ScuttlePuck NHL Hockey Podcast

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are here and we breakdown the first round series and make our predictions right through to the Stanley Cup Champion. We also have a look at our preseason predictions and review the final points leaders. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player Craig Simpson

Feedback

News

Laviolette and Bylsma out as coaches

Play off Series

Leafs 3 Sens 1

Overall play Leafs have been better other than game 1

Sens controlled play but Leafs got all the goals

2 OT Games

Big diff between xGF and CF

Core 4 producing

Stolarz steady

Any concerns?

Panthers 2 Lightning 1

Hagel suspension on Barkov

Tkachuk late hit on Guentzel

Captials 3 Canadiens 1 -

bench shenanigans - Anderson / Wilson fined for unsportsmanlike

Total goals 9-9

Canadiens dominated Game 3

Hurricanes 3 Devils 1

Devils outscoring at 5 v 5 4-3 in series

xGF very even

Goaltending - thought would be weak, but good both sides

Could easily go long

Guess the 5th

Kings 2 Oilers 2

All the goals LAK 16 EDM 14

8-8 in 5v5 goals

PP 7-2 LAK

Oilers PK% 41.7 - can only get better!

Last year Oilers PK was near perfect

Oilers D

Skinner / Pickard?

Kuemper only OK so far.

Wild 2 Golden Knights 2

Vegas has been by far better team statistically

Except for SV%

Haven't watched but numbers not good for Hill

Avalance 2 Stars 2

Dallas - 7 goals in 4 games and vs 13 for COL

Overall AVS dominant - should win the series

Jets 2 Blues 2

Crazy flip for game 3 - Jets dominant in Games 1 and 2

Got crushed in game 3 in all stats

Hellebuyck solid for first 2 games - should be fine

Connections

This Week - Terry Crisp, Larry Robinson, Al Arbour, Jacques Lemaire

Crazy Stat - Ken Griffey Jr.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are here and we breakdown the first round series and make our predictions right through to the Stanley Cup Champion. We also have a look at our preseason predictions and review the final points leaders. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player Al Secord

Feedback - thanks to all for playing - getting lots of responses

News

Season over and matchups set.

Habs make it in on last night

Panarin - Rangers paid out employee after sex assoult allegations

Ovechkin says he will play next year - final year of contract

Points Leaders

Overall

Kucherov 37 84 121

MacKinnon 32 84 116

Draisaitl 52 54 106

McDavid gets 8th 100 point season - tied with Dionne for 3rd most

Defence

Makar 30 62 92

Werenski 23 59 82

Hughes 16 60 76

Rookies

Hutson 6 60 66

Michkov 26 37 63

Celebrini 25 38 63

Hutson wins Calder?

Goalies

Stolarz .926

Hellebuyck .925

Kuemper .922

Guess the 5th

Regular Season predictions review

Connections LAST WEEK - Brady Tkachuk, Rasmus Ristolainen, Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin

THIS WEEK - Dineen, Lowry, Patrick, Brind'amour

Brackets

WPG v STL

Closer than you might think

Hellebuyck + Higher end Scoring give Jets edge

DAL v COL

Tough series to call

COL higher top end with Makar and MacKinnon

DAL better goaltending

VGK v MIN

Not close - VGK better in all dept except goaltending

Is Gustavsson that much better than Hill?

LAK v EDM

EDM limping in - no Ekholm for 1st rnd

LAK have big edge in net

TOR v OTT

another one closer than might think

TOR not strong by fancy stats OTT a bit better by xGF

Goaltending even if Ullmark healthy

Offence edge goes to TO

TBL v FLA

Overall game play FLA much better

SH% and SV% TBL has edge

WSH v MTL

Fancy Stats WSH much better

WSH has edge in SH% and SV%

CAR v NJD

Fancy stats not close - CAR best in NHL

Goaltending for both teams not good. NJD has slight edge

CRAZY PREDICTION FOR PLAYOFFS

Make one off the wall prediction

Crazy Stat

The Masters was just too good not to talk about it so we brought in Golf Pro Jonathan Gee to discuss Rory's amazing win and the incredible last round of this year's Masters. We then discussed all the latest hockey news including Rogers' new TV deal and what it will cost to go to Leafs playoff games. Plus we have a guess at this year's trophy races. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player Sylvain Turgeon

#2 in 1983 Draft -

1 - Lawton

2 - Turgeon

3 - Lafontaine

4 - Yzerman

5 - Barrasso

Feedback - Atish email - Crosby 2nd greatest of all time / 4 on 4 / Leonard - get well soon

News -

Masters - Jon Gee

Rose - 10 birdies

McIroy - 1 over - 2 double bogeys, 3 bogeys on round including last hole

Rogers contract -

12 years, $11 Billion

Current deal expires after 2025-26 - was 12 years, $5.2 Billion

• word was they were losing money - how does this make sense?
• Rogers reported 50% increase in viewership
• Still some blackouts but up to 10 more games per team can be made national instead of regional
• No deal yet with CBC - Bettman seemed to suggest Rogers will get a deal

Same old same old?

Leafs playoff ticket prices - $29,000 for 16 games.

$1,460 per seat for 4th round.

1 4th round game - approx ticket revenue $24 million.

Ray Shero died Wednesday

Landeskog back playing in AHL after 3 years - uncertain about playoffs for Avs

Ekholm, McDavid returned this week but Ekholm left game. Hyman left game as well.

Oilers current injuries - Draisaitl, Ekholm, Kane, Frederic, Nuge, Walman, Klingberg, Hyman, Skinner

Pickard doing his best, but Bowman made big mistake not addressing goaltending

Leafs

Top spot in Atlantic - Battle of Ontario looking likely.

Guess the 5th

Playoffs

Bruins fully embraced the tank - since deadline are 3-12

Last in East, 29th in NHL. Teams don't tank though.

Blues win streak ends at 12 - loss to Jets and Oilers

West

Not quite over

Wildcard

1. Wild, 93 - 2 G left
2. Blues 93 - 2 G left
3. Flames 90 - 3 G left

East

It's over

Wildcard

1. Ottawa 92 - 3G Left
2. Montreal 87 - 3G Left
3. Columbus 81 - 4G left
4. Rangers 81 - 3G left
5. Detroit 81 - 3G left

Trophy Races

Rocket Richard - Draisaitl 52 G

Art Ross - MacKinnon, Kucherov - 116 Pts

Norris - Makar - who else?

Hart - MacKinnon, Hellebuyck, Draisaitl?

Vezina - Hellebuyck -

Adams - Spencer Carbery, Jim Montgomery, Scott Arniel

Connections

Last Week - Bobby Hull, Rick Ley, JC Tremblay, Richard Brodeur

Guesses - Jim Stecker - WHA Hall of Fame, Drew - same, Jon Gee - all players have their numbers retired by their teams (he mistook Martin Brodeur for Richard)

This week - Brady Tkachuk, Rasmus Ristolainen, Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin

Streakin' - nothing more than 2 games

Jon Gee Crazy Stat - Tiger woods

Scheffler #1 - 73 weeks

To catch Tiger has to remain at top until Oct 21, 2035

Tiger was #1 for 683 weeks total

Longest streak - 281 - June 12 2005 - Oct 30, 2010

Much to Mike's chagrin, Alexander Ovechkin becomes the NHL's all time goal scoring leader with a truly astounding 895 goals! We also look at the Oilers and Leafs as they get ready for the playoffs. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player Dion Phaneuf

News

Ovi breaks the goal record.

Oilers win two but Draisaitl goes down again - suggestions of load management for Oilers -

Leafs - may fans oddly optimistic

How about them Blues? 12 game winning streak has them solidly in playoffs

Nov 24 Blues fired Drew Bannister and brought in Jim Montgomery - Jack Adams?

Before coaching change:

CF% / SF% 48%. / GF% 41%. SV% 89.7% SH% 7.77%

After coaching change:

CF%/SF% 49-50% / GF% 60%. SV% 92.84%. SH%10.54%

Is that coaching?

Up to coach change, Binnington was 89.4 SV% 2.91 GAA after 92.6% SV% 1.95 GAA

Guess the 5th

Playoff races -

West -

Wild 89 GR 5

Flames 84 GR 7

East

Canadiens 81 GR 7

Rangers 79 GR 7

Blue Jackets 77 GR 8

Red Wings 77 GR 7

Everything else pretty much decided.

Season ends Sat April 17

Connections -

Last Week - This week - Linus Ullmark, Tristen Jarry, Philip Gustavsson, Alex Nedeljkovic

Correct Answers - Atish Singh, Cameron Miller, Jim Stecker (our other judge listener) Jim has been to Casa Bonita - any others?

This week - Bobby Hull, Rick Ley, JC Tremblay, Richard Brodeur

Crazy Stat - From Jim Stecker - Yankees scored 3 home runs on first 3 pitches of game on March 29

DOPeS - nothing

With several key players out heading to the playoffs, including McDavid and Draisaitl, Mike is concerned about the Oilers prospects. John Tortarella gets fired by the Flyers, which isn't a huge surprise, but why now? Plus we have a look at the playoff picture as the matchups start to come into focus. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player- Johnny Bucyk - 493 PIM

News

Oilers Injuries - McDavid, Draisaitl, Skinner, Ekholm, Kane, Frederic - Are they screwed for playoffs if they make it?

6 points up on Vancouver 5-4-1 in last 10 - can they hold on?

Draisaitl played last night - 3 points, 2 G including 50 and 51

Only active player with 4 seasons with 50 G and 50A in same season

Tortarella - fired in Philly - 2-7-1 in last 10 - 9 games left in season - why now?

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/why-philadelphia-flyers-fired-coach-john-tortorella-behavior

"Becoming increasingly combative with everyone in the organization, from management, to coaches, to players, to staff, Tortorella's antics wore on everyone."

Brent Burns -915 consecutive games - 4th all time

Ovi Ovechkin - 5 back of Gretzky, 6 to pass - should have stayed at 888 -

10 Games to go and scored at .072 per game pace.

Goal Scoring -

2024-25 - Leon with 51 leads

2023-24 - 4 players, Matthes 69, Reinhart 57, Hyman 54, Mackinnon 51

2022-23 - 5 players McDavid 64, Pastrnak 61, Rantanen 55, Draisaitl 52

2021-22 - 4 players Matthews 60, Draisatil, 55, Kreider 52, Ovi 50

2021-20, 19-20 None

2018-19 Ovi 51, Draisaitl 50

Crosby - passes Gretzky with 20th ppg season

Guess the 5th

Playoff Races

Points - Leafs could win Atlantic - how important

Top 3 in each division pretty much set

Only top in Atlantic up for grabs

Close to certain matchups

CAR v NJD

DAL v COL

LAK v EDM

Wildcard Races

East - CBJ, MTL, NYR, NYI, DET

West - STL, VAN, CGY

Worst team last 5 years to make playoffs

23-24 WSH 91

22-23 FLA 92

21-22 NSH 97

18-19 COL 90

17-18 COL 95

This year, if pts pace continues, last team 85pts

Connections

Carryover - Ryan Smyth, John Anderson, Dylan Cozens, Jim Thompson (Hyuben Guess - Yukon connection) - All played with a teammate whose name was the same with a different spelling....that was a tough one.

This week - Linus Ullmark, Tristen Jarry, Philip Gustavsson, Alex Nedeljkovic

Streaking -

W STL 9, VGK 6, DAL 5

L BOS 5

Crazy Stat

DOPeS

Zary 2 games - https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/connor-zary-of-calgary-flames-suspended-2-games-for-elbowing

For the first time ever, we have an in-studio guest as Paul Steward from www.bucpower.com joins us to tell us about his North American tour and discuss the latest in the NHL. He also puts us to the test in Guess the 5th. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player Tony Granato

Feedback - David Hyuben - Guelph Biltmores

News -

Paul's tour through North America

• impressions of US, Vegas, Leafs game

Gretzky/ Bettman following Ovechkin - only needs 8 now

Oilers lost 8th loss in last 11.

Athletic ranked their goalie tandem as 27th in NHL

Leafs - healing for Mitch Marner? - Leafs want to sign but no negotiations so far so would you be interested?

Marner's answer "No"

Lebrun carrying water for the team?

Will Mitch stay? Does it depend on playoffs?

Guess the 5th - Paul

Standings review

Sens only 4 behind Lightning - is Paul concerned?

6 pts between Penguins in 9th wildcard and Bluejackets in 2nd wildcard

Streaking - Senators / Hurricans W5

No one beyond L2

Connections -

Last WEEK - Ryan Smyth, John Anderson, Dylan Cozens, Jim Thompson

This Week - Carryover

Concerns that the trade deadline would be a bit of a dud turned out to be very active and with some big names moving. Despite the Stars and Panthers making big moves for big names, both the Oilers and Leafs made moves but no blockbusters. The Bruns clearly decided to punt on this yeaar and be in a position to take advantage of lots of cap space this summer. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player - Jean Ratelle

News

Trade Deadline

Marchand to Florida - Boston eats half salary and gets 2027 2nd - crazy low return

Rantanen to Dallas

Carlo to Leafs

Coyle, Nelson to Avalanche

Oilers….

Jake Walman

Trent Frederic

All primary competition added to top, Oilers shored up bottom half of lineup

Leafs - Scott Laughton, Brandon Carlo - shored up Defence

Marner - was on the block

Sens move Josh Norris

Bruins - big time retool

- Marchand, Carlo, Coyle, Frederic - 3 pts out of wildcard - give up on this season

- All players brought back other than Middelestadt, Minten on expiring deals

Approx $66MM in cap allocation for next season. Cap is $95.5

Post Deadline Cap favourites

Guess the 5th

POST DEADLINE REBUILDERS

Draft Picks - Puck Pedia Pick Value - based on Matt Perri calculation - https://puckpedia.com/PerriPickValue

ANA - 317.6

BOS - 119.6

BUF - 160.52

CGY - 193.89

CAR - 120.31

CHI - 361.68

COL - 49.96

CBJ - 342.45

DAL - 42.22

DET - 166.17

EDM - 60.65

FLA - 53.94

LAK - 89.16

MIN - 119.62

MTL - 359.7

NAS - 141.59

NJD - 136.82

NYI - 107.06

NYR - 70.17

OTT - 161.53

PHI - 225.37

PIT - 207.36

SJS - 346.87

SEA - 203.62

STL - 143.69

TBL - 51.69

TOR - 46.32

UTA - 179.38

VAN - 89.86

VGK - 69.01

WAS - 93.24

WPG - 76.69

Standings - 20 games left - down the stretch they come!

Note - Kings are 5 points behind Minnesota in Wildcard

Tightening up - Utah and St Louis making it interesting

Connections

LAST WEEK - Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe, Joe Nieuwendyk - Jon Gee / Nora

THIS WEEK - Ryan Smyth, John Anderson, Dylan Cozens, Jim Thompson

Going Streaking

FLA 5W / COL, DAL, VGK 4W

DET 5L

Crazy Stat - Julio Franco -

Seth Jones was traded by the Blackhawks Saturday in one of the bigger moves so far in the lead up to the trade deadline. Will there be anything left for deadline day? The Oilers broke a 5 game losing streak while the Jets had their 11 game winning streak come to an end. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player Norm Ullman - 490 Goals

News

6 Trades this week

Seth Jones Trade

Jones plus 2026 4th to Florida for Spencer Knight and 2026 1st, protected to Chicago. Chicago retained $2,500,000

Oilers break 5 game losing skid

- Pickard starts on HNIC prime game vs Hurricanes - trade looming?

- Lowetide - focused on McDavid struggles with GF% - always been well above 50% - away from Lean is 40%

- Leon is 60% w/o 97 - what is going on?

Jets 11 game winning streak ends vs Nashville Thursday

1st in NHL

+71 Goal differential

5v5 Stats

GF% 59.07 vs CF% 49.7

SV% 93.5 (1)

PP 30.5% (1) PK 79% (16)

Atlantic - TOP 3 Pulling away with winning streaks

Stadium series - Detroit vs Columbus - 94,000

- Gaudreau tributes - both teams wore Gaudreau sweaters from different stages of career

- visually stunning - great sweaters on both sides

PWHL - annual game at Bell Centre - over 17,000 - Montreal beat Boston in OT

Guess the 5th

TRADE DEADLINE - Friday March 7

Who's Left?

Seravalli Board https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/sources-sabres-phones-buzzing-with-interest-in-j-j-peterka-who-joins-trade-targets-board

1. Brock Nelson
2. Scott laughton
3. Brandon Tanev
4. Jake Evans
5. Casey Middelsstadt
6. Bowen Byram
7. Carson Soucy
8. Rickard Rakell
9. Kyle Palmieri

Connections

Last week: Mascots - Harvey - Flames , Bailey - Kings, Louie - Blues , Carleton - Leafs - mascots

This week: Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe, Joe Nieuwendyk

Going Streaking:

TBL W8, TOR, MTL, STL W4

WAS L3

Crazy Stat

DOPeS: Hartman suspension reduced to 8 games - Bettman gives 13 page(!) ruling. https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2024-25/HartmanRuling.pdf

Zegras - 3 games - https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/ducks-trevor-zegras-suspended-three-games-for-interference

why not rule 48?

In a thrilling final game, Canada defeated the USA in overtime with Connor McDavid getting the winner on a pass from Mitch Marner. Overall the tournament exceeded all expectations. Now we head back to the season as the trade deadline looms. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player - Steve Rucchin

94-95 San Diego Gulls - IHL - Allan Bester, Bob Essensa, Miro Satan,

Assistant Coach - Kurt Kleinendorst - 1st coach of Belleville Sens

News

Canada wins 3-2 in OT vs USA to win 4 Nations

Game stories -

Binnington saves the day, particularly in OT -

Boos of Canadian Anthem - politics brought to another level

Harley a revelation to me

Good to see Marner feature prominently in final game - had been quite after goal vs Sweden

McDavid game MVP

MacKinnon tourney MVP

Injuries - McAvoy, Tkachuk, Theodore, Pettersson

Final was most-watched hockey telecast in ESPN history

Olympics in 2026!

Guess the 5th

Back to NHL!

Oilers back-to-back losses 6-3 to Flyers and 7-3 to Caps. Have I mentioned they need to trade for a goalie ?

Of course Ovechkin gets hattrick today.

Leafs come back with 6-3 win over Hurricanes.

Playoff Wildcard Races

East

West

Goin' Streakin'

Jets W9

Lightning, Ducks W4

Ottawa L4

Oilers L3

Trade Deadline - March 7

Seravalli Trade Target list - https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2-weeks-before-nhl-trade-deadline-carolina-hurricanes-mikko-rantanen-trade-targets-board

Interesting Names -

Bowen Byram

Elias Pettersson

Jamie Oleksiak

Mikko Rantanen - if Canes can't get him sign, could retain 50% (2.3) and move him. Hello Edmonton! Saw article that Leafs might target him as well.

Seems Leafs are targeting a 3rd line center - Brock Nelson, Yanni Gourde, Ryan O'Reilly type

Seravalli views on Oilers at deadline

Reports of Gibson to Oilers - Seravalli says no it won't happen because Gibson insisting on being number 1, so that isn't likely and Oilers can't afford it - see next point

Evander Kane - thinks he will come back before end of season so they need to have room for upgrades

Thinks Oilers might make one, minor addition due to cap situation

"Dollar in, dollar out"

Connections

Chris Phillips, Denis Potvin, Rick DiPietro, Gilbert Perreault

This weeek: Harvey, Bailey, Louie, Carleton

Crazy stat -

We're excited to say that, despite our misgivings, the 4 Nations faceoff has been outstanding. The USA beat Canada in a game that started with 3 fights in the first 9 seconds and then it was a tight checking, hard-hitting game. The re-match is scheduled in the final on Thursday. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio

Title Player Nelson Emerson

News

4 Nations -

Canada 4 Sweden 3

USA 6 Finland 1

USA 3 Canada 1

- 3 fights in first 9 seconds! - HNIC panel giddy

- Binnington 2 tough goals, some great saves

- Canada unable to challenge Hellebuyck

- USA Defence amazing

- Thomas Harley played great

Finland 4 Sweden 3

- big game for Finland

Canada 5 vs Finland 3

Overall thoughts

- much higher intensity than I expected

- great hockey, fun to watch

- would it be better on bigger ice?

Other stories

- Makar out with sickness and possibly injury

- Matt Tkachuk out with injury

- Final on Thurs

Final preview -

Guess the 5th

NHL announced that there will be a World Cup (name?) every 4 years, 2 years after Olympics. Finally.

Connections

Last One - Patric Hornqvist, Jacob Middleton, Gerry Meehan, Paul Maurice - all last pick in the NHL draft

This week - Chris Phillips, Denis Potvin, Gilbert Perreault, Rick DiPietro

Crazy Stat