The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final unraveled early for the Oilers after a first-minute breakdown led to a Brad Marchand goal and spiralled into chaos, capped by a mercy pull for Stuart Skinner and a game full of penalties, missed assignments, and frustration. Evander Kane’s undisciplined play and a lack of composure across the roster derailed any chance at establishing a rhythm and the Panthers pounced on a discombobulated Edmonton team. Tensions boiled over late with line brawls and antics between benches—including Jake Walman’s water squirting and TNT's Brian Boucher catching stray splash damage. Florida, meanwhile, continues to show depth and composure, buoyed by standout performances from Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett, even as stars like Barkov and Tkachuk remain quiet offensively.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pete DeBoer was fired by the Dallas Stars just days after their playoff exit, despite three straight conference finals and a strong record—his handling of goalie Jake Oettinger and blunt postgame comments may have factored in. Meanwhile, Marco Sturm (Boston) and under-the-radar Dan Muse (Pittsburgh) landed head coaching jobs as the NHL’s hiring cycle continues. On the ice, the Oilers took Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in OT with a picture-perfect team goal finished by Draisaitl, as captain Connor McDavid came alive late in the game. Sam Bennett’s controversial 1st period goal stood after a failed goalie interference challenge, and Edmonton’s depth—including Kapanen and a resurgent Kane—shined. Oh, and Leafs fans were split as Rory McIlroy repped the team at the Canadian Open, sparking more than a couple of "golf" chirps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Panthers and Oilers will begin Wednesday after nearly a week-long layoff, giving players rest but leaving everyone itching to play. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl appear calmer and more mature under the bright lights and the pressure of expectations this playoff season. The Oilers appear confident, despite missing Zach Hyman, while Florida enters the Finals healthy and battle-tested. Goaltending could be pivotal, with Stuart Skinner now facing a crease-crashing Panthers team and Sergei Bobrovsky posing a tougher test for Oilers shooters. Coaching styles also clash: Maurice is philosophical and chatty, Knoblauch quiet and methodical. With deep lineups and playoff experience on both sides, who will the X-Factors be... and what are Ray & Dregs Stanley Cup Final predictions?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Florida Panthers are headed to their third straight Stanley Cup Final after rallying past Carolina in Game 5, continuing the state of Florida's Eastern Conference dominance. Carter Verhaeghe scored the winner, showcasing the value of patience and great scouting. An awkward handshake moment between coaches Paul Maurice and Rod Brind’Amour sparked debate about who belongs in the post-series tradition. In the West, the Oilers prepare for Game 5 against Dallas with Mattias Ekholm expected to return from injury but Zach Hyman is likely out for the remainder of the playoffs. Evander Kane and Corey Perry could see increased icetime to try and offset the loss of Hyman as they have both impressed so far in these playoffs. 'Tis the season for Conn Smythe chatter, a year with no clear favourite emerging, but McDavid, Bouchard, Barkov, and Tkachuk are all in the mix. Could a goalie surprise?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Oilers crushed the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 3, with Connor McDavid's late second-period goal shifting momentum after a strong Dallas frame. Coach Pete DeBoer admitted that moment deflated the Stars, who have allowed too many prime chances and seen several key forwards go quiet. Stuart Skinner has outplayed Jake Oettinger so far, especially in Game 3, and looks composed and confident. A missed puck-over-glass call on Brett Kulak turned into a pivotal non-penalty, while Petrovic's crushing hit sidelined Connor Brown. DeBoer gave a lukewarm endorsement of Oettinger’s play, as the series enters Edmonton’s window of dominance under Kris Knoblauch in Games 4–7 (16–2 over the last two seasons). Out East, Carolina is down 3–0 to Florida, and with their stars underperforming, hope is fading. Ray highlights Florida’s depth and how players like Forsling and Mikkola—once overlooked—are thriving. Team USA captured the World Hockey Championship, honouring Johnny Gaudreau with a jersey tribute for his dedication to representing his country. Plus, the complaint department and talkative benches in Ask Ray & Dregs Anything.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Game 1 of the Western Final, the Oilers blew a 3–1 lead, taking three costly penalties that led to three Stars power play goals in a disastrous third period. Edmonton’s PK struggled and despite dominating early and looking faster, the Oilers were undone by Dallas’s depth, with Seguin and Duchene stepping up. In the East, Florida leads 1–0 after a chippy opener that saw Brad Marchand ejected after a shot from Gostisbehere sparked chaos. The Panthers look like the most complete team again, this year. Elsewhere, the Leafs have given the Islanders permission to speak with Brendan Shanahan, is the writing on the wall for the (current) Toronto exec on the expiring contract? In Winnipeg, the Jets want to keep pending UFA Ehlers, but he may test the market. And with John Tavares also approaching UFA status, questions remain about his future and whether the Leafs need to change course.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were humiliated by a score of 6-1 in Game 7 by the Panthers, capping off a meek exit with back-to-back home losses by a combined score of 12-2. Auston Matthews called out the team’s lack of cohesion and effort, while Ray questions the accountability at the top. Florida’s energy and depth overwhelmed Toronto, with the Leafs’ bottom six offering little resistance. Joe Woll wasn’t to blame, but goaltending and mental resilience seemed to be lacking. Offseason questions loom large: Shanahan’s future, whether or not Marner or Tavares return and a team in need of serious reimagining. In the West, Dallas eliminated Winnipeg in emotional fashion, with Mark Scheifele being highly involved in the game, playing just hours after his father’s passing. The Oilers-Stars conference final rematch is set, a superb coaching matchup with both teams looking strong and storylines galore. Oilers have Ekholm still to return from injury and the Stars have some forwards who could still explode offensively.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an update to today's earlier episode, Ray and Dregs update the official announcements of Adam Foote to the Canucks and Rick Tocchet to the Flyers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Stars look like a complete team, with deadline pickups Granlund, Ceci (and Rantanen, of course) making big impacts as they took a 3-1 series lead over Winnipeg, who have now lost 9 straight road playoff games. Edmonton will try to close out Vegas on Wednesday. They have a 3 games to 1 advantage after a dominant shutout win on Monday, with Stu Skinner stepping up and the Oilers continuing their trend of peaking in games 4-7 of playoff series. Florida vs. Toronto might look like a coin flip on paper, but Game 5 feels like a must-win for the Leafs. Marner and Matthews need to step up offensively, and Craig Berube might consider a Morgan Rielly return to the PP unit. Ken Holland is set to become GM of the LA Kings, opting to stay involved and in the West. Rick Tocchet is a hot coaching name, Seattle and Boston have interest, but Philly seems the most likely fit. Meanwhile, Vancouver is zeroing in on their next coach, with Manny Malhotra, Adam Foote, and Washington assistant Mitch Love in the mix.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dallas takes a 2-1 series lead over Winnipeg after a controversial and confounding winning goal that has the Jets fuming. Mason Marchment’s tap of an official sparks debate over discipline standards, while Mikko Rantanen continues his playoff dominance. The Leafs and Panthers got nasty in Game 3, with questions swirling around OEL’s hit, Domi’s late-game penalty, and whether Matthews is in his own head. Sergei Bobrovsky has locked in after a rough start, and Berube may consider shuffling Toronto’s lines. Stu Skinner gets the start again for the Oilers, who coughed up Game 3 with defensive misplays, while Vegas looks to seize momentum, possibly without Mark Stone. Plus, Game 4 between the Canes and Caps feels like a must-win for Washington, who must solve Carolina’s tight defensive structure and home-ice dominance in order to keep the series alive. Plus, in Ask Ray and Dregs Anything... McDavid and Draisaitl - together or apart? The Berube effect on the Leafs and is one series simply lacking excitement?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.