Moser, Lombardi and Kane

0:00 - Von Miller chatted with us for a few minutes this morning! Vic hosted his Von's Vision fundraiser event last night. It's not secret that the Vonster wants to return to the Broncos ASAFP. We asked him what he thinks his role would be in the already stacked Broncos defense.

17:18 - The more and more Brett stews on it, the more and more Avs vs Golden Knights seems like a fluke. If you play that exact series 100 times, the Avs will probably get swept 1 time. Unfortunately, we're all alive in the timeline where they got swept. Be careful...

0:00 - What's worse? Knowing what you need to do to fix your roster, but not being able to do it because of cap/CBA contraints? Or having a great roster that fell short and not knowing what you're supposed to do with it? Could we possibly be talking about 2 teams in this town?

13:22 - The NBA officially approved a "solution" that's going to "fix" the tanking "issue" that's plaguing the league! Here's the thing though. It's super convoluted, bloated, and no one really understands what's going on. And again...more importantly...it STILL DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM! How...

0:00 - The Avs and the Nuggets are in different situations roster-wise. The Nuggets might know what they need to do, but don't have the cap room to do it. Meanwhile, the Avalanche don't know WHAT to do, and maybe they don't need to do anything! They're different sides of the same weird coin.

15:14 - Vic hosted Von Miller's Von's Vision fundraiser last night, and he got the Vonster to give us a few minutes this morning! Von has publicly campaigned for a return to the Broncos for years now. Why? Why does he want to come back? What...

0:00 - Broncos OTAs begin next week! Let's check in with our Broncos Insider, Jeff Legwold of ESPN. What does he think of Patrick Mahomes' impressive recovery timetable? Does he think the Broncos will bring back Von Miller in any capacity? How's Bo Nix's ankle looking?

18:36 - We got a message on the Voice of the People (which is always there for you on the Altitude Sports Radio app, just tap the microphone at the bottom of the screen and leave me a message), and said the Avs vs Knights in the Conference final came down to one thing...

0:00 - Putting aside coaching for the moment...what are personnel needs for the Avalanche?

15:11 - We've had Avalanche tunnel vision for the past month, as we should. What are some NFL stories we've missed during the Avs playoff run?

33:02 - Oh, by the way...Javon Kinlaw might be the first person ever to use profanity as punctuation. Oh, by the way...a reporter asked Drake Maye is he's gotten "thiccer with two Cs." I do not think that means what you think it means. Oh, by the way...Team USA's World Cup roster is set. How...

0:00 - Today's mostly going to be an Avalanche Autopsy day. We've had another day to process this crushing defeat a bit more. As we look at the future and the long offseason, what changes do we need to see?

15:19 - All things considered, would you rather be the Avalanche or the Nuggets right now?

32:11 - First, how often does the "best" team actually win? The Avs were the best team in the regular season. They have a trophy to prove it! How do you define "best" team?
Second, OTAs are underway for most NFL teams...

0:00 - Watching Colorado collapse in the conference finals broke Brett's brain. We genuinely don't know how to properly evaluate teams anymore. Everything we thought we knew about hockey? Throw it out the window.

13:53 - We've been struggling to make sense of the last 4 games. Logan O'Connor summed it all up pretty succinctly after the game last night. 

30:00 - We've experienced 3 heartbreaking playoff exits in a row. Which one was the most devistating? Bo Nix breaking his ankle, then the Broncos losing the AFC Championship in a snowglobe? The Nuggets getting punked and bullied by the Timberwolves e...

0:00 - Sean Payton hates the phrase, but who cares? The Avs aren't his hump anyway. Should the Avs "run it back" next season? What would that look like?

15:43 - A lot of people have been saying "quit" and "give up" about the Avs. Did the quit last night in Game 4? Did they give up? Or did they battle til the bitter end?

32:28 - The conversation surrounding Cale Makar, his injury, and his return were...curious, to say the least. We'll probably find out more about his injury in the coming weeks.

0:00 - That's all, folks. The Colorado Wagon rolled to a complete stop last night. Vegas completed the sweep of the Avalanche and ended their quest for Lord Stanley. We're stunned. Speechless. How do we begin to dissect this stupefying series?

15:11 - Complete and total shock. That's what we're feeling this morning. How does it compare to the way we felt after the Broncos got obliterated in Super Bowl 48? It's gotta be comparable, right? After that, we hit the phones to see how fans throughout Avalanche Territory are feeling this morning.

35:22 - A caller mentioned that Chris...

0:00 - Yesterday on the Morning Sprint, Raj said Bednar will probably lose his job UNLESS the Avs push this series to 7 games. If they lose in 4, 5, or 6, he's gone. His message in the locker room has gotten stale. Is there any truth to that? Just how hot is Bednar's seat?

13:54 - Why did the tides turn against the Avs in Game 3? They had a 3-goal lead, they had momentum, heck, they even had PUCK LUCK and yet they folded after the slightest bit of so-called "adversity." Why couldn't they hang on to the lead?

30:18 - Hopefully...

0:00 - It's win or go home tonight. How will the Avs respond? Will they rise to the challenge?

17:16 - Vic shared some heartfelt memories of the late great Ezio Lombardi. He truly lived the American Dream. Rest in peace a North Denver legend.
After that, do we think Nathan MacKinnon will be able to rally and play tonight? Even if he plays in a very limited capacity, can a hobbled MacKinnon be a difference-maker?

33:27 - Oh, by the way...do you care about combined No-Hitters at all? Oh, by the way...Bryce Harper posted a...

0:00 - What do you expect to see from the Avalanche tonight in Game 4? What do you want/need to see from the Avs? Do you want to see them win a game for the sake of pride? Or would you rather they just lose, head to Cancun, and start getting healthy?

15:37 - For everyone who wants Bednar fired, what do you want him to do differently? WHY do you want him fired? Brett is sick of people hammering the "Fire Bednar" button. Give a specific reason why you want him out. 

32:36 - First of all, the s...

0:00 - Believe it or not, teams HAVE battled back from down 0-3 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before! It's not unprecedented. Brett dug up the numbers. Improbable? Definitely. Impossible? No. 

14:33 - In order to "fix" the Avs, we have to diagnose the problem. And that's where it gets weird. What's the issue with the Avs? We can't find one. Aside from the fact that, well, they're not winning. 

34:52 - All day, people have been hammering Brett & Moser for not criticizing Coach Bednar more. How much responsibility does he have for the team's shortcomings? And more importantly, wh...

0:00 - The Avalanche caught whatever's plaguing the Nuggets. They lack any sort of fight and mental fortitude. They had a 3-0 lead over Vegas last night, and after Vegas scored that first goal, it seems like the tires completely popped off the Colorado Wagon. It's like the Avs just rolled over and gave up. Where's the fight? Where's the grit?

16:16 - This wasn't supposed to happen to the Avs. They weren't supposed to be completely outgunned in the damn Western Conference Final. Chris MacFarland has made moves on moves on moves and reshuffled the deck so many times...

0:00 - For people who speak into a microphone for a living, we were rendered speechless last night. That was such a monumental and meteoric collapse by the Avalanche to all but doom their season. Unbelievable. We know they're only down 0-3 and the season isn't over yet, but man it feels like it's over today. What the heck happened to this team??

15:48 - After Game 2, Coach Bednar said it's Cale's decision when he wants to return to play. He doubled down on it Saturday morning. What do we make of that?
Next, who's to blame for the...

0:00 - Cale Makar is on the ice at morning skate? How's he looking? DMac is down there at Ball Arena. Let's get him on the horn for some live updates on Makar's status.

16:05 - We jokingly gave a morbid keys to the game in the last segment. So NOW, let's get the real Keys to an Avalanche victory tonight in Game 2. 

31:27 - It's our favorite part of the week, DRUNK TAKES! We take clips from throughout the week, slow em down to half speed and it makes us sound like we're hammered.

0:00 - On Spittin Chiclets the other day, Biz said the Avalanche are done for without Cale Makar. Erik Johnson joined Pat McAfee and said missing Cale Makar is like missing prime LeBron James. Can the Avalanche still win this series without him in the lineup?

15:32 - We cold-called Mark Rycroft, and he answered the phone LIVE from his toilet! That's the kind of unfettered access we get here at Altitude Sports Radio! How's Ryker feeling about the Avs heading into tonight's game?

31:57 - Oh, by the way...turns out, Zach Agnos is fantastic as a starting...

0:00 - It's finally GAME DAY! Avs vs Golden Knights Game 2. Western Conference Final. Ball Arena. Makar or no Makar, we're excited, but it's a chance for the Avs to really prove themselves.

14:38 - We're not panicking about the Avs. You heard us say it all day yesterday. But you know who else isn't panicked? The team! If you listen to everything Bedsie and the players said postgame after the Game 1 loss, they sounded calm. They didn't sound dejected or worried.
Also yesterday, Vic Lombardi violated a cardinal sin of our radio show. Court is in session!
<...

0:00 - Nathan MacKinnon said it like 5 times postgame: they Avs didn't execute. They stuck to the plan for a good majority of the game, but you need to play a full 60 min to beat Vegas. ESPECIALLY in the playoffs. Why did their gameplan falter at times?

13:57 - This Avalanche squad knows how to respond to adversity. Coach Bednar said it himself after the game. Look at how they've responded all season long. Moser also had an example from last season...and managed to get basically everything wrong. But, what did he mean?

31:57 - Nothing about last...

0:00 - Last night's Avs loss stings. Losing to Vegas is never fun, especially at home in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. But the Avs did a lot of things right. There are PLENTY of positive takeaways. They need to tighten up their execution, put more pressure on Carter Hart, and figure out their line combos without Makar. But make no mistake. They WILL respond and win Game 2. 

12:32 - Are you panicking about the Avs right now? Hop on a flight on Moser Airlines. He'll be your flight attendant for today. He'll guide you through these turbulent skies.

0:00 - The Avs lost to Vegas last night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. Oh boy. Here we go again. But the boys aren't panicking this morning! The Avalanche played a solid game last night, but couldn't execute in key moments. It was a razor thin margin. The final score doesn't do justice how close the game actually was.
Do you agree with Brett & Moser? Or are you hitting the panic button today?

14:23 - What were the three biggest components of the Avs loss, according to Kaner?

32:48 - Why is everyone acting like the...

0:00 - Brett says the Avs vs Golden Knights series will come down to 3 things. 

16:09 - Coach Bednar spoke with us earlier today, and he said this team is HUNGRY right now. They had a similar hunger in 2022. They were fueled by their early exit in 2021 when the fell flat on their faces vs these same Golden Knights and got bounced in the 2nd round.

33:33 - Moser left early. Vic left early. So instead of making Brett do a bonus Appetizer Hour segment, let's head to the bullpen. Coach and Springer (in for Raj) joined us LIVE f...

0:00 - How's Coach feeling before the Western Conference Final begins tonight? Will he give us a concrete injury update? Are his boys ready to roll?

17:30 - Both Moser and Vic have to leave the show early today. Doesn't anyone WORK around here?? Brett's the only one holding it down. So before Moser leaves, let's get a Keys to the Game: Western Conference Final edition. Can he incorporate more Star Trek references?

34:09 - Oh, by the way...Nolan Arenado hit a Grand Slam on the 6th pitch of the 1st inning. That's damn near impossible. Has anyone...

0:00 - It's finally here. The Colorado Hockey Avalanche will play a hockey game tonight. How are we feeling, Avalanche Territory?

17:02 - Are you nervous about Avs vs Golden Knights Game 1? Do you still have residual trauma from 2021? It's understandable if you do, but let's compare the rosters. The 2026 Avs are COMPLETELY different from the 2021 Avs that collapsed in the 2nd round vs Vegas.
Speaking of trauma and collapse, the Cleveland Cavaliers choked away a MASSIVE lead over the Knicks in the 4Q of the Eastern Conference Final Game 1 yesterday. Serious, that was a legendary all-time choke job...

0:00 - What are the biggest advantages and biggest weaknesses the Avs have in their upcoming series with the Golden Knights?

15:19 - OKC isn't a team that knows how to handle adversity. Look at last season. The team that played them the hardest in the playoffs was a Nuggets team with like 5.5 healthy dudes. THAT team pushed OKC to 7 games! This core isn't tested for tough times. Game 1 of the WCF proved it. The Spurs have OKC's number, and they don't know how to respond.

31:07 - Speaking of teams that haven't been tested, the Avs NEED to...

0:00 - Lots of people in the NHL World are saying that Nathan MacKinnon is on some sort of revenge tour right now because of the Olympics loss. His silver medal and that stoat plushie are fueling him on a reign of terror through the NHL playoffs. Brett says that narrative is false. MacKinnon is motivated because he's MacKinnon. If he won a gold medal with Canada, you're saying he'd be less motivated to win Lord Stanley again?

16:02 - The Nuggets are probably going to let Valanciunas go. They STILL need a backup center. Or...do they? If they k...

0:00 - Best two words in sports: Game 7. Buffalo vs Montreal was, as the Scorsese meme goes, Absolute Cinema. Shoutout former Av Alex Newhook for the OT game winner! He's scored 2 Game 7 game-winning goals in the same playoff series. 
Speaking of absolute cinema, how about Wemby carving up the Thunder on the road in Game 1 of the WCF? Wemby has been just as good as advertised, if not better. He's only 22 years old. Strap in, y'all. He's gonna be a problem for a LONG time.

16:23 - Let's preview tomorrow's Avs vs Golden Knights WCF Game 1 by the numbers. M...

0:00 - Winning a championship is a GRIND. It may have seemed like the Avs cruised to a Cup in 2022 with their impressive 16-4 record, but don't let that fool you. It was tough as hell. Coach Bednar said so himself. Heck, after the Nuggets won the title, Jokic was relieved more than anything. It's a relief to be done with the long climb.

13:19 - Vic's beautiful baby boy graduated law school this past weekend! They threw a graduation party for him, and at that party, Vic checked something off his bucket list.
After that, the Timberwolves got...

0:00 - The Avs are facing the Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. They won't just have the support of Avs fans. They'll have the support of the entire NHL World. Since Vegas entered the league almost 10 years ago, they've consistently rubbed everyone the wrong way. No one outside the state of Nevada wants to see them succeed ever again.

17:51 - The Cavaliers beat the Pistons in Game 7 to advance to the ECF yesterday. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert bought 1200 tickets and 25 buses to send a bunch of Cavs fans the game in Detriot. If you remember, Steve Ballmer...

0:00 - Coach Bednar spoke over the weekend about why the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in all of sports. It takes SO MANY factors to win. Some of them are in your control, and a lot of them aren't. Let's have Vic write down the full list of factors, so we're all on the same page. You ready, Vic?

16:32 - SGA won his 2nd-straight NBA MVP over the weekend and it got Brett thinking...Jokic isn't very involved in Nuggets roster decisions. At least not publicly. Should he be more involved? He's the 3x MVP...

0:00 - Well, we were TRYING to discuss the Broncos schedule, which was released yesterday. But instead, we devolved into something we've now dubbed the Marc Moser Hat Trick. 

15:55 - Alright, back to sports! God forbid. This Vegas Golden Knights team is a problem! The Avs will still match up well with them, but VGK is battle tested in the postseason. This franchise has made the playoffs almsot every single season they've existed.

33:14 - It's our favorite part of the week DRUNK TAKES! We take clips from throughout the week, slow em down to half speed and i...

0:00 - Yesterday, all NFL teams released their full schedules, which means...it's time for everyone's annual tradition. Let's have Marc Moser go through the Broncos schedule game by game and make his official predictions! Big time win! Du-uuuuubbbb! Last year, Mose had the Broncos going 11-6 overall, and 3-3 within the division. What's in store for the Broncos this year?

16:22 - Starting on Wednesday, the Avalanche will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. During the 2nd round, everyone said the Wild are probably the toughest opponent the Avs will face in the playoffs. That...

0:00 - It's official: the Avalanche will face the Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. How do we like the matchup? Do we want Moser to interview Vegas' stupidly insanely loud in-arena PA announcer? That guy's already on The List, along with Mark Stone's Face and the LTIR.

14:55 - Happy NFL Schedule Release Day! (yesterday) What did we think of the Broncos schedule release video? How about the schedule itself? The first 6 weeks of the season are a friggin GAUNTLET. 

30:30 - Brett saw the trailer for the new Will Ferrell Netflix show "Hawk" about a washed u...

0:00 - We love a good bench cam! It captured the pure joy of the Avalanche bench when Brett Kulak scored the OT winner and sent Colorado onto the Western Conference Final. The thrill of victory.

13:09 - Let's take a BRIEF break from Avalanche revelry to get a Broncos/NFL update with our Insider, ESPN's Jeff Legwold. What does Leggy think about the Broncos starting the season on MNF at Kansas City? How about all these international games? How far does Leggy think the NFL wants to expand? Is the values of RBs finally increasing again? Is the Bell...

0:00 - Nathan MacKinnon caught up with the TNT crew after the game and answered the two burning questions on everyone's minds: how's his nose, and why was he swimming in a hotel pool with flippers?

11:49 - Cale Makar got a bit banged up during the game last night, but he returned. But it looked like his arm/shoulder area was still bothering him. In his postgame presser, Coach Bednar said "Cale's is...okay." All the internet detectives are analyzing his tone of voice to try and determine if Cale truly IS okay. I guess we're playing this Zapruder...

0:00 - What a comeback for the Avs! They immediately went down 3-0 in the first period, tied it late in the 3rd period with quick back-to-back goals, forced OT, when won it in OT. My goodness. That game was anything but pretty, but all that matters is the final score. Happy Trails, Minnesota Wild! The Western Conference Final awaits.

17:04 - Makar got dinged up in that game, and even though he came back, his arm looked like it was bothering him. Should we be concerned? Coach Bednar was asked about it after the game and gave a short...

0:00 - Moser left a little early this morning because he has to GET TO SKATE! But before he left, he didn't give us his Keys. So, let's give him a call and get the Keys to Avs vs Wild Game 5 live from Moser's car en route to Ball Arena! Last game, he went with a Star Trek quote. What will he use today?

14:39 - We already know the Broncos defense is elite, but we have yet another stat to prove it. 
After that, the Avs need to STAY OUT OF THE BOX tonight. Cut down on the p...

0:00 - Huge game 5 coming up tonight between the Avs and Wild. Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar joined us this morning to preview the action.
What did Coach think of the Manson - McCarron "butt ending" scuffle? How's Nathan MacKinnon doing after taking a puck in the schnozz last game? Why did Coach start Blackwood in net in Game 4 instead of going back to Wedgewood? Will Coach divulge any injury updates? 

16:18 - Nothing Coach said was particularly surprising. He told us all season long that the 2 goalie rotation is the key to success, so why would he change t...

0:00 - Here we are 2 days later, and Brett still can't that Michael McCarron did what he did in Game 4. Hockey is the only sport in the WORLD where the players are not only allowed to police themselves, but it's encourages and ALLOWED. And yet, he spent the whole game flopping and yapping at the refs. That's certianly a choice.

15:58 - The Broncos will start the year by playing the Chiefs on Monday Night Football...on the road...in KC. Is that a disrespectful move? The Broncos were within spitting distance of the Super Bowl, and yet they didn't...

0:00 - Hockey hits are truly different than any other sport. You're not just colliding with other humans. You're getting slammed full force into immovable planks of solid wood, by huge humans moving at high speeds. There's no other sport like it.
Also, we were critical of Jared Bednar yesterday for sticking with MacKenzie Blackwood in net for Game 4. It seemed like a solution in search of a problem. And today, we're here to eat crow. Clearly Bedsie knows that goalie room better than anyone else, and that's all that matters. But now, here's where it gets really interesting...who...