Hopeless Sports Guy

The Florida Panthers were able to celebrate on home ice again. To be honest, this could be one of the best all-time teams we will discuss throughout NHL history.

If you want game tape on how to win a game in the Stanley Cup Finals... this is how the Florida Panthers get the job done. What a business-like performance.

Games can certainly get out of hand, but to see wild runs like this against two of the very best in NHL history is certainly shocking. Now the million-dollar question is what comes next.

The score line may have looked exactly like some pervious rounds, but to see "The Cats" put up this level of dominance on this stage in a game that matters so much... was pretty damn remarkable. Join the trio for this call, that was epic at times... physical, nasty and included some series talking points in intermission.

Look there are no words to describe what even happened in the first period alone. But we have taken an absolute cinema of Game 1 and crushed the expectations for that here tonight. This is the best game I have ever had the privilege of calling. Join Alec and I for the memories.

We got something in Game 1 of the 2025 rematch that we didn't get at all last year! Don't miss this one.

Get caught up before the big event with all the stats, stories and predictions you need to know! Yes, I've begrudgingly made my pick with analysis and not the heart! Still hope "The Cats" can do it again, PLEASE! (: Follow Our Live Broadcasts: On X, YouTube and Twitch. (@DatYinzerAlec, @JohnRyanOtt, @CooperHopkins) Replays via Podcasts: Hopeless Sports Guy & “Yinzer on the Mic. Written Coverage After The Game: Hopeless Sports Guy.  FLA-EDM Series Schedule (All TV Times Begin 8 p.m. EST, On-Air around 8:10)  TNT/truTV/Max (Not ABC, ESPN) Stateside Coverage This Season, Canada: CBC/Sportsnet.   Game 1: Wednesday, June 4 (Rogers Place) Game 2: Friday, June 6 (Rogers Place) Game 3: Monday, June 9 (Amerant Bank Arena) Game 4: Thursday, June 12 (Amerant Bank Arena) Game 5: Saturday, June 14 (Rogers Place) *if nec.* Game 6:  Tuesday, June 17 (Amerant Bank Arena) Game 7: Friday, June 20 (Rogers Place) 

The entire gang is back together for this pivotal matchup. If the Oilers win tonight... it sets up a Stanley Cup Finals rematch with the Panthers next week.

This Pacers team is a machine and Tyrese Haliburton just made NBA history with his stat line.

This was a defensive battle. The last time these two teams met in the preliminaries it was Switzerland who came away from a 3-0 victory. Leonardo Genoni has been unbeatable and what would take place would be an instant classic.

Join Ian Genge and I for this call... as we shared some harsh truths and discussed other topics too.

When it comes down to winning games consistently in the playoffs, it takes a full 60 minutes. Let this be a lesson to everyone. Holy cow, what a turnaround!

Sometimes the truth hurts.

There was a lot on the line in this game, and more then what we would see on the ice. This was one of the best playoff games of the year.

This is what a playoff game is supposed to look like. This was a battle for space and every play mattered.

Join us for one of the all-time broadcasts. What can you say?!

The series between Vegas and Edmonton has been back-and-forth so far. What a Game 3 this was. Join Alec, Ian and I for the call. Tons of excitement and some insightful conversations during the intermissions.

If Connor Hellebuyck can regain his Vezina form, this could be a very good series.

This game had a turn, and once it did... it was one-sided.

This is a very big series to begin the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and it got wild.

This electric series heads to a dramatic conclusion that it absolutely lived up to. Don't miss this call.

The Colorado Avalanche have retooled their entire roster during the 2024-2025 regular season for this. The Dallas Stars are trying to avoid an eighth-straight loss heading into the postseason , but critical injuries to Robertson and Heiskanen mean that the Stars have to split at American Airlines Center to start this critical series. Alec Nava (@DatYinzerAlec) will carry coverage of the first round of games 1-5 while I housesit for family, I will return during the start of May for Games 6-7 and beyond for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This game was one of the wildest ones I have ever seen! Come join the group for some fun and some bonus hockey along with live clinching scenarios.

This was a pretty exciting game with some unexpected results at times. Join Alec and I for the call. Baseball is back!

The Colorado Avalanche are now at full power after all of the moves pre and near the trade deadline. It was a 4-2 victory for Colorado in the pervious meeting in which Cooper Hopkins and I covered. Would much be the same this time in a solo call?

This game was already big as both Vancouver and Calgary are rivals that know each other well. It was the fourth and final meeting of the year. These two teams don't score a whole lot, but you wouldn't know that from taking in this game. Join us for this nail-biter.

It's almost the calendar turn of march and both the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets are in a playoff spot. It's going to be one half of a pivotal back-to-back between the two squads before playing at Ohio Stadium.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are starting to look like they used to. That's bad news for the rest of the league.

This ended up being a really good game and a battle in the crease. The NHL is back from the 4 Nations break inside a Pacific Division battle.

Very rarely are sequels as good as the original. But in this case USA and Canada was akin to the Ali vs. Frazier trilogy. This might very well be the best hockey game ever seen. The opener on Saturday drew over 10 million viewers. I expect this championship game to supersede even that! Enjoy this one. Also shoutout to Alec Nava for coverage through this entire tournament. I can't wait to work in the booth with him (among others) for real someday!

The United States were missing several players but still went toe-to-toe with Sweden. All of the scoring came early, but this game stayed close throughout.

This was a very tight game through the first 40 minutes of play. But once Brady and Matthew Tkachuk took over it was lights out for the "Stars and Stripes."

It was a great start for Sweden and the way that Canada came out like gangbusters this game seemed like it could be over very quickly. But it ended up being an instant classic. Join me alongside Alec Nava and Ian Genge!

This was a massive game for both Tampa Bay and Detroit as the top-3 spot was up for grabs in the Atlantic Division. It ended up being a wild game.

Two teams that are in the battle of the Western Conference Wild Card. Cooper and I take you through the broadcast and talk about all sorts of the latest sports topics this week! This ended up being a really entertaining and wacky game.

A game that went down to the wire between Detroit and Calgary and two intermissions loaded with the latest headlines and trades. This is a broadcast to not be missed! (:

I always love the start of the "Canadian Road Trip" getting to stay up late with all of you and covering the Detroit Red Wings. It came down to the wire against the Oilers. Hear the call right here!

This was set to be an excellent game with strong goaltending and both Washington and Calgary lived up to the billing in this one.

A little double-dip tonight.

This ended up being a very physical game! MSU looked to assert dominance after the loss at Yost yesterday.

Florida has won 20 of the last 21 meetings against Detroit in Sunrise! I wanted to cover this game because I didn't expect my hometown team to just showcase out. But that is the "Todd McLellan Era." Man, this was a fun game on ESPN!

The Iowa State Cyclones have been the AP Top 10 poll for 18 weeks! So, lets look at this matchup inside the "Big 12" and see if the Kansas Jayhawks are up to the task.

It's a star-studded matchup in opposite conferences. But the question is how far these playoff teams will go in the summer!

This game was an absolute classic! Join me for this one.

It's always something when Czechia and Canada get together in the World Junior Championships, Czechia has a chance to deny Canada a medal in back-to-back tournaments for the first time in over 30 years!

Games are usually tight with USA and Finland. Group stage will be officially be decided Tuesday. Time to sweat! Game of the tournament thus far.

It didn't look like one of these teams were ready to play coming back from the break. But that changed quickly. Also a WJC shocker on Day 2!

Finland can be considered a dark horse medalist, Canada is coming off a disappointing fifth-place finish in 2024. Gavin McKenna just turned 17-years-old, he will be the face of the future.

These are two teams that are playing well lately. But the gameplan is for low-scoring affairs.

It was a battle of stars in between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The former NBA champion was in prime form.

Once things hit the second half, OKC found their footing.