Week 28: Playoff Preview

The FPHL playoffs are here and this year's playoff race was extremely tight! The Danbury Hat Ticks and Twin City Thunderbirds finished 5th in their respective divisions just missing the final playoff spots. Now they both enter the pod. A.J. Galante and Steve Harrison join @swancommander for this playoff preview episode as they analyze and make a few predictions.

The conversation continues in the Discord — join free here: https://discord.gg/7UVWaJyR4d

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:07

Morning. Morning. This is the globalized out. Global ISO. Testing the right speaker. Right. Testing the left speaker. Left. Sound successfully recovered. Swan commander. Connected. And now, and now the countdown has begun, has begun. And now, and now, are you ready for a journey that goes beyond the norm? The Federal Prospect Hockey League just celebrated its 15th anniversary. With the footprint and fan base rapidly expanding. Beyond the arenas. Beyond the crowd. This is FPHL. Beyond the glass.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

What's going on, everyone? Welcome back to another episode of FPHL Beyond the Glass. I'm your host, Eric SwanX1 Commander on social media. This is the official podcast of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, and the playoffs are here. It's time. We uh another regular season in the books. We are gonna do a playoff preview episode. We're gonna have a little bit of fun. We're going to be joined by Danbury Hattrix General Manager AJ Galante and Twin City Thunderbirds head coach Steve Harrison. Let's go. AJ, Steve, what's going on? Welcome back to the podcast.

SPEAKER_00 1:50

Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you, sir. Look, always good to be back, man.

SPEAKER_02 1:55

Yeah, and I appreciate you guys coming back. Obviously, uh you know, not the ending that you had hoped for um, you know, this season, but it's uh the race was really tight this year, and you guys both had you know, you guys both had heavy schedules, right? Like Steve, like that pod that you guys were in down there was incredibly difficult. AJ, you guys had to play Bighamton, you know, a million times. You know, the schedules, you know, obviously a little bit unbalanced in this league, and you guys had a you know a tough part in that. Um, you know, AJ, we can start with you.

SPEAKER_00 2:27

Yeah, I mean, I mean, this was my first year, you know, as a GM, like basically really part of this league. And um, you know, it was it was you know, we inherited a roster, not saying anything bad. I mean, look, you know, coach will tell you, you know, the roster you start with and end in sometimes is so dramatically different, you know. And um, you know, me and the coaching staff, we really had, you know, I I think the ownership thinks we're making an excuse of this, but we had such a limited offseason. You kind of inherited a roster, you're kind of remodeling on the go. It's not easy. We got had uh we got hot at the end, but we just dug ourselves in so deep that uh you know it was tough to tough to overcome that. So I I chop it up to we we demoed a little, remodeled the house, and uh, I think next year we'll I think we're we're primed for a good you know two, three years, hopefully.

SPEAKER_02 3:20

Yeah, for sure. Steve, what what uh how about on your end there?

SPEAKER_03 3:24

Well, kind of the same thing. We're we're in a transition time here, you know, like like uh you know, the year before I got here, they went to the finals, and then the two years I was here, we went to the finals. And uh, you know, you get to this level, things uh you're in a bit of a transition time, and uh just from top to bottom with us, you know, we changed our logo, we changed uh other things happened uh uh uh within the organization. So just just a lot of things happened, and as I said, with the transition, and we never really recovered. We we we got better. The the one thing actually, I just had uh some interviews with some guys, and and the one thing I I didn't get this team probably, I would like to have this team maybe in December. And and we never really got the continuity and we never got the consistency. We we we played at times and and we had a tough schedule, don't get me wrong. I think we had nine games that against teams below us. That was it. Nine games out of 56. So every other game was you know ahead of us. And so uh, and that's not an excuse. It was a tough schedule, but we just weren't consistent enough as a group. Uh we you know, we go into Athens, we play them toe to toe, but we lose, you know, four or three. We we went we went down to Monroe and you know, lost one and then beat them once. And and uh, you know, we went to bingo and beat them twice in bingo and and back-to-back games. And so we at times we were really, really good. And at times we were uh very, very inconsistent. And the one problem I think my team had this year was it wasn't game to game sometimes, it was more or less for 50 minutes. I'm like, geez, I like this. And then the last 10 minutes, I'm like, you know, I I went and called the police because somebody stole my team. So yeah, you know, and and and so that that was the problem we had here. And I think the problem was I made more changes this year than I have in the last five years. And just trying to to get uh I had like 47 players this year, and and you know, uh the the year I won it, I think I had 25. Uh, you know, uh last year I think the one year the the my first year here I had 31, but I lost like six guys or seven guys in one weekend, uh, either to call-ups or or that, and that's why I had more. So I I don't make a lot of changes. We've had a lot of changes, and I'm not putting all the blame on that, but I just I I just think we were gonna if we were a little more consistent, we and I mean we went right down to the last weekend, we we would have had a better chance. And as I said, uh the tough schedule and everything. Uh that that's that's just an excuse. Uh I I'm not saying it wasn't was easy, but I I enjoyed it. And as I said, if we were a little more consistent, we might have given ourselves a better chance.

SPEAKER_02 6:02

Yeah, for sure. I mean, consistency is you know is key, obviously, with everything. Um, you know, and the and the schedules really is a factor. I mean, like, no, you know, disrespect to any of the teams at the bottom of the standings, but you know, if there's another team that plays them more, like at certain points in the season, they they look like automatic wins. It is what it is. I mean, you know, and you know, like in terms of like AJ, like with all your games against Bighamton. I think somebody said it was a few weeks ago during one of these episodes at that time. I think mathematically, if you took Bighamton out of Watertown's schedule, Watertown was over 500. Right, but they they finished you know, the blue did they wind up finishing last in the division?

SPEAKER_00 6:44

I think Indiana did because they just started so slow.

SPEAKER_02 6:48

Okay. Um, but it's just like it just sounds like we started in that many times.

SPEAKER_00 6:54

No, you're no, you're right. Watertown did finish last. You're right, by a point. Okay, yeah. But you're right. I mean, um, you know, listen in this coach talk, it's like we're literally like mirror images of each other. We made so many changes too. Um, the schedule didn't help. But like coach says, it's not an excuse, you gotta try to find ways around it. But it was it was tough, it was a very, very tough go. And um yeah, I wish you know the way we ended, I wish the team we had at the last game. I wish if we had in December too, I think um I think there'd be a lot of talks of a Danbury Twin City final potential. You never know.

SPEAKER_03 7:36

And that and what people don't realize is is yeah, you get your team together, but you gotta learn to win as a group. And and you know, my first year in Danville, uh our old friend Barry there called me and said we should make some changes because I was like two, nine, and two. And I said, I like my team, but like we gotta learn to win as a team. And and uh that this team here, when I finally got them together, the last like we made the big trade, a couple big trades right at the deadline, and I think we played 12 games together. And and I remember being in Danville, we we were like two, nine, and two. And uh I said, we gotta we can't win as a team right now, and we have to win as a team. And then then I won 12 in a row and and and things took off. So it it takes time to win as a team and and and gel and get things together. It just does, especially when all the players don't know each other, you know what I mean? And yeah, and so uh that that's something, and I'm not as again, I'm not trying to make excuses, but it it takes more time than you think. And as I said, we the consistency on the gelling, you know, as I said, some nights 55 minutes. I'm like, this is fantastic. And then the last five, it's or or one game just wasn't very good. And then next game was we look like world beaters. So that's that's the consistency and and and the and the and the process of guys trusting each other to learn how to win together. You know, you're up four one or three-one going in the third. You know, I I I should be sitting in the uh, you know, uh upstairs in the bar having a drink and and and uh talking to fans. You know what I mean? It should be over, you know. But but this year here, we just you know, we just couldn't put those away all the time. Or, you know, if we'd be down three one, we'd come back and tie it three three and and and then lose again or something. So it was just that's uh the gelling takes time, and not every team's the same. Like, you know, AJ, AJ's team could have might have started to gel in five, six, seven games. I might have taken 20 games. So it you you you never know because of the different personnel.

SPEAKER_02 9:31

Yeah, absolutely. And in this league, too. I mean, like you could you could win or lose a game in five minutes, right? Like with how high scoring the league could be. I mean, you know, there's you're up by you know, to your point, Steve, like if you're up by three, I mean, I could go away in five minutes. Oh no question.

SPEAKER_00 9:46

You know, I don't know, I don't I don't know if they have a stat for it, but I am positive if I really you know I I really don't have a life anymore, I could probably figure it out. Binghamton probably leads the league in the fastest multi-goal, like the the the time in between goals. I mean, I'm telling you, they they come in bunches, Binghamton. They punch you like four times. I mean, three goals within three and a half minutes. I mean, it sounds crazy, but they come in clusters, and that's you know, early in the year when you don't have the team you think is best for your roster. I mean, they get up one or two on you, it's over. You know what I mean? And um, you know, like Coach says, you're going in a one-two goal lead against a Binghamton. I mean, forget it. That means nothing, you know, because they can turn it on like like like that. So I I gotta look that sad up. I want to know what their average time in between goals is, because I'm telling you, it's short.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

Yeah, like when you like, yeah, like I said, like when you fall asleep, like they'll you know, like they'll punch you a couple of times. They just did it last weekend, I think. I think they were down by one, you know, they scored one, and I think Nick Swa, you know, the second one, Nick Swain batted it out of the air like 30 seconds later. Um killed the whole year.

SPEAKER_03 11:04

Yeah, I mean, and the the one of the keys in this league is um actually I went over it. Uh we had 200 and something 207 uh excuse me goals against this year. And you know, the year I won it, uh, I think I had 121. Uh two years ago I had 127. Uh the year before I was like 130. And and that's the difference in in and and for my team, and for the you know, when you when you're playing, and and and if you can learn and and still score goals, you still got you just can't sit back and and and hope for that, but you got to score goals also. And and but if you can you can limit it your goals against that's gonna give you more of an opportunity to win. And uh that that's one of the things that that we faltered on this year of not being a great defensive team. And and if you look at the teams, you know, everybody's gonna score. Uh it doesn't matter. You can go to Danbury, you can go to uh Indiana or Topeka or you know down to Monroe. They're all gonna score. You know, some teams score more, but it's the teams that can defend a little bit better. And and you know, as I said, when that scores three, one, you know, the party should be over. And and and uh that's that's instead of you know, maybe instead of winning four or three and everyone thinks, oh, that was a great game, it's you know, that's three goals. You know, you should be it should be three-one, it shouldn't be three, two or three four uh four-three, you know what I mean? And so if if you can if this in this league here, in my opinion, and again, I'm not saying I play defensively, I'm just talking about uh being better when you don't have the puck. And and if you can do that in this league here, yeah, you you get into the playoffs, that's gonna be the biggest factor, in my opinion, on who's going to be able to play away from the puck. Everybody's gonna score. You look at all the teams Monroe, Athens, uh Bingo, uh uh Petey, uh, you know, yeah, Columbus. You know, they all they all can score on the other side with Topeka and that, you know, uh Port Huron. Everybody can score, but who can defend the best when the pressure's on? And and uh, I think that's gonna be the key of who's gonna win.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I remember even I think um if I remember correctly, when Athens went up to Binghamton earlier this year for two games, I think it was I think they blew each other out each night. Like I think Athens put up 10 one night, and then Binghamton put up like you know six or seven the next night. Like it was like you know, um, if I remember correctly, I know Athens, I think Athens definitely won big the first night, but yeah, like in terms of like it just shows you like yeah, like you gotta you gotta be able to play D. You take you know, you start falling asleep.

SPEAKER_03 13:38

I mean, yeah, like someone's gonna put up and and that's and see this is what people don't understand. It's like baseball. Uh a hitter, you know, one week he's you know, he bats 800, and then the next week he bats 150. And and and and it's like scoring, you know. Uh you get guys that you know score, score, score, and then all of a sudden, you know, the uh the playoffs are a little tighter, and then now we're not scoring as much. So, you know, you're expecting to get four goals a game. Now all of a sudden it's you know, five minutes left in the third, and it's two one hockey game or two two hockey game. Like, you know, the goals aren't coming quite as much. So you're gonna have to know how to you know not to give those goals up. And that that's what's gonna change the that's what's gonna really be the factor here of as I said, uh you get in the playoffs. How many times do you guys have seen it? Uh a guy scores 50 goals in this regular season, he gets in the playoffs, and in eight games he's got two goals. Yeah, you know, he he and and and those things happen because it's playoffs, and and so the the the the high flying teams are gonna have to learn to to to make sure they know how to play the other end too.

SPEAKER_02 14:40

Yeah, absolutely. And so let's let's talk a little bit about the the playoffs right now. So a little bit, let's have some fun predictions, um, you know, even just some analysis and everything from your guys' point of view. If we start over in the Continental, because I think that that race was super, super tight all year. Um Steve, what are you what are you seeing there? Like what like what teams do you? I mean, obviously every team you know can play. What what do you see going into this playoffs in terms of like a bit of analysis or predictions?

SPEAKER_03 15:10

Well, I I I think actually, you know, I I think PD lost a player uh the to the SP. He went up there. Uh uh I think health is gonna be a big factor. Uh you you look at uh Athens right now, uh I'm not sure of Milan's um um uh situation. Uh you know, down in uh in in um uh Monroe there, uh, you know, they lost a player there uh near the end of the the I can't think of his name right now, a big winger, um good hockey player. Uh so I think a lot is gonna depend on who who's healthy and who's who's I think anybody can come out of that division. I I think the one team that that maybe uh I tick the top three and I look at I look at Athens, Monroe, and Columbus. I think the one team that that are gonna have to really know how to play defensively better, uh in my opinion, is Petey. Uh uh they they got a high-flying hockey team and they they push the puck uh a lot. But if they get shut down, then I think uh that they could be in trouble in a three-game series. But you know, they just picked up the goalie. I think they're gonna be pretty good there. But uh as I said, I uh I to try and predict our division is going to in a short series like that. I I don't know if there's any real clear cut. And this is what I was trying to tell my team or or you know, or anybody gets in. Uh all you had to do is get into the dance. And and you don't know. And and and you know, especially with the way our our format uh handles is you know, uh you you got the game at home first. And and and if you're the lower seed, you got that game at home. And if you can steal one there, I'm gonna tell you something. It's it's it's it's it takes a lot of pressure off you. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 16:51

Anything can happen.

SPEAKER_03 16:53

Or you know, and but praise your things have happened. We we we lost to uh Columbus two years ago, 3-0 in our barn, and then went there and won two. So anything can happen in a short three-game series. You ask uh you you look at the the the one league there, and I know we don't like to compare ourselves, but the SP, I think in the last 10 years, the team who won the league has only won the championship once or something. You know what I mean? It doesn't happen very often. So when it's I think Evansville last year might have been in six, you know.

SPEAKER_02 17:22

Maybe they went from sixth or six if I remember correctly.

SPEAKER_03 17:26

Yeah. So it to sit here and truly try to predict that I I think it's there's so many factors involved. Uh, I think travel is gonna uh affect some things. Uh, you know, because I know Athens is going uh they're gonna play in Athens Friday, PD Saturday, and back in Athens on Sunday. So I I'm not sure who that is is going to really have to be.

SPEAKER_02 17:50

Oh, they're not doing the one-two?

SPEAKER_03 17:52

No, no, I I that's I heard that. Maybe I'm wrong. I thought they were doing that. That's what I heard yesterday that they thought that was gonna happen. So, and then you know, uh Monroe and and and Columbus, that's a that's a fairly long trip. So uh a lot of those things are are are come into play. You know, how do guys respond? We we don't usually travel like that, you know. You play Friday night and then you have to get on a bus and drive nine hours or eight hours and get there. We did it last year uh or two years ago with Port Huron. And I'll tell you, that's a long trip home, 12 hours, and and then play the next night. You know what I mean? Uh and then and then again, you you mentioned it. You you get a hot goalie in in a short series, and and like I think everybody's got a good goalie. I I don't I don't think there's a goalie um uh a team in our division that doesn't have the number one, but then you know, three games in three days, can he go three games? So uh their backups, what's their backup like? And and so there's some factors there. Again, I uh I love to have a crystal ball. Uh I I I I think with uh Athens and PD, I in my opinion, it might go three games, but I think Athens is is is is is has probably got that one the way I look at it. Uh Monroe and and Columbus, I think that's uh that's a you know, you could flip a coin or or I could go Columbus all the way, and then you know, I could be totally wrong, or I could go Monroe, because I I think that's gonna be just who plays better. Uh uh I I think they're they're both uh well coached. They're both they can score goals. And and uh uh as I said, I just think it's a matter of uh the the one thing I don't know about like Monroe and those uh and some teams like I I last year we got in the playoffs and I had a player that's had played like six years in the in the in the uh actually he he'd been in the coast and in the SP and all this and never played a playoff game. And and so those are the factors that I'm not sure of, and I don't have you know in my side here that that means a lot. Like those those things like that that playoff experience, not just in our league, but anywhere, any league, you know what I mean? Like that that might come down to it too. You you might not be the better team, but if you got a little more experience in the in the playoffs, that that might help you too. And as I said, I don't have those numbers.

SPEAKER_02 20:09

Yeah, absolutely, yeah, absolutely. And AJ, I want you to weigh in on the Continental and then give us what you think for the for the Empire.

SPEAKER_00 20:17

I mean, I think coach hit it on the head. I mean, when you when you have these short three-game series, it's like especially like he said, the lower speed playing at home first it makes things so interesting. Um I just think it, you know, with with a short series, it's it's like, you know, walls to the wall. I think the I think sometimes the explosive teams can get off to a hot start. Um I got Athens winning, uh beating. I I I you know, listen, you know, coaches seen that division way more than me. I just think Athens is just built for it right now. Um if PD takes the first game, it could be interesting, but but I think um, you know, when we're talking defensive, you know, and I know Athens goalie's playing out of his mind right now. I mean, I just think Athens wins that one. Columbus and Monroe again, another coin flip. I don't know. I I have a hunch Monroe Monroe cases. Why? I I honestly don't know. I think some momentum they've been pretty good in the last um 10 games, you know, as opposed to Columbus. I'm looking at the settings now. And uh I don't know. I I believe in momentum too. I think momentum plays uh part of it. So um I don't know. I kind of have a hunch no real reason why on that one. I just think my role just I don't know. I just think I think they're built built for a three-game series, honestly. So you know that's where I see it. And then um I don't know, ultimately coming out of the continental. I mean, I know it sounds like a cheap pick because they ended at number one, but I don't know. I just think Athens is just kind of primed right now to uh to take that you know the division button. It's like Coach says with these short series, it's like it's anyone's wall.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

Honestly, yeah, you could yeah, like one one undisciplined five-minute major penalty could like lose the series.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

Yeah, and I mean looking at the Columbus Monroe series, I mean, um, I think they got the number one scorer in the league, but they give up a lot of goals in that division. I think they've given up the third most amount of goals. So I you know, defense plays a big part. Um Monroe or Columbus? Uh Columbus, Columbus. Um, you know, I mean, to put it in perspective, Baton Goose only gave up seven more goals than them. So I mean, again, numbers tell a small part of the story, but defensive wise, we'll we'll see. I just think Monroe right now. I mean, they they forced 275 goals. I mean, they they got some firepower.

SPEAKER_02 22:46

Yeah, yeah. What um, yeah, so it'll be interesting. Um like the every series is gonna be is gonna be awesome. And you know, Steve, to your point, like that's something to watch. Like with Athens, is I I do think they're down a couple guys right now, a couple key players right now.

SPEAKER_03 23:01

They lost the two Russians, they had they went home, and then uh Malone's uh situation. And he he's he he's a little like Ford, who that we got from us here. Like he he he he kind of stirs the drink for them, too. You know what I mean? And so those are those and and we played them a lot this year, and and and that's the guy, or you know, now they got Fordy when which is gonna really help. But that's the guy that uh you know the score is 2-2 or 2-1 and they're down, and and uh he always seems to get either that assist or the or the goal to to tie it for some reason. And same with Ford, you know, I think yeah, and and and people uh look at him like, well, you know, he's just an offensive guy, or same as Ford, they're just offensive guys, but they don't realize when you play them a lot, or he's on your team, uh they get those goals that maybe another guy scores 40, but he doesn't get the the the 40 aren't as that one, yeah. You know what I mean? Uh you know, uh I think two years ago we went to the final and I think we had like 19 goals or something. I think Ford had 12. So I it's like like the those guys are invaluable to you, and and you can't uh you you can go get a good hockey player, but you know, at that one, as I said, a guy like Ford and Milan and those guys, they uh all of a sudden boom, it's uh it's on their stick, and what what happened? Like, you know, that they haven't done anything, and then boom, boom, next thing you know, they got a goal, and you know, they're they're ahead or tied, you know what I mean? And so uh it'll be interesting to see with with uh with Milan out uh how they uh respond there.

SPEAKER_02 24:36

Yeah, absolutely. And AJ, what do you uh take us through the Empire?

SPEAKER_00 24:41

Listen, I um listen, and you know, I talk, I have respect for every team in our league, every coach, every GM. You know what I mean? Uh I uh I think you know, looking at Binghamton and Topeka, I think we're gonna see the strength of schedule come into play for Topeka. I think they kind of had a I don't want to say easy, there's no easy schedules in this league, but I think they due to their proximity, they had a lighter touch than us, Watertown, Blue Ridge. I think that's gonna play here. Listen, Binghamton, I mean, we saw them again last weekend. I mean, they weren't even playing their top guys. Um they're just I I don't see Topeka overcoming Binghamton. Uh Topeka's got a lot of name guys, a lot of name brand guys, like you said, could put up points and stuff. But like Coach says, I look at the I look really at the um the history, the playoff experience. Um you know, Topeka's got a couple guys, but honestly, man, when when the going gets tough, bingo's been there. Um, I can't I I think they take it in two. Um Blue Ridge important. A lot of people sleeping on Blue Ridge. I actually think Blue Ridge right now, they are so hot. Um, and you know, I think they peaked at the right time. They made a lot of moves at the at the deadline. They also picked up a lot of really good collegiate players. Actually, one they stole from me. I'm kind of mad still they got him. Um I think Blue Ridge takes port. I think um, I think I think Blue Ridge might, I think a lot of people just assume it's always gonna end up being bingo and port the past few years.

SPEAKER_03 26:18

But AJ, I hate to hate her up, but uh Blue Ridge were hot until the last game of the year when they were down up three nothing and lost five three. Well, listen, I just had to throw that in there because that was a win. You're right, you're right. That is true. I had that's true. You teed it up. I had to hit it. I'm sorry, you said they're the hottest team and all that. And I was like, Well, they were until the last game of the season, but I got that's all no. No, no, you're right. You're right, AJ. You're right about them. They they've they they played well, but then again, I think uh, and I'm not trust me, I'm not trying to downgrade whatever it is, and and I know they're hot, but if you look at their strengths of schedule, again, they played a bunch of teams below us and and uh uh below them, and and uh those things help, but that that's part of the that's part of the game, right? We all got to deal with it, and and you can't use it as a whatever, but again, they they played well, and uh as I said, uh that they have been playing uh better lately.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

And I think what you said, coach, before, which I I subscribe to because that's what we're trying to do here in Danbury, is I think a lot of there's a lot of pieces in Blue Ridge that kind of been together for a little while now and they know each other. And I mean the same could obviously be said about Porter. I mean, they have their core there. Um I don't know. I just think Blue Ridge right now, and yes, some of it is momentum, they've been hot, but also, you know, even seeing them recently ourselves, they um they got a good team top to bottom right now. So we'll see. I'm I'm gonna put that in there as my sleeper pick for the uh between them and Port. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 27:54

You know, I I I I I haven't seen all the teams in that league. You watch the scores, you watch uh the the the summaries, you watch all those things. Um I I agree with you, and I haven't seen Topeka. Uh, I know they're kind of uh uh they've played, you know, I talk to Robbie all the time, you know. The the they they seem like they got hot for a while and then they were cold, and then they were um they won big games, they won and then they lose. So I'm not sure how they're doing. As you as AJ said, uh, I think bingo is going in there um with the experience, with you know, and and I know they had you know some of their schedule, but they I still think that they're they've won two in a row, and you're gonna have to knock them off. And and I don't think that uh you you can go in there not really prepared enough. And I don't know if there's a team in that division right now that's maybe ready to to knock them off. Uh I'm not sure. Like uh I look at the other two, the other series there. I think so I think I I think uh uh bingo wins that one. The the other one there, I Port Huron had a great season. Okay, they they they did a lot of great things. Uh they scored a lot of goals. They they uh they they just had a great season, and I give those guys a lot of compliments. The one thing that they did to to to win a lot of games is is they intimidated a lot of teams. They they went in there and uh said we're gonna intimidate you and and and and do that. Yeah, port plays tough. And and but if you watch the playoffs, those things go away a lot. And and I don't know if that is the recipe for success in the playoffs. It might be. I I've just seen it over the course of I I hate to say it because I've been around a long time. Those rest because all of a sudden, you know, on a game on a Friday night, you know, you you're you're uh you get those penalties or or you or or you're trying to be aggressive and the other team doesn't want to be involved in it, and and now you're down short and they score a couple power play goals, now you're now you're chasing your tail. So I I I've seen it over the years. Maybe they're good enough, and I haven't seen them. That's one of my issues with them. I haven't seen them, but I I I think that could be a factor for that series there. If if if Blue Ridge decide that we're gonna engage in everything and it's gonna be uh a free-for-all, uh I I think that's more in the Port Huron's uh uh favor. Uh if if uh if they're disciplined and say, hey, we want to play hockey, and and I'm not saying there's not going to be a fight or something like that, but I'm uh Port Huron, I think I I don't think I've seen a game this year or looked at a summary where they haven't had four fights. And and so those are the factors, and and you know, all of a sudden uh the you know there's a fight, and all of a sudden, you know, they're leaders fighting. What happens then? You know, uh and in a short series, you you better be ready for that.

SPEAKER_02 30:53

You like you kind of like whoever's gonna dictate the pace of play. I think so. The last thing I want to, the last thing what I want to end off on here is does Bigham take it again? Do you see anybody in the league that you think will beat them or can beat them? Do you think they or do you think Bighamton has to beat themselves? Like if Binghamton plays their game consistently, who has the roster to beat them, or do you think Bighamton takes it again? AJ, we'll start with you.

SPEAKER_00 31:23

I got it, I got it coming down to it's kind of a boring pick. I got it coming down to Athens and Binghamton in the end. I think with Binghamton, man, they are so explosive. And listen, even if they have an off day, right? Let's just like coach says, let's say they they're you know, they average over five goals a game. They have an off game, they have a goalie right now in that to May kid that can at least steal you a game, at least. You know what I mean? Like let's say you only score one or two goals. I mean, this kid has the ability to steal a game for you if the rest of your roster is is off, you know. And um again, maybe I'm biased because it's the division, I've seen them a million times, but I just they are just stacked top to bottom. I mean, and and uh it's just it's gonna be a hard mountain, but with the short series, anything is possible. That's what I kind of like about. I mean, I wouldn't like it if I was playing them in a short series, but that's as a fan, I love the short series because it's literally a lot of Cinderella stories, you know, in the making.

SPEAKER_02 32:27

A lot of opportunity.

SPEAKER_03 32:28

I agree. I I think bingo's gonna come out of that division. And our division, I I'll be honest with you, I think it's just it's gonna be a toss-up. I I and and whoever does in my point, uh, the three teams, um, um to me, Monroe, Athens, and and and Columbus, whoever's hot, and and as you say, like you know, you look at the goalies, if they get hot, whoever comes out of our division, I think they're really battle-tested because I mean, we we they've when we've played each other every night, and you know, you're playing Athens is playing, you know, Monroe, or or we're playing Columbus, or vice versa. And and so I I I think that whoever comes out of our division, those three teams, I think they all got some type of shot. Maybe Athens is maybe a step ahead of everybody, but I don't know even if it is if it is, it's a small margin there. And I think whoever comes out of our division will give them a heck of a fight. And I believe in a three out of five, it it should be a great series, and it should be great for the league. And and as I said, I I think uh to make a predict when we get to that, maybe one day we'll we'll talk for a second and we'll make a prediction. But uh, I just think the three teams in our division will give uh bingo a uh uh if they don't beat them, they're gonna give them a run for their money, and uh or they're gonna beat them, and so that's what it's gonna be in my opinion.

SPEAKER_00 33:50

Coach hit it right on the head. I'm big on battle tested, and I think whoever's coming out of that division is gonna be so warmed and prime. Not to say that look, you know, even our division, I would say is is the lesser of the two overall. And like coach says, I mean, just battle tested. I mean, whoever comes out of the continent, I mean, I think the finals, no matter who it is, it's going five. I just think the league is so competitive right now that it's great for the league, I think. Like you know, Coach said. Oh, for sure. Um, it's gonna be it's gonna be very, very interesting.

SPEAKER_03 34:25

The one thing the one thing that people don't really realize, I mean, if if you know the the Athens PD series goes three games, uh there's a lot of emotion involved. If the uh Columbus and Monroe series go three games, there's gonna be a lot of emotion. And you know, the next weekend you go and you battle test and they go three games again. You know, by the end of that two weeks, we did that, I've done that for the last two years. Uh trust me, but the end of the two weeks, you're like, whew, you know, it's it's it's it's it's not just physically draining, it's mentally draining. And then now you got to say to yourself, okay, now we're going against bingo. And and I'm not saying bingo's side is is a is a is a a whitewash for them. I just think you know they they might have just a little less uh uh uh of going into uh into the playoffs than they did last year. And as I said, uh that might be a factor too, and and that's maybe something that you know teams are gonna have to watch for.

SPEAKER_02 35:19

It's gonna be an awesome, they're all gonna be awesome series. I'm looking forward to them. Um, guys, thanks again for coming on. Have no problem summers. I'm sure I'll be speaking with you with you real soon. AJ, I'll give you a call, buddy.

SPEAKER_00 35:32

We'll talk. Yeah, listen. Me and Coach, we we've had more calls this year, you know. We we're talking moves and stuff. So Harry's been one of my best buddies in this league. He's uh great man. I really look up to him and always love picking his brain.

SPEAKER_03 35:47

Appreciate it, buddy. You have all have a good day. We'll take you.

SPEAKER_02 35:51

See you guys. Sounds great, guys. See ya. And that's gonna do it for this episode. Let's do our proof of attendance token code. The code is going to be playoffs. Enter the code at swanhockey.io on the podcast page, and you'll be eligible to receive your proof of attendance token for watching this episode. Codes must be entered by 9 p.m. Eastern, the night that this show airs, Wednesday night. Our magic number is five. Collect five or more of these tokens, and you will have access to the member only chat inside Club Fed in the Swan Hockey Discord server. That's gonna do it for this episode. And until next time, I'll see you guys soon.

SPEAKER_01 36:27

Thank you for being the best part of this episode of FPHL Beyond the Glass by Swan Hockey. We will see you soon. We will see you soon.