A Foot In The Crease

Episode 7.20

AFITC — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 06:28:14 +0000

Ahead this week on the program, the Leafs hit the wall with a four game losing streak before finally getting back on track with a win in Edmonton. We’ll take your through games against the Flyers, Canadiens, Flames and Oilers to kick start the Redline Report. With just over a week until the NHL’s trade deadline, should the Leafs be making a move or two? Rick Nash perhaps? We’ll touch on that as well.

Back Checking brings Listener Contributions to the program via Twitter and Email. Wrapping the segment is a Troubling Fact of the Week, this week focusing on more disappointing behavior in Vancouver.

Wrapping the show is rigamarole, this week looking at the mighty surge of the marching Anaheim Ducks. All that and more this week on A Foot In The Crease – The Toronto Hockey Podcast.

Download audio file (Episode_7.20_-_Militant_Ducks.mp3)

Episode 7.19

AFITC — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:27:27 +0000

Ahead this week on the program, the Toronto Maple Leafs continued rolling along with a pair of wins against the Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers before being tripped up by the Winnipeg Jets in their final game of the week. We’ll take you through those games, what impact they had on the Leafs position in the standings and a whole lot more to kick start the Redline Report.

Later, the worst kept secret in hockey: the 2013 Winter Classic will be announced on Thursday and it involved the Leafs. We’ll touch on that to wrap the Redline Report. Back Checking comes your way next with Listener Contributions from Twitter and Email and wraps up with a Troubling Fact of the Week.

With Mats Sundin’s #13 banner being raised to the rafters on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens, rigamarole looks back at the legacy of Sundin in Toronto.

Download audio file (Episode_7.19_-_8PM_AFITC_Time.mp3)

Episode 7.18

AFITC — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:40:46 +0000

Ahead this week on the program, the Toronto Maple Leafs took three of four points against the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins but it very easily could have been and probably should have been four of four points. We’ll take you through those pair of games to kick start the Redline Report. Later, Mikhail Grabovski was the second highest scoring player during the month of January but he’s a free agent at the end of the season. Should the Leafs keep him and sign him or trade him? We’ll touch on that as well.

Sidney Crosby’s injury situation became even further muddled this week after it was reported he had fractured vertebraes in his neck but then the next day the story changed? How close is he to returning? We’ll look at that situation to wrap the Redline Report. In Back Checking, Listener Contributions come your via Twitter and Email. Wrapping the segment, we feature a multi faceted Troubling Fact of the Week.

Rigamarole concludes the show this week with a look at why it made sense for the Leafs to send Nazem Kadri and Keith Aulie back to the Toronto Marlies. All that and more coming up on Episode 7.18 of AFITC.

Download audio file (Episode_7.18_-_Not_Medical_Professionals.mp3)

Time Stands Still In Los Angeles

AFITC — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:53:16 +0000

We will discuss this issue on Episode 7.18 of the program on Thursday February 2nd, 2012 but to see for yourself, here is the visual evidence of time standing still in Los Angeles in a game between the Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets.

UPDATE: Here’s is Kings GM Dean Lombardi’s response to the matter as told to espn.com – “Those clocks are sophisticated instruments that calculate time by measuring electrical charges called coulombs – given the rapidity and volume of electrons that move through the measuring device the calibrator must adjust at certain points which was the delay you see – the delay is just recalibrating for the clock moving too quickly during the 10 – 10ths of a second before the delay – this insures that the actual playing time during a period is exactly 20 minutes. That is not an opinion – that is science – amazing devise quite frankly.’’

Episode 7.17

AFITC — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:38:07 +0000

Ahead this week on the program, the Leafs took three of four games this week heading into their week long All Star break. We’ll take you through those games against the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens and a pair against the New York Islanders to kick start the Leafs Notes portion of the Redline Report.

Later, John Michael Liles re-uped with the Leafs for four years? We’ll weigh in on that deal as well as exploring whether it’s time to look at extending another pending unrestricted free agent: Jonas Gustavsson.

Wrapping the Redline Report, Tim Thomas said no to President Obama’s invitation to the White House. Disrespectful? Off base? We’ll give you our thoughts before jumping into Back Checking with Listener Contributions from Twitter and Email as well as a Troubling Fact of the Week featuring Alex Ovechkin.

Rigamarole concludes the show with a look at the stark contrast between the way the Leafs went into the All Star Break last year compared to this year. All that and more coming up on Episode 7.17 of AFITC.

Download audio file (Episode_7.17_-_The_Gong_Bangers_Strike.mp3)

Episode 7.16

AFITC — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:40:39 +0000

Ahead this week on the program, a perfect week for the Leafs followed up by a winless week and all of a sudden they’re back out of the playoffs looking in. We’ll take you through games against the Sabres, Rangers and Senators to kick start the Redline Report.

Wrapping the segment, Taylor Hall cut badly by a skate during the warm up on Tuesday but it could have been much worse. Hall wasn’t wearing a helmet, is it time for that to change? We’ll touch on that as well to wrap the Redline Report.

Back Checking gets your voice onto the program with Listener Contributions from Twitter and Emails from Matt, Alan and Aaron. The Gong Banger is back on vacation this week – actually he’s on hiatus considering legal action after the disparaging comment we made about him on last week’s show – so for the final time, we are joined by the boys from Sens Underground for a Babble of Ontario.

Wrapping the program is rigamarole, this week looking at the consistency of the Leafs inconsistency.

Download audio file (Episode_7.16_-_The_Final_Babble_of_Ontario_featuring_Sens_Underground.mp3)

Episode 7.15

AFITC — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:47:09 +0000

Ahead this week on the program, the Leafs ended 2011 with a whimper but started 2012 with a bang winning four straight home games to set a new season high for consecutive wins. We’ll take you through games against the Jets, Red Wings and Sabres to kick start the Redline Report. Midway through the season now, we’ll hand out our half way report cards, grading the offense, the defense, the goaltending and the coaching staff as well as a few individual players.

Alex Ovechkin this year is not the Alex Ovechkin we’ve come to be familiar with. Does he deserve to go to the All Star game? We’ll debate that as well the format of choosing the rosters for the All Star Game to wrap the Redline Report. Back Checking follows after that with Listener Contributions from Twitter and Email and concludes with a Troubling Fact of the Week.

Rigamarole wraps the show with a look at how the Leafs past week has demonstrated their rarely seen killer instinct.

Download audio file (Episode_7.15_-_For_Fans_Of_Math.mp3)

Episode 7.14

AFITC — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:55:57 +0000

Update: After fighting audio issues and then bonus hosting issues this episode is finally back online. Thanks for your patience!

We’re back on AFITC for our first show of 2012 after a very relaxing and restful week off over the holidays. The Toronto Maple Leafs struggled through the month of December finishing 2011 on a three game losing streak that saw them fall right out of the playoffs. We’re all over the Leafs to kick start the Redline Report. Ron Wilson gets a contract extension and announced it on Christmas Day on Twitter. Is that acceptable to you? We’ll touch on that as well as the Leafs goaltending situation to wrap the Leaf Notes portion of the show.

Team Canada failed again at the World Junior Hockey Championships but almost managed a comeback for the ages. What’s wrong with Canada’s National Junior program? We’ll give our thoughts to wrap the Redline Report. Back Checking comes your way next with Listener Contributions from Email and Twitter. Wrapping the segment, our Philadelphia correspondent Alan Bass checks in. He was at the Winter Classic so we’ll hit on that, Ilya Bryzgalov and the state of the Flyers.

Rigamarole wraps the show as always, this week taking a look at the crossroad the Leafs have reached for the 2011-2012 season. Sit back, make sure you not forget early in the morning your thermos, put some nice tea, and enjoy the program.

Download audio file (Episode_7.14_-_Put_Some_Nice_Tea_-_Featuring_Alan_Bass_Fixed_Audio.mp3)

Episode 7.14 Down For Maintenance

AFITC — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:09:34 +0000

Update: After fighting audio issues and then bonus hosting issues this episode is finally back online. Thanks for your patience! P.S. I hope you enjoyed your tea.

Diligent listener and guest Alan Bass let us know that Episode 7.14 had an audio issue with a good 5 minutes of the show missing in the middle starting in Aaron’s email (sorry Aaron!) and ending right before his interview. We’ve taken down the episode in the meanwhile and will upload a fixed version tonight.

Many of you have probably downloaded it already, so if you find yourself suddenly listening to silence, feel free to take the time to put some nice tea and rest assured that our voices plus Alan’s will return to your ears!

Sorry for the error! I’m a human. I’m not made from steel.

- Jeff

Episode 7.13

AFITC — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:23:10 +0000

Ahead this week on the program, three games, six available points but only one secured by the Leafs this past week. Are the Leafs drowning? We’ll answer that question as we take you through games against the Sabres, Canucks, and Kings.

The Habs fired Jacques Martin but their new coach Randy Cunneyworth can’t speak French and that has all sorts of people all upset. Did Sweden throw games at the 2006 Olympics? Peter Forsberg hinted that they did.

Listener Contributions, a Troubling Fact and rigamarole follow to wrap the show. It’s the Christmas Edition of AFITC. Sit back, grab a glass of cheer and enjoy!

Download audio file (Episode_7.13.mp3)