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Knies has concussion, could be out remainder of series for Maple Leafs

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2 years ago

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TORONTO — Matthew Knies will not play in the next two games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference Second Round and could be out for the remainder of the series because of a concussion.

The forward left a 3-2 loss in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers on Thursday at 16:23 of the first period after taking a hit from Sam Bennett and being tackled to the ice.

The Panthers lead the best-of-7 series, 2-0. Game 3 is at FLA Live Arena on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET; TBS, CBC, SN, TVAS).

“Knies has been diagnosed with a concussion so he will definitely be out for both Game 3 and 4,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said Friday. “I guess you can call him day to day. Beyond that, given symptoms and such, I’d say unlikely to return in the series. We will give him some time to recover and see how that goes but he is ruled out for the next two games.”

Knies, who started Game 2 at left wing on a line with center Ryan O’Reilly and right wing Noel Acciari, has four points (one goal, three assists) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.

“Matt has proven to improve the depth of our team; we believe we are a better team when he is in,” Keefe said. “But all that said, we were a very good team before he arrived on scene here. We will make some adjustments accordingly, but we’ve got full confidence in our group.”

Knies he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs on April 9, one day after he and the University of Minnesota lost 3-2 in overtime to Quinnipiac University in the NCAA Frozen Four championship game. He made his NHL debut April 10 and had one assist in three regular-season games.

Keefe did not say who would replace Knies in the lineup, but said dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen remains a consideration. Toronto used 11 forwards and seven defensemen once previously in the playoffs, in their series-clinching a 2-1 overtime win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“We consider it every game,” Keefe said. “We talk about it, it’s a topic in our coaches room, and we only used it the one game in the Tampa series. But it was a discussion daily. It will be a topic tomorrow when we go in and get set for Game 3, but it’s always on the table for us.”

Regardless of how the Maple Leafs move forward without Knies, they must find a way to dig themselves out of a 2-0 series deficit against the Panthers. Toronto is 1-4 at home in the playoffs but is 3-0 on the road.

“We believe we can play well and win on the road,” Keefe said. “In terms of the series itself, it’s no different than when you approach Game 1 or Game 2, you can’t look at anything beyond the game ahead, and we believe we can win one game. Winning one game obviously changes things significantly so that will be our focus to just get us as prepared as we can for that one game upcoming here.”

The Panthers will remain without Ryan Lomberg (week to week) for Game 3 after the forward sustained an upper-body injury in Game 4 of the first round against the Boston Bruins. Defenseman Josh Mahura‘s status is uncertain after taking a shot to the face from Maple Leafs forward William Nylander at 14:13 of the second period in Game 2. He left the game but returned for four shifts in the third period.

“Mahura took a pretty nasty cut to the face,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “He returned. He’s not going to be feeling too fresh this morning. But other than that, we’re not too worried.”

Despite losing each game at home, Keefe said the Maple Leafs remain confident they can get themselves back into the series.

“Our group has been resilient,” Keefe said. “We saw that hardness in the last series when we were down in games and the guys stayed with it, kept going and find a way. It will be a very similar type of mindset and approach. … We certainly don’t have any doubts in our group. Our group remains confident, our staff remains confident, and obviously there are things we need to do better and would have liked to handle better in the two games we played here. But those are in the past.”

 

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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November 12, 2024

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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.

The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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

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4 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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

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4 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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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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