Stanley Cup Bracket Breakdown

Recorded April 17th, 2026

Playoff hockey is the only sport that can make you scared to leave the couch to go pee, and we’re leaning into that chaos with our full Stanley Cup playoffs preview. Scott and Graham are joined by TP and longtime hockey diehard Brian Navarro to run the bracket, call the upsets, and talk through what the NHL postseason actually rewards: structure, forecheck pressure, face-offs, special teams, and a goalie who can get hot at the exact right time.

We start with the strangest turns of the regular season, from Buffalo finally returning to the spotlight to the shock of Florida missing the playoffs, plus how late coaching changes can flip a team’s identity overnight. Then we go series by series, using real matchup factors and a little bit of betting context to make our picks. If you’re tracking teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, LA Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, and the upstart Utah Mammoth, you’ll hear exactly what we think will matter when the whistles go away and every shift gets heavier.

We also hit the bigger NHL conversation: why overtime standings points feel broken, how a 3-point win system could reshape the playoff race in the next CBA, and why hockey culture is built differently from every other league. We close with Cup winner picks, a quick Cinderella check, and a bracket challenge you can jump into with us. Subscribe, share this with your most stubborn hockey friend, and leave a review with your Finals matchup so we can revisit the receipts. 

#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #stanleycupplayoffs

Transcript

Stanley Cup Preview Kickoff

Graham 0:00

Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco. What's up, everyone? Welcome back to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench. Scotty Wah, we got a special episode tonight.

Scott 0:22

Let's go. Hell hell yeah, we do, dude. We did it last year. Thought we'd bring it back again this year. Stanley Club playoff preview show. Last year, it was just TP and I. I don't know where you were, probably at work. Tonight, we got two legends from Mirietta. TP, yeah, he's back. But somebody that has been a hockey fan for as long as I've known him, and that's Brian Navarro. But before we get into all these things, it's time. Grab one, crack one. Boys, welcome to the show. Let's go. Let's go.

Graham 0:57

Let's go.

Scott 1:00

So Navarro, God, dude. I've how long have I known you? The first time I met you was obviously on the softball team, the middle. Yeah, that was right.

Navarro 1:11

Uh I think that was 99, maybe. No, it had to be in the 2000s because I got married in 2002 and moved to California. I think we started that in '99. Okay. So maybe it rolled over to 03, 04, somewhere in there?

Scott 1:27

Yeah, it was uh Rosenberg. Yep. Obviously worked at SCGA and asked us if we wanted to play. Met you, met Adam. Dude, back in the day, Krista and I were talking about remember your daughter climbing up and down the concrete bleachers there at Calog. And do you remember what I called you back then? No clue, man. Come on, dude. Well, you're obviously a Michigan fan. Of course. So we hit it off right away. Navarro's like that dude that no matter what happens, he has to dive for something in the outfield. He played, he would catch it straight up, dude, and then just like dive and slide. And he, you know, he had to do it. He had to make it look pretty. Absolutely. He had to. And I used to always call him my hero. Well, that goes without saying. Yeah, right. But you know, going back to hockey and Navarro, you know, back in the days of early Facebook, I'll never forget Facebook. Navarro will be like, there's four, there's five, there's six. I'm like, what the hell is he talking about? Like, you know, I watch hockey, but I don't get into it until the conference finals in Stanley Cup. And he was always all about it, him and Adam. You know, always all about the king. Same way with TP when I first met him.

Navarro 2:47

But I still have it today. It's in my classroom. I put it up on my whiteboard. I draw it out, and I draw the four rounds, and you need 16 wins to bring that cup home. So the top line is four, the next line is four, and we just go four, eight, twelve, and then fifteen. And then I normally take a like a printout of the that year's Stanley Cup and stick it there up for number 16. And uh yeah, you got to count them down, man. Gotta do it.

Scott 3:17

But other guests tonight don't really need to introduce and give his background much. Making his third appearance. TP, let's go.

Tyler (TP) 3:26

Thanks for having me back.

Scott 3:28

Leading the league in appearances on the bald guys on the bench. You need to start losing more hair if you're gonna keep this regular. But uh, dude, let's, you know, jump right in. You know, it's Friday night, the fun starts tomorrow. Like I always say, I didn't understand the stress because I never had a dog in the fight until the night's first year. And you know, it was a magical season, but I'll never forget game one or first year, but first series is against your kings. And dude, having a dog in the fight, Stanley Cup game one, like I'm going the whole time. I'm like, this sucks. I can't even go pee. I can't go pee. This sucks. And then the second game was the worst ever because it went to like two overtimes against you guys. But you know, I'm not talking shit about it, but eight years ago today, the three of us, Adam and Jerry, were at game four at the Staples Center Knights Kings. Yep. And it was kind of ironic that we decided to do this podcast, and then Jerry sends me that memory, and I'm like, wow.

Navarro 4:38

Only thing we're missing, dude, is you know who. That's he's looking down on us, man. It's uh, you know, been a little over a year since he uh was tragically killed there in Dallas, and uh every day I got his little sticker um that we live like Adam and the Mill family, and you know, uh last year losing to Edmonton again, and I say again, uh it was tough, and and we had a we definitely had a beer when the Kings made the playoffs. Um so this year, hopefully a little bit different. We can take it all the way and then uh slap a sticker on the Stanley Cup that says uh Adam, we still love you.

Tyler (TP) 5:16

There you go.

Scott 5:17

When y'all do that, that 16th puck is an Adam sticker. 100%. Let's go. I wouldn't even be mad at it. Don't care. Don't don't care.

Graham 5:28

Anyhow, Graham, I know you're not a hockey guy. Nah. But this is gonna be fun. The playoffs started, so now I'm paying attention. I don't know. Well, you know what I mean. I I mean, I like hockey. It's just it just seems like there's more on the line when the playoffs start, obviously, because it's the playoffs. I I I mean, I don't know. It's just I mean, unlike baseball, because there's so many, so many games, it's just hockey. You can tell the difference in the playoffs, especially in hockey, when when it's hey, it's must-win. The effort you gotta put out, you know, that's the style of game that they play is just different than the regular season. Not that they're half-ass in it during the regular season, but the playoff time you're just like, oh, it's on.

Scott 6:09

So it's intense. Uh but Jerry and I were talking last night, and we're like, all right, playoffs start Saturday, time to start stressing out late night over here on the East Coast again. Like shit.

Tyler (TP) 6:21

Well, I mean, with all the posts that BT's giving me, I would I would think the Knights are gonna go 16-0, the way he's saying it.

Season Surprises And Misses

Scott 6:29

Anyhow, uh, let's jump right in uh before we even start talking matchups. Weird things about the season, dude, and and teams that qualified for the playoffs. You know, uh Navarro, what do you think?

Navarro 6:46

I mean, well, very let's just look in our backyard, the ducks making it after being pretty bad for a while. Uh, and then you had Ziegris getting traded, and they've really turned their team around. Now, they're coming into the playoffs on a terrible stretch. I think they're like two and two, six, and two or something like that coming in uh in their last 10 something. But very surprising there. Um that Florida is not in it. You know, I mean I think we'll get into that, but um, that's extremely surprising to me. Um I would go the opposite direction. There is no surprise that Colorado's on the top, man. They're just they're so freaking good. And I hope uh I hope it's a remnant or a recreation of 2012 where the eight-seed can take out the one seed again and the Kings can beat them, but they're tough. They've just got it's it's just it's been a really weird season with with Ovi, with uh, like my wife likes to call him Oven Chicken, you know, Mr. Ovechkin. Quick story on that. You know, we're at a she's a ducks fan, and we when we were first starting Dayton, uh the Capitals came out and played um the Ducks, and she just saw this guy skating all over the ice, and she read his name, and she's like, Is his last name really Oven Chicken? And I said, Well, it's Ovechkin, but yeah, and ever since he's just been Oven Chicken and uh God, I hope he doesn't retire so I can say that next year. Just some good solo players right now. I mean, our guy Kobotar, his last season, one last dance. Um, but nah, just beautiful stuff.

Tyler (TP) 8:33

Yeah, it's yeah, it's been a lot of lot of cool things from this this season to take away. Um vetkin, I'd be surprised if he retired. I mean, people would come out, I think I can't remember what game it was. One of the last games people were coming out to shake his hand, do the line, and he said, Nope, go get out against against the penguins.

Scott 8:49

Penguins, there was because the Pins fans, you know, the battles they've had, they actually gave him a great ovation, and which was awesome. And he was just like, No, go. It was pretty cool. Pretty cool. Uh, before TP gives his thing, the Sabres, dude. Uh I just, I mean, insane that they got in. Uh and I don't know, it's been kind of a magical season for them. I'll never forget that Sunday night game against Tampa when all the penalty minutes and what 13-14 goals total scored. Like, wow, it was insane. And those fans up there, dude. I mean, Jiminy Crickets. Uh, how many 13 years since they made the playoffs? Something like that.

Tyler (TP) 9:34

I think 15. But yeah, it's a long time.

Scott 9:38

And would you say now the Angels have the longest streak of not making the playoffs?

Tyler (TP) 9:42

No, that they're up there with the Jets.

Scott 9:44

Okay. All right. Sorry. Not talking shit about your Angels because my facts my Mets just lost their ninth in a row.

Navarro 9:52

But yeah, but one thing that we can't overlook is not only did they make the playoffs, they're the top dog. You know, coming in, I mean, it's just insane on what they've done over the last uh four years to get there. Yeah. But they finally put it together and they're ready to roll.

Scott 10:11

The two guys we traded them for uh Eichel, Krebs and Tuck are solid players. I was bummed when we traded Tuck, but you know, I used to love it when he scored because we'd be like, What the fuck, Tuck? But anyhow, TP, what what do you think about the season? And I mean, what's going on? Who's in the who's in the bracket?

Tyler (TP) 10:35

Well, I thought it's been a great season. Um, yeah, Colorado's absolutely no surprise. Florida is the surprise. Three Stanley Cups in a row, um, final, winning the last two, and then just not even that they just missed out, but they shut everybody down a couple weeks before. They've been completely out. And um, I know we were talking about this before, but the first time in I think since the 14-15 season that the the prior year's Stanley Cup winner and the prior year's president's trophy winner did not have not made the playoffs this year, right? The Jets are out and they were bad as well. So the Stanley Cup winner, the President's trophy winner, both out. And that was the first time since the Kings being the Stanley Cup winner missed the playoffs, and then the Boston Bruins missing the playoffs were the President's trophy winners. So it's uh so those were some of the so the surprises maybe at the top, not so much other than the the Sabres, but um, but at the bottom was was where it's it's really been kind of shocking to me.

Scott 11:28

Yeah, and something for me, just talking with you the entire season, the Kings, you guys at the trade deadline, I felt like you were selling, right? Yeah, fired your coach, and you were like, Well, we're done. We're moving on to next year, and then y'all went on a run.

Tyler (TP) 11:49

Yeah, and we we picked up Pinarin.

Scott 11:52

Yeah, that was right at the deadline, right? Yeah, just uh a couple days before. Yeah.

Tyler (TP) 11:57

It was what was it, was it before the deadline or right before um it was right before the Olympic break, wasn't it?

Scott 12:02

Yeah, yeah yes, yes, yep. And my nights, dude, a week and a half ago, we weren't even in the playoffs. We fire our coach, I bitch about it here on the on the show. Dude, I hadn't lost a game. I just I don't know. I don't know what to expect. He's got the guys playing a lot better, you know. He's got Rasmus Anderson actually playing, you know. I don't know. I don't know what to think. According to Jerry, you know, beat or TP brought it up. What was it? The Devils fired their head coach eight with eight games left and won the Stanley Cup, and they said that's why the Knights waited until there were eight games left to fire Cassidy.

Navarro 12:42

Well, it's a good trend, you know. In 12, Kings fired their coach, and then next thing you know, Sitter comes in and wins it. Kings just fired their coach midseason. You guys fired your coach. Like, let's roll. Um insane. Yeah.

Scott 12:57

And we can't not talk about your boy retiring his last game the other night. Who's that? Kopy. No, no, your goalie.

Navarro 13:09

Oh, Johnny Quick, for sure. I mean, don't get me started on that, please, because like I'm a huge Kings boy, you know it is, and um it's just one of the biggest mistakes I think that we've made uh in the last you know five, ten years is retire him as a king. Now, were the kings really good and he had a kind of a bad season um losing it? Okay, great, but don't trade him. And then the whole thing with getting traded and then not getting traded and then ending up with you guys and then winning the cup. But um the kings are nobody without that core three. And you can't they're all interchangeable, whether it's Kobotar, whether it's Dustin Brown, whether it's Drew Dowdy, whether it's Jonathan Quick. Um, and and they're just they're interchangeable on the significance and the reason why they won two cups. Um but was it Quick a rookie when y'all won your first one?

Scott 14:07

Nah, he was like 40 years ago. Okay. Okay. All right. All I know he's from Connecticut because my stepdad's from Connecticut, and all my cousins on his side are all hockey dudes and all quick fans from Connecticut.

Navarro 14:21

But I think he's the third best goalie of all times. I think he's the greatest American goalie of all times, not only by the wins, but uh I I put him up in that top three in the top tier of the greatest goalies of all times.

Scott 14:33

And what you just said is you can't argue it. Greatest American goalie of all time.

Tyler (TP) 14:39

I loved how fire he would get. I mean, he he wanted to get in the scuffle. Yeah. It's like I I I love that.

Scott 14:47

So let's jump right in. Let's go to the Eastern Conference. Um first. Wait a minute.

Navarro 14:54

Before we go to the before we go to the Eastern Conference, um go figure. Uh where's Toronto? Anybody know?

Graham 15:00

Oh.

Navarro 15:01

Where the Maybelline's?

Scott 15:02

Are they in Cancun?

Navarro 15:04

I think so. Yeah, I think they're golfing again. Um just sorry, Eastern Conference. Yeah, I know you're out there in the East, but Toronto not making a playoff again looks like they're not gonna win it. Well, at least they're not gonna lose a game seven.

Tyler (TP) 15:20

That'll break that streak.

Scott 15:22

Not mad at it. Not mad at it at all. Uh so I'm just gonna go down the list. First series I got, Sabres Bruins.

Tyler (TP) 15:33

Okay.

Scott 15:34

Yeah. And if if you look at the betting lines, yeah, the Sabres are the one, but the Bruins are only like plus 150 to win that series.

Navarro 15:44

I think that's just the unknown goaltending, you know, is Luke and going to be able to pull that off. And I mean, he's got I think his save percentage is like 0.91 or something. Um, but I think Buffalo's key is Thompson for sure. Like can Thompson keep up the goal scoring and do his thing?

Scott 16:05

Yeah, Bruins are plus 145, Sabres minus 175. So I I don't know. I want the Sabres to win. Well I I've got Buffalo. You got Buffalo winning? Yep. Okay.

Tyler (TP) 16:18

Yeah, I say if it's it's gotta be, I I say it's gotta be high scoring. Like if it's a grind out games, that's that's where I think for Boston's gonna have it with the defense, but I mean they just I I don't know. We'll we'll we'll see.

Scott 16:29

I think Graham, which yeah, I was just about to say, like, he's he's boring. Hey Graham, what's your uneducated guest?

Graham 16:37

Well, uh, you know, for someone that grew up in Uri PA, Buffalo right around the corner. I got a lot of friends from Buffalo. It I'm actually very excited for them. Um, I have some close friends that are diehard Sabres fans, and look, as you guys have mentioned, they've been absent from the playoffs for a pretty long time now. And, you know, as as as someone that is is a fan or does have friends in Buffalo, obviously they love their Bills, but they love their Sabres. And for the Sabres to be good again and them in the playoffs, like I'm really hoping that they do well in this series and at least can make it out of the first round and make some type of run.

Scott 17:12

Yeah. So something, I think it was the Sabres, 1999. I'm going way back. Okay, Graham was still shitting his pants, but uh I'm at Pinehurst at the U.S. Open on Saturday night, right, with all my college buddies. This is the year Payne Stewart won. It's game seven of the Stanley Cup finals. Weren't the Sabres there and there was some controversy? Game seven in like overtime or something. In 99? Yeah.

Navarro 17:41

No. Oh, wait, I think you're right. I think it was Buffalo. I gotta look. Stars. Oh, yeah. So that was when Brett Hole was in the crease. Yeah, they changed the rule from that too.

Scott 17:56

So that was it game seven? No, they won four to two. Uh when that's going on, I'm in the Pinecrest Inn, right? With my three college roommates, Mike Tarico, Jimmy Roberts, and Carl Ravitch, as this was going on. Okay. And this is after I spilt a mud slide all over Mike Tariko. You all heard that story before. Oh, yeah. But I'll never forget Mike Tarico going, This is the coolest thing in sports. And this is before Tarico became Tarico, you know. 99. I still had hair. Uh the guys are skating around with the cup. And he goes, This is by far the the greatest celebration in sports. I'll never forget him saying that. But, you know, that's crazy. I don't even remember the rule. I I didn't know they changed it. I just remember I knew Buffalo was involved. So everybody's going with the I'm going Bruins, dude. I just I don't wanna I'm going with my brain, not my heart. Sorry.

Tyler (TP) 19:01

I I I don't think I don't think the I think it could be interesting. There's gonna be some close games, but I just think Buffalo's just gonna they're on they're on a hot one and they're just gonna pull it out and move on. I mean it is strength versus strength, you know, yeah a better defense, like their strength is their defense versus the strength of the offense, a a good PK in in Boston versus a good power play in uh Buffalo. But I just think in in this case, Buffalo's just got too much.

Scott 19:25

All right, moving on along, Lightning Canadians.

Tyler (TP) 19:30

Well, I mean, if we stand the Eastern Conference trend, I mean the Lightning have to go to the the the final, right? Because it's been Florida teams.

Navarro 19:36

Uh ironically, I have them in the final. Well, I can't give away, I can't give away too much. You know, we we gotta you guys gotta do your brackets first. Yeah.

Scott 19:44

Well, I'm gonna do that. You're not gonna you're not gonna influence me. No. I mean, I know I'm going lightning on the show. Lightning. I think they're going all the way. Yeah.

Tyler (TP) 19:54

I th I think this one's closer to people think, but I'm I'm gonna go with lightning. I mean, I like what Montreal's doing, you know, last year and this year getting around and what they're building, but they're not there yet.

Navarro 20:02

Vasilevsky, like, he's hot. Ride that pony and let Kucharov do his thing and put freaking pucks in the back of the net. The end.

Scott 20:12

It's hard to go against those two guys. Like, like Jerry always says, come on, put the thing in the thing. Let's go. All right. Here's an interesting one to me. The Canes and Senators. Dude. They always have the great team. And then just shit themselves in the playoffs. Well, at least the Canes have won a championship. Sorry, Targers. Uh shut up, Graham. I win a playoff game. Win a playoff game, Steelers. Uh anyhow, this one's gonna be interesting to me. I don't know which way to go. I mean, money line on the series, dude. Canes are minus 170, the senators are plus 145. That's not uh it's pretty even for a team like the canes that have dominated all year. I don't know. Is it the canes gonna win round one and lose round two like every other year? Well I mean they don't have they don't have to play the Panthers this year, who's been their kryptonite.

Navarro 21:27

So I don't know. My money's on Carolina. Um betting dude, I think they've got a better goaltender um. Definitely, and Carolina has a like not to get too much jargon, but like their four check is just disgusting. Um, they get in their zone, uh in the offensive zone, and they can play that puck around the board and they crash hard. They pinch at the corners and slap shot from the point. Uh, it is whatever cliche we want to talk about, but.

Tyler (TP) 22:00

Yeah.

Navarro 22:00

Uh Carolina's Forchek is formidable. They're big, they're fast. Uh, I do. I think they get out, and I'll go with the trend that um Canadian teams are not winning. So the last Canadian team unfortunately uh took out the Kings. And um, you know, Ken Montreal, I think Montreal is gonna lose. And here we go. I think uh Ottawa's gonna lose as well.

Tyler (TP) 22:24

Yeah, I I agree. And you you said the F-word that that that I love in hockey is forecheck. I can I mean Scott, I get checks all the time. Four check, for check. So I think that's huge when it comes to playoff hockey, though. If if you can if you can be in your zone and making the guys waste all their energy on defense, I it it just wears teams down.

Scott 22:44

Dude, eight years ago, the Knights first season. I'm new to this, right? Like, I know off size and all this shit, but TP's all year is like, dude, you guys forecheck this shit out of team. I'm like, what the hell is this? Explain this to me. You know, explain this shit to me, you know. At least I'm like Jerry, dude, and by hockey rules for dummies, okay? Like I'm patching that. But and I and I'm not even lying about that.

Navarro 23:09

Well, look what you're doing right now. You're scratching your what? My head. Your forehead. And so the fore check is in the forward zone, and you're checking in the forward zone. Yeah, dude. There you go.

Scott 23:19

Dude, love it. And I never knew how amazing that was until our playoff run the first year, and then the year we won when it was insane with Cassidy. Sorry, rest in peace, have fun in Edmonton next year. Uh, but anyhow, next matchup. And this I meant to bring this up earlier. The penguins, dude. The penguins were a surprise to everyone. They were left for dead in all the preseason, you know, rankings and this and that. 100% overachieved. And and became a great team, I think.

Navarro 24:00

They've got the legends, and then they've got the young guys. They're extremely balanced. Uh, you know, normally their goal scorers are the top guys, and whether you're looking at Crosby and Malkin, but Rust, I mean, Rust coming up, I think he's got 27 goals, but they've spread it out. You don't have one guy having 40, you don't have another guy one 35 and 15. They're in the high 20s across the board, and and Rust has been able to step up. And um, yeah, the Boston's they're dangerous because they've got old, they've got young, um, veteran, and new guys.

Scott 24:36

Dude, when I went up to Pittsburgh a month ago to see the Knights play him, some dude that scored a goal for Pittsburgh, Kristen was like, Oh my god, he looks like he's Kellen's age. I wish I knew the dude's name. He's like 18 or 19 years old. I'm like, it was insane. But that game impressed me, dude, because from that game on, you know how many bets I've won, taking the penguins team total over? They score, they score, they fill it up, dude. Yeah, they fill it up, they score a shit ton of goals.

Tyler (TP) 25:07

Well, you got Skinner in that, right? So, or is is he yeah? I don't I don't know if he's even I mean, I was gonna say, I I almost like had to catch that coming out, but they don't have they don't have Yari anymore. So that that that's that's a benefit from that.

Scott 25:20

I don't I don't know if he's even I don't know. But playing the Flyers, dude. Flyers haven't made the playoffs in a while. A while. One of my son's teammates from flag football, his dad's huge Philly fan, text me, we're finally in the playoffs. I think six years. But could be a good matchup. I think the penguins light him up like a Christmas tree.

Navarro 25:41

And I'll uh I'll side bet you on that one. I think Philly, uh shout out to my boy Yanuzzi out there. Uh he's uh he's in Virginia now with you.

Scott 25:50

But uh is that the dude that used to always wear the Eagles jerseys?

Navarro 25:53

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. So he uh him and his family just moved back to uh Virginia for uh next couple years for some military stuff. But he's a huge Philly boy, but they play, they they're mean. They're mean, they're physical. Um I think they take out the old crew and they they send Crosby off to uh retirement.

Tyler (TP) 26:17

Philly has a good grind grinding type of team, and that's what you need in the in the Stanley Cup playoff. Um and and let's not mistake, they're both this is a rivalry. This is a Pennsylvania rivalry. So that's extending into the playoffs, and we know that just adds an extra layer that is kind of like an unwritten, you know, intangible factor. So it's not yeah, I mean it playoffs is playoffs, but I mean I think to me that's that's a that's a big thing. I think you can throw a lot of the stat sheets and stuff out the window uh on on this on this um series.

Scott 26:48

Hey, you guys know hockey more than I do. Uh I love it. I love it. I mean, I got nothing to say. I I I think I think penguins are.

Tyler (TP) 26:57

I just said I I won't I won't bet. I'm I wouldn't bet the series.

Graham 27:00

Yeah.

Scott 27:02

In fact, let's see what it is. Yeah, penguins minus 170, Flyers plus 140. It's even. Pretty much. I mean, I don't know. Who knows? So what do we got? We got I got Bruins, y'all got sabres. Do we all have lightning?

Navarro 27:20

I've got lightning all the way. We got them all the way. But I think uh I think the lightning have I mean, if you're really looking at Buffalo, they're good, but uh, you got the veteran presence, and I'm with TP, man. Florida's gonna make a final again. God.

Tyler (TP) 27:39

Wouldn't that be like I had them in the bracket making the final last year.

Scott 27:43

Wouldn't that be five in a row? Two lightning won two.

Navarro 27:47

Seven Panthers. Three because they lost the one, four, five, Panthers lost to us. So six years? Is it six or seven years in a row?

Tyler (TP) 27:56

Seven, because you had three of Tampa Bay and then three of Florida. So it's the seventh year.

Navarro 28:00

Yeah, seven years in a row of Tampa gets in. Wow.

Scott 28:04

Well, I'm making that bet right now.

Navarro 28:08

As long as they lose to the Kings in the final, I'm happy they get there.

Western Bracket Chaos And Seeding

Scott 28:11

Love it. Love it. All right. So, Western Conference, dude. It came down to last night, last night of the season, right? Who's playing who? Yeah. And I really thought, did y'all lose? Y'all lost, didn't you? We didn't call area. Dude, I'm sitting there talking to my dad, and he's like, is everything set? And I'm like, no, but I can promise you this the Kings, Ducks, and Oilers are gonna have an effort tonight that you've never seen before. Because they don't want to play the play the Avalanche.

Navarro 28:42

I'd rather pay Colorado than Edmonton again. Just as a fan, but yeah.

Scott 28:48

I get it. I get it.

Navarro 28:49

But with Dreisidle out, I mean, it might have been a different match. Well, I don't know. He's day-to-day, but yeah. I don't he's gonna play. We can't. Five years in a row is enough.

Scott 29:00

So we're just gonna start at the top. Colorado Kings. I don't know why you're asking. I mean, I know.

Graham 29:08

Let's go Kings! Let's go Kings!

Tyler (TP) 29:11

Well, GKG all the way, but we were O for against Colorado. We Colorado we never play well in the regular season, and now we're going against them. But I mean, what but with the new coach, I'm I mean, we've been hot our last 10. So you can get right hot at the right time. And I mean, I don't know.

Navarro 29:28

It happened when you're over the eight seed. Yeah. And I don't don't get me wrong, I'm a homer for sure, but let's look at it logistically. I would say that the Kings are the top two in the playoffs in defense, um, maybe outside of Colorado, but um, you know, Wedgewood just he's a freaking brick wall, man. Um, does he have the experience to get through? Um, that's the Kings problem. The Kings can they score? Can they score outside? Can they get a third-line guy? You know, QB is is doing his thing, and and Kempe is, you know, that's formidable. But can guys like Brant Clark step up on the defense on the blue line and Mikey Anderson come up and and play big? Um, those those young guys, it's time to shape up and number one seed. Hey, who's the pressure on? President Cup? Always. So what jinx you want? I mean, do you want these not on the Kings? Yeah. It ain't on the Kings. Um, I mean, I think the Kings have a question here. Uh, do you ride the hot hand in Forsberg or do you go with Darcy Kemper? Um, I think they're gonna go with Forsberg to start, in my opinion. Uh, I guess we'll wait for uh Spit and Chiclets to come out. And a great podcast, by the way. Yeah, it is. But so uh we'll wait and see what those lineups come up. But I think Forsberg's the hot hand. I think they're gonna ride him, but I don't know. Um Colorado's tough, but they are tough.

Scott 31:05

They're like number one in everything. But hey, that's the best. That's the greatest thing about hockey that I've learned in the last eight years of having a dog in the fight and learning. Dude, Stanley Cup playoffs. Get hot. Look what happens. When we won and whatever, Logan Thompson goes down. Game two. Aiden Hill comes in, we win.

Navarro 31:28

He got hot. Well, Graham earmarked this because I think the guy, the the big guy in this series is McCar. Uh, can Makar score? Can he not score? So can the Kings shut him down? I mean, I think McKinnon's gonna get his and Rantnon's gonna get his, but can McCar be shut down? And if McCarr gets shut down, um, you just gotta stop those passing lanes. I think he's got 55 or 60 assists this year. Um, and you know, you're looking at I think he's got I think he's 20 and 60 or something, 20 goals and 60 assists, but well the dude just knows how to put the puck on on McKinnon stick for a defender. Thanks for playing.

Scott 32:09

Yeah. All right, so we're not even asking. Uh we know who everybody's picking. Uh the matchup.

Tyler (TP) 32:16

I will say if the Kings can win one and get some belief, I think that can steamroll some stuff and just, you know, shock them a little bit. Um I I think I I think a big thing that sometimes goes unsaid in in the playoffs is face-off percentage. Um, Colorado's really high, really high there. They they're so good up the middle with with all the guys that they've got like last year and you know, everybody landed, like just everybody coming back, right? Um I think if we can win some face-offs, we can control the puck, we can keep it grindy, keep it lower, and like you said, take Makar out of it. I think we actually there actually is a glimmer of a hope. I'm not betting on it, but I think there's a glimmer of a hope in that.

Navarro 32:51

And you saw that towards the end of the season. Lawton was taking every single face-off between Lawton and Kobotar, and even Byfield. Byfield's over you know, 55%. But um before we move on, I I think the biggest thing for the Kings is they are so healthy outside Fiala. And Fiala skated this week. So if we if it gets into a game six or a game seven, look for Fiala to come back. Now, I don't know if they're gonna put them on the roster, so on and so forth, but if the Kings are the healthiest, they've been all season long, and uh hopefully they can pull it off. But a tall task.

Scott 33:30

It is. But like I said, hockey playoffs, shit happens. Didn't you guys didn't you guys sweep the Sharks? Weren't they the number one seed? Or no, y'all were down?

Tyler (TP) 33:44

I think we swat Vancouver in 2012, though.

Navarro 33:46

2012 swat Vancouver, came in, went to St. Louis, and it was three or four one, uh, and then another sweep Arizona. No, that was 2014.

Tyler (TP) 33:58

With San Jose.

Scott 34:00

But y'all were down three nothing, right? And then just thanks for playing.

Tyler (TP) 34:04

And then I think we were down, correct me if I'm wrong, I think we were down two or three nothing in game seven and came back.

Navarro 34:10

Wow. Yeah. Well, the crazy part about that, uh, you know, I've been to Staples Center many times with you both. The loudest I've ever heard now crypto, but staples back then, was game three. Uh, it was a five-on-three, um, it was a two-man advantage for San Jose, and the Kings killed it off, and it was the loudest I'd ever heard that place. Now they go on and lose the game and then come back and win four straight, but uh just an insane on how loud it was at um at Staple Center.

Scott 34:44

All right. Next matchup, and this could be the best matchup of round one. I think I know where you're going. The stars wild.

Tyler (TP) 34:55

Brutal.

Scott 34:56

I mean, good gracious. I I like the stars heading into the air. In fact, I put a a you know, futures bet on the stars way back when. But I don't know. It's gonna be wild. The stars are always that team that everybody's favoring and don't get it done. To me, to me. That's just, I mean, I don't know. I I like the I like the stars winning, but I it's gonna it should be a matchup of all matchups.

Tyler (TP) 35:28

Isn't it the wild that that that people joke and say they have the banner of like 10 time first round knockout? Yeah, they get there, they just can't get past that. They're they're they're snake bit when it comes to it.

Navarro 35:40

Yep. Does it depend on Gus? Like Gus between the pipes, is is is he gonna be the dude, or is it gonna be a situation where Robertson and and hence take over and uh just put one past him? Yeah.

Scott 35:54

Uh I don't I don't know. I uh that's a tough one. It sucks with the seedings and playoffs.

Tyler (TP) 36:02

So speaking of Hence, I isn't he injured?

Navarro 36:05

See, I don't know. I didn't I that's the ironically the only team that I really haven't kind of looked at over the last week or two in the Western Conference. Um he might be injured, but he's a 30 goal scorer, so they're gonna need him back. But I I truly think that um it's gonna come down to can Minnesota um what kind of what kind of what kind of play you're gonna get at the goalie? Um whatever cliche you want to use, is he gonna stand on his head? Um you know, can he stop the biscuit from going in the basket? And and Gus is uh Goosis and just uh I mean he's wild for sure. Yeah.

Tyler (TP) 36:44

Minnesota's never really had like I I feel like a great or like a goalie that's been like playing great that whole year. They never had like elite goaltending.

Navarro 36:53

And I got to see Dallas live in person a couple times last year. Uh last year, not this year. Last year, when they came out to Staples, that's the game, or crypto. Um, that's the game that we kind of went to. Staples, dude.

Tyler (TP) 37:05

It's always staples.

Navarro 37:06

It's the crypt for sure, though. Uh as long as the Taylor Swift banner is pulled down, we're good. No knock on Taylor, but the moment they put up that uh banner, the Kings just went so uh they pulled the banner and they started making the playoffs again. So um I remember you telling me that TP at the game that night. Oh but I got to see Dallas last year in Dallas. We were in Dallas for a conference. Okay, and we're like, well, what are we gonna do tonight? I'm all we're going to a hockey game. And they're like, what? So in our hotel was right downtown and a couple of us, we hopped on some of those scooters, and and uh Dallas was great. I mean, they they're fast and they're still fast this year, and I don't think they can catch Colorado, but I think they're the uh they're a really top team in the Western Conference. And I think whoever wins this uh has got a really good shot to get to that next round, even though the Kings are there and I'm gonna vote for the Kings, but um they've they've got a shot to get Colorado first.

Scott 38:14

Definitely. All right, next one, my boys. Knights, Mammoth. The last two teams to become an NHL franchise in round one. No, Seattle. Oh shit, my bad, Seattle. I'll smack myself. You know, we do that on the show. Smack myself. Uh but what Vegas team are you getting? Exactly. Well the crazy thing is, who's gonna start? Thompson. And uh No. Thompson plays over the Capitals. Is it gonna be Aiden Hill or is it gonna be what's his name? Hart. And once we fired Cassidy, new guy activated Hart, and Hart's been a stud since he came back. And like the Kings when you were saying making that statement about trading quick away, we win the cup and we trade Thompson away. Okay, Aiden Hill caught lightning in a bottle, won the cup. Every night fan out there, if they're a realist, is gonna say we made the wrong decision. We overpaid Aiden Hill, and we're in this goalie nightmare. Why do you think we went and signed the dude that was accused of rape? You know, he was he was proven, you know, whatever, we're not even getting into that. Uh but ever since the new coach comes in, he's been a stud. What do you do? I mean, uh goaltending has been the night's problem all year. We all know that, right? But this dude, with our our defenses like you guys, we're up there top five, top ten in the league. It's goaltending. If our defense plays a good game, don't put put him in stupid situations, you're gonna be all right. Well, which one are you gonna ride?

Tyler (TP) 40:16

Is your guys' defense gonna be able to keep him out of the the other team's offense out of the danger zone? Are they just gonna want to take shots in the slot?

Scott 40:22

Exactly. And that's what scares me. I mean, with Shay loving, the nice thing, you know, we made that big trade right before like a couple weeks before the trade deadline to get Rasmus Anderson. Everything I'm reading since what's a tortell, whatever his name is, Tor, whatever. Torx, whatever. Torx, we'll just call him that. Ever since he's gotten there, everybody keeps talking about how well he's got Rasmus Anderson playing. He's actually making a difference on the ice. So, I mean, fun fact, dude. How about the other night? Jack Eichel's first power play goal like three games left in the season.

Graham 41:03

What?

Scott 41:07

You're you are alive, bro.

Tyler (TP) 41:08

I think it's the latest lie in an episode this year.

Graham 41:12

Oh, it's it was coming. It was coming.

Scott 41:16

Yeah. But Pavel's been our power play goal scorer. You know, Stone has come alive. Remember, he's been injured for a while, and we couldn't protect him on that long-term IR bullshit like everybody used to do. But I like our chances against the mammoth. I don't know much about them. It's gonna be a tough matchup. I like our experience. I like, like I said, I doubted the Bruce Cassidy firing. TP and I talked about it all around.

Tyler (TP) 41:47

It's making me eat, bro.

Scott 41:49

Me too. 100%.

Navarro 41:52

You go ahead. I finished. I'm sorry. No, no, no. Go ahead. I was saying, like, you know, I I know that you didn't like my sarcasm about Thompson being in the in the net. Um but um having a little bit of fun with you. But what about Hurdle? Like, what what's your idea of Tomas?

Scott 42:09

He's been slow all year. Been slow. The team has been slow, dude. We started off hot and just we were cold. A week and a half, two weeks ago, we weren't even in the playoffs. And now we win the Pacific, thanks to the Ducks, you know, shitting themselves. But I I don't know. I had no faith two weeks ago. I mean, I'm sitting here texting TP, dude, we ain't even making the playoffs. And now here we are. We got Mammoth Round one. I think it's gonna be a tough series. I don't know much about Utah. I don't know what to say. Uh I just love having home ice.

Navarro 42:48

Keller's their guy, man. Like, if you if you can keep him isolated for sure. Um, I mean, Gunther's legit, but I don't know. They just got their new uh Zamboni. Um built by the Sparks crew. Uh if you don't follow those guys, they're they're legends up in Utah. Love it. Um Sparks Motor. Um, but no, that that the Mammoth um new, exciting, they got a town behind them. You kind of you kind of think of it kind of like uh what Vegas did. Can they get to, you know, I don't think they're getting to the finals, but uh can they put that run together that allows them to do it. Yeah.

Tyler (TP) 43:33

Yeah, I think Utah, Utah is a prime example of just what a how important good ownership and good leadership at the top is and and how and creating a culture because I mean Arizona was just dead. They couldn't fill a college stadium that they're sharing. And then two years into this, these these teams in the playoffs, they're rocking. Yeah. I mean, they're making Seattle look like they have no idea what they were doing from the draft from the expansion, right? And and it's I mean, and that's the thing, like can can they feed off the energy. of their fan base.

Scott 44:02

And I'm just what I was going to say, I'm just glad we have home ice for one and two because game three, their first playoff game, that place is going to be rocking.

Graham 44:11

It's Utah. What else is there to do?

Navarro 44:15

Well they got no snow this year whatsoever.

Tyler (TP) 44:19

So uh they're liking hockey better than load management that other team that's there.

Scott 44:24

Oh my God. You know what TP. Got him. Got him. Got him, TP. I love it.

Tyler (TP) 44:31

Yeah, I mean speaking of that, LeBron's missed 95 games the last like three, five years and Oven Chicken's missed 51 games his whole career.

Navarro 44:38

Oven chicken. I'm stoked. That is amazing. Like I'm gonna go out and give my wife a big hug and a kiss and tell her she made national airwaves on uh on Oven Chicken.

Tyler (TP) 44:50

I think international I think there's some I think there's some Australia listeners. Don't you guys get some Australia?

Scott 44:55

My boy that's in the Navy he's playing this for all his boys in Croatia right now.

Overtime Points And CBA Talk

Navarro 44:59

So what's her Instagram because she's definitely getting tagged you'll just text me on the she's no social media whatsoever so uh smart lady so tag me up and we're good. Make sure you tag uh Ovechkin too um and just say that they you know he he passed the great one and uh single handedly the best the best shooter of all time amazing dude but yeah the the the the mammoth are the I think are the the true epitome this year of a wild card team of being a wild card. 100% 100% you know who I'm picking of course the mammoth I think it's gonna be a tough series yeah Graham yeah uh I think I think we win four to two I think it's gonna be a tough series I was I think you win four one but uh four one yeah I like where your head's at well I mean you have to get down to realism uh Vegas has played a really really tough back half since the break um and they played well now they had their stretch going into the Olympic break where they just man seems like after the break we saw I'm saying like before the break like they had they had a run where they were just kind of up and down yep and then after the break was man did did you guys need an extra couple days off right um and then you finally put it together yeah and you know like like we said I hated the Cassidy firing I mean won the cup for us but something was weird there I don't know what was going on it was like the the guys were just going through the motion he lost he lost the locker room for sure yeah and the greatest thing that I'm stoked about is thank god there's no god dang shootouts in the Stanley Cup playoffs dude we are the worst shootout team on the planet you might as well have me on the ice then Jack I and I can't even god dang skate I mean you might as have me on the ice than Mark Stone I I I I just whatever it is what it is I'd pay to see I think you would rival the Kings dude I mean that's not time again we go back to the Kings but it's a record breaking season no one's ever been to overtime more than the Los Angeles Kings of 2025 2026.

Tyler (TP) 47:16

So shoot out losses I don't know the Kings going to overtime you watch um it's gonna be Kings Colorado they're gonna at least have two overtime games so do you think because of this year Navarro do you think this had a side tangent do you think there's gonna be talks next CBA of a of a 3 1 they've already been talking about it.

Navarro 47:37

Yeah I really do think that with the CBA I think they'll go three points for a win yeah they'll go two points for um you know and an overtime win and then uh or you know shootout but you're gonna get one point for an overtime loss of course right but I think they're gonna go three points for a win in regulation and then two points for an overtime win you think that's gonna happen I've seen the rumblings well it's Gary Bettman like I mean Gary's Gary so shout out to you for keeping together our favorite league over the years but um man sometimes I think the biggest the two biggest changes in the last couple years okay get rid of the two line pass was great but change it was great uh changing the the the goalie area to the trapezoid was phenomenal but um I really do think one of the big things was going 3v3 um they it obviously worked so well that the Olympics brought it in but those are things that Bettman's done over the years and he's enhanced um I think the case study of the LA Kings and other teams that are making points it when you got when you got teams that have more wins in regulation and they're not even making the playoffs right um now the Kings took advantage of it this year but yeah no I I really think that the new collective bargaining is going to have that three point yeah you need to you need to reward wins more yeah I agree I agree all right last one totally yeah Graham we're talking about a Suns team that has eight more wins than the Warriors and they're in a play in situation tonight to make the playoffs don't talk to me about that league management league how do you have eight more wins than a team and you're playing them in a play in game how the cookie crumbles with all the rest of the wins for the other teams in the division I mean or conference I'm sorry the sport with the most participation trophies you have a midseason trophy and then you have 70% of the teams make the playoffs if you include the play in yeah and more people still watch it yeah I don't care about more look at trends. Yeah this is not an argument between basketball and hockey all right we get it we know where you guys are loyal yada yada right but it's not you know I mean I've wrestled all my years over 40 years of my life but I think hockey is the greatest single sport out there not only for sportsmanship for dedication for culture for um being able to longevity and and toughness uh basketball can't hold its chock for anything for toughness but people like basketball because it's it's everywhere you can throw out a ball in a hoop you can't throw out ice anywhere so and that's the reason why the popularity is there no question but take nothing away from from from basketball but warriors are old and uh you know good for good good for Steph to to keep uh he's got man he's got to be on the his new commercial's got to be don't because he's carried that back for sure hey just to piggyback what you said hockey players are tougher than basketball dude hockey players are tougher than anybody there's a dude who had a heart attack on the bench went back inside and said no I want to go back out and play and they said no like they're tough um yeah they're they're lunatics yeah well one of the guys one of the guys had arm surgery and four games later is back playing Fiala broke his leg in the Olympics and he's skating already he's skating like and hey and let's don't forget the gold medal score toothless wonder dude if LeBron lost a tooth we'll see you next year bro speaking of uh speaking of Hughes I think he had the most points since the since the Olympic break you know that the phrase a few years ago you know whether it was uh you know McJesus and whatever but to lose for Hughes was big and he's a stud man and uh he's a youngster that can just play uh shout out to all the Hughes boys that went to Michigan so go blue let's go excited youngsters this is my this is my how did they lose in double overtime to Denver in the freaking frozen four and if they made the finals if they made the finals uh me and a couple people here from Smacular we were gonna head out to Vegas and and and buy the tickets for the for the finals but I guess that would have been awesome.

Scott 52:29

Yeah but whatever and screw the badgers for being up one to nothing when your boy has a futures bet on on that fourth that I made in god dang October up one and nothing with 10 minutes left and them futures bets get you every time we're the last matchup we're gonna talk about is spoilers and the ducks but before we do that TP and I were talking a couple weeks ago and my boy from the sharks I hate the sharks Macklin is jealousy is the dog dude I I I hate the sharks and I'm jealous but can we just say wow it's done absolute beast remember the hype and TP literally dropped the mic on this text one night and remember the hype what's the dude's name Badard TP literally sends me a text that says Celebrini greater than Bedard 100% and I was like without a doubt with no hype my guy good God that's all I can say that's all I'm giving the little sharks credit for.

Navarro 53:36

I was looking at he's 115 points this year uh fourth in the fourth in the NHL and he's what 19 he can't even buy a beer again we don't need to break down the logistics and all the technique but his his over wrist you know being able to turn his stick over on a toe drag or even a curl that guy's got the quickest hands of anybody under the age of 25 that that that I you know I didn't see Gretzky when he was super small or you know they always talk about guys like um you know like Messier had a great wrist but Macklin dude that just I heard uh you know I got all the bunch of San Jose guys that are sharks fans here and they're calling him the Mako uh and they're using and they're spelling it M-A-K you know for but like he's not only is he a Mako shark shark I get the play on words but dude he's a snipe man that he's he's insane he's the Mac Daddy for sure.

Tyler (TP) 54:37

I think there's with a stacked Canadian roster in the Olympics I think there's a reason they brought they see something and put him on the on the roster instead of a Dard.

Scott 54:46

A hundred percent and he was playing up on that top line.

Navarro 54:50

Yes how good was that we're not even getting into that you know what's best is we we saved this matchup and we don't even have to talk about it because they're the spoilers ducks the the two most um despised teams in in my eyes for a Kings fan and they're playing each other so um beat each other up do it game seven with 18 overtimes okay and then I'm I mean I mean 18 overtimes it throughout the whole series not in one game but through throughout the whole series that that works two digits that's what I want just just destroy each other. You know that's I mean that would that that would be great but um yeah can dry sidle get healthy if dry sidle's healthy like no one's stopping that power play no one stopped that power play in the last five six years. Except for the Panthers in game seven and the nights the year before that. Well they didn't stop the power play I mean they beat him five on five that's what you got to do with Edmonton. You have to do that five on five stay out of the box and play fast hockey because McDavid's he's so he's so good man that's ridiculous is he gonna leave age is he gonna leave I don't know like where's he gonna go like who's giving him the money um I think he's a package I think he's a package deal with Leon um it could it could be like take a bit uh I would say that he's the best guy in Edmonton since um Gretzky and then you look at those guys whether you look at Yari Curry um they were a package deal and they they came to the Kings um with Gretzky and Curry later um is it a situation that uh Dreisidel and McDavid are gonna are going to pair up somewhere along the way it's very possible.

Graham 56:41

So they could so then why would Edmonton allow him to leave then?

Navarro 56:45

Why wouldn't they just br you know back up the Brinks truck and say you're staying 'cause he's gonna be uh a UFA you know he's gonna be an unrestricted free agent and he's gonna make his choice but uh you better sign him now. Yep. Extend him now. And in reality they've got the best team how do I word this? They've got the most consistent team of the last five years. They've gotten to a cup uh or two and and they just can't get over the hump. So do you do you break it up?

Cup Winner Picks And Cinderella Teams

Scott 57:17

They're obviously not getting any younger um but I still think that they beat the ducks that's why I continue to say Cassidy will be their head coach next year. I think I think anyhow we're 57 minutes in we've gone down every first round matchup we're just gonna jump right in everybody's cup winner pick right now and we'll get off the air and go watch some meaningless playing game for a team that won eight more games than the other one.

Navarro 57:46

Oh I won't be watching that oh I won't I'll be watching replays of golfing sack Scott you're gonna watch no I'll just you got money on it that's the only reason I that's the only reason I watch it I guarantee you're gonna take the second half over in points you're gonna do I've already taken the over in the first total game you got action you're gonna watch don't don't lie you guys watch basketball and I'll turn on the Padre games even though they're down 3-0 they're gonna have another walk off of that and just watch watch watch your closer throw nine pitches and strike out the side hey we could save this for another episode but uh maybe your Mets um shouldn't uh have mascots hugging each other so uh because they haven't won a game since not hugging each other hugging a homeboy from New York it it it okay well that's that's politics and I don't get into politics but I'm just saying like ever since that happened and New York is not happy about it.

Scott 58:42

We've lost nine games in a row and remember last year I'm not even gonna get into last year's part because that'll be bad. The Mets might might be the most superstitious team in all of sports grimace that shit last year and this shit this year.

Tyler (TP) 58:58

Yeah that's crazy.

Navarro 59:01

Alright Scotty who uh who's your cup winner my heart wants to take my boys my brain says Colorado I'll piggyback off that my my heart absolutely says the Kings uh I think they have it if they get past if the Kings get past Colorado I I think they can make it all the way. But my heart my heart is that my heart but in reality nope I think uh I think Tampa Bay is going to pull this off I I agree with you I think it's Dallas and Tampa in the in the final and Tampa Dallas.

Tyler (TP) 59:36

I don't I don't like Dallas at all but I mean it might with my heart but I I think that they're gonna get over the hunt that they're not gonna go all the way but I think they're getting out of the West Graham what do you think?

Graham 59:47

Well if we continue this Florida you know last what seven years now then I guess I gotta go with the Lightning so that's just making the cup final not winning no no no winning winning lightning winning as a Pittsburgh fan as I well here's the thing look this is probably the last two raw for the big three in Pittsburgh would I love them to go all the way? Absolutely am I realistic? Absolutely so I mean them making it out of the first round hopefully beating the Flyers I'm looking forward to that but I look they've played better than I thought they were going to play so it's kind of a just a hope and see so I mean my fingers are crossed and we'll see what happens. Maybe they can get Antonio Brown to come back and play for them on the blue line he's pretty he's pretty who's had a better six year stretch than that guy at wide receiver I'm just saying less than three are you saying recently no I'm just saying an all time who's had a better six years ever ever for statistics. Come on Navarro it's getting it's a light it's light I could name at least four off the top of my head if we're talking rice.

Navarro 1:01:05

Statistically that's had better numbers statistically yeah I mean look what Jefferson's doing I'd still take it to without a quarterback without a quarterback. Yeah. So who's everybody's uh if you want to say a Cinderella so to speak like I mean it sounds like we're all kind of picking some favorites but um I mean Varra who do you think like if if there was a a team that would surprise the the world the case Carolina Carolina Yeah I think so just because they you know I mean they've gotten there a couple times but if you're really looking for the true ultimate Cinderella um you have to go with the mammoth. At least I would getting there you know a couple years in existence moving through and um being that sweet 16 you know getting through but uh no I think I think Carolina would surprise a lot of people um I don't know maybe I'm wrong uh all the East Coast people are saying nah Carolina's really good but um we went down every matchup everything's so close along the way but it is if there's a true Cinderella it would be the mammoth but I don't think they have a shot.

Bracket Challenge And Friend Shoutouts

Scott 1:02:14

I like where your head's out I love where your head's at I hope you're right boys can't thank you enough for coming on uh Navarro love you buddy you're still my hero on the softball diamond thanks man stop but we're old fat and don't dive anymore dude I'm so good I'm still good at diving I'm just not sure I'm gonna get to the ball anymore or or get up I'm pretty good there still still athletic but uh I just don't know if the speed's still there but I'll dive uh maybe maybe I'll pull out my lovely little Jackson Merrill and just start robbing dudes over the fence as opposed to diving. Love it.

Navarro 1:02:52

Well guys enjoy the playoffs and we're gonna throw something on our Instagram Navarro sent me earlier and that's a playoff uh challenge thing right and uh let me find it where the hell are you this is a bracket I actually have an idea about yeah hey you beat Graham out of here yeah writing and I didn't ask for any help I wasn't writing any coattails the password is hockey I'll throw it on Instagram it's free free right Navarro yeah I think so I think it's just for uh show I mean we don't need to we don't need to put any money in it but uh yeah I keep that password out there if if you want to hop on um I think it's Navarro's GKG and then and that stands for Go Kings Go.

Scott 1:03:36

There's no nights in there but uh I get it I get it uh and GKG stands for golden nights gone um but oh I love it first and last time on the mom and the bald guys for sure definitely not but uh definitely still bald yeah you are yeah anyhow thank you guys for coming on when I still win all I hope is you get to put that live like Adam sticker as a 16th buck.

Navarro 1:04:07

Well i if we if we're gonna do it anyways um because he would travel everywhere and do whatever but no seriously thanks so much for having me on and thanks for thinking of me just an old dude who uh loves hockey you know uh like I said I've wrestled for 40 years of my life and coached and and love wrestling yeah and a high school coach for wrestling and don't you have a podcast? Yeah we got a we got a simple man wrestling podcast out there but uh Brian Batisto does a great job on that and uh throw it out there where do we find it where if wrestling fans are listening where do they find it?

Tyler (TP) 1:04:40

You can find it at SimplemanWrestling.com or on YouTube Spotify any of the things Simple Man Wrestling podcast let's go TP third appearance let's go let's hope Fowler gets hot this weekend seventh place I think right now after two days this course sets up so well for him i i I hate to say it 7200 yards is a shorter course for the PGA tour but I mean he he he he's so good with the mini driver doesn't have to take driver out on probably on any hole exactly and it's it's it's perfect an elevated event he's rolling it and he's creativity he you know he's a creative ball striker so uh with big B as his coach so um yeah I'm I've I I've been high on him all week this for this one hit one left-handed yesterday better than I hit left handed I sent him a text last night I'm like dude why does your left hand swing look better than my right handed swing and he's like ha ha ha thanks man anyhow Graham let's get it out of here uh it's Friday night we don't do this on Friday nights everybody enjoy the Stanley Cup playoffs the greatest playoffs in any sport let's go uh love you all Graham get us out of here two quick points Navarro talk about how good Penn State's uh wrestling program is uh disgusting

Navarro 1:06:00

Like they're so good. They're so good. As a Big Ten boy myself in Michigan, um, the best team that has been assembled, and they've had a couple transfers, but nah, Kale knows what he's doing, and they're dominant.

Graham 1:06:14

Beautiful.

Navarro 1:06:15

And lastly, you want a cookie?

Graham 1:06:18

No. Hey, since Michigan's your test Kale actually has cookies.

Navarro 1:06:23

Kale has cookies. Now we got we got Mess and Brink coming out. He's the Hodge Toby winner. Uh he's coming out to wrestling camp here on the West Coast this year in July. So get to hang out with uh Mess and Brink. But yep, Penn State, they're good.

Betting Dilemma And Final Wrap

Graham 1:06:37

Beautiful. And then last thing for me, and we'll end with this. So Scott knows all about this. TP, you might know about this. Scott may have mentioned it for you. So hypothetical situation. Uh I may or may not have accepted money from a friend to make a bet in hockey. And that was Oh God, you're going there. Yeah, of course I'm going there. So a friend of mine back home in Pennsylvania uh sent me some money to put down on the avalanche to win. Now, the question is I told him it was at plus three hundred. Do you make the bet for him or do you let it ride and potentially keep the money versus risking what you'd have to pay on that payout? Which, by the way, it was 300 bucks. So at plus 300, do the math.

Scott 1:07:25

Not only that, but he sent him the check about a month ago. A check. Hey, it was plus Venmo. A check. We're talking about people from Erie, you know.

Tyler (TP) 1:07:36

We're talking about checks.

Graham 1:07:40

I mean, I'm gonna make it, but I was just curious on what your take is. I mean, they'd still be like if the if the Avalanche advanced, what are they at like plus two hundred to win it? Like how much? Yeah, how much does it go down?

Navarro 1:07:56

They might go to plus two fifty, two forty somewhere like this.

Graham 1:07:59

So uh the real question is, do you let it ride and gamble it or do you make the bet?

Scott 1:08:06

So he has the he could lose 900 of his own dollars.

Navarro 1:08:09

Or you're asking two Kings fans if Colorado's kind of happening.

Graham 1:08:17

So how confident are you in Colorado? That's what I'm saying.

Navarro 1:08:22

Do I get half the pot?

Tyler (TP) 1:08:24

I mean, as confident as I mean, as confident as anybody else, right? I mean, it's it's a team that best goes like statistically, right? The the the Vesna probably is gonna be the Vesna winner, right? At goaltending, they have the the you know president's trophy. I mean, they had it locked up a week and a half ago. Um, I mean, the if if if it's on paper, I mean obviously they don't play games on paper, but if it's on paper, they're tops of everything.

Navarro 1:08:48

They're tough.

Tyler (TP) 1:08:49

Yeah, they're extremely tough, and they've been built this squad, and they got their captain back last year, and I think that changed the culture as well to help for this year. Who knows? But you know, just give us one win, Kings, and and anything can happen from there.

Navarro 1:09:03

But preferably game three when I'm there. Oh, you're gonna listen. I cannot confirm nor deny. We we might have to ask Oven Chicken if uh if we can uh we can step out.

Tyler (TP) 1:09:14

But yeah, one more quick hockey thing. April 20th, where your hockey jersey to Chipotle get it to for what I saw that last night. Every year. It's every year.

Graham 1:09:23

Let's go.

Tyler (TP) 1:09:24

Yeah.

Graham 1:09:24

Now, do knockoff jerseys count? China China jerseys. You know, got you know as long as you have the yeah. You know, I'm asking for our boy Grammar Police, you know.

Scott 1:09:37

Dude, does Tom listen to the podcast? Uh I think he does, but if he might be questioning your bet if he listens, I don't know if you want to.

Graham 1:09:45

No, it wasn't Tom. It wasn't Tom. It wasn't Tom.

Navarro 1:09:49

Hey, when's this go live? Um, you might want to wait an hour before the Hell's theory starts.

Tyler (TP) 1:09:57

What do you mean you haven't made that bet yet? God damn it.

Scott 1:10:00

If I would have mailed mailed my boy a check a month and a half ago, I'd been like, hey, can you screenshot my bet, please?

Tyler (TP) 1:10:07

I haven't seen it cashed yet.

Scott 1:10:08

But then again, he doesn't have a regular phone, so he doesn't get pictures on his phone.

Navarro 1:10:15

Well, then there's a reason why Graham's called G Money.

Scott 1:10:21

Yeah, but if you knew Graham's bad luck, you'd be going, Graham, place the goddamn bet. Place the bet. Because that's why I have no say-so in this, because whatever Graham does, he blames on me. So this is 100% on him. So, the end. Graham, get us out of here. Thank you, boys, for coming on. I know you're gonna be stressing out Sunday, just like I'm gonna be stressing out Sunday, but let's go. Like BT always sends that meme. I'm a hockey now.

Graham 1:10:52

Well, everyone, it's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you for coming on to the podcast. TP, thank you. Brian, thank you very much. Scotty Wall, it's always a pleasure doing the podcast with you. And as the best homie always says, Booba.

Scott 1:11:04

Good night, friends. Good night, Canada. You're not winning again this year. The street continues. Booba!