Sports

Toronto Maple Leafs defeat Edmonton Oilers 6-3

Published

8 months ago

March 24, 2024

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Pontus Holmberg (29) celebrates with forwards Auston Matthews (34) and Max Domi (11) after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers in the second period at Scotiabank Arena.Dan Hamilton/Reuters

The unsung heroes came out to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bobby McMann scored two goals and added an assist, while Pontus Holmberg scored two goals himself en route to a 6-3 win against Connor McDavid and the Oilers on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.

“That was pretty sweet, playing the Edmonton Oilers, watching them growing up.” McMann, the Wainwright, Alta. product, said. “It was a special one.”

Coming into Saturday, the matchup seemed all to be about McDavid and Auston Matthews as both superstar forwards are looking to put themselves in the history book this season in different categories.

McDavid is in search to become just the fourth different player – and the first since Wayne Gretzky in 1990-91 – to record 100 assists. He’s now on pace for 108 assists with 89 through 66 games. He now has more assists this season then Jamie Benn had points, 87, when he won the Art Ross Trophy in 2013-14.

Meanwhile, his American counterpart is looking to be the first player to score 70 goals in a regular season since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny both scored 76 in 1992-93. After an empty-net goal tonight, he’s now on pace for 69 with 13 games left on the Leafs schedule.

“They’re going to define this generation of players with their skill set, how they’ve impacted the game,” Leafs captain John Tavares following practice on March 22 said of McDavid and Matthews. “They’re changing the game in a lot of ways. Really special.”

It was the Oilers who came storming out of the gates pressuring the Leafs off of the opening draw. Their quick attack led to a Matthew Knies tripping penalty that put the league’s second-best power play by percentage to work against 25th-ranked penalty kill.

Despite threatening on the ensuing man advantage, the Oilers couldn’t put anything past Leafs netminder Ilya Samsonov.

“I thought our guys just competed hard tonight,” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Our penalty kill gave us life in the game.”

The Leafs netminder finished with 34 saves before he had to exit the game after going down with an injury following Edmonton’s third goal. Samsonov stretched to his right side in an attempt to stop a shot from Leon Draisaitl before staying down on the ice for an extended amount of time – he needed help getting to the dressing room.

“We hate seeing it, so just hope it’s nothing major or serious and he’’ll bounce back quickly,” Tavares said. “He was fantastic again tonight for us.”

Keefe said Samsonov will be “fine.”

“It’s not anything near what it appeared or what I thought it might have been,” he said.

McMann opened the scoring for the Leafs with his 12th goal of the season less than five minutes into the first frame. While facing the end boards, Tavares found McMann loose in the slot with a backhand pass and he made no mistake putting it past Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner.

McMann was on Toronto’s second line alongside William Nylander and Tavares as a result of a few missing bodies in the Leafs lineup. Toronto was without Mitch Marner due to a high-ankle sprain, Calle Jarnkrok due to a hand injury and Tyler Bertuzzi with an illness.

“They loaded up their first line and we just said, ‘We want our depth to carry us through,’” McMann said.

Unlike the Oilers, the Leafs found the back of the net on their first man-advantage opportunity. William Nylander tipped home a Timothy Liljegren shot-pass from the point to double the hosts lead with less than two minutes to go in the period.

Liljegren secured his second point of the night on the goal and now has 14 in his last 16.

“We didn’t capitalize on early opportunities in the first and that set us back,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. “We failed to score on two power plays and they scored on theirs and it snowballed from there.”

As the Oilers searched for the answer in the second, Samsonov remained stout in his net to keep the visitors at bay. Just before the five minute mark of the period the Leafs goaltender brought the Toronto crowd to its feet as he flashed the leather on a shot from Oilers defenceman Brett Kulak.

Shortly after, the Leafs rewarded their netminder with another goal. Holmberg buried it behind Skinner off a nice passing play between Matthews, Max Domi and himself. Matthews came away with the puck from along the boards before dishing it to Domi who then sent it to a wide-open Holmberg who had a gaping cage.

The Leafs didn’t stop pouring on there.

Less than three minutes later, Holmberg netted his second of the night off a pass from McMann while on a three-on-one rush. McMann then extended the lead to five after rifling a shot into the top corner and past Skinner from the right faceoff dot. Skinner was then pulled in favour of backup Calvin Pickard at the end of the second period after giving up five goals on 23 shots.

“Bobby has been excellent,” Keefe said. “He finished some great plays again tonight.”

As the Leafs protected their five-goal lead in the third period, Samsonov drew “Sammy!” chants from the crowd as he continued to hold down the fort. However, after nearly 45 minutes, the Oilers finally broke through the Leafs goaltender.

Zach Hyman squeaked the puck into the back of the net to put him one goal shy of the 50-goal landmark.

The Oilers then began to mount a comeback attempt shortly after with goals from Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl. However, Matthews’ empty-netter with 12 seconds left sealed the deal as the Leafs head to play the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Sunday at 6 p.m.

“When we make those decisions to play that way and compete like that we’re hard to beat in that beat in that room,” Keefe said. “We’re capable of great things.”

Source link

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.

___

AP cricket:

Source link

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.

Source link

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).

—

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform

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

Source link