The Check In - 04.02.26 - Jets at Stars

The Jets hope to continue their impressive road trip with a win in Dallas on Thursday night. Sara and Jamie discuss Mark Scheifele's brilliance in Chicago and welcome NHLPA writer Scott Burnside and Stars broadcaster Josh Bogorad to the show.

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 2:54

I'm gonna go to Sis because I get more.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

Yeah, great job, great response.

SPEAKER_05 3:12

How many people, when overtime started, because of all the times we've seen the combination, the trio of Josh Morrissey, Mark Schefley, and Kyle Connor and things at the United Center. Thought it was gonna be over right away. Thank you. Thank you. Welcome to Check In. Jamie Thomas with Sarah O'Lesti, who's in one of her favorite hotel rooms in the volleyball circuit in Canada.

SPEAKER_07 3:35

Yes, on the road. So it's uh it is not the usual backdrop here today, but very excited. I obviously was not wanting to miss check-in today uh as we set up this game tonight against the Dallas Stars. And as the Jets continue this road trip, they've gone two for two to start so far. Will they be able to duplicate it again here tonight in Dallas?

SPEAKER_05 3:57

Well, same thing with the game in Denver the other day. It's like not sure what's gonna happen. You know, you text me what's like have you watched this first period? I'm like, uh did not look good. Um kind of thought, you know, of all the games in this road trip, this looked like that game they might over this opponent they would overlook considering how well they were doing. So for them to jump out to a 3-1 lead and then watch that lead evaporate from 3-1 down to 3-3 and then win in overtime was how the Jets have done things. They've been tugging on our heartstrings all year long. And uh Saturday or Tuesday in Chicago was no different. So they had found themselves one point out of a playoff spot as of that moment. That has changed because of what the action on Wednesday night. Worst case scenario possible, San Jose wins, and then LA and St. Louis go to overtime in the classic three-point game uh with Los Angeles winning. So the Jets are two points behind the Los Angeles Kings, who currently sit in the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.

SPEAKER_07 4:51

Yeah, great to see so many of you in the chat already. Lots of you loving Paul Edmonds call course. There's nothing better than that. I love this one that ordered in KFC the other night, and then look who scores. Of course, Kyle Connor. If you haven't seen that KFC commercial, highly recommend you seeking it out because it is a great job by for a commercial in which Kyle Connor does not speak at all. Right. But he's a thing. He did uh he did a tremendous job. But great to see so many of you, whether you were in Maryland, Winnipeg, or wherever you are, joining us, and we love to hear you in the conversation. Uh Scott Burnside is going to join us shortly. An absolute legend in the world of hockey writing, uh 2024 Elmer Ferguson, uh Hall of Fame award winner. Uh he's pretty good. He's fantastic. He actually covered the Dallas Stars for a number of years, but then covered the league for years with ESPN and a variety of other outlets. So he's with the NHLPA right now writing. So looking forward to having him on. And then who else do we have?

SPEAKER_05 5:50

We have Josh Bulgarad, the voice and face of the Dallas Stars. So he'll uh update us on the Dallas Stars who find themselves in exactly where they were a year ago, chasing after the team that's in first place and fighting for the president's trophy and trying to fight off a team behind them in the standing. So, of course, last year Dallas was the main nemesis in the Winnipeg Jets pursuit of the president's trophy. They are pushing the Colorado Avalanche right now, but more than likely they will be the two seed when the playoffs begin uh in at the middle part of April. So we'll figure out what's going on with them. They've been pretty inconsistent as of late. Josh will take us through what's going on with the Dallas Stars lately.

SPEAKER_07 6:25

Yeah, hey, there's some props for you from uh from someone in the chat saying latest ground control was great. We're gonna have a preview of it, a clip from it. So for those that haven't had the opportunity to listen yet, we'll have that later on in the show. So see, look at that, huh? It was great. It was great, Jamie.

SPEAKER_05 6:44

Our comfortable seats that we have in the ground control studio, I think, has been the real key to people giving us information that they don't want to give us. But man, we've uncovered some crazy things like Gabe Villardi's goggles, uh, the fact that Gabe Villardi bought everybody Nintendo Switches. Um, there's a there's a lot of interesting uh tidbits in this this this latest edition of Ground Control. So we'll happy to share that with you a little bit later. Um, we all love to be it's competitive time of year. It's the Stanley Cup playoffs just around the corner. We love to compete, especially Sarah and I, and our good friends each other in particular. Tim Hortons, our friends, have come through for us with the uh Tim's hockey challenge, play to win. The best part about this, it's free. It's in the Tim's app. Make your picks each night and earn Tim's reward points in the process. The best part about this free coffee for a week if you hit a seven-day streak. So each night you pick three players that have to score goals. If one of those guys do it and you get it right seven days in a row, you'll get free coffee for a week. Even Scott Burnside would not be able to turn that down. Uh, we'll find out a little bit later from him about his soup of choice as well. So thank you to Tim Hortons for providing the Tim's hockey challenge. Uh, Sarah and I will make our picks at the end of the show and let you know what we're gonna do in that direction. In the meantime, as we roll along on the show, um, let's take a look at what the Jets record has been since the Olympic break. It has been tremendous. 10-4 and 4, ladies and gentlemen. That is the second best record in the Western Conference. No surprise, the St. Louis Blues, who went on a tear after the Four Nations face-off last year, have the best record in the Western Conference. The Buffalo Sabres, who can clinch a playoff spot, by the way, tonight for the first time since 2011. They're 14-2-2 since the Olympic break. Just incredible. But Winnipeg pulling themselves into the mix uh with that win in Chicago the other night, and their play as of late. Um, Los Angeles, San Jose, Nashville, Seattle, all in the mix. They're playing tonight.

SPEAKER_07 8:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 8:38

Unfortunately, uh Los Angeles and Nashville are playing against each other.

SPEAKER_07 8:42

So probably all you hope is not a three-point game.

SPEAKER_05 8:44

Right. That's that's what we're gonna be have to do. Those are all late games uh afterwards. So um let's keep our fingers crossed. That does not go into overtime at all or into a shootout for that matter. Uh Morning Skate has just wrapped up. There's been some changes, Sarah.

SPEAKER_07 8:59

Oh, you know what? I mean, we love when things stay the same, but it also spices things up a little bit when we can talk about projected lines that are a little bit different than what we saw last game. I've seen people in the chat um say that there was a bear sighting that they have seen online. So let's get to it.

SPEAKER_05 9:17

Okay. Morgan Barron's back in the lineup.

SPEAKER_07 9:20

Guess who's back?

SPEAKER_05 9:22

Back again.

SPEAKER_07 9:22

Back again. Good for you.

SPEAKER_05 9:24

Thank you. Um Nano's the babyface assassin uh looking down at us right now. Um be on the left side on the on the second line, but Morgan Barron back in the lineup, everybody. Uh, Parker Ford uh and uh Isaac Rosane will be the fourth line for Morgan Barron, of course, uh, with Jonathan Taze, Brad Lambert, and uh Cole Kepke right in the way. Also changed on the blue line, Hayden Curry back in. He'll take over for Jacob Bryson. He'll be on the left side with Elias Salamans, and of course, uh our good friend Connor Hellebuck uh will be the starting goaltender again tonight. And I I listen, there's been a lot of conversation, people asking about Eric Comerry, but I think Scott Arneal made it clear, especially with his schedule shaking out. It sounds like Connor Hellebuck's gonna play the rest of the way. If I'm reading between the tea leaves.

SPEAKER_07 10:07

What do you think about that?

SPEAKER_05 10:09

I think that's well, he's the reigning for trophy winner.

SPEAKER_07 10:13

I'm not no no, I'm not I'm not discounting. I'm not saying I mean it's similar to when the narrative was at home for that game, and people said, Oh, do you go to Eric Homery? Or no, it's just do you Yeah, I agree with it.

SPEAKER_05 10:25

It's it's I mean, as great as well. He's got you gotta bring you gotta play your best. So uh Connor Halibach again against the Dallas Stars here this evening. We will hear for the room shortly, but we pumped his tires a ton at the top of the show. We're gonna pump his tires for another 10 minutes here as we bring in our good friend Scott Burnside in the show. Hey, my friend, how are you?

SPEAKER_06 10:49

It's great, but I was gonna I was gonna complain. You don't write, you don't call, uh, but Sarah, you know, uh everything is forgiven now. In fact, Sarah, if you want to keep going for the next eight or nine minutes, I'm all for it.

SPEAKER_07 11:03

It is so great to see you, Scott. How are things?

SPEAKER_06 11:06

I I have no complaints. Um, you mentioned uh the NHLPA. I've uh I was uh fortunate enough to be in Milan and providing content for the PA. I've been doing some stuff for them for the last couple of years, different programs that they run and was at Four Nations and then uh for the uh the Olympic tournament, so that was good. Have Burnside on hockey for uh you know a devoted, uh deeply disturbed few. But uh it's uh it's great. It's great to join you guys. And I was um, you know, again, you sort of, you know, you check standings every day, but I must admit that when I knew I was gonna come on, I was like, oh my god, the Jets are right back in it. And uh thank thank goodness for the Western Conference, right? I mean, thank goodness for all the teams in the Pacific that can't get out of their own way, and here we are with uh you know two weeks to go in the regular season. And I I do think in some ways it sounds trite, but uh the Jets control, they're the masters of their own destiny, really.

SPEAKER_07 12:06

Isn't it crazy? I mean, you look at the panic that's going on in the east with people saying teams that are having pretty much catastrophic seasons, but should they be in the west, that they would be in a playoff position because and the playoff line, we thought there was no chance, and I fully admit that the coming out of the Olympic break, the Jets were back 11 points. I said, look, there's no way that you can make up 11 points plus jump the uh five or six teams that they were at the time. It's just mathematically sure, there's it's possible, but we've all watched hockey for a long time. No, it's not gonna happen, and then everybody around the Jets, the Jets have been taking care of what they need to do, but everybody around the Jets has gone into a slump, it seems right now. It's unbelievable.

SPEAKER_06 12:50

Yeah, I know I I penned a pseudo-apology to Andrew Burnett and the uh Predators uh a week ago because they had jumped themselves back into uh and actually they were pretty close to Utah for uh about an hour, and uh immediately now they've lost three in a row and they look like they did for most of the season. So I'm like, all right, never mind that apology. I'm sorry. You're you know, and Seattle uh just I don't know, looks out of gas. And uh I spent uh a fair amount of time with the LA Kings the last two years and providing content. I was part of their coverage team for the last two playoff runs, brief as they were against the Edmonton Oilers. And uh I'm sure you know this, but the Kings have the easiest schedule down the stretch, uh, followed very closely by the San Jose Sharks. But and I love you know, listen, what's going on in San Jose is so exciting, and and I think Mike Greer's done a fabulous job there and such a you know, again, a marketplace that for years and years you expected them to be in a Final Four. I know they never quite you know got their arms around the Stanley Cup, but you know, trip to a Stanley Cup final in um 16 and you know, a real powerhouse for years and years, and and and then some very lean times. But you know, having seen Macklin Cellebrini uh live and and up close in Milan, and it's just so exciting there. But they are a team that invariably needs to win every game 6-5. So I don't know if that's a way to sneak into the playoffs or not. So um, you know, I just think that uh the Jets have the most difficult schedule of all of the Western Conference teams that are still, you know, legitimately in the hunt. And they play every team they play is either in a playoff spot or fighting for a playoff spot. But you got to beat good teams, and I don't know. Like I just don't, you know, the game against the stars is gonna be really important. But that, I mean, how as you point out, Sarah, how exciting to have this on your plate, to have the have this opportunity.

SPEAKER_07 15:00

100%.

SPEAKER_05 15:01

Scott, like as much as we're talking about the you know, fight for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and the issues in in the Pacific division, what about the three juggernauts at the top of the central division again looking like the the clubs that will represent at some point um the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup final, or is it that simple in your opinion?

SPEAKER_06 15:22

Um, I don't yeah, I don't know if it's that simple. I mean, the whole I had this long debate with a uh an employee of a Western Conference team yesterday. He asked me if I was a playoff uh playoff uh format denier. I was like, I don't even know what that means, but uh you know, it does there's something inherently wrong, I think, when you have the top three teams in the Western Conference all in the central. Two of them are gonna play each other in the first round, as you noted, Jamie. Sorry, with Minnesota and Dallas likely. And then, you know, unless there's a huge upset and Colorado loses to the second wildcard team, um, one of the top three teams in the Western Conference and one of the top four or five teams in the NHL will another one will go home after the second round. So I I do think there's something, you know, what's the reward for regular season success? And when you look next year to 84 games of regular season, I don't see that that's a I think that's a flaw in the system. But I understand the importance of the rivalries, I understand the the dynamic first-round play. Like who won't want to tune in to see Minnesota and Dallas in the first round? And this employee was saying, you know, if you watch the NBA, you you don't have to watch any first-round series. They're all pre-ordained. There is no drama. And different, yeah, listen, opposite origins. I get it, but so I but I do understand that point of it. I I do, and it doesn't happen every year this way. Um, so it is, you know, there's you know, if the Jets take care of business, you could be looking at five central division teams. And you know, I uh I don't profess to know what's in uh the the Avs, the the Avalanche, you know, psyche, but I'm gonna tell you, I've I they were looking at teams going of the teams in that list, probably Winnipeg would not be the team that they would pick to face in the first round, especially because it means that they will be literally hitting on all cylinders if they can sneak into that second wildcard spot. And uh, you know, but that's the great fun of it, right? I mean, I I I can't wait for to see what happens in the next two weeks. And um, and there is no better time than the first round or the NHL playoffs, no matter the format.

SPEAKER_05 17:47

Scott, what about like you just talked about you were in Milan? What about are the players? How excited are the players about the opportunity to play for their countries every two years? Like you that that's what your latest article touched on, the excitement that department, we don't have to wait to see if Canada could beat the United States in a best on best tournament for four years. We get to see if it happens again in two years with the next World Cup. How excited are the players about all this?

SPEAKER_06 18:11

Yeah, well, God bless you for reading, first of all. So um thank you for that. And but it is true, it and it is a completely I I actually was I was speaking at a class at uh Syracuse University last night, and uh we were talking about the Olympics. And uh, you know, somebody asked what my favorite memory to start, at least start of the Olympics, and it was literally to see the players come off the ice you know after practice before the the group play, and how I mean, just how pumped they were to be there, and whether they were young, like uh Macklin Cellebrini, obviously, or whether a player who may well be playing in their last Olympic, uh, you know, whether it's you know, never count Sidney Crosby out. He can play till he's 50. But you know, the players who, you know, I remember talking to Eric Carlson about this. He thought he would play in four Olympics. Well, it didn't work out that way, and he's he maybe he's played in his last one, and so being there was so critically important. But the fact that you don't have to wait for four years now to have that same kind of competition and and a World Cup of hockey, which is what will happen in 2028, and uh announcements recently that uh the Canadian sites will be in Calgary and Edmonton, new building in Calgary, how exciting! And uh, and in Prague, uh, I talked to Tomash Hurdle recently about that. I mean, how exciting for Team Chechia, they're gonna host some of the European games, well, the all the European games before the tournament moves to North America. Um, and that team, you know, think about it, they're one shot. Martin Netchass has a breakaway against Canada in the quarterfinals, and you know, maybe you know, the whole history is rewritten. So the fact that those players are gonna get a chance to do something very similar again in two years, I I think it's I think it's critically important for the game. I think it's really important. The players absolutely love it, and I really do think I know it's hard to quantify, but I do think these events are so important for the growth of the game around the world, right? I mean, it's easy to get you know locked into North America and the NHL, and that's hockey, but it's not. And it's always uh that was my fourth Olympics, and it's always refreshing to be with the world hockey media. You take, you know, you you wait your turn when the Slovaks come off the ice, you know, the the Slovak reporters get they have the first conversations as it should be. And so you wait your turn and then you you uh you bore them with your English questions. But it's um it really is a reminder that the game it's you know sounds trite, but it's it truly is a global game. And and I think I'm already excited to see what World Cup of Hockey, true best on best, eight teams. I mean, a lot of lot of discussions about what those eighteen, which team, which countries will be represented, where does Russia fit in, if at all? Yeah, but it's not gonna be, and with all due respect to 2016, which I I covered in Toronto, no made-up teams, no team North America, no team Europe. This is this will be very Olympic-like, and I I imagine it's really going to start to create its own history that that the way that uh those of us of certain generation who remember, you know, 1996 and the world first World Cup of Hockey and the Canada Cups and all those kinds of events, I think this new version has the potential to create that kind of lasting hockey history.

SPEAKER_05 21:50

Well, outside of being a great writer, you know a little bit about food, so bear with me. Uh Caden, play the play the video. It is time for soups on, Scott. You look you look a little puzzled on this one.

SPEAKER_06 22:08

So look not puzzled, but I'm a big soup fan, so I'm waiting to see what happens next.

SPEAKER_07 22:12

Oh, that's fantastic news.

SPEAKER_05 22:15

Everybody wants to know in our chat group and people that watch the show, this has become a little bit of a shtick for us. Uh, what is your go-to soup in any situation?

SPEAKER_06 22:24

Um, I'm gonna I'm gonna hedge my bets. I love a really good New England clam chowder. There's there's nothing better.

SPEAKER_07 22:31

Nothing better than classic. Yeah, that's it.

SPEAKER_06 22:34

And but you know what, as a as a you know, sort of old school go-to, make it at home uh broccoli cheddar.

SPEAKER_05 22:44

First time appearance on that one for on our show, Scotty. So I I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_06 22:48

I'm shocked by that, frankly.

SPEAKER_05 22:51

I know, I am I'm actually offended it hasn't come on yet. So uh broccoli cheddar soup for Scott Burnside. Scott, really appreciate you taking the time. I will call you more often because uh always appreciate her.

SPEAKER_06 23:04

Yeah, I I hope I set the table properly for uh Josh Bogorad, who also doesn't write or call, but uh please give him my best. He truly, he truly he's he is uh he is an amazing uh broadcaster and a better human being. So you can tell him I said, thank you, Scott. Appreciate it. Talk to you soon, my friend.

SPEAKER_07 23:24

Hope to see you soon.

SPEAKER_05 23:26

Scott Burnside. You like you've spent a ton of time with Scott over the years, right?

SPEAKER_07 23:30

Yeah, I mean on playoff runs in particular. So you and I were talking beforehand, and I said that it'd be Scott and Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBron very close. And so with Pierre having been with TSN for years, I mean there'd be a bunch of dinners and going out on the road with uh with all of us during it, and you know, a ton of fun. He's a great storyteller, he's seen so much and and a great writer. And so he mentioned that he's got his site that's going, but yeah, uh also NHLPA. So go check it out. I saw some of the comments in there. Such great information from Scott. So you definitely don't want to miss out on anything. It's worth adding that to your list to keep on top of.

SPEAKER_05 24:11

Yeah, uh, look, I wanted to dig in a little bit further into what he's doing and how much he's enjoying working with the players now, but so we just ran out of time on that one because Josh Bulgarad, which we uh recorded this a little bit earlier, we'll run in a bit. But first, uh, as promised, uh the guys have gone into the dressing room. Here are comments uh outside or inside the Jets dress room in Dallas from moments ago.

SPEAKER_02 24:29

Yeah, our games have all been pretty close. Um, you know, uh the first game of the year uh obviously was the one that uh they were a lot better, but uh the last couple have been pretty tight. Uh uh they're still one of the lead teams in the league. And you know, obviously being in the central and seeing these guys over the last few years, it's uh they're always good games, but um, you know, you you have to make sure in this building that you're ready to go, that they uh you know they can come out and uh they obviously can score goals, but the big thing is that they defend real well. They do a really good job, their analytics are real high in a lot of areas, um, you know, when them playing without the puck, so they can't be stubborn about things. You gotta, you know, you're gonna have to uh grind, you're gonna have to work to get inside, kind of like we talked about some of these teams, you know, Vegas is and Washington, and some of these bigger teams that you know really try to keep the outside. We gotta work our way in.

SPEAKER_00 25:18

Yeah, obviously we're pretty familiar with them. And um obviously seen them in the playoffs last year where uh you know it's uh two good teams going at it. So uh we play each other well. Um I think we uh you always match up for a hard game. So um it's gonna be tight checking again tonight. Obviously, uh we're we're playing for our lives here, so we're we're we're gonna come out and uh play with that desperation. And um, they're obviously a really good team. So um got to come in here and get a good start in this building and and go from there.

SPEAKER_07 25:45

And these games have been so tight between them. Dallas has won all three games. This is the final game of the season series, and something to keep in mind too, the Jets, in addition to how they've been playing lately, when you look at it, they're four and one in their last five. Dallas has slipped their one, three-and-one last five. So they've had some hiccups, but Dallas has the potential to sweep the season series for the first time in Jets franchise histories 2.0 uh since moving. It's never happened. And so whenever I see numbers like that, I was thinking, well, you know, eventually. So they've won Dallas's one-three. You got to think that Winnipeg's gonna win one, and no better time to do it than right now.

SPEAKER_05 26:21

All right, with some more insight on the Dallas Stars and how uh they've been kind of stumbling a little bit later. We talked uh talked to Josh Bulgarad.

SPEAKER_07 26:28

What did we do?

SPEAKER_05 26:30

Talked to Josh Bogorad. It's because I was overthinking his name and uh kind of stumbled over that one. So I did not stumble in this interview, I promise.

SPEAKER_07 26:38

You did not, it was a great one.

SPEAKER_05 26:40

Let's hear from Josh. Welcome to the show. Uh, of course, up here north of the border, the Toronto Maple Leafs have fired their general manager, which is the big news across the country, whether we like it or not. And when there's an opening for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it rules the headline. So, did that make the Dallas Stars sign up Jim Nil as quickly as possible because they knew the Leafs were going to be snooping around the corner trying to grab one of the best general managers in the game?

SPEAKER_03 27:03

I think that the answer to that is that's not why they locked him up. Um, but I do think that the timing of the announcement of it is uh is certainly interesting. Uh, Jim has done such an amazing job here. It's it's crazy because he's turned the stars into exactly what he wanted to. I remember his introduction, it was the summer of 2013, and people might remember the huge splash right after he was hired. He made the Tyler Sagan trade. And um, but but what he said was he he had a team in the stars who had missed the playoffs five straight years. And he said, Look, I want to get back to the playoffs. Obviously, we want to win a Stanley Cup, but it's not just about getting back there once, it's about building something and really making this team a perennial contender. And you look in the rearview mirror, and this is about to be their ninth trip in those 13 years for a club that had missed five straight and three straight trips to the conference finals, and they're hoping for another long run here. And I think it's there's a reason why every team looks at any bacon general manager position they have and says he would be a guy because he proved that he is exactly that. But um, but unfortunately for everyone else, I feel like uh Dallas is gonna be very happy to keep him as long as he wants to be here.

SPEAKER_07 28:25

When you look at this stars team, I mean, sitting second in the central right now, and we've seen ebbs and flows lately, but overall, as they go into the playoffs, you talked about how they're obviously hoping for a long playoff, a deep playoff run here. How do you think they're situated in order to be able to do that?

SPEAKER_03 28:43

You know what's crazy, Sarah, is it feels like it's so reminiscent from a star standpoint of what it was last year when they were chasing the Jets. Um, because Winnipeg got off to that incredible start, kind of the way Colorado did this year. And then it seemed like whatever the stars did, the best you could do is provide maybe some footsteps in the distance of the team that was ahead of you. And then there was a really good team behind you. Last year it was Colorado that was in that three seed, and and now it's Minnesota that looks like legitimately one of the best teams in the league. And so it's funny that we're here in early April, and because of the playoff format and and the structure, what it is, and I know that that's a hot topic discussion probably for another day, but it it is what it is. And for the stars, they know that welcome to the central division gauntlet because there could be a not could be, there will be a Stanley Cup worthy team that doesn't make it out of the first round. It's just it's mathematics, uh, and then you just have to try your hardest to make sure you're not that Stanley Cup worthy team that doesn't. Uh, but the way it looks right now, I mean, obviously mathematically, it's it's not a certainty, but it you look like that two, three matchup is is gonna be where you're destined. And um, and so that's gonna be an absolute clash of the Titans in the opening round. And if chalk holds after that, then you'll have what's been the best team in the NHL all season waiting for you. Now, again, we've seen crazy things, it doesn't necessarily work out that way, but I think that you could drive yourself crazy um thinking about the the future and forecasting. And what you really have to do is just get your game in order if you're Dallas for these last two weeks, these last seven games, because they've dipped a little bit after they were they looked unbeatable coming out of the Olympic break for for a while, and that's not the case anymore. So just try and get healthy, try and get your game situated, and then try and strap in for what's gonna be a heck of an opening round. And um, you just got to beat the teams that are in front of you one round at a time, but but it starts right now with just getting your game where you want it to before that third week of April.

SPEAKER_05 31:00

We're we're always looking for reasons why a team isn't playing as well as it has, uh, you know, as you mentioned after the uh the Olympic break, playing fantastic. Now, two, four, and one, your last seven. Has injuries played a role in the inconsistency part of the uh stars game as of late?

SPEAKER_03 31:14

Yeah, without a doubt, but there's also a fine line between using that as a realistic ex uh explanation and um and an excuse. And I don't think anybody here wants to use that as an excuse because when they were on what was a 15-game point streak, the majority of that was done with some pretty critical guys out of the lineup. You had no Miko Rantinen since the Olympics until a couple games ago. You had no Rope Bay hints for most of that. You've had no Raddock Fox. I mean, those are three pretty big pieces out of your lineup. And then there have been other guys who have since come in and out and left. And I think that that was kind of a hallmark of what made that 15-game run for Dallas so impressive is that who's ever out of the lineup, and you even predate it, Sagan is out for the year and he was a big piece of your top six. Uh, it's it's been the MO of this team. So I know it's cliche and it it gets very tiresome, I'm sure. But that next man up mentality, when it translates, that's when the stars are at their best. When they're a four-line team, when everybody's contributing, when you're getting offense from depth guys, when you're getting uh great defensive games from your top guys, when your D is chipping in at a 200-foot game at both ends of the ice. And a lot of that has kind of dipped. So, do injuries and do the schedule and the exhaustion play a role in that? Absolutely. But uh, but I think there's also a recognition that the entire league is tired because everybody's playing this breakneck and dense schedule. So um I think I think you can look at it and rationally say, yes, it's had an impact, and at the same time say it can't be an excuse and it's gotta end sooner rather than later.

SPEAKER_07 33:02

And it looked like the post-game comments after the loss in Boston was that players were taking account, or there was a level of accountability for it of saying we're also we're playing desperate teams right now in the schedule that are looking for those points that are trying to get above the playoff marker. So they have a lot to play for as well. Of course, that's the case with Winnipeg coming in tonight. So, what sort of response are you looking for tonight from the Stars team? What could Winnipeg be in store for going into the game this evening?

SPEAKER_03 33:30

Yeah, it's such an interesting parallel because it was all against the Eastern Conference team. Stars just played a four-game trip uh uh against teams who every game feels like a playoff game for them. And now you return back home and you're inside the division, but it's really the same situation with Winnipeg, and so it's kind of a continuation. Um, I think I I would I would probably quantify that similarly to the the exhaustion and the injuries. There's there's probably something that is very tangible about not being able to replicate a fight for your life scenario that their opponents are having. That's what I expect Winnipeg to have here tonight. It certainly looks like it's what they've had during this run that's brought them back into the playoff picture. At the same time, that can't be enough. It can be part of the storyline, but it from a star standpoint, it can't be enough. Um, Dallas, when when they're going well, they feel like they can and should beat any team in the league. And it doesn't matter if it's the one team ahead of them in the standings or if it's a team that's at the other end of it, way out of a playoff spot, or a team that's right there on the cut line. Uh, the mantra all season long has been if we have our game in order, you don't have to really worry about what the other side is bringing. So I think it starts with that accountability that you're talking about. Sure, the recognition that Winnipeg is treating this like it's a playoff game because it kind of feels like it is for them, but it's more getting your game in order if you're Dallas and uh and having the confidence that everything falls into place after that.

SPEAKER_05 35:08

Josh, appreciate the time. Thanks so much for doing this, and uh, thank you for taking Jim Nell off the market so we don't have to hear about it up here on the national networks day after day.

SPEAKER_03 35:17

I can tell you with sincerity, it's our pleasure down here, and uh, and I was happy to join you guys.

SPEAKER_07 35:22

Thanks so much, Josh. Have a great call tonight.

SPEAKER_03 35:25

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 35:28

See, Scott wasn't lying, he is a good guy.

SPEAKER_07 35:31

He's a great guy.

SPEAKER_05 35:33

Yeah, the best. All right, we're gonna talk about uh let's one last comment, but before we get that, we talked about this. I talked to Scott O'Neill. I said, dude, Morgan Barron's in my podcast. I can't have him out of the lineup or else people are like, where's Morgan Barron? What did you and of course everyone's bugging me that I'm not gonna say it because other another time? Morgan Barron was my guest on the latest ground control. Here's a sneak peek. I came to the other day just to ask about Gabe and his goggles and everything as Logan, the cat out of the bag, and then I kind of discovered something more from the conversation with you.

SPEAKER_01 36:05

Usually if you sign like a pretty big extension to stay, yeah, um, you get guilted into taking the guys for a dinner or something like that. And instead he bought everyone Nintendo Switches because it was really generous of him, but he just was like, I want people to play with on the plane. He was kind of playing a switch on his own. So it's a personal thing. Yeah, I I think it he helped himself, he got them at Christmas, so everyone came back from Christmas break and they were in our in our uh dry stall. So now there's like eight guys playing Mario Kart on the plane all the time, and of course he's the best at it. So he's I think Pierce was really good as well. Uh, but he's he's gone, so Gabe's kind of claimed the throne.

SPEAKER_05 36:40

So with that comment in mind, did Gabe will already have something to do with Tanner Pearson being traded to Buffalo because he didn't want any more competition for Mario Kirk.

SPEAKER_07 36:53

Yes, that's probably. I mean, if you're a conspiracy theorist, sure. Yeah, that would be that was obviously what the takeaway should be from that. Uh, I love people pointing out though that if you did watch the home ice with Gabe and you saw him talk about his love for Legos and that he really wants to buy the Death Star, but it's a thousand dollars and but then buys everybody else.

SPEAKER_05 37:11

But see, that would be a gift for himself.

SPEAKER_07 37:13

This was for everybody else, which I love. He's just he is one of the most um unique but genuine players on on the team. And I love hearing stories like that. It was a great ground control that you did. It's out right now. People want to make sure that they go and check it out.

SPEAKER_05 37:29

Okay, before we make our Tim's uh hockey challenge picks, another thing that I uncovered that was really funny in the podcast was how Morgan Barron said, because when you hang around with Gabe Villardi, because he has such a unique voice, they said you start they start talking like him when they hang out with him extended periods of time.

SPEAKER_07 37:47

Really?

SPEAKER_05 37:48

Yeah, like Gabe's accent, Gabe, the way Gabe delivers anything.

SPEAKER_07 37:52

They said I feel like that's got maybe the social team written all over it. Impersonations of Gabe.

SPEAKER_05 37:59

Yeah. Oh my gosh. Thank you. That's a good one. That could be great. Also, thank you to Tim Hortons for the latest uh Tim's hockey challenge. Uh, can you throw the graphic up one more time, Caden? Um, make sure you go to the what to the app. Yep, uh, the games are listed from tonight. You get three options. Um, my picks were Cole Perfetti, right, Adam Lowry, yep, and Zach Whitecloud. Manitobian.

SPEAKER_07 38:25

All right.

SPEAKER_05 38:26

So you and I are gonna start a competition as of this moment.

SPEAKER_07 38:29

And we hope that so many of you uh in the chat and watching will start it as well and let us know. So when we're back on Saturday, let us know how you do it. That's right. So, and it's interesting to see the options. Okay, so if you haven't had the opportunity to get on yet, um it is not, they provide you with a list of options, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 38:48

So you don't get to just decide.

SPEAKER_07 38:50

So you can't just say, Yes, I'm gonna take Mark Shifley or Kyle Connor. Um, and pretty much guarantee yourself it feels like a free week of coffee. Um, so I based on the list, I'm taking David Pasternak because Boston's playing Florida tonight. He had three points the other night against Alan.

SPEAKER_05 39:06

You've actually done research, thank you.

SPEAKER_07 39:08

Um, I'm also going to take Adam Lowry because you know what things are.

SPEAKER_05 39:13

Oh, sorry, Alex I follow was my pick. I apologize. It was, but that's fine.

SPEAKER_07 39:17

You wanted to switch. I mean, Adam's gonna great time for a goal from the cow. My third pick sticking with Winnipeg Jets would be Josh Morrissey. He's on a five-game point streak right now.

SPEAKER_05 39:30

So see, James tweet. I always pick Jets players when they play. Yeah, that's like that's on your way to some free coffee if you do that seven days in a row. Obviously, the Jets don't play seven days in a row, James, but I love your I love your philosophy on that one. So uh we will do this every show.

SPEAKER_07 39:45

Yeah, and we're looking forward to it. Uh, just before we wrap things up, we'll be back on Saturday when the Jets close out their homestand in Columbus facing Bones in the Blue Jackets. So looking forward to that one. Uh, just a quick reminder there were some changes. You can go online and see what the projected lines are for the Jets, but we'll see Hayden Fleury draw back in. Morgan Barron's back in the lineup, so great to see him back. And Colin Miller was on the ice today in a non-contact jersey, but a very positive sign um after the injury that he suffered to be able to um see him at least back on the ice.

SPEAKER_05 40:16

This is a like this this playoff chase is insane.

SPEAKER_07 40:19

It is. It's exciting. So I can't wait for Saturday show when we get to talk more about it.

SPEAKER_05 40:23

And bones.

SPEAKER_07 40:24

Oh, it'll be great. Oh all right. Okay. I mean, there's not a jet in there, but the we still we respect your choices.

SPEAKER_05 40:31

It's about getting free coffee, Sarah.

SPEAKER_07 40:33

It's true.

SPEAKER_05 40:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 40:34

And hey, it is all a competition. So keep track of your choices, we'll keep track of ours, and we'll update you on Saturday.

SPEAKER_05 40:40

Thanks for watching, everybody.

SPEAKER_07 40:41

Thanks so much, everyone, for checking in. Have a great day.