Spittin' Chiclets Episode 639: Featuring Derek Stepan & Tripp Tracy

Summary of Spittin' Chiclets Episode 639: Featuring Derek Stepan & Tripp Tracy

by Barstool Sports

2h 8m•April 20, 2026
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Overview of Spittin' Chiclets Episode 639: Featuring Derek Stepan & Tripp Tracy

This live episode (from Barstool Sports’ Spittin' Chiclets) is a playoff-focused show covering the opening weekend of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hosts recap big games and moments, react to wild atmospheres (especially Buffalo), break down matchups around both conferences, and bring two hockey insiders on the show — former NHLer Derek Stepan (on the Wild/Dallas matchup and broader playoff themes) and Hurricanes broadcaster Tripp Tracy (on Carolina vs. Ottawa). The episode mixes game analysis, locker-room/coach takes, player scouting intel, and plenty of fan-culture color.

Guests and segments

  • Derek Stepan — former NHL center, discussed Minnesota-Dallas, Wild roster dynamics, special teams, and young players to watch.
  • Tripp Tracy — Hurricanes TV analyst, covered Carolina’s structure, goaltending choices, the Staal/line usage, and appeared with his dog Frank (brief cameo).
  • Short appearances from R.A. (Boston perspective) and other regulars; multiple sponsor ad-read segments (Stella Blue Coffee, BodyArmor Flash IV, DraftKings, Noble, Reese’s, Lucy, Rollback).

Major topics & game recaps

Note: condensed highlights of the games and series discussed (ordered roughly as in the episode).

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins

  • Headline: Buffalo’s dramatic comeback — overturned a 2‑0 deficit with ~8 minutes left and scored four goals late to win; massive crowd/party scenes outside KeyBank Center (rollerblade crew + viral “UFC dummy” clips).
  • Boston notes: Jeremy Swayman had a huge performance (compared to Hellebuyck/gold‑medal form) but Bruins made late mental errors and defensive lapses. Boston’s defensive breakdowns and being unable to close out the game were key criticisms.
  • Buffalo takeaways: physical, heavy hitting (53 hits) and resilient; Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch delivered late, Kyle Okposo/Benson/Byron all got praise. Home‑ice energy huge factor.
  • Historical/stat note highlighted: rare — an enormous late comeback, the hosts flagged a statistical oddity about teams overcoming a two‑goal deficit that late in playoff games.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

  • Montreal power play clicked — strong top unit (Hudson, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, “Demigod” reference), Slavkovsky hat trick (including power‑play winner).
  • Tampa issues: Vasilevskiy’s performance raised concerns; Tampa took too many zone/obvious penalties (bad timing). Coach Cooper’s postgame frustration noted.
  • Montreal praise: structure, quick puck movement on the PP, Martin St. Louis’ management of personnel and timeouts.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

  • Flyers shocked Pittsburgh in Game 1; Philly’s fourth line (led by Couturier) set the tone physically and defensively.
  • Key plays: Travis Sanheim’s excellence (big defensive and offensive contributions); Carter Hart and Flyers PK/defense impact. Penguins were smothered offensively and frustrated.
  • Series note: hosts thought it could be competitive and that Pittsburgh should bounce back, but Philly’s physical approach validated.

Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars

  • Derek Stepan: praised Minnesota’s playoff hunger and internal pieces (Quinn, Faber, Brodin/Spurgeon top‑4). Noted Wild had never led a series 1‑0 in franchise history prior to this.
  • Dallas concerns: missing key players (injury / health to Hintz discussed), special teams and matchups could swing the series.
  • Stepan’s big theme: special teams (PP/PK) and middle‑of‑the‑ice battles (e.g., Eriksson Ek / other center play) will matter.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah (formerly Vegas/Utah)

  • Game 1: physical, chippy affair; Vegas came back and won on late goals and special teams. Dowd’s late tip proved decisive.
  • Vegas: Tortorella’s coaching lifted intensity; role players (Barbashev, Mark Stone’s net presence) made difference. Hosts thought Vegas’ size and experience could be a long‑term advantage.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings

  • Colorado dominated by structure but power play issues (poor rankings/production) were a recurring worry.
  • Hosts expect Colorado to close this series quickly despite PP struggles because of depth and 5‑on‑5 strength.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks (preview)

  • Big pregame hype for Oilers: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, strong defense (Ekholm/Bouchard), and the fan culture in Edmonton. Whit is a major Oilers homer — predicted a deep Oilers run.
  • Anaheim respect: hosts acknowledged Ducks’ young talent and posed Anaheim as a more dangerous matchup than bettors expect.
  • Overall: highly anticipated series; Oilers favored but not a guaranteed sweep according to commentators.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators

  • Tripp Tracy: Carolina’s suffocating system (depth, aggressive forecheck), line balance emphasized — Staal (Jordan Staal) and the “Staal/line” described as a heavy, effective piece, plus mentions of Aho, Svechnikov, Jarvis.
  • Goaltending/rotation note: Freddie vs. Andersen debate — Travis Green’s goalie choices and rotations matter in tight back‑to‑back scheduling.
  • Ottawa positives: legit team, strong forecheck, Batherson, Stutzle; series expected to be competitive despite Carolina’s habit of suffocating opponents.

Key takeaways & themes

  • Playoffs are back and intensity escalated quickly after a slow opening stretch; Buffalo’s scene (fan culture/viral moments) epitomized the return-to-playoff frenzy.
  • Special teams matter enormously — several guests pegged power play and penalty‑kill execution as series swing factors (Colorado, Montreal, Minnesota).
  • Goaltending remains pivotal: Swayman (Bruins), Vasilevskiy (Tampa), Andersen/Storm (Hurricanes), and several rookies/first‑time starters drew attention — goalies can steal series.
  • Physicality + depth wins playoff games: Buffalo, Philly, Vegas and Carolina were praised for forechecking, hitting and depth lines that tilt games.
  • Young players stepping up: mentions include Samuelsson (Buffalo), Slafkovsky (Montreal), Porter/Drury-type upstarts, and rookies who changed the tone of series openers.

Notable quotes & soundbites

  • “Pinkies up” — recurring celebratory catchphrase (Pink Whitney sponsor banter).
  • “Sway and pray” — riff on Jeremy Swayman’s big game for Boston (Swayman‑led goaltending keeping Boston in it).
  • “We’re bigger, we’re stronger, we’re more physical” — Marco Sturm quote that Buffalo used/responded to; cited as bulletin‑board material.
  • Witt on Buffalo: “They sold out their 401(k)s for Sabres seats” — highlights fan obsession and playoff money/energy.
  • Tripp on Carolina: “You don’t need a superstar — system and structure suffocate teams.”

Notable wagers / moments of fan culture

  • Whit and Tripp’s creative wager: if Hurricanes lose a certain bet, Tripp joked his dog Frank would be painted as a Senators dog — became an on‑air gag.
  • Viral fan clips: rollerbladers and a “UFC dummy” altercation outside Buffalo arena; ushers raising the roof; fans nearly bull‑rushing a jumbotron.
  • Personal bracket picks from the hosts: mixed; many want Oilers deep run (Whit very bullish).

Sponsor & promo recap

Major sponsor reads and promo codes mentioned:

  • Stella Blue Coffee — We Brew to Rescue pet adoption campaign.
  • Who’s the Bad Guy — Barstool party game (Walmart).
  • BodyArmor Flash IV — playoffs hydration.
  • DraftKings — sportsbook promotions + early exit protection.
  • Noble (NoBull) — discount code CHICKLETS.
  • Reese’s, Lucy (nicotine pouches), Rollback (apparel) — standard ad reads.

Actionable recommendations (what to watch/expect)

  • Must-watch games (next legs): Buffalo vs. Boston Game 2; Minnesota vs. Dallas (watch Quinn & Faber lines); Montreal vs. Tampa (power play duel); Pittsburgh vs. Philly Game 2 (will Pens respond?); Edmonton vs. Anaheim opener (big McDavid/Draisaitl narrative).
  • Players to track: Tage Thompson, Tage/Tage? (Buffalo), Jeremy Swayman (Boston), Jeremy Swayman and Boston’s D, Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Kirill (Slafkovsky), Jake Guentzel equivalent mentions, Quinn Hughes/Brock Faber (young blue liners), Carter Hart (on rent in Vegas recap), and rookies making immediate playoff impacts (Porter/Drury‑type).
  • Betting tips echoed by hosts: live bets can be volatile in hockey (DraftKings ad context), and momentum can completely flip, especially late in games (Buffalo example).

Final notes

  • Tone of episode: high‑energy, fan‑driven, and conversational with a mix of tactical analysis and personality-driven reactions. The hosts celebrated the playoff return, gave hearty praise to atmospheres (Buffalo, Minnesota, Edmonton), and leaned on guests’ inside knowledge (Step on Minnesota; Tripp on Carolina).
  • If you want to absorb the whole weekend without watching every game: focus on Buffalo’s series (emotion, crowd), Montreal/Tampa (special teams), and keep an eye on goaltending narratives — those will shape first‑round outcomes more than any single superstar moment.