Good Ol Hockey Podcast

Stick taps to the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. They came to Vegas. They saw the ga-ga. They conquered. Tom Franklin talks about how the Caps EARNED their Cup, how Vegas has nothing to be ashamed about, and tries to jump into the shoes of your average Capitals fan in the final 7 minutes of the game.

NBC wants Alex Ovechkin to win a Stanley Cup so bad, but if he wins it over Evgeny Kuznetsov, it'll be the biggest robbery since we lost the entire 2004-05 season due to lockout. Oh, and the Caps are kind of routing Vegas this series. Tom Franklin sprinkles some salt on this episode of the Good Ol' Hockey Podcast!

Does home ice advantage matter in the Stanley Cup Finals? Do humans require air to breathe, water to drink, and the ability to communicate with one another? Tom Franklin talks about how home ice is an advantage for the Washington Capitals in their series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Dominik Hasek is Braden Holtby's spirit animal and Washington has figured out Marc-Andre Fleury's backdoor problem. Tom Franklin goes over game two and where this series stands after two fun, fun, fun games played.

Fort Wayne says goodbye to two of its best players - Gabriel Desjardins and Mason Baptista - to foreign leagues. How does this happen? Tom Franklin explores the vice grip ECHL teams are put in financially and what being "in one" in minor league hockey is like.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals in the book and it was so, so glorious. Tom Franklin gushes all over it and then gives us a preview of the series, explaining that not all underdogs are created equal and why it's ok to like or not like the Vegas story.

Did the San Jose Sharks just fork over too much money for Evander Kane? Tom Franklin looks into just how much goalscoring is worth and weighs that against all the other maturity baggage that comes with Kane. Also, does the Kane deal hurt the free agent market by inflating it to crazy levels?

The Vegas Golden Knights are in the Stanley Cup Finals and your team probably helped get them there. Tom Franklin delves into how the Knights were built and also discusses how Vegas has brought far more good than harm to fandom and hockey.

How did we get here? None of the teams left in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (Tampa, Washington, Winnipeg and Vegas) should be in the conference finals. But here we are in this magical, amazing NHL playoff run. Tom Franklin gives his thoughts and predictions after going 4-for-4 in the Conference Semis.

One round down, three to go and it only gets better from here. Tom Franklin gives us a quick review of the first round and examines what should be a very intriguing second round.

As Vegas marches on in the NHL playoffs, Tommie Lee takes a look at the phenomenon that is the Golden Knights' fan outreach. And he does it from South Bend, which as he explains, seems appropriate for Vegas.

No Blues? No problem. It's the NHL playoffs, the best playoffs in any sport. Tom Franklin's excited, even if the Blues aren't in them. Tom breaks down each series and offers his picks.

Instead of sleeping on it, Tom Franklin pulled out his Blue Yeti and spewed some truth and malice over Jake Allen after an embarrassing 4-3 loss to Chicago that puts the Blues hopes of the playoffs in jeopardy. Complete with depraved laughter, historical lamenting, and in the end, acceptance.

Just like hockey fans around the country, Hawks fan Tommie Lee let out a gasp when a 36-year-old accountant was called into action in a NHL game. And yet, that's just one reason he loves this game.

In this episode, Tom Franklin looks at the four youngsters (Erik Foley, Austin Poganski, Nolan Stevens, and Mitch Reinke) the surging Blues have picked up down the stretch.

The St. Louis Blues are two points out of a playoff spot with nine games left to go. Can they actually make the playoffs after February's swoon? Tom Franklin explores that and the underappreciated Jaden Schwartz. (Thanks Silent Partner for the intro!)

As the season winds down, Tommie Lee catches up with the other love in his hockey life: the Golden Knights. He also examines the formerly-farcical notion that the Knights are Stanley Cup contenders. (Thanks Silent Partner for the intro!)

The Fort Wayne Komets are in the playoffs! Darrin Wright celebrates that fact and gives one final stick tap to the Quad City Mallards. (Silent Partner, thanks for the intro as always)

(Repost because Tom Franklin made a boo-boo in editing) The Quad City Mallards are leaving the hockey world and a new team from St. John's/Newfoundland is taking its place. Tom Franklin looks at the impact on the Komets, the impact on the conferences in the league, and looks at the struggle minor league hockey teams have in just staying solvent. (Thanks Silent Partner for the intro!)

It's been 30 years since Brett Hull was dealt to St. Louis from Calgary. Tom Franklin goes over a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article that offered a somewhat surprising opinion on the deal (upon hindsight) and notes that not all trade deadline deals, like this one, can be evaluated right away. Article: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/years-ago-brett-hull-became-a-st-louis-blue-here/article_99167512-4b90-5cd6-86d6-7b47e1baf1cb.html (Thanks Silent Partner for the intro)