The Check In - 03.17.26 - Predators at Jets

The Jets look to close out their season high eight-game homestand with a win over the Predators. Sara and Jamie discuss the Jets playoff chances, the World Cup of Hockey and welcome TSN analyst Jamie McLennan to the show. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 2:07

What's going on with you? I haven't seen you in a long time, so I was just wondering how is your life?

SPEAKER_08 2:13

It was so nice to have a break from each other yesterday. I'm sorry, Lesky. You are watching the latest edition of Check In. Everybody, it is game eight of this homestand for the Winnipeg Jets. Finally.

SPEAKER_05 2:30

Where did the time go?

SPEAKER_08 2:31

You know what? This homestand, which as all of you know, is the longest one of the season for the Winnipeg Jets, it has gone on for so long. I mean, half of over half a month.

SPEAKER_05 2:41

That's who was the first game against Chicago.

SPEAKER_08 2:44

And I know that only because I had to look it up on Sunday because I couldn't remember who game one was against. Uh, that's how long it has been. But the Winnipeg Jets come into tonight's game. It is another central division opponent. After playing three games in four days, they finish off that stretch on the weekend with wins and big wins no less against the Colorado Avalanche and then the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.

SPEAKER_05 3:05

You know what the Winnipeg Jets looked like on Sunday? What? A team that had played three games in three and a half days. They were done. They were spent, but managed to grind that one out. So that was, I mean, as oppressive as the win was on Saturday against Colorado, they very well could have said, Well, we had a big win over Colorado. That was good enough. That was not the case. They defended so well. Um, their sticks were excellent. Uh Saturday was more blocking shots. Sunday was their sticks. Uh, they got great goaltending from Eric Comery, of course. Um, his first games was January 25th or sorry. February 25th. Right. Yeah. See, I'm already losing track of time on that one. So um he played fantastic, but in in the end, it was just Hayden Florida gets a goal. Like, there's a lot of good things that happen over the weekend, but much needed four points over the weekend.

SPEAKER_08 3:50

Yeah, absolutely. Uh, it's great to see so many of you in the chat already. We see that Kenny's water bottle has been made.

SPEAKER_05 3:56

Dude, where were you?

SPEAKER_08 3:57

Made his return, so great uh to see that. Uh, you guys aren't wearing green. This is green. It is a greenish color. It is green, it's just not the bright green that we associate. So I can only do so much.

SPEAKER_05 4:09

It's a read pinchman because I didn't do it.

SPEAKER_08 4:11

Oh and James, it's a season that never ends. It goes on and on, my friends. Do you remember that song?

SPEAKER_05 4:19

Well done. Well played.

SPEAKER_08 4:20

Yes. So now this is gonna be in my head all day. So I will be cursing that later on.

SPEAKER_05 4:26

You, James Robinson. That's right.

SPEAKER_08 4:28

Um, but look, we are looking forward to uh today. Nashville Partners in town. So another central division opponent. We have a great show. We're gonna hear from Eric Comery. I caught up with him just a short while ago, as you mentioned, played very well on Sunday. He set a new career high in wins, same thing with starts as well. So he has played pretty well winning his last six starts now. Um, and then we also earlier today, Jamie McClennan wasn't able to pop in live with us. So we take with we taped with him first thing this morning when you and I came in to the studio. So we'll hear from him as well as we talk a little bit more about goaltending and uh known as noodles affectionately. He is a great storyteller. So looking forward to that as well. But first off, why don't we take a look at where things are in the standings right now? A lot of people will say going into this game, although it can never truly be a you know must-win game, no other option. Right, I don't feel you do look at this and um it is as close as one, I would argue, could have at this point in time, with the Nashville predators sitting one point ahead of Winnipeg as the Jets try to continue to close that gap.

SPEAKER_05 5:40

Wasn't it yeah, like I just can we say this all the time now?

SPEAKER_08 5:43

Like we're gonna abuse the term must win, but yes, but especially when you're especially when you're playing against someone that's one point ahead of you, you're trying to jump over and to try to keep pace. Yesterday, Utah wins, LA wins.

SPEAKER_05 5:58

There was a lot of annoying things going on yesterday, last night I should say. So I the I felt, and we were just talking about this for Came on Air when they were on that win streak before the hiccups on Tuesday and Thursday. Everything was falling in place in place for them. Yeah, and then they get those two losses, and all of a sudden sudden everybody's starting to win. It is a complicated process for the Jets to make the playoffs. What did Money Puck say? Like 5.6% still. Yeah. What do they know?

SPEAKER_08 6:23

So there you go.

SPEAKER_05 6:23

So they must win.

SPEAKER_08 6:25

It is it is very important that uh they get the win. You can only play the game in front of you. I think something Scott or Neil will continue to harp on. They have to worry about taking care of their own business, they can't worry about everything else that goes on around them because the amount of stress that that would additional stress that would cause. Yeah, I'm sure anxiety. So they'll try to make it three in a row today. And in order to do that, let's take a look at what the projected lines are. Here is who we are expecting to be on the ice.

SPEAKER_05 6:50

You have no idea. I just loaded this like seconds ago. I'm like, oh, I was looking at the random. So speaking of anxiety, I'm like, oh crap, I forgot the project is lines. Will she notice?

SPEAKER_08 7:00

We have been here since nine this morning.

SPEAKER_05 7:02

That's why that's why I was going, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. Because I was loading the lines in.

SPEAKER_08 7:06

So no surprise with the success that they have had, uh, despite the fact that they were running on fumes on Sunday, that this is what your lineup is gonna look like. No changes, no changes to the lines either, other than no surprise Connor Hellibut gets back into net after having Sunday off.

SPEAKER_05 7:20

Yeah, I mean like it's well deserved. Of course, he announced his time off, was coming.

SPEAKER_08 7:25

Which did not go over well with the head coach.

SPEAKER_05 7:27

No, he wanted to he said his what was his comment?

SPEAKER_08 7:30

Uh something about how something about his starter announcing who was playing on that or yeah, yeah. I don't remember. It's not something that you typically hear, but you and I, this is always a bone of contention.

SPEAKER_07 7:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 7:41

Because I don't think, and we've spoken to Randy Carlisle about those other coaches. I I just wish coaches would come out. I love when a coach comes out and says, This is who my starter is. I don't care that you know who's starting this game because we're gonna beat you anyways, because I have confidence in them. Plus, it's a back-to-back game, and whether regardless of if they need points or not, pretty much any idiot knows. Halibuck had started eight games in a row, plus the Olympics.

SPEAKER_05 8:07

If you were putting money down, you could put your mortgage on that.

SPEAKER_08 8:10

I would think so.

SPEAKER_05 8:11

So uh listen, uh I don't I don't get it either, but they like to play these games.

SPEAKER_08 8:16

That they do. I appreciate Randy. One of the many reasons you and I are not coaches.

SPEAKER_05 8:19

I would tell, but yeah, I was this is what I was gonna say. Do you remember when the first year Bones was the head coach here? He came out first day of training camp, told us the lines. That's what I want. Yes, clarity. Here's my lines, yeah.

SPEAKER_08 8:32

Come and beat me.

SPEAKER_05 8:32

Right. Yeah on the first day of camp. All right, got se. Gutsy, and it worked out.

SPEAKER_08 8:39

All right. We were uh you were in the dressing room talking to some guys before we came out here.

SPEAKER_05 8:44

Right. Uh let's start with uh Josh Boris. Clearly, um he's been fantastic since he came back, so let's hear what Josh had to say. And it's be the availability this morning.

SPEAKER_04 8:52

Uh over the stretch of hockey you guys have played since the Olympic break, there's just so many different examples of you guys finding different ways to win, and it's been really close in a lot of ways. Um what goes into being that team that is kind of finding a way to win the way that you guys are?

SPEAKER_00 9:07

Yeah, I think uh you know it's a lot of things. Obviously, it's effort, compete, preparation, um, buy-in, you know, the details of our game uh in all areas. I think it's just you know, finding ways to win uh in the NHL is massive. Obviously, some nights you have your absolute A game and sort of everything goes right and smooth sailing, but a lot of nights it's um you know you go through periods where you know the other team's playing really well, or maybe you have some adversity in a game, or maybe you don't even have your best stuff. Um, like maybe on Sunday on a back-to-back where you know you get some great goaltending and you know, some guys step up in big moments and you find a way to get it done. So um I think just what I've really noticed, and obviously I missed the first five games after the break, but watching those and then coming back here, uh there seems to be a real confidence but poise in the group. Um you know, whether we're up or down, you know, early or midway through a game, it doesn't really seem like there's any uh nervousness and uh sense to change our game. So um yeah, obviously we have to keep that going. We know that as well as we've played, we're still um you know, five out head into the day, and today's a big game with Nashville and us kind of right there. So um that's a big one. We gotta just keep rolling with uh the way we've been going.

SPEAKER_04 10:24

To your point on uh not feeling the nervousness, uh, Eric was saying that in the dressing room in the second period the other day, you guys were joking that uh the avalanche had left the altitude behind just because you guys weren't able to kind of find that breath. Where do you think that comes from? That rather than in moments like that, things getting tight, you guys are finding a way to laugh your way through it and and be in the right mindset.

SPEAKER_00 10:46

Yeah, I think it helps obviously when we've been playing uh some good hockey as of late and you know getting some wins. Um I think just uh also knowing our situation. I mean, uh, you know, it's sort of after the break, you know, with the sprint to the finish line, I think it changes the mindset a little bit of like, you know, all that matters is is getting a point or two points every single night. It doesn't matter um beyond that. So um even if it doesn't look great, um, which you'd love it too. I mean you just gotta keep grinding and and find ways to make the next play or do whatever you can to help the team and keep moving forward. So um, you know, I think overall uh we've done a good job of that, and sometimes being light in those moments uh you know can help as well.

SPEAKER_05 11:32

Okay. Listen, you guys are on fire already, so let's put up this one first. See, Zach already knows what I'm talking about. I can let the one half if I got my Mars Kai combo with Jamie, followed up with Jefferson Peters. He can ask his wife what she calls in a minute or two.

SPEAKER_08 11:53

If you are new to check in, yeah, Jamie's wife, who is lovely, has a habit of calling during the show every single game.

SPEAKER_05 12:04

It's a part of the part of the show now.

SPEAKER_08 12:08

Pretty much. Oh.

SPEAKER_05 12:10

And then uh Jamie doesn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day, but we all remember when he almost wore green before Game versus the Wild, though. Thank you very much. Uh Jefferson Peters with response again. Sarah put a stop to that.

SPEAKER_08 12:26

There is one thing that you have to be cognizant of is what the colors are of the opponent.

SPEAKER_07 12:33

Right.

SPEAKER_08 12:33

Very much so. I think about it during hockey. I used to very much think about it during football in particular.

SPEAKER_05 12:39

I think we've all come to the conclusion that I just don't think.

SPEAKER_08 12:42

So I wasn't gonna go there, but I think we go there.

SPEAKER_05 12:46

Anyways.

SPEAKER_08 12:48

Back back on the rails, back on the rails.

SPEAKER_05 12:50

Right, right, right. What we're gonna talk about. What's next?

SPEAKER_08 12:58

Oh, so pretty.

SPEAKER_05 13:00

Yeah, yeah. Um this has carried me this far.

SPEAKER_08 13:05

Scott O'Neill, Scott O'Neill.

SPEAKER_05 13:07

Right. Yeah, Scott O'Neill talked about. Okay, so impressive wins. Uh, Scott O'Neill wants us to push to the background because the big game here tonight against Nashville.

SPEAKER_02 13:16

Would it be accurate, Scott, to uh suggest that uh the the wins over Colorado and St. Louis helped rescue the homestand to put you in a point where you can go six and two with a win tonight and by extension, you know, the continued playoff push? Or would that be a little extreme?

SPEAKER_01 13:32

No, I obviously if we lose those games, obviously it's it's a real crappy homestand. So we have a chance to, like you mentioned, of making it a good one here with a win tonight, but still, it's still have a game tonight. And what we talk about focusing on Nashville, and those games are great. We got the points. The other two before that weren't great, but again, it's move off it, get focused here on what we have to do. We've been trying to do that here since coming to the break, and you know, just take care of our business and hopefully things happen with other teams that help us keep closer to that spot.

SPEAKER_02 14:03

From the context that 23 of your 28 victories have come when you've scored first this year, how important has that been for your hockey club? And do you notice anything different in how your team reacts if you're able to get that one-nothing lead?

SPEAKER_01 14:18

I think that's that's hockey when you're chasing games at this time of year. Teams play to play that way. Now they're trying to, everybody's trying to win one hot one-nothing hockey games. And so if you get down, you know, you know the opposition isn't giving you a sniff early in the year. It's sometimes it's a little bit different. And I just think the same thing with our mindset is that we get up and get out in front, that we're doing a lot, we're making sure we're doing a lot of the right things. And you want to do it all the time that way, but it's just sometimes it's a little bit of a mindset, okay, we're out in front here. Let's let's keep you know that opposition. We're not giving them free offense. Or, you know, so it's the same thing the other way, is like the Ranger game. We gave up a gold on our first shift or PK there, all of a sudden we're chasing that game for 59 minutes, and we'd get tied up and we'd go back down again. So it's it is a little bit of a mindset that it's great when you're out in front. You know, you want to do it as as much as possible.

SPEAKER_05 15:10

It took me like two minutes to regain my composure.

SPEAKER_08 15:13

And as you can tell, he still has not. So the Jets, the third and final meeting of the season with the Preds, and they uh have they are looking for their first season sweep ever since the franchise has relocated to Winnipeg, so it would be huge. Their earlier wins were 4-1 and 5-2 finals in favor of Winnipeg. One of the things that's impressed me throughout this um homestand is that the Jets have found ways to win. Not always pretty, hasn't always been exciting. We talked to Sean Reynolds about that. Oh, the Sunday Sunday game. You do what you have to do in order to win and get the points, but they have been doing it without a power play that's um that's been operating at it's 32nd right now over this homestand in the league. I want to say it's at around 6%, 5% over this stretch right now. So similar to when Colorado came in and they have had success without their power play going. Same thing with Winnipeg here. They just have not been able to do it. So they've been able to do it in pretty much every other way, whether that be um five on five, empty net extra attacker, they've been able to find a way and they want to keep that going here today. Six, two, and two in their last ten games. Nashville comes in three, five, and two in their last ten. And although they haven't had back-to-back losses since the middle of January, this being the predators, they also have been hard pressed to find consecutive wins. It's been a lot of a point in extra time, then a loss, then a win, then a loss. Then so they have struggled to find the consistency in their game.

SPEAKER_05 16:43

That's what that's what ties into why Winnipeg has been able to get to where they are. It's all these teams that they're chasing have not been able to be consistent and are getting the one point you're talking about, but just not getting the two points that is needed. They've all been up and down. The records, there's not a lot of consistency in that group outside of what Winnipeg has been doing again outside of Tuesday and Thursday. The Jets have been much better amongst that group. So even though they're at six percent or whatever, just to get in the playoffs, I just feel like they have a good chance because everybody else is middling around right now.

SPEAKER_08 17:12

They're middling.

SPEAKER_05 17:12

You like that?

SPEAKER_08 17:13

You know who's not middling? Eric Comery. And I had the chance to catch up with him just a short while ago. Eric, coming in off of a day off yesterday, you guys have finished a stretch of three and four, and we know how long this homestand has been as well. How much do you think this group as a whole needed that day off going into this final game of the homestand?

SPEAKER_03 17:30

Oh, we for sure needed a day off. We were pretty tired. I know in the uh St. Louis game we were gasping fair a little bit out there, but it's uh we had a nice little dinner after it, we had a nice little day off, nice day to relax. I went to gymnastics with my daughter yesterday, so it was fun. It was a good day.

SPEAKER_08 17:41

Oh, perfect. When you think about this homestand right now, five and two, right? The way that this team has played and the way that it's been able to pull out wins, how do you overall describe this homestead?

SPEAKER_03 17:53

It's been great. I think it's been really big success so far. I mean, us to beat St. Louis on a back-to-back, us to beat Colorado, it's those are two very good teams. They were playing very good at the time, and to win those two games are big, and it just helps us push towards the playoffs. This is what we're trying to do right now. We're not uh we're not quitting until until it's done.

SPEAKER_08 18:08

You spoke to the media after the game in St. Louis, after you got the win, you set a new career high and wins, same with career high and starts as well. And you joking about how you'd switch up the the mask, and you know, you've got the white going on right now. So it's not as simple, obviously, as just switching a cage. So, what has been working really well for you when you've been in that?

SPEAKER_03 18:32

I think the biggest difference. I mean, I said it earlier today, I think the biggest difference is the team. The team's playing unbelievable in front of us. We went through a bit of a low spot uh in uh November, December, January, where we just we weren't playing great as a team, we weren't defending as well as we are right now. I mean, Helly and I talk about it all the time. We're defending very well, we're giving us a chance to see Pucks, a chance to make saves, and it's just it makes it a lot easier. The team's playing so well in front of us right now, and just it just makes things a lot easier. And we're getting a lot of good balances too. I mean, earlier in the year, everything that could have gone wrong kind of went wrong.

SPEAKER_08 19:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:01

And right now, everything that can go right is kind of going right again.

SPEAKER_08 19:04

When you're watching on the bench and you've got the TV timeout, let's say, and Connor comes over and starting. What do you see your role as being? Are you talking to him a lot about what's going on in the ice? Are you trying to keep things loose? Does it depend? Um depends.

SPEAKER_03 19:18

Depends. So we usually talk about what's going on the ice and you talk about saves or goals that went in and what he could do differently, what he liked, what he didn't like, and just trying to keep him positive and tell him how he's he's playing great and looks great in the net and just kind of keep uh that uh positivity going.

SPEAKER_08 19:32

With you right now, when you describe the relationship that exists between you and Connor, I know that you guys are good friends. What is it? Why do you feel that you two connect so well?

SPEAKER_03 19:43

We're both strange goalies. Okay. So yeah, there's that. Um I think most of the most goalies get along because we're all a little different. I was talking to Hutchie yesterday at Michael Hudgenson, and we just we did a podcast yesterday. I was like, well, why do goalies get along? Well, because we're both a little strange.

SPEAKER_08 20:00

All right. Well, but fair enough. Uh when you look at this game against Nashville tonight, when you think about your team as a whole, when you've seen this team have success against Nashville, how have they done it?

SPEAKER_03 20:13

I I think we stick to our identity, which is defend first. I think when we defend first, we're a very tough team to play against. I mean, we have big, strong bodies, so we have a first line that can score with any line in the NHL. We have an unbelievable goalie that Connor Hallibach who plays unbelievable every single night for us. And I think we stick to our identity to defend first, listen to our coaching staff and what they tell us to do. And we we generate so many chances just by how well we offend and frustrating teams, and they kind of start pressing for offense so we can capitalize on those chances.

SPEAKER_08 20:38

Hey, always appreciate the time. Thanks for making some today. Awesome. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_05 20:43

Very good from uh Eric Comery, who was actually ripping on the media for showing up late to practices.

SPEAKER_08 20:49

Said that after the game. Like he went in. He didn't said you guys might not see me out there because I'm out there half an hour beforehand.

SPEAKER_05 20:56

Over and over again. He kept going back to the well on that one.

SPEAKER_08 20:59

Oh, maybe it's like it's a message to all of us to start showing up half an hour before practice starts. I think it's it's really cold out in the bowl. So when it's just calm rain and flats out there, and we had flerity out there, it can be tough.

SPEAKER_05 21:13

Does he want us to support him behind the net or something?

SPEAKER_08 21:15

Maybe we should bring signs.

SPEAKER_05 21:17

We should. We should stop this one. Oh how about this one?

SPEAKER_08 21:21

We could be his own cheerleaders. Maybe that's what we're needing. I like that comms is such a podcast type guy, he fits his personality so much. Uh loving the honesty, there are strange goalies. It's it's true. And we know that he is Eric Humry, is one of the most popular players inside that room and outside for uh the honesty. He gives one of the another one that was another goaltender that was extremely popular when he played in every dressing room he was in. Yeah. Also very popular now, and a fantastic storyteller is Jamie McClennan. Yes, and who is one of the hosts of Overdrive. He also does Ottawa Senators broadcasts, uh, is great all. Around talent, and he joined us earlier today.

SPEAKER_05 22:05

All right, please welcome Jamie McClennan to the show. Um, one of your favorite conversations ever is the backup goaltender, right? You know a little bit about this. So we're gonna we're gonna talk about uh Eric Carmer and the great work that he's done here uh with the Jets. What is it about what the Jets have done over the years to find the right goaltender to back up Connor Hellibuck? Because it's not an easy thing to do, correct?

SPEAKER_06 22:28

Yeah, no, I I agree. It you know what it is, is it's about the relationship, uh, first and foremost between Hellebuck and Comrie. And you have to have like a really good working relationship. Then comes in the factor of being the backup goaltender because Hellebuck can play back to backs, he can play a month straight, he can do all these things. So I remember Daryl Setter really laying it out for me years ago as a backup. He said, You're not just a fixture, you have to be good in the room, you have to have a good relationship with your starter, but you also have to produce and be good when you get in the net. And nobody cares that you haven't played in six weeks. You don't you don't get to wear a special jersey going, hey, you know, the first 30 minutes, I might not have my timing, you know, down. You just you you if you you're in the game, and if you allow the first role again, it's a first shot, people are like, What the hell's wrong with this guy? And and so to me, it it it's I think Comray's found the perfect mix of of being you know a wonderful person, which he is, and and a and a great backup and a and and good with with Connor Hellibuck, but also being a good goaltender and and being whenever he's called on, he gives them a chance to win. And I think that's the biggest challenge of a backup is bringing something else to the table when you're not in the net, commerce really good at it, but when you are in the net, you got to look like you haven't, you know, like you haven't not played in six weeks, type of things. And that's a big challenge for backups.

SPEAKER_08 24:02

Well, and so can we elaborate on that a little bit more? How did you find that what were the keys for you when you did it? Because you mentioned, I mean, you you have to be ready, but it's easy to say, okay, well, you have to be ready when you're called upon. But in the case of Comri, he just had his sixth start, and that's between January 1st and March 15th. So it isn't easy. So for you, when you were backing up Noodles, what was it that you found key to being able to kind of get into that rhythm early or have success?

SPEAKER_06 24:30

I think it was the work. Like you put you got to get out as a backup goaltender, there's really no days off. Like it's it's you got to put the work in before practice, stay after practice for the shots, morning skates, all of that. And a lot of times, I don't know, I think the CBA, you know, frowns on this, but when there were injured players and on days off, a lot of times the backup would come in and and and help the guys that were coming back to the lineup and and get the shots in because they didn't have to, you know, nowadays they've got a you know, a college goalie as a you know, fourth or fifth goalie that they bring in, the ebug guy or whatever. But like it used to be, you know, we use the the term, and I'm gonna say this lovingly, a practice dummy. Well, I was the practice dummy, but I was just happy to be being paid as the number two in the NHL, too. So, you know, a lot of that stuff you have to put the work in, but a lot of it, honestly, is once you haven't played in a week, it's it's between the ears. It's it's about your mental approach and doing things in practice that are simulated for a game that when you do get into a game, it doesn't feel foreign. So I think a lot of that is your work that you put in with your goaltender coach, but also the mental work that you are like keep in mind, I would sit on the bench and I used to joke, I'd watch Kippers off, and I lived every game, and I would sit there on the bench. And how I stayed in the game is I would envision myself in the net making those saves. But half the time I'd be like, Well, that would have gone in on me. And you know, you're watching Kippersoff, and in this case, Comri watching Hellebuck going, Yeah, I'm there's no chance I'm making that save. At least I'm glad he's in the net type of thing. So um, though that's the type of work you have to do as a backup to stay sharp.

SPEAKER_05 26:12

Uh, how much does a goaltender coach play a role in the backup? Uh sorry, goaltender coach play a role in the backup's success because I imagine you spec comri spends a ton of time with Wade Flaherty, but how much of a role does the does a goaltender coach play for a backup?

SPEAKER_06 26:28

A lot because of the preparation. And you know, keep in mind Wade Flaherty, Eric Comrie, and Connor Hellebuck are the only three in that room what it to know what it's like to be a goaltender in the NHL, you know, unless the coaching staff has a you know a goalie that happens to be an assistant coach. But so those guys have to stick together. So it is important for the the relationship between the the goalie coach and the backup, and even the relationship between the goalie coach and the starter to all be on the same page saying, okay, I'm gonna get the starter ready. This is what the pre-scout looks like, but the backup has to be involved in this pre-scout as well, just in case, again, somebody gets sick, there's an injury or an inconsistent game, you get thrown in. You have to prepare for every game like you're starting. And then if you don't, that so be it. You're oh you're overprepared for it. So the goalie coach, it's a massive factor because he there's a balance between making sure the starter's ready as far as his workload, and then working the backup to make sure that he gets his work in to replace that workload of the starter, and then make sure that everybody knows the pre-scout and the tendencies of the shooters and stuff like that. So it's pretty complex, but again, you want you get into a groove and everybody's on the same page. And keep in mind, if even if Halibuck gets a night off, he's pretty excited for Comri to play. So he'll want to help and support that process as well.

SPEAKER_08 27:56

We often hear you tell stories about your time uh backing up Mika Kiprasov and wondering. So when you were sitting on the bench, besides visualizing, so when there were the TV timeouts or whatever it might be, he would come to the bench. What was the relationship like with Kiprasov? Was it one where you guys talked a lot during timeouts and games? Was it you tried to keep things light? How did you approach it?

SPEAKER_06 28:19

Well, he kept things light. If people really didn't know, he has like a crazy, funny sense of humor. It's just he's a very quiet and recluse guy. Like to this day, when people try and get a hold of Kippersoft, they will call me and say, Hey, we're trying to get a hold of Kippersoft, and he's he's flushing our calls. So, I mean, we were very close. Yeah. Um, I tell a quick story. I remember our our trainer, uh Mark Di Pasqually, who's still there, Depot, great guy. Um, Depot bought his kid a hamster, and the hamster only had one eye, and we would and we would Kipper joked that Depot was so cheap that he got a deal on the hamster. So then you know, we would Kipper would come to the bench at a TV time out and he would have one eye closed and he's just staring at Depot, like, and it'd be like a two-two game, and you know, in the third period, five minutes left. And he's like Kipper's just messing with Depot. Like, so there was always uh lightheartedness to Mika, but in between periods, we used to talk, we used to talk about um, I mean, everything, you know, pre-scout tendencies of players, what you're seeing. Hey, watch that backdoor, you know, they're trying to slide it back door on the power of play type of stuff. So it it again, it was the the relationship between the backup and and the starter. We were very close and we we had something special, and we were very lucky for that.

SPEAKER_05 29:44

Uh well, you had a very tough job, Noodles, in junior time in the National Hockey League. It's a pretty tough job right now on overdrive. But what about the job of Department of Player Safety? Is that a job that no one would ever want in their right mind? And how challenging of a job does George Parrows and his and his uh group have?

SPEAKER_06 30:00

Uh, very challenging because I think there's one layer that's lost in this is who their bosses are. They actually report to the league, they report to the owners, they report to the general managers, they report to everybody. So you've got a lot of cooks in the kitchen. I it would and and believe me, I'm gonna talk about this at length. I do believe suspensions need to be heavier, right? But I I also say keep in mind, you know, as a fan, that's gonna happen to one of your star players the other way. And I'll give you an example. People are very noisy right now about Austin Matthews and the hit that he took from Radko Goodis, and rightfully so. I mean, you know, it's a knee on knee, it was an ugly hit, he gets five games. Austin Matthews got four games a couple years ago for cross-checking uh Rasmus Dalin in the neck.

SPEAKER_05 30:50

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 30:51

Now, by the same lay of the land, uh, if we want you know suspensions to be heavier, maybe that's a 10 gamer for Austin Matthews to instead of four. So I I I say this, and I say this respectfully to everybody involved. I agree a hundred percent that I think that fines and and suspensions should be stiffer. But keep in mind it whoever you cheer for, whoever your allegiance is uh with, there is an owner that's gonna say, yes, yeah, stiffer fines and stiffer, and then his star player is gonna get dinged with something and it's gonna be in the playoffs, or it's gonna be somewhere and they're gonna go, What are you doing? Hold on, that's only one game instead of five. So it's a fine line. Would I want that job? No, but would I I I I would tell you, and I I don't think this, I think this is why I would not be a very good uh police officer, and I don't think I would be very good in player safety because I would go the other way and I would be very heavy, but I would warn everybody at the start of the year, yes, like embellishment. I'm sorry, you're not getting a fine, you're getting one game, and I'm gonna double it at every time if you embarrass the league. That's why if I was a police officer, I'm pulling people over who are driving too slow on the road, not too fast.

SPEAKER_05 32:12

Oh, oh, you would have a heyday here, man.

SPEAKER_06 32:14

Oh, yeah. So uh so that's the type of stuff. Like I look at it, um, I don't envy them, and I think it's a very, very hard job, but it is uh it is something that is polarizing right now. And I do think that change is coming, but I think we have to wrap our heads around stiffer penalties, and that's gonna have uh maybe a negative effect on the other side as well.

SPEAKER_08 32:36

Well, one final question for you before we let you go. Um so obviously there's a lot of interest with this matchup here tonight with the predators in town. There's just one point separating Winnipeg and Nashville. Winnipeg's gone on a roll, they've been able to close the gap to that second wild card spot. When you look though, and you don't have to choose one of these two teams, I'll say that all right. But when you look at the way that things are shaking out for the final 15 to 18 games of this season across the East the West, what is it that intrigues you most down the stretch about the potential teams that could be in the postseason?

SPEAKER_06 33:10

So on in the east, it's Ottawa, because I I I think and not just because I call 50 games for them, so I am slightly biased and I will admit that. But if you look at it, and I look at I look at the eye test, but I also look at the analytics. The analytics don't match what that team is in the standings, because you know, we all know what their problem has lied. They haven't gotten consistent goaltending all season long. Now they are Lena Salmark, and it's well documented. He took a leave of absence for mental health, and that really hurt their season. I think Ottawa is a team that can make the playoffs, they're that good. And if you looked at it analytically, if they just had league average goaltending from an analytic standpoint, they'd have about 15 more points in the standings. Holy cow, which is crazy, crazy to say. Um, out west, it is the Winnipeg Jets, and it's kind of for me, I I've had this joke the other day, but it's kind of a bad joke. Living in Toronto at the starting of the season, now there's no overdrive Winnipeg, but let's just say there's an overdrive Winnipeg and there's overdrive Toronto. Yeah, who would be more pissed as far as expectations at the start of the season? And we had a question about it uh on the quiz the other day, and and I said overdrive Winnipeg because I said they won a president's trophy last year. Like it, and you know, the expectation was okay, you know, you just need to take that next step in the playoffs. Well, you know, now they're fighting for their lives to get to the playoffs. Same thing. The drop off was the Toronto Maple Lee's, but they lost Mitch Marner. They lost, you know, yes, Winnipeg lost Nikolai Ehlers. You look at it, you know, there has been some weird things. The the hellibuck injury hasn't helped. That that didn't help, let's be honest. And I love Eric, and you know, he went on a little run there, but it it it you know, it wasn't Connor. That's the same thing. It's you know, Kippersov getting injured, 100% of McClennon is still 70% of Kippersov. Same thing, you know, it just that it is what it is. But when I look at it, um, I think Winnipeg is intriguing because if you look at you know them being 6'2 and two in their last 10, they're showing what they can be. You just can't you can't have critical losses to teams that you you know tonight's a must-win. Like you have to, if you want to be in that conversation, because if I lay them on paper next to the teams that they're fighting with, I probably choose Winnipeg, like on paper. On paper means nothing, but it's still if I say if I said to you LA, San Jose, Seattle, Utah, like, or Winnipeg, like who would I want their roster on paper, healthy and playing well? I'd probably say Winnipeg. So that's what I'm looking at. So those are my two like teams that I, you know, obviously hoping for Canadian teams. I have a soft spot for them. Um, you know, so that's that's my eyes are on those two, and I I do think they can do it, but they do need help from others to to drop off, and they do need to go on a stretch here where you know they they win a lot more than they lose. But at the Dallas stretch, yes, yes, stretch.

SPEAKER_05 36:22

I know you gotta go, but bear with me. I have to I have to ask you this question, so hold on a second. All right, this is taking off. I can't even explain it, but listen, uh that was awesome. I know, I know. It's it catches people off guard. What was your go-to soup on on a starting day in net?

SPEAKER_06 36:46

Okay, soup.

SPEAKER_05 36:48

Yeah, that's a good question.

SPEAKER_06 36:49

No, no, I'm okay. On the road, here here's the thing. I had a uh I had um I have a routine when I'm starting and then when I'm backed up. So I had 850 games in the league and I only played 250. So 600 times I got an opportunity to do a different routine. Okay, now on the road, let's say 300 of those are on the road, there was always chicken noodle soup or some form of like chicken broth soup or whatever. Yeah, in Minnesota, they have wild rice Minnesota with some pasta in it. Unbelievable, unbelievable. If they if they didn't, if the cook didn't get out of hand and put mushrooms in it, if he put mushrooms in it, then I was pissed off and I wouldn't have it. But I do love and and keep in mind at the end of my career, I finished in Japan, so they had the best soups there, the best, and so I always went with like a chicken Udon with the noodles and then drop the egg in it and stuff like that. But uh, some form of chicken noodle or chicken rice is my soup. There we go.

SPEAKER_05 37:54

Buddy, appreciate your time. Thanks so much. Uh like I really appreciate it. Uh, all the best to you, and uh, we'll talk to you soon.

SPEAKER_06 37:59

All right, well, thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_05 38:03

I like the comment if noodles eats a noodle-based soup. Is that sort of cannibalistic? Fair question.

SPEAKER_08 38:10

Um, we have run very long on this one. We should have started um that tape with noodles earlier, but you and I got busy talking. And as things got off the rails, this is what happened. So, as we quickly wrap things up, uh, no changes to the Jets projected lines for today. No surprise with the way that they have been playing lately as they wrap up this eight-game homestand. They come in, it's another central division opponent. They are looking to sweep the season series against the Nashville Predators, who they currently sit one point behind in the uh West standings right now. Today, uh, if you are coming to the game, a couple of quick notes though. Lucky pucks are up for sale today. And so if we can throw up, I think we have them. Interrup one of three gold Lucky Pucks. Um, this is an initiative by the wives and girlfriends for the Jets, and it is in support of the Dream Factory. And look, you can win a post-game meet and greet with Josh Morsi, Nino Needwriter, or Gabe Vellardi.$25. They are for sale tonight at the game. Um, also, did I there's one other one I wanted to quickly oh town takeover.

SPEAKER_07 39:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 39:15

Town takeover. So we go through viewing party. Want to head out to Gimli? Are you in the surrounding area? You want to get to the Gimli Recreation Center for to watch Thursday's game. It is the 2026 Town Takeover. We're gonna have a bunch of people there.

SPEAKER_05 39:28

Oh, it's fun.

SPEAKER_08 39:29

It should be a great time. News about the outdoor game, tickets going on sale in short order. You will be able to find information about that online, but they go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, March 24th. That is for the outdoor game next season against the Montreal Canadiens. So you don't want to miss out on that.

SPEAKER_05 39:47

Wow. That was a good job.

SPEAKER_08 39:48

That's it.

SPEAKER_05 39:49

That is the least work they've done at the end of the show.

SPEAKER_08 39:51

We will tell you more about everything on Thursday.

SPEAKER_05 39:54

Right. Six o'clock central start, right?

SPEAKER_08 39:58

Yeah, but we're gonna be here at Boston. Boston.

SPEAKER_05 40:01

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_08 40:02

It is against Boston because the Jets are heading out on the road for three games and they will play back-to-back games again on the weekend.

SPEAKER_05 40:10

Oh, yeah, by the way, eight o'clock started. 8 a.m. shows for us on the weekend coming up.

SPEAKER_08 40:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 40:17

Be ready for that.

SPEAKER_08 40:19

We are we might not be.

SPEAKER_05 40:21

Well, so much energy.

SPEAKER_08 40:23

We would really like you to be ready for it. Okay, we are very far over. Um, head on over to Winnipeg Sports Talk. Don't forget, after the game, Winnipeg Sports Talk does a wrap, illegal curve does one, Kenny and Rennie. There's so many great spots to continue to talk about the Winnipeg Jets as they look to win their third straight, make it a sweep um to end this homestand against Central Division opponents.

SPEAKER_05 40:42

Awesome. Uh many thanks to Eric Homery and of course Jamie McClinn, the two goaltenders.

SPEAKER_08 40:47

And thanks to all of you for bringing it today in the chat because you guys were outstanding.

SPEAKER_05 40:51

And we are the reason why we went off the rails.

SPEAKER_08 40:54

You we are very disappointed that Jamie's wife did not call in.

SPEAKER_05 40:57

But I sent her that I screenshot that comment. She loved it. So thank you.

SPEAKER_08 41:03

Pretty much on Thursday. We'll have to see whether or not she gets shuffle for sure. You guys are the best. Thanks so much for taking us.