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Timely return for Horvat, Pettersson key amid Canucks’ steep playoff climb – Sportsnet.ca

Published

4 years ago

March 23, 2021

VANCOUVER – When the Vancouver Canucks began their ambitious expedition three weeks ago to climb back into a playoff spot, looking up at the North Division standings would have been like looking up at the North Face of the Eiger.

That famous limestone wall in the Alps is terrifyingly high and steep and usually covered with ice. And then the Canucks started their climb without crampons, losing their best forward, Elias Pettersson, due to a reported wrist injury that has proven to be far more troubling than initially diagnosed.

When Canucks captain Bo Horvat hobbled to the dressing room during Monday’s 4-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets after being struck just above his skate by teammate Alex Edler’s slapshot, it was like the mountaineers were losing their ropes, too.

Free climb the Eiger? Not a chance. Which is why coach Travis Green’s surprising announcement Tuesday that Horvat is “day-to-day” was extraordinarily good news for the Canucks.

It looked like Horvat, who has played 240 consecutive National Hockey League games, might be done for the season. Instead, he could play Wednesday’s rematch against the Jets or, at least, be available one week later against the Calgary Flames after the Canucks’ six-day schedule break.

“I’d call it day-to-day right now,” Green told reporters on Zoom as the Canucks held a spartan practice at Rogers Arena. “I haven’t ruled him out for tomorrow.”

It is worth remembering that Green also originally characterized Pettersson’s injury, sustained and/or exacerbated during back-to-back games in Winnipeg on March 1 and 2, as “day-to-day” before further tests revealed a more serious problem.

But Green said Tuesday that medical imaging had already been completed on Horvat, and the coach is hopeful he’ll play Wednesday.

His early exit on Monday left the Canucks without any of their top four centres: Pettersson, Horvat, Brandon Sutter and Jay Beagle. There is a chance that Sutter could also play Wednesday after missing one game, Green said, and Beagle is getting closer to playing after missing the last six with an undisclosed injury.

The return of Horvat and Pettersson is absolutely necessary if the Canucks are going to continue upwards.

That playoff peak still looks dauntingly far away and the route almost vertical. But the Canucks have surprised us by climbing well above the valley floor so far, going 8-3-1 in March even without Pettersson.

The key, as climbers and hockey players know, is to not look too far ahead lest you lose hope or footing. Just worry about the next step.

“You know, the guys that are playing, they just care about playing well and doing what they can to win the game,” Green said. “[Injuries are] not talked about as much as you think in a locker room. The guys that are in the lineup are just concerned with getting the job done, really. Probably coaches think about it a little more, the fans, media. But the players are worried about playing their best game and worrying about themselves, trying to make sure that they play the way we need to win.”

With 20 games remaining, the 16-17-3 Canucks probably need 28 points or 14 wins, minimum, just to give themselves a chance of making the Stanley Cup tournament in May. Each game they lose, the climb gets steeper.

“I’m definitely not thinking about the math,” Green continued. “We’re just worrying about the game tomorrow. We’ve been playing some pretty good hockey here as of late. I think it’s important that you don’t start looking 10 games down the road, 15 games down the road. Just worry about the next game.

“If we were in a playoff spot right now, we’d be saying the same thing. We’re not looking at numbers saying we’ve got to win five in a row. We’ve got to win the next game and worry about the next game, and then reset, take our break, and get ready to play again.”

The Canucks have built themselves a trade-deadline safety net by claiming forwards Jimmy Vesey and Travis Boyd from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Assuming general manager Jim Benning doesn’t flip them ahead of the April 12 trade deadline, Vesey and Boyd are good enough depth players to fill a couple of holes in the lineup should the Canucks finally become deadline sellers and leverage players on expiring contracts for assets.

But Benning also knows how tirelessly his players have worked to climb back towards the playoff race. In management’s view, and for the sake of that ever-evolving team culture, they probably deserve at least a little more time to prove that their ascent has not stalled.

Benning can afford to wait a little longer. Judging by the unprecedented gridlock amid one of the most challenging trading markets NHL GMs have ever navigated, waiting may not be a matter of choice.

“Obviously, a few of the guys out right now are pretty important to our lineup — certainly some of our more reliable guys out there,” veteran defenceman Tyler Myers said. “We know how important each and every game is but. . . the mindset stays the same. We’d like those guys back as fast as possible, but the focus is on tomorrow night. Last night’s done.”

Hammer in another piton and try to keep going higher.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

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AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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