Joe Manganiello who is playing Big Tall Brad -- Marshall's Law School classmate from a bunch of season 2 episodes TWoP didn't cover (most notably "World's Greatest Couple") -- walks over to the gang and asks Robin to a hockey game. She tries to refuse him, but he flat-out asks her if she has a boyfriend. With a gloating Lily looking over Barney's shoulder, Robin she says she doesn't. So? It's a date. Big Tall Brad leaves, Barney tries not to pout, and Lily gloats just a little bit more. COMMERCIAL!

The Next Night; Madison Square Garden: Brad and Robin are at a Rangers-Canucks game (Robin's wearing her Vancouver jersey). She apologizes for being so quiet all night, and Brad flashes back to her screaming her head off at a Canucks' player -- threatening to "Put a slapper right up [his] beer-hole." She admits to feeling weird being out with Brad, who assumes she wants to have "the talk," and? He's psyched for "the talk." He's done fooling around and wants the real deal. Robin talks him down, but not before he admits that he was "born a little different," in re: his stuff below the belt. The less time we spend thinking about that, the better. Agreed? Robin explains that she and Barney sorta/kinda don't know what's going on between them. Brad recommends "the talk" for them. We cut to...

The Apartment: Barney's telling Marshall and Ted, "We're not going to have the talk." Marshall tries to talk him into the talk, and looks to Ted for talk back-up, but Ted says they don't need to have the talk. Talk the talk, walk the walk, Talky Meat! Barney thanks Ted, but then Ted adds he said that, because Robin is already Barney's girlfriend. And we flashback to...