Moser, Lombardi and Kane

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!
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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...

0:00 - Avs beat the Wild Game 4 last night, and take a commanding 3-1 lead as the series heads back to Denver for Game 5. It feels like this series is all but wrapped up. Colorado has all the momentum, and has had it for most of the series. But playoffs are weird, man. The Hockey Gods are cruel. The Avs can't take their foot off the gas pedal. Don't take anything for granted. Take care of business tomorrow night, wrap this thing up, and head to the conference final. 

15:41 - Sean Payton addressed the media at Rookie Mini-Camp over t...

0:00 - ONE. MORE. WIN. That's all the Avs need to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final. They beat the Wild last night in Game 4 and looked COMPLETELY different from Game 3. Much improved. Way more focused & bought in. 

14:48 - Josh Manson got in a scuffle with Michael McCarron last night. He rammed his stick into the side of McCarron's head/neck area. DURING THE GAME, in an intermission interview, McCarron said Manson's a dirty player. Again, he said that DURING THE GAME. That's crazy! He doubled down on the dirtiness in his postgame comments. And honestly. GOOD. Y...

0:00 - It's a pivotal Game 4 for the Avalanche tonight against the Wild. What are the Keys to an Avalanche victory?

14:56 - Over the weekend, Marvin Mims said that the Broncos haven't started contract negotiations with him yet. He's due for an extension after this season. Why is that?
After that, Aaron Gordon was a big topic of discussion at the Nuggets End of the Season presser. He's a hugely important piece of this team. But the bottom line is he can't stay healthy consistently. So what's next for Mr. Nugget?

36:24 - The fellas make their...

0:00 - First of all, Jesper Wallstedt is getting a little too big for his britches as a rookie. Bro, you've played like 40 career NHL games. Settle down.
Second of all, what do the Avs need to clean up for Game 4 tonight?

14:19 - On Friday, video emerged of Nathan MacKinnon swimming laps at the team hotel while wearing flippers? And of course, it went viral and everyone started clowning the Dogg. So...why was the best hockey player on Planet Earth swimming laps with flippers?

31:15 - Oh, by the way...David Njoku signed a 1-year $8 mil...

0:00 - Well, it's not gonna be a 2nd round sweep for the Avs. They fell flat in Game 3 and lost to the Wild 5-1. Why did the Avs play so poorly? What was the cause?

14:51 - On Friday, the Nuggets held their End of the Season press conference at Ball Arena. Josh Kroenke, David Adelman, Jon Wallace, and Ben Tenzer all addressed the media. What did they have to say about the disappointing end to Denver's season, and more importantly, what happens next?

32:13 - Where does motivation come from? Does it come from the players or...

0:00 - Tomorrow's Game 3 is a MUST WIN for the Wild. Because if the Avs take a 3-0 lead, this series is over. No way you win 4 in a row against this Avs squad. That being said, what style of play will the Wild use in Game 3? Will they try a track meet like Game 1? Or will they play a more physical grimy style like Game 2?

13:50 - As the Nuggets offseason looms, they have a dilemma. If they "run it back" with all the same pieces, they'll be decimated by the repeater tax, luxury tax, aprons, all that wonderful...

0:00 - In case it wasn't obvious from our dynamite singing, the song we were jamming to is "1999" by Prince. Rest assured our dance moves were top tier.
After that, Moser is itching to give you some Keys! So let's not make him wait! What are the Keys to an Avalanche victory in Game 3 vs the Wild tomorrow?

11:29 - Last night in our show group text, Marc Moser didn't recognize a picture..of his own face.
After that, does MPJ chug truth serum every morning after he wakes up? This dude lets the inside thoughts get out...

0:00 - Imagine we're hosts of sports radio in Minneapolis/St. Paul this morning...what are we saying to the Wild fans? How are we convincing the fanbase that the Wild can win Game 3 tomorrow?

15:17 - Yesterday on PHD, Scott Hastings disagreed with one of Brett's Nuggets takes. Today, Brett offered up his rebuttal. 

32:27 - The Lakers vs OKC. It's like Voldemort vs Thanos. How do you pick a side? There's one benefit to this series. Since the Lakers are playing, the entire national media is watching every minute of every game. And because of that, OKC's f...

0:00 - Why are the Broncos bringing in Nathan Peterman for a tryout? Anything we should expect from Rookie minicamp? Where have the Broncos made the biggest upgrades to their roster so far? Jeff Legwold of ESPN can answer any/every Broncos question we might have.

14:32 - What's your biggest concern with the Avs right now? You HAVE to pick one. And you can't say injuries or staying healthy. That goes without saying.  

33:09 - The Broncos have signed draft picks TE Justin Joly & S Miles Scott to contracts. Joly is interesting...how will they used him based on...

0:00 - The Avalanche have identified Quinn Hughes as the head of the snake. They need to play extra physical with him and wear him down. It's all part of Colorado's game plan: play fast, physical, and beat up Minnesota. 

15:10 - Brett watched Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 2 and had one thing in mind...which team would you rather face in the next round? Vic and Moser didn't take too kindly to that. We're already assuming the Avs have won Round 2 and looking ahead? That's bad juju. You're disrespecting a formidable opponent in the Wild.

34:50 - Oh, b...

0:00 - STRAW POLL: What's your biggest concern with the Avs right now. And you can't say health/injuries. That's a given. Aside from that. And yes, you have to pick a concern. That's how the game works.

16:19 - Draymond Green tried to roast Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA last night, and the joke fell flat. You're not Shaq, Draymond. You can't make those same jokes. Draymond might be the least self aware athlete in the sporting world right now.
But Draymond's comments about the current state of the Warriors raised a bigger question: how much time...

0:00 - This current iteration of the Colorado Avalanche TRULY feels like the 2022 Cup Team. We said it occasionally throughout the regular season. But after 6 playoff games, we mean it. We know it. This team has the juice to go all the way. They just look and feel different.

14:38 - The Avs' depth is insane. They're getting contributions from all 4 lines every single night. That's what championship rosters do. 

34:09 - Moser's flying to St. Paul with the Altitude TV squad to cover Games 3 and 4. But...why? What's the point of Moser going there? Aside from accosting sweet o...

0:00 - The Colorado Avalanche are 6-0 in the playoffs so far! 4 wins against the LA Kings, 2 wins against the Minnesota Wild (and counting). How's Coach Bednar feeling about his squad? What improvements did they make between Games 1 and 2 vs the Wild? It feels like the entire roster is stepping up, but in particular, who are the biggest difference-makers in these playoffs?

19:33 - A texter asked us if we think the Avalanche are too overconfident. In 2021, they won the Presidents' Trophy and they were feeling themselves. Then they got bounced in the 2nd round by Vegas. This team feels...

0:00 - The Avs ONLY scored 5 goals last night?? Wow, what a snoozefest. The Avalanche won Game 2 vs the Wild last night, and they'll take a 2-0 series lead back to Minnesota. That was AWESOME. That Avalanche team looks legit. They genuinely haven't looked this good since 2022.

16:06 - Moser drew the short straw last night. So Altitude TV stuck him outside in the snow to do live hits in front of Ball Arena. A sweet old lady walked by him, and Moser chose and interesting phrase to say to her.

34:15 - Thanks to Moser, we have a...

0:00 - The Avalanche are ADAPTABLE. They can play any style of hockey game. You want a 2-1 low-scoring grind-it-out type of game? You got it. Want a 9-6 barnburner? You got it. Whatever style it is, they'll play it. Which type of game will we see tonight?

13:05 - Boogie Cousins said the Nuggets lack accountability. When he was here under Coach Malone, he saw an accountability that has disappeared from the team. Where does that need to come from?
In a recent interview, Steph Curry said NBA players are underpaid for one specific reason. And his logic...