and get us going.

[00:02:01] So this is definitely new for the three of us.

[00:02:04] Without Chris, there's one thing we don't have, which is our three live reads today.

[00:02:08] We're not prepared to grab all those.

[00:02:10] So kind of a gift for our listeners.

[00:02:12] You don't have to sit through the extra seven to ten minutes of that.

[00:02:16] But I will just shout out to them real quick.

[00:02:19] Our three main sponsors, DraftKings.

[00:02:21] You deserve it all.

[00:02:22] So DraftKings has it all.

[00:02:24] GameTime, who reminds you to find your next great experience with GameTime.

[00:02:28] And Raycon.

[00:02:29] They are on a mission to create a better everyday to reliable, accessible, and delightful tech.

[00:02:36] And to our main partner, the Hockey Podcast Network.

[00:02:40] So, boys, Tony, I'm surprised you're here.

[00:02:43] Were you just screaming in a microphone for the last couple hours?

[00:02:46] Yeah.

[00:02:47] Tomorrow we're playing a festival in Tampa.

[00:02:49] It's our first show since 2018.

[00:02:54] 2018.

[00:02:54] So, and, you know, we've put out some records since then, but it's our playing our first show.

[00:02:58] And with this lineup, it's like since 2015.

[00:03:01] Because this was like the guys we're jamming with now is guys that were in the band for a very long time.

[00:03:05] And the we you're talking about is Generic Christ, right?

[00:03:08] Yeah.

[00:03:09] Yeah.

[00:03:09] We're Generic Christ.

[00:03:10] We're playing the Swarm Fest in Tampa.

[00:03:12] We're playing with a bunch of friends that we've played with for the last 20 years.

[00:03:15] It's crazy.

[00:03:16] I had a kid actually message me today saying, I saw you 20 years ago with the same band you're playing with tomorrow night.

[00:03:22] And I just it's just crazy to read 20 years.

[00:03:24] I'm like, oh, my God.

[00:03:25] Yeah.

[00:03:26] Right.

[00:03:26] We've been jamming, man.

[00:03:27] Florida, you know, we've been back.

[00:03:29] I got back in Tampa a few weeks ago.

[00:03:31] Florida is beat up.

[00:03:33] I don't know whoever anybody that listens who has been to Florida recently.

[00:03:37] Those hurricanes kick this place's ass, man.

[00:03:40] Like, yeah.

[00:03:40] Does it look like shit down there?

[00:03:41] Is it still crazy?

[00:03:42] It looks rough, man.

[00:03:43] Where I I'm over in St. Petersburg and it's yeah, it's it's it's pretty bad.

[00:03:48] That's trouble.

[00:03:49] What are all the tweakers?

[00:03:50] Five minutes from Tropicana Field where the roof ripped off.

[00:03:52] Yeah.

[00:03:53] Like whenever I go there, that area that there's like people, you know, like just tweakers walking around the streets and shit.

[00:04:01] What the fuck did they do?

[00:04:02] You know, they're kind of homeless.

[00:04:03] I had an idea.

[00:04:04] Like where do they go?

[00:04:06] I had an idea like about probably like about 10 years ago now because I have kids that I was I told my we have some extra band shirts.

[00:04:12] You know, we'd make all these band stuff and then we'd have some shirts.

[00:04:14] I mean, we should just give them to all the homeless people in the town and then everyone will be wearing our band shirt through the streets.

[00:04:20] Like it would be, you know, because there's a lot of unfortunately.

[00:04:23] It's really cool.

[00:04:24] They're a leak line, you know, just to run that up.

[00:04:26] Yeah.

[00:04:26] Like Zoolander.

[00:04:27] Yeah.

[00:04:28] But that Tropicana Field, that roof is still ripped off.

[00:04:30] And I think they're not going to play baseball there next year.

[00:04:32] They're going to play at Steinbrenner Field, I think so.

[00:04:34] But it's right by where we're staying at.

[00:04:36] And it's pretty beat up.

[00:04:38] And you got your big show tomorrow night, right?

[00:04:39] Yeah, tomorrow in Tampa and then, you know, then the next two weeks we're hanging out with the family because it's been kind of busy.

[00:04:45] I've been at rehearsals and stuff.

[00:04:46] We went to go see the Devils, of course, in Tampa, which was.

[00:04:50] Didn't go too well.

[00:04:51] The day before was great.

[00:04:52] The day of the game sucked.

[00:04:54] I mean, right from the face off.

[00:04:56] Any idea why?

[00:04:56] It was pretty much a sloppy game.

[00:04:58] What do you think?

[00:04:58] I don't know.

[00:04:59] I just felt they weren't going to win that game.

[00:05:01] How did you?

[00:05:02] Why did you feel that?

[00:05:05] Anything tip you off?

[00:05:07] No.

[00:05:09] But, yeah, no.

[00:05:10] They were great, though.

[00:05:11] Like I said last episode, man, my kids met the whole team.

[00:05:14] Actually, Nathan hooked them up with the pucks at the game.

[00:05:17] Maybe your kids were really good with the kids, man.

[00:05:19] Maybe it's the fault of your kids.

[00:05:21] Maybe your kids put, like, a Lithuanian curse on them, you know?

[00:05:24] You know, it just wasn't meant to be because they did what they had to do to the champs.

[00:05:29] They took a little day off for Tampa, right?

[00:05:31] But then they got right back to it against a team that's been giving us.

[00:05:34] Yeah, they did shake off that Lithuanian curse.

[00:05:36] And plus, Vassie was like, you know, they're honoring Vassie that night.

[00:05:39] So, it kind of made, you know, he's won his 300th.

[00:05:42] So, it was like they had a ceremony.

[00:05:43] I don't know if they showed it, if you guys saw it on TV.

[00:05:45] But they had a ceremony at the game forum and stuff.

[00:05:47] Well, let me ask you this.

[00:05:49] Okay, if you had to lose one of the two games, either against Tampa or against Carolina,

[00:05:53] who are you happier to beat?

[00:05:57] You've got to beat Carolina.

[00:05:58] I think the only reason you really want to beat Tampa is because it's kind of a redemption game.

[00:06:01] I get it.

[00:06:02] So, that's going to have to wait.

[00:06:04] But the good news is we did beat Carolina.

[00:06:07] And it felt really good, didn't it?

[00:06:09] Jack, you just had a hell of a night.

[00:06:10] Let's go through the boring part of the stats real quick.

[00:06:13] And then we'll just kind of break it down a little bit.

[00:06:15] So, overall, the shots were 22 to 21.

[00:06:18] That's my job now.

[00:06:19] Chris isn't here.

[00:06:19] So, somebody's got to bore us.

[00:06:21] Bore us a little bit.

[00:06:21] I will bore us.

[00:06:22] 22 to 21 of the shots in favor of Carolina.

[00:06:27] 52 to 48% faceoffs in favor of Carolina.

[00:06:32] Power play.

[00:06:33] The Devils were 2 for 3.

[00:06:34] Carolina was 1 for 2.

[00:06:36] Penalty minutes, 6 for Carolina, 4 for the Devils.

[00:06:39] Here's where it gets fun.

[00:06:41] Hits.

[00:06:42] The Hurricanes had 12.

[00:06:43] We had 25.

[00:06:45] Nice.

[00:06:45] Block shots.

[00:06:46] The Hurricanes had 11.

[00:06:48] We had 25.

[00:06:49] We beat Carolina at Carolina's game last night.

[00:06:53] And it was quite impressive.

[00:06:55] We'll go through the scoring.

[00:06:55] With some of their players, too.

[00:06:56] With some of their players.

[00:06:58] Just keep grabbing a few of them every year.

[00:07:01] Scoring started off with Jake Rosavlitz.

[00:07:03] That was always – this happens all the time, right?

[00:07:06] We go down one end, hit the post.

[00:07:09] They come down the other end, score.

[00:07:10] It's just you see it all the time.

[00:07:12] You let that one go.

[00:07:14] Jesper Bratt ties it up at 1 from an absolute beauty of a pen.

[00:07:19] Pass from Jack.

[00:07:19] Did you guys get to see that?

[00:07:21] That was awesome.

[00:07:21] Yeah, it was amazing.

[00:07:22] Kind of like the shot.

[00:07:23] You know, the pass was coming to Jack.

[00:07:24] And he just decided to kind of just nip it over instead of taking the shot.

[00:07:27] I mean, the Pass Brothers is what those two have become.

[00:07:29] They're – I mean, as far as a duo, I don't know if there's anybody hotter in the league right now.

[00:07:34] Yeah, the question was asked post-game.

[00:07:37] Like, do you think, like, he meant to pass it to you?

[00:07:41] Or, like, you know?

[00:07:42] And Brad, like, didn't know what to say.

[00:07:44] He's like, you know, he just always finds a way.

[00:07:47] So, you just got to be ready, you know?

[00:07:49] Yeah.

[00:07:49] It sure looked like that was on his mind the whole time.

[00:07:52] Yeah.

[00:07:52] Yeah.

[00:07:52] He's just such an intuitive player, though.

[00:07:54] He'll just take whatever opportunities, like, are barely there.

[00:07:58] He makes the most out of them.

[00:07:59] That was their mom's game, too.

[00:08:01] That Carolina game.

[00:08:02] Yeah.

[00:08:03] Yeah.

[00:08:03] Just kind of felt like Jack was paying Brad back for his awesome pass, you know, the night before or two nights before.

[00:08:10] Yeah.

[00:08:10] So, then we move on.

[00:08:11] We go into the second period.

[00:08:13] Stefan Nason, again, his 10th, again, from Jack Hughes on an awesomely elevated pass.

[00:08:19] And Nason just doing what I'm convinced nobody does better than him right now.

[00:08:23] The guy's on pace for, what, 30-something goals.

[00:08:26] His career high was 14 that he got last year.

[00:08:28] He's –

[00:08:28] Now, if you're a Carolina fan, are you pissed that they got – you know, would you – I mean, I love Mason.

[00:08:32] It's never fun to have your old players.

[00:08:34] Yeah.

[00:08:35] Score on you.

[00:08:36] He was good in the playoffs for them last year, too.

[00:08:38] He was.

[00:08:39] And he's always been a good player.

[00:08:41] He's just –

[00:08:41] And what he's doing with the Devils right now gives him such a bigger dimension in front of the net.

[00:08:47] And he's just all around causing trouble, doing every little thing right.

[00:08:51] You know, you're going to love the way he plays.

[00:08:52] He's – I think I saw Keefe in a post-game interview where he was just, you know, going on about –

[00:08:58] And you can just see he was – he didn't want to, like, compare him.

[00:09:01] But he's basically saying that, you know, there's everybody else around him.

[00:09:05] But he's like the engine when he's playing out there with them.

[00:09:08] You know, he really is.

[00:09:09] He's 31, too.

[00:09:10] I mean, he's, you know.

[00:09:11] He hated playing him, playing against him.

[00:09:14] And so glad he's on our team now because he's just one of those guys that you don't like to play against.

[00:09:19] So that gave the Devils a temporary lead.

[00:09:21] They were killing off a penalty that I think went into the third period.

[00:09:24] Only took about 12 seconds for Svetchnikoff to tie it on – I'm going to call it a once-in-a-lifetime play.

[00:09:30] This crazy prefabricated dump-in into the corner with a perfect bounce that added to a perfect shot

[00:09:37] with the three inches in the top corner far side that you can actually hit.

[00:09:41] They can rehearse it all they want.

[00:09:42] I don't think that's going in nine out of ten.

[00:09:44] I think it's going in one out of ten.

[00:09:45] And that was just an amazing situation.

[00:09:47] I mean, all props.

[00:09:48] It was gorgeous, but that's not something they can pull out of their head all the time, man.

[00:09:53] I agree.

[00:09:54] And then we just – a little bit further in third.

[00:09:56] Dougie finally gets on the board with a nice ripper again in the top corner where there didn't seem to be much room at all.

[00:10:02] Oh, that was a huge goal.

[00:10:04] That was a huge goal.

[00:10:04] I mean, that really turned the game.

[00:10:06] It looked like we were going to be super tight.

[00:10:08] And then you could just see it take the wind out of the sails of Carolina when Hamilton scores that goal.

[00:10:13] Yeah.

[00:10:13] And it's about time because they've owned us, for lack of a better term.

[00:10:18] They really have.

[00:10:18] They're just not a team we've been able to beat much.

[00:10:22] And just for Brad, I don't know what kind of mission he's on this year,

[00:10:26] but the way he skates to open himself up and the authority that which he's shooting the puck when he's going for it.

[00:10:34] These aren't just lazy throws.

[00:10:36] The net is so much conviction behind it.

[00:10:38] He seals the deal to make it 4-2.

[00:10:40] This is a great, great win for the Devils.

[00:10:43] This is as important as the two against Florida, right?

[00:10:46] I think it is.

[00:10:48] And I think it shows this team can beat anybody.

[00:10:51] So I remember a couple games ago, they had footage of Keefe in the locker room post maybe the first or second game against Florida.

[00:11:00] I don't remember.

[00:11:00] Where he was talking about, that's it.

[00:11:03] We're working towards consistency.

[00:11:04] And you can tell that's what's on his mind.

[00:11:06] He knows this team can beat anybody.

[00:11:09] It's a matter of can he make them super consistent.

[00:11:12] And you've got to be happy with the results when you're playing four really good games in a row.

[00:11:18] Two against Carolina, one against Tampa, and one against Florida, one against Tampa, one against Carolina.

[00:11:24] And you come three for four there.

[00:11:27] Good.

[00:11:27] But I think what you really want is to have that consistent effort night in and night out.

[00:11:32] And I guess that's what they're working towards.

[00:11:34] You've got a lot of time to refine that this season.

[00:11:37] But that's what you want because you know the skill's all there.

[00:11:40] The ability's there.

[00:11:41] It's just can you be consistent enough to win a seven-game series?

[00:11:46] And three out of four ain't bad.

[00:11:48] You talk about Brad, you know, think about like this guy's a sixth-round pick and look what he's become.

[00:11:53] Because no one can say he's not maybe the most important devil on the team right now, you know.

[00:11:58] I mean, there's a bunch of guys.

[00:12:00] We have a lot of this is a hell of a team.

[00:12:02] We do have to mention probably that Cotter got benched last night after that slash.

[00:12:06] And he was out the whole third period they benched him.

[00:12:09] I didn't even notice that.

[00:12:10] Yeah.

[00:12:12] You know, the other impressive thing is that what they're doing against these teams.

[00:12:17] Florida was on a seven-game winning streak.

[00:12:20] And we take the two against them.

[00:12:22] The Hurricanes were 14-4.

[00:12:24] And they hadn't lost to a Metro Division opponent yet.

[00:12:27] We took care of that.

[00:12:29] Like Dan said, I just really don't think there's a team that they can't beat when they're simply playing the way they can play.

[00:12:36] Yeah.

[00:12:37] Yeah, and the goaltending.

[00:12:38] I mean, also, Jake Allen's been awesome this year.

[00:12:41] Markstrom's playing great.

[00:12:42] I mean, they have all the – I'm starting to see it now too.

[00:12:46] Actually, I'm starting to like on social media sites.

[00:12:48] I've seen a few.

[00:12:49] The Devils are built where they can contend actually this year.

[00:12:52] I'm starting to see positive spins to things.

[00:12:54] Because, you know, last year it was a lot of like disappointment articles and blah, blah, blah.

[00:12:59] But I'm starting to see like a very positive vibe towards New Jersey right now.

[00:13:05] So hopefully they keep it up.

[00:13:07] I mean, we have the tools.

[00:13:08] You know, the lightning game.

[00:13:10] You're going to have some shitty games, you know.

[00:13:12] And that was just – if you look at that whole game, that whole Tampa game.

[00:13:16] I don't know if you guys both watched it or not.

[00:13:18] But it was a bad game.

[00:13:20] It was a bad game.

[00:13:21] I think the word you used was sloppy, right?

[00:13:24] Very sloppy.

[00:13:24] Just sloppy.

[00:13:25] Sometimes you're down in Florida.

[00:13:26] You know, you just beat the champs twice.

[00:13:28] Maybe you're laying by the pool getting too much sun.

[00:13:30] That shit kind of tires you out, right?

[00:13:31] Yeah.

[00:13:31] I mean, that's –

[00:13:32] You know, it's just life.

[00:13:33] I was tired.

[00:13:34] Yeah, absolutely.

[00:13:36] I'm surprised you don't hear more people running with, you know, I don't know, headlines like the two Jakes.

[00:13:41] Maybe you guys saw that.

[00:13:42] I missed it.

[00:13:43] You know, because both goaltenders have been great.

[00:13:46] You know?

[00:13:46] They really have.

[00:13:48] It's funny.

[00:13:49] I just put up a new blog on our website about if the Devils are actually contenders in 2025.

[00:13:55] And one of the bright spots that I did highlight was the tandem of our goaltending and the fact that it doesn't seem like it on the surface,

[00:14:02] but they are actually in the top third in save percentage as a team in a league.

[00:14:07] So they are consistently above average.

[00:14:10] They're not the best in the league by any stretch.

[00:14:12] In fact, I've got a star here for you, Dan.

[00:14:16] Right.

[00:14:17] And I don't even know how to answer it, but it's more of like I'm having a hard time getting who Markstrom is.

[00:14:25] Like as a goalie, what I see is what we talked about this summer.

[00:14:29] Right.

[00:14:30] He definitely makes the saves he shouldn't make.

[00:14:33] The high danger saves that are outrageous and he's one of the best at it.

[00:14:38] But then he's – it seems like he's kind of good for a leaky one like pretty much every game,

[00:14:44] but yet he's top third in the league and save percentage and all that.

[00:14:47] And save percentage – I don't know if you guys have seen this.

[00:14:50] Tim had actually pointed out – I have it on my phone – that it's been going steadily down for the last like seven years,

[00:14:57] like almost to a point or two a year overall in the league.

[00:15:00] So when I look at Markstrom, Dan, like what am I seeing?

[00:15:02] Like is he just middle of the road that has some flash or –

[00:15:08] No, I think he's a little unusual that way where, yeah, he does make a lot of the saves you don't expect him to make.

[00:15:15] And it does also make up for once in a while one goes in that looks like, well, how did that go in?

[00:15:21] And I'm hoping that part of it is – some of those plays, when you look at them, I think they're misreads.

[00:15:30] I think they're misreads, maybe some defensive communication issues, some things to work out about what the plan is for when shots are taken in different areas.

[00:15:42] So I'm hoping that some of the goals that we don't like so much are cut down as the season goes on.

[00:15:48] Because I feel like that's what you want in a playoffs, the goaltender who can make the saves they should make.

[00:15:54] And it's weird because like in a playoff series, I'll take Markstrom over somebody who's just making all the saves he should make

[00:16:02] and lets those great goals in without stopping them, without stopping – because those will lift you up.

[00:16:10] They're a psychological lift.

[00:16:11] When your goalie makes a save he shouldn't make, it's almost like that weird play you were talking about earlier that you hit the post

[00:16:18] and then all of a sudden they go down and score.

[00:16:20] That great save does the same thing.

[00:16:22] And so it's like a lift psychologically to the whole team.

[00:16:25] So I will trade that for a leaky goal if it's not costing them the series.

[00:16:31] Of course what you want is everything.

[00:16:33] And you want him to cut those down.

[00:16:36] I'm hoping it's a little bit of a team thing.

[00:16:37] I feel like I haven't watched enough of him in previous seasons to see if this is just him

[00:16:42] or is having some issue adapting to something that is making him let in a few more than you would expect

[00:16:50] of those goals that don't seem like they're super high-quality goals.

[00:16:56] So yeah, that's the other question that I was going to ask.

[00:16:58] Is there a large enough sample size this year to say, this is kind of the guy we have, you know, 907 plus save percentage.

[00:17:07] You know, maybe a questionable one goes in, but he's going to stop the ones that absolutely matter to get us to win.

[00:17:12] Or do you think there's room for improvement based on, like you said, working with the team, figuring out the D a little better?

[00:17:17] Yeah, I think so.

[00:17:18] I think there is.

[00:17:19] There's a lot of time left.

[00:17:20] And what I really, you know, and it is something of concern because even though there's a lot of time left and I'm not going to worry about it,

[00:17:27] I really, you know, you mentioned what a great tandem we have.

[00:17:29] We do.

[00:17:31] But going into the playoffs, I don't want to roll a tandem.

[00:17:34] I really don't.

[00:17:35] I mean, I would expect even if Markstrom's playing great that Allen would be in it for a few of a couple of them, but not many.

[00:17:41] Like, I think maybe a real strategic matchup kind of thing, like early bro door days.

[00:17:45] Yeah.

[00:17:46] Like if you get, you want to make a serious playoff run, you want to clear number one.

[00:17:50] And at this point it should be Markstrom.

[00:17:53] So we'll see where it shakes down, but I'm going to be a little nervous if, boy, you know, we can't play Markstrom as much as we'd like.

[00:18:01] We really got to work in Allen or you're sitting and thinking maybe Allen should start this series.

[00:18:06] Like that's not where you want to be.

[00:18:08] I think one thing with this, with these two goalies is at least on my view is I, I don't feel like if it's Allen, I feel just as good as I feel as if it's Markstrom right now.

[00:18:19] That's how these two guys, I don't feel like.

[00:18:21] That's fine for a regular season.

[00:18:23] But I'm saying, I'm not like, I feel good about each.

[00:18:27] I'm like, okay, cool.

[00:18:28] Nothing's no, you know, it's not like with bro door.

[00:18:30] You always had like bro door over Terraria bro door over Schwab.

[00:18:33] Of course you want a bro door to be the main guy all the time.

[00:18:35] But with this, the way Jake Allen's played, I've been so satisfied with his play that I'm not bummed when I see him in the net.

[00:18:41] Oh yeah.

[00:18:41] And a lot of teams are on the league.

[00:18:43] I would take Allen over my number one.

[00:18:45] Okay.

[00:18:45] So he's a hell of a number two.

[00:18:47] I'm just saying going into the playoffs, I'm hoping we have a clear number one.

[00:18:52] And I, you know, I believe it'd probably be Markstrom.

[00:18:55] I mean, on paper, that's what you're thinking.

[00:18:57] So if we don't get there to where it's that, that's obvious.

[00:18:59] I feel like it's...

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[00:20:32] It's a bit of a problem.

[00:20:33] It's less than the desired result.

[00:20:35] And we got a long way to go before we get there.

[00:20:37] But like if the playoffs were starting today, you kind of got that question.

[00:20:42] Okay, what should we do?

[00:20:43] I guess we got to keep playing Allen about as much as we've been playing.

[00:20:47] And, you know, we don't feel that he's that Markstrom's 100% playoff ready.

[00:20:52] We don't know exactly where he's going to be with that.

[00:20:54] I think those questions will be answered.

[00:20:55] I'm hopeful that, like you said, Bobby's system, you know, getting used to this whole

[00:21:00] team.

[00:21:00] The team has really grown defensively lately.

[00:21:03] Oh, yeah.

[00:21:04] It's been great.

[00:21:05] It's been a much needed development beginning.

[00:21:08] Season was rough.

[00:21:09] We had a lot of players out.

[00:21:10] So I think that's going to really help Markstrom, you know, excel and take that number

[00:21:15] one spot.

[00:21:16] I know there's a lot of teams out there who have, you know, made deep playoff runs with

[00:21:22] the tandem kind of system.

[00:21:23] I just think in the end it has bitten more teams in the ass than it really has put them

[00:21:28] over the hump.

[00:21:29] And I think I'd rather be in a position of knowing, you know, I mean, let's just look

[00:21:35] around at the teams with the best goaltenders.

[00:21:36] Are you doubting that Sorokin or if he gets in or if, you know, Shesterkin or, you know,

[00:21:43] Seleski?

[00:21:44] I mean, there's no, there's no debate.

[00:21:46] Right.

[00:21:46] And that's what you want.

[00:21:47] That's what you want it.

[00:21:48] And so you want Markstrom to get to that point where there is no debate.

[00:21:52] Alan is just so awesome to have in case of injury or in a weird back-to-back situation

[00:21:57] where you just want to give him a little rest.

[00:22:00] That's the ideal.

[00:22:01] That's what I hope we get to.

[00:22:02] Well, as you know, talking about goalies and I saw Anderson for Carolina is going to

[00:22:08] be out eight to 12 weeks now after surgery.

[00:22:10] And then you have that.

[00:22:11] And then how do we not talk about also Bobby the Ovechkin out for four to six weeks with

[00:22:16] a leg fracture?

[00:22:17] Yeah.

[00:22:19] I mean, that, that bodes well for us.

[00:22:21] I mean, we were talking on one of the shows about is, is Carolina's record or their level

[00:22:25] of play even sustainable?

[00:22:27] I mean, 14 and four, 10 games over.

[00:22:29] I don't, I don't think so.

[00:22:30] I still think they're one of the top teams.

[00:22:32] Um, but maybe they're going to fall back down a little bit, especially with, um, the

[00:22:35] goalie woes and the same thing with, I mean, Ovechkin, I don't know if he's the reason that

[00:22:41] Washington is performing the way they're doing.

[00:22:43] And if he's just kind of a subset of it and you know, the same old thing, like feed him

[00:22:46] the goal, feed him the pucks to try to get the goals.

[00:22:49] Yeah.

[00:22:49] I think this will hurt that this year though, that you're out that long, you know, that

[00:22:52] might hurt his points.

[00:22:56] Yeah.

[00:22:56] Oh, definitely.

[00:22:57] It would hurt his points, but I'm, I'm wondering the effect on Washington as a team.

[00:23:01] Um, are they, they have the team and they have enough pieces to pick up.

[00:23:04] He might be a good leader in the locker room.

[00:23:05] I don't know.

[00:23:06] Yeah.

[00:23:07] But like, I mean, he's done a lot of their scoring and the team kind of was like built

[00:23:12] that way pre season is like, it's, it's the Ovechkin show.

[00:23:16] Right.

[00:23:17] Like I, we were wondering, are they even trying to be a competitive playoff team?

[00:23:20] Right.

[00:23:20] Or is the sales of tickets to see Ovechkin break records this year, the main goal of,

[00:23:25] you know, the Washington capitals.

[00:23:27] And so, yeah, you're right.

[00:23:29] It's going to be really interesting to see what this team is without them.

[00:23:32] You know, uh, we'll see.

[00:23:35] Yeah.

[00:23:36] We're going to see very soon.

[00:23:37] We are going to see very soon.

[00:23:38] I think that the Washington capitals are going to come back down to earth a little bit too.

[00:23:42] Again, they're 13 and five, one overtime loss.

[00:23:46] Rangers are 12 and five, which is their weird anomaly to me.

[00:23:49] Cause I feel like, I feel like they actually can play better yet.

[00:23:54] They're 12 and five.

[00:23:55] So that's kind of scary.

[00:23:57] Right.

[00:23:57] Uh, Islanders on down there, they're your lost causes, right?

[00:24:01] Islanders, blue jackets, flyers, but not that they're not putting up fights.

[00:24:04] Uh, Columbus has been thrown up some good games.

[00:24:06] The flyers will, will challenge anybody, but I think they're the ones who are going to stay

[00:24:10] there.

[00:24:10] Right.

[00:24:10] They're probably going to stay.

[00:24:11] The Metro is Metro is crazy.

[00:24:13] You know?

[00:24:13] I mean, as well as devil's been playing, you know, you're still not on top of it and it's,

[00:24:18] it's pretty crazy.

[00:24:19] Yeah.

[00:24:19] It's kind of, it's kind of split in half.

[00:24:21] I mean, you got the top three or 28, 28 and 27 points.

[00:24:25] Rangers were 25.

[00:24:27] So they're right there.

[00:24:27] Then there's only a small jump down six points to the Islanders at 19 and the other three

[00:24:32] teams all have 18.

[00:24:33] So it's kind of like it's top half and bottom half.

[00:24:35] It's not a bunch mixed in the middle.

[00:24:38] Right.

[00:24:39] Um, but it's certainly not over by any means.

[00:24:41] I think.

[00:24:42] Yeah.

[00:24:42] With the way the Rangers can play and the top four is going to be really interesting this

[00:24:46] year.

[00:24:47] Yeah, definitely.

[00:24:47] And that consistency we were talking about is going to be super important for the devils,

[00:24:51] not just about like, Oh, let's make sure it's there when we get in the playoffs.

[00:24:55] You want to like, you know, we're in the Metro.

[00:24:58] It's going to really matter.

[00:24:59] I think down to the wire about seating and positioning home.

[00:25:04] I, all those things are going to matter.

[00:25:07] And you're going to have to play at a really consistent level because you're right, Bob,

[00:25:11] some teams have been started up to great starts.

[00:25:13] They're due to fall a little bit, this and that, but look around at this, how tight this

[00:25:18] division is.

[00:25:19] The odds are that you're going to have some kind of cakewalk to, you know, win it.

[00:25:23] Uh, forget about it.

[00:25:24] It's not happening.

[00:25:25] Uh, if, if one of them goes down and other one's going to be right there.

[00:25:28] I mean, I'm not saying we can't make it to the top of the division.

[00:25:31] I think we can, but I mean, we're going to have to play at a super consistent level to

[00:25:35] get there and stay there.

[00:25:37] Sure.

[00:25:37] And, uh, it's going to be a huge challenge.

[00:25:39] Well, you can even, if you want to look at it bigger picture and look at the Eastern

[00:25:42] conference as a whole, I mean, right now first place team is 28 points.

[00:25:48] That's the hurricanes and us, but we've got, you know, played more games obviously.

[00:25:51] And the eighth seeded team, Boston, surprisingly at 21 points, there's only a seven point

[00:25:56] swing in between right now.

[00:25:58] Yeah.

[00:25:59] Top in and out.

[00:26:01] Yeah.

[00:26:02] Florida's 25 points at 12 and seven.

[00:26:04] So, so eight teams, seven points.

[00:26:06] Right.

[00:26:07] I mean, that's, that's as tight as you can get.

[00:26:09] That's not much.

[00:26:10] And most gate, most teams are right around the 20 mark now.

[00:26:15] Just to finish off the one thought on the save percentage.

[00:26:18] Here it is.

[00:26:21] 2015, 2016.

[00:26:23] I'll do the season end.

[00:26:25] 915 was a league average.

[00:26:26] League average.

[00:26:27] Okay.

[00:26:28] Yep.

[00:26:28] Uh, 2017, nine 13, 2018, nine 12, uh, 2019 and 20.

[00:26:38] We're both nine 10.

[00:26:40] Then in 21, it drops to nine Oh eight, 22, nine Oh seven, 23, nine Oh four last year,

[00:26:47] nine Oh three.

[00:26:48] And currently this year, as of about a week ago, nine Oh one, we are almost sub 900 save

[00:26:54] percentage in the league.

[00:26:56] Yeah.

[00:26:57] Make no mistake.

[00:26:57] That's not the gold tending getting worse.

[00:27:00] I really believe that's just the NHL, the rules, the interpretation of the rules, the,

[00:27:06] you know, replays, the way they handle them.

[00:27:10] Um, the lack of goalie interference calls when they should be made, all those things add up

[00:27:15] that league has kind of wanted this more goals.

[00:27:17] And this is the other side of it is lower save percentage.

[00:27:21] If you're going to get more goals, there really ain't that many more shots.

[00:27:24] I mean, that's a good question.

[00:27:25] Actually, what's the shot average.

[00:27:27] Has it really gone up?

[00:27:28] My guess, my intuition is no, it's just that we're getting more goals on that because of

[00:27:33] the way the rules are and being interpreted.

[00:27:36] And, you know, of course the players are amazing.

[00:27:38] The equipment is better than ever.

[00:27:40] Those sticks make even the most mediocre, mediocre shot, uh, really difficult to stop.

[00:27:45] But, um, that's not really the story with this steady decline.

[00:27:49] I think it's, I think my personal opinion, it's the rules, the rules enforcement, you know,

[00:27:54] I don't know.

[00:27:54] Maybe you guys have a different opinion on that.

[00:27:56] No, I don't.

[00:27:57] I agree with you.

[00:27:58] I don't think the goalies are getting worse to the tune of a point or two per year for

[00:28:02] the last eight years.

[00:28:03] I think that's, uh, that's not really how it works, but it is still just shocking to

[00:28:08] me because we grew up in an era where these save percentages are not acceptable.

[00:28:14] And then now you're talking to a whole league, let alone elite players.

[00:28:17] It's just weird for me to see that we might be heading in the next few years where your average

[00:28:23] top 10 goalie is like an eight, nine something save percentage guy.

[00:28:29] Oh yeah.

[00:28:29] That's possible.

[00:28:30] And that's just weird to say.

[00:28:31] That's all.

[00:28:32] Dan, you're a goal.

[00:28:33] I know we talked about this, but I know me and Bobby and Chris, I don't know if you're

[00:28:36] on with us, but don't you miss the old days where the goalie picked up 75% of the season

[00:28:41] for his team or even.

[00:28:42] Oh, a hundred percent.

[00:28:43] I mean, it's like this in baseball.

[00:28:45] People miss, you know, pitchers who pitched entire games and I'm sure it's the same kind

[00:28:50] of feeling.

[00:28:51] And we've talked about this on the show before.

[00:28:54] They also had way, way more differentiated styles today.

[00:28:58] All the styles are really close.

[00:29:00] If you take the goalie out of his equipment, can you identify him by the way he plays?

[00:29:05] That's a lot harder today than it was.

[00:29:07] I mean, nobody's going to mistake Hasek, who is definitely the outlier.

[00:29:10] And it was totally from, for anybody else, but even, you know, just about anybody else,

[00:29:16] you know, like you could tell the difference.

[00:29:18] Yeah.

[00:29:18] Our survey, I definitely.

[00:29:19] So like there, that's a personality as well as you know, just in general, the way they

[00:29:28] would carry all the load of the team.

[00:29:30] They would therefore become like the face of the team more.

[00:29:33] There's more and more teams that at least in the regular season are having these goalie

[00:29:36] tandems and it's, yeah, it's great.

[00:29:38] You get to know two guys, but you don't get to know one or either of them as well as you

[00:29:43] would if there was the one guy.

[00:29:45] Yeah.

[00:29:46] You think of the Canadians, right?

[00:29:47] You think of Patrick Waugh or if you go, you know, before that, or if you think of the

[00:29:51] devils, you think of Brodeur from, I guess even with the Rangers, I think of like Mike

[00:29:57] Richter.

[00:29:57] I know.

[00:29:58] You know, but fast forward to like the Boston Bruins of, well, not this year, but the last

[00:30:02] few years, you're thinking of the tandem, you know, you're thinking of both those guys.

[00:30:06] Right.

[00:30:07] And that's a weird thing.

[00:30:09] That's, I don't know that I like it any better.

[00:30:12] I really don't.

[00:30:13] Back when we were growing up.

[00:30:13] Oh yeah, definitely.

[00:30:15] Definitely.

[00:30:15] Washington had Don Beaupre and all these guys.

[00:30:18] Yeah.

[00:30:18] Yeah.

[00:30:19] But you know, that has definitely changed.

[00:30:23] Now, I don't know.

[00:30:25] Bobby was talking about save percentage going down and we said, it's really not the goalies.

[00:30:29] It is always this awesome idea.

[00:30:31] And we do this with other sports, like wonder, what if you took this player from this era

[00:30:36] and put them into that era?

[00:30:38] And, you know, I have a hard time believing that our, you know, heroes from the past would

[00:30:44] necessarily do that much better in today's game.

[00:30:48] Now, I know a lot of like, especially technician type goalies would tell you they would get

[00:30:52] destroyed.

[00:30:52] I don't believe that.

[00:30:53] I really don't.

[00:30:54] I think that there are some plays on which today's goalies would perform better.

[00:31:00] But there are some plays that I think yesterday's goalies would use a different style and, you

[00:31:06] know, do well against today's shooters who kind of know, like, you know, put it on the

[00:31:10] inside posts up high because they're going RVH every time, you know, like that's not going

[00:31:13] to be the case for these goalies who held the post differently back then.

[00:31:16] So like, I think it would kind of even out.

[00:31:19] I definitely don't think it's necessarily better for the sport that you have these goaltenders

[00:31:24] who are kind of all playing the same style, also happen to be 6'3", 6'4", or bigger.

[00:31:29] I don't know that that is necessarily like more fun to watch.

[00:31:34] I really don't.

[00:31:35] But I'm not going to hold it against those guys.

[00:31:37] They're still amazing athletes and it is fun to watch them.

[00:31:40] And, you know, come playoff time, you do get these amazing saves just like yesterday.

[00:31:46] Yeah.

[00:31:47] I agree.

[00:31:48] I mean, and what we got, so Bobby, what we got Washington tomorrow.

[00:31:52] Yeah.

[00:31:53] So we got Washington tomorrow.

[00:31:54] I mean, I don't know how you guys feel about that, but I think it's time to exercise that

[00:31:57] demon too, you know, get on a little bit of a roll.

[00:32:01] We're in Washington.

[00:32:02] So obviously we were on the road.

[00:32:05] I like this team on the road.

[00:32:06] Yeah.

[00:32:07] I think they simplify their game even more and their game has become more defensively

[00:32:12] reliable, which even plays to that a little better.

[00:32:14] So I'm pretty confident.

[00:32:16] You know what I didn't like this team on the road, Bobby?

[00:32:17] Is when I paid $400 for tickets last week and they got blown away in Tampa.

[00:32:22] Yeah.

[00:32:22] That sucks.

[00:32:22] That's what I didn't like this team on the road.

[00:32:23] I texted you.

[00:32:24] I'm like, dude, you didn't even get to stand up for a goal.

[00:32:27] At least you're there with the family and the kids.

[00:32:28] You get to cheer.

[00:32:29] We had no room to stand up, dude.

[00:32:31] We were like rooftop.

[00:32:32] The only person to hire us was God.

[00:32:34] Our kids were so high, dude.

[00:32:36] And it was like – and my kids were like – I was so excited because I was like,

[00:32:39] okay.

[00:32:39] So Samantha has been to like – it was her third Devil game.

[00:32:43] So we went to Jersey.

[00:32:44] We went against Ottawa and Pittsburgh.

[00:32:46] And she did that whole thing a couple years ago.

[00:32:48] So this was Mila's first Devils game.

[00:32:50] But Mila has been to a lot of European hockey games.

[00:32:52] But my kids were like passing out in the seats one period in and just lightning fans

[00:32:57] mocking us.

[00:32:58] Yeah.

[00:32:58] Jumping up and down.

[00:33:00] It's tough.

[00:33:00] Listen, anytime you got to put on like an away jersey and go to a game, you just – you're

[00:33:05] hoping for a respectable outcome.

[00:33:07] So at least – because you feel like an extension of the team.

[00:33:10] Like, oh, I'm the dickhead today walking out losing 4-0.

[00:33:13] Had nothing to do with it, but it's not a fun feeling.

[00:33:16] We were right up with the Lightning fans too.

[00:33:17] I don't know what tickets we got, but we were pretty much up with them.

[00:33:22] Yeah, that's brutal.

[00:33:23] Yeah.

[00:33:24] But really sorry for you, bud.

[00:33:26] But I think this team is ready to – I don't know, put together a little bit more.

[00:33:31] They're not exactly – they're not doing bad at all, right?

[00:33:34] You know, there's three great wins sandwiched by one loss to Tampa.

[00:33:37] But I think it's time for them to really start putting them together a little bit.

[00:33:40] We got Nashville after the Washington game, St. Louis the day after that, then back-to-back

[00:33:45] with Detroit and Washington again.

[00:33:47] So, you know, shrink the points together.

[00:33:50] I think we should do what Chris would have us do, Bobby.

[00:33:51] I think we should pick, you know, pick this – what we think is going to happen tomorrow

[00:33:55] night.

[00:33:55] You know, Chris would have us do this.

[00:33:56] What, you think that's an original fucking idea?

[00:33:58] Huh?

[00:33:58] I don't think I can take care of that on my own?

[00:33:59] In honor of Willy Wonka Colos.

[00:34:02] I mean, you know, Chris, we should do that.

[00:34:04] So, yeah.

[00:34:06] So, go ahead.

[00:34:07] What's your thoughts?

[00:34:08] Start with Washington.

[00:34:09] So, you got one, two, three, four, five.

[00:34:11] You got the five games.

[00:34:12] Washington, Nashville, St. Louis, Detroit, and Washington again.

[00:34:16] Yeah.

[00:34:17] I'll do the first one.

[00:34:18] I'm going to do the Capitals game first.

[00:34:19] We can go through however you guys want to do it.

[00:34:20] But I'm going to say Devils will win this game.

[00:34:23] Four to two.

[00:34:24] I was really impressed with last game and I think with Ovechkin out.

[00:34:28] I mean, because you remember, Ovechkin does score against the Devils.

[00:34:31] So, he'll probably take a point or two away right there, hopefully.

[00:34:34] And I think it'll be Allen in net.

[00:34:36] I don't know what you guys think, but.

[00:34:40] Let's see.

[00:34:41] So, who got the Tampa game?

[00:34:44] Tampa game was Markstrom.

[00:34:45] It was Markstrom, and then he just played again.

[00:34:48] Yes.

[00:34:48] Yeah, it actually could be Allen in net.

[00:34:51] I'm going to take the Devils to win that.

[00:34:53] I'm going to go two-nothing with a shutout.

[00:34:55] They're going to get their fourth shutout already.

[00:34:57] Damn.

[00:34:58] Yeah, why not?

[00:35:01] What do you think, D?

[00:35:02] I think, looking at this game, I think Markstrom's going to play,

[00:35:07] and they'll probably put Allen in because it's like two days between each game.

[00:35:11] You got tomorrow.

[00:35:13] Yep.

[00:35:13] You got Monday.

[00:35:14] You got Wednesday.

[00:35:15] If it was me, I'd put Allen in against the Predators.

[00:35:19] But besides that, I would say that the Devils do win this game.

[00:35:23] I'm going to call 3-1 here.

[00:35:27] And I think it's the Predators.

[00:35:29] Are we going that far or just one at a time here?

[00:35:31] Sure.

[00:35:31] Just take it out.

[00:35:32] All right.

[00:35:32] Against the Predators, I think that is one that they could maybe bobble

[00:35:38] and drop the ball of the next three.

[00:35:40] So, you know, I would like to be optimistic and say the Devils will win that one.

[00:35:44] But if they're going to lose one, it's that one.

[00:35:47] Probably not by too much.

[00:35:48] You know, maybe one or two goals.

[00:35:50] Yeah.

[00:35:50] And then against the Blues, I will say the Devils will win.

[00:35:57] And, you know, pull a score out of my ass.

[00:36:00] Let's call it 4-1.

[00:36:02] I'm going to go Devils beat the Predators 5-1 because I just feel like they could do it.

[00:36:09] And I think the Blues we might have trouble with because if you actually look,

[00:36:11] we always have trouble with St. Louis for some reason.

[00:36:13] I don't know what it is.

[00:36:14] Yeah.

[00:36:15] I might be right about that.

[00:36:16] So I wouldn't be surprised.

[00:36:17] I'll say 3-2 there, maybe St. Louis.

[00:36:19] But I think the Predators, I would like to see us beat up on them.

[00:36:21] No offense to the Predators.

[00:36:24] Yeah.

[00:36:25] I don't like the Predator game because they're not playing anywhere where everyone thought they were going to be with the moves that they've made and stuff.

[00:36:31] So I feel like that's going to be one of those trap games.

[00:36:33] I think I'm with Dan that that might be some kind of an upset there before we roll off a couple more wins in a row starting in St. Louis.

[00:36:41] There you go.

[00:36:42] Yeah.

[00:36:43] That's it.

[00:36:44] It's in the books.

[00:36:45] It's in the books.

[00:36:45] It's just always tough for us.

[00:36:46] I don't know what it is.

[00:36:47] It always feels like we always have trouble with it.

[00:36:48] Maybe I'm wrong, but.

[00:36:50] Yeah, we should have to do something where we on mic have to punish ourselves for all our wrong guesses.

[00:36:56] I'm sure.

[00:36:57] Like, I don't know, like electrocution or something.

[00:37:00] Taser to the nuts.

[00:37:02] I'm sure there's people who are like keeping a piece of paper with marks like.

[00:37:06] I got it.

[00:37:06] But it's going to be so much more interesting if we have to come on the next show and electrically shock ourselves or.

[00:37:12] Well, imagine if you're listening to The Devil You Know and some people are probably just like, what the hell?

[00:37:15] How do you not know this shit?

[00:37:17] It's hard.

[00:37:18] Yeah, you know, not everybody has that kind of.

[00:37:21] I think what we can do, what we can do for punishment is you got to get locked in the closet and just listen to the Uncle Pucker podcast looping for like 24 hours.

[00:37:30] Now you've got to listen to your stupid voice.

[00:37:32] Say everything wrong.

[00:37:33] Eliminated from last year or the year before that, actually, when we got eliminated, that would have been a that was a pretty depressing episode, if I remember correctly.

[00:37:40] It was.

[00:37:42] Luckily for me, I forget everything we do the moment we're done.

[00:37:46] They do.

[00:37:48] I love that short term memory.

[00:37:50] Yeah.

[00:37:50] They do need to have to finish out the month pretty good because December does get interesting.

[00:37:56] We start off with the Rangers first time, right?

[00:37:59] We haven't played them yet this year.

[00:38:00] So that's always a good test.

[00:38:02] Then a long three days off before the Kraken on the sixth.

[00:38:07] And then this is where it kind of picks up a little bit here.

[00:38:10] We've got the Avalanche, Toronto and the Kings.

[00:38:14] Those three are going to be kind of an interesting test.

[00:38:16] They're all at home, too.

[00:38:17] We're home from Friday the 6th through December 14th.

[00:38:22] And that's Saturdays against the Blackhawks.

[00:38:24] We'll probably lose that game because we lose to the teams that we should beat.

[00:38:27] But yeah, they really got to make sure they're going into December strong because some these teams aren't going to sit around and wait for us.

[00:38:33] We've got the Rangers twice in December.

[00:38:36] And then we have another back-to-back with the Canes at the end of the month.

[00:38:40] I do believe if you want a chance at winning our division, you're going to have to be at a clip of at least three out of four wins and probably closer to four out of five.

[00:38:50] That's a tremendous clip to maintain.

[00:38:53] The division's tough, man.

[00:38:53] Yeah, you cannot go into a long slump.

[00:38:55] If the Devils go into a five-game-plus slump, you can sound the alarm bells as far as not having to possibly fight for a wildcard spot.

[00:39:09] I wonder if they're going to make some moves when there's time.

[00:39:13] I don't know.

[00:39:14] The damn team could be pretty good the way it is.

[00:39:17] I hadn't even thought about moves yet because I love the way this team looks.

[00:39:21] But what kind of moves would you make?

[00:39:24] I didn't hear the show, but I think Bobby and Chris were talking about it last week about some moves.

[00:39:27] Weren't you, guys?

[00:39:28] Yeah, we were bringing Crosby in again.

[00:39:31] That kind of thing.

[00:39:31] Crosby?

[00:39:32] Yeah.

[00:39:33] No, I think we got –

[00:39:34] I don't know.

[00:39:35] I don't know how it's going to work.

[00:39:36] I think we got to wait to see – like Lazar's got to come back yet.

[00:39:41] Bastion, how that whole fourth line sets up and where it moves people around.

[00:39:45] But if, for example, Lazar is not coming back, let's say, setback all year he's out,

[00:39:52] I don't think they're going to run Bowers out there or whoever they're throwing the fourth line.

[00:39:55] They're probably going to want to get somebody to really set up for that.

[00:40:00] Be interesting.

[00:40:01] But right now I'm with Dan.

[00:40:02] Like I just want to see this team consistently play together and figure out what they really have

[00:40:08] because I think they're really kind of good where they are, dude.

[00:40:11] They really are, especially on the defensive side.

[00:40:14] There's not going to be sustained losing the way that they play defense now.

[00:40:18] Well, exactly.

[00:40:19] Dan's right.

[00:40:19] You've got to go three out of four.

[00:40:21] Which pretty much I think he is correct about that.

[00:40:23] Yeah.

[00:40:24] And you just can't afford a large slump.

[00:40:26] And I think Bobby's right.

[00:40:27] I think the odds of getting a long slump are pretty low largely due to the fact that they got their defense on track

[00:40:36] and the goaltending's there.

[00:40:37] You know, injuries could always change all that.

[00:40:39] Sure.

[00:40:39] Definitely would just take one or two injuries, a goaltender for sure, or even, you know, a key defenseman.

[00:40:47] And, you know, this can all turn around.

[00:40:49] But if the defensive core and the goaltenders stay healthy, it's hard to see them going into a long slump.

[00:40:56] It really is.

[00:40:57] Break down all the components of the team.

[00:41:00] You've got your top scoring guys scoring.

[00:41:04] You've got your lower scoring guys scoring, you know, jumping in.

[00:41:10] You have a defense that's solid.

[00:41:12] You have goaltending that stops pretty much what they're supposed to.

[00:41:15] You have specialty teams that are in the top 5'10", and each respectively.

[00:41:21] Power play is amazing.

[00:41:22] Yep.

[00:41:23] 30%.

[00:41:23] Face-offs are even or better.

[00:41:27] We are more physical.

[00:41:29] We hit, we block shots.

[00:41:31] I mean, all the things that weren't really happening last year just leads me to believe that, yeah,

[00:41:34] you might get a little blip when we had it in October, although that one was a little more acceptable

[00:41:38] coming off a weird start of the season, losing kind of the four in a row, but two of them in overtime.

[00:41:43] I just don't see much of that happening again.

[00:41:45] And even if it did, which it may because it's a long season,

[00:41:48] this is the type of team that would just bounce back with five in a row winning after that.

[00:41:53] You know what I mean?

[00:41:53] Just kind of even out that particular week if you're looking at 10 at a time.

[00:41:57] Right.

[00:41:57] What do you think the most likely number is for the remaining games we got?

[00:42:00] We've got a better part of three quarters of the season left.

[00:42:03] The most likely number for consecutive losses.

[00:42:07] The most likely.

[00:42:09] Not like what you're hoping for.

[00:42:10] I think you could see a three in there once at least.

[00:42:12] That's what I'm thinking.

[00:42:14] Yeah, I mean...

[00:42:16] It's kind of hard to see four, isn't it?

[00:42:18] It's hard to see four because when they had four, they were a different team.

[00:42:22] And they still managed two loser points out of that.

[00:42:26] So it wasn't even the end of the world.

[00:42:28] It's really hard to imagine them going a four again.

[00:42:30] But Tony's right.

[00:42:31] A three is...

[00:42:32] I mean, that happens to everybody.

[00:42:34] Yeah.

[00:42:34] I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[00:42:36] A very good team that just happened to string three of...

[00:42:39] You know, it might even be like three losses out of, you know, 15 games.

[00:42:43] Not so bad.

[00:42:44] Right.

[00:42:45] It just happened to be consecutive.

[00:42:46] I would take that if they were surrounded by two winning streaks for sure.

[00:42:51] And that...

[00:42:52] I mean, it's...

[00:42:53] You could almost make the argument that the most likely maybe is even two.

[00:42:58] I don't know if I'm that optimistic.

[00:42:59] Because two is such a small number.

[00:43:01] You could lose two games in a row like that.

[00:43:03] But, you know...

[00:43:05] So I guess three is more likely.

[00:43:06] But it's honestly not so much more likely than two.

[00:43:10] Just looking at the team, should it stay healthy?

[00:43:12] If you think about it, like have...

[00:43:14] We haven't even seen the best of Jack used this year, I think.

[00:43:17] Like, there's still things we...

[00:43:19] I mean, you know...

[00:43:20] I feel like the team is starting to gel.

[00:43:22] You know?

[00:43:23] I feel like that.

[00:43:24] We haven't seen where some of these guys...

[00:43:26] Even...

[00:43:26] I think Brad's going to have a nice run this year.

[00:43:29] So maybe, you know, we might see like eight games in a row where these guys just pounding

[00:43:33] in points.

[00:43:34] I mean...

[00:43:34] Yeah.

[00:43:35] You know, we haven't even got that yet.

[00:43:36] So it's pretty exciting.

[00:43:38] I mean...

[00:43:38] And we've avoided that injury bug.

[00:43:40] Because as we knew last year, we have some injuries.

[00:43:42] And that's going to be key.

[00:43:43] That happens.

[00:43:43] And I really do feel like...

[00:43:45] Okay.

[00:43:46] We talked about this a lot already.

[00:43:48] The way they're playing.

[00:43:49] Being a lot more tougher.

[00:43:51] Having guys on the team who not only will fight, but just will throw those hits back.

[00:43:55] Are going to keep them a little safer.

[00:43:57] But...

[00:43:58] That said, as the Devils start looking like the real thing out there, teams will try to

[00:44:03] throw everything in the kitchen sink at them.

[00:44:05] You know?

[00:44:05] Especially rivals.

[00:44:06] I could see a game where there's some dirty shit on the part of, you know...

[00:44:10] Rangers or somebody else.

[00:44:12] We know that.

[00:44:12] Absolutely.

[00:44:13] And, you know...

[00:44:14] So...

[00:44:15] Staying healthy is going to be key.

[00:44:17] Some of it's going to be luck.

[00:44:18] And I just hope that they continue to play really well as a team.

[00:44:24] Noticing, like, with great, you know, awareness.

[00:44:27] This is a game where we, you know, have some targets on our back.

[00:44:30] We've got to be the one who punches first.

[00:44:33] And I don't mean literally, necessarily.

[00:44:34] It might come to that.

[00:44:36] But, you know, throw those hits early on.

[00:44:38] Make it a game where it's not easy to target somebody like Jack.

[00:44:43] It's not...

[00:44:43] You're not going to easily get away with it.

[00:44:45] While you're trying to look for Jack, somebody else is looking for you.

[00:44:48] You know?

[00:44:48] And we have to be that kind of team if you want to get, like you said, the best out of

[00:44:52] Jack to come.

[00:44:53] We've got Tom Wilson coming up, right?

[00:44:55] I mean...

[00:44:55] Yeah.

[00:44:56] That's the kind of guy.

[00:44:57] Definitely.

[00:44:57] Yeah.

[00:44:58] Love to have him on your team.

[00:44:59] Hate to play against him.

[00:45:00] Yeah.

[00:45:00] And he's smart.

[00:45:01] And he will, you know, look for the right time to hit the best player he can.

[00:45:06] You know, Tony, you mentioned a little bit about not seeing the best of some players.

[00:45:10] Let's not forget, like, Luke Hughes.

[00:45:14] He's got two points.

[00:45:15] I'm not saying he has to have...

[00:45:17] He had a great game, though, I thought.

[00:45:18] He had a great game.

[00:45:19] But that's the point.

[00:45:20] He can have a great game and he still hasn't really been on the scoreboard.

[00:45:24] And you know that's going to change.

[00:45:25] Keith was talking about his play in the last game.

[00:45:29] And he made a really good point.

[00:45:31] He goes, you know, his...

[00:45:33] Like, he mentioned some stretch passes and just his work on changing from the defensive

[00:45:40] side to moving the puck up ice, getting it to the right players and just making them

[00:45:46] so much better at getting through the neutral zone.

[00:45:49] And against a team like Carolina, who's one of the best at stifling you through the neutral

[00:45:54] zone, doing a great job on defense, a player like Hughes is like that secret weapon to get

[00:45:59] through.

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[00:47:00] Stuff like that.

[00:47:01] And so, you know, like I'm happy that he's focusing on his defensive game.

[00:47:05] And then even those offensive capabilities that never get noticed, that might not even

[00:47:10] end up as an assist, but are, you know, huge to transitioning the game from your end to

[00:47:15] their end.

[00:47:16] And so I'm totally happy with his play, even with the two goals.

[00:47:19] But you're right, man.

[00:47:20] He's going to get some more opportunities and it's going to see, we're going to see

[00:47:25] even more production out of him.

[00:47:26] I just, I would be shocked if we didn't.

[00:47:29] Yeah.

[00:47:29] I feel like he's heating up the way he's playing.

[00:47:31] I mean, when his wheels are going, there's, there's just nobody more fun to watch.

[00:47:34] I mean, and I'm not saying that as in, he's like the best player in the league.

[00:47:38] There are players that are better than Jack Hughes, but when he's on, I don't think there's

[00:47:41] anyone more fun to watch.

[00:47:43] Right.

[00:47:43] He's totally not at that 20 goals a season pace, but he still could get there if he gets

[00:47:48] hot.

[00:47:49] Definitely.

[00:47:51] Definitely.

[00:47:51] Definitely.

[00:47:52] We, and plus we talk about Nico.

[00:47:54] I mean, what, what a player he's become for this team.

[00:47:57] Even again, you know, watching him the other night against Carolina, the guys just, I don't

[00:48:03] know.

[00:48:03] He might be, it's hard to say, you know, have favorite players on this team.

[00:48:07] Cause there's so many guys that yet, how do you not like Jack Hughes?

[00:48:10] How do you not like, how do you not like Mason?

[00:48:12] You know, how do you not like, but I mean, I don't know, Nico just, it's just nice to see

[00:48:18] when that draft happened, you kind of, what was it with Nolan Patrick, right?

[00:48:21] Yeah.

[00:48:22] That was the big debate.

[00:48:23] Like, who do you take?

[00:48:23] Like the devils, I will say between the, with the Jack Hughes draft and with the Nico draft,

[00:48:29] they made the right choice both times.

[00:48:31] I think so.

[00:48:31] And I think Nico even kind of, I don't know about you guys, but I always believed he'd be

[00:48:36] good, but I'm actually, he's actually even better than I kind of expected it would turn

[00:48:41] out to be.

[00:48:41] And I would say I doubted him as a captain even more two years ago than I did last year.

[00:48:46] Now last year was a shit year, but he was the brightest spot.

[00:48:50] And last year he was, you know, consistently a leader.

[00:48:53] You've go back to two years ago, the worst sides of Nico being a little young, a little

[00:48:58] bit too much of a pushover.

[00:49:00] Those were like showing.

[00:49:01] And I thought last year he made a lot of strides to show, like, I'm not saying he didn't work

[00:49:06] hard before that.

[00:49:07] He was always a hard worker, but his hard work was like the bright spot.

[00:49:11] And it was, it was a frustrating season because with so many guys in and out of lineup,

[00:49:15] he couldn't really, you know, lead the way like we wanted him to.

[00:49:19] And, but he was showing all the right things.

[00:49:22] And this year now it's like, it's, it's all smiles because he's not only doing everything

[00:49:27] right.

[00:49:27] He's also getting the points for it.

[00:49:29] And then on top of that, he is making his team better by doing really the same things

[00:49:34] he was doing last year, which is super hard work ethic, both sides of the puck.

[00:49:38] And, uh, you can't be happier with him as he gets a little bit older too.

[00:49:42] I really do feel like all those questions I had about, had about him as a captain are starting

[00:49:47] to go away.

[00:49:48] You know, um, I tell you, he's loved by the fans, Dan.

[00:49:51] Oh, absolutely.

[00:49:52] When I was at the game, even in Tampa, man, there was, I can honestly say there was probably

[00:49:56] just as many Nico jerseys as, uh, used jerseys, which, you know, that that's great to hear

[00:50:02] because you're talking about a player who's kind of in the shadows a little bit, who's

[00:50:07] just a complete and total hockey player.

[00:50:10] So it's encouraging that there's so many everyday fans that could recognize that and not just

[00:50:16] go with the flash, you know?

[00:50:18] And I mean, he's got flash every now and then, but man, I know your son, he's a hockey

[00:50:22] player, you know, new, and new uniforms look very killer by the way.

[00:50:26] Um, but like for him to, so, you know, is he a Jack guy or does he like, does he appreciate

[00:50:31] Nico also?

[00:50:32] Cause I look like, he's he, how old is he now?

[00:50:34] He's 10.

[00:50:35] So I'm wondering what a 10 year old thinks because of course, that's a great question,

[00:50:39] man.

[00:50:39] It's very interesting that you asked because early on, um, just the way we were talking

[00:50:44] about Jack Hughes and pushing Jack Hughes, he has both Hughes and Heischer's jersey.

[00:50:50] And I did ask him, um, the other day, which one he was going to wear.

[00:50:53] Cause it was when he was going to wear his favorite Jersey and it's Heischer.

[00:50:57] There you go.

[00:50:58] He is.

[00:50:58] Yeah.

[00:50:58] He goes, he's like, dad, I love Jack.

[00:51:00] Jack.

[00:51:00] He's awesome.

[00:51:01] But Nico's my favorite player.

[00:51:04] So I'm always surprised you don't see more Brad jerseys.

[00:51:07] Like you see him, like I have a Brad jersey, but that might change too.

[00:51:10] Yeah.

[00:51:11] That might change the way he's been playing this season.

[00:51:13] What Brad hasn't had yet is like an entire season of consistent, you know, his, the biggest

[00:51:19] argument on Brad is that he'll go away for a while.

[00:51:22] And I'm hoping that, I mean, he looks physically like he's more ready than ever.

[00:51:26] And he's a little older and he's a little older.

[00:51:28] And I think he also realizes he's got a team that's ready to go.

[00:51:32] So I'm hoping that this is a year where he's just so much more consistent.

[00:51:35] And when that happens, man, I do think you'll see so many more fans of his who are there.

[00:51:42] He's another guy that realized his leadership needs to step up year after year.

[00:51:46] And he's doing it now.

[00:51:48] He's on pace for a hundred points right now, which would be our first ever a hundred point.

[00:51:52] Right.

[00:51:52] I think Jack's on pace for like 93 or something like that.

[00:51:54] And, uh, oh, of course all that can change easily.

[00:51:56] You know, one, one, one five point game and that whole thing changes.

[00:51:59] Um, but yeah, I mean, a hundred, what was Brad's high?

[00:52:02] I know he get two years in a row.

[00:52:03] He had the same points.

[00:52:04] And last year, I think he eclipsed it.

[00:52:05] Was he in the eighties?

[00:52:06] I think so.

[00:52:07] Cause what was, uh, Jack got to 99.

[00:52:09] Yeah.

[00:52:10] Jack got to 99.

[00:52:11] You know, this year, I mean, what is it McKinnon?

[00:52:12] I think is, I saw it this morning.

[00:52:14] I think it was like 34.

[00:52:16] Um, I think just someone else, 34 too, but.

[00:52:20] That's crazy number, right?

[00:52:22] Being a quarter away this new season.

[00:52:23] If they maintain that, we're looking at what?

[00:52:25] 130 goals, something like that.

[00:52:27] That's probably not going to happen, but that's pretty amazing.

[00:52:31] Sure is.

[00:52:33] So what's our overall pulse on the team guys.

[00:52:36] If, if 2020, if the record breaking year there, 22 was, uh, a 10.

[00:52:41] And if last year's a, a one, where are you feeling this team is in between?

[00:52:48] Boy, it's so early.

[00:52:49] I feel a little silly throwing numbers out, but honestly, I feel this is.

[00:52:55] And I, I, you know, on paper and so far what they've shown a better team than two years

[00:53:01] ago.

[00:53:01] I really do.

[00:53:03] It's, it's deeper.

[00:53:04] It's got more dimensions to it.

[00:53:07] All the key players that were playing good.

[00:53:09] Then are playing better.

[00:53:10] Now.

[00:53:11] Yes.

[00:53:11] The goaltending question is way answered way better than we had then.

[00:53:16] I don't see how you compare it.

[00:53:18] And they had a great amount of success, you know, getting so close to the Eastern conference

[00:53:22] finals.

[00:53:23] I mean, that doesn't matter.

[00:53:25] Um, I feel like this team is on papers even better.

[00:53:30] So that's scary.

[00:53:31] I don't know.

[00:53:32] Definitely better because I think there's a lot of answers that were a lot of like things,

[00:53:36] the problems we had last year, we had, we couldn't stick up for ourselves.

[00:53:39] We couldn't, there was like, it was, we got pushed around all the time and that has changed

[00:53:43] up now.

[00:53:44] I think that, uh, a Cotter, I mean, I know he was benched the other night for the slash

[00:53:49] and stuff like that, but I think he's been a hell of an addition to the team.

[00:53:53] I mean, you can't really keep some people were bummed out seeing Holtz go and I get it, but

[00:53:57] you can't really argue it at all.

[00:53:58] You know, I mean the moves that were made, um, defense, I think we're better.

[00:54:03] Um, like, you know, of course, I don't know.

[00:54:06] I, I definitely think we're a better, well last year, like we were just talking about a few

[00:54:10] minutes ago, last year, there was a lot of parts to that losing.

[00:54:13] There was, first of all, the goaltending was not what it is now having these two guys,

[00:54:17] a major, major upgrade.

[00:54:21] Um, and they like, we're the injury plague.

[00:54:23] So they, you don't have that going on this year.

[00:54:25] And I think the team's actually during the off season this year, we had talked about like

[00:54:29] what, who are the devils?

[00:54:30] Was it the year before that?

[00:54:32] Or was it last year?

[00:54:33] Like, what is the real, we're starting to see this that the players that we were hoping

[00:54:37] were the real deal.

[00:54:39] The coaching seems way more solid.

[00:54:41] Now I know it's early on.

[00:54:43] It's our first 20 something games with Keith.

[00:54:45] But I mean, I think most devil fans will agree.

[00:54:48] He's, he seems like the right guy for these players now.

[00:54:52] And we were all happy with the devils merging two years ago and you got to give Lindy credit

[00:54:55] for it.

[00:54:56] But even along the way, we're like, what is he doing?

[00:54:59] Yeah.

[00:54:59] I mean, even when they were winning, which like, why are you changing the lines?

[00:55:02] This is Keith seems like a much steadier hand.

[00:55:05] Keith has a much better team, much better roster.

[00:55:08] He does.

[00:55:08] Definitely does.

[00:55:09] So, you know, you know, there's that.

[00:55:11] And I don't mean to just bash Lindy, but you know, last year he did not do much to help

[00:55:17] this team with the problems that were not his fault, like the injuries, like the goaltending.

[00:55:22] You know, I could see Keith being a much better fit.

[00:55:27] Yeah.

[00:55:27] Last year, it looked like the world was just moving too fast for rough.

[00:55:29] Like he couldn't quite corral it back down to what he had.

[00:55:32] Now, even during, you know, their, their record breaking season two years ago to a man,

[00:55:37] all of us on this show had said something to the tune of they could be a better team in

[00:55:42] the future and get less points.

[00:55:44] And I think that's exactly what we're saying.

[00:55:46] Like, I agree with Dan.

[00:55:46] I think that if you were to take this team right now and you just throw them in the playoffs

[00:55:50] versus the team from two years ago, I'll take this team hands down to do better.

[00:55:55] You know, I mean, this team looks like it would have done way better.

[00:55:59] And I would, I'm going to say beat the Carolina team.

[00:56:02] They lost in the playoffs.

[00:56:03] Right.

[00:56:04] I mean, they just are at Carolina had everything in that series.

[00:56:08] If you guys think back that we didn't, they were, you know, defensively super solid.

[00:56:13] They had all the grit in the world.

[00:56:15] They ground us down.

[00:56:16] Um, that's not the kind of team that is going to beat us this time.

[00:56:21] I mean, we're going to give them a run for their money.

[00:56:24] And, uh, I would say, you know, be on top more likely to not, you know, whereas that was like

[00:56:30] the Achilles heel of, of that speedster devils team was that if you, if you found a way to

[00:56:35] slow them down and just play them with grit, you know, you could get the better of them.

[00:56:40] That's not the 2024, 25 devils.

[00:56:42] No.

[00:56:43] And I felt like last year with New Jersey that when one, they would start out the game

[00:56:47] in the first period, once something went wrong, they just fell apart this year.

[00:56:51] They're still hanging in there and finding ways to win.

[00:56:53] Cause it just seemed like that, you know, I don't know.

[00:56:56] I don't know if you guys noticed that last year, but when, when the game changed, it never

[00:57:00] changed back.

[00:57:00] I felt like, yeah, I think they all felt the, you know, doom hanging about between the injuries

[00:57:06] one after the other and just things not going well.

[00:57:09] Uh, like you said, goals coming in bunches.

[00:57:11] They didn't have the goal tending to kind of like stop the bleeding when they didn't

[00:57:14] have it.

[00:57:15] So every night it was like somebody else's turn to drop the ball instead of pick it up.

[00:57:19] Uh, but even I'm just saying, comparing them to the team two years ago when, you know,

[00:57:23] they went on a 13 game winning streak and they showed so much promise.

[00:57:26] I just think they're that much better than that team.

[00:57:30] It's weird to think about that.

[00:57:31] That was Vanichak and Schmidt.

[00:57:32] Look where we're at now.

[00:57:34] Look at the change.

[00:57:35] Like, you know, we were so two seasons ago during that playoff run, I'm, you know, obviously

[00:57:40] with the Rangers, we were so stoked.

[00:57:42] Like it just felt like the future was, how much it changed now that you look at the roster

[00:57:46] that we're watching take the ice.

[00:57:48] That was such an emotionally charged victory, which is why I'm so looking forward to actually

[00:57:52] playing the Rangers this year, especially twice in December to see how we

[00:57:56] really play against them this year.

[00:57:59] And then we got Carolina again, cause to me, that's, I mean, those are two we need to go

[00:58:02] through.

[00:58:02] Tough week.

[00:58:03] Um, so I'm really looking forward to that and, and, uh, you know, just seeing the difference

[00:58:07] between these two teams, like the Rangers aren't going to push us around either.

[00:58:10] So that's great.

[00:58:12] Yep.

[00:58:12] There's that.

[00:58:13] And the devil's going to have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder.

[00:58:14] They played the Rangers like shit regular season last year.

[00:58:17] They know they got the worst of it.

[00:58:19] And, uh, you know, regardless of what anyone says, like, oh, that's all fan bullshit.

[00:58:23] No, I think it's real.

[00:58:25] I think these players, they, they don't want to be humiliated by their crosstown rivals.

[00:58:29] And last year was not good for the devils with the Rangers as good as, you know, the

[00:58:33] Rangers kind of had that, you know, we're going to take revenge on you for knocking

[00:58:37] some of playoffs.

[00:58:37] They had, we're firing all cylinders all season.

[00:58:40] They, they look like a cohesive team.

[00:58:42] Didn't get bit by the injury bug and they took their shots at the devils during those

[00:58:47] games.

[00:58:47] I think that, uh, this time around, it's going to be a real war.

[00:58:51] Uh, and I do believe the devils will come out on top.

[00:58:53] I'm very excited about those.

[00:58:55] That series with the Rangers.

[00:58:56] It's going to be, you know, the season long.

[00:58:58] I think it's going to say a lot about them.

[00:59:00] You're right, Bobby.

[00:59:01] We have to go through them.

[00:59:02] And, um, I don't want to wait to the playoffs and say, well, the regular season doesn't

[00:59:06] matter.

[00:59:06] You don't want to, you don't want to pile up some wins against them.

[00:59:09] Yeah.

[00:59:10] Definitely.

[00:59:11] So this is a perfect segue towards the end of the podcast to bring up our favorite Stan

[00:59:17] Fischler and his musings about a one Igor Shesterkin.

[00:59:22] Let's see the latest that Stan had to say on Twitter, the New York Rangers, Igor Shesterkin,

[00:59:30] who allegedly wants to be the NHL's highest paid goalie made 46 saves.

[00:59:36] At Calgary.

[00:59:37] But that ugly 47th save was missing on Zari's eminently stoppable bad angle shot.

[00:59:45] Piggy Iggy worked hard for his money, but his mates needed one more stop.

[00:59:50] Never came.

[00:59:51] Oh God.

[00:59:52] I love the hate this guy.

[00:59:53] Yeah.

[00:59:54] We're just going to try to end every podcast with Stan Fischler bashing him.

[00:59:59] So that's just perfect.

[01:00:01] I do love it.

[01:00:02] It's, you know, it's, it's kind of hard to take swipes at Shesterkin, but Stan knows how

[01:00:08] to do it and he does it better than anybody.

[01:00:10] He sure does.

[01:00:11] I mean, Shesterkin's a pretty solid.

[01:00:14] I mean, think about what you're saying.

[01:00:16] 46 out of 47.

[01:00:17] Exactly.

[01:00:18] What a fucking loser.

[01:00:19] He makes it sound like he's a loser, right?

[01:00:22] You just said 46 out of 47.

[01:00:25] It's two games worth the saves.

[01:00:27] It's almost like he's being sarcastic there, but I know, I know.

[01:00:30] He's not.

[01:00:30] He hates him.

[01:00:31] He's not.

[01:00:31] He hates him.

[01:00:32] He hates the money aspect.

[01:00:34] I think there's also a disconnect because he's old school and, you know, he's a lot of

[01:00:38] the new European, particularly Russian goaltenders Stan doesn't connect with.

[01:00:44] But I love Stan Fischler.

[01:00:46] I always loved his stuff.

[01:00:47] Always did.

[01:00:47] I'm glad he's still around giving it to us.

[01:00:50] Awesome.

[01:00:51] All right.

[01:00:51] We got anything else, boys?

[01:00:53] No, man.

[01:00:54] Hope, you know, we all hope Chris feels better.

[01:00:56] You know, obviously, Bobby, you did a guy.

[01:00:59] I got to say, man, much props, dude.

[01:01:01] You held down the ship.

[01:01:02] You did a good job.

[01:01:04] Yep.

[01:01:04] Just get those love letters out to Chris at Community Memorial Hospital.

[01:01:08] Chris, who?

[01:01:09] Bobby's the new man.

[01:01:10] That's it.

[01:01:12] Elephantitis of the nuts.

[01:01:13] Glad we got a show out for you guys.

[01:01:15] Thanks, everybody, for listening.

[01:01:16] We really appreciate it.

[01:01:17] Don't forget to check out theunclepuckers.com.

[01:01:19] We got some blog posts up there.

[01:01:21] We have a new account on Blue Sky.

[01:01:23] You can meet us there and our new Instagram.

[01:01:25] We're putting up a lot of reels, a lot of clips of the show.

[01:01:27] If you don't have time to listen to the whole thing,

[01:01:29] we've got a lot of entertaining stuff for you there.

[01:01:32] So for Tony and Dan, I'm Bobby.

[01:01:35] And for Chris, sitting at home, sniffling for theunclepuckers.

[01:01:39] We'll see you when we see you.

[01:01:40] Bye-bye.

[01:01:40] Peace.

[01:01:41] Puckers out.

[01:01:42] Feel better, Unclepuckers.

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[01:02:21] Hey, everybody.

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