Maple Leafs 2, Sabres 3
Published December 22, 2009 @ 08:43 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs fans, here's your fun fact of the day. If we remove games against Buffalo and Boston, we're 9-1-0 in our last ten games. Unfortunately, that's only good enough for 12th spot in the Eastern Conference.

We shoulda had this one. It was ours. We had the lead with seven minutes to play before coughing it up to the Sabres. I hate playing Buffalo.

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Maple Leaf Gardens Memories
Published December 20, 2009 @ 12:04 in Toronto Maple Leafs

The CBC aired this tribute to Maple Leaf Gardens during their Battle of The Blades series.

Memories...

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Maple Leafs 2, Bruins 0
Published December 20, 2009 @ 08:50 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Let's a spend a moment talking about THE MONSTER. Yes, he recorded his first career shutout over a team that had beaten us seven games in a row, but that's not what I'm talking about.

THE MONSTER was making his first start in 17 days since undergoing a second surgical procedure to correct an abnormal rhythm in his heart. Sure, it's minor surgery as far as surgeries go, but we're talking about his heart here. THE MONSTER seems to take it all in stride, refusing to use such hardships as an excuse and making it very clear that he's honoured to be a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toskala, as far as I'm concerned, is done here in Toronto. He won't finish the season here. This is THE MONSTER's team, and with him at the helm we will battle for a playoff spot.

In THE MONSTER we trust.

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Long Ago, When the NHL Had Ties
Published December 19, 2009 @ 13:25 in My 2 Cents, Toronto Maple Leafs

I've been writing a recap of every Maple Leafs game the since 2002. Six years ago today, I wrote about the 2-2 tie between the Leafs and Capitals.

Sure, the Leafs extended their franchise record for consecutive games registering at least a point to 13, but a tie against the craptacular Capitals is disappointing. This was certainly a game we should have won, even with backup goaltender Trevor Kidd making only his second start of the season and regular defensemen Tomas Kaberle and Aki Berg out the lineup. A win tonight against the Habs will make everything alright again.

Note the peculiarity? No, I'm not referring to the fact the Capitals sucked in the pre-Ovechkin era or I thought the absence of Aki Berg might actually hurt us, I'm referring to the score. This game ended in a tie.

Yes kids, there used to be ties in the NHL. I swear, it's true. Only six years ago there were ties, and we still loved the sport.

Let's bring back the tie. I've had enough of shootouts and 3-point games. In an effort to have less ties, let's play 4-on-4 for ten minutes of sudden death overtime, but if it's still even after that, let's give each team a point and call it a tie.

What say you? Do you agree it's time to bring back the regular season tie?

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Maple Leafs 2, Sabres 5
Published December 19, 2009 @ 00:17 in Toronto Maple Leafs

What the hell happened? It was 1-0 Leafs when I left for my hockey game. Then I'm driving home and hearing it was 5-2 for the Sabres? Weren't we dominating?

I guess it's tough to win on the road when your goalie lets in goals like this:

In The Monster we trust.

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Maple Leafs 3, Coyotes 6
Published December 17, 2009 @ 09:05 in Toronto Maple Leafs

It was a rough night at the office for the Leafers. Ron Wilson blamed it on fatigue. "We're a little run-down and tired, we've been busy with the schedule we had and that kind of showed the first 30 minutes or so of the game".

I hate it when teams blame losses on fatigue. The Raptors will throw you the same excuse for their loss against the Magic last night. Professional athletes are well compensated to be in top physical condition so they can put in a complete effort each game. The Leafs hadn't played since Monday night, it wasn't even a back-to-back.

Get in shape!

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Barilkosphere Call to Arms: Our Time is Now
Published December 16, 2009 @ 14:19 in My 2 Cents, Toronto Maple Leafs

Are you a passionate Toronto Maple Leafs fan? Are you intelligent? Are you active in digital spaces, either blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or other? If you answered "yes" to all three questions, this entry is for you. All others can pick apart my 40 favourite Christmas songs over here.

Following the Leafs game on Monday night, I had a lengthy discussion with Jonathan Sinden from MLSE. Jonathan is a recent hire who's tasked with improving the interactive component of MLSE's teams, which include the Maple Leafs, Raptors, TFC and Marlies. For the first time in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, they're making an effort to encourage online dialogue, good and bad, amongst folks like us.

As Jonathan and I spoke, a vision began to emerge. We can both see it. It's a consortium of passionate, intelligent Maple Leaf fans who are unofficially empowered by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Allow me to explain...

The digital space belongs to us. It's our blogs, our forums, our podcasts and our content. MLSE would have no editorial privilege and no veto power. MLSE would give us access normally reserved for the traditional mainstream media, and would empower us with tools, funds and some degree of promotion, but we would be the stars of this show. This is where our biased but realistic voices would be heard.

I just described the Barilkosphere. The Barilkosphere already exists in a sense. There are a core group of us who create good blog content and collaborate and communicate on Twitter each day. We love our Leafs, and we express this with others online. That's the Barilkosphere, a term I've been using for years but one that was completely unknown to Jonathan. In this new vision, MLSE treats the Barilkosphere the way it treats the reporter for the Toronto Sun or Fan 590. We're invited to games, given media access (like I was on Monday), given access to multimedia traditionally reserved for television and mapleleafs.com and empowered. But unlike MLSE interactive properties like mapleleafs.com and official Maple Leafs Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, there is no spin. It's raw, it's organic and it's from the hearts and minds of an independent body: The Barilkosphere.

I know Jonathan shares this vision, and having someone on the inside of MLSE with the mandate Jonathan has is a huge step in the right direction. Inviting bloggers to sit in press row is also a huge step for MLSE, so I'm optimistic. With the right pitch, buy-in from MLSE management is entirely possible.

The fact is, young people today are unlikely to read newspapers or listen to the radio. The next generation of fans is immersed in the pervasive web, with omnipresent internet access. This digital space is MLSE's final frontier and they can't permeate it by controlling the content found on their official channels. We're too smart to buy what they're selling over there.

Members of the Barilkosphere, this is a call to arms. I'll keep you abreast of developments as I continue to work with Jonathan on what I hope will be a long term, mutually beneficial collaboration. Our time is now.

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Wireless Network Connections at the ACC
Published December 15, 2009 @ 14:15 in Technology, Toronto Maple Leafs

There are several wireless networks inside the Air Canada Centre. Yesterday, while in the media press box, I was given the username and password for the connection known as ACCWifi.

Here are the connections my laptop detected.

Prior to my visit, Elliotte Friedman warned me that the ACC wifi was a little wonky.

I'm happy to report my connection didn't drop once and ACCWifi was as fast as an Al Iafrate slap shot.

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Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2
Published December 15, 2009 @ 08:00 in Toronto Maple Leafs

Imagine if this team didn't start 1-7-5. I'll give you a moment to close your eyes and envision such a scenario.

Don't look now, but after a win against the Sens last night, we're tied in 10th place in the conference, only 2 points behind the Habs who sit in the last playoff spot. And oh yeah, we have a game in hand over Montreal.

I caught the game from the press box last night, in case I forgot to mention it. For an insider account, revisit that live blogging event.

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Live Blogging Leafs vs. Sens From ACC Press Box
Published December 14, 2009 @ 18:38 in Press Recognition, Toronto Maple Leafs

I'm sitting in media seat #67. No foolin'. Of all the numbers I could have got, I got #67.

I've already had a tour of the Rogers Sportsnet broadcast truck, seen Cliff Fletcher chowing down on a pre-game meal and I've been ice level to soak in some pre-game ambiance.

I'll be updating this entry throughout the game, so keep pressing F5. I'll also add some pics once I find my USB cable.

6:55 - All the popcorn and pretzels you want here... and just passed Mike Murphy and JFJ in the hallway. Does JFJ ever leave?

Having a good chat with Jonathan about MLSE and guys like me who blog and tweet about the Leafs ad nauseum. His vision is a suite where 20 or so bloggers / twitterers watch each game. He's working on getting buy-in from management, but my presence here in seat #67 is a baby step in the right direction.

7:03 - Andy Frost is yelling at me! He just announced that the young jedi Luke Schenn won't be playing tonight. That's his 2nd healthy scratch in a row...

Just my luck that the night I get access to the media box at the ACC is the night the biggest news in the building involves the Toronto Blue Jays.

7:09 - Fun fact: The last time I saw a Leafs game from the ACC, Jim Cuddy sang the national anthem. Today, Jim Cuddy sang the national anthem. Spooky!

Game just started...go Leafs go!

7:19 - Leafs PP fizzled... On a TV timeout. Sitting right in front of Dennis Beyak and the AM 640 crew calling tonight's game on radio. You can hear him when the crowd isn't booing Alfredsson.

7:24 - Do the Leafs and Sens know this game started at 7? C'mon guys, Toronto Mike is in da house!

7:28 - Here's the media seating chart.

7:34 - The ACC loudspeaker just played the 3rd Metallica song of the night. And the Leafs are shorthanded. Here's a view to my left in "The Foster Hewitt Media Gondola".

7:40 - The Leafs are being outshot 10-6 but Tosky's looked solid. Now it's time for the Metro Food Frenzy! See what you're missing!!!!

7:48 - Got another tour of the media rooms. Guess who I bumped into (literally) while going for a vanilla fudge Drumstick? Joe Bowen. True story.

Had a chat with Mike Ullmer re: Luke Schenn and whether he should be in the press box here to my left or with the Marlies. I say he's better off with the Marlies than he is being a healthy scratch. Mike agrees with me.

I'm diving into my ice cream now. Back in a bit...

8:02 - I just sent Jonathan to get me a coffee. Meanwhile, I'm making a total mess of myself trying to eat this Drumstick.

Jason Blake just scored! That's got this place jumping. Nice backhand from #55. Leafs 1, Sens 0.

8:08 - #67

8:20 - Mike Fisher just scored to tie things up. Having a great convo with Jonathan, my brother from another mother.

And Phil Kessel scores to put the Kessel Vessel back up by a goal. What a shot!

8:29 - 4th Metallica song of the night...

Free stuff I've consumed: pretzels, popcorn, bottled water, coffee, ice cream.

# of media info papers I've had delivered to me: 5434.

8:42 - Here's some video I took of the intros.

8:51 - Third period is underway. We just chatted about Hanson's blog, the awesome TFC atmosphere and censoring the word "vagina" on the official Maple Leafs Facebook page. Yes folks, I saw him do it. Stop using the V word over there.

8:53 - Crap. Sens tied it up. Btw, we get a special announcement with interesting facts re: penalties and goals, etc. Did you know Poni likes long walks in the rain and mangos?

8:59 - Grabs scores with 13:58 to play in the third! The crowd is chanting "Go Leafs Go" and watch out in section 102 because I just dropped my bagel.

9:05 - Has anyone seen Grabovski and Berezin in the same room at the same time? Just wondering...

9:09 - Luke's Troops gets the biggest cheer of the night. A standing O.

9:16 - I'm having a blast. Great convo, great view, awesome evening.

4:09 to play. Leafs up by a goal. I'm staring at the banner for retired #5 Bill Barilko. And Borje Salming is on the brand new scoreboard as the Leafs all-time highest scoring defenceman.

9:23 - C'mon Leafers, hang on... Sens goalie pulled. Sens scored, but the ref calls it off! Under review... the drama!

9:26 - No goal! The crowd loves the call. Screw you, Sens!

9:39 - Leafs win! Leafs win!

Komi was just announced as the first star and Poni was star #3. Shots were 24-24.

I'm going to talk this guy into an independent Leaf fan consortium that has total access to MLSE without MLSE having any editorial say or veto power. It's me and a few other intelligent Leaf fans who get the digital space and MLSE feeds us multimedia, access to players and ACC passes. I'm serious.

From the ACC where God's team just beat the Sens, I'm signing off.

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