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00:00So, I don't know, where do you want to start here?
00:02There is nothing surprising about the fact that Zdorov did not get suspended
00:07for that cross-check on Darlene, right?
00:11No, not at all, because this is National Hockey League.
00:14He should have been suspended.
00:16I mean, there was an obvious intent to injure.
00:19That's all that was.
00:21I mean, he comes over, the play is over, it's after the whistle,
00:25the well after the whistle, and he breaks his stick over Darlene's arm.
00:31And that you are trying to hurt that player when you're doing that.
00:35There's no other way to figure that out.
00:39That is what you're doing.
00:41You have decided that, and, you know, we all know Erasmus Darlene likes to get
00:46under a player's skin, so he's probably yakking at Zdorov.
00:51Zdorov can't handle it because he's dumb.
00:54And he goes off and does that.
00:57So, yes, in normal leagues, when you're trying to get rid of those types of
01:05things and get fans, you suspend players who do things like that.
01:10In this league, I guess you just say, boys will be boys.
01:16Well, I mean, I think it would be different, right?
01:19This is the NHL.
01:20Well, if Darlene had a broken arm, I mean, we'd be really outraged and we'd be
01:25missing the captain and one of their very best players for, you know, the
01:29foreseeable future here, probably the rest of the playoffs.
01:31But then I think the intent to injure, having been successful, probably would
01:36have resulted in a suspension.
01:37Do you think?
01:39Yes, but in my opinion, it shouldn't...
01:42No, I totally agree.
01:43Yeah.
01:44No, I totally agree.
01:45It's the intent that should matter.
01:47Yeah.
01:47I would think, yeah, if he broke his arm, then, you know, they might suspend him for, like,
01:52the first period of a game.
01:54No, I'm kidding.
01:54But, you know, for a game or whatever, and it's just, you know, you can't have a guy
02:03like George Peros doing this and expect it because George Peros thinks this is good stuff.
02:10And, you know, I lost his head, no big deal, because George Peros likely has done something
02:17like that before in his career.
02:19So things, a lot of things that should be suspended aren't.
02:24Well, you know, in the end, Paul, yeah, I mean, I totally agree.
02:28I hope there's no confusion there.
02:29I think the intent should be the thing.
02:31And when intent isn't in doubt, right?
02:33We hear it all the time on, like, the hits that are to the head.
02:38Like, well, did the player, the offending player, the hitting player, did he mean to do this?
02:43Was there intent there?
02:44And that can get pretty gray when you're talking about an open ice collision.
02:48And a guy moved at the last minute, whatever.
02:51This, yeah, there's no confusion about what the intent was.
02:54Therefore, the results shouldn't matter.
02:56He tried to injure someone, was unsuccessful, but still tried to do it.
03:01So you should be suspended.
03:03The bottom line to me, though, is, Paul, I started early today with this.
03:08I've only mentioned it the one time very early in the show.
03:11I think we want him to play.
03:12I hope he doesn't hurt anyone.
03:15But I think he's mostly pretty terrible at the hockey.
03:18So when Zdorov's on the ice, I feel like that's good for me.
03:23A lot of times during the season, he was pretty good at the hockey, but not in these playoffs.
03:28I mean, Charlie McAvoy looks like he's never played the game.
03:32And he's considered an elite defenseman.
03:34I mean, that goal that, you know, right before it almost was a power play, two seconds from being a
03:41power play goal, where Doan just gets in there at the crease area and just turns around.
03:48And McAvoy looks like he looks like a minor league player.
03:52It's like, what are you doing, allowing him just to turn around and get set up so McAvoy can just
03:58basically bank it off his stick?
04:00I mean, I just don't get it.
04:03And Zdorov, as I said, normally he's a pretty good defenseman.
04:07But he wears out his welcome because he's dumb.
04:10And he took dumb penalties in Buffalo, gone.
04:13Took dumb penalties in Colorado, gone.
04:16And it wouldn't surprise me if the Bruins are tired of it.
04:19Because, you know, just, he's probably taken, I think he's taken a stupid penalty in all four games.
04:27Which is, again, I want him on the ice.
04:29I know the power play is a punchline, but I still, I want, I want the, I'm not one who
04:33says decline the penalty.
04:34I want the power play to work.
04:36The more chances you get, eventually they're going to, the dam is going to break.
04:40And you're going to, you're going to get yourself a goal with the man advantage.
04:43They were oh so close yesterday.
04:44I'm sorry, Lindy, I cannot give it to you.
04:46You still have a goose egg there.
04:48Because it's not a power play goal.
04:51And I know the player wasn't in the play, but whatever.
04:54So if they're feeling good about themselves, good.
04:56But they've still got the zero there.
04:57So they've got to rectify that.
05:00What kind of, what kind of shape do you think the Bruins will be in coming here, Paul?
05:05Is it a deal where maybe the most likely thing is they come out breathing fire?
05:09But if the Sabres can smack them early with a goal or two, that maybe they'll just fold it up
05:14and go home?
05:15Yeah, I mean, Lindy Ruff was talking today about,
05:18well, maybe they'll bring, you know, they'll bring four up in the rush.
05:22And it's like, they know they can't win that game.
05:25They're not bringing, there's no way they're going to try to gun with the Sabres.
05:30They can't do that.
05:31They don't have the personnel to do that.
05:33But the only way they can win is if they play the way they did in game two,
05:37where they got in on the Sabres and forced the Sabres into turnovers and wore down their defense.
05:43And the Sabres weren't moving their feet.
05:45They weren't getting into the areas they needed to get in to get good dump-ins
05:51and then use your speed to get in there, win the battle.
05:54And also, defensively, they weren't in good position either.
05:58So that really is the only way the Bruins can win.
06:02They can't win if they start leaning towards the Sabres' style because, well, you only scored two goals.
06:08It's like, well, yeah, you've only scored two goals, but you want a running gun, you're going to be in
06:14deep trouble.
06:15Yeah, Paul Hamilton on the Western Hotline with us here on WGR.
06:19Sabres and Bruins will play game five tomorrow night at Key Bank Center, downtown Buffalo, 740, faceoff or thereabouts.
06:27Sabres are up 3-1 in the series.
06:30I've got to try my Swayman question on you, Paul.
06:33Did you happen to notice what took place when he left the game?
06:38Because it wasn't right after the 6-0 goal.
06:42It was after a TV timeout that followed that by a few seconds, I think 20, 30, whatever.
06:48And I wonder if he just walked, skated over to the bench during that TV timeout and told Corvusalo,
06:53get your stuff on, I'm done.
06:56No, he told his teammates what he thought of them.
07:00I saw that, too.
07:02That is what he did.
07:03He came over and then, you know, they decided they were going to change goaltenders,
07:10maybe because he went after his teammates and thought, well, he's probably not in the right mindset right now to
07:15be in the net.
07:18But I was looking at him specifically to see if he would go after his teammates when he went over
07:24there.
07:25I wasn't necessarily thinking, well, they didn't pull him after the goal, so they probably aren't pulling him.
07:29But I wanted to see if he was going to rip into his teammates during the TV timeout, and that's
07:35when they put Corvusalo in.
07:38I could see him get up and start putting his mask on and stuff.
07:40But I think if I were to guess, I think it's because he went after his teammates.
07:46It's like, well, if he's in that frame of mind right now, he's probably not in the frame of mind
07:49to play goal.
07:50Well, right.
07:51So, for all intents and purposes, that's the same thing.
07:53He pulled himself by acting that way.
07:55I mean, not that he would have to be pulled from the game in that circumstance.
07:59How much of a beef did he have?
08:01He had a pretty considerable beef, right?
08:03I mean, that team was DOA yesterday.
08:06Oh, yeah.
08:06Sure, he did.
08:07I mean, the Sabres were – I mean, you can go to almost every goal and say, yep, there's a
08:12Bruin turnover.
08:13Goal.
08:14Yep, there's a Bruin turnover.
08:15Goal.
08:16I mean, the Bruins were just – every time the Sabres were on them, they panicked.
08:22They played panic hockey, and they would flip it.
08:26I can't tell you how many times Darlene, either at the blue line or the red line, just knocked the
08:31puck down and turned and went the other way.
08:35You know, the guys got – if it was at the red line, the guys got out of the zone,
08:39he'd get the puck up ice, perfect pass, turn and go, and they were back right at it again.
08:44I mean, the Bruins couldn't even get a change.
08:47So, it was – and that happened from the opening faceoff, that they were panicking.
08:51I mean, there were a lot of turnovers right away as that line got in there, really got in hard,
08:57and the Bruins' defense didn't know what to do with it.
09:00So, it was like, well, we've got to get rid of the puck.
09:02We can't be sitting here with it.
09:07So, what do you want to do with the lineup if Josh Norris is healthy, Paul?
09:12Does he get a spot, or am I just going to roll here?
09:16I mean, it's weird.
09:17He's their highest paid forward.
09:20I know he didn't play well in either of the games he was in.
09:24I think whatever this injury has been might have been responsible for some of that in Game 2.
09:31But I can't see Lindy breaking up Oslin, Benson, and Doan.
09:36Can you?
09:38Yeah, no, I can't see it.
09:40And maybe it'll be a situation where he has to wait his turn.
09:43You know, and it seems like Kozak is okay.
09:49Zucker, too, yeah.
09:50Zucker is okay.
09:52I mean, Lindy said yesterday, he said, look at it.
09:55They were cleared to come back, but I thought, why do it with a score like this?
09:59Just let him stay in the room and, you know.
10:02And Zucker was there.
10:03He's the one that put the winning puck on the board.
10:06So, he was sitting there.
10:07So, it seemed like, yes, they could have played, but it was 6-0.
10:11Why?
10:12Why even put him back on the ice?
10:13So, they both seem like they're okay.
10:18I mean, I'm not going to dress Norris to play center for Malenstein and Greenway, I don't think.
10:24Right, me either.
10:25I don't, I mean, I could.
10:27He is a good defensive player.
10:29He is.
10:30But, yeah, it's a weird fit, I think.
10:33Yeah, and I'm not going to, I mean, Oslin's, let's face it, if we're all being honest, Oslin's been an
10:39upgrade.
10:39Yes, so I regret so much on Thursday saying they're not going to make themselves better exchanging Oslin for Norris,
10:46because that is exactly what has happened here.
10:49Yeah, so how do you pull him off of there when he's made the team better?
10:54So, you know, even if Norris has been struggling with injury and an injury in all three games that he
11:00played in,
11:01which we don't know, still, I just think, you know, Zucker had to wait, what, like six games or five
11:09games?
11:09Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.
11:11And he wasn't real happy about it, but it was right in the middle of the 10-game winning streak.
11:15Yeah.
11:16So, he had to wait his turn to get back in.
11:18So, again, if you're Lindy Ruff, why would you want to change what's happened in the last two games?
11:25And, you know, the default setting for a lot of the year, even when they got hot,
11:30and I would admit, even as the playoffs were approaching, my default setting was,
11:37oh, I'm going to get Krebs off of that top line and put Benson on there, right?
11:41And if Oslin comes back, then maybe he plays with Norris and Doan,
11:45and Krebs is going to be with Malenstein and Greenway or whomever, you know, makes up the fourth line.
11:50And that got tipped on its head.
11:54I mean, Krebs, that line, Krebs has been, he's been excellent, Krebs.
12:00Like, I can't move him anymore.
12:01It was an easy thing to consider doing, I'd say, a month ago or even two weeks ago,
12:06and now I think it would be insane.
12:09He's been contributing just as much as the other two have.
12:13I mean, and he's first in on the forecheck and gets it going,
12:16and then the three of them get a rotation forecheck going.
12:21And, I mean, they score goals off of it.
12:24And he's a part of it, either scoring them or helping assist them.
12:28And he just seems to fit those two very, very well.
12:31And I think he just needed a shot of confidence.
12:34I think he lost his offensive confidence, you know, playing the roles he's been playing.
12:40I mean, he was always considered a gifted passer when the Golden Knights took him in the first round of
12:47the draft.
12:49But in the roles he's been playing, he really hasn't been doing that.
12:53And I think he needed to gain his offensive confidence back.
12:56It's obvious that he hasn't.
12:59There was a while there where Lindy was – it was when they weren't playing all that well,
13:04and Lindy would start Krebs there, and then by midway through the game, Benson would be there.
13:11And it was almost every game he'd flip-flop the two of them.
13:14And now it's just like, no, right now this is Krebs' position to play because he's played it very well.
13:22Paul Hamilton's on the Western Hotline with us for just a few more minutes here.
13:26Day in between games here.
13:29Game four, a big win for Buffalo yesterday afternoon in Boston.
13:32Game five, and a chance to close this thing out on home ice awaits the Sabres tomorrow evening.
13:397.40, puck drop.
13:42Paul, how much do you feel like pressure shifts to the Sabres just a bit
13:48by being home with an opportunity to close this out?
13:51Do you think they'll feel some nerves tomorrow?
13:55Well, you know, they didn't play well in a lot.
14:01In some of game one they played well, in some of game one they didn't.
14:05But that was the first playoff game for many of the Sabres.
14:09They didn't play well in game two almost at all.
14:12Maybe a few times.
14:14But when they scored two goals near the end, I suppose.
14:19But, and then you go on the road and you absolutely just dominate.
14:24As I mentioned before, when we started, they outscored the Bruins 9-2.
14:299-2 against a team that in the regular season was the second best team in the NHL at home.
14:36Now, we all know the Sabres also were very, very good on the road.
14:41But somebody could have talked to the end and said,
14:43well, I think the Sabres could win two games.
14:46And I wouldn't have laughed at that or anything.
14:48I don't think I would have predicted that.
14:50But I would have thought, well, it's possible, yes.
14:53But I never would have dreamed they'd only give up two goals in two games.
14:57Right.
14:57And so there's no goaltending conversation, correct?
15:02No, no, no, no.
15:03I don't think so.
15:04So I think Lindy was leaning towards alternating goaltenders.
15:09But once Lyon played the way he did in the game he played in, you can't, you could not pull
15:14him out.
15:16And did he have to do much yesterday?
15:19It just seemed like there was no danger at all in this game.
15:22I might be, you know, misremembering.
15:26But it just felt like a pretty easy day.
15:29Once or twice, I think the Bruins put a little heat on him.
15:32If I'm not mistaken, the Sabres got guys caught most times.
15:36And then the Bruins.
15:37And it seemed like, you know, and those guys were the guys doing it.
15:41Yeah, that's right.
15:42They were the guys I noticed.
15:43And they got the goal, too.
15:44Yeah, yeah.
15:45Yeah, they were the guys I noticed.
15:48It was a short angle.
15:49It was a short angle.
15:50I misspoke.
15:51Sorry.
15:51I made a mistake.
15:53I stopped noticing Pasternak after three games.
15:57Geeky's had a few opportunities.
16:00Harvidsson, you know, missed the penalty shot.
16:03And, you know, he went cold.
16:04And now he left the game.
16:06That's going to hurt them if he can't play.
16:08So, you know, it's just like all of a sudden a lot of the Bruins just went away.
16:15And you just really didn't notice them anymore.
16:18Well, I'm really curious to see what they have, what the Bruins have for the Sabres tomorrow.
16:24Because I just, Paul, tactically, I thought in the second period, yes, the Bruins had a better second period.
16:31They outshot the Sabres 10-4.
16:32But there's a moment in the second period, I can't remember, early, middle, late, where Byram has control of the
16:42puck and he's in the Sabre zone.
16:44I know it's the second period because they were going from my left to right on TV, which is the
16:48second period.
16:49And he's like around the faceoff dot.
16:51He sort of stands there with the puck.
16:53Maybe this rings a bell for you.
16:54Like, you know, they were changing.
16:57There was no rush.
16:58But the Bruins didn't send any four checkers into the zone.
17:02They just stood in the neutral zone, playing like a team that was in a tie game or maybe even
17:08ahead.
17:09And Byram's just standing there.
17:11And I don't want to exaggerate.
17:12It wasn't like for a minute or anything.
17:13But, I mean, he just stopped and stood there.
17:16And the fans kind of started jeering a little bit.
17:19And I thought, and Rob even said on the MSG broadcast, Rob Ray said something to the effect of, they
17:26know they're down 4-0, right?
17:28Like, it was a very passive thing to do.
17:31And at that moment, even though it's only 4-0 and one goal could change the whole thing, I just
17:37thought, this team is checked out.
17:38Like, what kind of tactic is that, down four goals, middle of the second period at home, and you're just
17:46hanging out hoping to, like, clog up the neutral zone?
17:48I just thought it was pathetic.
17:50Yeah, I thought the Bruins quit after a while.
17:53You know what I was thinking when I saw him do that?
17:56I said, is he going in the four corners?
17:58Right, right.
18:00You know, the old NBA trick or college basketball trick, going in the four corners.
18:04Because that's what came to mind when I was watching this, and he was perfectly willing to let me, well,
18:10I'll let as much clock go off as you want to let me.
18:12I even said, you know, I was watching with my friend John Gale and Owen, and I think my friend
18:18Harm was there.
18:18Anyway, I said, like, just kill the clock.
18:21It's just going to let you kill the clock.
18:23Kill the clock.
18:24I just thought that was really weird.
18:26And I don't know if that was the players or if that, like, Sturm wanted them to still not take
18:31chances.
18:31I just thought it was weird, down 4-0 midway through a hockey game, to be playing like that.
18:37Yeah, I don't think Sturm was behind that.
18:39I think the players on the ice, for whatever reason, which I would have no idea why, decided that's the
18:46way they were going to play that particular play.
18:48All right, Paul.
18:50Well, buckle up.
18:51A chance to see the Sabres clinch tomorrow.
18:54And our show is going to be at the arena tomorrow.
18:57Do you know this?
18:58Are you aware of this?
18:58Yes, we are doing our show on the 100 level in the atrium there.
19:04We'll be there.
19:05It's the first time since before COVID.
19:08I was made aware today.
19:10I was a little disappointed you're not going to do it from the bench.
19:14If they'd let us, Paul would do it.
19:18That would be fun if you did it from the bench.
19:21And I'm really curious.
19:23It's supposed to be warm tomorrow, isn't it?
19:25Not like today.
19:26A little cooler.
19:27Well, warmer than when they were playing home games in, what, 39 degrees?
19:32It's not supposed to snow.
19:34I've got for you that.
19:37I'm really looking forward to seeing how many are going to show up over at Canal Side.
19:42Because considering how cold it was, that wasn't a bad crowd.
19:45No, I agree.
19:46I agree.
19:46All right, Paul.
19:47And with good weather, I'm very curious to see how many are going to head over there.
19:53Good deal.
19:53Thanks for this, Paul.
19:54I'll see you down there tomorrow.
19:55Yep.
19:56Paul's appearance with us here on WGR brought to you by Raylax Honda.
19:59Raylax, we got this.
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