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Kadri maintains composure to will Avalanche past Blues amid intolerable situation – Sportsnet.ca

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Nazem Kadri didn’t appreciate what Craig Berube had to say about his reputation, so he did something to enhance it.

And for good reason, Kadri didn’t appreciate some of the repulsive, hateful and unacceptable racist remarks that came his way in the hours after his collision with Jordan Binnington.

But instead of coming unglued or being distracted by something no person should ever have to go through, the Colorado Avalanche centre came up with a game for the ages and essentially willed his team to victory in a pivotal game in this Central Division final with the St. Louis Blues.

Not only did Kadri notch his first career Stanley Cup playoff hat trick, but he chipped in an assist for good measure and was the best player on the ice as the Avalanche secured a 6-3 victory and took a commanding 3-1 in this best-of-seven series, which shifts back to Denver on Wednesday night.

As much as he impacted the game, that Kadri was able to keep his composure on the ice and afterward when he stepped to the podium to speak with reporters about the incident speaks volumes about his ability to deal with what could have easily been an intolerable situation.

Not many people could be expected to stay calm under these conditions, yet there was Kadri, speaking openly about trying to use the negative energy as fuel.

“I wanted to come out and really put a mark on this game, especially after what happened. I tried to do that as best as possible,” said Kadri. “Sometimes you’ve got to be patient and you’ve got to wait. I was able to strike early in the second period and was able to get the mojo going, in terms of individually and as a team, so it felt amazing. Especially to do it on the road, it was pure.

“I guess I needed some fuel. I was pretty upset for the last couple of days, but it is what it is. We got the win and that’s what we wanted.”

Kadri let it be known how much he appreciated the support of his teammates and others who have reached out, even if they couldn’t possibly have a clue about what it’s like to receive hateful messages and then simply brush them off, play in this pressure cooker and not merely survive but thrive.

He made a point of saying he knew these messages – as extreme as they were – didn’t represent the entire Blues fan base.

“I know that they’re booing me and what-not, but that’s what being a fan is. As a home team and a home player, you want the fans on your side and heckling the other team, as long as it’s within the guidelines,” said Kadri. “I’ve got no issues with that and I know what was said isn’t a reflection on every single fan in St. Louis. I understand that and I want to make that clear. But for those that wasted their time sending messages like that, I feel sorry for them.”

On Sunday afternoon, the Avalanche let it be known that the St. Louis police department got involved after Kadri received threats.

“I guess someone had contacted them about some hateful messages and I was able to read those messages and they were very extreme,” said Kadri. “So, you know, I just tried to shake it off. They did a good job of assuring me and making me feel safe. I just had to worry about coming (to the rink) and showing up.”

What about the contents of those messages?

“Racial. Threatening,” said Kadri. “All of that good stuff.”

Kadri also knew that there were probably going to be a few members of the Blues who took a run or a swing at him, perhaps be on the receiving end of a cross-check or two.

All of those things came to fruition, but Kadri didn’t shy away and retreat to the shadows.

He absorbed each and every one of those blows, including a cross-check from Pavel Bucnevich and another cross-check and several punches to the face from David Perron as they fell to the ice together during one heated post-whistle exchange.

Instead of retaliating, Kadri picked himself up off the ice and skated to the bench. When his turn came to jump back over the boards, he delivered his second goal of the game.

While the one-timer came seven seconds after those minor penalties expired, it proved to be the eventual game-winner.

“I mean, I figured someone was going to have something to say, but that’s just stupid penalties that we cashed in on and it hurt them,” said Kadri. “If you lose your cool, we’ll make you pay.”

Amid the celebration, Kadri also had the awareness to avoid a potential elbow from Perron, who appeared to be on the lookout for some revenge.

When Kadri beat Blues goalie Ville Husso with a shot just before the midway point of the third period, he conceded that it felt “amazing” and you could understand why.

For all of the compartmentalizing he had to do, Berube’s comment about his reputation being a factor in the collision with Blues defenceman Calle Rosen and Binnington, who is lost for at least the remainder of the series with a knee injury, bothered and also motivated Kadri.

“I don’t know. You know, starting with their head coach probably. He made some comments that I wasn’t a fan of,” said Kadri. “I guess he’s never heard of bulletin-board material. I don’t know what that was about. But like I said, there were a lot of people saying a lot of things. I’ve got to tune it out. I’ll step up when I have to.”

After the Blues said all of the right things about turning the page and not seeking retribution leading up to Game 4, their actions suggest otherwise and it’s one of the reasons they find themselves on the brink of elimination.

Kadri wasn’t about to be bullied on or off the ice and thanks to his courageous performance, the Avalanche are one win away from advancing to the Western Conference final.

“For humanity, is this a perfect example of good defeating evil in a way,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told reporters. “With what happened, Naz has a job to do and to be able to stay focused and to be able to perform like that under the circumstances, I thought, showed a lot of character and a lot of resolve and he’s an awesome guy and tough kid and he elevated his game at the best time to kind of show everyone what he’s made of.

“It’s not about ego. It’s not about settling scores, as tough as that would have been for him. It’s about winning. you have to make sacrifices and you have to … in order to win hockey games, you have to do it. And it’s no different than any other situation where a guy gets a lick on you. We’re not settling scores. It’s about winning the hockey game. And I think that’s what makes the biggest statement, you go out and you win the game and you suck it up and do what you got to do to help everyone else in the room get what they want, which is a win. And no one wants it more than Naz.”

Kadri is up to five goals and 10 points in eight games and has been a dominant force so far in the series, picking up some of the offensive slack at a time several of his teammates still have another level to each.

But that’s what good teams do, they pull together and pick each other up, especially when times are tough, either for an individual or the team as a whole.

“I think we always have each other’s backs, but when stuff like that happens Naz knew that, you know, we are with him and the organization was with him,” said Avalanche defenceman Erik Johnson, who scored the equalizer after the Blues got on the board first for the fourth time in this series. “It was awesome. I felt so good for him. Imagine being in his situation, it can’t be a fun thing. No, no human being should actually receive that type of treatment, especially with a hockey game. It’s just insane. And that being said, I think he liked being the villain and he certainly stepped up for us.

“You’re not going to be fueled more to try and win a game just because of that, we have enough fuel. But that being said, I think it definitely helped motivate Naz a little bit and I mean, how could you script it any better for him?”

The only way the script could have been better is if Kadri didn’t have to deal with any of the messages and threats at all.

But being a beacon of light under difficult circumstances is part of the example Kadri set by handling the situation with such grace.

“It’s a good message, I think. People need to be aware that this still happens and it’s hurtful. It’s hurtful,” said Kadri. “I know a lot of people don’t have to deal with that and they might not understand what it feels like, but people are trying (to understand). Which I appreciate.

“At the end of the day, I’m a good hockey player and I just try to provide for my team and try to put all of that aside. I just worry about some people – and maybe some kids – that aren’t as mentally tough as I am and have to kind of go through that scrutiny and that criticism. So I want to do the best that I can to help.”

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Armstrong scores, surging Vancouver Whitecaps beat slumping San Jose Earthquakes 2-0

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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.

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Liverpool ‘not good enough’ says Arne Slot after shock loss against Nottingham Forest

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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.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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Cavaliers and free agent forward Isaac Okoro agree to 3-year, $38 million deal, AP source says

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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.

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