Scoring isn’t one of the Maple Leafs’ issues. Toronto is second in goals in the NHL – and is among the worst in goals-against.
Cole Burston/The Canadian Press
Not even the most optimistic could have expected the Toronto Maple Leafs to be much better than they have been. They are in second place with one game remaining to the midway point of the season, slow start, coaching change and all.
A sloppy loss on Saturday to the New York Rangers squelched a six-game winning streak – but that was the team’s longest in two years. Players have responded to the less onerous approach of their new coach, and the dismissal of Mike Babcock looks more and more justified. Toronto is 12-5 under Sheldon Keefe and 8-1-1 in their past 10.
The final game of the decade at Scotiabank Arena turned out to be a flop: a goal given up in the first two minutes, another allowed early in the second period, a fourth on a breakaway near the end of it.
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The Maple Leafs clawed back into a tie but were done in by the New Yorkers less than a minute into overtime. They are 2-9-1 when they trail after two periods.
“I like that we were able to get a point, but I don’t like the fact that we spotted them a lead,” Keefe said. He is as direct in speech as Babcock was circular and difficult to follow.
Despite the loss, there are many reasons for hope – and a few things to worry about.
The offence continues to churn out goals. Auston Matthews had two more against the Rangers and, with 26, is on a pace to surpass 50 for the season. Toronto has not had a 50-goal scorer since Dave Andreychuk’s 53 a quarter-century ago.
Matthews also had an assist on Saturday and went 19-3 in faceoffs. There is grumbling about his defensive play, but contributions at the other end far outweigh any deficiencies.
Scoring isn’t one of the team’s issues. Toronto is second in goals in the NHL – and is among the worst in goals-against.
Frederik Andersen stopped only 33 of 38 shots against the Rangers and has given up 11 goals in his past two starts. Perhaps that is just a blip; maybe it is a sign of fatigue. The Danish goalkeeper has carried a heavy load over the first half.
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The Maple Leafs were not very good on defence against New York. They were decidedly short-staffed, with Jake Muzzin out with a broken foot suffered against New Jersey on Friday. Recalled again from the AHL’s Marlies, Martin Marincin played 16 minutes quite capably, but is an unlikely long-term solution if it is necessary.
A letdown on Saturday was not unpredictable. It was the second game of another in another series of back-to-backs, and it came a night after a serious injury to Ilya Mikheyev.
The Russian forward remains in the hospital in Newark, N.J., after undergoing an operation to repair an artery and tendons in his right wrist that were severed against the Devils.
The 25-year-old rookie is expected to recover, but might miss the remainder of the season. The team says a timeline for his return will be provided in three months.
“I think that can hit you a little bit emotionally when you see something that can be as dangerous as that,” John Tavares, the Toronto captain, said Friday night. “It was scary seeing that much blood.”
Mikheyev, who had eight goals and 15 assists in 39 games, left the ice in the third period after being cut by the skate of New Jersey defenceman Jack Hughes.
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“The bench was a little shaken at the time and it seemed like every stoppage in play the guys were kind of looking for an update,” Keefe said.
Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and a team trainer stayed in New Jersey with Mikheyev as the team returned to Toronto.
“It was terrifying,” said Michael Hutchinson, the backup goalie. “All of a sudden, I could see a ton of blood coming from somewhere, a lot more than a high stick or anything like that.”
Toronto was also without Trevor Moore, who continues to be sidelined by a concussion incurred during practice. The winger previously missed four weeks with a shoulder injury.
He is not expected to be in the lineup for Toronto’s next game, in Minnesota on New Year’s Eve.
There are things to fix, but the team is well positioned as it heads into the second half.
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There is plenty of scoring to accompany Matthews’s. William Nylander has five goals and 10 points in the past 10 games; Mitch Marner has six goals and 12 assists over the past 11.
Over all, the Maple Leafs are 21-14-5 and have begun to inch closer to the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division standing. They trail by eight points.
The point earned against the Rangers helped allay the disappointment of defeat.
“We didn’t have a good start this season, but we have come a long way since then,” forward Zach Hyman said. “You want to face adversity and be comfortable with it. That is how you make strides.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
