The Check In - 03.19.26 - Jets at Bruins

The Jets start a three-game road trip in Boston on Thursday night. Sara and Jamie will welcome Paul Edmonds from CJOB and Sophia Jurksztowicz from NESN to the show.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 1:48

It feels really weird this not being a home game.

SPEAKER_05 1:52

Does it?

SPEAKER_03 1:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:53

But are you excited?

SPEAKER_03 1:54

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:55

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:55

Yeah. Let's go.

SPEAKER_05 1:57

Here we go.

SPEAKER_03 1:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:58

There you go. That enthusiasm. Let's hear you. Let's hear you. Go. Why are you talking?

SPEAKER_03 2:03

I don't know. Just throw you under the bus right away. Exactly. How lack of energy you have today. Wow.

SPEAKER_05 2:09

Game number. We expect you to bring it, Jamie. It's game number 68 of the regular season. You are correct. The Jets have headed out on the road after spending what felt like the entire month of March. Um, certainly the first half of it here at home. They finished their eight-game homestand. They are next now on the road for their next three starting today in Boston.

SPEAKER_03 2:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:28

Looking forward to this one this evening. Uh, also looking forward as we get you set over these next 30 minutes for tonight's game to having Sophia Yerksevic join us with Nesson. You might remember her. She was with SportsNet, CBC.

SPEAKER_03 2:44

I worked I work with Sophia on the desk.

SPEAKER_05 2:46

She's delightful. She's the best. And she's been with the Boston Bruins for a number of years now. So we are going to speak to her shortly. Paul Edmonds is going to join us because it's the first game of a road trip. So tradition. We have informed. He didn't know about this. That's right.

SPEAKER_03 2:58

Yeah, he didn't know the tradition, but we told him.

SPEAKER_05 3:00

That's right. So he has no choice. So he's going to join us as well. So we're um looking forward to that over these next 30 minutes. And as always, we are looking forward to all of you. And it's great to see so many of you in the chat already.

SPEAKER_03 3:13

Where do we start?

SPEAKER_05 3:14

Why don't we start with projected lines?

SPEAKER_03 3:17

You know what? That's a great idea. And I'll tell you what, Cole Kepke is the future athlete here.

SPEAKER_05 3:22

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_03 3:23

Former Bruin.

SPEAKER_05 3:24

Oh, do you think there was a tie-in? Do you think that's 100%?

SPEAKER_03 3:28

If I know Luke, he's on to something every time. That guy.

SPEAKER_05 3:31

There you go.

SPEAKER_03 3:32

He knows stuff that I don't know sometimes that I should know.

SPEAKER_05 3:35

Um, so these are what the lines are. Now, morning skate finished just a short while ago, of course, with them being out on the East Coast. It's an hour ahead. Uh Scott O'Neill and players have just finished speaking. We'll hear from Scott O'Neill in just a moment. No surprise, no changes to this lineup with the way that things have been going lately for them and the success that they have had. We do have an update that Neil Pionk was in a regular jersey today. And he's gonna have a good skate uh today. See how he feels tomorrow. And there is the possibility that he could make his return on the weekend, which will make for some interesting decisions if that's the case.

SPEAKER_03 4:12

Right. And especially with Sidney Crosby and company in Pittsburgh on Saturday, too, as well.

SPEAKER_05 4:16

So 100%. Uh, why don't we hear from Scott O'Neill about starting off this road trip in Boston against these Bruins who have the second best home record in a fight for a playoff spot in the East?

SPEAKER_06 4:27

Yeah, there's a lot uh obviously watching them the last few games. Uh they're a big heavy team, especially in this building. They're uh, you know, they play a real strong uh defending game first. They really clog up the middle of the ice, which we saw, especially when they got a lead on us in our brink. Uh you know, they they don't give you a whole lot of situations where you get an odd man looks. So uh the vice on vice uh vice versa, they they they have a good attack game as well. They transition well off of that. You know, you create turnovers at the uh at your own blue line and they turn it and send it the other way in a hurry. So um yeah, they're good and they're good real good in this building. This Eastern Conference is something else, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 5:02

I mean, you got teams like Boston or Pittsburgh that with the points they have, they'd be in pretty good position in the West this year, playoff wise, but here in the East.

SPEAKER_06 5:12

I care about the East. Uh yeah, I know we've been following. We know how that that's the thing for Boston, obviously. Tonight, huge game for them. Like everybody, it seems like that's with everybody in both the conferences. So many teams are in the mix. There is no last 20 games of the year, kind of those easy games. There's none of those happening, and that's the that's the part where keep hammering with our guys that gotta be ready to go every every shift. And you know, Boston's in their own little race here and their own battle in the east. And um, but that uh that two points for us is just as important as it is to them.

SPEAKER_03 5:46

He's not wrong. Boston is has 82 points in the east right now. That has them in the first wild card spot, and breathing down their neck are the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets, our good friend Rick Bonus.

SPEAKER_05 6:00

Yes, rookie magic, but Boston's also just two points back of the Canadian. So I mean, there's just it's very if you are in that mix for the top eight in the east, then it is very uh it's very tight in there right now. So just before we bring in Sophia, we finished this homestand 5-2-1. It was a successful homestand. Obviously, the Jets weren't able to pull it out in the shootout loss the other night. But what was your biggest takeaway when you think about the the way that they played over those eight games and what they were able to accomplish?

SPEAKER_03 6:29

Well, I think first off, during that whole eight-game stand, how about Aaliyah Salomonson? Unbelievable. Yeah, and the numbers are all out there, and how well him and Sandberg are playing, especially five on five. But but I think we're just we're just starting to see the beginning of what Aaliyah Salomonson can bring on a nightly basis, which probably means he's gonna be a full regular with the Jets down the road here, which is important for him. Really like how the first line just continues to drive play, but they were really good uh throughout the homestand. And then just getting back to way the way they defended. And I remember uh reading Jim Montgomery, the head coach of the St. Louis Blues, that said that looked like the team that we've seen the last two years when they beat the Blues on that Sunday afternoon game. So, I mean, that's the highest compliment considering how good the Jets defended the previous two years. So we saw a lot more of that. What what you you're hoping to see, but I think that a lot of that has to do with the healthier roster.

SPEAKER_05 7:20

What about you? Well, so I I thought we'd do a play on the three takeaways that you like to do off of it. So near discussing, I also said Salomonson. Okay hard, not she was averaging almost 20 minutes a game in the 11 games that he has played since the break. Uh one goal, two assists. Um, I also, this will shock you at the top line.

SPEAKER_03 7:41

Okay. And for me for us to grant two things is a lot.

SPEAKER_05 7:45

Two out of three so far. This is crazy. Uh, but for me, part of the reason why was that I admit that coming out of the Olympic break, I thought it was going to be interesting to see how the team as a whole responded, but also the top line. We know that the top line has been the three, and in particular, Mark Shifley and Kyle Connor, because that right wing has sometimes changed.

SPEAKER_03 8:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 8:05

But that they have carried the team this year offensively.

SPEAKER_00 8:08

All year.

SPEAKER_05 8:09

And so I wondered coming out of the break when you looked at them being, were they 11 points back coming out of the break? Okay, so Kyle didn't have a great experience at the Olympics. Mark, obviously, we know um wasn't with Team Candon. I thought, so if you're 11 points back, I think it'll be interesting to see how they also respond coming out the break. How have they, and I mean, top-notch, they just continue to put up points, multi-point games. When you look at this eight-game homestand, Shifley with four goals, 13 points. Uh Kyle Connor, four goals, 11 points. And so they've just they've continued to lead the way when they need that big goal. Yeah, it's usually coming from one of them. And then they've had obviously complementary pieces. Gabe Villardi continues to produce as well, but uh, those two in particular lighting the way during that eight-game homestand. And then I don't disagree with the defensive one because it's hasn't always led to the most exciting games, but certainly we have seen them climb down, other than the odd one-off two games maybe during that homestand. Um, the other one that for me though was Morgan Barron, who continues to step up, continues to excite. I think a lot of people, if we go based on the chat, if we go based on comments, otherwise would like to see Morgan Barron eventually moved up in the lineup. He's centering that fourth line. He is being, they've done a really good job. Um, I think he and Cole Kepke have been able to demonstrate their speed. Morgan has been used in a variety of different scenarios. We've seen latent games, we've seen Scott O'Neill bring him up for certain face-offs. And I just think that the way that he has continued to see his game elevate, in particular over that homestand and coming out of the Olympic break, I think that it bodes well. And to me, he doesn't look like someone that long term thinking beyond here should be in a fourth-line center role. I think he can move up.

SPEAKER_03 10:04

Yep. As my daughter said, the most underrated jet often in conversations at home. So uh she agrees with you, and I agree with you.

SPEAKER_05 10:11

You have a lot of conversations with her about the jets at home.

SPEAKER_03 10:14

I do.

SPEAKER_05 10:14

That's awesome. Yeah, I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_03 10:17

She offers her opinion.

SPEAKER_05 10:18

Oh yeah, I love when they offer their opinions.

SPEAKER_03 10:21

I get this jet suck. I'm like, no, no, no, no, slow down. That's kids. That's it's true. So I'm like, don't just no, there's more to it than that. Um, so I see Barron gets most approved for me. There's obviously lots of love for Morgan Barron, who has taken a huge step this season, and it's certainly something the jets need because you need that they have that depth up the middle.

SPEAKER_05 10:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:39

Speaking of Jeff, we have a lot of depth in this broadhead this this show today. Yes. Let's bring in Sophia.

SPEAKER_02 10:46

Hello. Hi guys. I was uh I was just logging on when you were like saying who is coming up, and then I heard I was logging on, then I hear Sarah being like, Sophia's so lovely, and Jamie's like, she's great. I'm like, hey, I want to join the show all the time. Thank you. Thank you. And also, side note, I'm an idiot. Uh, I forgot, probably not on the budget, but I was running around the rink looking for you guys today. I was like, where are they? They're here, but I don't know who you are. I think you're in Winnipeg.

SPEAKER_03 11:15

Yeah, we they they won't bring us on the on the plane anymore. It's all Sarah's fault.

SPEAKER_02 11:20

Oh, I was I was excited to hug you both.

SPEAKER_03 11:23

Oh, thank you. We had we have we always had Winnipeg, Sophia, so thank you so much. We will we'll we'll see you again next year.

SPEAKER_05 11:28

That's right. Exactly. Oh, it was always great to see you. Hey, first question for you. Uh, and it's not even related to hockey, but Jamie and I didn't obviously we um have to say players' names all the time and some you have a challenging at times last name. How often is your name so Orleski for whatever reason gets Jamie Thomas doesn't understand, but I uh but it often gets mispronounced. How often do people struggle with your last name?

SPEAKER_02 12:00

Girl, it is I I joke about this all the time. It's the bane of my existence, it's every every time, every time. And you know how many times you eat call like customer service, or um, like if you're calling Visa, and then you have to like spell it out. It's insane, or a doctor's office, it's every single day. But I I tell the story, I'll make it really quick. I tell the story all the time. My dad immigrated from Poland, he learned English on hockey, among other things, but hockey was the big thing he would watch. He taught me everything I know. Why would I ever do him a disservice by changing it? It's I've been asked to change it, he's the one who taught me, so it's sticking around.

SPEAKER_05 12:35

I love it. That's the same. I mean, Orleski people would mispronounce, or they would what early on in my career suggested a change as well. And you know, how would they pronounce your name? Yeah, how do they mispronounce Orleski? How do they mispronounce? I don't know. That and my and my husband's last name, I get this a lot. Thank you so much, Mrs. If they're looking at a card, the look is thank you.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

Yeah, yeah, and I think can I just call you Sophia? Can I just call you CPI again? I'm like, yes, you can. Don't wait.

SPEAKER_03 13:04

Hey, Kate, put that put that put that last comment up in the line. I understand that last name thing for sure, Eric.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's totally. Oh, that's great. I'm like, I don't know what how to say it, Eric Poor.

SPEAKER_03 13:16

Yeah, I know. Hajor Frisen.

SPEAKER_05 13:19

Uh all right, Sophia. Let's talk a little bit about the Bruins and what we've been seeing from them. We were saying, and I don't know if you heard us, about uh just how tight things are, obviously, in the East. And we feel a little bit of the Jets trying to climb back into the playoff picture, but it's got to be a lot of standings watch going on around the Boston Bruins right now.

SPEAKER_02 13:38

Oh my gosh, a thousand percent. And and whether it's one point or two, it's just luckily the Bruins have really they're in the first wild card spot heading into this one. They've been holding on to that second one for a long time. So they uh luckily for them jumped up. But as when they win, the teams behind them are winning as well. And then luckily when they lose, like we had Detroit lose a couple of games ago, and that was very uh helpful for the Bruins in their standings. But every every single day, that's what we're leading our show with, just putting up the standings board. And then we don't always go around the league showing highlights in our post-game show. We'll pick one or two, but we're showing all the highlights for the teams competing because that's that's the story. It's you can and you know, teams will say we can only control what we can control. Uh, but the truth is there are other games going around, and and you better win because if other teams keep women, they're they're jumping you in the standings there.

SPEAKER_03 14:29

Sophia, like obviously, goaltending plays a large role in the National Hockey League. Jeremy Swayman had his contract situation last year dragged out forever. How much the fact that that's behind him now plays a role in how well he's playing this year?

SPEAKER_02 14:43

Oh, it's huge. We just had this conversation on our show too, just talking about him again and that came up because he earned his 26th win of the season, and the most he's ever gotten is 25 when he had a career year with uh sharing the mark the net with Lena Salmark. So last year feels really far away now, and I think for him as well, he was definitely asked a lot about it throughout the summer and then the beginning of the year. Can he get it? Can he put it behind him? And I know you guys know that I've covered Jets games, tons of media in Winnipeg. Same with the Boston Bruins. It's just so much coverage, even in the sports rich team. So it's a topic that I would say on radio, I have a couple of friends uh who host radio. It's still such a hot topic, and radio is so different. You get the call and you get the banters with fans, but overall, it's just not a conversation in the room anymore. It's not a conversation with the regular media that's covering him. He has done such a good job, and I mean this as a human, not as a hockey player. You guys know being on camera and in the light, you got to put it on sometimes if you're not having a good day. And it it's it's difficult, it's challenging. And on top of that, people are asking you questions about mistakes you made, you know, three months ago. Uh, he's handled it so well, and I think he's a we don't think we know he's a huge reason. The Bruins are where they are, but I think that's behind him, and I hope there's no more looking back. He's in a good spot.

SPEAKER_05 16:01

You have covered this Bruins team for how many seasons now? How many years have you been? Six. Holy cow. Yes, yeah. Yeah, you've done such a great job. I just for you personally, what has that been like being down there? I mean, original six team. You talk about how I mean it is a sports crazy marketplace. Um, just what has it been like for you to be able to cover that team and have the connection with that fan base that you've had?

SPEAKER_02 16:27

I love this question, and I'll I'll try to make it quick, but it is such a like deep story for me, and I don't want to get too personal. But as you know, I was a broadcaster in Canada and I wasn't really finding my place, and I I loved the places I worked. CBC was the last place I worked, and I loved it so much. But for a large part of my career, I was on and off covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, and that place now I know is a mess again, but was a mess when I was there culturally, uh standings-wise, energy, attitude-wise. I was still fairly young, and so you know, women have come such a long way in the landscape, as you know. But at the time it was still one of, you know, early in the days of women being in rooms and stuff like that. And I hate to say it, but I kind of fell out of love with the industry and the and the game a bit. I just I had it was such a terrible place to work with covering the Toronto Maple Leafs and some of the energy there. But I loved my job. But anyway, I didn't my point in saying that is I was in this place of like, am I really in the right place for myself mentally, career-wise? And then the Bruins called, I get the job, and I was like, I'll give it another shot. And then within three weeks, I I felt like I was six years old again. I fell in love with this game because of the culture here, led by Zedano Chara at the time, led by Patrice Bergeron. And it the way I was treated there compared to other rooms and other places was night and day. And they treated me with respect and like a member of uh their you know family because we are you know partly we're rights holders, so there's that. I just I loved it. Not and and I came at a time when they just um I came in the the fall of 2019, so they just went to that game seven run with St. Louis. Obviously, they lost, but they were such a good team and they were contending again for the Stanley Cup before COVID happened and everything kind of changed. But I was joining this team that was really good on the ice and then amazing in the room. And the fans here probably like Jets fans because I I don't know, not having covered the Jets, but they're so loyal, they care so much, and it it was just it was such a good experience, and it has been every single day for six years. I'm very grateful to work for them.

SPEAKER_03 18:36

I love it. Fantastic story, Sophia. Um, also a fantastic story is Marco Sturm and the job he has done as the head coach. How you know you talked about the culture the Bruins have built over the years. How has he still kept that culture going and the job he's done this year?

SPEAKER_02 18:51

So I was talking so much in the last answer. I was I was like, okay, I'm talking too much over here, but I was gonna say no, no, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_03 18:58

We have lots of time. So keep yeah, keep it up.

SPEAKER_02 19:01

Well, right before the end, I said I've loved every minute over the last six years, and that's true. But to answer your question in a roundabout way, last year was the exception where it was just really weird for the Bruins, and and everyone knew that. Um, Brad Marshan was traded at the deadline, and not just him, but like the core group of character guys, a Brandon Carlo, a Charlie Coyle gone. And it was kind of this and the Bruins were losing, and Swayman was having his bad year and that contract situation. So for the first time in that five and a half years, I was like, this is a very weird vibe, and it didn't feel good. It felt temporary, it just didn't feel good, and um, it felt different, and so that was one of the big concerns is bringing a coach in that could kind of take be a player's coach, first of all. I think he's only 46 years old, so you know, closer to age than other coaches, and they call him like a newer um style, you know, coaching style in the NHL. Uh so there was that, but I knew the Bruins weren't gonna rush to name a captain, which they haven't done. So they've been captainless this season. And coaches don't normally take that place. The room is for the players, and and they know that there's a respect thing there. But Marco has at least calmness-wise, energy-wise, has been able to kind of take this leadership role without crossing the boundaries of allowing the players to leave the room as they should. You don't want a coach to do that because it shows the room is is broken in a way, but he steps in at the right times. Um, he's super calm, he never freaks out. And I think he has only one time in the room. It was on one of our shows. We have behind-the-scenes cameras there, so it was very public. I think he kind of lost it one time on them, but it was one time and it was so effective, and then they went on this run. You know, he knows when to lay the hammer down, and otherwise, he's very complimentary uh to his players, but draws the best out of them. You know, when you just you have a boss or someone that just inspires you to do your best, Marco does that. He doesn't need fear to do that, he just brings the best out of coaches, so uh players. So he's done a great job.

SPEAKER_03 21:02

Should we hear a soup? We should, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:04

We don't want to catch you off guard by this, but okay.

SPEAKER_03 21:07

Watch this, Sophia.

SPEAKER_02 21:16

Soup's on, okay.

SPEAKER_05 21:20

So as we always say to people, because we usually catch people off guard with the fact that we segue into soup. Um, we somehow soup has become a hot topic here um on this show check-in over this season, probably because it's been so cold here throughout the winter, and somehow we started talking about it.

SPEAKER_03 21:38

And our next guest, Paul Edmonds, plays our large role.

SPEAKER_05 21:40

Well, that's and Paul Edmonds, yes. So, anyways, we love to get people's opinions now because this is always a topic in the chat. What is the soup of choice for yourself? We always love to find out from our guests. If you are a soup person, if you are, what do you what sort of soups do you tend to lean toward?

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Oh my gosh. So Polish. People love soups. I'm excited about this technology.

SPEAKER_03 22:05

Thank you. I can tell. I can tell.

SPEAKER_02 22:07

Yeah, I really do. And my mom is the queen of making soups. I'm going to pick one that's probably completely off the radar. But I know you're Ukrainian, right? Yeah. So maybe know this one. I'm going to pick uh I'm trying to say it in the Polish name, but I it's it's not coming to me. But it's a lamb broth soup with teeny little dumplings that my mom makes only once a year. It's so delicate and little they melt in your mouth, and they're with lamb meat. Uh and she makes it at Christmas, and it's a lamb broth. And I will get the name by the end of before I leave, I'll get the name, it's on the tip of my tongue. But um, we're gonna call this a lamb broth soup in English.

SPEAKER_03 22:52

Okay, I like it.

SPEAKER_02 22:54

You haven't had that on the show, I'm assuming.

SPEAKER_03 22:56

No, no, we have not. That's the debut of that one.

SPEAKER_05 23:00

We feel with it with Marsh Madness starting today. We were talking about how maybe if things had gone off the rail on the homestand um that the Jets just finished, that maybe we're gonna have a bracket going of soups for it, something, but then they were.

SPEAKER_02 23:13

No one's gonna get lamb broth. And I don't even have the name in Polish, which is annoying. I picked it because it's so off the cuff. I'm sure you've had is Borsch. I think most people know about Borsch. That's also a top, top, top two for me.

SPEAKER_03 23:25

You can't go wrong with that. But the question was what would you like best? So that's what matters. That's what matters. Oh, I think you have to do it. Is that it?

SPEAKER_02 23:33

Uh no, it's not. Oh my god. I'll text you, Sarah. Okay, text it to me. Text it to me.

SPEAKER_05 23:40

Sophia, you are so sweet for making time for us today. Uh, we wish that we were in Boston so that we could catch up with you in person. But uh we hope that the rest of the season goes well for you and that uh you guys have a very lengthy since you guys are in the east, we can say we hope you make it in and that you have a long time to cover.

SPEAKER_02 23:59

No, I I wish you both the same. Thank you so much for having me on the show. I I respect and and love loved the interactions and the small time we work together. So thanks for having me on anytime, and best of luck with the final run for you guys, too.

SPEAKER_05 24:12

All right, thank you so much. Jackson, have a great broadcast tonight.

SPEAKER_02 24:15

Bye. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 24:17

See, we told you she's the best.

SPEAKER_05 24:19

She is. She's yeah. Okay, well, here she's wonderful.

SPEAKER_03 24:22

Here's the minister of soup.

SPEAKER_05 24:23

All right, bring him in.

SPEAKER_00 24:25

Yeah. Are you kidding me? You're now texting recipes here, soup recipes. You know what? I'm all I'm all for evolution, but this is I was wanting you're gonna, are you kidding?

SPEAKER_05 24:37

You're gonna love it because if I if this soup, which comes highly recommended, if I text it to your wife and then you know what's gonna happen, is on a home game. You're gonna come in and you're gonna go, Sarah, I just have the best soup today.

SPEAKER_00 24:52

My wife Polish Lamb Broth soup. My wife is melted in my mouth. It was in the view.

SPEAKER_05 24:57

I can't say that my wife made the best soup for it. So mock mock now, Polly, but you'll thank us later.

SPEAKER_03 25:05

I saw when I we reran the the graph uh the uh animation. I saw you laughing on the bottom part of the screen.

SPEAKER_00 25:11

I'm like, yes. Well, I mean, again, like let's get right to it. So last night I uh I went out and and I dined and went in when in Rome, of course. Uh you have to have seafood in Boston. Yeah. So we uh we went to a place called Legal Seafood. It's it's a chained seafood, but it was really good. I would highly recommend it. The service was great, food was excellent. Uh, but uh they are famous or infamous for their clam chowder. So we had it, and I had it. And let me just say this you can get some really good clam chowder outside of Boston or New England. This was different because it was certainly a creamy sauce, but it wasn't really thick. And so you get those, and I know JT would like this too. You get those oyster crackers that you throw in there, yeah, and it just oh, it was so good and so tasty, and it just wasn't really thick. It it didn't have that that pasty sort of feel and texture to it. It was it was more creamy, and uh it was I used it as an appetizer, and it was simply delicious. So, soup of the day for me today is Boston clam chowder from legal seafood.

SPEAKER_05 26:24

You went from you went from mocking to giving right into your stick. Yeah, and we're gonna have a cooking show this summer.

SPEAKER_01 26:31

Also, the soup king.

SPEAKER_05 26:34

That's right. What are you expecting tonight? Paul, we looked at the projected lines and saw no surprise that there are uh no changes anticipated for the Jets.

SPEAKER_00 26:43

Uh no changes for the Jets. Uh one for Boston that has some interest to uh Moose and Jet fans. Uh Mikey or Michael Ace Mont is coming out and uh Lucas Reichel is coming in. Um, so that's a change for Boston. But other than that, uh we're not going to see any changes. You're going to see Jeremy Swayman in goal for Boston, Connor Hellebuck in goal for the Winnipeg Jets. What's going to be interesting is for Winnipeg, and they've uh I mean it's been a daunting task for them to get back within four points of a playoff spot where they are. And and plot it's to them, they've really battled through all of this to get themselves into this situation. But now with 15 games remaining, 10 of them are on the road, and it begins tonight against one of the best home teams in the league with 25 wins. Now, the only reason they're not the best home team in the league is because Carolina won it home the other day. They have one more point in playing one more game. So I guess we could split hairs and technically say that Boston might be the best home team, but nonetheless, you get the idea. It's going to be difficult for Winnipeg and a challenge tonight, coming into an environment where, as Sophia just talked about, a much improved team over last year in the Boston Bruins. So, you know, Winnipeg, I think if if they're going to get to where they want to get to, they will have earned it. And it begins or it continues again tonight, whichever way you want to look at it. Um, but they need to have something come out of this game tonight to start this road trip, which is going to be accelerated just like last week was on the weekend where you play tonight, and then you've got back-to-back afternoon matinee games coming up on the weekend in two different cities.

SPEAKER_03 28:27

I'll go back to the game on Tuesday against the Predators, where you know they throw up almost 40 shots. I would argue that was probably their best offensive performance in some time. How frustrating is it they didn't come out of that game with two points?

SPEAKER_00 28:38

Well, I think that you have to be pragmatic about it. And and head coach Scott Arneal was, and he mentioned that today as well during his availability. He liked the offense they generated, and he liked what they didn't give Nashville. It came down to what they call the skills competition in a shootout. I mean, they even had chances, they had outchanced Nashville in overtime with the shots they put toward UC Sarros. So, from that standpoint, you're not going to win them all. It's how you play, it's the directness, the speed, what you're generating. And for all of that, the head coach and the Winnipeg Jets liked their game the other night. So um, not all was lost just because you you didn't get the extra point. They had to battle. I mean, we heard this in the post-game availability. Was it a point earned or a point lost? Well, I would go with the point earned because they had to tie the game, they did so on a six-on-five situation. Yes, uh, they've been much better at that lately than they had been for most of the season, which is a departure from where they were last year because they were so good at scoring those late period goals and and those goals when they needed a goal. So I look at it from the standpoint that they like their game. Take that game into this game tonight, and you're going to better your chances of winning on the road. So, overall, not too much, not too much to critique from Tuesday night against Nashville, other than the fact that uh you hit a post Kyle Connor did in the shootout that would have extended the the shootout to another round of shooters.

SPEAKER_05 30:06

Different arenas bring different energies. Uh, it's different for people that are calling the game too. Sometimes where your radio broadcast booth is, sometimes is optimum, sometimes not so much, depending on where it is. What is it like to call games in Boston?

SPEAKER_00 30:19

Excellent. Yeah, great, great location.

SPEAKER_05 30:22

It's so nice. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:24

It's uh, you know, it's a bigger booth, and you're there's no obstructions. Uh, you're looking fairly close to the the ice surface. I mean, I've always said that I said I think I've talked about this with you. The further back you get, the more the game slows down. But the problem is there there comes a threshold as to being too far back, right? And and then needing field glasses to call the game. Uh, you don't require those here. Boston is is the word that you use to Sarah Optimum. Uh, so you're you're just back far enough where you can call the game, see the numbers, and the games uh slowed down slightly for you. But this is a great location. Fans are excellent here. Uh, a real hardened hockey city has been for decades, really. And um, they know the game, they love the game, and they know where the Boston Bruins are too. And the and the Bruins are chasing a higher position within their division, and that's the other thing, too. I mean, when you look at the Atlantic division, um, all the divisions that Winnipeg goes against, including their own, the Atlantic is where they have scuffled the most. So if you want to make some hay, you're gonna have to do that certainly tonight in Massachusetts.

SPEAKER_03 31:29

Buddy, appreciate the time. Insight on many topics is always enjoy the business.

SPEAKER_00 31:35

My pleasure, my pleasure. Yeah, well, have me on again, you know. Um, how about Sunday? How about Sunday morning? Oh no, are you guys on Sunday? Yeah, right. That's awful. That'll be awful early, won't it? Oh boy, it's almost like a morning show for you guys, right? Do you think we talk about you think we talk about food now? Wait until it's wait until Sunday morning.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

This is just gonna be straight from our kitchens. Just I am in the I'm just gonna be over the stove.

SPEAKER_03 32:02

I'll be pouring cereal. So okay.

SPEAKER_00 32:05

Well, enjoy it tonight, and I hope everybody else does as well. Should be a really good game. And like I said, if Winnipeg's gonna get in, they're going to earn it. And uh believe me, it's exciting times right now for the team, and the team's exciting about excited about playing these games, and I think everybody else should be to see how they do.

SPEAKER_05 32:21

Thank you so much, Paul. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 32:23

See you guys. Thanks.

SPEAKER_05 32:25

Always with a great call. Uh Paul Edmonds, Mitchell Clinton on CGOB.

SPEAKER_03 32:29

Yes. Uh, one thing about Boston I like I love to share with people is the bus. You take the bus from the hotel. Yeah. The bus drivers in Boston have the ultimate challenge. So, like, they not only do they back into the building, they back in and they go up a ramp. And there's a ramp and there's like a little kink in it. And I'm serious, having watched and sat inside the bus there many times, there's probably this much space by the side mirrors. It's insane. They back all the way up there. And some guys just give her up that up that hill.

SPEAKER_05 33:00

Really? I've never gone in. I don't know why they built it. I've never gone in on the team bus before.

SPEAKER_03 33:06

No, you have to go in the bus. It's it's a it's a treat. I call it wizardry.

SPEAKER_05 33:09

For it. It can be a little stressful.

SPEAKER_03 33:12

For the first time, then after a while, you're like marvel how good the bus tries. Yeah, oh, I believe it. Yeah, those guys are I believe it.

SPEAKER_05 33:18

Especially because they don't think that they have the sensors on them.

SPEAKER_03 33:21

Yeah. See, Kevin Swarz in the chat. Wizardry. Wizardry.

SPEAKER_05 33:25

Oh, yeah. That's right. Um, you know what else is happening today because of this game in Boston?

SPEAKER_03 33:32

What?

SPEAKER_05 33:32

There's a town takeover that is going on this evening. Uh it's actually going on right now, but you can head out to Gimli, or if you are near Gimli, you might want to go over today, the Gimli Recreation Center. It is the viewing party free admission. Doors open at five o'clock because pack drop is at six because of course it's Eastern. Uh it's the Eastern time with seven o'clock start. So don't miss out. We got tons of tons of Winnipeg jets, um the crew out there.

SPEAKER_03 34:04

Um, yeah, so reminder we're on really early on Saturday and Sunday.

SPEAKER_05 34:09

We are. We're going to be with our coffee cups.

SPEAKER_03 34:12

We've had multiple guests say no because it's early.

SPEAKER_05 34:15

Oh, see? No, we haven't because it's so early.

SPEAKER_03 34:19

Two people have said no.

SPEAKER_05 34:20

No, one said they were already out of the house because they have small children. Right.

SPEAKER_03 34:23

And so they apologized very much. But I found two people.

SPEAKER_05 34:28

Because you're the man.

SPEAKER_03 34:29

I don't stop. I don't take an L for an answer. Oh my god, it's 10 minutes. Come on.

SPEAKER_05 34:34

Please, please. Um, it has been so great to have lots of people who know their soup up Gimley Way. Isn't that the truth? Um that's uh yeah. So we've talked soup. We've talked Boston. Right. Um they do have one of the best home records, 25, 9, and 1. If you remember earlier this season, just as we wrap up, the Bruce were here in town. The Jets lost 6-3. That was when the power play really started working for Boston. They went two for two on that one. We will discuss maybe on Saturday one goal games. We'll see what this one turns out to be. But I feel like the Jets have maybe become a little bit more comfortable than what we saw early on.

SPEAKER_03 35:13

They're comfortable in lots of situations now, all of a sudden, out of that Olympic break. Which is great. It's the team we saw last year. Maybe four points. We used to be saying 11.

SPEAKER_05 35:25

I saw someone actually just quickly with that. I saw someone in on X that was when I was looking at different things with Boston, just about their lines and and various things, and someone had listed out with the standings, and they said, These are the games that we are hate watching today. You know, you cheer for Boston, you cheer for this team. We want team X to win. This is because every fan base now, if you are in that playoff mix, unless you have um unless you have run away with it, which nobody has, then certainly there's a lot of ones where you're watching Well, the setup here is bad. Yeah, Kraken and Preds, yeah. There are a few. What did I write down? Seattle, Nashville, Buffalo, San Jose, yeah, go Buffalo, Utah, Vegas, Philadelphia over the Kings, and Philly, LA Kings. So there's four games that is Winnipeg Jets fans, you're gonna want to uh keep an eye on as well because that we could see movement in the standings. And maybe when tonight is done, though, could the Jets be two points closer?

SPEAKER_03 36:22

Could you imagine?

SPEAKER_05 36:23

Could you? All right, 8 a.m. on Saturday. We are looking forward to it. We hope you join us, grab your coffee, grab your cereal, bring you into our homes and join us. We will get you set for that afternoon game. It is back-to-back afternoon games on the weekend. First up, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby is back. Looking forward to setting up that game. And then they play Madison Square Gardens, the New York Rangers. Super early Sunday afternoon.

SPEAKER_03 36:49

11 a.m. Is that a game?

SPEAKER_05 36:51

11 a.m. Central, yes. All right.

SPEAKER_01 36:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 36:54

That is it for us today. We love having so many of you in the chat. We love how much fun you guys have with the soup. We do as well. Uh, we appreciate it. Have yourself a fantastic Thursday, and we will see you on Saturday morning. See everybody. Thanks for checking in.