TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who held a practice at Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday ahead of facing the Winnipeg Jets Thursday at Scotiabank Arena in the second game of their three-game series.
A day after losing their third straight game, the Leafs held one of their shortest practices of the season.
“We got right to it,” said coach Sheldon Keefe of the 20-minute session. “When we have a day like this, you really take out fluff — the warm-up, all of those kinds of things — and get right to what you really need to get done.”
Usually, the team will skate for between 30 and 45 minutes on practice days held a day after a game, but fatigue is a factor right now. Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets was Toronto’s 17th game in 34 days. And the team just wrapped up a five-game swing through Western Canada over the weekend.
Still, Keefe felt it was important to get on the ice on Wednesday.
“It’s always tough to come in a day after a game, win or lose, because there is a quicker turnaround,” Keefe acknowledged. “That is a bit of a grind for players and even more so when you are losing. That is why I felt it was important that we skated today. I thought we skated hard for 20 minutes and got done what we needed to get done. The guys are leaving the ice and the building here today feeling good and refocused and ready to go.”
For the first time since Keefe took over behind the bench on Nov. 20, 2019, the Leafs have lost three straight games in regulation. Toronto’s grip atop the North Division has loosened with the Jets, who have played two fewer games, now within five points. The teams face off again on Thursday and Saturday.
“I don’t think there is any sense of panic here or anything like that,” Keefe said. “Yet, at the same time, we have had very open discussions about things that we have done here that have contributed to us losing versus the things that we did in Edmonton, as an example, that contributed to us winning. The recipe is right there for us. We just have to go out and execute.”
After Tuesday’s defeat, Keefe lamented the fact his team had slipped away from “winning habits” established through a dominant start to the year. Players were abandoning the structure and not managing the puck properly. An errant outlet pass by Morgan Rielly in the third period on Tuesday, for example, led to a turnover and eventually the winning goal by Mason Appleton.
“The train of thought is this is a blip on the radar and we want to take care of it,” Rielly said. “It’s hard over a quick time span like this to really judge the growth of the group, but the one thing I’ve noticed just about every day is that if we’re playing well we don’t get too high and if we lose a game we don’t get too low. That’s part of maturing together. That’s a good sign for us.”
Leafs Ice Chips: No Matthews or panic at fluff-free practice
Auston Matthews was absent at Wednesday’s practice as he continues to nurse an injured right wrist. Meanwhile, Sheldon Keefe felt it was important to hold a practice amid the team’s first three-game losing streak of the season, and explained afterwards that there is no sense of panic in the room. Mark Masters has more.
“Making sure we’re getting out of our zone cleanly,” Marner said. “Obviously our PK. We got to clean that up.”
Toronto’s penalty kill allowed a goal on all three chances the Vancouver Canucks had in two games last week. The Jets converted on one of two chances on Tuesday.
“We have to get through kills and get them finished,” Keefe said. “We have had a number of them this season where in the last 20 seconds or so, after we had done a lot of good things, it ends up in our net. The first one we gave up from the bad angle in Vancouver — that was an unbelievable kill for us. In fact, we had opportunities to extend our lead and all of a sudden it is in our net. We have to just stay with it. I think that is the biggest thing: stay with it to the very end, compete to the very end.”
This latest rough patch has seen Toronto’s penalty kill drop to 20th in the NHL at 76.6 per cent.
“Before we went to Vancouver, we had the No. 1 penalty kill in the division,” Keefe pointed out. “We were feeling pretty good about the things that we were doing. It just goes to show it can get away from you quickly … We will continue to clean up the details, but we can’t ignore the fact that there had been a number of positives that had been happening prior to the last three games.”
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Auston Matthews is playing through a wrist injury, but the 23-year-old centre suggested the pain isn’t a big factor.
“Once you get out there it dwindles away,” Matthews said after scoring twice Tuesday night. “I felt fine.”
Matthews was absent from Wednesday’s practice.
“He wanted to skate today,” Keefe revealed. “We thought it was a good opportunity for him to take a rest day.”
Both of the Matthews goals against the Jets came from in close. He deflected home a Rielly shot on the power play and chipped in a puck from the doorstep with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker.
The top line still hasn’t generated an even-strength goal since Matthews returned to the lineup four games ago. Marner has fired 10 shots on net in the last two games, his highest two-game total of the season, but insists he hasn’t had to adjust his game.
“I don’t think it has much of an impact,” said Marner, who is now goal-less in five straight, his longest drought of the year. “I don’t think anything’s really changed with our line. We’re still trying to play the same way as we have all year.”
Toronto’s top trio drove play on Tuesday with shots favouring the Leafs 10-2 when Matthews, Marner and Joe Thornton were on the ice together at even strength, per NaturalStatTrick. They were matched against the Mark Scheifele line most of the night.
Matthews finished with a game-high six shots and won 13 of 18 faceoffs.
“It’s not even just the production,” said captain John Tavares. “His overall game is tremendous in all three zones and such an influence for us. The way he controls the play. The way he competes for the puck. His strength defensively. He continues to battle well in faceoffs. His overall game is really strong.”
Keefe noted the medical staff has determined Matthews won’t make the injury worse by playing.
“It is not the type of thing where taking a game or two off is going to allow it to fix itself,” the coach said. “I think a lot of players throughout the league are going through it, but you don’t hear about it as much as you would in Toronto with such a great player.”
Jets looking to tighten defensive end to limit Leafs’ chances
After allowing 39 shots against the Maple Leafs in their win on Tuesday, the Jets believe that they can tighten things on the defensive end to limit Toronto’s opportunities. While Winnipeg admits that they expect the Leafs to make adjustments to try and end their three-game skid, they don’t believe it will be anything too drastic.
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One theme during the losing streak has been the play of the opposition goalie. Thatcher Demko was excellent in Vancouver while Connor Hellebuyck stopped 36 of 39 shots on Tuesday.
“They got a Vezina winner in the net so we got to get guys in front and get more tips on net and get those second opportunities,” Marner said.
Frederik Andersen allowed four goals on 23 shots on Tuesday while suffering his first career regulation loss against the Jets.
Andersen is now 1-2-0 with an .889 save percentage since returning from a lower-body injury.
“I feel good,” he said. “I think I’m moving pretty well. Pretty much most of my game I like. Of course, the results lately haven’t been there.”
Andersen was asked if he’s motivated to measure himself against Hellebuyck.
“Yes and no,” the Dane said. “You want to go out and beat the guy at the other end, but as a goalie you know what happens at the other end doesn’t really effect what’s going on in my end. So, my focus is to try to be ready and make the saves I can. Of course, you want to beat the guy at the other end and win.”
Andersen on ‘Fredzilla’ nickname, facing Hellebuyck
Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen updates how he’s feeling health-wise since returning from a lower-body injury, gives his thoughts on the new nicknames his teammates have given him, and discusses whether he tries to measure himself against reigning Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck when they square off.
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The Leafs are looking for more performances like the one Andersen provided last week in Edmonton when he stopped 26 of 27 shots. After that game, Matthews described Andersen as “Fredzilla.”
Who came up with that?
“A lot of nicknames are coming from Jumbo,” the 6-foot-4, 238-pound goalie said referencing Thornton. “He’s a nickname machine. He has a lot. He even has nicknames you guys don’t even hear before they come and go. He cycles through them pretty quick. He loves throwing out a good nickname.”
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Justin Bieber posted “a love letter to the Maple Leafs” on social media Wednesday. The tweet from the singer features his new song ‘Hold On’ set to Leafs highlights.
“Biebs is a very special person and an incredibly talented artist,” said Rielly. “When he’s eager to work with the team and spend time around the guys that’s a pretty cool opportunity. We’re very fortunate to play for this organization and I guess that’s one of the things that comes with it.”
Bieber has struck up a friendship with Matthews in recent years.
“I know his relationship with him is pretty tight,” said Andersen. “It’s fun to have a musical talent like his be a big fan of us and, likewise the other way, a lot of us appreciate his music. I’m looking forward to hearing it.”
With avid Maple Leafs fan Justin Bieber releasing a video Wednesday for his latest hit single ‘Hold On’, which he’s calling ‘a love letter to the Maple Leafs’, Morgan Rielly and Frederik Andersen share their reaction to video and explain what the Canadian music sensation has meant to the team.
VANCOUVER – As the Major League Soccer season ticks down, Vanni Sartini wants his Vancouver Whitecaps to make a declaration — the team is ready to compete.
“The time of hiding ourselves, I think it’s over,” the coach said after the ‘Caps earned a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
“We need to really say that we are here to try to be at the ball until the end and trying to shoot for the highest position. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to make it, but we have the quality to do it.”
With seven games left on their regular-season schedule, the ‘Caps (13-8-6) sit in fifth spot in the congested Western Conference, just two points out of fourth.
Saturday’s loss officially eliminated the last-place Earthquakes (5-21-2) from post-season action.
Vancouver has been on a hot streak since returning from the Leagues Cup break and is unbeaten (3-0-1) in its last four outings across all competitions. The team has not allowed a goal in those matches.
“It’s the fact that we play really well,” Sartini said of the clean sheets. “We have the ball a lot, we finish our attack most of the time in their box. So it’s really hard for the other team to attack us. And then when they attack us, in the rare times that they arrive in the final third, we’re very solid.”
Recent additions have bolstered the team’s ranks, including the club’s newest designated player, Stuart Armstrong. The 32-year-old Scottish midfielder scored his first MLS goal Saturday.
Three minutes after coming on as a substitute for Alessandro Schopf, Armstrong gave Vancouver a two-goal cushion in the 87th minute.
Midfielder Pedro Vite dished a short pass to ‘Caps captain Ryan Gauld, who tapped it toward Armstrong. The former Southampton FC player then blasted a shot into the top of the net for his first strike in a Whitecaps’ jersey.
He was mobbed by teammates in the corner of the field.
“I think everyone was happy. Also for the first goal, but also that it was an important three points,” said Armstrong, who signed with the ‘Caps on Sept. 3.
“It kind of felt a little bit like last week, when we had a lot of chances and we didn’t get the three points. So today, I think everyone was just relieved to have that two-goal cushion.”
Vancouver was the dominant team from the outset Saturday and did not relent, outshooting the visitors 19-5 and controlling 54.1 per cent of possession.
Fafa Picault also found the back of the net for Vancouver, while Gauld contributed a pair of assists.
Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka stopped both shots he faced to collect his seventh clean sheet of the year, while Daniel made nine saves for the Quakes.
Gauld and Picault teamed up in the 22nd minute when Gauld curled a cross in and the Haitian striker headed it down toward the net, only to see Daniel catch a piece of the shot with his forearm and redirect it out of harm’s way.
The duo connected again in the 35th minute on a Vancouver corner. Gauld swung a ball in and Picault jumped up from the pack to send a glancing header in past Daniel for his ninth MLS goal of the season.
San Jose briefly appeared to level the score in the 68th minute when an unmarked Ousseni Bouda collected the ball, froze Takaoka and tapped a shot into the Vancouver net. An official quickly raised the offside flag and waved off the tally.
Daniel kept San Jose’s deficit to a single goal with a pair of solid stops in the 82nd minute.
First, the Brazilian ‘keeper dove sideways on his line to tip away a bomb from Alessandro Schopf. He was tested again on the ensuing corner and jumped up to send a header from Picault over the crossbar.
“I think we created a lot of chances again,” Gauld said.
“We probably should have put the game out of their reach sooner. But we’d be more worried if we weren’t creating the chances. Three clean sheets in a row in the league, I think it’s a big thing for us. And it gives us a good platform to go forward.”
NOTES
Vancouver played without leading scorer Brian White for a third consecutive game as the American striker works his way back from a concussion. … Gauld’s second assist marked his 15th goal contribution (six goals, nine assists) in his last 15 Whitecaps games across all competitions. … An announced crowd of 21,309 took in the game at B.C. Place.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps kick off a two-game road swing Wednesday against the Houston Dynamo. The Earthquakes host the Seattle Sounders the same night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2024.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Not good enough. That was Arne Slot’s verdict after his first defeat as Liverpool manager on Saturday.
A shock 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League ended Slot’s perfect record since succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield at the end of last season.
“We had a lot of ball possession but only managed to create three (or) four quite good chances, so that is by far not enough if you have so much ball possession,” said the Dutchman, who suggested his team should not be losing to the likes of Forest.
“If you lose a home game it’s always a setback, especially if you face a team … we never know, maybe they will go all the way to fight for Champions League tickets, but normally this team is not ending up in the top 10, so if you lose a game against them that’s a big disappointment.”
Slot won his first three games in charge, including a memorable 3-0 victory against Manchester United before the international break.
But that run came to an end after Callum Hudson-Odoi struck in the 72nd with a curling effort from the edge of the box and beyond goalkeeper Alisson.
Liverpool’s defeat leaves Manchester City as the only team with a 100% record in the league after a 2-1 win against Brentford kept the defending champion at the top of the table.
United won at Southampton 3-0 to end its two-game losing streak.
Unstoppable Haaland
Erling Haaland moved to 99 goals for City after scoring twice against Brentford.
The Norwegian’s double came after Yoane Wissa fired Brentford ahead with just 22 seconds on the clock.
Haaland scored his 98th and 99th goals in his 103rd City appearance in all competitions. And he was the width of the post away from his third consecutive hat trick after trebles against Ipswich and West Ham.
“He’s been really, really good. Yeah, I would say he’s the best (he’s been), but it’s only four fixtures (this season),” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
Haaland, who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, has nine goals in four league games. He has topped the league scoring charts in each of his two seasons at City since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 for $63 million.
Haaland’s first goal after 19 minutes evened the game following Wissa’s opener, which stunned the Etihad Stadium crowd. Haaland turned and swept a shot past goalkeeper Mark Flekken after a slight deflection off Ethan Pinnock.
He was then too strong for Pinnock when shaking off the defender and running through for his second in the 32nd.
He was inches away in the 81st; the shot came back off the post after beating the keeper.
Rashford snaps run
Marcus Rashford snapped a 12-game barren run in front of goal as United beat Southampton.
Rashford doubled United’s lead at Saint Mary’s after Matthijs de Ligt’s scored his first for the club. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho scored a third in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
The win came after back-to-back defeats for United.
Rashford hadn’t scored since March in United’s win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals. He curled in a shot from the edge of the area to put Erik ten Hag’s team 2-0 up at Southampton in the 41st minute.
Ten Hag said it could be a turning point for the forward.
“For every striker, they want to be on the scoring list. Once the first is in, more is coming. Like a ketchup bottle, once it’s going, it’s coming more,” he said.
De Ligt, who joined United from Bayern Munich in the offseason, headed in from Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the 35th.
It could have been a different story if Cameron Archer converted a penalty for Southampton in the 33rd. Instead, his effort was saved by goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Newly promoted Southampton was reduced to 10 men when Jack Stephens was sent off in the 79th for a high challenge on Garnacho.
Villa comeback
After three straight defeats to start the league, Everton looked set for its first win when leading Aston Villa 2-0.
Goals from Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Sean Dyche’s team in control until Ollie Watkins struck twice to even the game.
Jhon Duran completed Villa’s comeback and sealed a 3-2 win in the 76th to leave Everton rooted to the bottom of the table and the only top flight team without a point.
Late drama
Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a stoppage time penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace against Leicester.
Leicester led 2-0 at Selhurst Park after goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi.
But Mateta sparked Palace’s response with a goal in the 47th, a minute after Mavididi doubled Leicester’s advantage.
Conor Coady fouled Ismaili Sarr in the box right near fulltime and Mateta was cool enough to convert.
West Ham left it even later to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at Fulham.
Danny Ings struck in the fifth minute of added time after Raul Jimenez’s goal looked like earning Fulham the win.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, the manager of the month for August, was frustrated as his team was held to 0-0 at home by Ipswich.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Restricted free agent forward Isaac Okoro has agreed to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Okoro’s new deal is worth $38 million, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed or announced by the team.
ESPN.com first reported the agreement, citing Okoro’s representation.
The fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Okoro is Cleveland’s best perimeter defender, often drawing the assignment of guarding the opponent’s top scorer. Okoro also has worked to improve his offensive game.
The 23-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 69 games — 42 starts — last season for the Cavs, who beat Orlando in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to eventual champion Boston.
Okoro shot a career-best 39% on 3-pointers, forcing teams to come out and guard him.
His agreement caps an extraordinarily busy summer for the Cavs that began with coach J.B. Bickerstaff being fired and replaced by Kenny Atkinson. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year, $150 million extension in July, ending months of speculation that he wanted out of Cleveland.
Also, power forward Evan Mobley signed a five-year, $224 deal and center Jarrett Allen signed a three-year, $91 million extension.
