David Olinger

Great episode. Terrific shows this week.

The NHL season is done and the Panthers have captured their second straight Cup. Oilers have two of the most gifted players in the world but have not come up with the winning formula to parlay their skills into championships. Questionable goaltending but you don't win with three goals in two games.

Go #Oilers Go ... until the #Habs are ready to compete again!

Well, we know who should wear the hockey pants in your house!

Not nearly fast enough.

All good for the Oilers to win, as long as it wasn't the Leafs being Canada's hope. We'd never hear the end of it if they won.

Good point though most hockey players haven't gone beyond high school education and probably aren't aware of the breadth of world issues and the concerns around the likes of Gretzky and Orr.

Thankfully I didn't hear MacLean make that comment directly or I would have destroyed my TV. Of all the stupid and inane comments, he's ever made, that has to be the worst. Beliveau was the elegant No. 4. Matthews is the overhyped Thirty-FORE!

Not an Oilers fan but appreciated Skinner's honesty about the team's loss after letting a two-goal lead slip away. He took his share of blame and didn't throw anyone under the bus. Much different than in Toronto's loss Sunday where the unproductive Matthews said there were too many passengers.

Indeed, instead of throwing his own players under the bus, he should act like the bus and plough into opposition players. That doesn't mean being a goon. It simply means winning puck battles and gaining body position. But no, when the going gets tough, Matthews gets going ... out of the play.

He plays win. No grit, just like the rest of the Core Fore. Shown barking at his teammates this playoffs. Even Nylander had to tell him to shut up last season in playoffs. Not a fit for the #Habs where there's a sense of family. Same with the idea of trading for Zegras.

Totally agree. Matthews appeared pretty much like a zombie. And it's not the first time in pressure situations. He was injured last season and even back in the 2021 playoffs versus Montreal, he seemed to have some ailment. Not one player had a great series.

It will be interesting. They can spread the money around for more "character" players. The thing is, I don't know that Marner was the biggest issue. Needless to say, the Core Fore players are all cut from the same cloth, so many one less will be meaningful.

If that's the case, frame it as ... We just weren't good enough, me included.

They were willing to trade Marner at the deadline so I couldn't see him wanting to be back. There's no doubt he's a talented player. I'm just not a fan. Sunday night seemed typical. Barking at teammates even though he wasn't producing, either. Last year, Nylander told him to shut up on the bench.

Not certain they will blow up the team. I'd be willing to bet Shanahan is gone and Marner walks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Tavares return on a team-friendly deal. They can use the Marner money and the reduced JT money to bring a couple of other players in. I think that will be it.

Lots of players have reoccurring injures. If I were a Toronto fan, I would be upset that Matthews is consistently a no-show in critical moments, including this year, and now, as captain, accuses others of being passengers. It's not like he included himself in that group.

Matthews was injured in the playoffs last year. I seem to recall some ailment back in 2021 when #Leafs faced the #Habs. I can accept a player may have reoccurring injuries. If I were a Toronto fan, I'd find it unacceptable that Matthews, as captain, is not producing and saying others are passengers.

I'm a #Habs fan. I thought the #Leafs actually had a strong chance for a long run this year, especially when Toronto won the first two games of the series and were up 3-1 in the third game. They did seem different during the season, too.

The media part is very true. To me, it's #HockeyNightInCabbagetown since HNIC blocked me on X years ago for calling them on their Toronto-centric bias. It's non-stop gush even when other Canadian team play the #Leafs. It was Chris Cuthbert who I first heard referencing The Core Fore, repeatedly.

If I'm going to overpay at any position, it would be for a second line centre. Marner would be a great add if #Habs had players around him to give him space in the playoffs. The issue with the Core Fore is that they are all the same kind of player. Individually talented, not wired for playoffs.

Agreed. When your captain calls you out and he's producing no better than anyone else on the team, it's pathetic. Now we hear that, once again, he's been dealing with an injury. Same thing last season. And he seemed to be playing hurt versus the #Habs in 2021.

He said there were too many passengers. Matthews was the driver of the passenger bus.

So many great holidays in Canada ...

I was never a big Duchene fan until the last few years when he showed consistency, particularly in the post-season. He would be a good transition to the next second line C, Hage?

That was his best chance to win a cup. I think they would have beat the Rangers had Boston advanced to the Cup final. Oh well. Too bad, so sad.

YouTube video by leafyutube Guy Lafleur goal on Boston - Game 7, Semi Final (1979)

On May 10, 1979, one of my favourite goals of all time was scored: www.youtube.com/watch?v=12-x...