The Drive

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Avalanche as they look to fight off elimination in Game 4 tonight. Have the Avs mirrored the Nuggets in getting out-executed against a lesser team? How do the guys feel about Jared Bednar making a change at goal tender and putting in MacKenzie Blackwood to make his first start of the series? Have the Avs shown that playoff collapses are their identity, and the Stanley Cup run in 2022 was the aberration? Are the Avalanche front-runners that wither when times get tough? If the Avalanche lose tonight and get swept, will tonight be Bednar's final game as the Avs head coach? We wrap up the show with the guys sharing their predictions for tonight's game and comparing this series to the 2004 Boston Red Sox. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to Jamal Murray being named to an All-NBA team for the first time in his career. Zach explains why this achievement is bittersweet and why he is open to trading Jamal Murray this offseason while his stock is at an all-time high. How did we get to the point where the Avalanche are on the brink of elimination tonight in Game 4? Have the Avs shown they are front-runners, and when times get tough, they aren't built for it? Zach shares the history of teams to come back from down 3-0 in a series, and the guys debate if the Avs have it in them to get it done. Have the Avs outplayed the Golden Knights despite being in a 3-0 hole in the series? We pivot to the Broncos, and Phil fills us in on what the Broncos will be doing at OTA's next week. How will the absence of Bo Nix impact the work they can do? We hear from Justin Simmons and a story between him and Sean Payton on Payton not wanting Simmons to wear sleeves, Simmons refusing, and eventually getting let go from the Broncos. 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Avalanche as they look to fight off elimination in Game 4 tonight. Have the Avs mirrored the Nuggets in getting out-executed against a lesser team? Do the guys agree with Jared Bednar's decision to bench Scott Wedgewood and go with MacKenzie Blackwood? If the Avalanche lose tonight and get swept, will tonight be Bednar's final game as the Avs head coach? Have the Avs shown they are front-runners, and when times get tough, they aren't built for it? We go one-by-one and point out all the Avs players underachieving in this series. Today's "Three Count" includes the Knicks railroading their way to the NBA Finals and pushing their winning streak to 11 straight, if the Knicks have a chance against whoever wins the Western Conference, and a crazy stat with the most recent 4 teams to represent the East in the NBA Finals. We react to the reports that Nashville could be waiting to hire the Avs' Chris MacFarland as their next GM. Could the Avs lose their general manager to another organization over finances? 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the current state of the Colorado Avalanche as they go into Game 4, down 3-0. Is Cale Makar's absence in the first two games an excuse for the hole they've got themselves into? Zach and Phil compare the Avalanche to the Nuggets as teams to be favorites in every game and lose a playoff series. Zach shares the history of teams to come back from down 3-0 in a series, and the guys debate if the Avs have it in them to get it done. How have the Avs outplayed the Golden Knights according to the stats, but lost every game by 2 goals? How much faith do the guys have in the Avs to extend the series and send the series to a Game 5 in Denver? We pivot to the Broncos, and Phil fills us in on what the Broncos will be doing at OTA's next week. How will the absence of Bo Nix impact the work they can do? 

In hour 4 of The Memorial Day edition of The Drive, John Davis and Chad Andrus continue to dive into the Nuggets and Avalanche playoff disappointments this year. Are the Nuggets in a position to overhaul their roster to compete in the modern NBA? Is Denver still a destination for players around the NBA with Jokic as the fulcrum? Has Joe Sakic's playstyle from his NHL days led this Avalanche team to being too fast and skilled and not putting enough of an emphasis on toughness and defense? Is there any hope the Avalanche can mount a comeback from down 3-0 in the Western Conference Final? What do we need to see in Game 4 from the Avs to start believing? Are the Avalanche the "better" team in the series or just the more talented team? We wrap up the show comparing this Avs team to other teams in sports history with a high-flying offense that couldn't get it done in the playoffs. 

In hour 3 of The Memorial Day edition of The Drive, John Davis and Chad Andrus debate if the Avalanche have a chance at digging themselves out of a 3-0 hole in the Western Conference Final. Will the Avs defense be able to kick it in gear and give their offense a chance in games moving forward? Will/should Jared Bednar make another change at goaltender and give MacKenzie Blackwood a chance? Has goaltending been a main issue for the Avs and a reason they find themselves in a 3-0 hole? Is Blackwood a better option, or could he provide a spark off the bench? What has to go right for the Avalanche in Game 4 to push the series back to Denver? Are both the Nuggets and Avalanche not built to succeed in the playoffs? Do both teams need to overhaul their play style? 

In hour 2 of The Memorial Day edition of The Drive, John Davis and Chad Andrus debate which injury in Denver sports was the most impactful in derailing their team's championship hopes between Bo Nix, Cale Makar, and Aaron Gordon. Would the Nuggets have had a chance at winning a championship if Aaron Gordon were healthy? Would Bo Nix have led the Broncos to a Super Bowl if he hadn't missed the AFC Championship? Was Cale Makar the difference in the Avs being down 0-3 or being competitive in the series? How much did the coaches on each team help or hurt after each team sustained injuries? Today's "Three Count" features recapping the Spurs and Thunder as they go into game 5 in a 2-2 series stalemate, Princeton taking home the NCAA Men's Lacrosse championship, and previewing the Knicks and Cavaliers as New York looks to sweep the Eastern Conference Finals. Is trading Jamal Murray the best course of action for the Nuggets to become more flexible with the roster and also add youth and athleticism? 

Today's Memorial Day edition of The Drive kicks off with John Davis and Chad Andrus cross-talking with Dan Jacobs. The guys discuss the collapse of the Colorado Avalanche as they fall behind 3-0 in the Western Conference Final. Are both the Nuggets and Avalanche not built to succeed in the playoffs? Do both teams play too soft? John and Chad debate how much Jared Bednar is to blame for the position the Avalanche are in. Are there no excuses for Bednar with how great of a roster the Avs have? Has Bednar's message gone stale in the locker room? We react to Jamal Murray finally being named to an All-NBA team. Should the Nuggets trade Murray while his value is still high? How have other teams routinely been able to slow down the Avalanche's high-powered offense in the playoffs? 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Avalanche as they get set for Game 2 of the Western Conference Final tonight. We react to the news of Cale Makar being ruled out for the game, and debate who needs to step up for the Avs the most in Makar's absence. Zach shares the history on what a win or loss means for the Avs tonight. Will Jared Bednar's adjustments to the top 3 lines get the Avs' offense going? DenverSports.com's Will Petersen joins the show live from Ball Arena to discuss how the Avs can get to Carter Hart, his reaction to Cale Makar being ruled out of Game 2, and if MacKenzie Blackwood would take over in net if the Avs lose tonight. Will we see a desperate version of the Avalanche tonight? We wrap up the show with the guys sharing bold predictions for the game and their predictions for the result of the game. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach, Phil, and the guys compete in our weekly trivia competition against the morning show. Will we bounce back from a 1-3 performance from last week and beat the morning show's 2-2 performance from earlier today? We preview tonight's massively important Game 2 of the Western Conference Final for the Avalanche. We react to the news from this morning that Cale Makar will remain out and not play in Game 2. At what point are we expecting to see Makar in this series, if at all? We hear from Ben Dinucci on how the Broncos offense will look different with Davis Webb calling plays and how Bo Nix will have more time at the line of scrimmage with a quicker play call. We revisit Mike Klis' comments on Sean Payton still having a hand in play calling and could call 10-12 plays per game. We react to ESPN's Bobby Marks forecasting what Peyton Watson's contract will look like this offseason, and the guys debate if the Nuggets will be willing to take on that contract or what trades the Nuggets will make to take on an expensive contract. Does Watson want to be in Denver long-term? 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Avalanche as they get set for Game 2 of the Western Conference Final tonight. We react to the news of Cale Makar being ruled out for the game, and we share what our panic level is heading into the game. We hear from Paul Bissonette saying the Avs will not win the series without Makar, and Zach shares history on what a win or loss means for the Avs tonight. Who needs to step up for the Avs the most in Makar's absence? Is there a chance we see MacKenzie Blackwood in Game 3 if tonight doesn't go well for Scott Wedgewood? Today's "Three Count" features the Knicks winning their 9th straight playoff game with Josh Hart exploding offensively, and the Hurricanes getting blown out by the Canadians after the Canes 8-0 start to the playoffs. Our 9News Broncos insider Mike Klis joins the show to discuss how the Broncos will approach preseason football, what the offense will look like with Davis Webb calling plays, and if Sean Payton will still call a handful of plays each game. 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil live from Schoolyard Beer Garden. The guys reminisce on the last time they did a live show from Schoolyard and begin to preview tonight's massively important Game 2 of the Western Conference Final for the Avalanche. We react to the news from this morning that Cale Makar will remain out and not play in Game 2. At what point are we expecting to see Makar in this series if at all? What version of the Avs will we see tonight? Zach shares the history on what a win or loss means for the Avs tonight. We hear from Ben Dinucci on how the Broncos offense will look different with Davis Webb calling plays, how Webb's history with a spread offense will impact the Broncos offense, and more. We react to ESPN's Bobby Marks forecasting what Peyton Watson's contract will look like this offseason, and the guys debate if the Nuggets will be willing to take on that contract or what trades the Nuggets will make to take on an expensive contract. Does Watson want to be in Denver long-term? 

Hour 4

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue to react to Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. What does history say about teams when they fall behind 0-1 in a series? What were the guys' biggest takeaways from the loss? How did the absence of Cale Makar impact the game? We hear from coach Jared Bednar on the team missing Makar in the game and how they struggled in areas that he typically excels in. Zach shares the latest on Makar taking the ice today for the Avs in practice. We react to the breaking news of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch passing away. We hear from the captain, Gabe Landeskog, on learning from Game 1 and moving on to Game 2. Are the Avalanche built to handle adversity? Is Game 2 a "must-win"? What role did the officiating have in the loss? What adjustments will Coach Bednar make going into Game 2? 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Avalanche after they fell in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. What is the panic level for the guys for the Avs to make the Stanley Cup Final? What are the guys' updated predictions for how the series will end? Will the Knights' goaltender, Carter Hart, be the difference maker in the series? We hear from Jared Bednar on the lack of execution from the Avs and point out all the missed opportunities from the Avalanche to score goals. Today's "Three Count" includes Erik Johnson calling his shot that either Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews will be on the Wild in the near future, the Avs hoisting Bernie to the ceiling of Ball Arena at the Avs game last night, and the litany of injuries suffered in last night's Thunder and Spurs game. We react to Bleacher Report naming Aaron Gordon as the 5th most realistic trade target in the NBA this offseason. 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the Avalanche falling behind 0-1 in the Western Conference Final at home, the history when Nathan MacKinnon falls behind 0-1 in a series with home ice advantage, and if Scott Wedgewood will be the goaltender in Game 2. Zach and Phil continue to react to Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. What were their biggest takeaways from the loss? How did the absence of Cale Makar impact the game? Are we getting a new appreciation for Makar with how the team looked without him? We hear from coach Jared Bednar on the team missing Makar in the game and how they struggled in areas that he typically excels in. We pivot to the Broncos and react to Bill Barnwell calling the resigning of JK Dobbins the best move the Broncos made this offseason. 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Avalanche as we start our playoff preview show. How much will health impact this series for both the Avs and Golden Knights? Will the Avs' depth continue to be as successful as we saw in the first two rounds of the playoffs? Will Val Nichushkin and Brock Nelson step up after a slow start to the playoffs? How much will special teams impact who wins tonight and wins the series? DenverSports.com's Will Petersen joins the show to discuss the Golden Knights' dangerous shorthanded offense, the Avalanche's goaltender situation, and much more. How will the Avs neutralize Mitch Marner, the highest point scorer through the first two rounds of the playoffs? Will the Avs look rusty after not playing for a week? We wrap up the show with the guys sharing their bold predictions and x-factors for tonight and in the series. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil preview tonight's massive Game 1 between the Avalanche and Golden Knights. What will the absence of Cale Makar mean for the Avs? Will Val Nichushkin and Brock Nelson step up after a slow start to the playoffs? We hear from Nathan MacKinnon on going head-to-head against Jack Eichel and his relationship with Marty Necas. We react to Garrett Bolles and his comments on new offensive play-caller Davis Webb. Did Bolles inadvertently take a shot at Sean Payton in his praise for Webb? We react to the Broncos' preseason schedule being announced for the 2026 season. How will the Broncos approach the preseason? Will starters play? Who will the Broncos participate in a joint practice with? What will we learn about Davis Webb as a play-caller in the preseason games? 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Avalanche as they start the Western Conference Final tonight. Will the Avs take advantage of their championship window and win their second Stanley Cup in the last 5 years? Will the Avs' depth continue to be as successful as we saw in the first two rounds of the playoffs? We discuss when we will see Cale Makar in this series, as it was announced earlier today that he will not play in Game 1. Which team will have the edge at goal tender? Should we respect the Golden Knight's average regular season? Today's "Three Count" features Nashville officially being named the host of the Super Bowl in 2030, previewing Game 2 between the Thunder and Spurs tonight, and Aaron Rodgers announcing this will be his final season in the NFL. After seeing all the success from Kroenke-owned sports teams, we debate if ownership needs to be more hands-off. 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the massive game awaiting the Avalanche tonight and give Adam Munsterteiger a shoutout after he passed away far too early. Zach and Phil continue to preview the Avalanche and Golden Knights' Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. Who needs to step up the most for the Avs in Makar's absence? We react to Garrett Bolles and his comments on new offensive play-caller Davis Webb. Will we see a new gear unlocked in the Broncos' offense this season? Will Bo Nix attack downfield more than all the screen passes we saw last year? We react to the Broncos' preseason schedule being announced for the 2026 season. How will the Broncos approach the preseason? Will starters play? Who will the Broncos participate in a joint practice with? 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue to dive into the Avalanche as they get set to start the Western Conference Final tomorrow at Ball Arena. We react to the news of Cale Makar not participating in Avs practice today, and we debate how much ice time he will get tomorrow. We hear more from Jared Bednar and Chris MacFarland. DenverSports.com's Will Petersen joins the show to discuss his biggest takeaway from Avalanche practice today, who will step if Cale Makar isn't the 100% version of himself in Game 1, and how well the Avs in-season trades have performed in the playoffs. We hear from Nathan MacKinnon on Vegas's championship pedigree, and how this is the easy part of the season, the grind is the regular season. Is Scott Wedgewood secure as the starting goaltender for the Avalanche for the rest of the playoffs? We wrap up the show reacting to Jason Kidd being dismissed in Dallas as the head coach and debating if the Nuggets should and will take a look at him. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil are joined by Ken Boehlke of "SinBin Vegas" to discuss the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Boehlke discusses who the Golden Knights are as a team, Mitch Marner's hot start to the playoffs, and how the team has changed since firing their head coach and hiring John Tortorella as the interim coach. How are Vegas fans feeling about Carter Hart in net? We react to the instant classic game between the Thunder and Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals last night. Have the Nuggets been left behind in the Western Conference with how young, athletic, and defensive-minded San Antonio and Oklahoma City look? Are we in store for a "reset" year from the Nuggets to get under the luxury tax? Will Nuggets ownership be willing to run it back and pay the heavy repeater tax? We preview the Avalanche and Golden Knights Western Conference Final. Are the Avs in for a knock-out, physical series? We hear from Jared Bednar on the goaltender dynamics in the series and much more. 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil finish up their conversation on the Nuggets and if they have been left behind in the Western Conference. We pivot to the Broncos and hear Dr. Chao on Patrick Mahomes' ACL recovery. Will Mahomes be able to extend plays in the early part of the season? Will the Chiefs rely on the run game more than usual after signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to a big contract this offseason? We react to the news of Rashee Rice violating his probation and being ordered to spend 30 days in jail. Today's "Three Count" includes Shedeur Sanders in a quarterback battle with Deshaun Watson in Cleveland, the Canadians taking down the Sabers in Game 7 to move onto the ECF, and previewing tonight's Game 1 between the Knicks and Cavaliers. We debate if the Rockies should be interested in trading Mickey Moniak as he's having one of the best seasons in the NL. 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the instant classic game between the Thunder and Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Has the Nuggets' championship window closed with how young, athletic, and defensive-minded San Antonio and Oklahoma City looked last night? Zach and Phil continue to break down Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and how it relates to the Nuggets. Is Victor Wembanyama already the best player on the planet at age 22? Are the Nuggets "lucky" to have won their one championship in 2023? Are we in store for a "reset" year from the Nuggets to get under the luxury tax? Will Nuggets ownership be willing to run it back and pay the heavy repeater tax? We preview the Avalanche and Golden Knights Western Conference Final. Are the Avs in for a knock-out, physical series? 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos and their schedule. What does Phil make of the Broncos' first 6 games of the season? Would the guys take a 3-3 start to the season? Will Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix be ready to play in their Monday Night Football matchup in week 1? Phil goes through the Broncos' schedule and picks every game as a win or a loss. How do the guys feel about the week 10 bye for the Broncos? We hear from Jared Bednar on the Golden Knights' depth and what style of hockey we will see in the Western Conference Final. Are the Avalanche in for an easy series? We wrap up the show discussing the history Nikola Jokic made by finishing second in NBA MVP voting, as well as the Trailblazers being interested in a Denver Nuggets assistant coach for the head coaching vacancy. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil dive into the Rockies and debate if the organization should trade Antonio Senzatela before this season's trade deadline. With Senzatela revitalizing his career in the bullpen, what could the Rockies get in return for him? We pivot to the Avalanche and hear from Jared Bednar on the challenge the Golden Knights bring in the Western Conference Final. We react to the latest NFL Super Bowl odds and where the Broncos rank in the odds. Are the Broncos being disrespected after all the success they had last year, but still having the same Super Bowl odds as before last season? We react to SGA officially winning his second NBA MVP award, doing it for the second consecutive year. Although Jokic didn't win the award, the guys share what history Jokic made by finishing in the top 2 for the 6th straight year. We preview the Western Conference Final between the Avalanche and Golden Knights. Is this series more likely to be a sweep or go the distance of 7 games? 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos and their schedule. What does Phil make of the Broncos' first 6 games of the season? How much room for error will Davis Webb have as a first-time play caller? Will Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix be ready to play in their Monday Night Football matchup in week 1? Phil goes through the Broncos' schedule and picks every game. Today's "Three Count" features Phil recapping his vacation in Hawaii, Zach recapping his weekend, and previewing the NBA Conference Finals, which kick off tonight with the Thunder hosting the Spurs. Are the Spurs and Thunder the next great NBA rivalry? Will SGA receiving his MVP award tonight inspire Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs to pull off an upset in Game 1?

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss Phil's vacation, his first time going to the beach, and keeping up with the Avalanche from Hawaii. Zach and Phil react to the latest NFL Super Bowl odds and where the Broncos rank in the odds. Are the Broncos being disrespected after all the success they had last year, but still having the same Super Bowl odds as before last season? With all the Broncos returning starters, the additions of Jaylen Waddle and a new play caller in Davis Webb, will they be even better than last season? We preview the Avalanche and Golden Knights Western Conference Final. Zach shares the history of these two teams meeting in the playoffs, and the guys debate if the Avs are in for an easy series. We react to SGA officially winning his second NBA MVP award, doing it for the second consecutive year. Although Jokic didn't win the award, the guys share what history Jokic made by finishing in the top 2 for the 6th straight year. 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Will debate where the Avalanche's 3-0 comeback on Wednesday ranks among the best comeback wins in Denver sports history. We go through all the other candidates from the Rockies, Nuggets, Broncos, and Avs. We break down John Elway's "The Drive", the Broncos coming back from 24-0 with Peyton Manning, and the Broncos coming back against the Giants last season when trailing 26-8 in the 4th quarter. Where do the Nuggets' 3-1 comebacks in the bubble rank on the list? We share our weekend plans, and Zach gives an update on his son's cursing. We break down the Broncos 5 most important games of the season. We wrap up the show reacting to Colin Cowherd agreeing with Will that the NFL is conspiring against Sean Payton and the Broncos by giving them a tough first 6 games to the schedule. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Will react to Mike Klis's comments on Bo Nix's offseason procedures on his ankle. Are the guys buying that Bo Nix's first surgery went so well that they moved up a surgery planned a year from now, to this offseason? Why has Bo Nix's recovery timeline changed so many times? We compete in our weekly trivia match against the morning show. Will we be able to beat their 3-1 performance from this morning? How concerned are the guys with Cale Makar after he was seen struggling with a hip and shoulder injury during Game 5 of the series? Will he be available to play to start the Western Conference Final? How big of an impact on the series would it be if Makar is not the best version of himself? 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Will dive into the Broncos' schedule after it was released yesterday. Are the Broncos being disrespected for having only 5 nationally televised games this year, when 13 other teams have more? We go through and rank the top 5 most important games on the schedule for the Broncos. Will weeks 16 and 17 be for home-field advantage in the playoffs as the Broncos take on the Bills and Patriots? Is week 1 at Kansas City too early to be the most important game of the season? Today's "Three Count" features the NHL levying a huge fine and taking away a draft pick from the Golden Knights after they refused to do media after winning their second round series, and Mitch Marner potentially passing up Nathan MacKinnon for the goal of the postseason in the NHL. Our 9News Broncos insider, Mike Klis joins the show to discuss his biggest takeaways from the Broncos schedule, if the NFL is purposely making the Broncos schedule tough in the first 6 games, and much more. 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Will cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the Broncos' schedule and whether the NFL is conspiring against the Broncos by giving them an incredibly tough schedule to start the season. Zach and Will debate where the Avalanche's 3-0 comeback on Wednesday ranks among the best comeback wins in Denver sports history. We break down John Elway's "The Drive", the Broncos coming back from 24-0 with Peyton Manning, and the Nuggets coming back from 3-1 in multiple series. How much does, when these comebacks occurred in the season or postseason, factor into their greatness? How concerned are the guys with Cale Makar after he was seen struggling with a hip and shoulder injury during Game 5 of the series? Will he be available to play to start the Western Conference Final? 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Will continue to break down the Broncos 2026 schedule with the leaked schedules that are being released today. We go week by week and pick the winners between the Broncos and their opponents. How difficult will the first 6 weeks be for the Broncos? Who will be the starting quarterback for the Raiders when they travel to Denver? Are the Dolphins and Cardinals "must-win" games for the Broncos? What will the Broncos final record be? Will the Broncos be able to repeat their success from last year and win the division again? How many games should the Broncos have in primetime on national television? We break down the Avalanche's historic comeback in last night's game to close out the Wild in 5 games. What were the biggest moments for Zach and Will? We wrap up the show reacting to the NHL's Western Conference Final schedule for the Avalanche, and John Davis and Chad Andrus join the show to share their thoughts on the Avs huge win last night. 

Hour 3

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Will finish their conversation on the Broncos' schedule in 2026. Are the Broncos in for regression after going 14-3 last year? We pivot back to the Avalanche as they came from behind to close out the Wild in Game 5 last night. After the Avs showed off their depth in last night's win, the guys debate if this is the deepest Avs team we have seen in the Nathan MacKinnon era. The guys give Chris MacFarland his credit for the in-season trades he made, which are showing up huge in the playoffs. We hear from Jared Bednar on what his message was to the locker room to come back after a shaky first period. Today's "Three Count" includes the Rockies also coming back from down 3 to win yesterday behind Mickey Moniak's impressive performance, James Harden and the Cavs coming back from down 9 to win in Detroit, and Zach's parenting conundrum with his son cussing at the age of 7. Who should we be rooting for in the Ducks and Golden Knights series to be the opponent for the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final? 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Will cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the unbelievable comeback from the Avalanche in last night's series-clinching Game 5. How were the guys feeling in the first two periods vs how they were feeling during the last 4 minutes and overtime? Zach and Will continue to break down the Avalanche's thrilling win in overtime last night to move on to the Western Conference Finals. How special was Nathan MacKinnon's game-tying goal with under two minutes left? Will finally admits that the Avalanche won the Mikko Rantanen trade with how well Marty Necas has performed in the playoffs. We react to a few Broncos games sprinkled throughout their schedule being leaked online. What do the guys make of the tough start to the schedule? Is the NFL spreading itself out too much with all the games on Wednesdays and Fridays? 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and James take a deep dive into the Avalanche and Wild as they get set for Game 5 in Ball Arena. Will the Avs close out a series with a win at home for the first time in 18 years? Zach shares the disappointing recent history for the Avalanche in Game 5's at home. DenverSports.com's Will Petersen joins the show live from Ball Arena to discuss the guy's confidence level in the Avalanche tonight, who will be the goaltender for the Avs tonight, and much more. We have an update on who will be in net for the Avs tonight and if Lehkonen and Malinski will be available for the game. We hear from Jared Bednar on what the Avs need to focus on to finish the series tonight. We wrap up the show withe the guys sharing their predictions for the game and their keys to victory for the Avs. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and James preview the Avalanche and Wild Game 5 tonight in Ball Arena. Zach shares the disappointing recent history for the Avalanche in Game 5's at home. Does this show the Avs lack a killer instinct? We react to Colorado's first game of the season being on national television against Georgia Tech. Are the guys surprised CU has a standalone nationally televised game after losing so much attention after a 3-9 season last year? Why have we only found out about one of the Broncos' games this season? Who would the guys choose to be the Broncos' second opponent of the season after playing the Chiefs in Kansas City in week 1? Zach shares the pattern of Sean Payton's team starting slow the past three seasons since he took over in Denver. Zach also shares the NFL history and why it is so important for the Broncos to win a Super Bowl in the next two seasons. Will Sean Payton sign a contract extension with the Broncos after this season?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and James take a deep dive into the Broncos and what we know about their schedule so far. We take a quick detour in the conversation to discuss the Nuggets not conducting a full search for the coaching and front office openings last year, and how poor their practice facility is. We return to discussing the Broncos and the pattern of the team's slow starts the past three seasons under Sean Payton. Zach shares the NFL history of how important it is for Sean Payton to win a Super Bowl in the next two seasons. Today's "Three Count" features the Vikings being interested in Broncos assistant general manager Reed Burckhardt for their general manager vacancy, the Rockies getting a close-up look at Paul Skeens after he struck out 10 batters in yesterday's game, and Dylan Harper going off in the Western Conference Semifinals for the Spurs as a rookie. Does Sean Payton have a new "pet cat" in Caleb Lohner after he popped out at Broncos rookie minicamp last week? 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and James cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss what they were doing 18 years ago as the Avalanche look to close out a series with a win at home for the first time in 18 years. Zach and James preview tonight's Game 5 between the Avalanche and Wild. Will MacKenzie Blackwood start in goal again for the second straight game? Is Scott Wedgewood getting the short end of the stick by getting replaced after one bad game? Will the Avs make it out of the second round for the third time in the last 25 years? Zach shares the disappointing recent history for the Avalanche in Game 5's at home. We react to Colorado's first game of the season being on national television against Georgia Tech. Will CU return to their 2024 form or will the program continue to spiral? 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and James finish their conversation on the Nuggets and if they will fully buy into spending money during the second half of Jokic's prime. We pivot to the Avalanche after they took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Wild last night. Would a second Stanley Cup secure Jared Bednar as a top-two coach in Denver sports history? Is it fair to call Bednar's tenure a disappointment so far? We discuss who the Avalanche could potentially play in the Stanley Cup final and break down the Hurricanes and Canadiens playstyle. The guys debate if George Paton will outlast Sean Payton in the Broncos organization after Paton signed a 5-year contract extension last week. Will Sean Payton sign a second contract with the Broncos? We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com's Aniello Piro joining the show to discuss what we learned in Denver sports today. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and James break down the Avalanche's 5-2 win in Minnesota last night to take a 3-1 series lead over the Wild. Can anyone beat the Avalanche if they are playing their best hockey? Does it matter who is in net for the Avalanche moving forward? We react to the news of the day in the Broncos opening up the season with Monday Night Football on the road in Kansas City. Are the Broncos getting a raw deal by having to travel in week 1 after winning the AFC West? Dante shares the early betting odds for the game, and we debate if it is an appropriate spread. Which quarterback is most likely not to be ready for training camp between Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes? Zach voices his concerns with the Nuggets' two best players on the team being their two worst defenders. How can the Nuggets surround Jokic and Murray with plus defenders? The guys entertain a potential trade between the Nuggets and Cavs, which would bring Evan Mobley to Denver. 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and James take a deep dive into the Avalanche after their huge win in Game 4 last night. Can anyone beat the Avalanche if they are playing their best hockey? What went into Jared Bednar's decision to start MacKenzie Blackwood, and who will he start in Game 5? What did the guys make of Josh Manson's double minor when punching with the end of the stick in his hand? Is Manson a dirty player? Did the Avs need an "enforcer"? Will the Avs close out their first playoff series at home for the first time in 18 years? Today's "Three Count" includes new Broncos TE Justin Joly being listed by ESPN as a non-first round pick that will make an impact in their rookie season and Avs' general manager Chris MacFarland being named a finalist for the NHL's General Manager of the Year Award. The guys debate if George Paton will outlast Sean Payton in the Broncos organization after Paton signed a 5-year contract extension last week. 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and James cross-talking with Dover and Jake. The guys discuss Nikola Jokic's standing in NBA history and if he will be considered on the same level as Dirk Nowitzki with only one championship or Giannis Antetokounmpo with multiple MVPs. Zach and James dive into the Avalanche's 5-2 win in Minnesota last night to take a 3-1 series lead over the Wild. We react to the breaking news of the Broncos opening up the season with Monday Night Football on the road in Kansas City. Are the Broncos getting a raw deal by having to travel in week 1 after winning the AFC West? Is this the best-case scenario for the Broncos getting Patrick Mahomes in week 1 after a torn ACL ended his season last year? Zach voices his concerns with the Nuggets' two best players on the team being their two worst defenders. How can the Nuggets surround Jokic and Murray with plus defenders?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and James react to the breaking news of Broncos legend Craig Morton passing away over the weekend before taking a deep dive into tonight's pivotal Avalanche and Wild Game 4. How does the series change depending on which team wins tonight? Who will start at goaltender tonight for the Avs? Has Jared Bednar and the Avalanche created a goaltender controversy by pulling Scott Wedgewood during Saturday's game? Where did the Avalanche's offseason disappear in Game 3, and will Brock Nelson finally get going with a goal? We react to the breaking news of MacKenzie Blackwood starting in net tonight, as well as two key Avalanche players missing the game with injuries. We wrap up the show with the guys sharing how nervous they are for the Avs heading into Game 4 and sharing their predictions for the game. 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and James debate if Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar made a mistake by muddying the waters by pulling Scott Wedgewood at goaltender during Game 3. We hear from Bednar on not announcing a starting goaltender in tonight's Game 4. How much is Wedgewood to blame for allowing 3 goals during his time in net? How many times can Bednar pull the lever of changing goalies, and can he go back to Wedgewood if Blackwood starts tonight and doesn't play well? The guys break down Josh Kroenke's season-ending press conference from last week and voice their dislikes from his comments. We hear from Josh Kroenke, calling himself the "Chief Culture Officer", and Zach points out the irony of Josh not being in the building on a day-to-day basis. We recap the Broncos' rookie minicamp and what Sean Payton had to say about the group they had at practice. We hear Sean Payton's update on Bo Nix's ankle and debate if Nix will be ready to roll for the Broncos' offseason program. What are the guy's level of concern with Nix's ankles moving forward?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and James continue their conversation on the Nuggets and Josh Kroenke labeling himself as the "Chief Culture Officer". Did Kroenke not set the expectation of the Nuggets as a championship or bust team? We pivot to the Broncos and discuss Sean Payton's update on Bo Nix's ankle. Will Nix be ready to roll for the Broncos' offseason program? Is there reason to be concerned with Nix's ankles moving forward? Today's "Three Count" features a look around the NHL and NBA playoffs, both the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers getting swept in the second round of their playoff runs, and our reaction to the NBA Draft Lottery results. We dive back into the Avalanche and their disappointing Game 3 loss on Saturday. Did the Avs let the Wild back in the series with their win? Do the Avalanche have the right leadership to refocus and have a better approach in Game 4? 

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and James cross-talking with Dover and Jake. The guys discuss the letdown from the Avalanche in Game 3. Have Jared Bednar and the Avalanche created a goaltender controversy by pulling Scott Wedgewood during the game? Zach and James continue their conversation on the Avalanche and their loss in Game 3. How much is Wedgewood to blame for allowing 3 goals during his time in net? Did the Avs get too high on themselves after starting 6-0 in the playoffs? We hear from Jared Bednar on pulling Wedgewood and not announcing who will be in goal tonight for the Avs. The guys break down Josh Kroenke's season-ending press conference from last week and voice their dislikes from his comments. We hear from Josh Kroenke, calling himself the "Chief Culture Officer", and Zach points out the irony of Josh not being in the building on a day-to-day basis. 

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Will take a deep dive into the Nuggets as their ownership, front office, and head coach spoke today. Will the Nuggets "run it back" with a very similar roster next season? What were the guy's biggest takeaways from Kroenke's press conference? Were there any comments from Josh Kroenke that frustrated Zach and Will? Has Kroenke shown that he is willing to spend money on the organization off the court? We hear from Josh Kroenke on "running it back, what success looks like for him with the team, and much more. We wrap up the show previewing tomorrow's Game 3 between the Avalanche and Wild. Who will the Wild turn to in net after playing two different goaltenders in Games 1 and 2? What are the keys to victory for the Avs to take a 3-0 series lead? 

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach, Will, and the guys compete in our weekly trivia competition against the morning show. We recap the funny moments from the morning show's trivia and try to beat their 2-2 performance from earlier today. We dive into the Avalanche as they look to put Minnesota in the grave by taking a 3-0 lead tomorrow. We look at the live betting odds for both the Avs and Hurricanes out east. Where will the Wild turn to for goaltending after playing two different goalies in the first two games? We react to the news of the day in George Paton signing a 5-year contract extension with the Broncos. How much credit does Paton deserve for the Broncos' recent success? We look back at all the draft picks he has nailed since coming to Denver. 

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Will take a deep dive into the Nuggets as their ownership, front office, and head coach spoke today. We hear from Josh Kroenke and his thoughts on Aaron Gordon's health. How concerning has Gordon's lack of availability been the past two seasons? How much will finances and ducking below the tax factor into the Nuggets' moves this offseason? What did the guys make of Kroenke saying everything is on the table besides trading Jokic? Will the Nuggets "run it back" for the 2026-2027 season? Has Kroenke shown that he is willing to spend money on the organization off the court? Today's "Three Count" features what the guys are looking for at the Broncos rookie minicamp this weekend and Pat McAfee hopping on the Avs bandwagon. Our 9News Broncos' insider, Mike Klis joins the show to discuss George Paton signing a contract extension with the Broncos, if Paton has more power today than he did a few years ago, and what he is looking for at rookie minicamp.