May 4, 2026 • 46 mins
Dan Barreiro opens the show discussing the news and the risk of Anthony Edwards reportedly making his (quick) return from injury for Game 1 against the Spurs before Michael Russo joins with his recap of the Wild's loss to the Avs on Sunday night and the injury update for Minnesota.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is your should we be careful what we wish for?
Leader fan Fan Radio Network minisoda and okay fa N
dot com. Two minutes? Was he in Minnesota when he
said that? Or was he in New Hampshire? I don't
(00:23):
know where he was, but it wasn't here. Oh okay, yeah?
But what did he did he did he mean to
say Minnesota or was he actually trying to say New Hampshire? No,
he was I think rattling off a run and Minnesota
was one of them. Two minutes forty eight seconds past
the hour of three o'clock central daylight time, we welcome
you back to a Monday edition of the Bumper to
(00:44):
Buffet program on a pretty nice early May afternoon here
in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul Guards.
He produces the show. He is back from the greater
Chicago Land area. More on that later. My name is
Dan Barrero, former instant Retch newspaper of the Twin Cities,
and thank you for your participation in today's festivities. The
(01:08):
Bradshawn Brian Camfean text line will be rebooted eventually after
I figure out how Common screwed it up. He was
trying to get me in or know him out, and
now there's a weird verification code that doesn't even add up.
So hopefully eventually we'll get the inbox going for you.
I think that should be social media content text line.
It should act just you two trying to get in there.
(01:29):
Should It's amazing because I walk in and he's like,
I was trying to get it to the hip cricket
thing to you, but now it says I got a
log back in for I said, that's just just go
we'll figure it out. That's trying to be helpful he was.
In this case. I ueah, he was attempting to, but
I think it was actually worse than we could have imagined.
We're going till six thirty tonight, Is that correct? That's
the plan? Yep. Wolves are not an early game tonight.
(01:52):
They are the second game of the NBA Playoff second
round twin Bills. We like to say, what a juicy
matchup early, the New York Knickerbockers taking on not the
Boston Celtics boys and girls, but the Philadelphia seventy six ers.
I've apologized to Joel Embiid twice. Yeah, I did it
(02:13):
three days ago and then I had to do it
again on Sunday show, and I'll continue to do so
if that's at all necessary. Did you see his comments
after the game regarding Madison Square Garden West. Yes, yes,
we'll get to that. I love that well. By the
way he and he called it Madison Square Garden East
whatever that's true term he used geographically incorrect. That's not
that I would have known. But that's not the one
(02:34):
you should be judged or judging the way we screw
things up. But I will. We'll get to that story
for sure before we're done it. At six thirty Russo
Radio at bottom of this hour to review game one
Minnesota whild last night in a battle What was the
final score? Nine the battlefield goals. Yeah, we end up
losing in game one of the Lance nine to six.
(02:56):
Russo Radio with the big question, what are we gonna
do it? I hope he asked it. I know what.
It'll probably drive garn nuts. But don't you think it's
fair to ask the question after the game, that game,
or or in the day in between. I have no,
there's nothing wrong. That's not a trolling question. It can
(03:16):
be a trolling question, but it doesn't have to be
the perfect I think it's a perfectly legitimate question has
and it's not a statement on Volston. You don't even
have to think he played as badly as giving up
I guess technically he gave up eight goals, right, because
the last goal was a empty netter. But tried to explain,
which was funny when they were talking about it. You know,
we gave a lot of goals. Yeah, well, I mean
(03:37):
they got the empty netters. Okay, Oh it's only eight. Yeah,
eight then seems like a lot. But anyway, that's for sure.
Russo three point thirty Johnny Athletic Dateline san Antonio Davey
at five thirty. He gave us some bonus time tomorrow
we'll get into some more injury stuff with him, including
the news breaking what I think just within the past
(03:58):
hour that Iola Asumu has been ruled out for game
number one. Desumu, who previously I believe had been listed
as questionable, is now out. Anthony Edwards is allegedly in
by all accounts at this point, That's the question I have.
(04:21):
Do we want to be careful what we wish for
or what we think we want tonight because we want
the story right. We want Anthony Edwards allegedly weeks away
from participation, maybe months, gutting it out, summoning up all
(04:43):
that strength within him and saying, bleep it, I'm going
Game one Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, Davy.
It's inspirational, it's what we want to hear, and a
lot of it has to do with the obvious. The
chances that the Wolves have to win this series without him,
(05:05):
I think are I'm kind of with Charles Barkley. I
think they're close to nil. Now. You don't know what
version of Anthony Edwards are going to get, but I
would say even Anthony Edwards as a warm body at
seventy percent, gives you some options that otherwise, especially with
the sumo continuing to be out right, doesn't leave you
with very many other meaningful possibilities. It's and if he
(05:30):
if the if the Wolves steal game won tonight, which
you can hear on the fan for free, for free,
that's right, no subscription needed. If they you know, if
he dominates tonight, or even if he's just good to
very good tonight, it's a hell of a story they're
going to be by by midweek they'll be talking down
to Minneapolis of erecting a statue to him. Right. All
(05:53):
that's to the good, it's what we all root for.
Go for it, man, do it for the team, do
it for all of us. Do it because it adds
a layer to the drama that's right in front of
us right now. But is it the right thing to do?
(06:14):
That's the question, and that's a pretty deep question actually,
that goes beyond just tonight. Now. The assumption is we'll
find out from Johnny at five point thirty that the
pecking order is well that technically speaking, Anthony Edwards might
(06:35):
declare himself ready to go. But the doctors, we presume,
also have to sign off on it. Doctors, trainers, whatever,
whatever you know, committee members on the medical staff that
the Wolves have. The assumption is they too have to
sign off on it. Correct whether the player himself says
(06:58):
I'm good enough, I can give it a go. Oh,
whether it's tests that they do that give them some
actual numbers to play off of, or whether they say
to themselves no, wait a minute here, hold on. There
was a reason that we said earliest he could be
(07:19):
back is late in this round. There's a reason we
said that, and we have to stick to that, and
we will stick to that. Can Anthony overrule the doctors,
It's another question we'll ask Johnny. I don't know. In
most organizations, I think the doctors have to sign off.
Can that be movable? Can doctors be convinced on the
(07:42):
basis of the particular injury and or even the sheer
force of personality of the player. I bring all of
this up because once upon time, the San Antonio Spurs day,
he had a big man named Tim Duncan, one of
(08:05):
the greatest in the history of the game. A lot
of people knew it coming right out of college what
he was going to be capable of doing. He ended
up in the perfect spot, great complimentary players around him,
great coaching around him, and he made an almost immediate
impact in the National Basketball Association before the start of
(08:28):
the two thousand playoffs. This goes back aways, but it's
worthy I think of discussion today. He suffered a meniscus tear,
oh yeah, in his knee, and as the story goes,
(08:49):
as I remember it, and I even tried to do
some fact checking on it, today, the doctors cleared him
Duncan to participate in the two thousand players. By the way,
the Spurs were defending champions. As I recalled, didn't they
win it in ninety nine? That was the shortened That
(09:09):
was a shortened nine. Yep, that sounds right. And as
the story goes, Antonio Daniels, who of course is a
big San Antonio Spur guy, was telling it today on radio.
And as the story goes, Greg Popovich said, I'm shutting
you down. You ain't gonna play at all in the
(09:32):
two thousand playoffs. Here's the quote from Pop at the
time with him, You've got an opportunity to win multiple
championships if you don't screw it up. Message being it's tempting.
I want to win as much as the next guy.
(09:53):
I know Spurs fans want to pay off on the
chance of winning, going back to back in the president
and the here and now. It's incredibly tempting because we're
all competitive. We all want to see where this thing goes.
But Pop said, I got to think beyond this series
(10:15):
or any series this year. I have to think long
term about what I think we can do if we
keep Tim Duncan as healthy as the basketball gods will
allow us. How many more titles did Tim duncan win
four more I think I think he won five for
his career. Yeah, and he played all the time. I
think the last one was the last one in twenty fourteen. Yeah,
(10:37):
it was a late one. Now different. I bring up
the story not to say that these are perfectly parallel.
Different injury, perhaps different circumstances, And I'm not even here
to say what the right approaches and what the wrong
approach is. But I was fascinated by that historical precedent
(10:58):
involving the team that the Wolves will play starting tonight,
because all the fans are going to say, go, because
we're in the moment. Media members go, We're in the moment, right.
It's just it's the emotion. It's what attracts us to
all of these games. Let's see, Spurs are supposed to
(11:20):
be unbeatable. Let's let's test him a little bit. How
do we test them? We got to have edwards in
addition to what else we've been able to put together
in Round one, especially if Dsumu is unavailable, although maybe
he'll play later in the series. I don't know we'll
get to that component of the story too, because I think, frankly,
there are long term ramifications of why the Desumu is
(11:43):
being as cautious agree as he is. How much the
team is in on that, I don't know, but it's
a cautionary tale because, as Daniel said, everybody's going to
say go in the moment, But the dirty little secret
is we don't have to live with the consequences. We
(12:04):
don't Anthony Edwards. Does the Minnesota Timberwolves do right? And
if indeed, worst case situation ensues and he comes back
and plays and re injures the knee and it it
sides sidelines him longer, it ends up being something more
chronic and he never is quite the same player again.
(12:30):
We're going to go on to the next guy. It's
cruel business, and we will say we want to be
loyal to that player, but the fact is, if there
comes a point where he can't play anymore, in part
because they push the envelope on this injury, we're going
to go on to the next guy that they bring in.
And that's why it's I think a very weighty decision
that goes beyond what the player wants in the moment
(12:52):
and even what the team might be like convince itself
it wants at that particular moment as well. Fan and
big Deck dot Com want to give you a shot
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Speaker 2 (13:11):
It's not surprising. I expected him this week some time regardless.
But I've seen him over the last you know, four or.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Five days and doing rehab and trying to get in
the gym, and I was like, man, this.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Dude, like he's trying to play, you know, so respect him.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Uh, you know, compete.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
You know, he loves competing and that's all he wants
to do. So we're happy to have him when he's ready, hopefully.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Uh, you know, he'd be ready to go. And I'm
on a record called him money, So I'm not surprised.
Mike Conley first and Julius Randall second in those two
soundbites reacting to the news that by all accounts, Anthony
Edwards will play for your Minnesota Timberwolves tonight. I assume
(13:55):
that means he'll start, but I don't know has that
been established. Johnny might be able tell us at five
point thirty. Generally speaking, I think it's so likely that
we would think he would be starting a lot of
good texts coming in. Don't forget Russo. Bottom of the hour,
we will review game one for your Minnesota Wild. It's
(14:17):
interesting because there's a part of me that felt like
it was exactly the kind of game, even with improved
firepower that we have offensively, that this might be the
one team that you don't want to try to outscore
a lah the Wolves and the Denver Nuggets too loose.
(14:39):
Come on, man, this isn't what we're supposed to be about.
On the other hand, it reminded me a little bit
guards you have football games I've seen where the game
is matching two decent defensive teams, but for whatever reason,
it ends up the final score ends up being forty
nine to forty five, just because it just seems to
take on within the game a life of its own.
(15:00):
That's just crazy, right. So I don't want to overreact
to the game and the way the Wild participated in it,
because it is it is one, and you know they
were they were in it actually as odd as it sounds,
at nine to six, and they led briefly, unfortunately too briefly.
(15:21):
But the hockey ambassador in me says, we gotta we
gotta play. Uh. Our game is always intended, even in
an era in which we now have greater firepower, to
be a little bit more solid and more grounded than
it appeared. Too many mistakes, too many turnovers that led
(15:44):
to easy goals, et cetera. What's your your short? Mini thought,
We're gonna get to Russo at three thirty. Then we'll
talk about it more, probably after Russo. MANI thought, on
the Wild, yes, I agree with that. The problem is
whnu factor in who's not there for them now Echi
and Rodes. That makes the way the Wild need to play,
I think much more difficult. I think they are rock solid,
(16:06):
but I think a big part of it was because
certainly those guys right Ericsoneck is great defense defensive center.
Obviously Brodein is a tough injury, so it makes it difficult.
It is amazing. Like again, I'm not watching the all
twenty two of the Avs, but I just have flashbacks
of when they played them all those years ago in
twenty thirteen when McKinnon was a young buck, Like how
(16:28):
quickly they just go and if you let them gain
speed and momentum like you are in trouble, and they
were able to win that series all those years ago
because they figured out a way just to slow it
down enough to play that good structure and do all
of that. Will they be able to They definitely are
going to have to, because I don't think as explosive
as Minnesota can be, winning a shootout is necessarily what
(16:49):
they want to do against this team, because Wild can
do it probably against twenty eight other teams in the NHL,
but I don't think they can do it against Colorado.
Yes or no, And again this is not intended as
an indictment. We're done with falsteat Yes or no? The
Wild should start Gus Bus in game two? No, keep
(17:12):
the Bus in the garage. I think Valstad has earned
the net and I need him eventually, sooner or later.
He ain't gonna go. You're gonna go with one guy
all the way to the Cup finals. You don't think so? No,
I think it's unlikely. A lot of teams do. Yeah,
a lot of teams do. I. We'll get to that
with r I lean that way. The question that comes
(17:34):
up is if you get blown out again, like eight
to five, then what do you do. Is it? In
other words, if you're gonna make the move, is it
harder to do it down two to zero or is
it harder to do it? You know which way? Is
it easier to go? Go with the other guy at
the point you go. The truth is we're not declaring
ornnouncing this, but Valstat's gonna be the goalie this entire series.
(17:56):
I think so. I think he is. They may have
already made that. Yeah, now again things and things can
get weird. But unless he's just a complete wreck tomorrow night,
I don't know why you wouldn't go back to him.
Kyle from Isante Aunt needs to go get close to
one hundred percent. It looks like he was already favoring
his original knee injury and wasn't playing that well before
this injury. We do need to remind folks, this is
(18:16):
the other knee. Both knees have issues. Both knees now
have issues now. Allegedly none of the issues are structural,
which is good and may even factor into the decision
of are we rushing it too much? But he's got
two different knee issues that do get into the area
of r what are you going to get out of
them so much life injected to this club after Game
(18:37):
six and now Ant returning, let's go. There's wide variants
of opinions here. Let me try to get to as
much as many as I can. Not a fan of
Aunt playing long term or short term is my reasoning.
If he gets injured, more than we'll hear about how
it's the doctor's fault. He's got the chance to be
the greatest player in franchise history history. Why risk it? Wait?
(18:58):
Two games? That's from Papa to Unfortunately, playing Edwards tonight
locks up TJ af fair amount. We got to witness
a Game six where TJ had the green light to
go grab the ball and attack, and the results were incredible. Actually,
two guys had the green light. You could say, to
a large extent it was TJ, but even more so
it was a Jaden who took twenty five shots. Yep,
that's what you know. A number one option takes in
(19:22):
a game like that often is twenty five. I also wonder, though,
is TJ a little nullified in this series anyway because
a Wemby As part of the reason why TJ was
such a revelation is Denver didn't have anybody at the
rim for TJ now, No, I mean he can't play,
and I'm sure he will play. But we'll get back
into that with Johnny because we talked a little bit
(19:43):
about that yesterday. I don't think you can eliminate going
downhill out of that fear. Even if occasionally you're gonna
get the shot, you know, stuck right back down your throat.
I still don't think you can get away from it
too much. So I don't think the Wolves are going
to shooting team to do that. But we'll get into
that more with Johnny as well. The reality, Dan is
(20:06):
that these ultra competitive athletes and those who truly love
the game and to compete, they are fine with risking
their body to compete. And as one of those guys,
he said, he doesn't give a bleep if it's the playoff,
that it's the playoffs, all that, None of that nullifies
what we talked about the first segment. You think Tim
Duncan's not an ultra competitive athlete, many others who have
(20:29):
indeed been held back in a lot of cases. Sadly,
you almost need to protect the athlete from himself or herself.
So the issue isn't whether it's at doesn't care. Trust me,
if Aunt suffers the kind of setback that has an
impact on his career, and again that's worst case, that's
(20:51):
not likely to happen, but if it does, he's going
to be bothered because he wants to play. Is iowe
being more careful because he does have the big contract?
Yet I think the answer is yes. I think that's
a big part of the answer. Right now. With the
alleged calf concerns seven, sixth three, guy Duncan might have
(21:12):
won six if he'd played. We'll never know, And that's
technically true. Meniscus is true. We'll never know though, to
just come back from niscus, yeah, well, running backs do
in like a minute, but yeah, in basketball it usually
takes a little bit longer. I got to decide about
surgeries and all these different things. Kat came back from
him right a couple of years ago, and four. True,
(21:32):
he did here right within a few months, but it
still took a minute. Danielre hilarious trying to say Finchy
should hold back edwards so it helps him helps him
win multiple championships in the future. Those Spurs teams were
way better than what the Wolves have now. Most likely
what they will put together in the future. I'm not
saying anybody should be held back. All I'm trying to
do is raise questions for conversation's sake, because I think
(21:56):
it's an important topic that the seven sixth three guys
the world want to dismiss. Because it's a lot more
fun thinking about the wolves chances in this series. If
Anthony Edwards is involved in it. I'm not declaring he
shouldn't play in any way. I know nothing about the
medical side of this thing. I'm just raising it as
(22:16):
an interesting historical precedent that is a reminder of all
of these permutations that go into making these decisions. That's it.
That's the point. There's an attempt here at some nuance
and regardless of you know, multiple championships and who's got
a greater chance to win multiple championships, forget championships. If
(22:37):
you don't want to make it about that, will we
all agree that if Anthony Edwards misses considerable time, the
Wolves are less likely to be successful than if he's
available for the next ten years. What do we think
the answer is to that? So, yeah, the quotes championships
in Duncan's case, or I should say, in Pop's case,
he's just making a larger issue about what goes into
(22:59):
that kind of of decision. And maybe for some people, again,
because there's allegedly nothing structurally wrong with Ant's knee or
either of the knees, they'll say, well, meniscus is different.
Perhaps it is, but I'll say again, you're now dealing
with knee issues in both knees. Nobody can tell me
that's ideal in going all out, and I just think
(23:20):
it has to be somewhat under consideration. Last text for now, Dan,
this is going to sound sacrilegious, but a hurt aunt
that plays is not good. He sat awhile and played
the first game last series, and I suggest that was
why they lost. When he plays, the ball can get sticky.
I hope is if he isn't healthy enough to be impactful,
(23:41):
that he either A sits or B becomes a playmaker
and doesn't try to force the issue offensively. And by
the way, B would be okay if indeed that becomes
a little bit more of his game, because what we
talked about with Johnny yesterday was how do you if
you have struck gold? Potentially on Jaden if he had
an epiphany and he's finally figured out he can be
(24:05):
more of a main offensive player, to the point where
Johnny and I talked about the possibility for next year
he should be the second option ahead of Julius Randall.
Can he be integrated that same way or some way
similar when Edwards is on the court. Given the degree
to which Edwards ends up having the ball not because
he's a ball hog, but it's because it's the way
(24:25):
that the Wolves have been constructed. The other thing I
would add to not being full capacity is it shows
up even more so on the defensive side, which is
trouble when you think about all the different dudes, especially
guards that san Antonio Davey has, and he gets lost.
He's not understandably, if he's not feeling great, he's not
going to be the lockdown defender that he is shown
(24:47):
to be at times, and oftentimes gets lost off the
ball as well. That's where it shows up, actually even
more I think when he's banged up one hundred percent
wild talk that's coming up next with Russo you have
questions off of Game one, are you discouraged? Are you
long series? Calm down? We can play with him brat
Shawn Bryant Cafe in text line is six four six
eighty six. We'll get the very latest reaction on the
(25:10):
off day, the tweener days, we like to stay in
the business. From RUSSO Radio Dateline, Denver, Colorado. That's not.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
I think there was multiple goals on things that you
know we could have done a better job on. To me,
that's a positive. You know, we we pushed back and
came back. That's what we do, That's who we are.
I think those are positives. But you know, you have
to be on point with attention to detail against this team,
and if you're not, you know, you're you leave yourself
vulnerable to give up chances. And we gave up some
(25:41):
chances and they capitalized on them. So for me, a
lot of the issues tonight for us are are are fixable.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I like what Heinze said there because he managed in
that one quote to deliver a message to his team
that he might have already delivered privately, but to maybe
even the public that panic is not needed, even against
a great opponent. But he also said we can't be
(26:14):
what we were. We can be proud of the fact
that we keep coming back and we now have the
firepower maybe to do that. But Russel Radio, do you
agree with him that he's saying, we can't make it
that easy for them. The details do matter, especially against
a team as formidable as the as the Colorado Avalanche.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Yeah, I definitely think that. I think that they you know,
I think it was a little bit of a shock
to the system to go from playing in two weeks
of Dallas and preparing for Dallas for months, frankly, and
then immediately come here and play that team, and they
lured them right into a track meet, and the Wild
aren't going to win those games, you know, as good
(26:55):
as the Wild have been, I mean, where they make
their living is by getting pucks deep and pounding the
heck out of defenseman like the Wild did for the
you know in the first period when Marcus Felino knocked
campbccarr out of the game. And that's how they're gonna
win the series. They've got to be physical, they've got
to be relentless, and they've got to show an attention
to details. And if they don't start, you know, slowing
(27:19):
that team down, starting in the neutral zone, it is
going to be a long series, or you know, a
short series. Quite frankly, so, I think that that yesterday
could be very much. You know, I remember talking to
you after the Dallas Game one, where the Wild pounded
the Stars six to one, and I said to you,
I think that it was very easily explainable by the
Dallas having a week off and resting their kids and
(27:40):
and Dallas having to play in Buffalo the night before
and not, you know, not practicing and all that type
of stuff, and that I'd expected a better start team
in Game two. And I think it's the same thing here.
You know, the Wild on Friday night or don't even
know that they're leaving the next day, and then the
league did them no favors and they didn't have a
lot of opportunity to prepare for this team. And I
(28:01):
think that we're going to see a very different Wild
team tomorrow night.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Does the goaltending have to be better than it was
in Game one?
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
I mean, look they did as as you know, we
just met with John Hines over at the hotel and
he said, look they did whilst that no favors, but
you know, yeah, like you know, the seventh and eighth
goals cannot happen. It was egregious you know, you get
yourself back in the game, you take a five to
four lead. I don't really blame him on the Devon
(28:31):
Tave's goal. It's a redirection, you know, as as he said,
the puck has eyes. All right, let's give him, let's
even say them a car goal at the beginning of
the third period. Let's just give him that six five.
But then you give Cadre a breakaway and he skates
himself into the right circle and takes a nothing shot
from the right circle and blows it by you. Then
Zukerello makes it seven to six with three fifty nine left.
(28:53):
You you think the Wild are going to, you know,
be able to win this game. In a minute later,
mccarr scores again. So I do think that valstet needs
to be better. Look, he got them here. He was
outstanding in the first round. He's been outstanding since the Olympics.
But you know, we'll see now if they come back
with him what he's really made of. Because I do
(29:14):
think he needs to be better.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
You say, if do you think there's any question on
whether they come back with him in game two?
Speaker 2 (29:23):
I wouldn't. I think you got to go with the
guy that got you here, and he got you here,
and the last time we saw gustuson was three weeks ago.
That would be an awfully tough task to throw him
into tomorrow night's game. You know, to me, you only
come back with gustuson tomorrow is if you pulled Valstat
and gave him a little gave Gus a little action, right,
But this guy hasn't seen any hockey in more than
(29:46):
three weeks now, and the last time we saw him
was against the JV Saint Louis team and he was
got awful so and that's essentially what lost him his job.
So I just think that I think that Valstatt gained
a little equity by and should should gain equity by
the way that he played against Dallas. So I think
you give him one more shot now tomorrow night. If
he's terrible in the first period and gives up a
(30:07):
couple of greasy.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Goals, I think you then make the move then.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
But I think that both that deserves the net one
more time.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
That certainly sounds sensible. I would add quickly, what can
you tell us on injury updates? Here? What do we
anything right now?
Speaker 2 (30:24):
No? Definitely not. I mean unless somebody got hurt last
night that we don't know about. It's going to be
Eric Sinek out of the lineup and Brodean out of lineup,
and they're obviously both back in Minnesota. They both have
significant injuries. I mean, I don't think we're seeing Prodean
again for a while, you know, I don't think that
we're going to see him for a while. Eric Sinak
(30:45):
is something that is also a significant injury that maybe
he is able to play on. I know they're really
hopeful that he'll be able to play in Game three,
so we'll see. He's obviously not going to be one
hundred percent. But both of them have significant injuries.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
So how how much? How it's challenging enough to beat
Colorado for all the obvious reasons. Yeah, what do those
two injuries represent? What's the loss or losses?
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Well, I mean two of the best defensive players you
know on the Minnesota Wild. That's for sure their best
defensive center. You know, I thought you did a good job,
but he's not Eric Sanak, and it just makes it
really much when you don't have Ricks Sanak on that line,
just makes it really much more easier to check the
top line. And I think that the top line got
(31:31):
pretty much enveloped yesterday. They had some good chances, but
for the most part, you want to prisout and Hartman.
Hartman had seven shots on goal, Zukrollo had the goal,
but you but it just makes it easier to check
those guys. In terms of Brodean, he's one of the
best skating defensemen in the league. He's somebody that you
always want out there against the Nick David and Mpinnen, uh,
(31:52):
you know, all the top guys in the NHL. You
want Brodean out there. And so what it does is,
you know, last night we saw it. You know, in
the Dallas series, Brodein and Spurseon were on the ice
for two five and five goals against the entire series.
Last night, Middleton and Spurgeon were outscored four to zero
in the game. So that just shows you right away
that that it's just a very different look there with
(32:13):
that pair.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Now.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Granted, Middleton and Spurseon have played very well in the past,
and Middleton's gonna have to be much much better. He
really struggled last night. So the one thing I do wonder,
and I asked John Hines about it today, is do
you give Middleton another shot, or do you maybe elevated
Damon Hunt and put Middleton back with the Goshen because
they played so well together in the Dallas series. The
way it sounded to me is that they are going
(32:35):
to get another shot, but that it's something that he's
got in his back of his mind that if it's
not going right, then he'll make that change. But I
thought Damon Hunt was pretty good yesterday, but he played
sheltered minutes, you know, fourteen minutes with the Goshin. He
wasn't on the ice for a goal against, which in
a when you give up nine, that's pretty impressive, and
was on the ice for the short handed goal, so
he was plus one in a game where the Wild
(32:55):
gave up nine. So that's pretty good. But look, Middleton,
I think also kind of like Valsad, he deserves a
little the way because we've seen him play great with
Spurgeon before and so we'll see if that happens. Uh
Tomorrow night six.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Guy wants to know in your mind, which goalie appears
more flustered right now? Ours are theirs?
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Well, that's the worst that we've seen Wedgwood in months.
He's had a tremendous career. You know, look, I don't
think you give up eight goals the way that Vaalstat
did yesterday and just be super confident waking up this morning.
But he's got this knack and he has talked about
it where he is able to flush things both in
game and after games. So I you know, the one
(33:39):
thing with talking to Valstad after the game last night,
he didn't come across to me as as a guy
that was just beyond shocked and couldn't recover like he
was his normal self after the game. So I think
that that, you know, I think the Wild show that
they can get to Wedgwood. I think Valstat we've seen
him redown before and so it would not shock me
(34:01):
if Valstek comes out, comes in and plays really well tomorrow.
The one thing that was a little bit of a
concern is it felt like, you know, it felt to
me that Colorado almost admitted after the game that they
have a tell on where to beat Valstat, and five
goals were essentially from the same spot on the ice,
in the same area of the net. And you know,
(34:22):
in the Wild, remember they thought when they found that
with Jake otting or shooting blocker's side, and it just
felt like five of the goals yesterday were from the
same spot. Yeah. In fact, I think Nasen Kadri is
the one that admitted it after the game. He on
that breakaway, skated himself to that spot in the right
circle and whipped it home from there. So it does
feel like they have found something. So we'll see if
(34:44):
he's able to adjust tomorrow night, if he's in the
net for the wild Ryan.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Texts in an interesting nugget that I was kind of
wondering about two and you're obviously at the game, so
I'm not sure you're able to listen to much of
the TNT analysis, especially between periods, But the TNT studio
analysts basically said, up, I'll put it the way Ryan
did in his text here, the only players that were
(35:09):
playing well yesterday were the goalies. Wondering what Russo's interpretation
is on this, They were just savaging the level of
play defensive play, obviously largely on both sides. That it
wasn't that it may have been fun hockey for people
to watch because of all the scoring, but that it
wasn't very well played. What do you think?
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Yeah, No, I think both teams are extremely loose. I
think that Colorado came out with the game plan to
really play with incredible speed that they were unable to
do against LA. I think they realized that they were
the fresher team, and I think they do realize that
Dallas is just a very different team in the terms
of style, and I think the Wild were caught off
guard by it. But I think both coaches probably went
(35:52):
back to the running board today saying this is not
sustainable to play this way the rest of the series.
Certainly from Minnesota standpoint, Carls Colorado had because Colorado was
so deep, all four lines, so fast, and I don't
think the Wild are built that way. They're Wild are
built to pound the heck at you. All three lines,
I mean all you know, the bottom three lines especially,
(36:14):
and you know, but even the Corol line, I mean,
you know, they Carol gets a lot of his offense off,
you know, tremendous four checks and offensive zone cycles with Hartman,
and it just is not a sustainable way. So I
I look, I don't want to say the goalies played
better than anybody, because you don't give up fifteen combined goals,
fourteen with the two of them in ned and played great,
(36:35):
especially because like, look, I mean Volstad, I'm sorry, you know,
he's got you know, it seems foolish to sit there
and say you got to stop the seventh and eighth
when he gave up six before that. But the seventh
and eighth is what killed this team last night. I
mean the fact that the wild rallies from three zero
and four to two deficits and actually took a win,
took a lead, and then he still gave up three
goals after that and one after after Zucurello gave him
(36:58):
a wing and a prayer there with three fifty nine left.
It's just not good enough. And you can't win. You know,
you can't score six goals in the playoffs and lose.
And that's that. That'll be a quick series if it
doesn't change.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Carlson lake Elbow asks, what's more concerning the penalty killer
the power play?
Speaker 2 (37:16):
Well, the penalty kill a least scored last night, but yeah,
the power play was outshot by their penalty kill three
to two. The penalty the power play hasn't been good.
And and you know last night I did another chance
to tie the game and didn't do it. And and
you know, look, Ris and Neck is such a huge
part of that that that power play. I didn't love
the alignment last night, Like I know that fans have
(37:38):
really wanted Brock Favor on the number one unit. I'd
rather Hartman there, especially the way he was going there.
Like where they're losing ERICSONAC is the NetFront presence. So
now you have Carill, you know, either playing at the
point or circling down to or sort of drifting close
to the net front. I don't see, especially without a
practice because Bolding didn't skate yesterday morning, and they didn't
(37:58):
all skate the day of or that. To throw Faber
out there with Quinn for the first time all season long,
I just thought was a really bad mistake by the coaches.
So it would not shock me tomorrow night, especially because
they didn't practice today, unless they're gonna do it on
the ice in the morning and practice this. It would
not shock me the way that Ryan Hartman played in
Game one that you throw him there tomorrow. I mean
(38:20):
Ryan had seven shots on goal yesterday, scored a huge goal,
one to eleven draws. I think that that's the way
to go. And then to have Favor back on The
second unit is this.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Is I don't know, it's impossible for ib to ask
this answer this question. I'm going to ask anyway, do you,
when you with what you know about these teams, do
you view and really what you know about the game?
Do you view this series as one once again where
home ice might not be all that meaningful and you're
gonna see a lot of twists and turns and ups
and downs. And the key is to not necessarily overreact
(38:55):
to any single game. Or do you think, given you
the Lanches pedigree, you do have to be con learned
about the possibility of them just dominating this thing after
one game?
Speaker 2 (39:03):
Yeah, I mean, like well, I mean the concern is
because you're playing without Brodean and Erics and Asti. It's
a true shame injuries happened. But man, I mean how
Minnesota while the way that that freaking ricks and that
got hurt, right, I mean, it just wipes out on
his own and crashes into the sidewall towards you know,
very emblematic of the way Ryan Souter did with five
games left in that Dallas, in that you're in Dallas
(39:25):
with twenty eighteen when the Wild played Winnipeg in the
first round. It's just amazing at least Suitor was helped there.
I mean, for a horse of a skater, the way
that Ericsoneck is to just wipe out on his own,
it's it's you know, it's a killer. And but in
terms of home ice, look, I covered this twenty fourteen
series obviously two to very different teams, but remember the
(39:46):
home team won the first six games of that series
until the Wild came back here for game seven, won
an unbelievable game, rallying back from a goal defic at
four different times and winning in overtime. So in this
league now especially, I don't think home ice is the
end all be all. We saw it in the last
round where the Wild one what was at three games
in Dallas? You know, So like, I just think that
(40:06):
the Wild are a very very different team, But you know,
they're also a very very different team without Eric Sak
and Brodine. So I think they're gonna be a different
team tomorrow. The question is is that good enough when
he's playing a team that was the President's Trophy winner
for a reason. And and you know, remember the Wild
smoke Dallas six to one in Game one in uh
(40:30):
last round, and Dallas figured it out. So I think
the Wild could do the same thing and and and
steal a split. But they have got to play a
tighter brand of hockey or they are not going to
win the game.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
Did any of you jackals ask Heinz last night if
he gave any thought to uh putting Gustason in.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
Yeah, Joe Smith, my colleague did, and and John uh
gave a very nonsensible answer.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
Back to his quote.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Was he goes, I mean he played. It was something
like he played great. I mean, you know, he gave
up nine, but one was an empty netter. And I
was just like, oh boy, John, just stop talking right now.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Played.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
I mean, look where the score was It Like we
can say it was nine, but you know they got
the empty netter. And I mean the guy was in
for a lot of goals against too.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
I think it was dawning. Oh my god. That means
I'm basically saying it was all right that he gave
up eight.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
John was a little tenth last night. He was much
much better today. He and I got into a really
back and forth last night. I got a text on
that from Fergus Falls guy, Mike what what what? Was
that about you?
Speaker 2 (41:37):
And yeah, I mean it was fine. It was just
I was basically just saying to him, you know, with
the you know, the fact that I was basically saying
that the league did you know, favors here, and do
you think that an ester day would have helped because
you were able to practice? And he thought I was
taking a shot at the fact that they didn't practice
when I was trying to insinuate is that is essentially
what his answer was, is that, like, look, this is
(41:58):
a different mindset that you play two weeks of Dallas.
You don't give up any rushes. They're a very different team.
You know, Colorado's a rush team. Dallas is a team
that tries to pound, you do low and get to
the net. And that it was essentially just it was
essentially insinuating the team just wasn't prepared for the mindset
and style change. And he took it like I think.
I think he took it like I was trying to
(42:18):
take a shot that they didn't practice, you know, which
is not what I was insinuating. So but I mean, look,
but it's no big deal. I mean, you don't like
like trust me. I mean, John and I were fine today.
I mean, this is the way that life works after
a bad loss. I mean I didn't expect that John Hines,
after his team gave up nine goals would come in
and try to, you know, put lipstick on a pig.
(42:39):
Last night, he was a little tense. It is much
better today.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
This text is perfect to end with here because it
speaks to how quickly things can change. The texts from
brand and he writes, is Brink going to need to
play this series to increase the wild team speed? And
this comes after I got I must have gotten like
twenty anti Brink tag on the basis of his performance
in a couple of games in the last series. So
(43:05):
there's that recently biased thing that gets in there. But
is suddenly Brink, who seemed like he was in the
outhouse last series? Is he now the answer to all
of our problems?
Speaker 2 (43:16):
Oh no, Look when you when you lose a game,
obviously lineup changes are all in the cards. John was
not tipping his hand today. I think Danola Y'rerov and
he's the center that's replacing Joel Arasdek. I think he
is uh earned another tribe because I thought he was
pretty good yesterday. But to me, if you're gonna, if
(43:40):
you're worried about speed, then you throw Hunter Hayden and
then you at least have a center and Hunter they
were really toying with Euro versus Hate yesterday. I don't
see how without an injury Brink gets back in right now,
because you're wearings are Pristoff and Zukrello, Johansson and Boldie.
You know, I don't. I mean, you're not pulling out training.
You're not pulling out either Fellino. So I guess you
(44:01):
could move a Nick Felino to center and put a
Bobby Brink at a winger and take out Nico Sturm.
Nico was not very good yesterday after being really good
in games four and six of last series, So I'm
not saying that brings out of the cards, but I
just think if it is your biggest concern and you
want to write shot in there, I think Hunter Hate
would be actually a better option right now. If you
want a center, if you want that winger, and you
(44:22):
want to pull Nico out, then Brink obviously is an
option as well. And Brink has the ability to playmake
and create chances and things like that.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
Big off night tonight in in Denver. What are the
Russo plans. Yeah, we have.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
Entertaining a bunch of US writers at a local steakhouse.
Speaker 1 (44:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
A former NHL player owns a pieces place and invited
me down there, So I'm really looking forward to it.
I actually coincidentally ate there about a month ago and
it was sensational. So a five steakhouses, the steakhouse here
in Denver by the way. So yeah, we're going out
there and you know, looking forward to getting back. Believe
it or not, it's May fourth, and we're getting a
winter storm here tomorrow. Oh no, apparently it's supposed to snow.
(45:06):
Hopefully get out of here Wednesday, very worried.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Yeah it can, it can blow through day.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
I mean that's the thing with Denver. Yes, Denver's a
crazy place. I mean it's seventy five today and tomorrow
or apparently it's snowsports.
Speaker 1 (45:17):
And then it could be seventy the next day too.
That's how quickly it changes there.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
It is.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
It's crazy. It's enjoy your dinner tonight and we'll we'll
chat soon. Thank you. Awesome, see it and go wolves.
I can't wait to watch it big night tonight. Thanks man.
That is the voice of rucial radio. A lot of
people pigeonhole him and think he thinks he can only
think about puck. It's much more worldly than that. He's
(45:41):
a basketball guy, he's a stakeball guy, he's a steak guy,
he's a coffee guy, all those things. He's very, very
much a renaissance man. Lots of good text reacting to
our first hour, and this is, like I said, this
has happened for me. Man. We can, basically, I think,
fairly and justifiably go back and forth in various ways,
(46:05):
in various components on both the wild game last night
and what might be coming next, and the Wolves game
tonight and what we might consider coming next in that series,
as well my dream of a May that includes conversation
about both the hockey team and the basketball team. It
may not last long, we don't know, but at least
for the first couple of weeks in May, we got
(46:26):
it right in front.
This is your should we be careful what we wish for?
Leader fan Fan Radio Network minisoda and okay fa N
dot com. Two minutes? Was he in Minnesota when he
said that? Or was he in New Hampshire? I don't
(00:23):
know where he was, but it wasn't here. Oh okay, yeah?
But what did he did he did he mean to
say Minnesota or was he actually trying to say New Hampshire? No,
he was I think rattling off a run and Minnesota
was one of them. Two minutes forty eight seconds past
the hour of three o'clock central daylight time, we welcome
you back to a Monday edition of the Bumper to
(00:44):
Buffet program on a pretty nice early May afternoon here
in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul Guards.
He produces the show. He is back from the greater
Chicago Land area. More on that later. My name is
Dan Barrero, former instant Retch newspaper of the Twin Cities,
and thank you for your participation in today's festivities. The
(01:08):
Bradshawn Brian Camfean text line will be rebooted eventually after
I figure out how Common screwed it up. He was
trying to get me in or know him out, and
now there's a weird verification code that doesn't even add up.
So hopefully eventually we'll get the inbox going for you.
I think that should be social media content text line.
It should act just you two trying to get in there.
(01:29):
Should It's amazing because I walk in and he's like,
I was trying to get it to the hip cricket
thing to you, but now it says I got a
log back in for I said, that's just just go
we'll figure it out. That's trying to be helpful he was.
In this case. I ueah, he was attempting to, but
I think it was actually worse than we could have imagined.
We're going till six thirty tonight, Is that correct? That's
the plan? Yep. Wolves are not an early game tonight.
(01:52):
They are the second game of the NBA Playoff second
round twin Bills. We like to say, what a juicy
matchup early, the New York Knickerbockers taking on not the
Boston Celtics boys and girls, but the Philadelphia seventy six ers.
I've apologized to Joel Embiid twice. Yeah, I did it
(02:13):
three days ago and then I had to do it
again on Sunday show, and I'll continue to do so
if that's at all necessary. Did you see his comments
after the game regarding Madison Square Garden West. Yes, yes,
we'll get to that. I love that well. By the
way he and he called it Madison Square Garden East
whatever that's true term he used geographically incorrect. That's not
that I would have known. But that's not the one
(02:34):
you should be judged or judging the way we screw
things up. But I will. We'll get to that story
for sure before we're done it. At six thirty Russo
Radio at bottom of this hour to review game one
Minnesota whild last night in a battle What was the
final score? Nine the battlefield goals. Yeah, we end up
losing in game one of the Lance nine to six.
(02:56):
Russo Radio with the big question, what are we gonna
do it? I hope he asked it. I know what.
It'll probably drive garn nuts. But don't you think it's
fair to ask the question after the game, that game,
or or in the day in between. I have no,
there's nothing wrong. That's not a trolling question. It can
(03:16):
be a trolling question, but it doesn't have to be
the perfect I think it's a perfectly legitimate question has
and it's not a statement on Volston. You don't even
have to think he played as badly as giving up
I guess technically he gave up eight goals, right, because
the last goal was a empty netter. But tried to explain,
which was funny when they were talking about it. You know,
we gave a lot of goals. Yeah, well, I mean
(03:37):
they got the empty netters. Okay, Oh it's only eight. Yeah,
eight then seems like a lot. But anyway, that's for sure.
Russo three point thirty Johnny Athletic Dateline san Antonio Davey
at five thirty. He gave us some bonus time tomorrow
we'll get into some more injury stuff with him, including
the news breaking what I think just within the past
(03:58):
hour that Iola Asumu has been ruled out for game
number one. Desumu, who previously I believe had been listed
as questionable, is now out. Anthony Edwards is allegedly in
by all accounts at this point, That's the question I have.
(04:21):
Do we want to be careful what we wish for
or what we think we want tonight because we want
the story right. We want Anthony Edwards allegedly weeks away
from participation, maybe months, gutting it out, summoning up all
(04:43):
that strength within him and saying, bleep it, I'm going
Game one Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, Davy.
It's inspirational, it's what we want to hear, and a
lot of it has to do with the obvious. The
chances that the Wolves have to win this series without him,
(05:05):
I think are I'm kind of with Charles Barkley. I
think they're close to nil. Now. You don't know what
version of Anthony Edwards are going to get, but I
would say even Anthony Edwards as a warm body at
seventy percent, gives you some options that otherwise, especially with
the sumo continuing to be out right, doesn't leave you
with very many other meaningful possibilities. It's and if he
(05:30):
if the if the Wolves steal game won tonight, which
you can hear on the fan for free, for free,
that's right, no subscription needed. If they you know, if
he dominates tonight, or even if he's just good to
very good tonight, it's a hell of a story they're
going to be by by midweek they'll be talking down
to Minneapolis of erecting a statue to him. Right. All
(05:53):
that's to the good, it's what we all root for.
Go for it, man, do it for the team, do
it for all of us. Do it because it adds
a layer to the drama that's right in front of
us right now. But is it the right thing to do?
(06:14):
That's the question, and that's a pretty deep question actually,
that goes beyond just tonight. Now. The assumption is we'll
find out from Johnny at five point thirty that the
pecking order is well that technically speaking, Anthony Edwards might
(06:35):
declare himself ready to go. But the doctors, we presume,
also have to sign off on it. Doctors, trainers, whatever,
whatever you know, committee members on the medical staff that
the Wolves have. The assumption is they too have to
sign off on it. Correct whether the player himself says
(06:58):
I'm good enough, I can give it a go. Oh,
whether it's tests that they do that give them some
actual numbers to play off of, or whether they say
to themselves no, wait a minute here, hold on. There
was a reason that we said earliest he could be
(07:19):
back is late in this round. There's a reason we
said that, and we have to stick to that, and
we will stick to that. Can Anthony overrule the doctors,
It's another question we'll ask Johnny. I don't know. In
most organizations, I think the doctors have to sign off.
Can that be movable? Can doctors be convinced on the
(07:42):
basis of the particular injury and or even the sheer
force of personality of the player. I bring all of
this up because once upon time, the San Antonio Spurs day,
he had a big man named Tim Duncan, one of
(08:05):
the greatest in the history of the game. A lot
of people knew it coming right out of college what
he was going to be capable of doing. He ended
up in the perfect spot, great complimentary players around him,
great coaching around him, and he made an almost immediate
impact in the National Basketball Association before the start of
(08:28):
the two thousand playoffs. This goes back aways, but it's
worthy I think of discussion today. He suffered a meniscus tear,
oh yeah, in his knee, and as the story goes,
(08:49):
as I remember it, and I even tried to do
some fact checking on it, today, the doctors cleared him
Duncan to participate in the two thousand players. By the way,
the Spurs were defending champions. As I recalled, didn't they
win it in ninety nine? That was the shortened That
(09:09):
was a shortened nine. Yep, that sounds right. And as
the story goes, Antonio Daniels, who of course is a
big San Antonio Spur guy, was telling it today on radio.
And as the story goes, Greg Popovich said, I'm shutting
you down. You ain't gonna play at all in the
(09:32):
two thousand playoffs. Here's the quote from Pop at the
time with him, You've got an opportunity to win multiple
championships if you don't screw it up. Message being it's tempting.
I want to win as much as the next guy.
(09:53):
I know Spurs fans want to pay off on the
chance of winning, going back to back in the president
and the here and now. It's incredibly tempting because we're
all competitive. We all want to see where this thing goes.
But Pop said, I got to think beyond this series
(10:15):
or any series this year. I have to think long
term about what I think we can do if we
keep Tim Duncan as healthy as the basketball gods will
allow us. How many more titles did Tim duncan win
four more I think I think he won five for
his career. Yeah, and he played all the time. I
think the last one was the last one in twenty fourteen. Yeah,
(10:37):
it was a late one. Now different. I bring up
the story not to say that these are perfectly parallel.
Different injury, perhaps different circumstances, And I'm not even here
to say what the right approaches and what the wrong
approach is. But I was fascinated by that historical precedent
(10:58):
involving the team that the Wolves will play starting tonight,
because all the fans are going to say, go, because
we're in the moment. Media members go, We're in the moment, right.
It's just it's the emotion. It's what attracts us to
all of these games. Let's see, Spurs are supposed to
(11:20):
be unbeatable. Let's let's test him a little bit. How
do we test them? We got to have edwards in
addition to what else we've been able to put together
in Round one, especially if Dsumu is unavailable, although maybe
he'll play later in the series. I don't know we'll
get to that component of the story too, because I think, frankly,
there are long term ramifications of why the Desumu is
(11:43):
being as cautious agree as he is. How much the
team is in on that, I don't know, but it's
a cautionary tale because, as Daniel said, everybody's going to
say go in the moment, But the dirty little secret
is we don't have to live with the consequences. We
(12:04):
don't Anthony Edwards. Does the Minnesota Timberwolves do right? And
if indeed, worst case situation ensues and he comes back
and plays and re injures the knee and it it
sides sidelines him longer, it ends up being something more
chronic and he never is quite the same player again.
(12:30):
We're going to go on to the next guy. It's
cruel business, and we will say we want to be
loyal to that player, but the fact is, if there
comes a point where he can't play anymore, in part
because they push the envelope on this injury, we're going
to go on to the next guy that they bring in.
And that's why it's I think a very weighty decision
that goes beyond what the player wants in the moment
(12:52):
and even what the team might be like convince itself
it wants at that particular moment as well. Fan and
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Speaker 2 (13:11):
It's not surprising. I expected him this week some time regardless.
But I've seen him over the last you know, four or.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Five days and doing rehab and trying to get in
the gym, and I was like, man, this.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Dude, like he's trying to play, you know, so respect him.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Uh, you know, compete.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
You know, he loves competing and that's all he wants
to do. So we're happy to have him when he's ready, hopefully.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Uh, you know, he'd be ready to go. And I'm
on a record called him money, So I'm not surprised.
Mike Conley first and Julius Randall second in those two
soundbites reacting to the news that by all accounts, Anthony
Edwards will play for your Minnesota Timberwolves tonight. I assume
(13:55):
that means he'll start, but I don't know has that
been established. Johnny might be able tell us at five
point thirty. Generally speaking, I think it's so likely that
we would think he would be starting a lot of
good texts coming in. Don't forget Russo. Bottom of the hour,
we will review game one for your Minnesota Wild. It's
(14:17):
interesting because there's a part of me that felt like
it was exactly the kind of game, even with improved
firepower that we have offensively, that this might be the
one team that you don't want to try to outscore
a lah the Wolves and the Denver Nuggets too loose.
(14:39):
Come on, man, this isn't what we're supposed to be about.
On the other hand, it reminded me a little bit
guards you have football games I've seen where the game
is matching two decent defensive teams, but for whatever reason,
it ends up the final score ends up being forty
nine to forty five, just because it just seems to
take on within the game a life of its own.
(15:00):
That's just crazy, right. So I don't want to overreact
to the game and the way the Wild participated in it,
because it is it is one, and you know they
were they were in it actually as odd as it sounds,
at nine to six, and they led briefly, unfortunately too briefly.
(15:21):
But the hockey ambassador in me says, we gotta we
gotta play. Uh. Our game is always intended, even in
an era in which we now have greater firepower, to
be a little bit more solid and more grounded than
it appeared. Too many mistakes, too many turnovers that led
(15:44):
to easy goals, et cetera. What's your your short? Mini thought,
We're gonna get to Russo at three thirty. Then we'll
talk about it more, probably after Russo. MANI thought, on
the Wild, yes, I agree with that. The problem is
whnu factor in who's not there for them now Echi
and Rodes. That makes the way the Wild need to play,
I think much more difficult. I think they are rock solid,
(16:06):
but I think a big part of it was because
certainly those guys right Ericsoneck is great defense defensive center.
Obviously Brodein is a tough injury, so it makes it difficult.
It is amazing. Like again, I'm not watching the all
twenty two of the Avs, but I just have flashbacks
of when they played them all those years ago in
twenty thirteen when McKinnon was a young buck, Like how
(16:28):
quickly they just go and if you let them gain
speed and momentum like you are in trouble, and they
were able to win that series all those years ago
because they figured out a way just to slow it
down enough to play that good structure and do all
of that. Will they be able to They definitely are
going to have to, because I don't think as explosive
as Minnesota can be, winning a shootout is necessarily what
(16:49):
they want to do against this team, because Wild can
do it probably against twenty eight other teams in the NHL,
but I don't think they can do it against Colorado.
Yes or no, And again this is not intended as
an indictment. We're done with falsteat Yes or no? The
Wild should start Gus Bus in game two? No, keep
(17:12):
the Bus in the garage. I think Valstad has earned
the net and I need him eventually, sooner or later.
He ain't gonna go. You're gonna go with one guy
all the way to the Cup finals. You don't think so? No,
I think it's unlikely. A lot of teams do. Yeah,
a lot of teams do. I. We'll get to that
with r I lean that way. The question that comes
(17:34):
up is if you get blown out again, like eight
to five, then what do you do. Is it? In
other words, if you're gonna make the move, is it
harder to do it down two to zero or is
it harder to do it? You know which way? Is
it easier to go? Go with the other guy at
the point you go. The truth is we're not declaring
ornnouncing this, but Valstat's gonna be the goalie this entire series.
(17:56):
I think so. I think he is. They may have
already made that. Yeah, now again things and things can
get weird. But unless he's just a complete wreck tomorrow night,
I don't know why you wouldn't go back to him.
Kyle from Isante Aunt needs to go get close to
one hundred percent. It looks like he was already favoring
his original knee injury and wasn't playing that well before
this injury. We do need to remind folks, this is
(18:16):
the other knee. Both knees have issues. Both knees now
have issues now. Allegedly none of the issues are structural,
which is good and may even factor into the decision
of are we rushing it too much? But he's got
two different knee issues that do get into the area
of r what are you going to get out of
them so much life injected to this club after Game
(18:37):
six and now Ant returning, let's go. There's wide variants
of opinions here. Let me try to get to as
much as many as I can. Not a fan of
Aunt playing long term or short term is my reasoning.
If he gets injured, more than we'll hear about how
it's the doctor's fault. He's got the chance to be
the greatest player in franchise history history. Why risk it? Wait?
(18:58):
Two games? That's from Papa to Unfortunately, playing Edwards tonight
locks up TJ af fair amount. We got to witness
a Game six where TJ had the green light to
go grab the ball and attack, and the results were incredible. Actually,
two guys had the green light. You could say, to
a large extent it was TJ, but even more so
it was a Jaden who took twenty five shots. Yep,
that's what you know. A number one option takes in
(19:22):
a game like that often is twenty five. I also wonder, though,
is TJ a little nullified in this series anyway because
a Wemby As part of the reason why TJ was
such a revelation is Denver didn't have anybody at the
rim for TJ now, No, I mean he can't play,
and I'm sure he will play. But we'll get back
into that with Johnny because we talked a little bit
(19:43):
about that yesterday. I don't think you can eliminate going
downhill out of that fear. Even if occasionally you're gonna
get the shot, you know, stuck right back down your throat.
I still don't think you can get away from it
too much. So I don't think the Wolves are going
to shooting team to do that. But we'll get into
that more with Johnny as well. The reality, Dan is
(20:06):
that these ultra competitive athletes and those who truly love
the game and to compete, they are fine with risking
their body to compete. And as one of those guys,
he said, he doesn't give a bleep if it's the playoff,
that it's the playoffs, all that, None of that nullifies
what we talked about the first segment. You think Tim
Duncan's not an ultra competitive athlete, many others who have
(20:29):
indeed been held back in a lot of cases. Sadly,
you almost need to protect the athlete from himself or herself.
So the issue isn't whether it's at doesn't care. Trust me,
if Aunt suffers the kind of setback that has an
impact on his career, and again that's worst case, that's
(20:51):
not likely to happen, but if it does, he's going
to be bothered because he wants to play. Is iowe
being more careful because he does have the big contract?
Yet I think the answer is yes. I think that's
a big part of the answer. Right now. With the
alleged calf concerns seven, sixth three, guy Duncan might have
(21:12):
won six if he'd played. We'll never know, And that's
technically true. Meniscus is true. We'll never know though, to
just come back from niscus, yeah, well, running backs do
in like a minute, but yeah, in basketball it usually
takes a little bit longer. I got to decide about
surgeries and all these different things. Kat came back from
him right a couple of years ago, and four. True,
(21:32):
he did here right within a few months, but it
still took a minute. Danielre hilarious trying to say Finchy
should hold back edwards so it helps him helps him
win multiple championships in the future. Those Spurs teams were
way better than what the Wolves have now. Most likely
what they will put together in the future. I'm not
saying anybody should be held back. All I'm trying to
do is raise questions for conversation's sake, because I think
(21:56):
it's an important topic that the seven sixth three guys
the world want to dismiss. Because it's a lot more
fun thinking about the wolves chances in this series. If
Anthony Edwards is involved in it. I'm not declaring he
shouldn't play in any way. I know nothing about the
medical side of this thing. I'm just raising it as
(22:16):
an interesting historical precedent that is a reminder of all
of these permutations that go into making these decisions. That's it.
That's the point. There's an attempt here at some nuance
and regardless of you know, multiple championships and who's got
a greater chance to win multiple championships, forget championships. If
(22:37):
you don't want to make it about that, will we
all agree that if Anthony Edwards misses considerable time, the
Wolves are less likely to be successful than if he's
available for the next ten years. What do we think
the answer is to that? So, yeah, the quotes championships
in Duncan's case, or I should say, in Pop's case,
he's just making a larger issue about what goes into
(22:59):
that kind of of decision. And maybe for some people, again,
because there's allegedly nothing structurally wrong with Ant's knee or
either of the knees, they'll say, well, meniscus is different.
Perhaps it is, but I'll say again, you're now dealing
with knee issues in both knees. Nobody can tell me
that's ideal in going all out, and I just think
(23:20):
it has to be somewhat under consideration. Last text for now, Dan,
this is going to sound sacrilegious, but a hurt aunt
that plays is not good. He sat awhile and played
the first game last series, and I suggest that was
why they lost. When he plays, the ball can get sticky.
I hope is if he isn't healthy enough to be impactful,
(23:41):
that he either A sits or B becomes a playmaker
and doesn't try to force the issue offensively. And by
the way, B would be okay if indeed that becomes
a little bit more of his game, because what we
talked about with Johnny yesterday was how do you if
you have struck gold? Potentially on Jaden if he had
an epiphany and he's finally figured out he can be
(24:05):
more of a main offensive player, to the point where
Johnny and I talked about the possibility for next year
he should be the second option ahead of Julius Randall.
Can he be integrated that same way or some way
similar when Edwards is on the court. Given the degree
to which Edwards ends up having the ball not because
he's a ball hog, but it's because it's the way
(24:25):
that the Wolves have been constructed. The other thing I
would add to not being full capacity is it shows
up even more so on the defensive side, which is
trouble when you think about all the different dudes, especially
guards that san Antonio Davey has, and he gets lost.
He's not understandably, if he's not feeling great, he's not
going to be the lockdown defender that he is shown
(24:47):
to be at times, and oftentimes gets lost off the
ball as well. That's where it shows up, actually even
more I think when he's banged up one hundred percent
wild talk that's coming up next with Russo you have
questions off of Game one, are you discouraged? Are you
long series? Calm down? We can play with him brat
Shawn Bryant Cafe in text line is six four six
eighty six. We'll get the very latest reaction on the
(25:10):
off day, the tweener days, we like to stay in
the business. From RUSSO Radio Dateline, Denver, Colorado. That's not.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
I think there was multiple goals on things that you
know we could have done a better job on. To me,
that's a positive. You know, we we pushed back and
came back. That's what we do, That's who we are.
I think those are positives. But you know, you have
to be on point with attention to detail against this team,
and if you're not, you know, you're you leave yourself
vulnerable to give up chances. And we gave up some
(25:41):
chances and they capitalized on them. So for me, a
lot of the issues tonight for us are are are fixable.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I like what Heinze said there because he managed in
that one quote to deliver a message to his team
that he might have already delivered privately, but to maybe
even the public that panic is not needed, even against
a great opponent. But he also said we can't be
(26:14):
what we were. We can be proud of the fact
that we keep coming back and we now have the
firepower maybe to do that. But Russel Radio, do you
agree with him that he's saying, we can't make it
that easy for them. The details do matter, especially against
a team as formidable as the as the Colorado Avalanche.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Yeah, I definitely think that. I think that they you know,
I think it was a little bit of a shock
to the system to go from playing in two weeks
of Dallas and preparing for Dallas for months, frankly, and
then immediately come here and play that team, and they
lured them right into a track meet, and the Wild
aren't going to win those games, you know, as good
(26:55):
as the Wild have been, I mean, where they make
their living is by getting pucks deep and pounding the
heck out of defenseman like the Wild did for the
you know in the first period when Marcus Felino knocked
campbccarr out of the game. And that's how they're gonna
win the series. They've got to be physical, they've got
to be relentless, and they've got to show an attention
to details. And if they don't start, you know, slowing
(27:19):
that team down, starting in the neutral zone, it is
going to be a long series, or you know, a
short series. Quite frankly, so, I think that that yesterday
could be very much. You know, I remember talking to
you after the Dallas Game one, where the Wild pounded
the Stars six to one, and I said to you,
I think that it was very easily explainable by the
Dallas having a week off and resting their kids and
(27:40):
and Dallas having to play in Buffalo the night before
and not, you know, not practicing and all that type
of stuff, and that I'd expected a better start team
in Game two. And I think it's the same thing here.
You know, the Wild on Friday night or don't even
know that they're leaving the next day, and then the
league did them no favors and they didn't have a
lot of opportunity to prepare for this team. And I
(28:01):
think that we're going to see a very different Wild
team tomorrow night.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Does the goaltending have to be better than it was
in Game one?
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
I mean, look they did as as you know, we
just met with John Hines over at the hotel and
he said, look they did whilst that no favors, but
you know, yeah, like you know, the seventh and eighth
goals cannot happen. It was egregious you know, you get
yourself back in the game, you take a five to
four lead. I don't really blame him on the Devon
(28:31):
Tave's goal. It's a redirection, you know, as as he said,
the puck has eyes. All right, let's give him, let's
even say them a car goal at the beginning of
the third period. Let's just give him that six five.
But then you give Cadre a breakaway and he skates
himself into the right circle and takes a nothing shot
from the right circle and blows it by you. Then
Zukerello makes it seven to six with three fifty nine left.
(28:53):
You you think the Wild are going to, you know,
be able to win this game. In a minute later,
mccarr scores again. So I do think that valstet needs
to be better. Look, he got them here. He was
outstanding in the first round. He's been outstanding since the Olympics.
But you know, we'll see now if they come back
with him what he's really made of. Because I do
(29:14):
think he needs to be better.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
You say, if do you think there's any question on
whether they come back with him in game two?
Speaker 2 (29:23):
I wouldn't. I think you got to go with the
guy that got you here, and he got you here,
and the last time we saw gustuson was three weeks ago.
That would be an awfully tough task to throw him
into tomorrow night's game. You know, to me, you only
come back with gustuson tomorrow is if you pulled Valstat
and gave him a little gave Gus a little action, right,
But this guy hasn't seen any hockey in more than
(29:46):
three weeks now, and the last time we saw him
was against the JV Saint Louis team and he was
got awful so and that's essentially what lost him his job.
So I just think that I think that Valstatt gained
a little equity by and should should gain equity by
the way that he played against Dallas. So I think
you give him one more shot now tomorrow night. If
he's terrible in the first period and gives up a
(30:07):
couple of greasy.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Goals, I think you then make the move then.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
But I think that both that deserves the net one
more time.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
That certainly sounds sensible. I would add quickly, what can
you tell us on injury updates? Here? What do we
anything right now?
Speaker 2 (30:24):
No? Definitely not. I mean unless somebody got hurt last
night that we don't know about. It's going to be
Eric Sinek out of the lineup and Brodean out of lineup,
and they're obviously both back in Minnesota. They both have
significant injuries. I mean, I don't think we're seeing Prodean
again for a while, you know, I don't think that
we're going to see him for a while. Eric Sinak
(30:45):
is something that is also a significant injury that maybe
he is able to play on. I know they're really
hopeful that he'll be able to play in Game three,
so we'll see. He's obviously not going to be one
hundred percent. But both of them have significant injuries.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
So how how much? How it's challenging enough to beat
Colorado for all the obvious reasons. Yeah, what do those
two injuries represent? What's the loss or losses?
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Well, I mean two of the best defensive players you
know on the Minnesota Wild. That's for sure their best
defensive center. You know, I thought you did a good job,
but he's not Eric Sanak, and it just makes it
really much when you don't have Ricks Sanak on that line,
just makes it really much more easier to check the
top line. And I think that the top line got
(31:31):
pretty much enveloped yesterday. They had some good chances, but
for the most part, you want to prisout and Hartman.
Hartman had seven shots on goal, Zukrollo had the goal,
but you but it just makes it easier to check
those guys. In terms of Brodean, he's one of the
best skating defensemen in the league. He's somebody that you
always want out there against the Nick David and Mpinnen, uh,
(31:52):
you know, all the top guys in the NHL. You
want Brodean out there. And so what it does is,
you know, last night we saw it. You know, in
the Dallas series, Brodein and Spurseon were on the ice
for two five and five goals against the entire series.
Last night, Middleton and Spurgeon were outscored four to zero
in the game. So that just shows you right away
that that it's just a very different look there with
(32:13):
that pair.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Now.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Granted, Middleton and Spurseon have played very well in the past,
and Middleton's gonna have to be much much better. He
really struggled last night. So the one thing I do wonder,
and I asked John Hines about it today, is do
you give Middleton another shot, or do you maybe elevated
Damon Hunt and put Middleton back with the Goshen because
they played so well together in the Dallas series. The
way it sounded to me is that they are going
(32:35):
to get another shot, but that it's something that he's
got in his back of his mind that if it's
not going right, then he'll make that change. But I
thought Damon Hunt was pretty good yesterday, but he played
sheltered minutes, you know, fourteen minutes with the Goshin. He
wasn't on the ice for a goal against, which in
a when you give up nine, that's pretty impressive, and
was on the ice for the short handed goal, so
he was plus one in a game where the Wild
(32:55):
gave up nine. So that's pretty good. But look, Middleton,
I think also kind of like Valsad, he deserves a
little the way because we've seen him play great with
Spurgeon before and so we'll see if that happens. Uh
Tomorrow night six.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Guy wants to know in your mind, which goalie appears
more flustered right now? Ours are theirs?
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Well, that's the worst that we've seen Wedgwood in months.
He's had a tremendous career. You know, look, I don't
think you give up eight goals the way that Vaalstat
did yesterday and just be super confident waking up this morning.
But he's got this knack and he has talked about
it where he is able to flush things both in
game and after games. So I you know, the one
(33:39):
thing with talking to Valstad after the game last night,
he didn't come across to me as as a guy
that was just beyond shocked and couldn't recover like he
was his normal self after the game. So I think
that that, you know, I think the Wild show that
they can get to Wedgwood. I think Valstat we've seen
him redown before and so it would not shock me
(34:01):
if Valstek comes out, comes in and plays really well tomorrow.
The one thing that was a little bit of a
concern is it felt like, you know, it felt to
me that Colorado almost admitted after the game that they
have a tell on where to beat Valstat, and five
goals were essentially from the same spot on the ice,
in the same area of the net. And you know,
(34:22):
in the Wild, remember they thought when they found that
with Jake otting or shooting blocker's side, and it just
felt like five of the goals yesterday were from the
same spot. Yeah. In fact, I think Nasen Kadri is
the one that admitted it after the game. He on
that breakaway, skated himself to that spot in the right
circle and whipped it home from there. So it does
feel like they have found something. So we'll see if
(34:44):
he's able to adjust tomorrow night, if he's in the
net for the wild Ryan.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Texts in an interesting nugget that I was kind of
wondering about two and you're obviously at the game, so
I'm not sure you're able to listen to much of
the TNT analysis, especially between periods, But the TNT studio
analysts basically said, up, I'll put it the way Ryan
did in his text here, the only players that were
(35:09):
playing well yesterday were the goalies. Wondering what Russo's interpretation
is on this, They were just savaging the level of
play defensive play, obviously largely on both sides. That it
wasn't that it may have been fun hockey for people
to watch because of all the scoring, but that it
wasn't very well played. What do you think?
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Yeah, No, I think both teams are extremely loose. I
think that Colorado came out with the game plan to
really play with incredible speed that they were unable to
do against LA. I think they realized that they were
the fresher team, and I think they do realize that
Dallas is just a very different team in the terms
of style, and I think the Wild were caught off
guard by it. But I think both coaches probably went
(35:52):
back to the running board today saying this is not
sustainable to play this way the rest of the series.
Certainly from Minnesota standpoint, Carls Colorado had because Colorado was
so deep, all four lines, so fast, and I don't
think the Wild are built that way. They're Wild are
built to pound the heck at you. All three lines,
I mean all you know, the bottom three lines especially,
(36:14):
and you know, but even the Corol line, I mean,
you know, they Carol gets a lot of his offense off,
you know, tremendous four checks and offensive zone cycles with Hartman,
and it just is not a sustainable way. So I
I look, I don't want to say the goalies played
better than anybody, because you don't give up fifteen combined goals,
fourteen with the two of them in ned and played great,
(36:35):
especially because like, look, I mean Volstad, I'm sorry, you know,
he's got you know, it seems foolish to sit there
and say you got to stop the seventh and eighth
when he gave up six before that. But the seventh
and eighth is what killed this team last night. I
mean the fact that the wild rallies from three zero
and four to two deficits and actually took a win,
took a lead, and then he still gave up three
goals after that and one after after Zucurello gave him
(36:58):
a wing and a prayer there with three fifty nine left.
It's just not good enough. And you can't win. You know,
you can't score six goals in the playoffs and lose.
And that's that. That'll be a quick series if it
doesn't change.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Carlson lake Elbow asks, what's more concerning the penalty killer
the power play?
Speaker 2 (37:16):
Well, the penalty kill a least scored last night, but yeah,
the power play was outshot by their penalty kill three
to two. The penalty the power play hasn't been good.
And and you know last night I did another chance
to tie the game and didn't do it. And and
you know, look, Ris and Neck is such a huge
part of that that that power play. I didn't love
the alignment last night, Like I know that fans have
(37:38):
really wanted Brock Favor on the number one unit. I'd
rather Hartman there, especially the way he was going there.
Like where they're losing ERICSONAC is the NetFront presence. So
now you have Carill, you know, either playing at the
point or circling down to or sort of drifting close
to the net front. I don't see, especially without a
practice because Bolding didn't skate yesterday morning, and they didn't
(37:58):
all skate the day of or that. To throw Faber
out there with Quinn for the first time all season long,
I just thought was a really bad mistake by the coaches.
So it would not shock me tomorrow night, especially because
they didn't practice today, unless they're gonna do it on
the ice in the morning and practice this. It would
not shock me the way that Ryan Hartman played in
Game one that you throw him there tomorrow. I mean
(38:20):
Ryan had seven shots on goal yesterday, scored a huge goal,
one to eleven draws. I think that that's the way
to go. And then to have Favor back on The
second unit is this.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Is I don't know, it's impossible for ib to ask
this answer this question. I'm going to ask anyway, do you,
when you with what you know about these teams, do
you view and really what you know about the game?
Do you view this series as one once again where
home ice might not be all that meaningful and you're
gonna see a lot of twists and turns and ups
and downs. And the key is to not necessarily overreact
(38:55):
to any single game. Or do you think, given you
the Lanches pedigree, you do have to be con learned
about the possibility of them just dominating this thing after
one game?
Speaker 2 (39:03):
Yeah, I mean, like well, I mean the concern is
because you're playing without Brodean and Erics and Asti. It's
a true shame injuries happened. But man, I mean how
Minnesota while the way that that freaking ricks and that
got hurt, right, I mean, it just wipes out on
his own and crashes into the sidewall towards you know,
very emblematic of the way Ryan Souter did with five
games left in that Dallas, in that you're in Dallas
(39:25):
with twenty eighteen when the Wild played Winnipeg in the
first round. It's just amazing at least Suitor was helped there.
I mean, for a horse of a skater, the way
that Ericsoneck is to just wipe out on his own,
it's it's you know, it's a killer. And but in
terms of home ice, look, I covered this twenty fourteen
series obviously two to very different teams, but remember the
(39:46):
home team won the first six games of that series
until the Wild came back here for game seven, won
an unbelievable game, rallying back from a goal defic at
four different times and winning in overtime. So in this
league now especially, I don't think home ice is the
end all be all. We saw it in the last
round where the Wild one what was at three games
in Dallas? You know, So like, I just think that
(40:06):
the Wild are a very very different team, But you know,
they're also a very very different team without Eric Sak
and Brodine. So I think they're gonna be a different
team tomorrow. The question is is that good enough when
he's playing a team that was the President's Trophy winner
for a reason. And and you know, remember the Wild
smoke Dallas six to one in Game one in uh
(40:30):
last round, and Dallas figured it out. So I think
the Wild could do the same thing and and and
steal a split. But they have got to play a
tighter brand of hockey or they are not going to
win the game.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
Did any of you jackals ask Heinz last night if
he gave any thought to uh putting Gustason in.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
Yeah, Joe Smith, my colleague did, and and John uh
gave a very nonsensible answer.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
Back to his quote.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Was he goes, I mean he played. It was something
like he played great. I mean, you know, he gave
up nine, but one was an empty netter. And I
was just like, oh boy, John, just stop talking right now.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Played.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
I mean, look where the score was It Like we
can say it was nine, but you know they got
the empty netter. And I mean the guy was in
for a lot of goals against too.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
I think it was dawning. Oh my god. That means
I'm basically saying it was all right that he gave
up eight.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
John was a little tenth last night. He was much
much better today. He and I got into a really
back and forth last night. I got a text on
that from Fergus Falls guy, Mike what what what? Was
that about you?
Speaker 2 (41:37):
And yeah, I mean it was fine. It was just
I was basically just saying to him, you know, with
the you know, the fact that I was basically saying
that the league did you know, favors here, and do
you think that an ester day would have helped because
you were able to practice? And he thought I was
taking a shot at the fact that they didn't practice
when I was trying to insinuate is that is essentially
what his answer was, is that, like, look, this is
(41:58):
a different mindset that you play two weeks of Dallas.
You don't give up any rushes. They're a very different team.
You know, Colorado's a rush team. Dallas is a team
that tries to pound, you do low and get to
the net. And that it was essentially just it was
essentially insinuating the team just wasn't prepared for the mindset
and style change. And he took it like I think.
I think he took it like I was trying to
(42:18):
take a shot that they didn't practice, you know, which
is not what I was insinuating. So but I mean, look,
but it's no big deal. I mean, you don't like
like trust me. I mean, John and I were fine today.
I mean, this is the way that life works after
a bad loss. I mean I didn't expect that John Hines,
after his team gave up nine goals would come in
and try to, you know, put lipstick on a pig.
(42:39):
Last night, he was a little tense. It is much
better today.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
This text is perfect to end with here because it
speaks to how quickly things can change. The texts from
brand and he writes, is Brink going to need to
play this series to increase the wild team speed? And
this comes after I got I must have gotten like
twenty anti Brink tag on the basis of his performance
in a couple of games in the last series. So
(43:05):
there's that recently biased thing that gets in there. But
is suddenly Brink, who seemed like he was in the
outhouse last series? Is he now the answer to all
of our problems?
Speaker 2 (43:16):
Oh no, Look when you when you lose a game,
obviously lineup changes are all in the cards. John was
not tipping his hand today. I think Danola Y'rerov and
he's the center that's replacing Joel Arasdek. I think he
is uh earned another tribe because I thought he was
pretty good yesterday. But to me, if you're gonna, if
(43:40):
you're worried about speed, then you throw Hunter Hayden and
then you at least have a center and Hunter they
were really toying with Euro versus Hate yesterday. I don't
see how without an injury Brink gets back in right now,
because you're wearings are Pristoff and Zukrello, Johansson and Boldie.
You know, I don't. I mean, you're not pulling out training.
You're not pulling out either Fellino. So I guess you
(44:01):
could move a Nick Felino to center and put a
Bobby Brink at a winger and take out Nico Sturm.
Nico was not very good yesterday after being really good
in games four and six of last series, So I'm
not saying that brings out of the cards, but I
just think if it is your biggest concern and you
want to write shot in there, I think Hunter Hate
would be actually a better option right now. If you
want a center, if you want that winger, and you
(44:22):
want to pull Nico out, then Brink obviously is an
option as well. And Brink has the ability to playmake
and create chances and things like that.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
Big off night tonight in in Denver. What are the
Russo plans. Yeah, we have.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
Entertaining a bunch of US writers at a local steakhouse.
Speaker 1 (44:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
A former NHL player owns a pieces place and invited
me down there, So I'm really looking forward to it.
I actually coincidentally ate there about a month ago and
it was sensational. So a five steakhouses, the steakhouse here
in Denver by the way. So yeah, we're going out
there and you know, looking forward to getting back. Believe
it or not, it's May fourth, and we're getting a
winter storm here tomorrow. Oh no, apparently it's supposed to snow.
(45:06):
Hopefully get out of here Wednesday, very worried.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Yeah it can, it can blow through day.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
I mean that's the thing with Denver. Yes, Denver's a
crazy place. I mean it's seventy five today and tomorrow
or apparently it's snowsports.
Speaker 1 (45:17):
And then it could be seventy the next day too.
That's how quickly it changes there.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
It is.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
It's crazy. It's enjoy your dinner tonight and we'll we'll
chat soon. Thank you. Awesome, see it and go wolves.
I can't wait to watch it big night tonight. Thanks man.
That is the voice of rucial radio. A lot of
people pigeonhole him and think he thinks he can only
think about puck. It's much more worldly than that. He's
(45:41):
a basketball guy, he's a stakeball guy, he's a steak guy,
he's a coffee guy, all those things. He's very, very
much a renaissance man. Lots of good text reacting to
our first hour, and this is, like I said, this
has happened for me. Man. We can, basically, I think,
fairly and justifiably go back and forth in various ways,
(46:05):
in various components on both the wild game last night
and what might be coming next, and the Wolves game
tonight and what we might consider coming next in that series,
as well my dream of a May that includes conversation
about both the hockey team and the basketball team. It
may not last long, we don't know, but at least
for the first couple of weeks in May, we got
(46:26):
it right in front.
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