In the third of four quarterfinal games, a scrappy, but inconsistent Czech Republic squad clashed with a deep Canadian team that hadn’t quite seemed to hit it’s full stride in the tournament. Canada was without Alex Newhook for the game, forcing them into a 12 forward, eight defender line up against the Czechs. The Czechs were also without some of their lineup regulars, with Jaromir Pytlik and Michal Gut missing the game.Devon Levi got the start for Canada, while it was Nick Malik starting for the Czech Republic.
Canada came into the match fresh off a 4-1 win over the Finns, while the Czechs had rebounded after a thrashing by the Americans, collecting a 7-0 win over Austria to secure their place in the elimination rounds.
The Canadians came on strong right out of the gate, with Dylan Cozens pressuing Nick Malik in the opening seconds and again off the opening draw. It was nearly five minutes before the Czechs found themselves in the offensive zone testing Devon Levi who gave up nothing in terms of a rebound in front of his net. Even with the Czechs growing into the game and looking dangerous, it was Team Canada getting on the board first.
A blocked shot turned into a breakaway chance when Connor McMichael corralled the puck,then fired a stretch pass for Dylan Cozens, and Cozens dangled in before taking his shot on Malik. The Czech goalie got most of the puck, but not enough to stop the puck from trickling in over the line behind him.
The Czechs didn’t help themselves with Adam Raska lining up Jakob Pelletier well after the puck was gone resulting in an interference penalty. The Czechs managed to kill off the penalty, but still surrendered a goal just as Raska stepped out of the box. Bowen Byram circled the zone, looking for a shooting lane, when he found it he fired a wrist shot that Malik again got some of, but again not enough to stop it from squeaking in behind him for a two goal Canadian lead.
The Czechs settled in after the second goal, pushing back heavily against the Canadians, and keeping sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Both Pavel Novak and Jan Mysak had great looks, but couldn’t beat Levi, and the teams headed into the first break with Canada up by a pair of goals.
With the second period underway, Canada seemed content to wait for chances, rather than pushing heavily into the Czech defence. They circled the puck back to the point, to get it away from a collapsing defensive wall in front of Nick Malik to varying levels of success, but they still hadn’t found another goal. The Czechs couldn’t find their legs in their counterpunching style, and were resigned solo rushes or stretch passes.
That was the tempo of the period, neither side truly found a breakthrough in any of their attacks. Canada did nearly add another goal with Bowen Byram ringing a shot off the crossbar behind Malik. While the best Czech chance of the period came when Michal Teply slid a pass across the crease during a two-on-one to Jan Mysak. However, Teply’s pass was slightly behind Mysak and the Habs prospect couldn’t grab the errant pass to get a chance off. When all was said and done, Canada went into the second break still holding a two goal lead, and seemed content to just ride it out going into the third period.
While the second period seemed to lack any real action, the third was the opposite. Connor McMichael broke in on Nick Malik, but the Czech goalie clamped down to deny a third goal. The Czechs then pushed their offence forward, trying to break down the stout Canadian defence, and Martin Lang threw a pass into the slot, but his teammate couldn’t quite get enough on it to trouble Devon Levi.
The Canadians continued to keep a stranglehold on the game, wearing down a Czech team that looked like it was running on fumes in the third period. With just over five minutes left the Czechs opted to pull Nick Malik for the extra attacker, and almost immediately Jan Mysak created a great chance. His shot went wide of Devon Levi, off the end boards and right to Adam Raska who failed to beat Levi’s pad low against the post on the play. The Canadians managed to get the puck out, but it was again Mysak making a stellar play on the back check to deny them a chance for the empty net marker.
Kaiden Guhle managed to chip the puck out off the glass, Connor McMichael jumped on it, blowing by the last defender and easily depositing it for the empty net goal, and all but seal the game for the Canadians. A late power play for the Czechs yielded nothing, setting a date for the Canadians against the Russians in the semi-final. A valiant defensive effort by the Czechs should also be commended, it’s something team captain and Canadiens’ prospect Jan Mysak talked about this week in an interview with Eyes on the Prize.
The Czechs three best players, as voted by their team at the end of the game were:
The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.
The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.
Trends of the Week
The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.
In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.
When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.
Upsets of the Week
The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.
Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.
NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.
Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.
The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.
Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.
Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.
Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).
Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.
Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.
Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.
Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).
The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.
The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.
