The FAN Morning Show

The FAN Morning Show with Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning goes into its final hour of the week fully focused on the Leafs-Bruins series heading into a pressure-packed Game 7 in Boston. They enlist the help of two hockey insiders in Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli and Sportsnet’s own Luke Fox to dig deeper into this weekend's do-or-die game. First, Frank shares what's turned the tide in the past two games, who needs this win more, how a loss could impact the futures on both sides, and how both teams have deployed their goalies. Later, Luke joins the conversation to discuss the Leafs' impressive play without Auston Matthews, Toronto's patient approach, last night's incredible crowd at Scotiabank Arena, and Matthew Knies' playoff impact (28:11). Will it continue on Saturday? We’ll all be watching to find out. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On hour two of The FAN Morning Show Ben Ennis & Brent Gunning talk about the possibility of Auston Matthews sliding back into the line-up, what it means and how or if it would alter what the Maple Leafs have going in the last 2 games. The guys bring on the author of Leafs Notebook, Anthony Petrielli (22:35) of Maple Leafs Hotstove. The trio discusses if the Leafs have found the formula to beat their longtime rival the Bruins or if they’ve always had it and are just executing better. They also discuss how the crowd at Scotiabank Arena was engaged and reacted appropriately. The hour ends with the daily Wake and Rake! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning kick off The FAN Morning Show discussing the good vibes around Toronto’s team; how even though there were two “stars” of last night’s game in Joseph Woll and William Nylander, it truly was another determined and disciplined complete team effort. They talk about how the perception of the Maple Leafs has changed in 6 days and how it could change even more with a Game 7 win. They look at it from the Boston perspective (32:18) given some post-game comments from their head coach Jim Montgomery and if they are feeling the pressure of maybe coughing up another 3-1 series lead The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning kick off Hour 3 on The FAN Morning Show with some final thoughts ahead of Game 6 between the Bruins and Leafs. They start by discussing Toronto’s home losing streak and if the slide will end tonight, as well as the ripple effect that will have on the Bruins to return to Boston with the series on the line. Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports looks into how the momentum has started to sway in Toronto’s favour, what it would mean to both teams and fanbases if the Leafs can pull off another victory, Auston Matthews' status and the latest coaching rumours. Later on, friend of the show and Sportsnet’s own Luke Gazdic offers a former player’s perspective on what it's like playing with a series on the line, before weighing in on the atmosphere inside Scotiabank Arena and the importance of special teams (25:22). Ben and Brent can’t let Luke go without getting his thoughts on his former team, the Oilers, that managed to oust the Kings last night to move on to the second round. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On hour two of The FAN Morning Show Ben Ennis & Brent Gunning ponder if certain decisions have already been made by executives but also what a good game and how extending the series could alter their thinking. The morning duo welcomes Stanley Cup champ and Sportsnet’s own Nick Kypreos (23:51) to give his opinion on all of the things Maple Leafs including if he thinks Auston Matthews suits up tonight and what he believes to be the feeling in the locker room. The trio also discusses the team’s confidence after Game 5 and playing in front of Joseph Woll. The hour ends with the daily Wake and Rake! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis & Brent Gunning kick off The FAN Morning Show on Game 6 of tonight's matchup between the Leafs and Bruins. They ponder if we will see Auston Matthews in the line-up and what it means to the team. Next, the morning duo turn their attention to the woes of another Toronto team and the struggles offensively for the Blue Jays (33:02). What can John Schneider do to ignite it? Should they shake up the line-up? How frustrated are the players and how hard is it to get out of that funk? B&B dives deep into all of it. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

In the final hour of today’s FAN Morning Show, hosts Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning look back to last night's Game 5 in Boston and discuss how to carry the momentum forward for the rest of the series. Sam McKee, producer and co-host of Real Kyper and Bourne and Leafs Talk, weighs in on what the Maple Leafs are capable of when everything clicks, Joseph Woll's performance between the pipes, Max Domi and Mitch Marner's play on the top line, and if the pressure now switches to the Bruins. Joshua Kloke, writer for The Athletic who was at TD Garden last night, shares his standouts from Game 5, before looking into how one game can change the mood of a series and the status of Auston Matthews (25:55). There is still hope, Leafs fans! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On hour two of The FAN Morning Show, Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning begin by talking about Joseph Woll and his play between the pipes. They talk about whether the goalie can be a difference-maker and if he was inserted too late into the series. Next, they begin to look ahead to Game 6 and wonder what the atmosphere will be like at Scotiabank Arena; if it will depend on the energy and life the team shows to start that game. Later, the guys turn their attention to “Leafs historian”, the Star contributor, Damien Cox (24:54) for his take on what he saw from Toronto, if it is sustainable and where it leaves them in the series. They also get his thoughts on Auston Matthews, his situation and how the team has handled it. The hour ends with the daily Wake and Rake! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis & Brent Gunning kick off The FAN Morning Show on the Toronto Maple Leafs extending the series to Game 6. B&B dives into the great group effort including Matthew Knies emergence, Joseph Woll's string play, Mitch Marner answering his critics and John Tavares leading the charge. Also this hour the morning duo takes some time to talk about the Jays despite another loss to the Kansas City Royals. They also break down the start from Alek Manoah in AAA (34:27). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning kick off Tuesday's final hour discussing the stakes the Maple Leafs face ahead of tonight's Game 5 in Boston, along with what needs to improve for Toronto to extend their season. New Jersey Devils goaltender and new Sportsnet analyst, Jake Allen, shares what he's seen from the netminders on both sides of this series, before getting into the importance of goaltending for special teams units and what it take to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Later, Jody Shelley, TNT broadcaster who was on the call for Game 4, discusses the atmosphere in Toronto compared to other arenas, how Auston Matthews' potential absence could affect the team and how Mitch Marner can flip the narrative surrounding him (25:07). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show Ben Ennis & Brent Gunning weigh in on a comment from Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe where he mentioned goaltending and special teams being two aspects they need to be better in and how the two are correlated. They bring on Sportsnet analyst Jason Bukala (26:36) who weighs in on all things Leafs, what he’s seen from them in the last week, everything they’ve had to deal with and his expectations for tonight’s Game 5. The morning duo also look around the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs especially the elimination of the Lightning. The hour ends with the daily Wake and Rake! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis & Brent Gunning kick off The FAN Morning Show on Auston Matthews, whether he will play in Game 5, how it has been played out, what we know for sure and what it means on how we look back at Matthews’ 69 goal season. They also take some time to look at a top line for Toronto without Auston and what expectations should be. Before the hour ends, the morning duo also recaps another Blue Jays victory with strong performances from Justin Turner, Danny Jansen and even Nate Pearson as B&B give their thoughts on all three’s roles to this team (32:48). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning kick off the final hour of today’s FAN Morning Show with deep dive into the Leafs-Bruins matchup with two-time Stanley Cup-winning executive, Mike Futa! He lends his expertise to discuss the most disappointing aspect of the series for Toronto, why regular season success hasn't translated to the playoffs for Sheldon Keefe, and how a true contender might handle the situation differently. Later, the spotlight shifts to Boston as Billy Jaffe, analyst for NESN and NHL Network, joins to discuss the keys to the Bruins' strangle hold on the series, the difference makers on the ice and which netminder will get the nod in Game 5 (28:23). To wrap, Ben and Brent weigh in on who will start between the pipes for Toronto, as well as if we will see a desperate, hungry Maple Leafs team on the ice to start Tuesday’s game. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show, hosts Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning are joined by former Leafs GM, now insider & analyst, Gord Stellick for his take on everything that went down at SBA over the weekend and the fan fallout from it. The trio discuss what it means for the organization and what this next game will tell us about this team, especially the core. Next, B&B take a look around the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to what or who is standing out to them. The morning duo also dive into some comments from Sixers’ superstar Joel Embiid in regards to his disappointment in Philadelphia fans (31:51). The hour ends with the daily Wake and Rake! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis & Brent Gunning hit on the post-game comments from Sheldon Keefe, the play of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews not playing in the third period and of course the poor special teams. Before the hour ends, the morning duo also hits on the Blue Jays weekend (34:51), which saw the team avoid the sweep to the Dodgers behind a strong performance from Kevin Gausman and how he looks back to his old self. They also dive into Toronto’s weekend and Shohei showing at Rogers Centre. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show, Ben and Brent are joined by Frank Seravalli, NHL Insider and President of Hockey Content for DailyFaceoff.com, to discuss the Leafs’ public messaging – or lack thereof – regarding William Nylander’s absence from the lineup, the NHL’s current protocols for injury reporting in the post-season, how Nylander’s absence has altered the Leafs’ first-round series against Boston, and Sheldon Keefe’s tact in drawing attention to Brad Marchand’s gamesmanship in Game 3. Later, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by to chat about yesterday’s lengthy rain delay in Kansas City, John Schneider’s frustration with the umpiring crew’s handling of the situation, the hype surrounding this weekend’s series against Shohei Ohtani and the LA Dodgers, how landing Ohtani could’ve altered the Jays’ offence, and the sustainability of Daulton Varsho’s recent offensive surge (26:03). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show kicks off with Ben and Brent discussing the Maple Leafs’ current special teams woes, who bears the most responsibility for the team’s lack of power play production, Mitch Marner’s quickness since returning from his high-ankle sprain, and Ilya Samsonov’s leash heading into Saturday’s Game 4. Later, the guys are joined by Commander Chris Hadfield (24:47), Canadian astronaut and noted Leafs fan, to chat about his Leafs fandom, his assessment of the team’s performance through the first three games of their series against Boston, his experience meeting the late Bob Cole, his fantastic tale of descending from space during the Leafs’ Game 7 loss to Boston in 2013, and if human civilization will ever walk on Mars. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning begin the show by reflecting on the passing of broadcasting legend Bob Cole and discuss his lasting impact on the hockey world. Then, the guys weigh in on Elliotte Friedman’s latest reporting regarding William Nylander’s migraine issues and Nylander’s potential role should he rejoin the Leafs’ lineup in Game 4. Afterwards, Ben and Brent chat about the Blue Jays’ rain-shortened loss in Kansas City on Thursday, John Schneider’s frustration with the handling of Thursday’s prolonged rain delay, Shohei Ohtani’s visit to Toronto this weekend, the reception Ohtani might receive after spurning the Jays in free agency, and how the Blue Jays’ starting rotation stacks up against the Dodgers’ potent offence (32:06). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show, Ben and Brent are joined by Devan Dubnyk, former NHL goaltender and current NHL Network analyst, to discuss Ilya Samsonov’s performance in Game 3 against Boston, the Leafs’ defensive lapse on Brad Marchand’s eventual game-winning goal in the third period, the Leafs’ power play struggles, and if Jim Montgomery will be tempted to stick with Jeremy Swayman for Game 4. Later, Luke Gazdic, former NHL forward and current Sportsnet analyst, stops by to chat about the Maple Leafs’ track record of offensive struggles in the post-season, Brad Marchand’s mastery of drawing penalties, his personal experience playing against Marchand, and the atmosphere inside Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night (27:55). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show begins with Justin Bourne, co-host of Real Kyper & Bourne, stopping by to discuss the Maple Leafs’ current power play struggles, the team’s lack of shooting threats outside of Auston Matthews, if Max Domi merits a look on PP1, Morgan Rielly’s limited offensive presence thus far in Round 1, and Brad Marchand’s beneficial whistle in the Bruins’ Game 3 win. Then, Ben and Brent weigh in on the atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena last night and if the crowd bears any responsibility in creating a material home ice advantage. Afterwards, the guys weigh in on the Oilers’ Game 2 loss to the LA Kings, the current wealth of parity in the NBA, and Tiger Woods receiving $100 million in equity for his loyalty to the PGA Tour (35:12). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.