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Maple Leafs hope for consistency as Hutchinson takes control of crease – Sportsnet.ca

Published

5 years ago

February 4, 2020

TORONTO — In a season that’s seen Michael Hutchinson bounce from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Marlies and back to the Leafs again, he’s made a point to control what he can control.

Focus solely on that which can be influenced.

The hope now is his form of goaltending Zen continues yielding dividends with Hutchinson taking control of Toronto’s crease in the middle of a tight playoff race. His game has recently begun to resemble the weather forecast on a muggy summer’s afternoon: Sunny, with intermittent periods of rain.

Hutchinson, to his credit, has rescued a year that once appeared to be spiralling away by winning his last four NHL starts. That was the good news the Leafs tried to comfort themselves with while revealing Tuesday that Frederik Andersen would miss an indeterminate amount of time with a neck injury, although it required them to cover their eyes and ignore the three relief appearances sprinkled between those starts where Hutchinson allowed 10 goals on 46 shots.

“We’ve developed some real confidence when he’s gone in as a starting goaltender and he’s done a great job,” said Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. “In fact, some of the best starts we’ve had from our goaltenders have come with Hutch in the net here in the last little while. We’ve just got to keep this thing moving along.”

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Fair enough, it’s one thing to be given time to prepare for a start and quite another to be tossed in cold midway through a game where your team is already taking on water.

Hutchinson has proven himself capable of delivering quality outings — just not as consistently as the best of his peers. But as the Leafs headed to Madison Square Garden for Wednesday’s game with the New York Rangers, they seemed confident he could hold the fort in Andersen’s absence.

The 29-year-old seems to have much more faith from the front office than many viewing this situation from outside the dressing-room walls. Not only did general manager Kyle Dubas stick by him during an 0-5-1 start to the year by refusing to acquire any outside help, but he brought Hutchinson back from a spell in the minors after Keefe replaced Mike Babcock behind the bench.

Hutchinson delivered on his second chance with the four victories: A 29-save effort against Detroit; a 24-save night against New Jersey; a 33-save shutout over the New York Islanders; and last Saturday’s 24-save win over Ottawa.

He was also tagged with Monday’s loss after coming in for the injured Andersen. Hutchinson wasn’t at his best during a third period where a 3-1 lead quickly evaporated into a 5-3 defeat against the Florida Panthers — the team Toronto is battling for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

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But Keefe argued that it’s unfair to lay that result on his backup.

“Hockey’s a very funny game. The bounces go one way or the other and you tend to overanalyze things and that’s what we’re trying not to do here,” he said. “We find our way through that, maybe at 3-3 instead of hitting the post, [Auston] Matthews’ shot goes post and in and we win the game, and we’re sitting here and we’re probably talking about how great a defensive game it was all the way through and the fact that we gave up zero shots at 5-on-5 from inside our own zone in the second period.

“So, we’ve got to continue to teach and coach the process here and not get too wrapped up in the bounces and the results — as important as we obviously know the results are.”

That part comes naturally to Hutchinson, a veteran of 125 NHL games who spends as much time fine-tuning the mental side of his game as the physical one. He believes he’s found the proper headspace for success.

“Being relaxed and clear-headed and just kind of letting the game come to me is the biggest thing,” said Hutchison. “Approach it the way I have the last few games and hopefully everything works out.”

The stakes are high for everyone here.

Hutchinson is in a contract year and faces an uncertain NHL future. The Leafs are currently on the wrong side of the playoff cutoff line and desperately want another shot at the dance. Kasimir Kaskisuo, for now Hutchinson’s backup, only has one NHL appearance on his resume and could see action with a three-games-in-four-days stretch on the horizon.

Couple that with the unpredictable nature of Andersen’s injury — Keefe indicated that team doctors are managing his symptoms and labelled him “day to day” — and you have plenty of intrigue in the Leafs’ crease.

Facing an important game, they’re relying on a guy they passed through waivers in November. In the months since, they’ve found more reason to believe in Hutchinson.

“He’s just showing that he’s getting some traction and finding his way,” said Keefe. “I think, of course, the way things finished yesterday [against the Panthers] there’s increased attention to it, but if it weren’t for just that little piece last night then you’re focusing on the fact that — here he is, he’s 4-0, I think he’s had like a .940 [save percentage] or something like that over that time and he’s got a chance to be there for us.”

For good or ill, they need him now.

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Sports

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

Published

2 days 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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Sports

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

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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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