The Drive

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 9 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?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Avalanche as they fell in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. Zach shares the numbers on teams that go on to win a series this postseason when they win game 1, and the guys discuss what a Cale Makar would mean for the Avs. Will Scott Wedgewood play better in Game 2 than what we saw in Game 1? Are we in store for a seven-game series now? Who needs to step up the most from the Avalanche going forward? Did the temperature in Ball Arena impact the game and the condition of the ice? We reach out to the text line and the YouTube chat and gauge their feelings about the Avalanche falling behind 0-1 in the series and what their panic level is. We hear from both the Avs and the Knights' head coaches after the game, and where both teams go from here. We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com's Aniello Piro joining the show to discuss the Avs and how they looked after the long rest from the last series to this series.

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 5 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.