Friends and Rivals Podcast

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 105 and the game of hockey musical chairs has ended. Where do all of the deadline acquisitions leave our beloved hockey clubs? The Rangers have an impressive collection of stars, but when will they have a full team? The Penguins' plan is to apparently hoard all of the league's defensemen and force everyone else to play without D-men. The Islanders are ge...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 104 and stop us if you've heard this before. But Timo Meier is on his way to the Devils and Patrick Kane is joining the Rangers! What? You hadn't heard? Have you been living under a rock? Or maybe under The Rock after he smashed your head in with The People's Elbow? We've got all of the late season trade updates right here! And don't forget a...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 103 and we're looking for whatever the opposite of love is. The Penguins suck. The Islanders suck. But is one of them going to make the playoffs anyway? The Penguins welcome back Tristan Jarry and wish they hadn't. The Islanders lose Barzal for 1 to 12 weeks. The Devils and Rangers are on cruise control with their inevitable 1st round playoff series comi...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 102 and if you think the Eagles got screwed by the refs, then we've got the show for you! You'll really enjoy our rendition of Fly Eagles Fly which more than one person requested! The Penguins wait for their goalie to return, the Islanders need a quick turnaround, the Devils wonder what happened to Jack, and the Rangers make a pre-trade deadline splash. ...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 101 and this episode is Hockey 101. During this foundation course, you will learn why all all-star games are garbage, how the Penguins can deflate an entire fanbase with one lousy effort, and understand the meaning of Bo Horvat centering for Mathew Barzal. We will explore the Rangers' Filip Chytil's rise to glory, and the Devils perseverance against the...

Its FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 100! Why is the 100th episode such an important milestone? Because it's one more than 99, which is THE GREAT ONE + ONE! And in our very special commemorative episode, we are joined by ESPN's JOHN BUCCIGROSS! But for real, he IS on our podcast! This isn't like the time that we SAID we had Vladimir Putin on the show but (spoiler alert) it was really just Ni...

It's EPISODE 99 OF FRIENDS AND RIVALS and from this day forward, the number 99 will be synonymous with greatness! This is a Hall of Fame episode. Some consider it to be the greatest episode of all time. It all started when we were toddlers in Brantford Ontario, and our father flooded our backyard and froze it over so that we could discuss ice hockey all day and all night. While we were still i...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 98 and I'm a contender in the most important game of all! Find out what it is during the "Steve's Stomach" segment and get your 5 calorie snacks full of fructose goodness! Which bubble teams look like they will make the playoffs and which will fall by the wayside? The Penguins find a way to win in OT, the Rangers give new meaning to playing 60 mi...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 97 and it's time to vote in the last handful of all-stars! Defensemen? We don't need no stinking DEFENSEMEN!!! But apparently we DO need Kevin Hayes, a token Flyer. You all know by now how we feel about the Flyers...but what players from the Devils, Rangers, Isles, and Pens might actually DESERVE the all-star nod? We take a ride on the Metro to examine t...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 96 and what do we all need in the new year? Consistency! Whether it's playing consistently for all three periods (Penguins), playing consistently game to game (Islanders), playing consistently in net (Devils), or just having consistent line combinations (Rangers), we all need it! We get a call from a special friend of the show (hint: he updates us regarding...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 95 and there were in the same country Rangers abiding on the ice, keeping watch over Igor Shesterkin by night. And lo, the Devils of New Jersey came upon them, and the glory of Marty Brodeur shone round about them: and they were sore afraid of Sean Avery. And the Islanders said unto them, '"Fear not: for behold, Mathew Barzal brings unto you good tidings...

How do the Rangers celebrate FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 94? Well by beating the Devils in overtime, of course. No it wasn't a Matteau wraparound this time, but a Filip Chytil snipe does the job. The Devils suffered a rare week of not winning every game, the Islanders lost two but beat the Devils of all teams, and the Rangers and Penguins were perfect. We call out some bad writers, tip our hats...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 93 and after one-third of the season, what do our teams need? The Isles may have their eye on a big wing. The Rangers need...a lot... The Devils need to stay healthy and do what they're doing which is win at an unprecedented pace. The Penguins need to find the Fountain of Youth. We also discuss Alex Ovechkin and his pursuit of the NHL goal record; 101 goals...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 92 and what's a dog gotta do to get some privacy around here? The Rangers have a meltdown, the Penguins have a letdown, and the Islanders visit Pound Town. The Devils were disallowed. If a team has three disallowed goals, do they have to throw hats into the stands? Quick question about Thanksgiving, is FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 92 BETTER THAN STUFFING?  

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 91 and THANK YOU for being the loyal listener that you are. The Islanders are riding high on a Beauvillier OT goal, the Rangers are trying to find consistency, the Penguins win 3 in a row in poetic fashion, and the Devils will never lose again. Then there's always debate about the GOAT; but we definitively answer that question. All this and completely drunke...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 90 and all signs point to satisfaction! Tom is looking for consistency from the Rangers, Bill wants a goalie change, Nick wants a Barzal goal, and Steve does the Devils poetic justice. There's nothing trivial about goalie goals. What the Devil is going on in 20 questions? You got your PEANUT BUTTER on my PRETZEL! YOU got your PRETZEL on my PEANUT BUTTER! Waa...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 89 and all of your favorites are here doing their thing! Nick does the game show, we have movies with Tom, trivia with Bill, and...Steve? Steve? Hello? Oh no...on the greatest week in several years to be a Devils fan, we don't have Steve because of internet issues? But never fear, he WILL be edited in, and you will hear all about that sweet Devils hot streak...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 88 and we are on the Gravy Train! The Penguins are digging their own grave. Adam Graves was a Ranger. The Islanders came back out of the grave to beat the defending champ Avalanche this past week. And if you're facing the Devils lately, then things are looking grave indeed. There is much gravity in this week's trivia question. Steve's stomach has no...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 87 and ignore the double negative, you know what I meant. Eighty-seven...eighty-seven eighty-seven...has a nice ring to it, maybe 3 rings in fact. The Devils bounce back, the Isles fall back, the Rangers skid a bit, and the Penguins score the most goals in 29 years. Then there's the thing about picnic tables...I didn't actually think it was so bad becaus...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 86 and the NHL is in full swing! We update you on all the action for the Disgusted Devils, Inciting Islanders, Rowdy Rangers, and Plucky Penguins! Who's hot, who's not, what's working, what's failing, what's surprising? Play along with 20 questions with Nick,Trivia with Bill, and Inside Steve's Stomach! Hint: for trivia we are looking for...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 85! Play along with us as we draft all of the NHL teams to see which host ends the season with the most points! NHL Opening Day is upon us, and we tell you about the final rosters in the Metro Division. There's Trivia, there's 20 questions, and Steve's Stomach! Now sing it with me "He'll be coming around the toy section when he comes! He'...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 84 and we are not feeling the love, Buccigross. But we shake off the disappointment, pick ourselves up, and bring you our predictions for the 2022-23 NHL season! Our experts weigh in on playoff predictions for who's in, who's out, and f*** the Flyers. So open up our latest episode and feast on it to your heart's content. It smells a little funny but...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 83 and we're jumping right into the preseason hockey action! The Penguins split the squad, the Islanders and Rangers go head to head, the Devils hit somebody in another jersey but where is the captain? What's the over under for goals from the best scorers in the NHL in the 2022-23 season except Jake Guentzel? Will Aaron Judge score his 61st touchdown in...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 82 and we start SEASON 3 of our incredible podcast with a brand new monarch and updates on all of the summer cliffhangers. Who shot JR? Will Ross and Rachel get back together? Are Sam and Diane on again or off again? Is Dylan McKay too much of a bad boy for Brenda Walsh? Will Dr. Sam Beckett ever leap home? Did Bill Cosby....er...nevermind. You got questions, WE...

It's FRIENDS AND RIVALS EPISODE 81 and the boys of summer are back for this season's final episode to tell you what's going on around the NHL. Hockey never rests! The Penguins are a mirror image of the Penguins, the Rangers tweak, the Devils go for wholesale changes, and no one really knows what Lou and the Islanders are up to. We got your trivia, your impressions, your stomach, and al...