The Aiming Five Hole Hockey Podcast

There is a growing consensus that it's time to re-evaluate the Player Safety discipline process after the unacceptable 5-game suspension given to Gudas for his dirty knee-on-knee hit on Matthews last week. This incident highlights the Leafs' season, showcasing their embarrassing responses to their captain's injury from such a blatant hit. As we approach the final stretch of the season, the Habs must focus on cleaning up their game during critical moments to avoid slipping into a wild card position before the playoffs. In other news, Kopitar has made history by becoming the Kings' all-time leading points leader, surpassing...

Following a somewhat lackluster trade deadline, the Leafs failed to make significant moves to restock their cupboards. The Habs stood pat, while the rest of the league continues to chase Colorado. Don't look now, but Buffalo has gone from the bottom of the East to leading the Atlantic division. After beating the Lightning twice this week, they could be considered the class of the Eastern Division. For some teams, it's the mad dash to the Stanley Cup playoffs, while for others, it's time to focus on solidifying draft positioning.

The NHL season has resumed, but it seems the Leafs missed the memo, delivering three lackluster performances right out of the gate. This raises the question: Are Berube's days numbered? How many players will they move this week? On a brighter note, the Buffalo Sabres their impressive streak, securing three significant wins against Eastern Division rivals. As the NHL Trade Deadline approaches, Canada's Stanley Cup hopes are on Montreal—will they make any moves to bolster their Cup aspirations? Additionally, can Edmonton navigate their salary cap challenges to enhance their defense and or scoring depth issues? With the trade de...

Congratulations to the US Men's and Women's Hockey teams on their gold medal wins. We always knew they'd eventually win a big one over the Canadians, we just hoped it wasn't going to be this time! What an epic couple of gold medal games, that can only help grow the game of hockey! Ok, back to the NHL as the season resumes on Wednesday night and the sprint to the playoffs begins! With the trade deadline only 12 days away, who will be buyers and who will be sellers in an effort to strengthen their team for the push to...

The Olympic hockey tournament has wrapped up the round robin stage, revealing some unexpected outcomes in pool play. Team Canada and Team US have emerged as the top two seeds, setting the stage for a potential showdown and rematch in the final. As we look ahead, the NHL trade deadline is just two weeks away. It's a crucial time for teams, particularly the Leafs and Habs, as they consider their strategies and moves before the deadline.

The Leafs have had a challenging week and it may be time for them to consider becoming sellers. Questions arise about the leadership within the team. In contrast, the Habs secured significant wins against the Knights and Avs, strengthening their position in the playoff standings. While Matthews and Nylander appear to be lacking in leadership, Celebrini is demonstrating why he is destined to become the next face of the NHL.

It was a challenging week for both the Leafs and Habs, leading Phil and Ryan to seek solace on the therapy couch. Meanwhile, the Sabres continue to surge up the standings, and Roy is once again showcasing his unorthodox coaching strategies. Injuries are impacting several Olympic Hockey rosters, with team Sweden facing the most significant challenges!

The Leafs celebrated a big win against Colorado, but faced an emotional game against the Knights, where they blew four two-goal leads. Meanwhile, the Habs have had a decent record over the past 10 games, yet their inconsistent play is frustrating Ryan. The trade market is heating up as the Knights acquire Andersson from the Flames, while the Rangers inform Panarin he'll be on the move. Additionally, the Canucks have officially entered their rebuild phase. Injuries to key Olympic players have sparked discussions about potential replacements.

Thanks to a strong ten-game stretch, the Leafs have positioned themselves back into playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Habs faced challenges against a resurgent John Gibson and the Wings, but Ryan remains confident in their performance and the potential for the second half of the NHL season. In the West, Canadian teams are struggling, while McDavid continues to impress with a record-setting points pace that promises to be exciting to watch.

Austin Matthews seems to have awakened, raising questions about whether it is too little too late for the Leafs to mount a second-half run. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have maintained their strong performance over the holiday season and are focused on keeping pace with other Cup contenders as the season progresses. With the Olympics just over a month away, rosters are being announced and analyzed, adding another layer of excitement to the hockey landscape.

The recent road trip for the Leafs has been extremely disappointing, prompting Berube to express his frustration with the team's performance and leadership. In contrast, the Canadiens, despite facing injuries and fatigue, have managed to maintain their strong overall play. With Hughes now traded, the question arises: which team will make the next significant move? Will the trade floodgates open after the roster freeze lifts and before the Olympic break? The next month could be pivotal for teams looking to strengthen their rosters.

Trade winds blow through the Western conference which results in Quinn Hughes going to the Minnesota Wild making the Central division more competitive than it already was! In a move that was highly expected, the Oilers swap goalies with the Penguins. The Leafs continue to struggle with giveaways resulting in their leadership being called out! Meanwhile the Habs are searching for consistency but finish the week on a high note beating the Oilers.

The Jekyll & Hyde Canadiens are in search of consistency, having defeated the Leafs one night only to struggle against the Blues the next. Meanwhile, the NJ Devils are faltering and seeking solutions, while the Capitals and Wild are maintaining their momentum thanks to strong goaltending. As the Christmas holiday trade embargo approaches, trade winds are starting to pick up steam. Additionally, there are questions surrounding the situation in Italy and whether the Olympic hockey tournament should be relocated.

We've reached the quarter mark of the NHL season, prompting an examination of whether the Thanksgiving Playoff Theory will hold true. Currently, only one Canadian team is in a playoff position, while several teams are exceeding expectations. Will this dynamic shift, or will it be up to the Montréal Canadiens to bring the Cup back to Canada

Ryan gloats as The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a terrible loss against the Montreal Canadiens, placing them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings! In contrast, teams like the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and Anaheim Ducks are showcasing unexpected success early in the season. Additionally, injuries to key players are becoming a growing concern across the league.

Quick ignites a bench clearing skirmish following yet another home loss for the Rangers, underscoring the mounting pressure on the team to perform in front of their fans. Binnington's position as the starting goaltender for Team Canada is under threat from Logan Thompson, and the Oilers need to find an answer to their goaltending wows before it's too late. On a more positive note, the Canadiens are showing signs of breaking free from their recent struggles, while the Maple Leafs continue to underperform suggesting a shakeup may be necessary to prevent the season from slipping away.

After a challenging weekend, it may be time to hit the panic button in Leaf land! While Hall of Fame Weekend celebrated the achievements of inductees, it was not a joyful time for the Leafs. On the other hand, Suzuki and Caufield are showcasing their skills with a strong start to the season for the Canadiens, positioning themselves as potential candidates for their countries' Olympic team rosters. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers are struggling at home, unable to score a goal on home ice and facing difficulties winning in front of their fans at Madison Square Garden.

It's early in the season, and every team in the Eastern Conference is above .500 and within a point of a playoff spot. This raises the question: have we reached parity, or are a few teams' slow starts keeping others in the mix? The Leafs are displaying inconsistent play, which makes it challenging for Phil to completely remove himself from the doctor's couch. On the other hand, the Habs continue to shine, despite experiencing some third-period letdowns. Additionally, there is discussions around the league how some of the up-and-coming stars are potentially playing their way onto Olympic rosters.

With the Leafs struggling, it's time for Phil to take a moment on the couch for some reflection. Meanwhile, the Habs are maintaining their strong performance. Additionally, teams like Utah, Chicago, and the Penguins are surprising experts with their impressive starts to the season.

The Canadiens have begun the season on a strong note, while the Leafs' goalie is calling out his team's effort in an attempt to ignite a fire under them. Injuries to key players remain a concern, and the Oilers are facing yet another slow start to the season. Leafs fans don't look now but Marner and the Knights look good early!

The first week of the season was quite eventful, particularly off the ice with several significant contract signings. Notably, Connor McDavid signed what can only be described as the most team-friendly contract in the history of sports, extending his deal in Edmonton and providing the franchise with a substantial discount. This move will enable the team to acquire additional support for another Stanley Cup run. On the ice, the Leafs narrowly defeated the Habs in their season opener, which was a bit sloppy. However, it's still early in the season, and there is plenty of hockey ahead.

The pre-season shenanigans have concluded, and teams are now finalizing their line-ups and roster decisions. The anticipation for the season to begin is palpable. Phil and Ryan share their insights on the outlook for the Leafs and Habs, along with their predictions for the upcoming season.

Phil and Ryan are back for Season 2 of the Aiming Five Hole Podcast. In our Pre-Season show, we will discuss the changes and outlook for the Leafs and Habs. Additionally, we will explore other significant stories around the league, including injuries, retiring players and unsigned stars. Tune in for insights and analysis as we gear up for an exciting season ahead.

We end the season the way we started it... Talking all things, Toronto Maple Leafs & Montreal Canadiens post free agency and big moves for better or worse for both teams. We also touch on the miracle that the Panthers pulled off bringing everyone back to make a run at the Three-peat and the winners and losers so far during free agency.

The Panthers go back to back and Bennett wins the MVP! Unfortunately Connor McDavid and the Oilers had no answers for the Panthers relentless forecheck and the Canadian drought on brining Lord Stanley back to Canada will last another year!

The Panthers lead the series 3-2 and head back to Florida with an opportunity to win back to back Cups! Can the Oilers continue to come up big after bad loses and drag the Panthers back to Edmonton for Game 7?? The Winter Olympics are less than a year away and each country has named their first 6 players to their respective rosters.

Panthers take a 2-1 series lead after a dominating game three performance! The Oilers didn't seem ready to play as the series moved to Florida but with an extra day off before game 4 they need to find their game to ensure this series heads back to Edmonton all square. In a surprising move the Dallas Stars fire head coach Pete DeBoer!

Let's run it back! Oilers and the Panthers will square off again this year in the Stanley Cup Final! If the series is anything like last years, it'll be another doozy and one for the ages... Can McDavid and Draisaitl will this Oilers team to victory or will the Panthers depth prove to be too high of a mountain to climb? Can't wait to see how it turns out!

The conference finals has been a little like Bizarro world. The Oilers has transformed into the team that went to the Cup Finals last season and the Cannes have collapsed from the team that got them to the conference final. We also discuss the collapse of the Shanaplan in Toronto and the need for the President's role within NHL franchises.

The Leafs fail to advance beyond the 2nd round with a terrible Game 7 performance. It's time for major changes in Leaf land! The Jets can't extend their series with Dallas and the President's curse claims another team! The Semi-finals are set and we'll discuss our thoughts on both the Eastern & Western Conference finals!

Panthers square the series with the Leafs at two a piece and Phil's on the couch! Oilers lead their series with the Knights despite a bad bounce in game 3. Jets continue to struggle on the road and Rantanen dominates while leading the race to the Conn Smyth trophy and the Cannes lead their series with the Caps!

Round One came to an end, in dramatic fashion with the Jets pulling off the miracle late-game comeback and win it in OT! We'll run down the complete first round, including the dramatic third-period comeback by the Stars to defeat the Avs in an incredible series that didn't disappoint! Leafs move on to face the Panthers! We'll also preview the 2nd round and give our predictions for the conference finals.

The first round of the playoffs hasn't disappointed with plenty of exciting story lines and play! The Leafs lead the series 3-1 over the Sens as they try to exercise their demons and cash a ticket to the second round. Habs have out performed expectations but trial in the series 3-1 and need a big round win to bring it back to the Bell Centre for game 6. The battle of Florida has been grueling and the heat continues to get ratcheted up. Dallas and Colorado has been played at the high level of skill everyone thought it would be...

The Playoffs have begun and the Leafs get out to a fast start. The Jets survive a shakey start to their series and the Dallas, Avs series lives up to the hype! Habs get started Monday night!

Leafs clinch the Atlantic Division title, home ice for first two rounds and will face the Senators in the Battle of Ontario for the first round. Habs need to a win in one of their final two games to clinch the second wildcard spot and a date with the Capitals. We also discusss the other potential playoff series as matchups start to round into shape.

Ovechkin becomes the greatest goal-scorer of all time! The playoff races tighten up as we hit the home stretch and teams vie for home-ice advantage. All that and more on this week's episode.

Phil & Ryan discuss the Eastern Wildcard race as it limps its way to the finish line. The Habs win a big one in Florida and hope to hold off the Rangers, Islanders, and Blue Jackets for the final spot. The St Louis Blue appears to have locked down the final playoff spot in the West. Ovi gets another one and has the record in site, only 4 back with 9 to play.

We're into the home stretch as teams are jockeying for a place in the playoffs and playoff positioning. Phil & Ryan discuss whether the Canadiens can hold onto a playoff spot or will they get caught by the Rangers or Islanders? The Leafs showed signs of finding their game before finishing the week off on a losing note.

Phil & Ryan discuss the abysmal play of the Leafs since the Four Nations break, and in a turn of events Phil needs the therapy session. We also discuss the excellent recent play of the Habs who are closing in on a playoff spot and sport the best team record since the break. Ovi scores another and is closing in on The Great One's record! Dallas and Colorado play each other for the first time since the trade deadline in what is potentially going to be an epic first-round match-up!

With a busy trade deadline now behind us, Phil & Ryan discuss some of the big moves made around the league by the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avs, Florida Panthers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. We'll also discuss who the winners and losers were after the deadline and make our revised Stanley Cup playoff finals picks.