TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers (optional), who held skates at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.
A lot has changed since the Leafs outscored the Oilers 13-1 while sweeping three games in late February and early March. Toronto has just one regulation win in nine games since then (3-6-0). The Oilers, meanwhile, have won seven of nine to creep to within two points of the division leaders.
And yet that three-game set in Edmonton remains fresh in the mind of figures on both sides of this rivalry.
“We played as good as we have and I don’t think we got the best that Edmonton has,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “I expect here now, with the week off and how things went the last time, that Edmonton is going to be at their very best and we have to find our way back to what we looked like out there. It’s a good opportunity for us to do that. It’s a great challenge. They’re back playing extremely well and back confident once again and motivation won’t be lacking for them.”
Connor McDavid was held without a point in the three previous games against his hometown team. Since then, he’s been on the scoresheet nine straight times with 20 total points.
“We have to show not only to them, but to ourselves that we can play with these guys and we can beat these guys,” McDavid said. “We’ve done it before.”
The Leafs and Oilers had split the first four games of the season series before the domination in Edmonton.
“Any time you get whacked around for three games at home, you know, it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth,” said Mike Smith, who gets the start for the Oilers. “I feel like tonight we have no excuse but to come out with our best game and hopefully that’s good enough to get a win.”
Mitch Marner says that Toronto is looking to replicate “as much as possible” from that last series against Edmonton. The recipe for success against the high-octane Oilers is clear.
“Make sure we’re staying above [them] and not giving up too many odd-man rushes,” Marner outlined. “We know they’re a deadly team off the rush so just got to make sure everyone is doing their part, being smart out there, and not diving in too much.”
“We’re prepared for them to make a push and play hard and be a motivated bunch,” said defenceman Morgan Rielly. “We didn’t allow too many odd-man rushes and we played to our structure. We made it tough for them coming through the neutral zone, clogged it up pretty good, and we’re going to have to replicate that.”
Leafs aim to replicate game from Oilers sweep earlier this season
In early March, the Maple Leafs swept the Oilers in a three-game mini-series, outscoring them 13-1 in the process. The team explains what they want to replicate from that series ahead of two games against Edmonton.
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The first three games of the Oilers road trip were postponed due to the Canadiens’ COVID situation.
“A strange week,” said McDavid. “It’s been boring, honestly. That’s the first word that comes to mind. It’s almost been a little bit of a bye week, I guess. We should be rested. Guys should have legs. Guys should have energy. Sometimes when you’re coming off a delay like this the attention to detail or the little things can be missed so it’s important to dial that in right away.”
During his six seasons in the National Hockey League, McDavid’s played six games in Toronto. He has played here on a Monday, Tuesday, twice on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. So, is there any extra meaning to playing in Toronto on a Saturday?
“Absolutely,” McDavid said. “The league likes to try to sneak us through here on a Monday, Wednesday night so for us to get a Saturday night game is exciting. As a kid, obviously, you watch Saturday night hockey and growing up in the Toronto area that was always the Leafs so it’s exciting to be able to play here on a Saturday.”
Oilers discuss ‘strange’ week: It’s been boring as ever
With Edmonton getting an unforeseen week off due to their games against the Canadiens being postponed, the Oilers say they should be rested and have lots of energy against the Leafs tonight.
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McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have looked great while playing on the same line of late, which is something the Leafs didn’t see consistently during the three-game sweep.
“He passes the puck so well,” McDavid said of the reigning Hart Trophy winner. “We think a lot alike. We’ve been playing together for a long time now and kind of understand what each other is thinking and what we’ll be doing. Obviously, a special player and always fun to get the chance to line up beside him.”
“They’re pretty deadly together,” noted Marner. “They know where each other is going to be. You got to be ready. When you think a pass can’t be made, they’re pretty good at finding a way to get it there.”
McDavid and Draisaitl skated on the same line at Friday’s practice, but Dave Tippett was noncommittal when asked about playing them together in Toronto.
“It’s just a tool that we use,” the coach said on Saturday. “They play a lot together during the game whether it’s power play or certain shifts here and there and then there are times when we want to play them together all the time. It just gives a different dimension to our team. They’re both top, top players and the individual skill-set they bring is immense so you put them together and you’re just doubling that.”
‘We think a lot alike’: McDavid, Draisaitl can create double trouble for Leafs
Connor McDavid explains what he likes about playing on a line with Leon Draisaitl, while Mitch Marner says the duo is ‘pretty deadly together’.
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Keefe shuffled his lines this morning, moving Joe Thornton back to the top line with Auston Matthews and Marner. Wayne Simmonds moved to the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander.
“I’ve wanted to get Simmonds back with Tavares and Nylander,” Keefe explained. “That line, to me, when Wayne left our lineup, was just starting to get going. I thought it’s the best trio we’ve had there. Those guys were really going and had a lot of opportunities and Wayne was bringing a lot to the line so I’ve been wanting to go back with that.”
Simmonds played a couple games with Tavares and Nylander before breaking his wrist on Feb. 6 and missing six weeks. He has played the last two games with Matthews and Marner.
Matthews and Marner, meanwhile, are likely to see a lot of Edmonton’s top line tonight and Keefe likes how his No. 97 has handled things when on the ice against the Oilers No. 97.
“Joe has played really good hockey against the Edmonton Oilers this season,” Keefe said. “Defensively, especially, with what he’s brought to those guys and how he’s played against Edmonton’s best players. He’s done a really good job. Very conscious of when they’re out there and how he needs to play so wanted to get that back.”
Newcomer Alex Galchenyuk, who had been with Tavares and Nylander, moved to the fourth line with Alex Kerfoot and Jason Spezza.
“Galchenyuk, getting him a good opportunity early was important,” Keefe said. “We got him in a good place here now and I like a lot about what he’s done. It’s nothing against what he brought to that line, but I have wanted to get Wayne in that place.”
Keefe also stressed it was important to keep the third line together. The trio of Pierre Engvall between Ilya Mikheyev and Zach Hyman had a coming-out party of sorts against the Oilers producing a goal in each game of the sweep. And Hyman really seemed to get under the skin of Smith in the final game of the series.
Leafs Ice Chips: Thornton promoted to top line; Simmonds with Tavares
Head coach Sheldon Keefe juggled his lines ahead of the Leafs’ Saturday night matchup against the Oilers. Joe Thornton is being promoted back to the top line, while Wayne Simmonds moves to the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. Mark Masters has more.
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Kailer Yamamoto returns to the Oilers lineup for the first time since March 17.
“He’s just got to get back to playing how he was,” said Tippett. “He’s great on the forecheck. He keeps pucks alive. He’s got good skill to make plays. Smart defensive player. So, he just has to get his game back up and going again. It was an injury that kept him out a little longer than expected and now with the break that we had he’s back and 100 per cent healthy.”
Yamamoto skated on the second line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Dominik Kahun at Friday’s practice.
“He brings a lot of work,” McDavid said. “He works his tail off and works [to get] pucks back. He’s a good little player when he’s got the puck. Sometimes he defers a little bit too much, but that can happen with a young guy. When he’s confident, there’s not many wingers better to play with than that guy. He works as hard as I’ve seen anyone. He’s a guy that brings a lot of energy.”
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Jack Campbell, who posted a shutout against the Oilers on Feb. 27, makes a third straight start for the Leafs. He’s vowing to be better with his puck touches after a pair of botched handles ended up in the net on Thursday in Ottawa.
“Those types of goals just can’t go in,” Campbell said. “Those are 100 percent on me, of course.”
Keefe said that Campbell made the right decision to play the puck both times, but could’ve been more assertive. The fact he’s only played five games this season makes it hard to get in a rhythm when it comes to moments like that, the coach noted.
Frederik Andersen still isn’t back on the ice. Toronto’s No. 1 goalie hasn’t skated since losing to the Flames on March 19.
“No real update yet,” said Keefe. “He’s had some different examinations and different things he’s had looked at … his return is not imminent. I expect we’ll have an update in the coming days.”
How will Campbell stack up against Oilers?
Jack Campbell improved his record to 5-0 on the season and he hasn’t given up more than two goals in a single game this season but with a huge test against the Oilers on the horizon this weekend, is he ready for the challenge? That’s Hockey discusses.
MONTREAL – Canadian National Railway Co. told employees this week it plans to relocate its operations in Jasper to near Hinton, Alta., about 100 kilometres away.
In a memo sent to employees in the fire-ravaged town, the company said it’s aiming to increase efficiency by minimizing train stops between Edmonton and Blue River, B.C., which sits across the Rockies.
CN plans to close its Jasper bunkhouse and build a crew change facility east of Hinton, with workers slated to clock in at the new site starting in September 2025, according to the document obtained by The Canadian Press.
“CN has made the decision to implement operational changes to improve network fluidity,” regional vice-president Nicole James said in the memo.
The union representing rail workers criticized the relocation, which affects about 200 employees, though no layoffs are expected.
“This is another devastating blow to the town of Jasper, after this year’s catastrophic wildfires. Rail is one of the largest industries in Jasper, after tourism, and CN’s move will cripple this community even further,” said Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
“And for the workers who’ve already lost so much — some even their homes — this is a truly cruel blow.”
Union spokesman Christopher Monette noted that most residents or their spouses must work in town to qualify to live there under Jasper National Park’s residency rules. The company has told the union it will apply for an exception for the workers, he said.
CN spokeswoman Ashley Michnowski says the railway is committed to supporting employees through the transition and keeping them updated.
“These types of changes take time to fully plan out and implement. That’s why one of our initial steps was to have this discussion with our employees as well as advising the town of Jasper,” she said in an email.
A wildfire ripped through Jasper in July, destroying a third of the mountain town and displacing many of its 4,800 residents.
The blaze also caused smoke damage to the CN bunkhouse, which the company says it has worked to restore since it was allowed to re-enter the community with contractors on Aug. 16.
Engineers and conductors have been reporting for work in Hinton, roughly an hour away, since the wildfire.
With roots as a fur trade outpost, Jasper launched as a railway town in the early 20th century after tracks built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway — CN’s predecessor — paved the way for the municipality.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.
The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.
Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.
He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.
Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.
Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.
The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.
Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.
Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.
Veterans Tyson Beukeboom and Karen Paquin will lead Canada at the WXV 1 women’s rugby tournament starting later this month in the Vancouver area.
WXV 1 includes the top three teams from the Women’s Six Nations (England, France and Ireland) and the top three teams from the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States).
Third-ranked Canada faces No. 4 France, No. 7 Ireland and No. 1 England in the elite division of the three-tiered WXV tournament that runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 12 in Vancouver and Langley, B.C. No. 2 New Zealand and the eighth-ranked U.S. make up the six-team WVX 1 field.
“Our preparation time was short but efficient. This will be a strong team,” Canada coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement. “All the players have worked very hard for the last couple of weeks to prepare for WXV and we are excited for these next three matches and for the chance to play on home soil here in Vancouver against the best rugby teams in the world.
“France, Ireland and England will each challenge us in different ways but it’s another opportunity to test ourselves and another step in our journey to the Rugby World Cup next year.”
Beukeboom serves as captain in the injury absence of Sophie de Goede. The 33-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont., earned her Canadian-record 68th international cap in Canada’s first-ever victory over New Zealand in May at the Pacific Four Series.
Twenty three of the 30 Canadian players selected for WXV 1 were part of that Pacific Four Series squad.
Rouet’s roster includes the uncapped Asia Hogan-Rochester, Caroline Crossley and Rori Wood.
Hogan-Rochester and Crossley were part of the Canadian team that won rugby sevens silver at the Paris Olympics, along with WXV teammates Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry. Wood is a veteran of five seasons at UBC.
The 37-year-old Paquin, who has 38 caps for Canada including the 2014 Rugby World Cup, returns to the team for the first time since the 2021 World Cup.
Canada opens the tournament Sept. 29 against France at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver before facing Ireland on Oct. 5 at Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre, and England on Oct. 12 at B.C. Place.
The second-tier WXV 2 and third-tier WXV 3 are slated to run Sept. 27 to Oct. 12, in South Africa and Dubai, respectively.
WXV 2 features Australia, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales while WXV 3 is made up of Fiji, Hong Kong, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain.
The tournament has 2025 World Cup qualification implications, although Canada, New Zealand and France, like host England, had already qualified by reaching the semifinals of the last tournament.
Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Japan, Fiji and Brazil have also booked their ticket, with the final six berths going to the highest-finishing WXV teams who have not yet qualified through regional tournaments.
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team WXV 1 Squad
Forwards
Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Français Paris (France); Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., College Rifles RFC; Sara Cline, Edmonton, Leprechaun Tigers; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England);
Backs
Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que, Stade Bordelais (France); Mahalia Robinson, Fulford, Que., Town of Mount Royal RFC; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Sara Kaljuvee, Ajax, Ont., Westshore RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
